Hi there, !
Today Wed 02/05/2020 Tue 02/04/2020 Mon 02/03/2020 Sun 02/02/2020 Sat 02/01/2020 Fri 01/31/2020 Thu 01/30/2020 Archives
Rantburg
533533 articles and 1861424 comments are archived on Rantburg.

Today: 60 articles and 286 comments as of 11:33.
Post a news link    Post your own article   
Area: WoT Operations    WoT Background    Opinion        Politix   
Iraq’s President Barham Saleh assigns Mouhammed Tawfiq Allawi with forming a new government
Today's Headlines
Headline Comments [Views]
Page 3: Non-WoT
5 23:51 gorb [13] 
6 19:00 jpal [3] 
0 [4] 
0 [10] 
3 08:23 JohnQC [15] 
16 23:22 Beau [14] 
4 15:54 trailing wife [8] 
3 12:35 M. Murcek [7] 
15 16:15 trailing wife [4] 
9 19:20 Frank G [5] 
7 17:53 Rob Crawford [2] 
3 23:53 Texhooey [10] 
0 [2] 
6 23:58 Caesar Shinelet1719 [9] 
4 20:12 USN, Ret. [8] 
Page 1: WoT Operations
9 22:39 Lex [21]
0 [10]
1 08:01 Frank G [4]
0 [12]
0 [7]
0 [4]
1 07:48 b [11]
0 [12]
0 [6]
3 11:31 Chris [2]
0 [12]
6 20:10 SteveS [13]
1 07:55 Frank G [11]
0 [8]
7 07:56 AlanC [9]
0 [13]
Page 2: WoT Background
2 10:42 Raj [1]
2 19:28 Barbara [8]
2 11:04 Skidmark [5]
0 [11]
0 [4]
2 09:22 Chris [4]
0 [5]
0 [4]
17 20:59 Lex [11]
2 11:07 Skidmark [4]
11 11:13 Elmerert Hupens2660 [7]
0 [19]
Page 4: Opinion
6 16:17 Raj [5]
2 11:09 Cesare [5]
1 08:54 Lex [7]
12 20:14 Lex [10]
17 20:18 Alaska Paul [10]
6 15:29 Bright Pebbles [10]
5 13:25 3dc [5]
7 11:30 Skidmark [8]
5 19:25 charger [11]
0 [10]
1 10:53 Mercutio [3]
6 14:22 AlanC [4]
2 14:11 magpie [8]
Page 6: Politix
31 20:45 Frank G [15]
18 23:31 Caesar Shinelet1719 [12]
18 19:39 ruprecht [8]
2 12:07 PBMcL [5]
-Short Attention Span Theater-
Meghan-Minx Hits the (Not so) Big Time: Scores "Canadian reality show about second weddings" @ $588/day
Posted by: Lex || 02/02/2020 01:19 || Comments || Link || [7 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Seems like a step down (or two, or three) from, say, Governor of Bermuda. But maybe this is better for her "brand."
Posted by: Lex || 02/02/2020 6:50 Comments || Top||

#2  She went Jerry Springer right out of the gate. What a clown. Dignity and. class are the presumption of aristocratic players but this woke twit just blew those in record time.
Posted by: NoMoreBS || 02/02/2020 11:36 Comments || Top||

#3  Already debunked...
Posted by: M. Murcek || 02/02/2020 12:35 Comments || Top||


-Signs, Portents, and the Weather-
Latest on the coronavirus spreading in China and beyond
[Jpost] The Philippines on Sunday reported the first death outside China from a coronavirus epidemic that originated in central Hubei province and has since spread to some two dozen countries around the world.
Here are the latest developments:

* The virus has killed 304 people in China, according to the country's National Health Commission on Sunday.

* Across China, 2,590 new infections were confirmed on Saturday, the largest daily increase yet, bringing the total accumulated number so far to 14,380.

* Infections have been reported in Australia, Britannia, La Belle France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Russia, Spain, Thailand, the United States and 14 other countries and regions outside mainland China.

* U.S. health officials on Saturday confirmed an eighth coronavirus case in the United States, and the Pentagon said it would provide housing for people arriving from overseas who might need to be quarantined.

* China's financial markets will open on Monday after an extended Lunar New Year holiday due to the virus and there will be no further extensions, the country's securities market regulator said in an interview published by the state-backed People's Daily newspaper on Sunday.

* China's central bank said it will inject 1.2 trillion yuan ($173.81 billion) worth of liquidity into the markets via reverse repo operations on Monday, after promising to provide monetary and credit support to companies struggling due to the virus.

* Chinese data suggest the virus is less deadly than the 2002-03 outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which killed nearly 800 people of the some 8,000 it infected.

* The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.

* The United States has reported its first case of person-to-person transmission inside its territory. Germany, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam and South Korea have recorded similar infections, suggesting greater potential for spreading.

* China's central city of Wuhan and the surrounding province of Hubei - the center of the epidemic - are under a virtual quarantine.

* Infections have jumped in two cities flanking Wuhan, health authorities said, raising concerns that new hot spots are emerging despite strict travel restrictions.

* The United States, Australia, Singapore, New Zealand and Vietnam are among countries that have denied entry to foreign nationals who have recently been in China.

* Apple Inc said on Saturday it would close all its stores and offices in China until Feb. 9. Walmart Inc, Sweden's IKEA and other companies have restricted travel and operations.

* Global airlines have suspended or scaled back direct flights to China's major cities.

* Countries including Australia, Canada, La Belle France, Germany, Indonesia, Italia, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and the United States are working to evacuate citizens from Wuhan or have already started doing so.

* China's two entertainment industry associations have asked studios and actors to halt filming activity.

* Several high-profile sporting events have been moved or postponed in China, the latest a badminton Olympic qualifier in Hainan province.

* Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam rejected calls on Friday from a medical union to close the border with mainland China.
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/02/2020 09:38 || Comments || Link || [10 views] Top|| File under:


Author Predicted How And Where The WuFlu Would Emerge A Decade Ago
BLUF:
[Hot Air] Back in 2009, (author) Sonia Shah visited one of the so-called "wet markets" in China where she observed the staggering variety of wild, exotic animals mixed in together and being butchered and served up. Unlike livestock raised on farms, the wild game always comes with viruses aplenty, but they usually don’t bother human beings. Shah noted that the coronavirus has been around forever, but rarely gets out of hand. But with all the strange animals and meats in the wet markets comingling, she foresaw a time when, much like cholera, those viruses would begin evolving and jumping from species to species until something really nasty that was capable of making the leap to people emerged. Enter WuFlu, now believed to have been spawned in those Chinese wet markets in the form of an evolved coronavirus.

Shah also noted that the death toll from such a pandemic wouldn’t be sufficient to wipe out the entire human population, but the plague would only be the beginning of our problems. After a pandemic of that magnitude, the global economic recession that followed would be a disaster, wiping out literally trillions of dollars in capital. That’s not hard to believe. Already this week we saw the markets contract, largely over concerns about reduced travel and trade as a result of the virus impacting business.
About the author link found here.
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/02/2020 02:41 || Comments || Link || [8 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Except:
(a) Chinese been having these markets for thousands of years.
(b) Viruses don't jump host species all that quickly, or easily.

I assume this (if at all true) is her only claim to fame?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 02/02/2020 4:55 Comments || Top||

#2  Don’t buy the meat market storyline it’s more insidious it’s a bio weapon
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom || 02/02/2020 10:02 Comments || Top||

#3  A prophet without honor (fame).

Because no one among our foolish elite will recognize that Communist China is a shitty country led by lying bandits who wish us ill and who couldn't care less about normal, civilized standards of public health, transparency, rule of law etc
Posted by: Lex || 02/02/2020 10:56 Comments || Top||

#4  China is overpopulated for their employment opportunities, and the population is aging. If there is a bit of a die-off, that will make managing the remainder easier for their Communist rulers, which I’m sure is part of the calculation somewhere. One is reminded of the deliberate famine in Zimbabwe, intended to — and achieved — to kill off about a quarter of the population, as I recall.
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/02/2020 15:54 Comments || Top||


Happy Groundhog Day!




More importantly, it's Candlemas. For the West, that is. Orthodox Candlemas is after Valentine's Day. Also, please don't confuse it with the shitty metal band, Candlemass.



Posted by: charger || 02/02/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Again?
Posted by: SteveS || 02/02/2020 0:33 Comments || Top||

#2  Re #1, that made me LOL. I'm thinking what can I do different this time around? :)
Posted by: Seeking Cure For Ignorance || 02/02/2020 5:58 Comments || Top||

#3  That's just fuckin' great - six more weeks of Tom Steyer and Mike Bloomberg ads...
Posted by: Raj || 02/02/2020 6:53 Comments || Top||

#4  ...Have this weird sense of deja vu...

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski || 02/02/2020 6:57 Comments || Top||

#5  #3 It's money flowing into economy.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 02/02/2020 6:59 Comments || Top||

#6  Two reasons to celebrate: Super Bowl Sunday and Ground Hog's Day.
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/02/2020 8:16 Comments || Top||

#7  For my old college gang: "Clang?!"

Posted by: Rob Crawford || 02/02/2020 17:53 Comments || Top||


Pentagon approves MCAS Miramar for large-scale coronavirus quarantine
[SD Union Trib] "Nothing to see here, go about your bizness". Seems like smart moves to me
Posted by: Frank G || 02/02/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [10 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Also good for mexicans.
Posted by: Skidmark || 02/02/2020 0:44 Comments || Top||

#2  Multi-use.
Posted by: Lex || 02/02/2020 0:52 Comments || Top||

#3  The other three are the 168th Regiment, Regional Training Institute, Fort Carson, Colo.; Travis Air Force Base, Calif.; and Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.
Posted by: Texhooey || 02/02/2020 23:53 Comments || Top||


-Land of the Free
Des Moines Register, Partners Cancel Release Of Iowa Poll Over Respondent Concerns
Jeez, Dollar Store Lenin must be doing even better than expected. On one hand, this is...hilarious. On the other, what does it suggest about what the Swamp will do to us in the general, when they're willing to do so much to Curb Enthusiasm for Swap Meet Stalin?
[DesMoinesRegister] The Des Moines Register, CNN and Selzer & Co. have made the decision to not release the final installment of the CNN/Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll as planned this evening.

Nothing is more important to the Register and its polling partners than the integrity of the Iowa Poll. Today, a respondent raised an issue with the way the survey was administered, which could have compromised the results of the poll. It appears a candidate’s name was omitted in at least one interview in which the respondent was asked to name their preferred candidate.

While this appears to be isolated to one surveyor, we cannot confirm that with certainty. Therefore, the partners made the difficult decision to not to move forward with releasing the Iowa Poll.

The Register has published the Iowa Poll for 76 years, and it is considered the gold standard in political polling. Selzer & Co., which conducts the poll, is recognized for its excellence in polling. It is imperative whenever an Iowa Poll is released that there is confidence that the data accurately reflects Iowans’ opinions.
Posted by: charger || 02/02/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  They've got to clear the way for the eventual entry of Hillary: the Eugene McCarthy of the 21st Century.
Posted by: Secret Master || 02/02/2020 0:34 Comments || Top||

#2  ^ or Harold Stassen.
Posted by: Lex || 02/02/2020 0:53 Comments || Top||

#3  Pretty sure we can guess correctly the results of that poll.

Heeeeeere's Bernie!!
Posted by: Lex || 02/02/2020 1:14 Comments || Top||

#4  It appears a candidate’s name was omitted in at least one interview in which the respondent was asked to name their preferred candidate.

Let's play the game, shall we? 1) Whose name was 'omitted'? I think Lex has it right, with Gabbard / Yang being long shots. Those three, in rough order, are the candidates the Hillary/ Podesta faction of the Democratic party hate the most.

2) If a candidate's name was 'omitted', are the respondents allowed to write somebody in? If you could then yeah, the Register's doing some monkey business.

3) How many surveyors were there? If it's just one problematic surveyor (say out of ten) there would still be faith in the other 90% of the surveys? In that case you could just toss the bad survey and get on with it.

4) Has the Register ever done this before? 76 years equates to 19 presidential elections, so that would indicate either a) shit happens, we've had bad poll results before so we pulled some in the past; b) it's a serious fuck-up, all right or c) one of Hillary's goons is there saying 'Hey youse - dat's a nice newspaper ya got there; would be a real shame was somethin' to happen to it'. I can see Tony Soprano rising from the grave, man...

5) And when does the backstory get dumped for public consumption? This isn't exactly Carlos Ghosn bolting Japan in a viola case in the intrigue department, but I love a political soap opera when it's at the Dem's expense.
Posted by: Raj || 02/02/2020 6:50 Comments || Top||

#5  Raj, to answer a couple of questions. First, a single surveyor could easily have destroyed the poll. By not placing Bernie's name on their poll in a theoretical 10% of surveys, if he were to receive 25% support, that would mean that his overall average would be roughly 2.5% lower than it should have been. So instead of looking like a 25% candidate, he would be at 22.5% (entirely theoretical, not sure what current standings might look like in Iowa). That could change him from first to second place, easily.

Second, 1 in 19 is slightly better than five percent, viewed in a statistical sense. I do not believe that they have done this before, but pushing out a poll that has been totally compromised could easily have destroyed their reputation, at least in their own view. If it was either deliberate sabotage that was not authorized at the top or a fuck-up (I think the first is much more likely, but both are possible), they would be very justified in pulling the poll.

Third, the backstory behind the poll will in all likelihood never be released. A lot of this information is kept close to the chest. But if it does emerge, look for it sooner rather than later, while the story is still in the public eye and Bernie's people and Republicans are on the hunt for a rat and/or some public entertainment.
Posted by: Vernal Hatrick || 02/02/2020 9:51 Comments || Top||

#6  could easily have destroyed their reputation

Like endorsing Princes Fauxcahontas?
Posted by: Frank G || 02/02/2020 10:31 Comments || Top||

#7  It is imperative whenever an Iowa Poll is released that there is confidence that the data accurately reflects Iowans’ opinions.

Wow. Note the weird, very kommissar-like phrasing: "it is imperative," "accurately reflects" [sic], etc.

It is imperative that the masses yield to the Vanguard of the Proletariat (aka the DNC) and not vote for the Menshevik (aka Sanders).

The Party cannot be wrong. The masses must align themselves to the Party, which alone accurately reflects the true Will of the People.

Sanders the Menshevik must not be allowed to win Iowa (and NH, and Nevada, and California and Michigan and...)
Posted by: Lex || 02/02/2020 10:49 Comments || Top||

#8  Who cares what the Poll sez? Trump is going to win in a Landslide anyway and the Donks are just pissing their money and time in the Toilet.

Trump is exonerated. The DNC has wasted America's Time and money, they don't have any ideas or solutions to offer the Public. They have blown any credibility they had with The Trump Syndrome screwy Looey kabuki . The American People are not stupid.. Everybody knows what the Donks are...LOSERS,Incompetent Losers. Schiff and Pelosi are Losers.The entire Donk Lineup is squat blind squirrels. It is a JOKE. Bloomberg is throwing his money away and not getting anything from Sane people. Bernie is a tautology. Besides he will just die of old age and there is no future there...just a one way ride to the cemetery. Besides, If he has AOC as his Vice, no one will vote for that. Biden ? Stick a big spoon in his butt.
All Doomed meat. The Dems haven't got a prayer against Trump.

Watch it happen. Trump will drop a hammer on all the eggs in the Dems basket. No worries.
The reason Congress didn't call any "witnesses" is that they saw the hoax of the Impeachment for what it is....and quit wasting their time even listening to the Donks PHONY dance.
Mueller said it all. There was no "THERE" in the Donk There.

Never was.
Posted by: Enver Snore3054 || 02/02/2020 12:12 Comments || Top||

#9  How close was the Iowa Poll in 2016?
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 02/02/2020 12:46 Comments || Top||

#10  Hurt reputation? These are the pig fuckers who put a political hit on a guy who donated $1million to a children's hospital.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 02/02/2020 13:02 Comments || Top||

#11  Polls, schmolls! I don't believe anything any more. I'm just in it for the chaos.
Posted by: SteveS || 02/02/2020 13:17 Comments || Top||

#12  Althouse has a post up which says the NYT claims that somebody enlarged a font, which squeezed But-what's'isname off the screen, and then somebody from his campaign complained.
Posted by: James || 02/02/2020 13:29 Comments || Top||

#13  bp,

in 2016 the Des Moines Register Poll had Hillary up by 3% over Sanders; the actual caucus results were basically a tie

interestingly back in 2016 Martin O'Malley had 3% in the 2016 iowa DMR poll but only got 0.5% in the Caucus and then dropped out
Posted by: lord garth || 02/02/2020 13:56 Comments || Top||

#14  #11 - that's why I like you so much
Posted by: Frank G || 02/02/2020 15:24 Comments || Top||

#15  James’ Ann Althouse link:

"One operator had apparently enlarged the font size on their computer screen, perhaps cutting off Mr. Buttigieg’s name from the list of options..."

The NYT has unnamed sources who explain what went wrong with that Des Moines Register poll that was withheld at the last minute.
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/02/2020 16:15 Comments || Top||


China-Japan-Koreas
China Angry at U.S. Coronavirus Virus Travel Restrictions: 'Not a Gesture of Goodwill'
[PJ] World governments are reacting to the coronavirus outbreak in China and Beijing is upset about it.

It's not that the commies want to pretend that everything is normal. They just think that preventing Chinese citizens from stepping foot in many countries is an overreaction.

Except it isn't. The death toll in China has reached 259 with no sign that the disease has stopped spreading. More significantly, the number of cases in China has now surpassed the number of SARS cases from 2003 -- and the disease was only discovered two months ago. The rapid spread of the virus from nation to nation has forced the World Health Organization to declare a global emergency.
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/02/2020 03:15 || Comments || Link || [14 views] Top|| File under: Commies

#1  Sticking gp120 on coronavirus AND - then - letting it escape, wasn't a gesture of goodwill either. If you're going to play these kind of games, play by the rules!
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 02/02/2020 5:06 Comments || Top||

#2  fuck em
Posted by: Chris || 02/02/2020 9:25 Comments || Top||

#3  Whaaaaa....

Clean up your fucking country and then we'll talk.
Posted by: DarthVader || 02/02/2020 9:36 Comments || Top||

#4  A pathogen that is contagious before symptoms manifest is a near perfect biological weapon
Get millions of people sick crash the world economy you don’t have to make it lethal just make it strong enough to send millions home from work for a long time
AND kick up a fuss about quarantines and restrictions on travel so you can spread it easily
Personally I think this is a trial run
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom || 02/02/2020 10:09 Comments || Top||

#5  Goodwill was shown by not eradicating the source of the virus.
Posted by: Mercutio || 02/02/2020 10:58 Comments || Top||


#7  Goodwill scolding from a country that steals and cheats and names the US as it’s main enemy, YJCMTSU. One can only hope this tragedy breeds the people there to overthrow the entire Communist thuggery that runs the place. But sadly, they don’t have a Second Amendment do they?
Posted by: NoMoreBS || 02/02/2020 11:28 Comments || Top||

#8 
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain || 02/02/2020 11:57 Comments || Top||

#9  Fuck em.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 02/02/2020 12:17 Comments || Top||

#10  Sqeal Piggy. Bat Soup.
Posted by: Enver Snore3054 || 02/02/2020 12:18 Comments || Top||

#11  Philippines: Duterte widens travel ban on mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau

Go said Duterte accepted the recommendation of the Department of Health (DOH) along with the members of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Subsequently on Sunday morning, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea announced in a statement that the temporary ban now covers the following:

- The entry of any person, regardless of nationality, except Filipino citizens and foreigners holding permanent resident visas issued by the Philippine government, directly coming from China and its special administrative regions (SARs) Hong Kong and Macau

- The entry of any person, regardless of nationality, except Filipino citizens and holders of permanent resident visa issued by the Philippine government, who within 14 days immediately preceding arrival in the Philippines, has been to China and its SARs

- Temporary ban on Filipinos from travelling to China and its SARs

Airport authorities said Sunday afternoon that foreigners who have traveled from China will be sent back to Hong Kong if they arrive before Monday midnight. Authorities, however, are leaving airline companies to deal with this.

The infectious diseases task force also recommended the establishment of a repatriation and quarantine facility and a mandatory 14-day quarantine for Filipinos and permanent resident visa holders coming from any place in China and its SARs.

Manila International Airport Authority General Manager Ed Monreal, however, said Filipinos coming back to the country from China and its SARs would only have to be quarantined in their homes, where they would keep in touch with an epidemiologist who would check in with them through calls twice a day.
Posted by: CrazyFool || 02/02/2020 12:42 Comments || Top||

#12  I see problems with large festivals in the world in this time period. Carnival in Brazil and Mardi Gras in New Orleans come to mind along with say Granada's Easter Week stuff.
Posted by: 3dc || 02/02/2020 15:24 Comments || Top||

#13  Memo to self: stay out of Noo Awlins. Got it.

(Probably a good idea anyway).
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain || 02/02/2020 17:23 Comments || Top||

#14  ...I'd add staying a good distance from anyone who's attending any such function in the past 10 days.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 02/02/2020 17:52 Comments || Top||

#15  More reason why US companies should promote work from home options when practical.
Posted by: ruprecht || 02/02/2020 18:53 Comments || Top||

#16  ^15, exactly what happened to my son. We were in Beijing last week and he was informed that when he returned, he had to work at home for two weeks. We had some plans but eventually he elected just to leave while he could, since airlines are rapidly cancelling flights, and many service back to USA altogether. Beijing is pretty locked down - I actually don't think it is possible to get the virus downtown - there is no one to get it from! Empty streets. Schools have been closed indefinitely, with many exploring online options to keep things semi-operational. All of my college students who went home for Spring festival have been told not to return and are basically quarantined in their hometown (and going nuts with boredom!). Overall, there appears to be at least 99% cooperation among citizens to shut this thing down, based on what I have seen in Beijing and Chongqing. It is impossible to imagine the economic impact of this thing, that will hurt more people than the virus itself.
Posted by: Beau || 02/02/2020 23:22 Comments || Top||


ADV Youtube Channel Guys on the Coronavirus
For y'all's edification. Maybe. I'm still listening to it.



Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain || 02/02/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under: Commies

#1  Pff, this guy is the worst. Full of BS.
Posted by: Herb McCoy || 02/02/2020 10:58 Comments || Top||

#2  Anything in particular?
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain || 02/02/2020 11:18 Comments || Top||

#3  On reaching its tip, puffed poor Sisyphus,
"This Pyramid is mighty precipitous!"
Then, back down the face
Slid poor Herb, to its base,
And the dim-witted slights of dismissive us.
Posted by: Caesar Shinelet1719 || 02/02/2020 11:29 Comments || Top||

#4  ^ *golf clap*
Posted by: Frank G || 02/02/2020 11:34 Comments || Top||

#5  See what I mean? You've got no arguments, just playground insults.
Posted by: Herb McCoy || 02/02/2020 12:44 Comments || Top||

#6  That's one hell of a playground kid. Besides, you led comments.

Legit criticism would be: should have used the Winnie the Flu commie flag.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 02/02/2020 12:56 Comments || Top||

#7  #5לך תזדיין בתחת הרב.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 02/02/2020 12:58 Comments || Top||

#8  I asked you for your specific arguments besides 'they're full of crap' and you ignored me. Someone else came along with something possibly funny and suddenly you're all "help I'm being oppressed!"

OK, I'll ask again, since I wanted to see what people thought of the video...

What's wrong with the video?
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain || 02/02/2020 17:22 Comments || Top||

#9  well, if I can be Frank, don't ask me to judge an hour and half movie I didn't subscribe or seek out, with all due respect. It could be the greatest flick, but....

If there's a point something specific starts, it helps to give a hint?
Posted by: Frank G || 02/02/2020 19:20 Comments || Top||


China reports outbreak of deadly bird flu among chickens in Hunan province, close to coronavirus epicentre of Wuhan
[So China Morn Post] HT Insty. Ima thinkrn "Mandate from Heaven" might be not so sure?
Posted by: Frank G || 02/02/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [9 views] Top|| File under: Commies

#1  God gave man free will. Like they say in the Firesign Theater, "In the Next World, You're on Your Own."
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 02/02/2020 1:11 Comments || Top||

#2  I wonder why all these things happen near Wuhan - could it have something to do with Wuhan's biowarfare center? Neh.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 02/02/2020 1:51 Comments || Top||


#4  A parliament: quarantined fowls.
Up first was the wisest of owls,
Demanding, well, "Who?"
When the foo answered, "Pooh!"
All dissolved in a chorus of yowls
And a... snowstorm... of down from his pals.
Posted by: Caesar Shinelet1719 || 02/02/2020 6:24 Comments || Top||

#5  Ave Caesar. Couldn't rhyme anything with Xi?
Posted by: Mercutio || 02/02/2020 10:56 Comments || Top||

#6  ^ Sad, innit? Oughtta be easy, and probably is for normal, energetic people, but I get hung up on the tones and (notwithstanding my very very limited stock of vocabulary) the expanding fan of pun (and whatnot) potential.
Posted by: Caesar Shinelet1719 || 02/02/2020 23:58 Comments || Top||


Down Under
Australia turns to American for sperm donors after massive shortage of Aussie blokes
Posted by: Skidmark || 02/02/2020 11:49 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:


Europe
Ukrainiain 'SOB' Who Got Fired' Files Criminal Complaint Against Biden For Abuse Of Power
[PJ] Multiple sources have confirmed a report by French news site Les Crises that former Ukrainian Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin has filed a complaint with Ukraine’s National Bureau of Investigation this week demanding an investigation be launched against Joe Biden, who successfully pressured the Ukrainian government to fire him and protect Burisma Holdings, the company his son Hunter sat on the board of, making $83,000/month, despite having no experience related to their business.

Shokin alleges in his filing that Biden orchestrated his ouster as prosecutor general in order to prevent the completion of his investigation of the notoriously corrupt natural gas company, Burisma Holdings.
During the period 2014-2016, the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine was conducting a preliminary investigation into a series of serious crimes committed by the former Minister of Ecology of Ukraine Mykola Zlotchevsky and by the managers of the company "Burisma Holding Limited "(Cyprus), the board of directors of which included, among others, Hunter Biden, son of Joseph Biden, then vice-president of the United States of America.

Shokin contends the investigation was "carried out in strict accordance with Criminal Law" and under his "personal control as the Prosecutor General of Ukraine."
Owing to my firm position on the above-mentioned cases regarding their prompt and objective investigation, which should have resulted in the arrest and the indictment of the guilty parties, Joseph Biden developed a firmly hostile attitude towards me which led him to express in private conversations with senior Ukrainian officials, as well as in his public speeches, a categorical request for my immediate dismissal from the post of Attorney General of Ukraine in exchange for the sum of US $ 1 billion in as a financial guarantee from the United States for the benefit of Ukraine.

Biden Spox: Hunter Was Cleared by Obama White House to Serve on Burisma Board

Shokin cited as evidence the publicly available video of Joe Biden bragging about the quid pro quo, which ultimately got him fired. In his complaint, Shokin elaborated on Biden's efforts to have him removed.
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/02/2020 07:04 || Comments || Link || [15 views] Top|| File under:

#1  They got the tape. Who are you going to believe, Biden or your lying eyes?
Posted by: Procopius2k || 02/02/2020 8:06 Comments || Top||

#2  Investigation should aim for the stars, Hunter Was Cleared by Obama White House .
Posted by: AlanC || 02/02/2020 8:10 Comments || Top||

#3  Can we extradite Obummer and the Bidens to Ukraine?

While at it can we also ship out the Dem propaganda arm, the MSM, and the Dem Party. Dem Party and MSM might be better-suited to Russia.
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/02/2020 8:23 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
4 young boys who trespassed on Hindu temple in Chhachhro set free
[DAWN] Four young trespassers who had confessed to sneaking into a Hindu temple to steal the cash presented to deities as offering by the faithful in Premo-Ji-Vary village on the outskirts of Sindh's Chhachhro town a few days ago were set free on Saturday after the complainant withdrew the charges against them.

The complainant in the case, Prem Kumar, withdrew the charges against the minor boys at the request of leaders of the local Hindu panchayat as a "goodwill gesture".

The four boys aged 12-15 years, who are students of a primary school in the same village, were arrested late on Monday night by Chhachhro police with the help of the village’s footprint trackers.

They had confessed to having stolen cash from the money box placed in the temple. Initial reports had suggested that the intruders also caused damage to some idols of deities.

The incident had created an uproar in the desert region with members of the Sindh cabinet and politicians joining the chorus of condemnation and calls for stern action against the culprits.
Posted by: Fred || 02/02/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Israel border closure due to coronavirus 'like Holocaust' – Chinese embassy
"These people are literally Hitler!"
[Jpost] The decision by Israel to close its borders to visitors from China due to the spread of the coronavirus is "reminiscent of the Holocaust," the Chinese Embassy to Israel said on Sunday, according to Channel 13.
"This is reminiscent of World War II, the Holocaust, the darkest days of human history," said the embassy. "Millions of Jews were murdered and many were banned from entering countries. Some countries opened their gates, one of them was China."

The decision comes as Chinese people around the world have been impacted by racism in light of the spread of the Novel Coronavirus that began in Wuhan, China, and has now infected 14,628 people worldwide and killed 305 people. The first death outside of China was reported on Sunday, according to Reuters.

In Indonesia, residents have demanded that Chinese visitors leave hotels. In South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and Vietnam, restaurants have refused to serve Chinese customers, according to Channel 13.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 02/02/2020 12:43 || Comments || Link || [13 views] Top|| File under: Commies


#2  Is Chinese food big in Israel?
(don't say Panda Express!)
Seems like a popular thing in Jewish communities here.

I do like how the ChiComs blame the border closings on racism. They have learned to play the game well.
Posted by: SteveS || 02/02/2020 12:57 Comments || Top||

#3  Actually, the compare the closure with countries not accepting Jews fleeing Nazi Germany, Steve. That is, they're saying these people are refugees.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 02/02/2020 13:01 Comments || Top||

#4  That would be pre-commie China.

As far as open borders, is that a hat tip to the Japanese or Flying Tigers?
Posted by: swksvolFF || 02/02/2020 13:13 Comments || Top||

#5  I think China had no idea what the Holocaust was all about, but is happy to invoke it to see if it gets them what they want.
Posted by: gorb || 02/02/2020 23:51 Comments || Top||


Science & Technology
Not All F-35 News is Bad
[NationalInterest] Why the F-35s Crazy 'Beast Mode' Should Terrify North Korea, China (Or Anyone): It can take out multiple targets with ease.
Posted by: Mercutio || 02/02/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [8 views] Top|| File under:

#1  All it does is show that the Paveway IV missiles are pretty good. It doesn't tell us much about the F=35 performance other than it seems to be a stable missile platform, i.e. straight and level flight. 'Beast mode' is a good concept though.

Lockheed need to reduce the code line count from 1.5 (or more) million lines to a functional level.

The bare minimum of code plus a bit that gets the job done and no more. It takes a real engineer to do proper critical coding and not some ex newspaper(wo)man or coal miner to achieve that. (Yes I know, there's always the exceptional ones, but they're rare.)

Too many lines of codes lead to computing delay churning through the unnecessary codes to get the job done. This seems to be a problem with the F-35 along with stall and weight issues.
Posted by: Seeking Cure For Ignorance || 02/02/2020 5:49 Comments || Top||

#2  I have a friend who's son has flown both the F-22 and F-35. He prefers the F-22.
Posted by: Deacon Blues || 02/02/2020 6:44 Comments || Top||

#3  If you consider the F-35 as an F/A-35 like the "F-117" then it seems useful... mostly. Cramming the ELINT, mini-AWACS, and the HAL 9000 AI software logistics package as standard features that must be maintained on all aircraft ... At some point you get a multi-role mess that is mediocre at everything.
Posted by: magpie || 02/02/2020 11:29 Comments || Top||

#4  C’mon, Magpie; you are suggesting the Ascot Corps are jealous of the Brown Shoe Navy and their “Do anything (mediorcty-like) Super LawnDart.
Saw a report that the 5-sided Funhouse was contemplating a restart of the F-15 line since so many are up against airframe retirement hours.
Somehow I can’t picture any USAF General NOT wanting to tinker with what works and slather on the electronic bling; the aerospace equivalent of a Mister “ T” Starter Kit....
Posted by: USN, Ret. || 02/02/2020 20:12 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Culture Wars
There's One Glaring Absence From The Super Bowl - Colin Kaepernick
Yep - that's what someone at the Wall Street Journal thinks is a relevant Super Bowl news story.
[WSJ] - MIAMI‐During the 49ers’ run to this Super Bowl, there has been one glaring absence: Colin Kaepernick.

Seven years ago, Kaepernick took the 49ers to the Super Bowl. It was the last time San Francisco made it here. But Kaepernick has been missing from the week-long hoopla ahead of this game between the Niners and Chiefs, a period when stars past and present are typically paraded around and feted. Former quarterback Jeff Garcia and running back Frank Gore, who was once Kaepernick’s teammate with the 49ers, were among the former San Francisco players on "Radio Row" here this week.

Meanwhile, Kaepernick, the last San Francisco star to take the team on a run like this, has been a ghost.

"They’re trying to erase him," said New York Giants safety Michael Thomas, a vice president with the NFL Players Association. "Even if you’re not going to talk about the controversial part, at least talk about what he did on the field‐which was electrifying."

Kaepernick’s shadow has loomed over the league for four years now, after he catalyzed controversial protests during the 2016 season. But his absence has been especially acute during these playoffs because of the run of his former team.
He's been out of pro football for three years but some people still insist on portraying the guy as some sort of martyr.
Posted by: Raj || 02/02/2020 11:54 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Oh no, he will be remembered as having that game with more turnovers than yards gained.

And having Kermit Feet.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 02/02/2020 12:41 Comments || Top||

#2  A completely unforced error on Colin's part. He didn't HAVE to alienate such a large part of the NFL's viewing audience quite so blatantly. But he did, and so we don't want to see any more of him.

Now, as for leading the 49ers to a 2-14 season the last time he played, maybe some team might have an interest in that...
Posted by: Tom || 02/02/2020 13:36 Comments || Top||

#3  Who? Oh...'him', or was it 'Ze' ?
Posted by: magpie || 02/02/2020 13:38 Comments || Top||

#4  #1 - LOL!
Posted by: Frank G || 02/02/2020 15:29 Comments || Top||

#5  Ya mean the Al Bundy of the NFL.
Posted by: AlmostAnonymous5839 || 02/02/2020 18:16 Comments || Top||

#6  There was no better national anthem kneeler than Colin K. He made it into an art form I can't believe he wasn't introduced before the crowd at the Super Bowl.
Posted by: jpal || 02/02/2020 19:00 Comments || Top||



Who's in the News
29[untagged]
6Govt of Iraq
4Commies
3Moslem Colonists
2Taliban
2al-Nusra
2Govt of Iran
2Hamas
2Hezbollah
1Sublime Porte
1al-Qaeda in North Africa
1Houthis
1Antifa
1Muslim Brotherhood
1Palestinian Authority
1Govt of Iran Proxies
1Govt of Pakistan

Bookmark
E-Mail Me

The Classics
The O Club
Rantburg Store
The Bloids
The Never-ending Story
Thugburg
Gulf War I
The Way We Were
Bio

Merry-Go-Blog











On Sale now!


A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.

Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.

Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has dominated Mexico for six years.
Click here for more information

Meet the Mods
In no particular order...
Steve White
Seafarious
tu3031
badanov
sherry
ryuge
GolfBravoUSMC
Bright Pebbles
trailing wife
Gloria
Fred
Besoeker
Glenmore
Frank G
3dc
Skidmark

Two weeks of WOT
Sun 2020-02-02
  Iraq’s President Barham Saleh assigns Mouhammed Tawfiq Allawi with forming a new government
Sat 2020-02-01
  Qassim al-Rimi, the head of al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Yemen tits up.
Fri 2020-01-31
  Senate Votes 51-49 Against Witnesses and Documents
Thu 2020-01-30
  #Hamas rejects ‘conspiracies’ as #Trump unveils Mideast plan
Wed 2020-01-29
  Turkish tanks and troops have just arrived at the port of Tripoli. In violation of the arms embargo
Tue 2020-01-28
  Iran foreign minister calls Trump peace plan for Middle East 'delusional'
Mon 2020-01-27
  USAF E-11A down in Taliban area.
Sun 2020-01-26
  JeM’s Kashmir chief among 3 killed in Pulwama encounter: Army
Sat 2020-01-25
  AlSadr orders his followers to withdraw from #TahrirSquare and dismantle the tents
Fri 2020-01-24
  PLA mobilized to deal with Wuhan
Thu 2020-01-23
  UN calls for strengthening international support for the Palestinians
Wed 2020-01-22
  IRGC Commander & "Soleimani Ally" Shot Dead By Masked Assassins On Motorcycle
Tue 2020-01-21
  Several civilians killed by female suicide bomber in western Chad
Mon 2020-01-20
  Iraqi counter-terrorism forces arrest high-ranking ISIS official in Fallujah
Sun 2020-01-19
  Protesters burn the Hezbollah headquarters in Iraq


Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
18.219.14.63
Help keep the Burg running! Paypal:
WoT Operations (16)    WoT Background (12)    Opinion (13)    (0)    Politix (4)