Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Elon Musk Is Going ‘All In’ to Elect Donald Trump

Oct 16, 2024


NYT:

Musk Is Going All In to Elect Trump: Elon Musk is planting himself in Pennsylvania, has brought his brain trust to help and may even knock on doors himself. »

British Food on Brink of Collapse

Oct 16, 2024 | British farmers are scaling back food production in favour of alternatives e.g. rewilding or growing crops for biofuels. As predicted, Brexit is making Britain more reliant on food imports which are pushing up prices thanks to Brexit red tape.

Brexit cuts to subsidies which kept British farmers producing Britain's food are now ensuring Britain is losing food security as we rely on imported food.

The last Tory government wanted USA and India trade deals but the new Labour government is saying they want closer EU ties and are continuing with Brexit trade deals. The Labour government has to face reality that they can't do both.



David Cameron did a very stupid thing in calling that ridiculous Brexit referendum. He was ‘sore’ afraid of the Britain’s loudmouth-in-chief, Nigel Farage! But it is we, the people, who have had to pay the ultimate price of this ludicrousness. Further, we should not let Trump off the hook on this Brexit shitshow either. It is my personal opinion that Brexit would never have happened without Trump. The Brexiteers were emboldened by Donald Trump at the time. He had it in for the EU. Apparently, he had his very own vendetta against the EU because they wouldn’t allow him to build one of his glitzy towers somewhere in the EU. Because of that, he turned against the EU! It is such a pity that Trump doesn’t now go one step further and relieve us of Farage. For heaven’s sake, take him off our hands and give him an apartment in Mar-a-Lago, Mr Trump! Sensible Brits want shot of him!

By the way, as an aside, supermarket shelves are much emptier than they used to be before Brexit. I buy my food from supermarkets online. Umpteen of my favourite foodstuffs are unavailable, time after time, when I place my orders. And this is true in a couple of supermarkets when I shop online. In fact, I placed an order online only this afternoon. So many of my favourite items were again “out of stock”. These gaps on the supermarket shelves are all related to that damn, stupid, and unnecessary Farage-inspired Brexit! – © Mark Alexander

England and Wales Assisted Dying Bill Formally Launched in House of Commons

THE GUARDIAN: MPs to hold first debate on Labour MP Kim Leadbeater’s private member’s bill on 29 November

A bill to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill adults in England and Wales has been formally introduced in the House of Commons, triggering intense discussion over the coming weeks and months on an emotionally charged and controversial issue.

MPs will hold their first debate on Labour MP Kim Leadbeater’s private member’s bill on 29 November. They will be given a free vote on the bill, meaning they can vote according to individual conscience.

The text of the terminally ill adults (end of life) bill has not been published, but its title states that it would “allow adults who are terminally ill, subject to safeguards and protections, to request and be provided with assistance to end their own life”.

The bill is expected to propose assisted dying be restricted to mentally competent adults with six months or less to live, although a 12-month prognosis is also a possibility. The details will be published in the coming weeks ahead of the Commons debate. » | Harriet Sherwood | Wednesday, October 16, 2024

UK’s top Catholic bishop urges faithful to lobby MPs to oppose assisted dying: Cardinal Vincent Nichols says proposed bill could change medical duty of care into ‘duty to kill’ »

I suppose that this far-left government wants this bill passed through Parliament in order to help Cruella de Ville fill her £20bn “black hole”! Funny thing, though, that these extremists find it okay for doctors to help people die now, but they are dead nuts against someone smoking even though smoking is likely to take about fifty years to do the job (if it does it at all)!

Starmer is an out and out atheist, apparently. Little wonder he sees nothing wrong with man doing God’s work for Him.

Whilst I see the logic in helping people in terrible pain to bring an end to their suffering, I fear that this bill, however well-intentioned, is fraught with many dangers and open to much abuse, especially by greedy families just waiting for their inheritances. – © Mark Alexander


Baroness Finlay: ‘Labour’s assisted dying bill is dangerous – it could have unintended consequences’: The Lords’ only resident palliative care expert warns Labour’s bill risks a ‘slippery slope’ to coercion by relatives and ‘doctor shopping’ »

On the Verge of Collapse: Lebanon’s Battle for a Future | Dispatch | HD Documentary| Reupload

Oct 15, 2024 | Long considered the Switzerland of the Middle East, Lebanon is now going through the worst economic crisis in its history. 80% of the population lives below the poverty line. In one year, food prices have jumped 500% due to galloping inflation.

For Riad, who runs a grocery store in the suburbs of Beirut, business has become hellish. Every morning, calculator in hand, he changes the labels of his products according to the day’s exchange rate. An operation all the more complex as his store is plunged into darkness, due to lack of electricity. The Lebanese government no longer provides more than two hours of electricity per day in the country. It is impossible for the population to heat, light or use their refrigerator. Taking advantage of the situation, a network of private generators has emerged.

The Lebanese pound, the local currency, has lost 90% of its value. The only ones to get away with it are those who are paid in dollars. The greenback, which is exchanged for a fortune against the local currency, has given birth to a new privileged social class in the country. A salesman in an international pharmaceutical company, Joseph lives like a king in a ruined Lebanon. Thanks to his new purchasing power, he repaid his house loan in two months, instead of… twenty years!

In a bankrupt state, plagued by corruption, six out of ten Lebanese citizens now dream of leaving the country. In Tripoli, in northern Lebanon, Mohammed and his son left by sea to reach Germany. Although their trip was cut short off the Turkish coast, the young father is still ready to take all the risks to reach the European El Dorado.


Himmlisch: Käsespätzle mit Sahne - Leckere & cremige Variation

May 1, 2020 | Heute gibts super leckere Käsespätzle. Sie sind besonders cremig und sehr schnell und einfach zubereitet. Ich zeige euch im Video natürlich auch wie ihr den Spätzleteig selber machen könnt.


Fürs Rezept, bitte hier klicken und dann auf „more“ klicken.

USA - Der Aufstieg der Ultrarechten | Doku HD | ARTE

Oct 15, 2024 | Wie konnten die Ultrarechten bis ins Zentrum der amerikanischen Politik aufsteigen? Indem sie nach und nach Machtpositionen in Politik, Justiz und Medien besetzten und ihren Einflussbereich stetig ausweiteten. Für ihr Ziel – den Wahlsieg 2024 – ist die ultrarechte Minderheit sogar bereit, die Demokratie aufs Spiel zu setzen. Wie hat sie es geschafft, die politische Bühne zu erobern?

Die Verschärfung des Abtreibungsrechts, der Sturm auf das Kapitol 2021, das Aufflammen rassistischer Gewalt: Nie zuvor waren die Ultrarechten in den USA mächtiger und sichtbarer als heute – und das liegt nicht nur an Donald Trump. Die Ultrarechte konnte sich in der Mitte der US-Politik etablieren, indem sie nach und nach Schlüsselpositionen in Politik, Justiz und Medien besetzte und ihren Einfluss kontinuierlich vergrößerte. Mit Blick auf einen Wahlsieg 2024 ist sie bereit, die Dämonen der Sezessionskriege zu wecken, das Land ins Chaos zu stürzen und die Demokratie ins Wanken zu bringen.

Der Siegeszug der radikalen Rechten ist das Ergebnis einer wohlüberlegten Strategie: Vor mehr als 40 Jahren wurde sie in Gang gesetzt – von einer konservativen Minderheit, die nach der Macht strebte. Sie hat quasi unbemerkt ihre Agenda durchgesetzt. Heute erntet sie die Früchte dieser Arbeit: Ihr ist es gelungen, die Schaltzentralen der Macht zu erobern – in Politik, Justiz und Medien.

Donald Trump hat diesen Prozess in jeder Hinsicht beschleunigt. Mit seiner Hilfe haben die Ultrarechten den Obersten Gerichtshof in ihre Gewalt gebracht, nun können sie bei wichtigen Entscheidungen im Kongress den Ausschlag geben. Mit Donald Trump oder einem seiner politischen Erben könnten die Ultrarechten in Zukunft noch weiter in die Offensive gehen.

Dokumentation von Alice Cohen (F 2024, 53 Min)
Video verfügbar bis zum 27/01/2025


The Lincoln Project: Russia First

Oct 16, 2024 | Vladimir Putin is not a friend of the United States, but he is a friend of Donald Trump. That’s why Trump cannot be in the White House.

Inside the Far-right Blueprint for Germany’s Eurasian Future | DW Analysis

Sep 6, 2024 | Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is surging, with breakthroughs in regional and EU-wide elections. Party leader Alice Weidel says her goal is national power, eyeing the 2029 federal elections.

Despite its growing support, the AfD’s vision of foreign policy remains little known around the world. So in this new special report, DW takes a forensic microscope to the party’s blueprint for Germany’s future.

What this reveals is the party’s profound skepticism about the key Western alliances — NATO and the EU — and an outspoken openness to a Eurasian outlook, fostering deeper relations with Russia and China and the international institutions they lead, from the Belt and Road Initiative to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Eurasian Economic Union: prime sources of prestige for Vladimir Putin in Moscow and Xi Jinping in Beijing.

In exclusive interviews with Alice Weidel, foreign policy spokesman Matthias Moosdorf and powerful ideologue Björn Höcke, DW’s Richard Walker and Rosalia Romaniec scrutinize the AfD’s views on Germany’s alliances and NATO Article 5 commitments to the Baltic states and Poland, its skepticism of the United States, possible future architectures for European defense, who should have nuclear weapons, future ties with Russia and China, and how Germany should act in a Taiwan conflict scenario.

Includes analysis from leading international experts on Russia, China, the US and Europe: Alexander Gabuev (Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center), Amanda Hsiao (International Crisis Group), Katarzyna Pisarska (Warsaw Security Forum), Peter Rough (Hudson Institute), and Judy Dempsey (Carnegie Europe).


Biden Bans Menthol Cigarettes

Aug 12, 2024 | Brian from Windy City Cigars sits down, and talks about the upcoming Menthol Ban coming in 2024. The Biden Administration is pushing for the ban of menthol cigarettes and tobacco and flavored cigars if the ban goes through it may cause millions of job losses due to the menthol ban.


You can support smokers’ rights in the UK here.

WIKIPEDIA: List of smoking bans in the United States »

BEWARE! The do-gooding control freaks are trying to take over everywhere. Remember: Smokers have rights, too! – © Mark Alexander

How Tobacco Helped Soldiers in World War 2

Jun 1, 2023 | Brian from Windy City Cigars sits down and discusses how important cigarettes were in World War 2 and the brand names they smoked.


This is a very interesting and informative video on soldiers smoking in war zones. Führer Starmer should watch it to educate himself before he tries to pass that ridiculous, stupid generational smoking ban through Parliament. It is totally unreasonable to expect our young men to go to war to fight for us without allowing them a few pleasures on the battlefield. A smoke is the least we can offer a soldier in such a dangerous situation. And please don’t be so stupid as to talk of the health dangers of smoking! Possibly dying in fifty years’ time from the health dangers of smoking is totally and utterly irrelevant when a man is in a battlefield and can be killed at any moment. – © Mark Alexander

Bob Woodward: ‘Putin Is the Adolf Hitler of Our Century’

Oct 15, 2024 | "[Trump] is almost envious of Putin. And this is part of the danger. We live in a democracy ... Trump talks about the power of autocratic authority … He admires it … Vladimir Putin is the Adolf Hitler of our century. The invasion of Ukraine is the equivalent to what Hitler did." - Bob Woodward

Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Mein Kampf: An Autopsy Of Evil | Full Documentary

Oct 15, 2024 | Hitler’s Mein Kampf served as a blueprint for the atrocities of Nazi Germany, mobilizing ordinary people to commit heinous acts. This book's dark influence raises crucial questions: How did it inspire such widespread evil, and have we forgotten the vital lessons from that era?

Cast: Guy Walters, Lisa Pine
Director: Sarah Findley
Licensed through EM Productions Ltd


The Thatcher Legacy & the Future of British Politics with Charles Moore | In Conversation

Oct 14, 2024 | In this new episode in the 'In Conversation' series, Charles Moore, Baron Moore of Etchingham and Member of the House of Lords, sits down with Tom Clougherty, Executive Director of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), to discuss the current state of British politics and the legacy of Margaret Thatcher. Moore, the acclaimed biographer of Thatcher and former editor of The Spectator and The Telegraph, offers unique insights into the challenges facing modern conservatism and draws intriguing parallels between today's political landscape and the era of Thatcher's rise to power.

Throughout the discussion, Moore delves into a range of pressing issues, including the impact of globalisation, the changing nature of political institutions, and the cultural shifts affecting contemporary society. He reflects on the lessons that can be learned from Thatcher's leadership style and governance approach, while also addressing the new challenges that have emerged in the decades since her tenure. Moore's nuanced perspective on topics such as immigration, the role of international institutions, and the evolving dynamics within the Conservative Party provides a thought-provoking analysis of the current political climate.

This conversation offers viewers a rare opportunity to hear from one of Britain's most respected political commentators as he shares his insights on the past, present, and future of conservative thought. Whether you're a student of politics, a history enthusiast, or simply curious about the forces shaping modern Britain, this discussion between Charles Moore and Tom Clougherty promises to be both enlightening and timely.


Trump Dances for 40 Minutes during Campaign Rally: ‘Let’s Listen to Music’

THE GUARDIAN: Ex-president swayed to songs such as YMCA and Ave Maria during Pennsylvania event after two attendees fainted

Opposition outrage over Donald Trump’s rabble-rousing demagoguery turned to bewilderment after the Republican nominee spent 40 minutes swaying to his favourite songs at a rally near Philadelphia, prompting Kamala Harris to express apparent concern for his mental state.

“Hope he’s okay,” Harris, the US vice-president and Democratic nominee, posted on social media, accompanying footage of a performance that many observers agreed was bizarre, even by Trump’s standards.

The ad hoc music fest in the Pennsylvania suburb of Oaks happened after two members of the audience at an indoor rally fainted, apparently because of the heat. » | Robert Tait in Washington | Tuesday, October 15, 2024

'He Proved It. Events Prove It.': Woodward on Milley Calling Trump 'Fascist to His Core'

Oct 15, 2024 | MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell is joined by Washington Post Associate Editor Bob Woodward to discuss the bombshell revelations about both the Trump and Biden presidencies in his new book "War" including Trump's former Joint Chiefs chair Gen. Mark Milley saying Trump is "dangerous" and "a total fascist."

Harris kritisiert Trump: „Er ist auf uneingeschränkte Macht aus“

Oct 15, 2024 | Donald Trump hat angedeutet, dass er sich einem „Feind im Innern“ gegenübersieht. Seine demokratische Kontrahentin Kamala Harris kritisiert die jüngsten Äußerungen des Republikaners als demokratiefeindlich. © REUTERS

Mr Orbán, We Want Our Money Back! No More EU Funds for Hungary! Daniel Freund

Oct 15, 2024

Taliban Bans All Images of Living Things

THE TELEGRAPH: Media in Afghanistan faces new restrictions, but the regime says the law will be implemented gradually

Afghanistan’s Taliban morality ministry pledged on Monday to implement a law banning news media from publishing images of all living things, with journalists told the rule will be gradually enforced.

It comes after the Taliban regime recently announced legislation formalising its strict interpretations of Islamic law that have been imposed since they swept to power in 2021.

“The law applies to all Afghanistan ... and it will be implemented gradually,” Saiful Islam Khyber, the spokesman for the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (PVPV), told AFP. He added that officials would work to persuade people that images of living things are against Islamic law.

“Coercion has no place in the implementation of the law,” he said. » | Telegraph’s Foreign Staff | Monday, October 14, 2024

Afghanistan : deux chaînes de télévision cessent de montrer des êtres vivants, sur ordre de la police des mœurs : Ce mardi, la police des mœurs a ordonné à la province de Takhar l'interdiction de prendre des images d'êtres vivants et de les diffuser. »

الله كريم!

The Late Shah of Iran Talks about the Progress of Iranians

These were his thoughts.

Monday, October 14, 2024

Canada Expels Indian Diplomats, Linking Them To Criminal Campaign

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Canadian police said the Indian government was orchestrating homicides and extortion in Canada to intimidate Sikh separatists. India, in return, kicked out Canadian diplomats.

Canada accused the Indian government on Monday of homicide and extortion intended to silence critics of India living in Canada, escalating a bitter dispute that began last year with an assassination of a Sikh activist.

Canada expelled India’s top diplomat and five others, saying they were part of a vast criminal network. India reciprocated, expelling six Canadian diplomats.

The two countries have been in an intense dispute following the assassination of a prominent Sikh cleric, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, which the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said at the time had been orchestrated by the Indian government.

Canada is home to the largest Sikh community outside India, a religious minority that lives mostly in the state of Punjab, in northwestern India. » | Matina Stevis-Gridneff, Reporting from Toronto | Monday, October 14, 2024

NYT (2023):

Justin Trudeau Accuses India of a Killing on Canadian Soil: The Canadian leader said agents of India had assassinated a Sikh community leader in British Columbia in June. India called the accusation “absurd.” »