Showing posts with label USA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USA. Show all posts
Saturday, December 21, 2024
Tuesday, December 17, 2024
Three Dead, Including Female Shooter at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin.
Dec 17, 2024 | Three people are dead and another six are in the hospital after a shooting at Abundant Life Christian School on Madison’s east side Monday morning. The shooter, who was a student at the school, is among the dead, according to Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes.
Barnes identified the shooter at a Monday night press conference as Natalie Rupnow, 15, who went by the name “Samantha,” and said she appeared to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Anthony Davis reports.
A society that protects its citizens’ rights to own and use guns over the rights of its children to be kept safe and kept away from gun violence is a society which has its priorities and values upside down and it is also a society which is uncivilised. – © Mark Alexander
Barnes identified the shooter at a Monday night press conference as Natalie Rupnow, 15, who went by the name “Samantha,” and said she appeared to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Anthony Davis reports.
A society that protects its citizens’ rights to own and use guns over the rights of its children to be kept safe and kept away from gun violence is a society which has its priorities and values upside down and it is also a society which is uncivilised. – © Mark Alexander
Monday, December 16, 2024
Wisconsin Shooting: Three Dead and Multiple Injured in US School Shooting, Police Say | BBC News
Dec 16, 2024 | Three people are dead and six others injured after a shooting at a school in Wisconsin, police say.
A juvenile suspect is among the dead following the attack at Abundant Life Christian School in the state's capital, Madison, the city's police chief Shon Barnes says.
The suspected attacker, who was already dead when officers arrived on the scene, is believed to have been a student at the school.
Residents have been asked to avoid the area and roads are closed near the school.
Americans and their stupid bloody guns! How many more innocent children will have to die in order for SELFISH AMERICANS finally get it through their THICK HEADS that allowing people to carry firearms really isn’t a good idea, and that they could save many people’s lives, especially innocent children’s lives, by putting sensible restrictions on gun ownership? May these poor, innocent people REST IN PEACE – the peace that they have clearly been denied in THIS life. – © Mark Alexander
A juvenile suspect is among the dead following the attack at Abundant Life Christian School in the state's capital, Madison, the city's police chief Shon Barnes says.
The suspected attacker, who was already dead when officers arrived on the scene, is believed to have been a student at the school.
Residents have been asked to avoid the area and roads are closed near the school.
Americans and their stupid bloody guns! How many more innocent children will have to die in order for SELFISH AMERICANS finally get it through their THICK HEADS that allowing people to carry firearms really isn’t a good idea, and that they could save many people’s lives, especially innocent children’s lives, by putting sensible restrictions on gun ownership? May these poor, innocent people REST IN PEACE – the peace that they have clearly been denied in THIS life. – © Mark Alexander
American Healthcare: What They Don’t Want You to Know
Even though I am a Brit, I have had rather a lot of experience with the US healthcare system. In recent years, actually, as well. My experience is not so much with my own healthcare, but with the healthcare of my late American partner. I can attest to the fact that it is HORRENDOUSLY expensive, EXTREMELY profit-driven, and the outcomes are mediocre at best, especially when cost is taken into account.
In fairness to the system, in my experience with it, I can say with hand-on-heart that at its best, it can be very good; but at its worst, it can be awful. Within a relatively short period of time — roughly two to two and a half years — my late partner had to have a triple heart bypass and then, not long after he had largely recovered from the triple bypass, they discovered that he had tongue cancer.
The treatment he received for his heart problem was extremely good. But his treatment for tongue cancer was botched (in my opinion). In any case, alas, he didn't survive.
One of the problems with the American healthcare system is that, because it is extremely profit-driven, the patient is given one test after the other. And many of those tests are unnecessary. But they are administered because the doctor makes a profit from each and every test, injection, and treatment administered. Also, and very importantly, because the US is such a litigious country, doctors will never veer away from their protocols, even when they know it would be beneficial to the patient's well-being to do so. Then, there is the cost of the healthcare itself. I know from personal experience that even when a person is well-insured — and my partner was very well-insured — there comes a cut-off point at which the insurance company wants to pay no more for the treatment of the sick patient. At that point, the patient is kept comfortable and is allowed to die.
I am absolutely no fan of the US healthcare system. For all its faults, our NHS is so much better. At least here in the UK, falling ill won't bankrupt the patient.
On a slightly lighter note, I once had to use the services of an ambulance to take me to the local hospital 5 miles away when living outside Boston. That one-way journey of 5 miles cost me more than it would have cost me to fly home to London (from Boston)! – © Mark Alexander
American DREAM vs Canadian REALITY: Is Canada Better?
Dec 13, 2024 | Canada and the United States are close neighbors, but they’re worlds apart in many ways. From universal healthcare and gun control to cultural attitudes and political polarization, this video explores the key differences between life in Canada and life in the United States. Why is Canada often considered safer, more tolerant, and environmentally conscious? And why are Canadians less likely to engage in the political extremism or cultural arrogance sometimes seen south of the border?
Many Canadians want to move to the U.S.—but - I'm not one of them! Explore the cultural, economic, and social differences between Canada and the U.S. that shape our lives. I also reflect on why I’ll always call Canada home, despite its challenges. There’s a lot to unpack about what makes Canada unique and why I wouldn’t trade it for life south of the border.
Canada is a fine country. I have been to Canada on several occasions. To Toronto, Montréal, Québec City, Calgary, and Vancouver. Very beautiful cities all! In fact, back in the day, I once had the good fortune of travelling right across Canada. I found the Rockies to be particularly beautiful, dramatic, and spectacular. Banff and Jasper National Parks were breathtakingly beautiful.
On the whole, I found Canada to be much gentler than the USA. I also found that it had a European flavour and sophistication which is not to be found south of the border.
Canadians should be very proud of their distinct and individual identity. Canada is a truly lovely, beautiful country. – © Mark Alexander
Many Canadians want to move to the U.S.—but - I'm not one of them! Explore the cultural, economic, and social differences between Canada and the U.S. that shape our lives. I also reflect on why I’ll always call Canada home, despite its challenges. There’s a lot to unpack about what makes Canada unique and why I wouldn’t trade it for life south of the border.
Canada is a fine country. I have been to Canada on several occasions. To Toronto, Montréal, Québec City, Calgary, and Vancouver. Very beautiful cities all! In fact, back in the day, I once had the good fortune of travelling right across Canada. I found the Rockies to be particularly beautiful, dramatic, and spectacular. Banff and Jasper National Parks were breathtakingly beautiful.
On the whole, I found Canada to be much gentler than the USA. I also found that it had a European flavour and sophistication which is not to be found south of the border.
Canadians should be very proud of their distinct and individual identity. Canada is a truly lovely, beautiful country. – © Mark Alexander
Sunday, December 15, 2024
Zeteo: Debunking Trump’s Plan to End Birthright Citizenship
Friday, December 13, 2024
Kennedy’s Lawyer Has Asked the F.D.A. to Revoke Approval of the Polio Vaccine
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Aaron Siri, who specializes in vaccine lawsuits, has been at Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s side reviewing candidates for top jobs at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Aaron Siri, a lawyer helping Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pick federal health officials for the incoming Trump administration, testifying before the House Judiciary Committee during a livestream in June of the hearing on the Covid-19 response. | House Judiciary GOP
The lawyer helping Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pick federal health officials for the incoming Trump administration has petitioned the government to revoke its approval of the polio vaccine, which for decades has protected millions of people from a virus that can cause paralysis or death.
That campaign is just one front in the war that the lawyer, Aaron Siri, is waging against vaccines of all kinds.
Mr. Siri has also filed a petition seeking to pause the distribution of 13 other vaccines; challenged, and in some cases quashed, Covid vaccine mandates around the country; sued federal agencies for the disclosure of records related to vaccine approvals; and subjected prominent vaccine scientists to grueling videotaped depositions.
Much of Mr. Siri’s work — including the polio petition filed in 2022 — has been on behalf of the Informed Consent Action Network, a nonprofit whose founder is a close ally of Mr. Kennedy. Mr. Siri also represented Mr. Kennedy during his presidential campaign.
Mr. Kennedy, President-elect Donald J. Trump’s choice for health secretary, has said that he does not want to take away access to any vaccines. But as he prepares for his confirmation hearing and plans a fresh health agenda, his continuing close partnership with Mr. Siri suggests that vaccine policy will be under sharp scrutiny. It is a chilling prospect to many public health leaders, especially those who recall the deadly toll of some vaccine-mediated diseases. » | Christina Jewett and Sheryl Gay Stolberg | Friday, December 13, 2024
Six Childhood Scourges We’ve Forgotten About, Thanks to Vaccines: Most Americans, including doctors, have no memory of the devastating diseases that routinely threatened children until the 1960s. »
This is unbelievably irresponsible and stupid! Have these people no idea what devastation to a child being infected with poliomyelitis will cause? Are these people so ignorant? Polio has devastating consequences for its victim. If infected with polio, a child’s life will be changed forever! It’s a crippling disease. Literally!
I am old enough to remember a couple of children in school being infected with polio. They came to school in ‘irons’ after contracting polio! Is this what these irresponsible people want for America’s children?
This is the sort of dangerous nonsense you get when you put irresponsible, unqualified people in charge of very important departments and agencies.
America truly is entering a ‘New Dark Age’! – © Mark Alexander
The lawyer helping Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pick federal health officials for the incoming Trump administration has petitioned the government to revoke its approval of the polio vaccine, which for decades has protected millions of people from a virus that can cause paralysis or death.
That campaign is just one front in the war that the lawyer, Aaron Siri, is waging against vaccines of all kinds.
Mr. Siri has also filed a petition seeking to pause the distribution of 13 other vaccines; challenged, and in some cases quashed, Covid vaccine mandates around the country; sued federal agencies for the disclosure of records related to vaccine approvals; and subjected prominent vaccine scientists to grueling videotaped depositions.
Much of Mr. Siri’s work — including the polio petition filed in 2022 — has been on behalf of the Informed Consent Action Network, a nonprofit whose founder is a close ally of Mr. Kennedy. Mr. Siri also represented Mr. Kennedy during his presidential campaign.
Mr. Kennedy, President-elect Donald J. Trump’s choice for health secretary, has said that he does not want to take away access to any vaccines. But as he prepares for his confirmation hearing and plans a fresh health agenda, his continuing close partnership with Mr. Siri suggests that vaccine policy will be under sharp scrutiny. It is a chilling prospect to many public health leaders, especially those who recall the deadly toll of some vaccine-mediated diseases. » | Christina Jewett and Sheryl Gay Stolberg | Friday, December 13, 2024
Six Childhood Scourges We’ve Forgotten About, Thanks to Vaccines: Most Americans, including doctors, have no memory of the devastating diseases that routinely threatened children until the 1960s. »
This is unbelievably irresponsible and stupid! Have these people no idea what devastation to a child being infected with poliomyelitis will cause? Are these people so ignorant? Polio has devastating consequences for its victim. If infected with polio, a child’s life will be changed forever! It’s a crippling disease. Literally!
I am old enough to remember a couple of children in school being infected with polio. They came to school in ‘irons’ after contracting polio! Is this what these irresponsible people want for America’s children?
This is the sort of dangerous nonsense you get when you put irresponsible, unqualified people in charge of very important departments and agencies.
America truly is entering a ‘New Dark Age’! – © Mark Alexander
Ontario Leader Threatens to Halt Energy Exports to US If Trump Imposes Tariffs
THE GUARDIAN: Premier of Canada’s largest province says ‘we need to be ready to fight’ back against possible 25% tariffs on goods
The leader of Canada’s largest province says he’s prepared to halt energy exports to the United States, warning that other premiers “need to be ready to fight” as threats escalate ahead of possible American tariffs.
The Ontario premier, Doug Ford, says he’s weighing options to fight back against a 25% levy on all Canadian goods that the US president-elect Donald Trump has pledged to implement when he assumes office.
Following a meeting with the nation’s premiers and the prime minister, Justin Trudeau, Ford said other leaders were also drawing up lists of exports that could be halted. » | Guardian international staff | Thursday, December 12, 2024
The leader of Canada’s largest province says he’s prepared to halt energy exports to the United States, warning that other premiers “need to be ready to fight” as threats escalate ahead of possible American tariffs.
The Ontario premier, Doug Ford, says he’s weighing options to fight back against a 25% levy on all Canadian goods that the US president-elect Donald Trump has pledged to implement when he assumes office.
Following a meeting with the nation’s premiers and the prime minister, Justin Trudeau, Ford said other leaders were also drawing up lists of exports that could be halted. » | Guardian international staff | Thursday, December 12, 2024
Thursday, December 12, 2024
5 Reasons Why Life in America Has No Future. Time to Find the American Dream Living Abroad.
Interesting video! Great food for thought! In my opinion, things really started to go wrong with Reagan in the US and Thatcher in the UK. Yes, they had their appeal, but the gap between the haves and have-nots, between the rich and the poor, started widening at that time. And worse it has got ever since.
Further, both Reagan and Thatcher fostered the culture of greed. And, as a Brit, I can speak to the Thatcher era very well. It was during Thatcher's time in office that communities started to break down. Further, it was during Thatcher's time in office that contract work and short-term employment started to flourish. But there's a problem here: short-term work is conducive neither to caring for a family nor to raising children. How can one raise a family when the main earner in the home has no security of employment?
By the way, I was against neither Reagan nor Thatcher at that time. In fact, quite the contrary. But distance lends perspective. So, with the passage of time, one can see more clearly what has gone wrong, and why. – © Mark Alexander
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
Canadian MP Destroys Trump in Floor Speech
This Canadian MP gives a brilliant put-down speech in the Canadian parliament. Bravo! Really impressive. – © Mark Alexander
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
Luigi Mangione, Arrested in Connection with UHC CEO Killing
Related here.
Monday, December 09, 2024
Die USA und ihre Interessen
MARK ALEXANDER: Mit der Wiederwahl von Donald Trump haben die Vereinigten Staaten ihren Heiligenschein verloren! Nicht länger können wir uns täuschen, daß die Vereinigten Staaten unsere Interessen im Herzen haben. Für die Vereinigten Staaten sind nur ihre eigenen Interessen wichtig, jetzt und immer. Und die Interessen Anderen nie und nimmer.
© Mark Alexander
Alle Rechte vorbehalten
© Mark Alexander
Alle Rechte vorbehalten
Tuesday, December 03, 2024
China Bans Rare Mineral Exports to the U.S.
THE NEW YORK TIMES: The move escalates supply chain warfare and comes a day after the Biden administration expanded curbs on the sale of advanced American technology to China.
China said on Tuesday that it would begin banning the export of several rare minerals to the United States, an escalation of the tech war between the world’s two biggest powers. The move comes a day after the Biden administration tightened Chinese access to advanced American technology.
The ban signals Beijing’s willingness to engage in supply chain warfare by blocking the export of important components used to make valuable products, like weaponry and semiconductors.
Sales of gallium, germanium, antimony and so-called superhard materials to the United States would be halted immediately on the grounds that they have dual military and civilian uses, China’s Ministry of Commerce said. The export of graphite would also be subject to stricter review.
China is central to many global supply chains, but it generally refrained from clamping down on its own exports during the first Trump administration, preferring instead to take more limited actions like buying soybeans from Brazil instead of the United States. But senior Chinese officials are worried that President-elect Donald J. Trump plans more stringent policies during his coming term in office. » | David Pierson, Keith Bradsher and Ana Swanson | David Pierson reported from Hong Kong, Keith Bradsher from Beijing and Ana Swanson from Washington. | Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Trump had better start reassessing his tariff policies before he re-enters the White House in January. If he doesn’t, he will surely be facing humiliation and an embarrassing stand-down. There is no way that the USA can compete with China when it comes to trade. The sheer size of the country of China, its population, its far cheaper labour, and its abundance of natural resources mean that the odds are stacked in China’s favour. Mr Trump: Be wise! Get back to the drawing board! Your policies need to be re-assessed. – © Mark Alexander
China said on Tuesday that it would begin banning the export of several rare minerals to the United States, an escalation of the tech war between the world’s two biggest powers. The move comes a day after the Biden administration tightened Chinese access to advanced American technology.
The ban signals Beijing’s willingness to engage in supply chain warfare by blocking the export of important components used to make valuable products, like weaponry and semiconductors.
Sales of gallium, germanium, antimony and so-called superhard materials to the United States would be halted immediately on the grounds that they have dual military and civilian uses, China’s Ministry of Commerce said. The export of graphite would also be subject to stricter review.
China is central to many global supply chains, but it generally refrained from clamping down on its own exports during the first Trump administration, preferring instead to take more limited actions like buying soybeans from Brazil instead of the United States. But senior Chinese officials are worried that President-elect Donald J. Trump plans more stringent policies during his coming term in office. » | David Pierson, Keith Bradsher and Ana Swanson | David Pierson reported from Hong Kong, Keith Bradsher from Beijing and Ana Swanson from Washington. | Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Trump had better start reassessing his tariff policies before he re-enters the White House in January. If he doesn’t, he will surely be facing humiliation and an embarrassing stand-down. There is no way that the USA can compete with China when it comes to trade. The sheer size of the country of China, its population, its far cheaper labour, and its abundance of natural resources mean that the odds are stacked in China’s favour. Mr Trump: Be wise! Get back to the drawing board! Your policies need to be re-assessed. – © Mark Alexander
This Is What Always Happens before a Superpower Falls | Richard Wolff
Thursday, November 28, 2024
How the Rich Took Everything and Left You Nothing! Hidden History of the American Dream Part II
Ukraine War Briefing: US Urges Zelenskyy to Lower Conscription Age to 18
THE GUARDIAN: Biden administration readying another $725m in arms for Kyiv; Zelenskyy to approve tax increases for defence funding. What we know on day 1,009
A senior official in Joe Biden’s administration has told the Associated Press that the US is urging Ukraine to quickly increase the size of its military by drafting more troops and lowering the conscription age to as young as 18. The official, speaking to the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity, said on Wednesday the outgoing Democratic administration wants Ukraine to lower the mobilisation age from 25 to help expand the pool of fighting age men available. » | Warren Murray with Guardian writers and agencies | Thursday, November 28, 2024
A senior official in Joe Biden’s administration has told the Associated Press that the US is urging Ukraine to quickly increase the size of its military by drafting more troops and lowering the conscription age to as young as 18. The official, speaking to the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity, said on Wednesday the outgoing Democratic administration wants Ukraine to lower the mobilisation age from 25 to help expand the pool of fighting age men available. » | Warren Murray with Guardian writers and agencies | Thursday, November 28, 2024
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Donald Trump Is What America Voted For | The Warning with Steve Schmidt
The Americans have FU! They will deserve all they have coming to them. They’ll have NO sympathy from me. The only Americans who will have any sympathy from me are the Americans who DID NOT VOTE for him but who will suffer as a consequence of those Americans who did. Truly, we are living in dark times. All signs of ‘The Enlightenment’ are disappearing before our very eyes. – © Mark Alexander
‘Cautionary Tale’: Trump Wants to ‘Remake America’ — Like This Recession-plagued Country
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