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Man decapitated in ISIS attack in France
Today's Headlines
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-Short Attention Span Theater-
Women flock to Japan zoo to see 'hunky' gorilla
A giant gorilla with brooding good looks and rippling muscles is causing a stir at a Japanese zoo, with women flocking to check out the hunky pin-up.
OK, I had to check it out, too. But only to see what all the fuss was about.
Shabani, an 18-year-old silverback who tips the scales at around 180 kilograms (400 pounds), has become the star attraction at Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Nagoya, striking smouldering poses the movie model in "Zoolander" would be proud of.

"He often rests his chin on his hands and looks intently at you," zoo spokesman Takayuki Ishikawa told AFP on Friday.

"He is more buff than most gorillas and he's at his peak physically. We've seen a rise in the number of female visitors -- women say he's very good-looking."

Shabani, who has been at the zoo since 2007, shot to fame after being made the campaign model for the zoo's spring festival earlier this year, Ishikawa said, adding that the ape's paternal skills are also a big hit with women.

"He's a father and he always protects and looks over his children," he said. "Zoo-goers think his kindness is attractive too."

Women have taken to social media to swoon about Shabani's rugged looks, describing him as "ikemen" -- or a hunk -- and likening him to a male model.

A recent flurry of tweets has made Shabani a national celebrity, with Japan's broadcasters NHK and NTV featuring the gorilla on popular shows.

"He will look you in the eye and sometimes if you're taking photos it will look like he's posing for you like a model," said Ishikawa. "But he's the head of a group of five gorillas so it's likely he's just watching out for them and keeping an eye on you."
Posted by: gorb || 06/26/2015 12:12 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Check your privilege, zoophobes!!!

#LoveWins
Posted by: charger || 06/26/2015 12:49 Comments || Top||

#2  Only 400 lbs??

Well he doesn't get to sleep wherever he wants to does he.
Posted by: AlanC || 06/26/2015 13:11 Comments || Top||

#3  Somewhat lacking dating scene in Japan?
Posted by: Skidmark || 06/26/2015 14:47 Comments || Top||

#4  ...now that you mention it. The Japanese vie for the lowest birthrate among first world developed countries. google - japan sex droids
Posted by: Procopius2k || 06/26/2015 18:48 Comments || Top||

#5  Uh, uh, "THE BODY OF DA ARNUUULD WID A DENZEL FACE", BUT WID HAIR + A BANANA???

gut nuthin.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 06/26/2015 19:25 Comments || Top||


-Signs, Portents, and the Weather-
Heatwave death toll in Sindh tops 1,000
[DAWN] While the punishing heatwave gripping Karachi since Saturday showed signs of subsiding, the death toll across Sindh rose to 1,011, with at least 229 fatalities reported on Wednesday by government and private hospitals.
Posted by: Fred || 06/26/2015 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Bangladesh
3 suspected robbers lynched in Faridpur
[Dhaka Tribune] Three suspected robbers have been beaten to death by angry mob in Bodpur village in Faridpur district.

The identities of the dear departed could not be ascertained yet.

The suspected robbers were held and beaten to death around 12:30am Thursday, Faridpur Kotwali Sub-Inspector Moniruzzaman told the Dhaka Tribune.

He said the bodies were kept in Faridpur Medical College Hospital morgue.

Locals said several incidents of robbery and rape after robbery have been reported in the area for some days.
Posted by: Fred || 06/26/2015 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Russia claims it has a giant microwave gun that can destroy drones from 6 miles away
"When mounted on a special platform, the 'microwave gun' is capable of ensuring perimeter defense at 360 degrees," said a spokesman for the Kremlin-owned United Instrument Manufacturing Corp, according to Sputnik News.

As well as its reported capabilities for taking out drones and warheads, the so-called microwave gun is said to disrupt radio frequencies and "deactivate the equipment" of low-flying planes, the report said.

The system has a range of 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) and can be fired in any direction.
Posted by: Blossom Unains5562 || 06/26/2015 00:00 || Comments || Link || [7 views] Top|| File under:

#1  And they're telling all the World about it because?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 06/26/2015 3:37 Comments || Top||

#2  Russia also claims it shot down a meteor. You'll understand if I'm not buyin' it.

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski || 06/26/2015 5:35 Comments || Top||

#3  Power by Amana.
Posted by: Shipman || 06/26/2015 7:33 Comments || Top||

#4  ..of course it also destroy anything else in its path, which include friendly electronics, volatile munitions, et al. Hey, Gregori watch me cook your can of beans.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 06/26/2015 7:44 Comments || Top||

#5  Depending on configuration, the S300 has a range of nearly 100 miles - so what's the point?
Posted by: Iblis || 06/26/2015 9:18 Comments || Top||

#6  Oh, I think the point is there won't be gyrocopters landing in Kremlin square.
Posted by: Skidmark || 06/26/2015 9:35 Comments || Top||

#7  Can it heat pizza too?
Posted by: JFM || 06/26/2015 10:27 Comments || Top||

#8  Hell baby, this sucker will deliver a warm slice On demand via ground wave.
Posted by: Shipman || 06/26/2015 10:47 Comments || Top||

#9  Putin uses it to tan with.
Posted by: Pappy || 06/26/2015 16:10 Comments || Top||

#10  Fear notteh, Amerika, Vlad Putin will save you from the wily dastardly Hellfire-armed Drones + Hollow-points of the Obama Administration [you know, POTUS Dubya], + the ISIS/ISIL building up across the border in Mexico!


To wit,

* WORLD MILITARY FORUM > RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY: VLADIMIR PUTIN ORDERS MOSKVA-LED MISSLE-ARMED RUSSIAN NAVAL ARMADA DEPLOYED TO OFF THE COASTS OF TEXAS [Gulf of Mexico] + ATLANTIC SEABOARD. WARSHIPS FROM RUSSIAN BLACK SEA FLEET + NORTHERN BANNER FLEET TO COME WIDIN "STRIKING DISTANCE" OF US.

Dare Amerika's future OWG NAU Partners Mexico + Canada + Greenland coordinate wid the Bammer to stop Vlad + Russia's mighty ocean-going Fleet-Salvage Tugs???

YOU CAN JUST FEEL THE MONROE DOCTRINE, CAN'T YE!?
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 06/26/2015 22:10 Comments || Top||

#11  Vlad is doing it to ...

> Influence or intimidate the US SCOTUS vee "same- sex marriage" ruling?
> Save Amerika from the ISIS in Mexico + pro-ISIS/ISIL Domestic Terrorists or Wannbes?
> Support "Civil War II" in Amerika in the aftermath of South Carolina Governor-Babe Nikki Haley's call to take down the Confederate Flag from SC public buildings. PUTIN/RUSSIA = DOING WHAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, + GERMANY [Euros] DIDN'T DO IN THE 19TH CENTURY + MILITARILY INTERVENE, SUPPORT THE SOUTHERN CONFEDERACY IN ITS WAR AGZ THE NORTHERN AGGRESSORS???

ALL OF THE ABOVE???
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 06/26/2015 22:17 Comments || Top||

#12  OOOOPPPPPSSS, my bad, as per FREEREPUBLIC = looks like RUSSIA practiced a MILEX/DRILL where it seemingly conquered all of SCANDINAVIA.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 06/26/2015 22:25 Comments || Top||


Rebels want Ukraine to sign new agreement


For a map, click here. You can enlarge the map, if you open it separately.

By Chris Covert

Rantburg.com

Denis Pushilin, chief negotiator for the nascent republic of Donetsk said Thursday that the Ukrainians must agree to withdraw heavy weapons from the front line, and they want a new, separate agreement to that effect, according to an official government announcement.

Both sides repeatedly claim the other have fired heavy weapons of 100mm or larger on the front line since February 15th when the latest agreement, dubbed Minsk II, went into effect.

Pushilin said in the announcement that negotiations for a settlement between the two combatants may come down to the issue of heavy weapons. According to Pushilin, talks are close to requiring Ukraine to take steps in ending the hot phase of the civil war.

What steps will be taken, Pushilin does not say, but news report say the new agreement will allow both parties to more rapidly and accurately challenge the other's claim of abiding by the agreement.

Meanwhile in several sectors in western Donetsk, artillery fire from both sides as well as direct fire combat continue.

According to the latest data supplied by the rebel government of Donetsk, the Ukrainian military have violated the ceasefire 38 times in the previous 24 hours, while the Ukrainian ministry of defense says that rebels have violated the ceasefire 30 times.

Much of the fighting centers around western Donestsk city suburbs, and the towns of Shirokino and Markinka.

Lt. Colonel Eduard Basurin, spokesman for the Donetsk ministry of defense, said in remarks on Thursday that Ukrainian artillery fire struck rebel positions at Spartak and the airport. He said the most intense artillery came from the positions of the Ukrainian 28th Mechanized Brigade under the command of Lt. Colonel Vyacheslav Leszczynski.

Ukrainian media said that an infantry fight has developed in the town of Peski, which has been divided between the two combatants since the fall of the Donetsk airport in late February.

A news account posted at tsensor.net said that elements of the Ukrainian 95th Separate Airborne Brigade fought off an attack by rebel forces in Avdievka, which is adjacent to Peski, using small arms a RPG fire. Ukrainian media said that artillery strikes by rebels have been recorded in Opytnoye, where Ukrainians have sited some artillery.

Marinka

According to rebel media, a Ukrainian rifle group attacked rebel positions near Marinka and in Trudovskoye, near the Petrovskiy district of Donetsk city Wednesday night to Thursday morning. Ukrainian heavy mortars, probably 120mm mortars began firing on rebel positions just after dusk on Wednesday, and continued firing for two hours, before Ukrainian troops attempted to drive rebel troops out of their positions.

The fighting, characterized by Russian military analyst Boris Rozhin as "medium intensity", continued until dawn. The Ukrainian attack was stopped and those troops returned to their original start positions. Rebel media has not released information as to casualties, nor have the Ukrainians.

Rozhin characterized the Ukrainian attack as a probe, meant to test rebel defenses of the town.

Shirokino

Artillery fire from both sides and direct fire combat continued in Shirokino. According to a news account posted on FSB reserve Colonel Igor Girkin's news portal, close quarters combat took place in Shirokino starting at about 1700 hrs Thursday night and ending at about 2100 hrs, with ranges of between 10 and 20 meters between the combatants. 122mm artillery were used by the Ukrainians in what was characterized as an attack on rebel positions.

According to a separate report which appeared in korrespondent.net, Ukrainian artillery hit rebel positions in Shirokino and Talakovki using 152mm artillery and 122mm rocket artillery from artillery sited at Sopino and Sartany. Ukrainian artillery also hit rebel positions in Berdyansk using 122mm artillery.

According to Yaroslav Chepurnoy, identified as a spokesman for the Ukrainian volunteer "Azov" Regiment, rebel fired artillery on Ukrainian positions a total of 13 times on Thursday. According to the report, rebel artillery hit Ukrainian targets at Chernenko using 122mm artillery. The report, which originally appeared on 0629.com.ua, said that rebel forces used 122mm rocket artillery on Ukrainian positions.

Chris Covert writes about foreign military issues for Rantburg.com. He can be reached at grurkka@gmail.com and on Twitter. You can read past articles about the 2014 war in southeastern Ukraina by clicking here.
Posted by: badanov || 06/26/2015 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:


China-Japan-Koreas
Kim Jong Un Tours New, Extravagant North Korean Airport Terminal
[NBCNEWS] Somebody's sure to go there eventually...
Damn but Pudgy is big...
Posted by: Fred || 06/26/2015 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Funny, picture #3.
No arrivals, only departures.
Posted by: Skidmark || 06/26/2015 9:37 Comments || Top||

#2  I'm sure Dennis Rodman will appreciate it. Maybe Bill Clinton too.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 06/26/2015 11:27 Comments || Top||

#3  Wait till you see the stations on the new high speed train in CA.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 06/26/2015 15:23 Comments || Top||

#4  I believe economists call this 'misallocation of capital'.
Posted by: Raj || 06/26/2015 15:40 Comments || Top||

#5  The echoes from his lonely footfalls were a bit disconcerting. Kim Il Suetid set down his carry-on bag and looked about the fierce emptiness of the aptly named terminal.
Posted by: JHH || 06/26/2015 17:01 Comments || Top||

#6  Pudgy could pass for any adult man in the Philipines = SE Asia.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 06/26/2015 19:30 Comments || Top||

#7  Notice the exterior and signage in English. Also, the tarmac verbiage. I understand that the universal air traffic control is in English (except in maybe France), but surprise that the NorKors would do that there, too.

Expecting someone Mr. Kim?
Posted by: Mullah Richard || 06/26/2015 21:09 Comments || Top||

#8  Ri Sol Ju is kinda cute, if you can get past the "Excellent Horse Like Lady" stuff.
Posted by: Mullah Richard || 06/26/2015 21:12 Comments || Top||

#9  Oh, wait. That singer was executed.

Don't sing in the shower, Ms. Ri.
Posted by: Mullah Richard || 06/26/2015 21:14 Comments || Top||


Europe
European Union to Take in 40,000 Migrants from Italy, Greece: Draft Communique
[NDTV] EU leaders will agree today to take in 40,000 asylum-seekers from Italia and Greece to confront a growing migrant crisis in the Mediterranean but delay a decision on how to share them out, according to a draft final summit statement.

Stung by the deaths this year of almost 2,000 migrants trying to reach Europe by boat, the European Union
...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing...
has promised an emergency response but not national quotas for housing people fleeing war and poverty in Africa and the Middle East.

Governments will agree to "...the relocation over two years from Italia and Greece to other member states of 40,000 persons in clear need of international protection, in which all member states will participate," according to a draft seen by Rooters.
Posted by: Fred || 06/26/2015 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Confront?

How does letting off illegal migrants "confront" migration?

It encourages it.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 06/26/2015 5:34 Comments || Top||

#2  Well you know western civilization has broken down when borders no longer matter, and the "government" openly encourages and breaks the law itself.

More popcorn over here garcon, if you please...
Posted by: Beldar Brown1084 || 06/26/2015 9:00 Comments || Top||

#3  burrito flavour popcorn beldar?
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 06/26/2015 10:18 Comments || Top||

#4  Governments will agree to "...the relocation over two years from Italia and Greece to other member states of 40,000 persons in clear need of international protection colonizers, in which all member states will participate," according to a draft seen by Rooters.

Fixed.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 06/26/2015 11:30 Comments || Top||

#5  Prepare for more beheadings by "fathers of three".
Posted by: charger || 06/26/2015 14:40 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Politix
GAO Rejects Air Force Arguments to Retire A-10 Warthog Fleet
The long-range plans of the Air Force and the Pentagon to retire the A-10 Thunderbolt took another hit Thursday from a non-partisan government report questioning Air Force projections on the savings from mothballing the fleet.
IOW: We've been through this before with the SR-71. You were lying sacks of $ then. You're lying sacks of $hit now."
The Air Force estimate of $4.2 billion in savings over five years was unreliable and "may overstate or -understate the actual figure," the Government Accountability Office said in a preliminary report to Congress on the decision to retire the fleet.

Air Force leaders have said the service must retire the A-10 due to budget cuts in order to pay for the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter.
Ahem, I've been suggesting a slightly different solution to that problem for quite a while now. Kill the F-35 program dead. Now you have room in your budget for the A-10, some more F-22s, and a bunch of upgraded Lawn Darts...
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh has told Congress the A-10 is not flexible enough and the service can depend on a mix of other aircraft like the B-1, F-16 and F-15 to fulfill the close air support mission.
That's likely true. The A-10 is indeed old. Notice he didn't say that he needed the F-35...
The report, which was released Thursday, questioned the methods used by the Air Force to determine that retiring the A-10 and giving its close air support mission to other aircraft was cost efficient and would not detract from the vital role of protecting ground troops. Congress has continued to fund the A-10 with annual appropriations over the objections of the Air Force and the Defense Department.

Congress asked the GAO last year to study the Air Force's decision to retire the A-10. Findings throughout the report question and outright reject the service's case to send the revered close air support aircraft to the boneyard.

Cost Savings Questioned

In its report, the GAO found that "the Air Force has not fully assessed the cost savings associated with A-10 divestment or its alternatives."

"For example, A-10 divestment could increase the operational tempo of remaining CAS-capable aircraft, which could increase costs related to extending the service lives of those remaining CAS-capable aircraft," the GAO said. "To the extent that this occurs, it would reduce the actual savings from the A-10 divestiture below the estimated $4.2 billion."

On the other hand, the GAO said that savings "could be greater than $4.2 billion because the Air Force estimate did not include the costs for things such as software upgrades or potential structural enhancements that it could incur if it were to keep the A-10."

"Without a reliable cost estimate, the Air Force does not have a complete picture of the savings it would generate by divesting the A-10 and does not have a reliable basis from which to develop and consider alternatives to achieve budget targets," the GAO said.

The report stopped short of making recommendations, pending a more detailed GAO assessment and report to Congress later this year on the issues surrounding the potential retirement of the A-10 fleet.

In its written response to the report, the Air Force "did not take issue with information in the report but believed that we did not fully assess the potential risks to air superiority and global strike that could be created by the added cost of retaining the A-10 fleet," according to the GAO .

Responding for the Air Force and the Defense Department, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James wrote: "Each of the Combatant Commanders supports fielding advanced warfighting capabilities and would rather cut the A-10 when compared to higher priority mission areas."

Last week, the Senate by a vote of 71-25 approved the National Defense Authorization Act including funding for the A-10 for another year. President Obama has threatened to veto the bill.
Kill the F-35. Buy some F-22s and Lawn Darts. Start the design work for a dedicate successor to the A-10 with the same, wonderful CAS attributes. And don't let the F-35 program managers anywhere near the new plane...
Posted by: gorb || 06/26/2015 13:16 || Comments || Link || [8 views] Top|| File under:

#1  President Obama has threatened to veto the bill.

Not enough diversity in the pilots?
Posted by: Bobby || 06/26/2015 14:00 Comments || Top||

#2  Have the AF COS be boots on the ground and see if he would rather have an A-10 or an F-35 cover his six...I know my choice..
Posted by: Warthog || 06/26/2015 15:32 Comments || Top||

#3  What do we tell the Brits who spent the the equivalent of a years defense budget on two carriers designed for the f-35? Perhaps we could reopen the BOMARC line for them.
Posted by: Shipman || 06/26/2015 15:59 Comments || Top||

#4  The Brits could use Harriers...
Posted by: Steve White || 06/26/2015 18:29 Comments || Top||

#5  They would have to tear them from the USMC, they got none. The Australians, the Joooooooos, the Dutch, the Japs, the Sorks are invested in this plane. It must be made to work. Giving them A-10s and 24 non existent Super-Darts ain't not work. The F-22 line is dead forever, killed by the same logic killing the F-35. In 20 years we will have 49 F-22, 36 f-35a and 500 lawn darts. Hell, BOMARC could carry a nuke at least.
Posted by: Shipman || 06/26/2015 20:41 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Afghan youth killed for honour in Peshawar
[DAWN] An Afghan youth was killed near Bagh Banan Bazaar in the limits of Urmar cop shoppe on Wednesday in an honour related case, sources said.

Munir Khan, an Afghan national, presently living in Bagh Banan, told police that his 22-year-old brother Raheel Khan was going to Bazaar when a group of armed person attacked him, leaving him injured.

He was shifted to Lady Reading Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. Another young man Abuzar also sustained bullet injury and was taken to LRH. He was stated to be stable.

A police source said that it was an honour related case as one of the suspects had doubt that the victim had illicit relations with his wife.

The suspects managed to escape.

Meanwhile,
...back at the comedy club, Boogie ducked another tomato...
police have registered cases against 1,516 persons during the last one week for possessing fake national identity cards.

Police said that after authentic reports form Nadra and due verification by special branch, the persons involved in the process of making fake CNICs were being booked under the relevant laws.
Posted by: Fred || 06/26/2015 00:00 || Comments || Link || [6 views] Top|| File under:


Swat plunges into darkness
[DAWN] Swat
...a valley and an administrative district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistain, located 99 mi from Islamabad. It is inhabited mostly by Pashto speakers. The place has gone steadily downhill since the days when Babe Ruth was the Sultan of Swat...
plunged into darkness after more than 100 power transformers got out of order owing to overloading in the different parts of the scenic valley.

The residents of Rahimabad, Gul Kada, Landeykas, College Colony, Saidu Sharif, Shahdara, Naway Kallay, Matta, Khwazakhela and Kabal protested the excessive power loadshedding in their areas during the holy month of Ramazan.

They complained that electricity remained suspended most of the time as the duration of loadshedding exceeded 18 hours.

"We are experiencing over 18 hours of loadshedding which has affected our daily routine. We have our Iftar and Sehri in the light of candles and lanterns," said Zahoor Khan, a resident of Kabal.

The local people also questioned the authority of the order of the prime minister about not observing loadshedding during Iftar and Sehri.

"If Wapda does not follow the orders of the prime minister then what else can we expect? Despite the order of prime minister, Wapda observes loadshedding during Iftar and Sehri," the residents of Khwazakhela said.
Posted by: Fred || 06/26/2015 00:00 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan

#1  They had electricity, who knew ?
Posted by: Beldar Brown1084 || 06/26/2015 8:30 Comments || Top||

#2  Loadshedding!
ThevPakis are after you!
Loadshedding if they capture you're thru.


Overtures! Curtains! Lights!
It's Ramadan so let's be nice!
No more exploding and blowing apart
You've seen all the parts but heart!

Marchin music
On with the show this is it.

Rabbit season!
Duck season!
Rabbit season!
Duck season!

Bugs takes Commando knife to Daffys head.
Told ya it was duck season.
Posted by: Shipman || 06/26/2015 11:13 Comments || Top||

#3  well, at least there's not a heat wave
Posted by: Frank G || 06/26/2015 11:48 Comments || Top||


Southeast Asia
Myanmar Parliament rejects changes to Constitution
[TODAYONLINE] Myanmar's Parliament yesterday voted against constitutional amendments, ensuring that the military's veto power remains intact and that opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi cannot become president in an election this year.

The legislature ended a three-day debate on proposed changes to the 2008 Constitution, which bars Ms Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, from seeking the presidency and gives the military an effective veto over constitutional amendments.

Changes to both those clauses were rejected in the vote. Ms Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) is expected to see heavy gains against the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) in an election most likely to take place by November. No date has been set.
Posted by: Fred || 06/26/2015 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  We'll lend you Justice Roberts who can do that with just a piece of paper.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 06/26/2015 7:45 Comments || Top||

#2  Lend, Hell! Trade him outright for a (real) Justice To Be Named Later!!!
Posted by: USN, Ret. || 06/26/2015 16:10 Comments || Top||


Government
Supreme Court Extends Gay Marriage Nationwide
[HOSTED.AP.ORG] The Supreme Court declared Friday that same-sex couples have a right to marry anywhere in the United States, a historic culmination of decades of litigation over gay marriage and gay rights generally.

Gay and lesbian couples already could marry in 36 states and the District of Columbia. The court's 5-4 ruling means the remaining 14 states, in the South and Midwest, will have to stop enforcing their bans on same-sex marriage.

A court in Atlanta issued marriage licenses to three same-sex couples Friday morning, soon after the decision.

Gay rights supporters cheered, danced and wept outside the court after the decision, which put an exclamation point on breathtaking changes in the nation's social norms.

Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote the majority opinion, just as he did in the court's previous three major gay rights cases dating back to 1996. It came on the anniversary of two of those earlier decisions.
Posted by: Fred || 06/26/2015 14:59 || Comments || Link || [8 views] Top|| File under:

#1  If anyone wants to say something nasty about Chief Justice Roberts, I won't disagree.
Posted by: Iblis || 06/26/2015 16:37 Comments || Top||

#2  Apparently there's plans to use this decision to force reciprocity for CHL's for all 50 states.
Posted by: Silentbrick || 06/26/2015 16:58 Comments || Top||

#3  We are all gay socialist today!

America has officially jumped the shark.
Posted by: Airandee || 06/26/2015 17:07 Comments || Top||

#4  @#2: Canadian Hockey League?
Posted by: Hupineger Glomomp52169 || 06/26/2015 17:16 Comments || Top||

#5  America has officially jumped the shark.

The Left believes in the fantasy that socialism is economically viable.

The Right (and Libertarians) believes in the fantasy that its still a republic.

Those who sit for life and are unaccountable to the people just told you what you can have.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 06/26/2015 18:18 Comments || Top||

#6  The reasoning was specious at best. Just like Robert's abuse of language and reason in his decision earlier in the Burwell case (and the original Obamacare case as well). The irony of Robert's language in dissent is striking considering he did far more harm then Kennedy did, with far worse abuse, on a far more important and precedent setting decision, just the day before. If Chief Justice Roberts had an ounce of integrity left in him after his pretzel act this week, he should be deeply ashamed.

Posted by: OldSpook || 06/26/2015 18:55 Comments || Top||

#7  Sad week. The republic is clearly dying. I invested so much of my life to the republic.

The courts have now confirmed they are not a separate and equal branch, nor are they a check or a balance to neither the executive nor legislative branch, but just another cog in the machine that has run away from its original purpose and design of promoting liberty and a republic of laws where individual's rights are paramount, and the government is subservient.

Some have been saying that time for another bloody revolution will eventually come. Sad that it looks like this may be true. Happy that Im an OLD spook and likely gone by then.
Posted by: OldSpook || 06/26/2015 18:58 Comments || Top||

#8  We don't need no stinkin' Tenth Amendment..../sarc
Posted by: Blossom Unains5562 || 06/26/2015 19:43 Comments || Top||

#9  Even the Indiana legislature didn't manage to set Pi=3. But I guess judges can.
Posted by: James || 06/26/2015 20:11 Comments || Top||

#10  The irony of Robert's language in dissent is striking

Heard a bit of his dissent on National People's Radio. tl;dr: There is nothing in the Constitution that says we can do this. I literally laughed out loud, given his reasoning in the other case.
Posted by: SteveS || 06/26/2015 20:22 Comments || Top||

#11  See also LUCIANNE > [Daily Beast] LGBT LEADERS: [Legalized] "GAY MARRIAGE IS NOT ENOUGH".

You knew they would.

That sound Mainstream Amerika is hearing is the proverbial clock ticking down towards LEGAL SHARIA + SIMILAR IN AMERIKA.

IMO pro-Sharia Islamic/Islamist Activists really don't have to do that much as it will be US Liberals-Secularists whom soon enuff will make MOST OR ALL ASPECTS OF ISLAMIC/MUSLIM SHARIA + SIMILAR LEGAL, OR ALL-BUT-OFFICIALLY-LEGAL, IN AMERIKA IN THE NAME OF GOOD REGULATORY SECULAR MARXISM-SOCIALISM-GOVTISM.

The most dangerous part is that those Current + future Generations of OWG Amerikans whom desisre to find or rediscover their faith in God + Religion MAY TURN TO STILL SECULARISM-RESISTING, TRADITIONALIST HARDLINE ISLAM OR OTHER FOR FULFILLMENT, NOT US, WESTERN JUDEOCHRISTIANITY.

INCREASINGLY SECULAR JUDEOCHRISTIANITY = OBAMA/GLOBIE-LED "US UNILATERAL OR SELF-RETREAT/FALLABCK IS OWG + WORLD PEACE" = SELF-SUICIDE IS NOT JUST ANOTHER PURDY WORD.

Again, there is no sign or evidence that the Globies can or will be able to control the Hard Boyz = Global Jihad once OWG US-Global Socialist Order is finally formally imposed.

THE US-WORLD MAY TURN "ISLAMIC/MUSLIM" BECAUSE JUDEOCHRISTIANITY = NON-ISLAM KILLED ITSELF OFF.

The good news is that suicidal JudeoChristianity sang "Kumbayah" while during their suicide.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 06/26/2015 21:56 Comments || Top||

#12  D *** NG IT, and they sang "KUMBAYAH" very well too!
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 06/26/2015 21:57 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Culture Wars
Census: More Minority Children Than Whites, More Whites Dying Than Being Born
[Breitbart] Racial and ethic minorities children under the age of five are now the majority as non-Hispanic white children make up an ever-smaller slice of the population, according to the Census Bureau.

New population estimates released Thursday reveal a striking shift in the composition of America's population as racial and ethnic minority births are also outpacing minority deaths.

Meanwhile non-Hispanic whites are experiencing negative population growth, seeing 61,841 more deaths than births between 2013 and 2014.

The Census reports that in the past decade, the population has become more diverse, with the percentage of ethic and racial minorities growing from 32.9 percent to 37.9 percent over the last decade.

Indeed, the report notes that Millennials -- now representing more than a quarter of the population, more than the 75.4 million Baby Boomers -- are more diverse than earlier generations as 44.2 percent belong to a minority group.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/26/2015 02:33 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Expect more "unexpected" economic news.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 06/26/2015 6:03 Comments || Top||

#2  "Meanwhile non-Hispanic whites" not to be confused with 'White-Hispanics' as Mr. Zimmerman.

Another narrative announcement brought to you by Big Brother.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 06/26/2015 7:35 Comments || Top||

#3  same in Europe.

why is it the poorest have the most kids? equals more welfare benefits in US/Europe
Posted by: paul || 06/26/2015 8:19 Comments || Top||

#4  Well there will be no more need for minority race laws, we will all be minorities. The white kids are already a minority according to the article, so start sun setting the race laws with this generation.
Posted by: Beldar Brown1084 || 06/26/2015 8:54 Comments || Top||

#5  Somehow, I don't think 'Anglo-American' will make the minority list, Beldar.
Posted by: Skidmark || 06/26/2015 9:30 Comments || Top||

#6  The "welfare" state is fertility redistribution.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 06/26/2015 10:17 Comments || Top||

#7  When you import the poor and unskilled from central America to stuff the ballot boxes for decades to come, the twofer is they bring their birth rates here to score benefits. The descent path for the Republic to a hard landing increases!
Posted by: NoMoreBS || 06/26/2015 11:07 Comments || Top||

#8  Well there will be no more need for minority race laws, we will all be minorities. The white kids are already a minority according to the article, so start sun setting the race laws with this generation.

I'm afraid you are wrong about that. Affirmative Action will never be repealed. We'll always have to atone for that White Privilege™ thingy, especially when non-whites get control of Congress. Just ask anybody from California.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 06/26/2015 11:42 Comments || Top||

#9  Impacts of Global Warming.
Whites can't take the heat.
Posted by: Skidmark || 06/26/2015 14:48 Comments || Top||


Government
DoD base closing decision makers employ 'Common Core' as a lever.
BLUF: [Daily Caller] "I firmly believe in Common Core and I understand the challenges," Maj. Gen. (Ret.) 'Spider' Marks, who served as commanding general of the U.S. Army Intelligence Center, told The DCNF. "But what drives me crazy is that school boards have this loud voice, and you often don't have the very best representation of the overall issues."
Yes Spider, local, democratically elected school boards tend to drive all liberals 'crazy.'
"Our education system is fundamentally flawed because it focuses on the needs of the educator and not the needs of the children," Maj. Gen. (Ret.) 'Spider' Marks added. "It's all about the teachers' unions. Let's talk about the student. The discussion through Common Core has changed that focus and its moving it in the appropriate direction."

The base closure debate will continue, and the outcome is not yet settled.
The Red State arm twisting will continue until the desired political outcomes are realized. It's the Chicago way.
As the report notes, "Just as hosts have some work to do in response to the Army's ideas on education, the Army will have to work hard to get Congress' authorization to factor education into basing decisions."
Perhaps the lack of a 'Common Core' curriculum could somehow be linked to the Army's failure to successfully train 19 year olds to operate the Digital Common Ground Station (DCGS)....just say'n.
These non-compliant communities still have time to improve or adopt new educational standards before Congress even has a chance to look over base realignment proposals.
Hey Spider, should the evil republican led Congress impede your progressive efforts, Supreme Court judicial remedies should not be overlooked.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/26/2015 01:22 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "But what drives me crazy is that school boards have this loud voice, and you often don't have the very best representation of the overall issues."

How could locally elected school board members who have their own children in their schools systems know what do to do? Simpleton rubes....this is a job for the Federal Government !

[sarc off]
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/26/2015 2:03 Comments || Top||

#2  Our education system is fundamentally flawed because it focuses on the needs of the educator and not the needs of the children

And the poison been spreading and infecting other countries.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 06/26/2015 3:35 Comments || Top||

#3  More that have earned a purge from federal service.
Posted by: newc || 06/26/2015 9:07 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Culture Wars
Three female soldiers take second go at Ranger school
If they don't make it this go, I'd not give much hope for the continuation of the program. Perhaps the Supreme Court will intervene and provide an alternative interpretation of the training regime requirements and standards. Failing that, what cannot be compromised must be put to an end.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/26/2015 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  /me bets the program will continue for 2 more years, at least until there is a new Commander in Chief. Dollars to donuts, someone in the chain will suddenly realize that climbing ropes, running a long way and carrying heavy stuff are not really integral requirements of the Ranger job.
Posted by: SteveS || 06/26/2015 0:39 Comments || Top||

#2  They should read how Connecticut Yankee organized the royal army.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 06/26/2015 3:36 Comments || Top||

#3  He invented the RAF Regiment I think?
Posted by: Shipman || 06/26/2015 7:39 Comments || Top||

#4  Three aren't going to fill the Ranger Battalions or divisional authorizations.

Yep, I know the Left, among other groups is blind to reality. They're going to miss the point here that when they finally do break the leash, there aren't going to be too many on their side willing to 'give the last full measure of devotion' to defend their power. It will be 'unexpected'.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 06/26/2015 7:39 Comments || Top||

#5  Out-take of one of the topical Ranger women in a Connecticut Yankee...the other two are on the cover

Posted by: Beldar Brown1084 || 06/26/2015 8:50 Comments || Top||

#6  If you have an occasion to visit France dodn't sip the occasion to visti Omaha Beach and take a look at Pointe du Hoc. THen think that if the Rangers had been unbale to climb it ythe whol D-DAY would have been compromised forcing a second landinding in 1945 agaisnt reinforced defenses.

In the interim either Geramny would have been able to rollbak the gains made by the Red Army, either the whole of West Europe would have fallen into Stalin's hands.

But 1944 rangers were able to climb that cliff. Will they in 2024?
Posted by: JFM || 06/26/2015 9:07 Comments || Top||

#7  9 Originally started and they all washed out. These three were invited back.
That's telling. Good on them for having the spirit.

Posted by: newc || 06/26/2015 9:14 Comments || Top||

#8  I knew one of those men, JFM, he was the father of a childhood friend and neighbor. A good man - ran a summer camp for kids with 'problems' in the 1960s & 70s.
Posted by: Glenmore || 06/26/2015 9:37 Comments || Top||

#9  Ha was lucky: more than one Ranger in two was killed. And you were lucky.

Pointe du Hoc is 25 to 30 meters high (27 to 33 Yards). To climb it all while carrying weapons and equipment you need to be a strong _man_.
Posted by: JFM || 06/26/2015 10:22 Comments || Top||

#10  Off course what was on the top of du Hoc?
I think of D-day has the opening act to the assault on Saipan. Or as my Dad sez D-Day whoopee I guess.
Posted by: Shipman || 06/26/2015 11:03 Comments || Top||

#11  JFM, you don't necessarily have to be a strong man. The point is that you have to be STRONG. Very few men are strong enough. If a woman is strong enough, fine. The problem is that the Army may end up reducing the strength and other requirements so that women can get in.

Perhaps the graduation exercise for Rangers should be to climb Pointe du Hoc in full combat gear.
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia || 06/26/2015 11:05 Comments || Top||

#12  But 1944 rangers were able to climb that cliff. Will they in 2024?

Well, maybe they can if they don't carry anything with them.
Posted by: gorb || 06/26/2015 12:00 Comments || Top||

#13  But 1944 rangers were able to climb that cliff. Will they in 2024?

Not Obama's primary concern.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 06/26/2015 14:19 Comments || Top||


U.S. lawsuit claims NY companies illegally refused to hire ex-cons
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 06/26/2015 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Ah yes, the old Disproportional Impact theory. Black people commit felonies way out of proportion to their percentage of the population, so refusing to hire felons for a job with any sort of responsibility is de facto racism.

Amusing that the artic specifically mentions a network engineer job, given the recent data thievery at the Office of Personnel Management.
Posted by: SteveS || 06/26/2015 0:46 Comments || Top||

#2  Koninklijke Philips NV, pest control company Advance Tech, Australian data management company Recall Holdings Ltd, and IT consulting company NTT Data [KEA.UL].

Interesting, all foreign owned companies investing in our economy, and evidently not hobbled with 'Affirmative Action' requirements back home. NAACP lawfare will be effective in bringing them around or ending their participation in our job market. Ending non-black privilege is the desired outcome, regardless of the colour.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/26/2015 1:08 Comments || Top||

#3  Major league sports commissioners need not worry about this lawsuit. Ever.
Posted by: Airandee || 06/26/2015 7:20 Comments || Top||

#4  Amusing that the artic specifically mentions a network engineer job, given the recent data thievery at the Office of Personnel Management.

One would think that current management position-filler would more than make up for that.
Posted by: Pappy || 06/26/2015 8:34 Comments || Top||

#5  So when is Obama going to wave federal law and allow the poor darlings subject of disparate impact the right to own guns again?
Posted by: Procopius2k || 06/26/2015 12:29 Comments || Top||



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Fri 2015-06-26
  Man decapitated in ISIS attack in France
Thu 2015-06-25
  Deadly IS car bomb in Kobani
Wed 2015-06-24
  39 Killed, Dozens Wounded in South Yemen Clashes
Tue 2015-06-23
  Taliban attack Afghan parliament, seize second district in north
Mon 2015-06-22
  Air strikes kill 15 in Yemen attacks: Houthi media
Sun 2015-06-21
  Witness: ISIS publicly executes 25 'spies' in Mosul
Sat 2015-06-20
  ISIS beheads three of its own amid fighting and regime raids in Syria
Fri 2015-06-19
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Thu 2015-06-18
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Wed 2015-06-17
  US targets leader of Al Qaeda in Yemen with CIA drone strike
Tue 2015-06-16
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Mon 2015-06-15
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Sun 2015-06-14
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Sat 2015-06-13
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