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One Step Closer --The ORANGE suite awaits the ORANGE man
Trump Organization convicted in executive tax dodge scheme
By MICHAEL R. SISAK 10 minutes ago
NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump’s company was convicted of tax fraud Tuesday for helping executives dodge taxes on extravagant perks such as Manhattan apartments and luxury cars, a repudiation of financial practices at the former president’s business as he mounts another run for the White House.
A jury found two corporate entities at the Trump Organization guilty on all 17 counts, including charges of conspiracy and falsifying business records. Trump himself was not on trial. The verdict in state court in New York came after about 10 hours of deliberations over two days.
The conviction was validation for New York authorities who say their three-year investigation into Trump and his businesses is continuing. The probe, which began as an inquiry into hush-money payments made on Trump’s behalf, later morphed into an examination of the company’s asset valuation and pay practices.
The company faces a fine of up to $1.6 million. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 13. The defense said it will appeal.
. . .
https://apnews.com/article/business-new-york-manhattan-donald-trump-government-and-politics-86177401a887c85ab50d8b78eb1ed397?utm_source=homepage&utm_medium=TopNews&utm_campaign=position_01
LYING TRUMP is the issue!
' What where are you guys angry with before Trump? '
TRUMP And The company he keeps
Dec. 6, 2022 at 10:25 am, Updated Dec. 6, 2022 at 10:30 am
By David Horsey
Seattle Times cartoonist
No doubt former President Donald Trump would have happily hosted Benito Mussolini, Josef Mengele and Bull Connor for Christmas dinner if they were around to say nice things about him. Compliments directed Trump’s way seem to be the only prerequisite for getting an invitation to dine with the twice-impeached ex-president.
Recently, Trump welcomed the anti-Semitic rap musician Ye .. https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation-politics/trump-faulted-for-dinner-with-white-nationalist-rapper-ye/ .. — formerly known as Kanye West — to his Mar-a-Lago compound and Ye brought along a plus one, Nick Fuentes, who is a Holocaust-denying white nationalist agitator. When reports of the cozy supper became public, Trump was widely condemned, even by a few of the Republicans who have, until now, been too cowed by their party leader to say anything even slightly critical about him.
Trump now claims he had no idea who Fuentes was, which is a bit hard to believe. Was he truly unaware that Fuentes has given him the ultimate compliment by declaring on his social media platform that Trump should be president again — and that there should be no more elections thereafter so that Trump could be a white nationalist dictator for life?
https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/the-company-he-keeps/
Mitt Romney Mocks 'RINO' Trump Over His Call To Torch Constitution
Story by Igor Bobic • Yesterday 7:33 PM
WASHINGTON ? Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) borrowed one of Donald Trump’s favorite nicknames for his critics when asked about the ex-president calling for the “termination” of the U.S. Constitution over the weekend.
“Well, the Republican Party is the Constitution party,”
Romney told reporters on Capitol Hill on Monday.
“So when he calls to suspend the Constitution, he goes from being MAGA to being RINO.”
Trump often refers to his Republican critics with the monicker “RINO,” which stands for “Republican In Name Only.”
Over the years, he’s used it as a put-down against people like Romney, the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and others in the GOP who dared to speak out against him.
The former president suggested a redo of the 2020 presidential election on Saturday because of newly released Twitter messages between the social media platform’s leaders in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election. The messages discuss content moderation decisions, including the company’s decision to block a New York Post story involving Joe Biden’s son Hunter.
“A Massive Fraud of this type and magnitude allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.
Trump later tried to argue that he didn’t say what he said and accused the media of spreading lies.
GOP congressional reactions to Trump’s comments ranged from outright condemnation to lukewarm disagreement to obvious attempts to dodge the question. No Republican lawmaker flatly ruled out supporting Trump if he becomes the GOP presidential nominee in 2024, however.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said Trump’s social media post was “not a responsible thing to say.”
“I don’t know why anybody would say something like that; certainly not an ex-president. I just think it’s irresponsible,” Cornyn added.
“It’s a fantasy,” added Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.). “I consider it kind of a Hail Mary to maintain some hope when everybody knows it’s not the case. We’re the party of the Constitution; it’s not going to happen.”
Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), who is retiring next month to become the president of the University of Florida, said his GOP colleagues “are going to have to choose if they’re for the circus clown or if they’re for the Constitution.”
Some of Trump’s biggest allies on Capitol Hill, including those who styled themselves as “constitutional conservatives,” offered little more than a few polite words in disagreement with the idea of torching the nation’s founding documents.
“There are no exceptions to the Constitution,” Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) told HuffPost. Asked if Trump should apologize or clarify his remarks, Paul simply reiterated his statement.
“The Constitution is enduring and it will be for millennia to come,” added Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), another self-described constitutional conservative.
Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) chided reporters for focusing on Trump’s comments instead of other issues like the economy.
“I’m not going to waste my time trying to dissect when he said this and how he said that. We should be focused on problems that matter to us at home,” Marshall said.
A few GOP senators did offer more fulsome rebukes of Trump’s comments. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said that suggesting to terminate the Constitution “is not only a betrayal of our Oath of Office, it’s an affront to our Republic.”
And Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) said in a statement that “anyone who desires to lead our country must commit to protecting the Constitution.” But when HuffPost asked if Trump’s comments should disqualify him from running for president, Rounds demurred.
“I think what happened on January 6 [2021] is something that he disqualified himself for, but the American voters are going to have to send that message,” he said.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/mitt-romney-mocks-rino-trump-over-his-call-to-torch-constitution/ar-AA14WHd7?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=c2d38569aeb645ee9469c7ba0e1c8cfa
Best of 2022: Top 50 Photographs From Around the World
By My Modern Met Team on December 1, 2022
As we inch closer to the end of yet another year, we innately have the urge to reflect on the past 12 months, dissecting everything we’ve accomplished, endured, and overcome. One of the best ways to take a trip down memory lane is through pictures. Whether it be to take a look back at a shared experience or to evoke an individual feeling, images have a way of retracing our steps and reminding us of our humanity, ephemerality, and perseverance.
The year 2022 has been filled with a range of events, emotions, and everyday moments that have united people from all across the world. Whether it be a candid shot of two foxes sharing a tender moment or an unnoticed gasoline puddle that seems to hold the entire universe in its reflective surface, there is beauty to be found in all corners of the world. To balance these sweet, serene, and surreal moments, there are also reminders of the struggles, strife, and sadness that have been experienced this year. Namely, the war in Ukraine, the overturning of Roe v. Wade in the U.S., and the protests in Iran have drawn the attention of nations across the globe. Within the U.S., gun control also took center stage yet again as the country grappled with the aftermath of the heartbreaking Uvalde school shooting.
Despite all the social and political unrest, it’s important to remember the bright spots of the year and the scientific community has had many. For starters, the James Webb Space Telescope successfully reached its destination this year and has exceeded expectations ever since. Thanks to this amazing successor to the Hubble Telescope, we’ve been able to capture sights never before seen with such clarity, including images of the Pillars of Creation, Jupiter’s auroras, and Neptune. And right at the tail end of this year, NASA’s Artemis I launched into outer space, paving the way for more missions to the Moon and Mars. We also got an incredible image of the Sun’s chromosphere. It's been an amazing—dare we say, stellar—year for astronomy and astrophotographers alike.
Join us as we take a visual trip back to some of the most breathtaking, eye-opening, invigorating, and heartwarming photos of 2022.
This year has been a mixed bag of good and bad moments, but photographers have found a way to unite the world with their images. Let's take a look back at all the sweet, sad, and surreal photos of 2022—everything that contributes to our human experience this year.
https://mymodernmet.com/best-photos-of-2022/
Cheney calls Trump ‘enemy of the Constitution’ after he proposes terminating it
A number of other Republicans condemned the message, but most stopped short of criticizing Trump himself.
"No honest person can now deny that Trump is an enemy of the Constitution," Rep. Liz Cheney tweeted on Sunday. | Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
By Olivia Olander
12/04/2022 12:34 PM EST
Updated: 12/04/2022 05:04 PM EST
Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) called former President Donald Trump an “enemy of the Constitution” on Sunday, after he suggested considering “termination” of the Constitution on Saturday — one of few overt condemnations in the GOP of Trump’s words.
“No honest person can now deny that Trump is an enemy of the Constitution,” Cheney tweeted on Sunday.
Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), who has served with Cheney on the select committee investigating the attack on the Capitol, said the former president “hates the Constitution.”
“Not a single conservative can legitimately support him, and not a single supporter can be called a conservative,” Kinzinger said. “This is insane.”
Kinzinger, like Cheney, is a frequent Trump critic who’s leaving Congress in January. Other Republicans on Sunday were also critical of the idea of the Constitution being set aside, but they declined to say whether they’d vote for Trump again after the statement.
“It is certainly not consistent with the oath that we all take,” said Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio). “I vehemently disagree with the statement that Trump has made.”
But Turner, speaking to host Margaret Brennan on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” declined to say Trump’s remarks were “disqualifying” when it came to his presidential candidacy.
“There is a political process that has to go forward,” Turner said.
On his own social media platform Saturday morning, Trump said falsely that there was widespread fraud in the 2020 election and argued that unprecedented measures were, therefore, called for to return him to office.
“A Massive Fraud of this type and magnitude allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution,” Trump posted.
The Biden administration on Saturday condemned Trump’s statement, calling it “anathema to the soul of our nation.”
https://www.politico.com/news/2022/12/03/white-house-trump-constitution-america-00072069
Pressed by host George Stephanopoulos on whether he could support someone who had suggested suspending the Constitution, Rep. Dave Joyce (R-Ohio) said on ABC’s “This Week” that he would “support whoever the Republican nominee is.”
“He says a lot of things,” Joyce said of Trump, adding that Trump does not have the power to suspend the Constitution. “You have to take it in context ... I can’t be really chasing every one of these crazy statements that come out about — from any of these candidates.”
Both Joyce and Rep.-elect Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) said they didn’t think voters wanted to look “backward,” following Republicans’ unexpectedly narrow House majority victory last month.
“I certainly don’t endorse that language,” Lawler said of Trump’s constitutional “termination” on CNN’s “State of the Union.” He urged Trump to look toward the future as Trump seeks the presidency again.
Democrats condemned Trump’s remarks and also suggested they reflected a larger problem within the GOP.
“It was a strange statement, but the Republicans are going to have to work out their issues with the former president,” Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), the recently elected House Democratic leader, said Sunday on “This Week.”
Jeffries said he didn’t take Trump’s statement as unexpected.
“Suspending the Constitution is an extraordinary step, but we’re used to extraordinary statements being made by the former president.”
Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) said Trump “has become like the crazy uncle down at Mar-a-Lago, saying things which make no sense in America democracy.”
Speaking on MSNBC’s “The Sunday Show,” Cicilline said Trump’s remarks are just the latest in a long line of troubling remarks undermining democracy.
“It’s just the most recent, but very explicit, attack by the former president,” he said.
Some Democrats specifically pointed to the relatively quiet reaction from across the aisle. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, for example, said “everyone” should condemn Trump’s “attack on democracy,” calling him “out of control.”
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), who was a lead figure in Trump’s first impeachment trial, also called out “so-called ‘constitutional conservatives’” for not speaking out against Trump.
“I guess a ‘constitutional conservative’ is one who is conservative in their support for the constitution … when it’s inconvenient,” Schiff wrote on Twitter.
Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who’s seeking to become the next speaker of the House, was not asked about Trump’s remarks in an appearance on “Sunday Morning Futures With Maria Bartiromo” but was sympathetic to the underlying assertions at the heart of Trump’s attack: his accusation that Big Tech worked to censor reports of misdeeds by Hunter Biden, son of presidential candidate Joe Biden, in the weeks before the 2020 presidential election.
“Think about the timeline of when this was right before the election, just a couple weeks. And remember how close this election was,” he said.
Trump also continued to take some criticism Sunday on his dinner late last month with antisemitic white nationalist Nick Fuentes and rapper Ye, better known as Kanye West. “This is atrocious,” Turner said, adding that he was astounded that in 2022, antisemitism still even had to be condemned.
“We need to make it clear we reject antisemitism left, right and center,” former Vice President Mike Pence said on “Fox News Sunday.” Pence said the question of whether the dinner was “disqualifying” is “for the American people” to decide.
GOP lawmakers have mostly declined to condemn Trump for the meeting, even if they’ve taken issue with the dinner itself. Ye has since made additional antisemitic comments, drawing additional fire from some Republicans.
Pence previously said Trump should apologize for meeting with Fuentes.
Israeli Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu, an ally of Trump during his presidency, said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that he doesn’t think Trump’s refusal to condemn antisemitic behavior will become “systemic.”
“I think he probably understands that it crosses a line,” Netanyahu said.
https://www.politico.com/news/2022/12/04/trump-termination-constitution-republicans-00072079
YES. Trump's Theme Song seemed to be Lies...Lies...
Good point about 'Lies Lies Lies'
Fact Checker Analysis
In four years, President Trump made 30,573' false or misleading claims
The Fact Checker’s database of the false or misleading claims made by President Trump while in office.
Updated Jan. 20, 2021
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/trump-claims-database/?itid=lk_inline_manual_11
The Air Force Reveals New B-21 Bomber, Keeping the Pilot for Now
The B-21 Raider was unveiled to the public at a ceremony Dec. 2, 2022 in Palmdale, California.
Designed to operate in tomorrow's high-end threat environment, the B-21 will play a critical role in ensuring America's enduring airpower capability. (U.S. Air Force photo)
3 Dec 2022
Military.com | By Thomas Novelly
05:50
The Air Force Reveals New B-21 Bomber, Keeping the Pilot for Now
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2022/12/03/air-force-reveals-new-b-21-bomber-keeping-pilot-now.html
The Air Force’s highly-classified B-21 Raider was revealed in Palmdale, California on Friday evening, marking the Pentagon’s first new American bomber in more than 30 years and the latest upgrade to the U.S. military’s nuclear triad amid rising tensions with China.
Stage hands at Northrop Grumman’s facility pulled a massive sheet draped over the aircraft revealing the muted white, long, narrow and sleek B-21 beneath it. The new aircraft is a significant update to the Pentagon’s nuclear arsenal – the triad of land, sea and air weapons that can deliver a nuclear payload. Prior to Friday’s ceremony, the public had only seen artist renderings of the aircraft.
“The B-21 looks imposing, but what's under the frame and the space-age coating is even more impressive,” said Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III. “This isn't just another airplane. It’s not just another acquisition. It is a symbol and a source of the fighting spirit that President [Ronald] Reagan spoke of. It is the embodiment of America's determination to defend the Republic that we all love.”
The Northrop Grumman-developed B-21 is capable of carrying conventional bombs and missiles as well as nuclear munitions. The defense manufacturer was awarded the contract for the aircraft in 2015.
Northrop Grumman also makes the B-2, the last generation of bomber that bears more than a passing resemblance to the B-21. That aircraft, which first flew in the 1980s, has been a backbone U.S. projection for decades. It was one of the first major aircraft designed as a “flying wing” that didn’t have a tail, an approach that gained prominence during World War II with aircraft developed for Germany by the Horton brothers.
The B-21 was named for the U.S. Army Air Force’s Doolittle Raiders, whose surprise attack against Japan during World War II boosted American morale. Austin said during his speech that there were family members of the Dolittle Raiders present in the audience.
“The audacity of the Doolittle Raiders has inspired generations of American airmen and it's fitting that the next chapter in American air power is named in their honor,” Austin said.
Many of the details, such as the size, payload and technology, of the aircraft have not been made public.
But, the B-21 – according to an Air Force fact sheet – was “designed to accommodate manned or unmanned operations,” a reflection of the increasing reliance on unmanned aircraft by the U.S. military and the future of the pilot speciality.
The service has not fully delivered on, or explained what, that unmanned concept or capability would look like. Defense experts told Military.com prior to the rollout that it is unlikely we’d see a fully autonomous bomber anywhere in the near future
“There will always be the need to have a human to occupy an aircraft for a variety of reasons,” Dave Deptula, a retired Air Force lieutenant general and dean of the nonprofit Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Power, told Military.com on Friday. “And there’s enormous potential for unmanned aircraft in the future, but we have yet to build one that provides the capability like the B-21 … Do you want to take a human out of an aircraft that has nuclear capabilities?”
In 2021, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall publicly discussed the idea of having a drone counterpart to the B-21 that would essentially act as a wingman alongside the bomber. But Kendall later backtracked, telling Breaking Defense in July that the concept was not as “cost-effective” and “less attractive” than previously thought.
Mackenzie Eaglen, a researcher at the Washington-based American Enterprise Institute think tank who focuses on Air Force defense budgets and military readiness, told Military.com that the technology, as well as the public’s comfort with an unmanned aircraft such as a bomber, isn’t there just yet.
“As far as I know, there will always be a man in the loop or on the loop,” Eaglen said on Friday, referring to the idea that a human would be either in control of weapons use or able to stop a computer from firing. “But, increasingly, the machine will be making the calculations and decisions, but a human will be there to authorize it or possibly walk it back … I don’t see the technology there yet to take the pilot out of the equation.”
Austin mentioned during his speech that the B-21 was built to last and expressed optimism in its future with the U.S. military.
The Raider was built with an open system architecture which makes it easier to modify, also making it easier to integrate new weapons that haven't even been invented yet, Austin said. “And the B-21’s edge will last for decades to come.”
Because of the bomber’s role as part of the U.S. nuclear arsenal and the design elements that make it stealthy, the B-21 program has been shrouded in secrecy, with Friday’s ceremony a long-awaited glimpse of the aircraft.
Last year, the U.S. Air Force released a rendering of the B-21, showing the long-range stealth bomber taking off from Edwards Air Force Base, California, where it will someday be tested before taking on worldwide operations.
Following extensive environmental studies, in 2021, Ellsworth Air Force Base near Rapid City, South Dakota, was selected as the first installation to receive the aircraft. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., told Military.com in a statement that the reveal marks a great day for his state and the nation.
“This is the day we’ve been looking forward to,” Rounds told Military.com in a statement. “America gets to meet the most advanced weapon system ever developed by our country to defend ourselves and our allies. This is a really great day for Ellsworth Air Force Base, which will be the home of not only the training squadrons, but of the first operational squadron as well.”
The Pentagon plans to build 100 B-21s so far, six of which are in development. The average unit cost for each bomber is around $700 million, according to an Air Force fact sheet.
Historically aircraft purchasing estimates tend to be high, with tight budgets forcing the services to cut order expectations.
Budget documents show that producing the Raider program will cost around $20 billion through 2027. The B-21 bomber will be set for its first flight in 2023.
“The next time you’ll see this plane, it’ll be in the air,” Kathy Warden, chief executive officer and president of Northrop Grumman, told the crowd.
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2022/12/03/air-force-reveals-new-b-21-bomber-keeping-pilot-now.html
====================================
ALSO:
Pentagon debuts its new stealth bomber, the B-21 Raider
By TARA COPP
today
https://apnews.com/article/technology-china-business-air-force-palmdale-761db1dae42616181a2cc63966f43554
House committee receives Donald Trump’s federal tax returns from IRS
By Katelyn Polantz, CNN Reporter, Crime and Justice
Updated 6:43 PM EST, Wed November 30, 2022
CNN -- The House Ways and Means Committee now has six years of Donald Trump’s federal tax returns, ending a yearslong pursuit by Democrats to dig into one of the former president’s most closely guarded personal details.
“Treasury has complied with last week’s court decision,” a Treasury spokesperson told CNN on Wednesday.
The spokesperson did not provide any additional information. Federal courts had decided the House could request six years of Trump’s returns, after the committee had requested them in 2019 and again in 2021, according to public court records.
The handover had been on hold, until the Supreme Court declined last week to intervene. .. https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/22/politics/supreme-court-clears-way-for-house-to-get-trumps-taxes
Several judges, including Republican appointees, have found the House had power to request the returns from the IRS.
Treasury declined to say whether the committee members have accessed the documents, according to a Treasury official.
The committee, led by Democratic Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts, had sought six years of Trump’s tax records, primarily from the time he served as president. That included records about both Trump personally and several of his corporate entities.
The panel is planning to meet Thursday to get briefed on the legal ramifications of the section of the tax law that Neal used to request Trump’s tax returns, according to a Neal aide.
Democrats are not expected to review the tax returns at this session, and the documents are not expected to be immediately released to the public.
House general counsel Doug Letter plans to brief the panel about section 6103 of the tax law at the meeting, which is a weekly session that Democrats on the committee have when they’re not on recess.
Neal refused to say to CNN if he had possession of the Trump tax documents, saying the law strictly prohibits him from discussing the state of the returns. Earlier Wednesday, the congressman also declined to say if they would release any of the returns publicly.
“The next step is to have a meeting of the Democratic caucus,” Neal said.
Trump’s legal team had continuously sought to keep his returns secret, and turned to the Supreme Court – composed of three of his nominees – after he lost at the lower court level.
“No Congress has ever wielded its legislative powers to demand a President’s tax returns,” Trump argued to the Supreme Court, as he warned of the “far-reaching implications” implications of the DC Circuit’s ruling. He had argued that that the way lower courts approached the House request ran afoul of the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Mazars case, concerning a subpoena that the House issued to Trump’s accounting firm for his tax information.
Trump’s taxes have been largely a mystery since he first ran for office.
During his 2016 campaign, the Trump broke with presidential election norms and refused to produce his tax returns for public review, and they remained private after he took office.
Being under audit by the IRS does not preclude someone from releasing their tax returns publicly. But that hasn’t stopped Trump from using it as a defense against releasing his financial information.
In 2016, Trump released a letter from his tax attorneys that confirmed he was under audit. But the letter also said the IRS finished reviewing Trump’s taxes from 2002 through 2008. Trump did not release his tax returns from those years, even though the audits were over.
An expansive New York Times report in 2020 .. https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/27/politics/trump-income-taxes-new-york-times-report .. found that Trump paid no federal income taxes whatsoever in 10 out of 15 years beginning in 2000 because he reported losing significantly more than he made.
This story has been updated with additional information Wednesday.
https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/30/politics/house-ways-and-means-committee-now-has-donald-trumps-federal-tax-returns/index.html
0
'...put that tough criticism against Joe Biden and see what you come up with'
Analysis: At Qatar World Cup, Mideast tensions spill into stadiums
By Maya Gebeily and Charlotte Bruneau
November 28, 2022 5:44 PM CST Last Updated 2 hours ago
Summary
* Iran games a flashpoint for pro- and anti-government fans
* Emir Tamim dons Saudi flag at Argentine game
* Qatar allows Israeli fans to fly in to attend Cup
* Doha hopes smooth Cup will boost global influence
DOHA, Nov 28 (Reuters) - The first World Cup in the Middle East has become a showcase for the political tensions crisscrossing one of the world's most volatile regions and the ambiguous role often played by host nation Qatar in its crises.
Iran's matches have been the most politically charged as fans voice support for protesters who have been boldly challenging the clerical leadership at home. They have also proved diplomatically sensitive for Qatar which has good ties to Tehran.
Pro-Palestinian sympathies among fans have also spilt into stadiums as four Arab teams compete. Qatari players have worn pro-Palestinian arm-bands, even as Qatar has allowed Israeli fans to fly in directly for the first time
Even the Qatari Emir has engaged in politically significant acts, donning a Saudi flag during its historic defeat of Argentina - notable support for a country with which he has been mending ties strained by regional tensions.
Such gestures have added to the political dimensions of a tournament mired in controversy even before kickoff over the treatment of migrant workers and LGBT+ rights in the conservative host country, where homosexuality is illegal.
The stakes are high for Qatar, which hopes a smooth tournament will cement its role on the global stage and in the Middle East, where it has survived as an independent state since 1971 despite numerous regional upheavals
The first Middle Eastern nation to host the World Cup, Qatar has often seemed a regional maverick: it hosts the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas but has also previously had some trade relations with Israel.
It has given a platform to Islamist dissidents deemed a threat by Saudi Arabia and its allies, while befriending Riyadh's foe Iran - and hosting the largest U.S. military base in the region.
AN 'INNER CONFLICT'
Tensions in Iran, swept by more than two months of protests ignited by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after she was arrested for flouting strict dress codes, have been reflected inside and outside the stadiums.
Latest Updates
* Analysis: At Qatar World Cup, Mideast tensions spill into stadiums
* Saudi Arabia announces plans for six-runway hub airport in Riyadh
* Soccer Iran's Queiroz dismisses 'mental games', hopes less politics at next World Cup
* Iran's future on U.N. women's rights body to be decided Dec. 14
"We wanted to come to the World Cup to support the people of Iran because we know it's a great opportunity to speak for them," said Shayan Khosravani, a 30-year-old Iranian-American fan who had been intending to visit family in Iran after attending the games but cancelled that plan due to the protests.
But some say stadium security have stopped them from showing their backing for the protests. At Iran's Nov. 25 match against Wales, security denied entry to fans carrying Iran's pre-Revolution flag and T-shirts with the protest slogan "Woman, Life, Freedom" and "Mahsa Amini".
After the game, there was tension outside the ground between opponents and supporters of the Iranian government.
Two fans who argued with stadium security on separate occasions over the confiscations told Reuters they believed that policy stemmed from Qatar's ties with Iran.
[...]
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/qatar-world-cup-mideast-tensions-spill-into-stadiums-2022-11-28/
White House unveils its holiday decor, including 77 trees and a 'We the People' theme
Updated November 28, 2022 1:35 PM ET
DEEPA SHIVARAM
The State Dining Room of the White House is decorated for the holiday season with stockings
for family members of President Biden and first lady Jill Biden.
Patrick Semansky/AP
It's starting to look a lot like Christmas at the White House.
On Monday, first lady Jill Biden revealed this year's Christmas decorations, under the theme "We the People," which she selected months ago. The White House says more than 150 volunteers came together to decorate the building over the course of a week.
"The values that unite us can be found all around you, a belief in possibility and optimism and unity," the first lady said Monday. "Room by room we represent what brings us together during the holidays."
The White House Christmas tree is on display in the Blue Room of the White House.
According to the White House, the room's chandelier is removed every year to accommodate the Christmas tree's full height.
Patrick Semansky/A
In the State Dining Room is this year's Gingerbread White House, and next to it, a sugar cookie replica of Independence Hall in Philadelphia.
Patrick Semansky/AP
Around the White House are 77 Christmas trees, 25 wreaths and more than 83,615 holiday lights, according to the first lady's office.
This year's Gingerbread White House also incorporates a cookie model of Independence Hall in Philadelphia; together the creation weighs 300 pounds, which includes 100 pounds of pastillage, a thick sugar paste, as well as 30 pounds of chocolate and 40 pounds of royal icing, according to White House pastry chef Susan Morrison
The White House says some of the boxes in the Vermeil Room are from Operation Gratitude, a nonprofit that delivers care packages to troops,
first responders and military families.
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
[ ... ]
https://www.npr.org/2022/11/28/1139417380/white-house-christmas-holiday-decor-theme
Dr. Fauci Reflects On His 50+ Year Career In Public Health -
The Sunday Show - MSNBC
NIAID Director Dr. Anthony Fauci talks with Jonathan Capehart about the tripledemic of respiratory viruses that is circulating around and his legendary career in civil service and as a scientific researcher. - Aired on 11/27/2022
funny ??
S I C K
Riots in Belgium, Netherlands after Morocco win at World Cup
By RAF CASERT yesterday
Police cars drive through a main boulevard in Brussels, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, as violence broke out during and after Morocco's 2-0 win over Belgium at the World Cup. Police had to seal off parts of the center of Brussels and moved in with water cannons and tear gas to disperse crowds.
(AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
BRUSSELS (AP) — Riots broke out in several Belgian and Dutch cities after Morocco’s 2-0 upset win over Belgium at the World Cup Sunday.
Police detained about a dozen people after they deployed water cannons and fire tear gas to disperse crowds in Brussels and eight more in the Northern city of Antwerp. Two police officials were injured in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam. By late evening Sunday, an uneasy calm had returned to most of the cities involved.
Dozens of rioters overturned and torched cars, set electric scooters on fire and pelted cars with bricks. Police moved in after one person suffered facial injuries, said Brussels police spokeswoman Ilse Van de Keere.
Brussels mayor Philippe Close urged people to stay away from the city center and said authorities were doing their utmost to keep order in the streets. Even subway and tram traffic had to be interrupted on police orders.
“Those are not fans, they are rioters. Moroccan fans are there to celebrate,” Close said. There were also disturbances in the city of Antwerp and Liege.
“Sad to see how a few individuals abuse a situation to run amok,” said Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden.
Police in the neighboring Netherlands said violence erupted in the port city of Rotterdam, with riot officers attempting to break up a group of 500 soccer supporters who pelted police with fireworks and glass. Media reported unrest in the capital Amsterdam and The Hague.
Morocco’s victory was a major upset at the World Cup and was enthusiastically celebrated by fans with Moroccan immigrant roots in many Belgian and Dutch cities.
https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-soccer-sports-belgium-europe-0a3a98b194538517a44f89280d35b947?utm_source=apnews&utm_medium=featuredcard&utm_campaign=rightrailstory_02
AP PHOTOS: World Cup highlights from Day 8
By The Associated Press
yesterday
https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-sports-soccer-international-d2f368c018b8366c5ffb1d86c35be78c
US-England World Cup game seen by 19.98M on US television
US frustrates England again at a World Cup in 0-0 draw
yesterday
Fans from the United States cheer for their team during the World Cup group B soccer match between England and The United States, at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Friday, Nov. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
NEW YORK (AP) — The United States’ 0-0 draw against England in the World Cup drew 19.98 million viewers for English- and Spanish-language broadcasts, the third-most watched men’s soccer game on U.S. television.
The match, which kicked off at 2 p.m. EST on Friday, was seen by 15,377,000 viewers on Fox, the most for a U.S. English-language men’s soccer telecast. The figure was 6% above the 14.51 million for Brazil’s penalty-kicks win over Italy in the 1994 final at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, a Sunday 3:30 p.m. EDT start that July 17 viewed by 14,510,000 on ABC, according to Fox.
The U.S.-England game was viewed by 4.6 million on Telemundo, a division of Comcast Corp.‘s NBCUniversal. It was the third-most-watched Spanish language World Cup telecast in the U.S. since at least 2006, topped by the United States’ 2-2 group-stage draw with Portugal in 2014, seen by 6.5 million on Univision with a 6 p.m. EDT start in mid-June, and Brazil’s 2-0 win over Serbia on Thursday, a 2 p.m. EDT game seen by 5.7 million on Thanksgiving.
Fans from the United States cheer for their team during the World Cup group B soccer match between England and The United States, at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Friday, Nov. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
According to Nielsen, the only men’s soccer matches with more viewership on U.S. television were Germany’s win over Argentina in the 2014 final, seen by 22.67 million, and Spain’s victory over the Netherlands in 2010, seen by 21.36 million. Both those matches, televised by ABC and Univision, were on Sundays in July, with kickoff at 2:30 p.m. EDT in 2010 and 3 p.m. EDT in 2014.
___
AP World Cup coverage:
https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup
and
https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-entertainment-soccer-sports-international-dc41ac7132e520cea85b7a4ae57e3a65
US-England World Cup game seen by 19.98M on US television
US frustrates England again at a World Cup in 0-0 draw
today
Fans from the United States cheer for their team during the World Cup group B soccer match between England
and The United States, at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Friday, Nov. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
NEW YORK (AP) — The United States’ 0-0 draw against England in the World Cup drew 19.98 million viewers for English- and Spanish-language broadcasts, the third-most watched men’s soccer game on U.S. television.
The match, which kicked off at 2 p.m. EST on Friday, was seen by 15,377,000 viewers on Fox, the most for a U.S. English-language men’s soccer telecast. The figure was 6% above the 14.51 million for Brazil’s penalty-kicks win over Italy in the 1994 final at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, a Sunday 3:30 p.m. EDT start that July 17 viewed by 14,510,000 on ABC, according to Fox.
The U.S.-England game was viewed by 4.6 million on Telemundo, a division of Comcast Corp.‘s NBCUniversal. It was the third-most-watched Spanish language World Cup telecast in the U.S. since at least 2006, topped by the United States’ 2-2 group-stage draw with Portugal in 2014, seen by 6.5 million on Univision with a 6 p.m. EDT start in mid-June, and Brazil’s 2-0 win over Serbia on Thursday, a 2 p.m. EDT game seen by 5.7 million on Thanksgiving.
Fans from the United States cheer for their team during the World Cup group B soccer match between England and The United States, at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Friday, Nov. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
According to Nielsen, the only men’s soccer matches with more viewership on U.S. television were Germany’s win over Argentina in the 2014 final, seen by 22.67 million, and Spain’s victory over the Netherlands in 2010, seen by 21.36 million. Both those matches, televised by ABC and Univision, were on Sundays in July, with kickoff at 2:30 p.m. EDT in 2010 and 3 p.m. EDT in 2014.
___
AP World Cup coverage:
https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup
and
https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-entertainment-soccer-sports-international-dc41ac7132e520cea85b7a4ae57e3a65
In four years, President Trump made 30,573 false or misleading claims
The Fact Checker’s database of the false or misleading claims made by President Trump while in office.
Fact Checker Analysis
Updated Jan. 20, 2021
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/trump-claims-database/?itid=lk_interstitial_manual_9
Australia’s emotions run high after rare World Cup win
By ANDREW DAMPF
yesterday
Australia's Mitchell Duke celebrates after he scored the opening goal during the World Cup group D soccer match between Tunisia and Australia at the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar
, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
AL WAKRAH, Qatar (AP) — Mitchell Duke celebrated scoring Australia’s winning goal by forming a “J” with his fingers in a tribute to his son Jaxson, who was in the stands.
Coach Graham Arnold dragged injured winger Martin Boyle — on crutches — into the celebratory huddle as fans sang merrily along to Men at Work’s “Down Under,” blaring over the stadium speakers after the final whistle.
Later, Arnold was wiping away tears.
It was an emotion-filled day for Australia, which beat Tunisia 1-0 Saturday for only its third win in 18 World Cup matches.
Duke gave Australia the lead midway through the first half with a header.
“I actually was messaging some of my family, saying that I was going to score today, and I told my son that I was going to be able to share this moment with him and get that celebration,” Duke said. “I haven’t seen it yet, but apparently he did it back to me from the stadium, which was a really special moment that I’m going to treasure for the rest of my life.”
Australia hadn’t won at the World Cup since beating Serbia in 2010 and it means the Socceroos still have a chance to qualify for the round of 16, despite losing to defending champion France 4-1 in their opening match.
Boyle was injured a few weeks before the tournament and Arnold explained why he moved him into the team’s staff as “vibe manager” in Qatar.
“To keep all the guys up, because he’s one of the most fantastic blokes you’ll ever meet,” Arnold said. “There was no way he wanted to go home, and no way I wanted to send him home. He deserves it more than anybody for what he did in the qualifying campaign.”
France leads Group D with a full six points after beating Denmark 2-1 in Saturday’s other group game. Australia is next with three points, while Denmark and Tunisia trail with one point each.
In the final round of group games on Wednesday, Tunisia will play France and Australia will meet Denmark.
After a scrappy start from both sides, Australia went ahead with a play that started at the back. Duke collected the goalkeeper’s pass near the middle of the field and made a quick touch to set Craig Goodwin down the left flank. Duke then sprinted forward to nod Goodwin’s deflected cross into the far corner with his back to the goal.
The score quieted the large contingent of red-clad Tunisia fans among the crowd of 41,823 inside Al Janoub Stadium, and sent the small pockets of Australian supporters dressed in yellow into delirium.
Tunisia impressed when it held European Championship semifinalist Denmark to a 0-0 draw in its opener, but only occasionally threatened against Australia until the Aussies sat back and defended toward the end.
Australia had also gotten off to an early 1-0 lead over France in its opener, but then was outplayed in a loss which it blamed on a series of defensive errors.
There were fewer errors this time, and some timely interventions, too — none bigger than a last-gasp sliding clearance from center back Harry Souttar to block Mohamed Dräger’s dangerous shot shortly before halftime.
Australia's Mitchell Duke celebrates after he scored the opening goal during the World Cup group D soccer match between Tunisia and Australia at the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Tunisia is still seeking to advance from the group stage for the first time in its sixth World Cup appearance, but now needs to beat France.
“This edition of the World Cup has had surprises for everyone. The larger squads have been defeated,” Tunisia coach Jalel Kadri said. “We still have one more match to go and we’ll play our hearts out.”
NO CELEBRATING
Still not sure of advancing, Arnold warned his players in his post-match speech about getting too excited.
“I just said, ’No doubt the nation is extremely proud, but we’ve done nothing. You’ve achieved something we can talk about when we get home. I don’t want any celebration. Just enjoy these couple of minutes on the pitch with the fans. Then ice baths, recover and get ready for the next one,’” Arnold said.
PRIME TIME
Fans watching at home in Australia witnessed the win in a rare World Cup match shown in prime time on a Saturday night Down Under.
“There’s one or two teams that bring the nation together and that is the Socceroos and the Matildas,” Arnold said, using the nicknames for Australia’s men’s and women’s national teams. “When the Socceroos play at World Cups, AFL fans, rugby league fans, cricket fans; they all become football fans. And I can imagine the celebrations that are going on at home. … I think they’ll be a few hangovers in the morning.”
https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-sports-soccer-international-qatar-8025f24e218a4296b4a5ad6f4bfa1361
Yes, Happy belated Thanksgiving. BUT.................
But, all your nonsense after that will not be tolerated.
This board is for all things Military
Board Rules:
1. Respect each other’s opinions. Negativity about one’s country/service branch affiliation will not be accepted (you can bash the communists though)
2. No politics. There is a political board already. Though war is political so we have some leeway.....some
3. No compromise of one’s country’s sensitive information (i.e. For Official Use Only, Classified, etc.) that can potentially provide a breach of national security.
4. “War stories” are highly encouraged
5. Have fun and keep unit morale high!
AP PHOTOS: World Cup highlights from Day 7
By The Associated Press
an hour ago
Highlights from the seventh day of the World Cup in Qatar on Saturday.
https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-sports-soccer-international-65d97efdc4507b3113e5f538d4c2377f?utm_source=apnews&utm_medium=featuredcard&utm_campaign=leadsubstory_02
AP PHOTOS: World Cup highlights from Day 7
By The Associated Press
an hour ago
Highlights from the seventh day of the World Cup in Qatar on Saturday.
https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-sports-soccer-international-65d97efdc4507b3113e5f538d4c2377f?utm_source=apnews&utm_medium=featuredcard&utm_campaign=leadsubstory_02
AP PHOTOS: World Cup highlights from Day 6
By The Associated Press
yesterday
https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-sports-soccer-international-020863f637f80ca5e6952cf0a3d09f15
US frustrates England again at a World Cup in 0-0 draw
By JAMES ROBSON yesterday
AL KHOR, Qatar (AP) — Loud jeers rang around the stadium. England’s fans were not happy.
The United States had frustrated them yet again at a World Cup.
That’s three times and counting that the teams have met on soccer’s biggest stage and England is still waiting for its first win against the Americans after a 0-0 draw on Friday.
Coach Gareth Southgate had reminded his players of that record beforehand, with the U.S. famously winning 1-0 in 1950 and playing out a 1-1 draw in 2010. They didn’t seem to heed his warning and didn’t respond to Gregg Berhalter’s young and energetic team.
England beat Iran 6-2 in its opening game in Qatar to justify its status as one of the tournament favorites. But it could consider itself fortunate not to have dropped another match to the U.S., after Christian Pulisic hit the crossbar with a first-half strike and Weston McKinnie lifted a shot over from eight yards out.
The England fans had turned up at the Al Bayt Stadium in anticipation of celebrating a win and qualification to the knockout stages with a game to play.
“I want our fans at home to have a smile on their faces and we haven’t quite managed to achieve that,” Southgate said. “But people are going to react how they react and I can’t let that affect how I feel about the team or how the team feels.
“The objective is to qualify and we have three games to do it.”
Frustrating England is one thing. But Berhalter’s job is to advance to the knockout stages.
The draw sets up a match for the U.S. against Iran on Tuesday for a spot in the round of 16. Iran beat Wales 2-0 earlier and sits second in Group B with three points, one more than the Americans.
“It sets up our first knockout game of the World Cup,” Berhalter said. “We win or we’re out of the World Cup. That’s going to be the focus for us while we are preparing the team for the next game.
“But most importantly, understanding the intensity Iran is going to bring. They played an excellent game today. Played with ton of spirit will have to be up for it if we want a chance to advance.”
Southgate, meanwhile, will try to lift his players. He described them as dejected following the elating win against Iran.
And despite the boos, England is still top of the group with four points.
“It wasn’t the best performance, for sure,” said Harry Kane, who came close to scoring with a stoppage-time header. “Good spells with the ball, but we didn’t quite have the final product.
“We had two or three opportunities and didn’t put it away.”
https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-sports-soccer-middle-east-international-feb9b5519d018c2ec597f645d807cf19
US frustrates England again at a World Cup in 0-0 draw
By JAMES ROBSON yesterday
AL KHOR, Qatar (AP) — Loud jeers rang around the stadium. England’s fans were not happy.
The United States had frustrated them yet again at a World Cup.
That’s three times and counting that the teams have met on soccer’s biggest stage and England is still waiting for its first win against the Americans after a 0-0 draw on Friday.
Coach Gareth Southgate had reminded his players of that record beforehand, with the U.S. famously winning 1-0 in 1950 and playing out a 1-1 draw in 2010. They didn’t seem to heed his warning and didn’t respond to Gregg Berhalter’s young and energetic team.
England beat Iran 6-2 in its opening game in Qatar to justify its status as one of the tournament favorites. But it could consider itself fortunate not to have dropped another match to the U.S., after Christian Pulisic hit the crossbar with a first-half strike and Weston McKinnie lifted a shot over from eight yards out.
The England fans had turned up at the Al Bayt Stadium in anticipation of celebrating a win and qualification to the knockout stages with a game to play.
“I want our fans at home to have a smile on their faces and we haven’t quite managed to achieve that,” Southgate said. “But people are going to react how they react and I can’t let that affect how I feel about the team or how the team feels.
“The objective is to qualify and we have three games to do it.”
Frustrating England is one thing. But Berhalter’s job is to advance to the knockout stages.
The draw sets up a match for the U.S. against Iran on Tuesday for a spot in the round of 16. Iran beat Wales 2-0 earlier and sits second in Group B with three points, one more than the Americans.
“It sets up our first knockout game of the World Cup,” Berhalter said. “We win or we’re out of the World Cup. That’s going to be the focus for us while we are preparing the team for the next game.
“But most importantly, understanding the intensity Iran is going to bring. They played an excellent game today. Played with ton of spirit will have to be up for it if we want a chance to advance.”
Southgate, meanwhile, will try to lift his players. He described them as dejected following the elating win against Iran.
And despite the boos, England is still top of the group with four points.
“It wasn’t the best performance, for sure,” said Harry Kane, who came close to scoring with a stoppage-time header. “Good spells with the ball, but we didn’t quite have the final product.
“We had two or three opportunities and didn’t put it away.”
https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-sports-soccer-middle-east-international-feb9b5519d018c2ec597f645d807cf19
After the Bataan Death March, a life of gratitude
November 23, 2022 — 10:31am
Jennifer Brooks
Bernard FitzPatrick
The war was over at last, but Katie FitzPatrick was still waiting for word of her lost son.
Bernard had been taken prisoner three years earlier, in 1942, in the Philippines. In Bataan.
And now it was the autumn of 1945 and a Western Union messenger was walking toward her.
A telegram to the family of a missing serviceman could only mean one of two things.
"I said are you bringing me good news?" she would later write. "And he smiled and said yes and read the telegram, my first word was Thank God and I cried from joy."
It was the first letter she could write to her son knowing that he would read it, and her relief and gratitude bubbled through every line and pencil loop.
If joy and gratitude feel in short supply this Thanksgiving, let this three-page letter mailed from Minnesota 77 years ago serve as a refresher.
"Honestly Bern the telephone buzzed all afternoon and the next day asking if the news were [true]," his mother wrote. "You would not believe how many friends you have and all were praying fervently for your safe return, Masses on top of Masses were said for you. I hope I can talk to you soon in place of writing."
In three chatty pages, his mother caught him up on neighborhood news and family updates, fretted about his health, and gave thanks again and again and again.
Letter courtesy of the FitzPatrick family'
"Really Bernie, all the prayer's done it. All thanks to God," she said. "Please let me know how is your health … As ever your loving, Mother."
Bernard FitzPatrick had survived the Bataan Death March and the years of captivity, cruelty and forced labor that followed.
When he was ready to write about it, like his mother before him, he told a story of gratitude.
On almost every page of his award-winning memoir, "The Hike into the Sun,"
https://www.amazon.com/Hike-into-Sun-American-Imprisoned/dp/0786467762 ..
FitzPatrick focuses on acts of courage and kindness in the midst of horror.
The Filipino civilians who lined roads as they marched, risking beatings or worse to slip water or fruit or small cakes of sugar to the sick, starving prisoners. The guards who were kind. The German priest who doggedly delivered food, supplies and secret messages to the prisoners, until he was caught and executed. All the sick, scared and heartbreakingly young soldiers who joked and sang and carried each other through.
Bernard FitzPatrick was born into a large family on a small farm outside Waverly, Minn., in 1915.
There was no running water on the farm and no electricity. But the FitzPatricks were a family more interested in what they had than what they lacked.
They had their faith. They had music and laughter and a deep appreciation of the power of education. Most of all, they had each other.
"As adults, my father and his brothers and sisters never seemed to begrudge growing up in difficult circumstances," Bernard's son Brian FitzPatrick would recall during his eulogy for his father in 2004. "I never heard them complain about those hard times. Instead they joked about it … They seemed to understand that they were rich in the right values."
Katie FitzPatrick lost her husband, Florian, in 1939. At one point during the war that followed, three of her sons were missing in action. Two of the boys, Leonard and Red, were found safe. But not Bernie. Not for three and a half agonizing years.
Bernard FitzPatrick would always insist that the real heroes were the ones who didn't make it home.
Bernie made it home, married the lovely Corinne Hurley, and together they raised eight accomplished children. Throughout his life, he would be approached by parents, wives, children of those who didn't make it home, desperate to know what happened to them.
"I would tell them what happened truthfully, but as gently as possible," he wrote in the introduction to his book. But he would rather talk about how they lived than how they died. "I preferred to describe the courage and camaraderie that the war prisoners had exhibited throughout their captivity."
FitzPatrick himself came home emaciated and ill. Captivity had damaged his vision, his hearing and the muscles of his heart. He was diagnosed with malaria, beriberi, scurvy, pellagra, filariasis, dysentery, pleurisy and troubles with his bowels and teeth.
After reviewing his enormous medical file, a new doctor at the veteran's hospital once diagnosed his patient as a "tough old bird."
Bernard FitzPatrick died on Oct. 8, 2004. He was 89.
His family donated his papers and mementos to his beloved University of St. Thomas and to the Minnesota Historical Society, so more Minnesotans could hear his story, and be thankful.
https://www.startribune.com/after-the-bataan-death-march-a-life-of-gratitude/600229220/
Understanding Global Change
Discover why the climate and environment changes, your place in the Earth system, and paths to a resilient future.
Burning of fossil fuels
The burning of fossil fuels refers to the burning of oil, natural gas, and coal to generate energy.
We use this energy to generate electricity, and to power transportation (for example, cars and planes) and industrial processes. Ever since the invention of the first coal-fired steam engines of the 1700s, our burning of fossil fuels has steadily increased. Across the globe each year we now burn over 4,000 times the amount of fossils fuels burnt during 1776. The effects of the burning of fossil fuels, especially carbon dioxide, are having far-reaching effects on our climate and ecosystems.
The burning of fossil fuels is the primary cause of current climate change, altering the Earth’s ecosystems and causing human and environmental health problems.
Flares burn at sunset in the Bakken oil and gas fields in North Dakota Credit: Jeff Peischl/CIRES and NOAA
Fossil fuels form over millions of years from the burial of photosynthetic organisms, including plants on land (which primarily form coal) and plankton in the oceans (which primarily form oil and natural gas). To grow these organisms removed carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and the ocean, and their burial inhibited the movement of that carbon through the carbon cycle. The burning of this fossil material returns this carbon back into atmosphere as carbon dioxide, at a rate that is hundreds to thousands of times faster than it took to bury, and much faster than can be removed by the carbon cycle. Thus, the carbon dioxide released from the burning of fossil fuels accumulates in the atmosphere, some of which then dissolves in the ocean causing ocean acidification.
---omitted embedded links---
The burning of fossil fuels affects the Earth system in a variety of ways. Some of these ways include:
* Releasing the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) into the atmosphere, which intensifies the greenhouse effect (the re-radiation of heat in the atmosphere), increasing the Earth’s average air temperatures. These greenhouse gases can remain in the atmosphere for decades to hundreds of years.
* Emitting an array of pollutants that reduce air quality and harm life, especially sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and airborne particles such as soot. Poor air quality can cause respiratory disease.
* The airborne particles also increase the reflectivity of the atmosphere, which has a slight cooling effect. The reason is that the airborne particles, such as soot and sulfate aerosols (from sulfur dioxide), reflect some sunlight back into space, increase cloud formation, and make clouds more reflective. The net effect of burning fossil fuels is warming because the cooling is small compared with the heating caused by the greenhouse effect, in part because airborne particles only stay suspended in the atmosphere for a few days to months, while greenhouse gases that cause warming remain in the atmosphere for many decades to hundreds of years.
* Changing patterns of snow and ice melt. Airborne particles (especially soot) that settle on snow increase the absorption of sunlight due to their dark color, heating the surface of the snow causing melting. In certain parts of the world, the presence of soot (in addition to global warming) has caused winter ice and snow melts earlier and faster today than in previous decades, which also changes local patterns of freshwater availability.
* Increasing the acidity of precipitation. Sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and carbon dioxide (CO2) react with water vapor, oxygen, and other chemicals to form acid rain. Acid rain can contaminate freshwater sources, resulting in harmful algal blooms that reduce water oxygen levels and harm fish populations and other wildlife. Additionally, acid rain increases chemical weathering of rocks, including manmade structures.
Using large amounts freshwater. Power plants that burn fossil fuels cool their systems by removing freshwater from local rivers and lakes. The warm water returned to nearby ecosystems can cause stress for local species.
Can you think of additional cause and effect relationships between the burning of fossil fuels and other parts of the Earth system?
Visit the greenhouse effect, greenhouse gases, and temperature pages to learn more about how burning fossil fuels affects global climate and ecosystems.
https://ugc.berkeley.edu/background-content/burning-of-fossil-fuels/
'Every breath you take': Air pollution stifles Europe's health targets
By Juliette Portala
November 24, 2022 11:13 AM CST, Last Updated 7 hours ago
The Eiffel Tower is surrounded by a small-particle haze which hangs above the skyline in Paris, France, December 9, 2016
as the City of Light experienced the worst air pollution in a decade.
REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo
Summary
* 238,000 premature deaths from fine particules in EU in 2020
* Air pollution worsens respiratory and cardiovascular diseases
* Also damages land and water ecosystems, crops and forests
Nov 24 (Reuters) - Air quality in Europe is improving but still poses high risks, the European Environment Agency (EEA) said on Thursday, as fine particles exposure led to at least 238,000 premature deaths in the 27-nation EU in 2020.
"Air pollution is still the largest environmental health risk in Europe," the EEA said. "While emissions of key air pollutants and their concentrations in ambient air have fallen significantly over the past two decades in Europe, air quality remains poor in many areas."
Between 2005 and 2020, the number of early deaths from exposure to fine particulate matter fell by 45% in the European Union, in line with the bloc's zero pollution action plan target of a 55% cut in premature deaths by 2030.
However, 96% of the EU's urban population was still exposed in 2020 to concentrations of fine particules that were above the World Health Organization's guideline level of 5 microgrammes per cubic metre.
Air pollution aggravates respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, with heart disease and stroke cited as the most common causes of related early deaths.
"Further efforts will be needed to meet the zero pollution vision for 2050 of reducing air pollution to levels no longer considered harmful to health," the EEA said.
The European Commission proposed in October to set stricter thresholds for air pollution but also to enhance the right of citizens to clean air. This could include provisions to claim compensation for health damage in case of quality standards breaches.
But air pollution does not only damage health.
According to the EEA, 59% of forested areas were exposed to harmful ground-level ozone in the European Economic Area, damaging vegetation and reducing biodiversity.
In 2020, critical levels of nitrogen deposition were found in 75% of the ecosystem of the 27 member states. This represents a fall of 12% since 2005, against the EU objective for a 25% decline by 2030.
Reporting by Juliette Portala, Editing by Gareth Jones
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/every-breath-you-take-air-pollution-stifles-europes-health-targets-2022-11-24/
'Every breath you take': Air pollution stifles Europe's health targets
By Juliette Portala
November 24, 2022 11:13 AM CST, Last Updated 7 hours ago
The Eiffel Tower is surrounded by a small-particle haze which hangs above the skyline in Paris, France, December 9, 2016
as the City of Light experienced the worst air pollution in a decade.
REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo
Summary
* 238,000 premature deaths from fine particules in EU in 2020
* Air pollution worsens respiratory and cardiovascular diseases
* Also damages land and water ecosystems, crops and forests
Nov 24 (Reuters) - Air quality in Europe is improving but still poses high risks, the European Environment Agency (EEA) said on Thursday, as fine particles exposure led to at least 238,000 premature deaths in the 27-nation EU in 2020.
"Air pollution is still the largest environmental health risk in Europe," the EEA said. "While emissions of key air pollutants and their concentrations in ambient air have fallen significantly over the past two decades in Europe, air quality remains poor in many areas."
Between 2005 and 2020, the number of early deaths from exposure to fine particulate matter fell by 45% in the European Union, in line with the bloc's zero pollution action plan target of a 55% cut in premature deaths by 2030.
However, 96% of the EU's urban population was still exposed in 2020 to concentrations of fine particules that were above the World Health Organization's guideline level of 5 microgrammes per cubic metre.
Air pollution aggravates respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, with heart disease and stroke cited as the most common causes of related early deaths.
"Further efforts will be needed to meet the zero pollution vision for 2050 of reducing air pollution to levels no longer considered harmful to health," the EEA said.
The European Commission proposed in October to set stricter thresholds for air pollution but also to enhance the right of citizens to clean air. This could include provisions to claim compensation for health damage in case of quality standards breaches.
But air pollution does not only damage health.
According to the EEA, 59% of forested areas were exposed to harmful ground-level ozone in the European Economic Area, damaging vegetation and reducing biodiversity.
In 2020, critical levels of nitrogen deposition were found in 75% of the ecosystem of the 27 member states. This represents a fall of 12% since 2005, against the EU objective for a 25% decline by 2030.
Reporting by Juliette Portala, Editing by Gareth Jones
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/every-breath-you-take-air-pollution-stifles-europes-health-targets-2022-11-24/
Understanding Global Change
"-- Joe Manchin and Big Coal Are Destroying the Planet --''
Discover why the climate and environment changes, your place in the Earth system, and paths to a resilient future.
Burning of fossil fuels
The burning of fossil fuels refers to the burning of oil, natural gas, and coal to generate energy.
We use this energy to generate electricity, and to power transportation (for example, cars and planes) and industrial processes. Ever since the invention of the first coal-fired steam engines of the 1700s, our burning of fossil fuels has steadily increased. Across the globe each year we now burn over 4,000 times the amount of fossils fuels burnt during 1776. The effects of the burning of fossil fuels, especially carbon dioxide, are having far-reaching effects on our climate and ecosystems.
The burning of fossil fuels is the primary cause of current climate change, altering the Earth’s ecosystems and causing human and environmental health problems.
Flares burn at sunset in the Bakken oil and gas fields in North Dakota Credit: Jeff Peischl/CIRES and NOAA
Fossil fuels form over millions of years from the burial of photosynthetic organisms, including plants on land (which primarily form coal) and plankton in the oceans (which primarily form oil and natural gas). To grow these organisms removed carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and the ocean, and their burial inhibited the movement of that carbon through the carbon cycle. The burning of this fossil material returns this carbon back into atmosphere as carbon dioxide, at a rate that is hundreds to thousands of times faster than it took to bury, and much faster than can be removed by the carbon cycle. Thus, the carbon dioxide released from the burning of fossil fuels accumulates in the atmosphere, some of which then dissolves in the ocean causing ocean acidification.
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The burning of fossil fuels affects the Earth system in a variety of ways. Some of these ways include:
* Releasing the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) into the atmosphere, which intensifies the greenhouse effect (the re-radiation of heat in the atmosphere), increasing the Earth’s average air temperatures. These greenhouse gases can remain in the atmosphere for decades to hundreds of years.
* Emitting an array of pollutants that reduce air quality and harm life, especially sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and airborne particles such as soot. Poor air quality can cause respiratory disease.
* The airborne particles also increase the reflectivity of the atmosphere, which has a slight cooling effect. The reason is that the airborne particles, such as soot and sulfate aerosols (from sulfur dioxide), reflect some sunlight back into space, increase cloud formation, and make clouds more reflective. The net effect of burning fossil fuels is warming because the cooling is small compared with the heating caused by the greenhouse effect, in part because airborne particles only stay suspended in the atmosphere for a few days to months, while greenhouse gases that cause warming remain in the atmosphere for many decades to hundreds of years.
* Changing patterns of snow and ice melt. Airborne particles (especially soot) that settle on snow increase the absorption of sunlight due to their dark color, heating the surface of the snow causing melting. In certain parts of the world, the presence of soot (in addition to global warming) has caused winter ice and snow melts earlier and faster today than in previous decades, which also changes local patterns of freshwater availability.
* Increasing the acidity of precipitation. Sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and carbon dioxide (CO2) react with water vapor, oxygen, and other chemicals to form acid rain. Acid rain can contaminate freshwater sources, resulting in harmful algal blooms that reduce water oxygen levels and harm fish populations and other wildlife. Additionally, acid rain increases chemical weathering of rocks, including manmade structures.
Using large amounts freshwater. Power plants that burn fossil fuels cool their systems by removing freshwater from local rivers and lakes. The warm water returned to nearby ecosystems can cause stress for local species.
Can you think of additional cause and effect relationships between the burning of fossil fuels and other parts of the Earth system?
Visit the greenhouse effect, greenhouse gases, and temperature pages to learn more about how burning fossil fuels affects global climate and ecosystems.
https://ugc.berkeley.edu/background-content/burning-of-fossil-fuels/
I wonder how many times he practiced that particular kick.
Ronaldo makes World Cup history, Portugal beats Ghana 3-2
By STEVE DOUGLAS 42 minutes ago
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo closed his eyes, took in a deep breath and then made World Cup history.
The Portugal striker became the first male player to score at five World Cups with his 65th-minute penalty in a 3-2 win over Ghana on Thursday.
Andre Ayew equalized for Ghana eight minutes later, but Joao Felix regained the lead for Portugal in the 78th and Rafael Leao added a third. Osman Bukari reduced Ghana’s deficit in the 89th.
The 37-year-old Ronaldo was looking to showcase his talents to potential new clubs after having his contract terminated at Manchester United this week. After wasting two good chances in the first half, he tumbled under a challenge by Ghana defender Mohammed Salisu to earn a penalty.
Wheeling away after the ball struck the back of the net, a smiling Ronaldo performed his usual leap and swivel in the air — the crowd roared his trademark “SI-UUU” as he did the pirouette — before getting mobbed by teammates.
He has now scored in every World Cup since his first in 2006 and has a record 118 international goals.
It was a wild finish to a slow-burner of a World Cup match that ended with Portugal defender Danilo clearing the ball away from near the line in the ninth minute of stoppage time. Ronaldo, who was sitting in the dugout after being substituted, put his hand on his head in relief.
Ronaldo, naturally, took center stage at the start of his fifth and likely last World Cup, particularly after a fraught buildup to the tournament in which he gave an unauthorized, tell-all interview criticizing Manchester United’s manager, owners and teammates. On Tuesday, he split with the English club, meaning he is in the shop window in Qatar.
Another scoring record adds to the luster of his resume. A penalty against Iran in 2006 started his tally of World Cup goals — it is now up to eight in 18 matches — and he lifted the ball beyond Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati with his latest spot kick after a long, theatrical buildup to the penalty.
Bruno Fernandes arguably played a more important role in Portugal’s win, setting up the team’s second and third goals with perfectly weighted through-balls.
Still, Portugal’s players almost threw it away after losing their composure in a chaotic final few minutes, featuring the comical scene of Bukari performing Ronaldo’s “SI-UUU” celebration after his goal.
In the other Group H match, South Korea and Uruguay drew 0-0.
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https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-sports-soccer-europe-middle-east-03eada6b729b1f68ae27041829ac5cb6?utm_source=apnews&utm_medium=featuredcard&utm_campaign=leadstory
World Cup 2022 updates by AP
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FICA Cup Today also broadcast on TV.