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Massive turnout as Trump delivers first Independence Day address at US National Mall since Truman in 1951

Nikki Schwab and Bruce Golding
New York Post
Thu, 04 Jul 2019 06:24 UTC

Comment: This is one of only a handful of US media reports about this event that did not either insinuate that Trump pushed for this event in order to declare the US a dictatorship, downplay its massive turnout, or suggest that, because it rained, 'God' disfavors Trump. This 'unreality' in the US infosphere is an extraordinary indicator of the chasm that exists between elites and people in the USA.


salute america 4 july military parade
© Getty Images
People react to a military fly-over on the National Mall while President Donald Trump gives his speech during Fourth of July festivities.
President Trump honored American history and heroes ranging from George Washington to Martin Luther King Jr. during a rousing Fourth of July speech punctuated by displays of the country's military air power.

Speaking before a cheering crowd that repeatedly erupted in chants of "USA! USA!," Trump hailed US innovations in science, medicine and space exploration during his 45-minute "Salute to America" speech on the National Mall in Washington, DC.


Comment: What was so hard about this event for Trump's powerful enemies - themselves mostly American and otherwise similarly die-hard 'exceptionalists' - to accept?

In what way do they perceive - or merely instinctively sense - that it hurts their plans or power?

Is it because the foundational tenet of America's independence means independence from Britain, about which America's Transatlanticists are ultra-sensitive?

Is it because the military should never be seen to be 'with' the president, but 'independent', thus controlled from the shadows?

Is it because they're vaguely self-aware that their military conduct is shameful, especially relative to its righteous use by rivals like Russia?

America, a land of strange contradictions!

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Attention

Putin confirms deadly fire was aboard nuclear-powered research submarine on highly classified mission

Tyler Durden
ZeroHedge
Thu, 04 Jul 2019 14:05 UTC
Losharik russian submarine

Reported picture of Losharik - Reports say that the Losharik, also called the AS-12, was on a research mission to measure sea depths in the Barents Sea within Russian territorial waters.
When the story first broke yesterday that fourteen seaman aboard a Russian submarine died when a fire broke out while in Russian territorial waters in the Arctic region, there were conflicting accounts over the nature of the underwater vessel, specifically, whether it was a deep-sea research submersible or whether it was a nuclear powered submarine. Speculation was fueled further when the fact that many among the deceased were high ranking naval officers was revealed — unusual for a mere underwater "research" vessel.

Russian President Putin has now confirmed it was indeed a nuclear-powered submarine after officials declined to reveal even the most basic details, citing its "secret mission". As CBS reports:
Putin met Thursday with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who had returned from the Navy's Arctic base of Severomorsk, and asked him about the submersible's nuclear reactor. Shoigu said the reactor is "completely isolated now" and it is "in full working order."
The blaze has been identified as starting in the sub's battery compartment and spreading from there, causing 14 crewmen to succumb to smoke inhalation, while an undisclosed number survived. Norwegian officials had also previously reported that they have discovered no unusual levels of radiation near the accident.

Comment: RT adds that the fire broke out in the sub's battery compartment:
The nuclear reactor on the submersible has been fully isolated," Sergey Shoigi told President Vladimir Putin.

The vessel's crew also "conducted all necessary measures to protect the reactor. It's fully functional. So we hope the repair of the submersible can be done quickly."

The main cause of the tragedy was a fire which broke out in the sub's battery compartment and "managed to somewhat spread." Battery malfunction was earlier viewed as the likely cause of the deadly blaze by Russian defense experts.

The president and the minister also discussed compensation for the families of the 14 officers who died in the fire.

"We are working with each family individually," Shoigu said, adding that "all necessary help will be provided."
See also:

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Star of David

'Women have no place in politics': Israeli rabbi sparks wave of criticism for chauvinistic comments


RT
Thu, 04 Jul 2019 18:08 UTC
Shlomo Aviner West Bank rabbi
© AFP
Shlomo Aviner, a leading West Bank rabbi.
Hardline conservative Israeli rabbi, Shlomo Aviner, has said that women have no role in politics, arguing that former justice minister Ayelet Shaked should not lead the right wing coalition party, stoking a wave of criticism.

Aviner told an Israeli broadcaster on Thursday that "It's not ok" for Shaked to head up the Union of Right Wing Parties (URWP), adding "the complicated whirlwind of politics is not the arena for the female role."

Aviner's comments come on the heels of a letter which he signed alongside dozens of fellow religious leaders urging the URWP to back a "God fearing and Torah observant" candidate, though the rabbi went further than the letter itself, which did not single out Shaked.

Though she served as a member of the Knesset for the Orthodox Jewish Home Party until 2018, Shaked is an avowed secularist.

The rabbi provoked a torrent of disapproval from lawmakers across the spectrum of Israeli politics, who slammed the comments as bigoted.

Comment: No stranger to controversy, indeed:

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Arrow Down

Tijuana authorities report migrants are attempting to buy children to more easily cross into US

Wendy Fry
The Seattle Times
Mon, 01 Jul 2019 04:01 UTC
Migrants Tijuana, child trafficking tijuana
Some migrants in Tijuana are trying to purchase children from vulnerable single mothers in local shelters so they can more easily cross into the United States, according to shelter directors, migrants and Tijuana law enforcement authorities.

Migrants in Tijuana shelters said they are alarmed after reports of single mothers being approached by groups of men who have offered to buy children to improve their chances of safely crossing into the United States.

A decades-old legal document, known as the Flores agreement, says migrant children should only be held briefly in U.S. border custody, which often means they are released, along with the parent or guardian with whom they crossed while they wait for their asylum cases to make their way through clogged immigration courts.

Typically, when migrants are apprehended at the border with their children they are held in custody for a few days before they are released. Single adults who cross the border can face months in detention.

U.S. border authorities have been warning since June 2018 about people fraudulently using children who aren't theirs to pose as family units and gain entry into the United States, a claim that critics said was overblown.

But now, authorities in Tijuana are warning migrant mothers to keep their children close by and supervised, after reports of men offering to purchase migrant children in order to cross.

Comment:

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USA

'Say I love my tank': US DOD's guidance to service members for 4th of July event

Matt Cohen
Mother Jones
Wed, 03 Jul 2019 21:32 UTC
Tank in DC
© AP/Jacquelyn Martin
Tanks are rolling into Washington, DC, tomorrow for Donald Trump's "Salute to America," a revised version of the city's annual Fourth of July celebration that the president promises will be the "show of a lifetime." It will be a full-on military display, which — in addition to the tanks — includes "multiple flyovers," military music, a Trump speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial to top Republican donors and political appointees, and, of course, fireworks. All of which has caused the National Park Service to divert nearly $2.5 million typically used to improve its parks to cover the costs.

Realizing this will be a controversial event, the Pentagon has distributed instructions to service members participating in the shindig on what to do if approached by a reporter, and the advice is essentially this: Say you love your tank.

Since this is a military celebration, there's sure to be plenty of military personnel in attendance — alongside hordes of reporters angling to get the inside scoop from service members about what they really think of this whole celebration. Not on Trump's watch.
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Newspaper

MAD magazine ends new content after 67 years of political satire


RT
Thu, 04 Jul 2019 17:09 UTC
Mad Magazine stops publishing new content
© Cory Doctorow/Flickr (file photo)
MAD magazine will no longer publish new content and the 67-year-old political humor and satire outlet won't be sold on newsstands, prompting its fans to decry the end of an era as the anti-authority publication bites the dust.

The influential cult comic book and later magazine was launched in 1952, thrilling a generation with its sharp observations and ridiculing of US culture, politics and the media. In its heyday in the 70s, its circulation was 2 million as readers relished its jabs at advertising, hippies, and politicians, spearing both Republicans and Democrats in equal measure. It's credited with teaching young people how to be skeptical of government and the media, and its longtime fans mourned the end of an era on social media on Thursday, sharing their favorite covers.

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Einstein

California becomes first state to ban discrimination against natural hair

Aris Folley
The Hill
Wed, 03 Jul 2019 18:08 UTC
black hair
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed legislation into law on Wednesday making his state the first in the nation to ban discrimination against natural hair.

Senate Bill 188, which was recently passed by a unanimous margin in both the California State Assembly and Senate, will officially add hair-based discrimination associated with race to the state's anti-discrimination law.

The bill's text states that "the history of our nation is riddled with laws and societal norms that equated 'blackness,' and the associated physical traits, for example, dark skin, kinky and curly hair to a badge of inferiority, sometimes subject to separate and unequal treatment."

"This idea also permeated societal understanding of professionalism," the bill continues. "Professionalism was, and still is, closely linked to European features and mannerisms, which entails that those who do not naturally fall into Eurocentric norms must alter their appearances, sometimes drastically and permanently, in order to be deemed professional."


Comment: Actually, professionalism is even 'worse' than that. It also 'discriminates' against unprofessional Europeans. In fact, it turns out that anyone who wants to be considered a professional has to alter their appearance and mannerisms to some degree. That said, it is fairly ridiculous that some schools and employers to ban hairstyles like braids. The companies with laxer 'hair codes' will benefit in the long run - they're drawing on a wider pool of talent, after all.


The bill, dubbed the CROWN Act, also states that workplace policies prohibiting natural hair "including afros, braids, twists, and locks, have a disparate impact on Black individuals as these policies are more likely to deter Black applicants and burden or punish Black employees than any other group."
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Cow

Peter Schiff to RT: Golden asteroid story 'complete BS' spread by bitcoin bulls to pump up crypto


Source
Thu, 04 Jul 2019 17:26 UTC
artist impression psyche 16 asteroid gold
© Getty Images / Mark Garlick / Science Photo Library
Artist's impression of Psyche 16
The trending story about the golden asteroid Psyche 16 that allegedly contains massive amounts of precious heavy metals is a "whole bunch of nonsense," says Peter Schiff of Euro Pacific Capital.

In an exclusive interview with RT, Schiff said that while there is a metallic asteroid in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, no one could know for sure what metals it contains.

"It is a rare metallic asteroid with a composition similar to the Earth's core. It's made almost entirely of an iron-nickel alloy, with small amounts of other metals, likely to include gold."

Comment: The original story: Giant asteroid contains enough heavy metals to make everyone on Earth a billionaire - and NASA is heading there in 2022

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NPC

Diversity or SJW pandering? Disney makes Little Mermaid Ariel black for live-action remake


RT
Thu, 04 Jul 2019 17:49 UTC
little mermaid
New shots are being fired in the culture wars after Disney announced that its live-action remake of children's classic The Little Mermaid will star black actress Halle Bailey in the lead role as Ariel.

Director Rob Marshall said Bailey had been cast after an "extensive search" and possesses the "rare combination of spirit, heart, youth, innocence, and substance" needed to play the role.

Naturally, the announcement provoked cries of delight from some quarters and wails of dismay from others. Fans of the decision felt it was a big win for diversity, while critics argued that the remake should stay true to the 1989 original — in which Ariel, most will remember, was in fact a, blue-eyed and red-haired white girl — or mermaid, to be exact.


Comment: Bailey's hair better not be red in the film, otherwise its makers may be accused of natural hair discrimination...

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Fire

Fire at Jim Beam warehouse ruins 45,000 barrels of bourbon, retail value up to $300 Million

Olivia Rockeman and Bloomberg
Fortune
Wed, 03 Jul 2019 00:00 UTC
Jim Beam
A fire at a Jim Beam bourbon facility in Kentucky ruined about 45,000 barrels, potentially destroying hundreds of millions of dollars of alcohol.

The spirits that went up in flames were "relatively young whiskey," parent company Beam Suntory said in an email. "Given the age of the lost whiskey, this fire will not impact the availability of Jim Beam for consumers."

The company did not specify a financial loss. The spirits maker operates 126 warehouses in Kentucky that hold approximately 3.3 million barrels, meaning the loss represents about 1.4% of its product in the state. Any losses were insured, a spokeswoman for the company said.

Two warehouses caught fire late Tuesday, one of which was destroyed, according to Drew Chandler, the Woodford County Emergency Management Director. Damage to the second warehouse was contained to an external structure, Chandler said. A couple of barrels were left among the rubble of the burned structure, but none will be suitable for human consumption, he said.
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