#U.S. & World

[rodspurethoughts]

U.S. News & World Report Ranks Jack Henry as a Best Company to Work For

MONETT, Mo. /PRNewswire/ — Jack Henry™ (Nasdaq: JKHY) has been named as one of the 2024 – 2025 Best Companies to Work For by U.S. News & World Report.   Jack Henry was rated among top companies in professional services on factors contributing to job seekers’ decision-making when choosing a workplace that best meets their needs. “We’re thrilled that U.S. News & World Report recognized Jack…

[books-by-gauss]

Are We Getting Closer to World War III?

James F. Gauss, Ph.D. June 24, 2024 Are we getting closer to World War III? Consider just a few of these current facts. Russia is emboldened to send its war ships within 90 miles of the U.S. shore. Russia threatening war with NATO nations and the U.S. China taking aggressive military actions in the South China Sea against Taiwan and the Philippines. North Korea’s despots threatening South…

[mariacallous]

“If it should be, and he came to London, with his teeming millions. … There may be a solemn duty; and if it come we must not shrink from it.”—Bram Stoker, Dracula

A vampire must avoid direct sunlight to avoid crumbling into ash, yet few folk horrors have been subject to more scrutiny than the transformative bloodsuckers who dominate the night. A new and absolutely terrific cinematic take on the myth, Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu, has hit theaters, and its most notable element, in addition to outstanding performances, dialogue, and production design, is that this new version really amps up the lusty goth quotient. (So much hallucinatory writhing and moaning!) However, its release so close to the inauguration of a U.S. president who has stoked fears of immigrants draws out xenophobic elements inherent to the text, and an inner tension with its own reactionary origin is part of the genius of this new film.

If you aren’t a subscriber to Fangoria magazine, you may not know the Nosferatu backstory. The first version, released in 1922, is a landmark of German filmmaking that plundered intellectual property as if it were the grave of a Victorian noblewoman buried with her jewels—a fate some of the characters in Dracula think has befallen poor Lucy Westenra, before it is revealed she is actually an accursed undead demon!

Unlike his most famous literary creation, though, Irish-born writer Bram Stoker does not walk the earth a century after his death. As such, the theater manager who wrote books on the side would likely be surprised at the strength of his legacy. Dracula, published in 1897, was only a modest success at the time. It was not even the first book about vampires published in English; how it became the wellspring for vampire iconography—to the point that is used to sell breakfast cereal—is perhaps due to vivid, dueling film interpretations.

In 1921, a German film producer with an interest in the occult created a new studio (Prana) with an eye toward making supernatural-themed films, and kicked things off with an adaptation of Dracula. He hired Henrik Galeen, who co-wrote the outstanding expressionist The Golem: How He Came Into the World, to write the screenplay, and F. W. Murnau—who would later make Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans, one of the undisputed masterpieces of silent cinema—to direct. But he did not pay for the rights to Bram Stoker’s book. Instead, Galeen changed the names of the characters (Count Dracula to Count Orlok) and the location (London to Wisborg, a fictional German city), and made some additional tweaks to the narrative. The title, Nosferatu, is a word used in Dracula to categorize vampires, meaning undead. (The etymology of this word remains debated, but it may have its roots in the Greek nosophoros, meaning “disease-bearing.”)

Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror was released to significant acclaim, but one person who wasn’t happily chomping on popcorn was Florence Balcombe, Bram Stoker’s widow. An anonymous informant sent her a handbill from the movie’s lavish premiere at the Marble Hall of the Berlin Zoological Gardens. The promotional material boasted that the film was “freely adapted” from Dracula. Balcombe took this to court, won her case, and bankrupted Prana, which was ordered to destroy every copy of Nosferatu. Clearly, this did not happen, as you can still watch the movie today—and, despite the iffy ethical origins, you should; it’s terrific.

But what Balcombe did next was key. Springboarding off the increased interest in the story (and to guarantee proper payment on copyrighted material), she greenlit a stage production. The show ended up being a hit in London in 1927, then moved to New York later the same year. That version starred Bela Lugosi. Four years later, Lugosi reprised the role for Tod Browning’s film version for Universal Pictures, the first talkie in the Universal Monsters series. It was a sensation, and Lugosi’s sharp-toothed Transylvanian is now an early screen icon on par with Chaplin’s Little Tramp.

Other Dracula movies were soon in the works—a Spanish-language version was actually shot concurrently with Browning’s, using the same sets—and have never stopped. Hammer Studios in Britain made several classics starring Christopher Lee; there’s the Andy Warhol-presented Blood for Dracula; the disco era’s comedy Love at First Bite; Francis Ford Coppola’s stylistic version from the 1990s; and then there’s Adam Sandler’s Hotel Transylvania cartoons. Moreover, Lugosi knew a good gig when he saw it. The actor reprised his role for comedy (Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein—and also the Count!) and special appearances (a gig on Fred Allen’s top rated Texaco Star Theater radio show is just one example), and also starred in several Dracula-esque horror titles like The Devil Bat. While Lugosi’s lines from Dracula were instantly quotable (“I never drink … wine” is certainly my favorite), behind it all was the less hokey, dreamlike silent film version of Nosferatu, sprung from illicit origins and filled with striking sinister imagery.

Shadow of the Vampire, released in 2000, imagines that the original production was cursed because actor Max Schreck, who played Count Orlok, was truly a vampire. (Willem Dafoe was nominated for an Oscar for his performance of Schreck in this behind-the-scenes comedy, which is especially amusing because he plays the part of Prof. von Frantz, a spin on Stoker’s Dr. Van Helsing, in the new film.) Shadow of the Vampire’s premise—the cover up of an unsettling (fictional) aspect of the original Nosferatu—works because, while the intentions of Murnau and company are hard to know, it is easy to see how German audiences of the 1920s could read Nosferatu as antisemitic.

The film and its source material read like a laundry list of antisemitic tropes: The Count comes from “the East,” a backwards, superstitious land. (Transylvania, while certainly a real place, means “beyond the woods.”) He has somehow amassed a fortune despite living apart from the villagers who fear and despise him. He is a non-metaphorical bloodsucker. When he gets to civilization, he immediately starts preying on women. In most versions of the story, the first woman he assaults turns into a vampire herself, then starts draining the blood of babies and children, recalling the many examples of supposed blood libel used to excuse antisemitic violence throughout the previous centuries. When the character of Mina Harker (called Ellen Hutter in Nosferatu) is finally penetrated by the count, she declares that her blood is “unclean.” The Count’s curse demands that he sleep each night in the earth of his origin, but he comes up with a sneaky loophole by packing several coffins filled with Transylvanian dirt. One way to interpret the Count’s actions is metaphorical: The immigrants are unwilling to assimilate and they taint our family lines and drag their traditions along with them from the old country. But on a much more literal level, it is quite bluntly blut und bloden, blood and soil, a Nazi rallying cry since the 1920s that, unfortunately, persists to this day.

While these symbolic plot elements exist in the 1897 novel, it was the 1922 German film that dialed them up, adding some undeniable antisemitic visual tropes. Count Orlok, compared to the Spirit Halloween-ready Count Dracula, has a hooked nose and rodent-like clutching hands, an exaggerated reinterpretation of the Count’s features compared to how they are described in Stoker’s book. (Lugosi’s Dracula from 1931 eases up on the visual stereotypes considerably, but he does wear a six-pointed star the first time we see him.)

Murnau also added a plague element to Nosferatu’s storyline. When the Count’s ship comes to Wisborg, it arrives with rats and a rapidly spreading sickness. This “verminization” goes hand-in-hand with the notion of the “dirty Jew.” It is believed that Julius Streicher, editor-in-chief of the Nazi mouthpiece Der St��rmer, was a fan of the film, and Hitler himself, in Mein Kampf, compared Jews to vampires.

So hold on a second, you are telling me that a major motion picture studio has released a work of antisemitic propaganda, and it’s in theaters right now? Do I need to send an angry letter? No, not at all. Please do not cancel Robert Eggers, one of the more brilliant directors on the scene today, whose take on Nosferatu tamps down the antisemitism. (This is his fourth film, following The Witch, The Lighthouse, and The Northman, all very sharp plays on genre storytelling, and all worth watching.). Now, Count Orlok just has a weird and striking nose, not a hook nose. He is also less of a schemer. He is compelled to come to Wisborg, as if it is part of his burdensome curse. If one were to ask, “Why make this movie again?” I’d say that, apart from the exemplary sets and performances and cinematography, Eggers emboldens the supernatural, psychosexual connection between the Count and Ellen. Yes, the town leaders of Wisborg—ostensibly the heroes—remain understandably xenophobic. But Eggers adds a top layer of tragedy, by making the subtext text: The Count and Ellen should be able to get their telepathic freak on, but the social codes of the 1830s are so stifling that even the Prince of Darkness can’t fight them. This creates a tension to the story (and its anti-immigration strain) that feels entirely new.

Considering that hardly anyone watching the new Nosferatu will be unfamiliar with vampire tropes, Eggers is well within his rights to essentially copy-paste elements from the more problematic version and build on it. The added shading, leaving the audience wondering if maybe the Count isn’t such a villain, is enough nuance to keep this from feeling like a definitive political statement. After all, the first thing you’ll likely talk about after seeing it is Ellen’s (Lily-Rose Depp) several moments of bed-ridden, prurient murmuring “he’s coming!” from a dream-like haze. For a director who has made three sharp movies dealing with the supernatural or fantastic, this story is in Eggers’ blood.

10 Vampire Streaming Recommendations

Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922), dir. F.W. Murnau: The original nightmare.

Dracula (1931), dir. Tod Browning: The birth of a franchise. Warning: Though there are many classic moments, much of this movie is dull.

Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1968), dir. Freddie Francis: The third Christopher Lee Dracula picture, and one that likely influenced the new one—as it was, for its time, a bit on the randy side.

Blacula (1972), dir. William Crain: An 18th century African prince is transformed into a vampire by Count Dracula himself, and ends up in 1970s Los Angeles. Released during the first wave of blaxploitation films, this was the first one to get supernatural.

Love at First Bite (1979), dir. Stan Dragoti: The Count comes to groovy New York and is faced with nonstop schtick. Richard Benjamin plays the famed vampire hunter Van Helsing’s grandson, a neurotic shrink named Dr. Jeffrey Rosenberg.

Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979), dir. Werner Herzog: Before Eggers, there was this German-language take focusing on Count Orlok. A slow-paced film that goes heavy on the plague storyline, featuring a substantial number of rats.

Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992), dir. Francis Ford Coppola: Gen X Dracula, with Winona Ryder, Gary Oldman, and Keanu Reeves.

Thirst (2009), dir. Park Chan-wook: Not a Dracula film, but an unpredictable spin on the vampire myth from one of South Korea’s great filmmakers.

Only Lovers Left Alive (2013), dir. Jim Jarmusch: Cinema’s king of deadpan cool presents artists and rock musicians as vampires eternally on the fringes of society. (A documentary?)

El Conde (2023), dir. Pablo Larraín: Perhaps of particular interest to Foreign Policy readers, this Spanish-language picture, available on Netflix, suggests that Augusto Pinochet was actually a vampire, and takes it from there.

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from Yale Climate Connections:

Asheville, North Carolina, seemed like a good place to escape the worst of a warming world. The city’s appealing four-season climate includes summers with a typical daily high around 84°F – unusually low for the Southeast U.S. – and winters that aren’t too frigid. There’s typically plenty of moisture throughout the year, but with a mountain rain shadow that keeps Asheville a bit less wet than most of its neighbors. And the city takes climate seriously: findings from a climate resilience assessment have already been incorporated into Asheville’s comprehensive planning document.

In a 2018 Rolling Stone article, Jeff Goodell profiled one climate refugee who had considered the Tampa area before settling on Asheville. “No place is without risk, but in Asheville, the risks seem manageable,” Jeff Kaplan told Goodell. A 2021 Blue Ridge Public Radio segment portrayed Asheville as a climate “winner.”

Then came Hurricane Helene. After striking the Florida Panhandle at Category 4 strength, the storm took a quirky left hook across the southern Appalachians, pushing mammoth amounts of moisture upslope. Making matters worse, a predecessor rain event ahead of Helene had dumped six to 12 inches of rain across the region a day before the storm itself arrived.

The result was one of the most devastating, prolonged, and deadly hurricane-related U.S. flood disasters since the cataclysm of Katrina in 2005. Across the southern Appalachians – including Asheville – Helene destroyed roads, knocked out power and water lines, crippled communications, and took dozens of lives.

Among the things that make Helene different is that it arrived at a time when hurricane behavior is being measurably amped up in multiple ways by human-caused climate change. And it hammered a place now widely viewed to be at least somewhat insulated from the worst impacts of that changing climate.

Many folks seeking out climate-change-protected places in the U.S. have leaned toward small, progressive cities in relatively cool parts of the Midwest and East. Spikes in heat, drought, and wildfire that have plagued the West seem more likely to be tempered in these apparent havens. And in many of them, climate adaptation efforts are already underway.

As it turns out, most of the country east of the Rockies is getting wetter. Especially over the central and southern Appalachians, some locations saw a 5 to 10% rise in official annual precipitation when their 1980-2011 climate averages were replaced by the 1991-2020 figures. In Asheville, a typical year’s precipitation jumped from 37.32 to 40.61 inches.

Along with Asheville, a couple of other often-cited climate-change oases in the U.S. Midwest and East have experienced landmark rains and floods in recent years.

Duluth, Minnesota, referred to in a 2023 New York Times writeup as “climate-proof Duluth” (and the subject of a study on how climate migration might change the city), experienced the worst flooding in its history on June 19-20, 2012, when the city was swamped by a record 7.24 inches of rain in 24 hours. Colossal rains were even more widespread across northeast Minnesota on June 18, 2024, when a number of stations reported 5-7.5 inches of rain – a daily total with an expected recurrence interval of 500 to 1,000 years, according to the National Weather Service.

Vermont has long stood out as a potential U.S. climate refuge, with its environmentally friendly reputation, ample greenery and mountains, and normally mild summers. But when former Hurricane Irene ripped across the state as a tropical storm in August 2011, it brought massive rainfall that triggered one of Vermont’s worst disasters on record, rivaling or exceeding the notorious floods of 1927 in some areas. Then in 2023, weeks of early-summer wildfire smoke filtering south from Canada were followed by the Great Vermont Flood of July 10-11. Triggered by up to 9.61 inches of rain, the floods caused more than $2.2 billion in damage across northern New England and triggered the region’s first-ever flash flood emergency.

[uswnt5]

https://bikebiz.com/strava-survey-highlights-discrepancies-in-exposure-for-womens-sports/amp/

"Strava is continuing in its ‘Strive for More’ commitment to support women in movement and sport with its third year sponsorship of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.

[...]

Additionally, Strava has joined with Tobin Heath, two-time Olympic gold medalist, two-time FIFA World Cup Champion, U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team member, and co-founder of Re-Inc, to show an inside look behind the scenes at the dedication and grit of this year’s riders to further bring awareness and attention to the sport."

Wow! cool! when is this?

[dertaglichedan]

Biden Admin Sending Another $275M In Military Aid To Ukraine Before Trump Takes Office

The Biden administration announced Wednesday that it would provide Ukraine with another $275 million in military aid as it amps up support for the country before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. 

Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the U.S. would give Ukraine ammunition for high mobility artillery rocket systems, TOW missiles, landmines, small arms and training equipment, and a variety of other ammunition and drones. 

“As part of the surge in security assistance that President Biden announced on September 26, the United States is providing another significant package of urgently needed weapons and equipment to our Ukrainian partners as they defend against Russia’s ongoing attacks,” Blinken said in a statement. “We will continue to provide Ukraine the support it needs to succeed on the battlefield and prevail in its defense against Russia’s aggression.”

On Thursday, Ukraine said that Russia had struck the city of Dnipro with an intercontinental ballistic missile, but U.S. officials said that claim was unlikely. 

Earlier this week, President Joe Biden authorized Ukraine to launch long-range American-supplied missiles into Russia. Donald Trump Jr. accused the Biden administration of trying to start a world war before his father’s inauguration in January.

“The Military Industrial Complex seems to want to make sure they get World War 3 going before my father has a chance to create peace and save lives. Gotta lock in those $Trillions. Life be damned!!! Imbeciles!” he posted on X on Monday. 

[saintmeghanmarkle]

Courage & Honor by u/Practical_Magic_68

Courage & Honor On July 11, 2024 Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex will be receiving the Pat Tillman Award.Pat Tillman was an exceptional young man who was killed in Afghanistan by friendly fire.I don’t know Pat Tillman, but from all accounts he was a good son, brother, and husband. Pat was well liked by those who met him. This young man knew how to play football, acknowledged by receiving a contract with the Arizona Cardinals, an American football team (part of the NFL). Due to 9/11, this young man turned down a lucrative contract ($3.6 million USD) to join the U.S. Army as a ranger, to fight for the West against tyranny and establish a democratic government/authority in Afghanistan, and exile Taliban rule.Sadly, Pat Tillman’s life was cut short. He was killed by friendly fire that left a huge, raw, gaping hole to his wife, parents, siblings and friends. There are aspects of this tragedy relating to his death, but this is not what this opinion is about.Joseph Campbell write about “heroes” in his book “The Heroes Journey”. A hero is one who goes out to the world and is transformed internally, and then returns home.The characteristics of being a “hero”is to be caring, respecting oneself and others; of the selfless giving of him or herself for a greater purpose, and being more of a servant to those ideologies he/she passionately believed in. The Pat Tillman award is about courage and honor. I feel had be been alive today, he would not consider himself a hero, merely a human being who isn’t afraid to take risks, even if it resulted in death.This award is one that should not be given out lightly. It should be an award that cannot be bought, rather earned. It should go to a person who demonstrates courage in times of need, and who lives honorably, conscientiously, honestly, and with integrity. post link: https://ift.tt/bgvEXhC author: Practical_Magic_68 submitted: June 28, 2024 at 04:06PM via SaintMeghanMarkle on Reddit disclaimer: all views + opinions expressed by the author of this post, as well as any comments and reblogs, are solely the author's own; they do not necessarily reflect the views of the administrator of this Tumblr blog. For entertainment only.

[greensparty]

Stuff I'm Looking Forward To In November

Can't believe it's now November and it's about to get a lot colder and darker out. In addition to Diwali (11/1), Daylight Savings Time Ending (11/3), Election Day (11/5), Veterans Day (11/11), and Thanksgiving (11/28) here is what's on my radar this month:

Movies:

Blitz 

Steve McQueen (the director, not the action actor of yesteryear) is one of the finest directors of the last 15 years with dramas like Shame and 12 Years a Slave. Now he's back with a British World War II drama. Opens 11/1 and Apple TV+ premiere on 11/22.

Juror #2

Clint Eastwood is now 94 and it's amazing to see the caliber of films he's directed just in the last 20 years. His new legal thriller reunited About a Boy stars Nicholas Hoult and Toni Collette too. Opens 11/1.

Beatles '64

Director David Tedeschi has been the longtime editor on a number of Martin Scorsese's documentaries over the years, but he really impressed me when he co-directed with Scorsese the doc Personality Crisis. Now Tedeschi, with Scorsese producing, is turning his attention to the year 1964 for The Beatles. Premieres 11/29 on Disney+ (review to come).

Music:

Primal Scream Come Ahead

Scotland's Primal Scream haven't released a new album in eight years. Now they are back with a new one dropping on 11/8.

George Harrison Living In the Material World 50th Anniversary

George Harrison's fourth solo studio album was released in 1973. Now to celebrate the 50th anniversary (actually 51 but who's counting?) its getting the anniversary deluxe treatment. Re-release on 11/15 (review to come).

Kim Deal Nobody Loves You More

It might surprise you to learn that legendary bassist / singer Kim Deal, known for her work with The Pixies as her own bands The Breeders and The Amps, has never released a solo album. Until now that is! Album drops 11/22!

The Beatles The U.S. Albums in Mono Box Set

Speaking of The Beatles and 1964 being a historic year for them, 6 of their U.S. albums and 1 from 1965 are being released in a special remastered box set dropping 11/22 (review to come).

U2 How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb 20th Anniversary Edition

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of one of U2's best albums, there will be a 20th anniversary edition being released in various formats featuring unreleased outtakes. Re-issue drops 11/29.

Events:

Northeast Comic Con

I’ve had a blast covering the Northeast Comic Con for years now (read my coverage here) and the Holiday 2024 edition looks awesome with special guests like Micky Dolenz, Michael Des Barres, Kelli Maroney, and more! Convention is at the Boxborough Regency (Boxborough, MA) from 11/29-12/1 (coverage to come).

RSD Black Friday

As if Record Store Day weren't exciting enough as a day to celebrate record stores, but with Black Friday, they have a special RSD edition on 11/29!

[usafphantom2]

Hensoldt equips Ukrainian helicopters with self-protection sensor technology for the first time

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 22/06/2023 - 17:00 in Helicopters

Sensor solution provider HENSOLDT is equipping Ukrainian Armed Forces helicopters for the first time with state-of-the-art detection and self-protection sensor technology.

The order comprises 16 AMPS (Airborne Missile Protection System) sensor solutions. The order value is in the two-digit range of millions. With the delivery, HENSOLDT is providing the Ukrainian armed forces with modern equipment required by current events. The Czech system integrator LOM PRAHA is planned as the equipment company.

“With the delivery of AMPS, we are ensuring an increase in the defense capacity of Ukrainian helicopters,” said Tanya Altmann, manager of the Optronics & Land Solutions division and managing director of HENSOLDT Optronics GmbH. “By integrating this platform for the first time, we are protecting crews from a wide range of threats, especially surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles.”

Ukrainian helicopters are equipped with the modular and individually configurable sensor solution "AMPS". (Photo: HENSOLDT)

The Airborne Missile Protection System is a flexible and independent self-protection system for helicopters and fixed-wapped aircraft. Its modular design allows the AMPS to be easily configured for specific operational requirements and for different mission profiles. Parts of the "AMPS" sensor solution are the Missile Launch Detection Sensor (MILDS), an Advanced Display and Control Unit (ACDU) and the Active Recognition System (MACS), which determines the range and speed of detected missiles and eliminates false alarms. Existing Countermeasure Dispensing Systems (CMDS) in helicopters can continue to operate with the current AMPS configuration.

A high percentage of aircraft losses in recent operational areas was caused by surface-to-air infrared missiles (IR SAMs). In addition, laser and radar threats are becoming more common in operational areas. To reliably detect these threats, AMPS can be configured with missile, laser and radar alert systems to provide the best possible protection through rapid detection. HENSOLDT already protects more than 2,000 different flying platforms with AMPS.

Tags: Military AviationUkrainian Air ForceHelicoptersHensoldt

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Fernando Valduga

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Daytona Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. Uses Canon equipment during his photographic work around the world of aviation.

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[darkmaga-returns]

The Last American Vagabond

The Last American Vagabond

Dec 16, 2024

Joining me today is Derrick Broze, here to discuss some of his recent articles and how they relate to some of the current stories dominating the headlines. We discuss the new contracts between SpaceX and the Biden administration for rolling out an all-encompassing satellite spy network around the world with the NRO and how this overlaps with the rapidly growing control grid that is being implemented. We also discuss the Israeli government dominated spyware field and how this is set to explode in the next Trump administration. We also consider how the current drone craze might fit into all of this.

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Derrick Broze, Author at The Last American VagabondNew TabMeet the Spyware Companies Preparing to Unleash Their Tech During Trump's 2nd TermThe Biden Administration's Legacy of Migrant Children TraffickingTrump Confirms Plan To Declare National Emergency For "Mass Deportations" Using "Military Assets"(34) Robert Skvarla on X: "New docs obtained by journalist Jack Poulson confirm an Israeli spyware firm was marketing its software based on its ability to "target" the social accounts of everyone from BLM protesters to J6ers https://t.co/CVDgMjgJet" / XThe SAVE Act, REAL ID & ID2020 - Using The #TwoPartyIllusion & The Election To Usher In Digital IDsSuspected Terrorist At Texas Border Works For Mossad & "UNRWA Is Hamas" Exposed As Israeli OperationWhether Through Biden, Harris, or Trump - Digital ID's Are Coming to AmericaDigital ID: The Foundation for TechnocracyAmerica's Frontier Fund: The Venture Capital Firm with Ties to Peter Thiel and Eric SchmidtNew TabElection 2024: Zionist Technocrats vs Zionist Technocrats'You Can't Hide': Elon Musk & SpaceX Are Helping US Intelligence Build the World's Largest Spy Satellite NetworkElon Musk | Tesla Investor Relations(31) Evan on X: "SpaceX’s Starlink now has more than 5,000 satellites orbiting Earth 🌎 up from 0 operational satellites at the start of 2019 Here’s what that journey looks like 👀 https://t.co/ZPTXcXOhjg" / XSpaceX Wins First US Space Force Contract for Satellites - BloombergNew TabIsrael Connection To Drone Psyop & Netanyahu Government "Unanimously Approved" Plan To Settle SyriaNJ Drone 'Invasion' Just In Time For Congress To Reauthorize Orwellian Law | ZeroHedge(21) Palantir on X: "“For more than two decades, we have been providing warfighters with mission-critical software and production AI capabilities – including Project Maven,” says Aki Jain, Palantir’s CTO & President, US Government. “Deploying Palantir’s Visual Navigation atop Red Cat’s drones and… https://t.co/cvbhq6cfSm" / XNATO - News: Ukraine joins NATO counter-drone exercise for first time, 10-Sep.-2024The Drone Wars: You Are Not Prepared | The Corbett Report(34) Truth Seeker on X: "Palantir aired this commercial during the Army vs Navy game showing drones being released from a ship..... Further proof this is all a psyop... https://t.co/ORT4XyPeQA" / XPeter Thiel: Palantir, Israel Agree Strategic Partnership for Battle Tech - Bloomberg‘Lavender’: The AI machine directing Israel’s bombing spree in GazaIsraeli Company Is Hawking Its Self-Launching Drone System to U.S. PoliceThe People's Reset - The People's Reset: Mexico 2025New TabWith Fluoride Back in the News, Americans Are Once Again Being Told to "Trust the Science"Fluoride Trial Archives - The Last American Vagabond

[mezamaki]

Nonfiction - Life as Crossing Borders by Sergio Troncoso

Sergio Troncoso describes his childhood in Ysleta, a colonia close to El Paso, Texas, in his book Life as Crossing Borders. The essay explores his early years in a low-income life in a close Mexican immigrant community where perseverance and hard work were not only survival skills but also ideals. Troncoso considers how his accomplishments and identity were influenced by the difficult reality of living in a neglected border town.

Troncoso's portrayal of his family's fixed work ethic, which he humorously attributes to his "Mexican Stalin" parents, is a important point in the story. His childhood discipline, whether it was cleaning irrigation canals or remodeling run-down houses, turned into the mental toughness required to succeed academically. His path from an area plagued by gangs to Harvard and Yale is a prime example of Nepantla, the liminal space between two worlds of poverty and privilege/Mexico and the U.S.. Why i found this story rather interesting is because in similar I am here now in CSU because of the same family portrayals. I was motivated by my Dad's efforts of working a hard job like construction 12 hours a day to provide for us.

Troncoso's narratives remove myths about border communities by showcasing their compassion and depth. He illustrates the value of mentoring in overcoming cultural barriers with tales of his instructors, including Mrs. Crouch and La Gutierrez. Their unwavering expectations and encouragement helped him to appreciate tenacity and accuracy, traits that characterized his writing.

By encouraging empathy and acknowledging the frequently under appreciated contributions of border towns like Ysleta, this story challenges readers to reevaluate their assumptions about immigrant communities.

Sergio Troncoso. Nepantla Familias : An Anthology of Mexican American Literature on Families in Between Worlds. Texas A&M University Press, 2021.

[virtualcurrencyspace]

The Crypto Market Cap Drops By $182B

The world's largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization was trading down 6.2% at a price of $92,446.38 as of 5:55 a.m. ET, according to CoinGecko data.

The entire crypto market capitalization — calculated by multiplying total coins in circulation by price — dropped $182 billion to $3.35 trillion.

Despite the drop, bitcoin is still up more than 30% since the Nov. 5 U.S. presidential election.

https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2024/11/26/bitcoin-btc-price-falls-as-post-election-rally-loses-steam.html

[tasos-perte-tzortzis]

Breaking News Business, Economy, Multimedia, Web Development, Science, World

TechManiacs: Locate X: The tool that locates anyone everywhere https://techmaniacs.gr/locate-x-to-ergaleio-poy-entopizei-opoiondipote-pantoy/

Cibum: Hellas informed Europe today about a dangerous product - Sold by a large Hellenic supermarket https://cibum.gr/nea/asfaleia-trofimon/i-ellada-enimerose-to-rasff-gia-epikindyno-proion-poleitai-apo-megalo-elliniko-soypermarket/

OT: Google: Develops AI that takes control of computers https://www.ot.gr/2024/10/27/texnologia/texniti-noimosyni/google-anaptyssei-ai-pou-pairnei-ton-elegxo-ypologiston/

TrikalaTroll: About 100 employees of FIERATEX, the large textile company that was founded in 1988 with a production plant in New Santa Kilkis, are about to be laid off. https://trikalatroll.gr/allo-ena-ergostasio-kleinei-100-ergazom/

TaNea: EFET: Recalls a product of a large supermarket chain https://www.tanea.gr/2024/10/24/greece/efet-anakalei-proion-megalis-alysidas-souper-market/amp/

Reuters: Basel chief urges nations to complete capital rules as U.S. regulators remain deadlocked https://www.reuters.com/markets/basel-chief-urges-nations-complete-capital-rules-us-regulators-remain-deadlocked-2024-10-23/

Tass: BRICS becomes the most quickly developing association globally — Serbian minister https://tass.com/world/1862895

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WebMarketSupport:

Knowledge Economy: Workshop #12 incoming

Info product #1 incoming (not the one I developed during the summer) Stay tuned for more!

news #BusinessNews #EconomyNews

[enterprisewired]

China Lowers Lending Rates Amid Economic Challenges

Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com

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Beijing takes action to stimulate demand and boost growth

Major Rate Cuts by PBOC

On Monday, China’s central bank, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC), announced a reduction in its main benchmark lending rates by 25 basis points during the monthly fixing. The one-year loan prime rate (LPR), which influences corporate and most household loans, was lowered to 3.1%, while the five-year LPR, the benchmark for mortgage rates, was cut to 3.6%. These changes signal China’s continued efforts to stimulate its sluggish economy through monetary policy adjustments.

This move had been widely anticipated after PBOC Governor Pan Gongsheng hinted at a possible rate reduction during a recent forum in Beijing. He noted that the central bank was likely to lower the loan prime rates by 20 to 25 basis points. This reduction follows similar cuts in previous months and is part of a broader strategy to address ongoing economic challenges, including a persistent property crisis and weak consumer confidence.

Analysis: Stimulus and Economic Strategy

The PBOC’s decision to cut Lending rates is part of a larger monetary stimulus plan aimed at stabilizing China’s economy. Along with the LPR cuts, Governor Pan also mentioned the potential for further reductions in the reserve requirement ratio (RRR) by 25 to 50 basis points by the end of the year, depending on liquidity needs. Additional measures, including a 20-basis-point cut to the seven-day reverse repurchase rate and a 30-basis-point reduction in the medium-term lending facility rate, were highlighted during his speech.

While the rate cuts are a positive step, experts believe more substantial measures are needed. Shane Oliver, chief economist at AMP, emphasized that lowering the cost of borrowing alone might not be enough to stimulate significant growth. He stressed that China’s real challenge lies in a lack of demand, calling for more aggressive fiscal stimulus to complement the monetary adjustments. Zhiwei Zhang, president of Pinpoint Asset Management, echoed this sentiment, arguing that despite the recent cuts, China’s real interest Lending rates remain too high. He expects additional rate reductions in 2024 as the U.S. Federal Reserve begins to lower its own rates.

Context: China’s Economic Landscape

China’s latest move to cut lending rates comes after a series of measures taken by the PBOC to support its economy, which has been grappling with multiple crises, including a prolonged slump in the property market. Last month, the central bank lowered the RRR by 50 basis points, releasing liquidity into the banking system to help ease financial pressures. These efforts are aimed at boosting consumer spending and investment, as the world’s second-largest economy struggles to regain its footing.

Recent economic data provides a mixed picture. While China’s third-quarter GDP growth of 4.6% year-on-year was slightly better than expected, the overall sentiment remains cautious. Retail sales and industrial production figures for September also exceeded forecasts, offering some hope. However, experts believe that without stronger demand and more comprehensive fiscal support, China’s economic recovery may remain slow.

The PBOC’s recent actions, including the latest rate cuts, reflect its commitment to stabilizing the economy. However, the road to recovery remains uncertain, with many calling for a balanced approach that includes both monetary and fiscal policy initiatives to address the underlying structural issues.