#US Maritime Alliance

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Lori Ann Larocco at CNBC:

Billions in trade came to a screeching halt at U.S. East Coast and Gulf Coast ports after members of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) began walking off the job after 12:01 a.m. ET on October 1. The ILA is North America’s largest longshoremen’s union, with roughly 50,000 of its 85,000 members making good on the threat to strike at 14 major ports subject to a just-expired master contract with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), and picketing workers beginning to appear at ports. The union and port ownership group failed to reach agreement by midnight on a new contract in a protracted battle over wage increases and use of automation. In a last-ditch effort on Monday to avert a strike that will cause significant harm to the U.S. economy if it is lengthy — at least hundreds of millions of dollars a day at the largest ports like New York/New Jersey — the USMX offered a nearly 50% wage hike over six years, but that was rejected by the ILA, according to a source close to the negotiations. The port ownership group said it hoped the offer would lead to a resumption of collective bargaining.

The 14 ports where preparations for a strike have been underway are Boston, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, Wilmington, North Carolina, Baltimore, Norfolk, Charleston, Savannah, Jacksonville, Tampa, Miami, New Orleans, Mobile, and Houston. New York Governor Kathy Hochul said in a statement issued shortly after midnight that “the first large-scale eastern dockworker strike in 47 years began at ports from Maine to Texas, including at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. In preparation for this moment, New York has been working around the clock to ensure that our grocery stores and medical facilities have the essential products they need.” Rhetoric from ILA leadership has been aggressive in the weeks leading up to the strike, with ILA president Harold Daggett, who was a union member the last time it went out on strike in 1977, telling rank-and-file members — who unanimously voted to authorize a strike — in a recent video message, “We’ll crush them.” 

[...] The most significant issues would be faced by food and automobile industries, Kamins said, as they rely especially heavily on the ports that will be shut down. While a surge in inflation is highly unlikely even with a longer strike, even a modest reacceleration could create uncertainty and force the Federal Reserve to be more cautious about lowering interest rates, which would weigh on the overall outlook for job growth and investment. A one-week strike could cost the U.S. economy $3.78 billion, according to an analysis by The Conference Board, and cause supply chain slowdowns through mid-November. In all, the ports threatened with strikes handle $3 trillion annually in U.S. annual international trade.

Many industries are preparing for major repercussions. Noushin Shamsili, CEO and president of Nuco Logistics, which specializes in pharmaceutical imports and exports, said the strike comes at a critical time for inventory replenishment for the pharma sector. “Almost all of this industry is just on time,” said Shamsili. “Raw materials are being brought in to complete drug manufacturing. Medical supplies for clinics and hospitals are on these vessels. For a while importers did not bring in a lot of cargo because they were overflowing with supplies post-Covid. Now they have started reordering medical devices, gloves, syringes, and tubing.” Shamsili also said the East Coast ports are a gateway for generic medicine made in India. Approximately 48% of the active pharmaceutical ingredients used in the U.S. are being imported from India. Without these APIs, medications cannot be produced. APIs are also manufactured in Europe, which also use the East Coast ports as U.S. points of entry.

[...] The Biden administration finds itself in a delicate political moment, with the presidential election one month away and President Biden vowing he will not use existing labor law to force union workers back on the job, which is within his powers under the Taft-Hartley Act. The Taft-Hartley Act, passed in 1947, was a revision of U.S. law governing labor relations and union activity that granted a U.S. president the power to suspend a strike for an 80-day “cooling off period” in cases where “national health or safety” are at risk. 

Today begins the strike along East Coast and Gulf Coast ports after International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) members walked off their jobs.

This strike, depending on how long it lasts, could have a major impact on the elections and the economy.

[head-post]

Shippers seek workarounds ahead of looming US East Coast port strike

US companies relying on East and Gulf Coast seaports are shifting goods to the West Coast to hedge against the strike threat, according to Reuters.

The strike on 1 October could block supply chains and reignite inflation ahead of the US presidential election. Kenneth Sanchez, CEO of Chesapeake Specialty Products, stated:

This is just another headache after everything else we’ve been dealing with.

His main port is in Baltimore, one of three dozen covered by an expiring contract between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) union representing 45,000 port workers and the United States Maritime Alliance employer group. Their renewal talks stalled over wages.

A prolonged strike, along with the ongoing industrial action by 30,000 Boeing machinists, could wreak havoc on the US labour market next month. It comes just five weeks before the presidential election between Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and former Republican President Donald Trump.

Meanwhile, retailers, manufacturers and other importers are rushing to procure clothing, household goods, car parts and other goods ahead of the strike deadline to avoid cargo stuck. Redirecting goods to the West Coast posed a challenge as it might require tough transit through the Panama Canal, air freight or other time-consuming or costly measures, logistics experts said.

Read more HERE

[iww-gnv]

Article date: September 30, 2024

NEW YORK -- The union representing U.S. dockworkers has signaled that 45,000 members will walk off the job at midnight, kicking off a massive strike likely to shut down ports across the East and Gulf coasts. The coming work stoppage threatens to significantly snarl the nation's supply chain, potentially leading to higher prices and delays for households and businesses if it drags on for weeks. That's because the strike by members of the International Longshoremen's Association could cause 36 ports — which handle roughly half of the goods shipped into and out of the U.S. — to shutter operations. ILA confirmed over the weekend that its members would hit the picket lines at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. In a Monday update, the union continued to blame the United States Maritime Alliance, which represents the ports, for continuing to “to block the path” towards an agreement before the contract deadline. “The Ocean Carriers represented by USMX want to enjoy rich billion-dollar profits that they are making in 2024, while they offer ILA Longshore Workers an unacceptable wage package that we reject," ILA said in a prepared statement. “ILA longshore workers deserve to be compensated for the important work they do keeping American commerce moving and growing." ILA also accused shippers of “gouging their customers" with sizeable price increases for containers over recent weeks. The union said that this will result in increased costs for American consumers.

Read the rest here.

[coca-coeli]

this is for later reference, when I actually start posting about the minnesota au

ponyboy curtis

- his family moved up to duluth after their parents died to go live with family friends, the Mathews

- originally from owatonna, in south mn

- the curtises had a small family farm, pony hates that they had to leave it behind

- becomes interested in lake superior and ships, since it’s so ingrained in the culture

- starts drawing ships and landscapes, starts to consume his waking life

- often bikes down to lake superior to calm down, later on johnny shows him a lot of the little natural wonders

- desperate to find a purpose for himself in the world

- later on works at the maritime museum as a tour guide

- bikes around everywhere, usually with johnny who’s the only other person who has a bike

keith mathews, aka mathews

- him and his mom used to move all over since his mom was searching for job opportunities, now in duluth because she has a steady job as top manager of a carhop place near their house (a & dubs)

- the curtises are living with them for a while until they can get their feet off the ground in duluth

- originally from montana, but has lived in owatonna (where he met the curtises), two harbors, pierre (south dakota), and now duluth

darry curtis

- arranged the move, pony hates him for it

- works at a shipping company, loading coal

- also hunts with steve, bringing home decent income and decent food

- still skis, and begins making friends with people outside of the gang while he’s there

- works at the ski hill in the winter, when he can’t hunt

sodapop ‘pepsi’ curtis

- works at the nearby auto shop, the boys there call him pepsi

- likes duluth plenty, doesn’t mind a thing about moving. more suited for city life

- doesn’t get cold, gives all his coats and hats to pony (drives darry wild)

- once summer rolls around, swims in just about every body of water he can find

steve randle

- works at the auto shop and occasionally at buck’s place (hates buck, likes the money and the decorations)

- likes deer hunting, has a slim alliance with buck (since he buys deer skins and antlers from steve to decorate his bar)

- the better hunter between him and darry

- doesn’t spend a lot of time at home, prefers working

- keeps his hunting guns in the mathews/curtis house so he doesn’t have to go home to hunt

- though mathews’ family is better off, steve has the most money out of the gang (due to a mix of responsibility, a pretty good income, and a lack of a family to feed)

- originally from iowa, moved up north around five years before the curtises came around

dal winston

- came up from chicago

- homeless but always ends up under someone’s roof to sleep

- tries to get johnny under a roof too, but johnny prefers camping out

- gets cash from occasionally bartending at buck’s place, often breaks in on off-hours to get food for him and johnny

johnny cade

- homeless, unemployed

- has a bunch of different spots he camps, usually far away from people

- excellent fisherman, eats fish whenever he doesn’t feel like sticking around for meal from the mathews/curtises

- runaway, nobody knows where from

- no purpose until pony comes along with enough restlessness to jog johnny’s desire for more

- later works at the maritime museum with ponyboy

- constantly swimming in the summer. knows a hundred little watering holes and has swam in all of them at least three times

- has the most expensive coat of the gang (it was shoplifted via a dallas and mathews double team event)

- has a cheap bike that he leaves at the the mathews house

adding playlist here…

[solarpunkani]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Dockworkers at ports from Maine to Texas began walking picket lines early Tuesday in a strike over wages and automation that could reignite inflation and cause shortages of goods if it goes on more than a few weeks.

The contract between the ports and about 45,000 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association expired at midnight, and even though progress was reported in talks on Monday, the workers went on strike. The strike affecting 36 ports is the first by the union since 1977.

Workers began picketing at the Port of Philadelphia shortly after midnight, walking in a circle at a rail crossing outside the port and chanting “No work without a fair contract.”

The union had message boards on the side of a truck reading: “Automation Hurts Families: ILA Stands For Job Protection.”

Local ILA president Boise Butler said workers want a fair contract that doesn’t allow automation of their jobs.

Shipping companies made billions during the pandemic by charging high prices, he said. “Now we want them to pay back. They’re going to pay back,” Butler said.

He said the union will strike for as long as it needs to get a fair deal, and it has leverage over the companies.

“This is not something that you start and you stop,” he said. “We’re not weak,” he added, pointing to the union’s importance to the nation’s economy

At Port Houston, at least 50 workers started picketing around midnight local time carrying signs saying “No Work Without a Fair Contract.”

The U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents the ports, said Monday evening that both sides had moved off of their previous wage offers. But no deal was reached.

The union’s opening offer in the talks was for a 77% pay raise over the six-year life of the contract, with President Harold Daggett saying it’s necessary to make up for inflation and years of small raises. ILA members make a base salary of about $81,000 per year, but some can pull in over $200,000 annually with large amounts of overtime.

But Monday evening, the alliance said it had increased its offer to 50% raises over six years, and it pledged to keep limits on automation in place from the old contract. The union wants a complete ban on automation. It wasn’t clear just how far apart both sides are.

“We are hopeful that this could allow us to fully resume collective bargaining around the other outstanding issues in an effort to reach an agreement,” the alliance statement said.

In a statement early Tuesday, the union said it rejected the alliance’s latest proposal because it “fell far short of what ILA rank-and-file members are demanding in wages and protections against automation.” The two sides had not held formal negotiations since June.

“We are prepared to fight as long as necessary, to stay out on strike for whatever period of time it takes, to get the wages and protections against automation our ILA members deserve,” Daggett said in the statement. “They must now meet our demands for this strike to end.”

The alliance said its offer tripled employer contributions to retirement plans and strengthened health care options.

Supply chain experts say consumers won’t see an immediate impact from the strike because most retailers stocked up on goods, moving ahead shipments of holiday gift items.

But if it goes more than a few weeks, a work stoppage would significantly snarl the nation’s supply chain, potentially leading to higher prices and delays in goods reaching households and businesses.

If drawn out, the strike will force businesses to pay shippers for delays and cause some goods to arrive late for peak holiday shopping season — potentially impacting delivery of anything from toys or artificial Christmas trees to cars, coffee and fruit.

The strike will likely have an almost immediate impact on supplies of perishable imports like bananas, for example. The ports affected by the strike handle 3.8 million metric tons of bananas each year, or 75% of the nation’s supply, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.

It also could snarl exports from East Coast ports and create traffic jams at ports on the West Coast, where workers are represented by a different union. Railroads say they can ramp up to carry more freight from the West Coast, but analysts say they can’t move enough to make up for the closed Eastern ports.

“If the strikes go ahead, they will cause enormous delays across the supply chain, a ripple effect which will no doubt roll into 2025 and cause chaos across the industry,” noted Jay Dhokia, founder of supply chain management and logistics firm Pro3PL.

J.P. Morgan estimated that a strike that shuts down East and Gulf coast ports could cost the economy $3.8 billion to $4.5 billion per day, with some of that recovered over time after normal operations resume.

The strike comes just weeks before the presidential election and could become a factor if there are shortages. Retailers, auto parts suppliers and produce importers had hoped for a settlement or that President Joe Biden would intervene and end the strike using the Taft-Hartley Act, which allows him to seek an 80-day cooling off period.

But during an exchange with reporters on Sunday, Biden, who has worked to court union votes for Democrats, said “no” when asked if he planned to intervene in the potential work stoppage.

A White House official said Monday that at Biden’s direction, the administration has been in regular communication with the ILA and the alliance to keep the negotiations moving forward. The president directed Chief of Staff Jeff Zients and National Economic Council Director Lael Brainard to convene the alliance’s board members Monday afternoon and urge them to resolve the dispute fairly and quickly — in a way that accounts for the success of shipping companies in recent years and contributions of union workers.

[scotianostra]

On 26th July 1513 James IV responded to pleas for assistance from France and declared war on England.

While most Scots will know a wee bit about The Battle of Flodden, few will understand the background behind the fateful day for arguably the most succesful of the Stewart Kings, I will fill in a few of the blanks in this longish post.

It wasn’t all Flodden, it only ended up there. The build up to the cataclystic battle began in the years beforehand as James started building his great navy. Yes the Auld Alliance is often used as an excuse to go to war with the English, but other factors also played a hand, not least the that the English Navy had seized two Scottish ships, there was also the case that Scotland was due part of an unpaid dowry for his Queen, Margaret Tudor.

James IV was a flamboyant King, it has been called a Golden age for Scotland by historians, he lavished his wife with gifts, now it might not sound much nowadays, and no disrespect to the town, but he gave her Kilmarnock as a wedding present! They also loved holidays around his Kingdom and in particular James and Margaret enjoyed making music together and listening to professional players.

With that he was also making sure his country was protected and he put together a most impressive navy, two huge ships were at the centre of it, The Great Michael, and the Margaret, the fleet numbered 13 larger ships and they carried an armée de mer (‘army of the sea’) of thousands of troops, about 10 smaller ships sailed with the fleet, and it must have been some sight, about two dozen ships sailing out The Firth of Forth.

James Hamilton, first Earl of Arran, the Kings cousin was admiral of the fleet. James was aboard the Michael as the ships sailed round North Scotland past the Hebrides attacking the English stronghold of Carrickfergus in Ulster. After looting Carrickfergus the Earl of Arran’s fleet returned to Scotland, berthing at the port of Ayr. These events are described by the 16th century Scottish historian George Buchanan in his History of Scotland :

“James, king of Scotland, although he had determined to remain neuter, yet being inclined to favour his ancient ally, resolved to send the fleet, formerly mentioned, as a gift to the French queen, Anne, that it might appear rather as a pledge of friendship, than any assistance for carrying on the war.

…having heard that great preparations were making for a maritime war, James determined to send the fleet, we have mentioned, to Anne immediately, that it might, if possible, arrive there before the war broke out. He appointed James Hamilton, earl of Arran, admiral, and ordered him to sail with the first fair wind ; but Hamilton, a simple kind of man, more acquainted with the arts of peace than of war, either afraid of danger, or through his natural indolence, having delayed to go to France, landed at Carrick-Fergus, a town in Ireland, opposite Galloway, and after pillaging the place, burned it, and set sail for Ayr, a harbour of Kyle in Scotland, as if he had performed a great exploit.”

Less than a month after the royal fleet left the Firth of Forth under the command of the Earl of Arran, King James led a massive invasion of north-east England. The prime military objective of the campaign, the taking of Norham castle, was achieved within a week. In early September the Scottish army moved south, capturing the smaller castles of Etal and Ford before encamping on the summit of Flodden Hill where they faced the army of the Earl of Surrey.

The invasion achieved the wider objective of drawing English forces from northern France. The Earl of Surrey was joined by his son, Lord Thomas Howard, who had returned from France with a force of a thousand men, according to the 16th century Chronicle of Edward Hall. Robert Lindsay of Pitscottie gives a higher figure, narrating how James IV invaded England “for lufe of France” prompting Henry VIII to despatch six thousand of his best men from France to England.

On the 9th of September the Scots moved from the summit of Flodden Hill towards the nearby Branxton Hill in an attempt to deny the English the high ground. The Earl of Surrey had manoeuvred his forces to the foot of Branxton Hill, blocking a northwards retreat back to Scotland and forcing the Scots to fight.

I shall leave it there and pick up the rest in September when we will lament the loss of “The Floo'ers 'o the Forest.

[the-starry-traveller]

What is that condition of the world in your opinion?

Current Equestrian History (more under the cut) :

Hi all, my name is Aurora Radiant. I'm a Captain with the Southern Alliance Armed Forces. Today, I'm going to explain the dynamics of our nation Equestria. As you can see, it is not a unified nation. It is being split into 3 fractions ever since Twilight was crowned as Celestia's successor in Canterlot (and kicked out):

Black Sol Fraction: Leader Crimson Sparkle (Supporting Prince Bright Torch as Emperor of Equestria)

Southern Alliance: Leader Empress Midnight (Supporting Princess Twilight as Celestia's successor & Princess of Friendship, maintaining status quo and restoration of Equestria's harmony elements.)

Free Lords: Independent, sometimes assist the Black Sol fraction, but their main goal is to support Warlord Blue Blood and to make him as King of Equestria)

All of these fractions have their own puppets & own agenda to fulfill their objectives. According to our intelligence community, we see Prince Blue Blood the most dangerous of all, and maritime bay the royal city of crime.

We are currently investigating Button Mash and his connections to this traitor and alleged use of extreme violence and other deadly activities rumors. As always, if you are curious about anything... just ask.

TBC...

-Aurora Radiant

[zvaigzdelasas]

21 Dec 23

[mariacallous]

When Rodrigo Duterte left the Philippine presidency and returned to private life in 2022, public life seemed suddenly quiet. Duterte’s brash statements, late-night rants, and off-the-cuff threats directed at his enemies were replaced with the caution of his successor—and then ally—the mild-mannered President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The two remained uneasy political allies, however, until a rally in January during which Duterte called Marcos a “drug addict” and suggested the idea of a military coup to unseat the president. The next week, Duterte called for the independence of his home region of Mindanao through a signature-gathering campaign.

Marcos has responded with relative calm. He quipped that Duterte’s drug accusations could result from a dependence on fentanyl, which the former president admitted in 2016 to using after a motorcycle accident. Marcos’s national security advisor, meanwhile, has said that any attempt at secession by Mindanao—an idea widely dismissed as unrealistic bluster—would be met with force.

It was a spectacular break that surprised many in the Philippines. Marcos ran in 2022 on a joint ticket with Duterte’s daughter, Sara Duterte-Carpio, and won in a landslide; Duterte-Carpio is now the vice president. Both president and vice president have said they remain aligned. But the elder Duterte has publicly lamented that his daughter didn’t run for the presidency, and he called Marcos “weak” and a “spoiled child” prior to his inauguration.

Marcos has also reoriented Manila away from Duterte’s policy of seeking closer ties with Beijing, instead reaffirming the deep alliance with Washington that solidified during the rule of his father, the dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

The split between Marcos and Duterte also reverberated in Washington and Beijing, both of which “are watching the developments closely,” said Jeffrey Ordaniel, an assistant professor of international security studies at Tokyo International University and the director for maritime security at Pacific Forum International. “The different approaches and convictions of [Marcos and Duterte] have a real impact on their own foreign policy agenda.”

The family feud is, on the surface, rooted in Marcos’s attempts to change the Philippine Constitution, which was ratified in 1987 after his father was removed from power. Marcos has said that he wants to ease constitutional restrictions on foreign investment.

But Duterte has accused the president of a gambit to consolidate power. Marcos and his allies want to switch the country from a presidential to a parliamentary system, where a prime minister is chosen by the congressional majority. This could scuttle plans for Duterte-Carpio to run for president in 2028, when Marcos will be term-limited from running.

Duterte-Carpio’s popularity stems largely from that of her father, who broke a dynastic cycle by winning the presidency as an outsider in 2016. The elder Duterte, who is also term-limited and cannot run again in 2028, now seeks to leave behind his own familial legacy. While Duterte-Carpio appears loyal to her father, she has also forged her own political identity, purging loyalists to her father when she served as the mayor of Davao and allying closely with Imee Marcos, the current president’s sister.

Duterte also fears an ongoing investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) into his deadly “war on drugs,” which rights groups say has killed up to 30,000 people since 2016. In recent months, Marcos has wavered on whether Manila will cooperate with investigators or protect Duterte, should the ICC issue an arrest warrant.

“It is [in] Duterte’s personal interest to evade any form of accountability that is driving the feud,” Ordaniel said. “The policy disagreements he has with the current government are secondary considerations.”

The Philippines is not a member of the ICC since Duterte withdrew the country in 2019. But while Marcos recently said his government would not “lift a finger” to help the ICC, he also said its investigators are welcome to enter the Philippines “as ordinary people,” and a former senator claimed that the ICC has already visited and conducted an “initial investigation.”

The feud has kept the looming ICC probe in the public consciousness, and Marcos and his allies “have not done much to de-emphasize” it, said Herman Kraft, an assistant professor of political science at the University of the Philippines Diliman.

“It’s a very passive-aggressive approach to dealing with Duterte,” Kraft added.

This has been largely effective in keeping the former leader on the back foot. His allies have seized on simmering rumors—spread mostly by retired military generals as well as Duterte himself—of dissent among Duterte loyalists within the military.

But it’s unclear how much support Duterte really has within the military, which remained loyal to the United States even during his presidency and frequently expressed ire at his Beijing-friendly policies. Marcos’s pivot toward Washington “is clearly a positive point with the military,” Kraft said, while Duterte’s “more outlandish proclamations”—floating coup attempts and the secession of Mindanao—“have struck a wrong chord.”

As president, Duterte pulled the Philippines out of a long-standing defense pact with the United States in 2020, only to reverse his decision a year later. He also pursued trade and investment deals with China, but these policies landed with a thud among a public angry with Beijing’s repeated incursions into Philippine waters in the disputed South China Sea.

The Duterte administration was “really giving China the benefit of the doubt” on the South China Sea dispute, giving officials “opportunities to compromise and adhere to international law without losing face,” Ordaniel said, adding, “Unfortunately, China never really showed any willingness to compromise.” Many investment pledges, such as a China-funded railway in Mindanao, also stalled.

Washington, meanwhile, has expanded joint training exercises and weapons transfers to the Philippine military, and it has repeatedly stated its support for Philippine claims in maritime disputes with China.

“Ultimately, I think the Americans are presenting a more attractive proposition,” Ordaniel said.

China could still use a Duterte-Marcos feud for its own purposes. In the northern Philippine province of Cagayan—where the United States has an agreement to use two military bases, both in close proximity to the Taiwan Strait—it has sent delegations to meet the governor, a Duterte ally, and has hosted him in China twice in the past nine months.

“The U.S. has more of an advantage with government institutions that deal with security and foreign policy,” Kraft said. “But China’s economic reach gives it influence over institutions in economic areas and, more strategically, in local government units.”

Domestically, the feud has eroded the already limited presence of the political opposition, such as the Liberal Party of former Vice President Leni Robredo and former Sen. Leila de Lima, a Duterte critic who was jailed for six years on drug charges widely seen as frivolous. Marcos has abandoned Duterte’s relentless attacks on opposition figures such as de Lima and Rappler CEO Maria Ressa, but he hasn’t made strident efforts to undo the popular aspects of Duterte’s legacy—for instance, by prosecuting perpetrators of Duterte’s drug war.

Instead, the country has calcified into two camps—Duterte and Marcos—leaving progressive and liberal Filipinos struggling to know where to turn. Some have become disengaged. Others, however, would like to see a final blow dealt to the Dutertes, eliminating their violent illiberalism and their friendliness to China from the political stage.

“It’s a no-brainer” to support Marcos, said Tony La Viña, the associate director of climate policy and international relations for Manila Observatory. A Duterte takeover would alienate the country and its military from the United States, he said, while also empowering the Dutertes to enact revenge.

“We can’t afford to let Duterte win, because he doesn’t care about human rights,” he said. “If he wins against Marcos, he will then go after the opposition.”

[smellyrottentrees]

Akasyr’s jewelry tour 💅✨

Because if I’m going to scream into the void, I’m going to scream about the things I like.

Akasyr has lots of jewelry. More than what’s pictured below. But these are His favorite pieces as they appear in my drawing of Him from May 2024.

1. The armband

Composition: large pearls, cowrie shells, jade beads, fluorite pieces, and chrysocolla.

This piece of jewelry is one of a set of identical armbands Akasyr handmade for the other members of the maritime alliance (the various ocean and river deities). It is used to identify one another beyond the water. He began making them for His friends within the alliance initially, but it later expanded to the rest of them when others saw and asked Him to make pieces for them as well. They are not usually worn in water as they may mildly limit mobility and wear down.

2. The bracelet

Composition: large pearls, jade beads, cowrie shells, and rose quartz pieces.

He and His partner Sharisa have matching bracelets. He made them when they were courting, to express His affection for Sharisa as He does not speak. Rose quartz is a very common symbol of affection in numerous cultures. He made it to resemble many of His other pieces because at the time they were created, He did not wish to advertise their relationship to others.

*another picture of the bracelet and armband as worn by Sharisa.

3. The waist beads

Composition: small pearls, jade beads, cowrie shells, shark teeth, carnelian and chrysoprase pieces.

Akasyr once had a shark as a pet. He was very fond of it, until it passed on. He collected the teeth and made various pieces of jewelry with it. The carnelian is said to help maintain good energy flow.

4. String of pearls and gold ring

Composition: very small pearls, gold and sapphire.

The string of pearls was cast into the river by a woman betrayed by her lover, and later found by Sharisa, who takes turns with Akasyr and a few other friends wearing it. The sisterhood of the traveling pearls, if you will.

The ring is suspended on a gold chain around His neck as Akasyr’s fingers are webbed. There is an inscription on the inside of the ring, “a love as eternal as the ocean itself”. It was a gift from Sharisa when they made their partnership official.

That’s it for now.

[saturniandevil]

February 2024 Important Dates

AKA my notes on The Astrology Podcast's February forecast.

January recap: With Pluto now in Aquarius we've got new technological developments: "flying taxis" going to market, Google's new AI set to release around Jupiter in Gemini, and the first commercially available see-through LED screens. In Saturn-Neptune news, Apple's new VR operating system is being advertised as "spatial computing." Aquarius loves to experiment for the joy of discovery--even if society ends up rejecting some of these new projects. Austin points out many prophetic "near future" fiction stories came out under Jupiter-Saturn in Libra in the 1980s, which was a preview of those conjunctions occurring in air signs for the next 200 years (we had the last earth ones a few years ago). Saturn-Neptune also connotes widespread political misinformation (as it did in 2016)--we've got AI deepfake videos of political figures being used not just for humor, but also to try and sway voters in the New Hampshire Primary. Another notable Saturn in Pisces story is the restriction of the Red Sea trade route and subsequent rerouting of cargo ships along global trade routes. The Mars-Saturn conjunction in Pisces in March will likely show major developments in maritime combat or disasters.

We enter the month fresh off Pluto's ingress into Aquarius. There's a lot of energy in the sign this month, some good and some difficult. The faster-moving planets will be joining Pluto in Aquarius specifically for the first time since the 18th century, giving us the first tastes of what the next 20 years will bring for society at large. For personal charts, what house does Aquarius fall in?

February 5th - Mercury enters Aquarius, conjoins Pluto This is the first planet to join the Sun and Pluto in Aquarius. Venus and Mars will follow this ingress-conjunction pattern later this month--and the new Moon is in Aquarius. Mercury-Pluto brings up information and power such as classified document leaks, as well as hidden pathways or getting lost in the labyrinth. Determined efforts to delve into deeper truths can pay off, but we can also become obsessed with something no one else can see. Other significations include taboo subjects, with science and social rules being especially important in Aquarius, and negating ideas we once thought were true. Paranoia and manipulations also abound with Pluto-Mercury. In Aquarius we'll see these issues take light especially through new technologies. In general Pluto magnifies small things to their biggest extremes--something microscopic may change society irrevocably, etc. The PRC has a timed chart with Aquarius rising with the Moon in Aquarius, and indeed has been leading the world in uses & development of certain new technologies, which in turn has brought power struggles with other major players in those fields.

February 6th - Fortunate date (not pictured)

Set at about 8:00AM local time, this chart should give you 11° Pisces rising. The Ascendant ruler Jupiter is in the 3rd house in a day chart, emphasizing communication and other 3rd house topics. The Moon in early Capricorn applies to a trine with Jupiter, bonifying her. The Jupiter-Saturn sextile is emphasized here; while Saturn is very close to the Ascendant, he's more cooperative in a day chart, and is being received by Jupiter (is in Jupiter's sign), who he's trining. Thus Chris predicts it'll be a good balance of consolidation and growth. This does have Mars in the 11th house in a day chart, so it's not great for matters involving friends, groups, and alliances. But it is good for communicating, neighborhood, education/learning, weekly schedule, siblings, and starting a daily practice (Saturn will help us establish routines).

February 9th - Aquarius New Moon

At 20° of Aquarius, the closest configuration is a square from Uranus (19♉), connoting a disruptive or unexpected component. This is also the first Aquarius New Moon with Pluto present--Pluto will be weighing in on all monthly meetings in Aquarius for now. We can expect concerns around independence and freedom, but also emotional volatility. "How do I break from this pattern?" asks the rebel, knowing it'll be better than keeping things as they are. Mercury also applies to a square with a Jupiter during this time, expanding communications & bringing (possibly excessive) optimism. The Jupiter-Saturn sextile that hung over much of January weighs in as well, balancing our drives for both growth and consolidation.

February - 12th/13th Mars enters Aquarius Soon after he conjoins Pluto.

February 14th - Mars conjunct Pluto This is the first hard aspect since the square circa October 7th. There are going to be about 10 of these conjunctions during Pluto's trip through Aquarius. Mars connotes military operations, while Pluto brings underground groups and struggles. We've been having power dynamics stirred up in the Capricorn parts of our charts the past 20 years, and now this moves to our Aquarius house/area of life. Possessiveness and excessive force are also connoted by this planetary combination; exercise caution and take special care not to go too far. Austin describes this feeling as a "struggle against annihilation," even when we're not actually fighting for our lives. It'll take self-control and grace to navigate this Valentine's day well.

February 16th - Venus enters Aquarius Soon after she will conjoin Pluto, and later Mars.

February 17th - Venus conjunct Pluto The intensity, obsessions, and making mountains of molehills brought up by other planets' Pluto contacts will now show itself in the realm of relationships and social interactions. We get the extremes of affection and its negation with Venus-Pluto. This can be a good time for experimenting in the arts: we're getting a new movie based off Frankenstein, which was published under Pluto in Aquarius. Much of the novel is from the perspective of no the doctor but his experiment--when are we our own lab rats?

February 18th - Sun enters Pisces

February 22nd - Venus conjunct Mars Unfortunately Mars, Aquarius, and Pluto do not bode well for Valentine's-adjacent activities. Some positive connotations include magnetic allure and deep, passionate connections with others, extreme vulnerability and devotion. However, keep watchful for power struggles and manipulation in relationships and attraction. Ask yourself, "is this healthy or is this too far?" and try to set healthy boundaries. (Though the answers may be clearer in hindsight.) Look out for hastiness in relationships, jealous and aggression in love, or attraction to drama or conflict. Try to balance passion with reason, communicate clearly, and express that energy through creative outlets.

February 23rd - Mercury enters Pisces

February 24th - Virgo Full Moon

Immediately after its exact opposition to Saturn, the Moon applies to one with Saturn, who as a matter of course is also applying to Saturn by conjunction (pictured above is the Moon between these oppositions). Austin describes this as a magnified check-in with Saturn, as we're approaching the 1-year mark for Saturn in Pisces (early March). How have you been bearing having to swim with weights on? Or maybe you've hooked something powerful on your fishing line--how will you reel it in? Chris says this lunation highlights tension in the Virgo part of our charts as well, shedding light that may help us identify solutions. We have a Sun-Mercury-Saturn conjunction a few days later that will bring our attention back to Pisces.

February 26th/27th - Mars square Jupiter Jupiter wants to help, but something's getting in his way. We can also think about taking risks, leaving our comfort zone, and increased energy/enthusiasm. However, as Mars is overcoming Jupiter (earlier in the zodiac), traditional sources would indicate that the warlike side of things will gain the upper hand over peaceful Jupiter. Mars in Aquarius connotes rogue or outsider forces, while Jupiter is privileged by stability in Taurus. Keep a lookout for global trade points and major conflicts, which will likely see developments around this time. Some positives of Mars-Jupiter include increased motivation, taking bold actions, and meeting ambitious goals. On the flipside is impulsiveness, overconfidence, and recklessness. Mars-Jupiter is willing to take a risk. Sometimes, it's better not to know exactly what you're getting into so you don't get overwhelmed by a monumental task; other times, it doesn't work out. This is the placement of the intrepid explorer.

February 28th - Moon, Mercury, and Saturn conjunction in Pisces This occurs at 9 degrees of Pisces, and each planet applies to a sextile with Pisces in the following days. Jupiter brings us another management check-in after Saturn's: how have we been balancing growth with consolidation? Jupiter's going to pick up speed and zoom out of Taurus later this year, moving away from this balanced position to a difficult square with Saturn. We've been balancing weight with buoyancy, but once in Gemini Jupiter forms more of helicopter to Saturn's submarine--vehicles that can't be combined. With Saturn and Mercury (and the Sun shedding light), we'll likely see changes in the status of maritime trade and travel. From Saturn to Jupiter we may see something go from being stuck to unstuck.

As we wrap up the month, we've got some Pisces planets approaching Neptune while Jupiter approaches Uranus. And don't forget, we've got 29 days in February this year!

[iww-gnv]

Unionized dockworkers have the right to staff every job at a new container terminal in South Carolina under a federal court decision — but there is no guarantee that a $1 billion loading site that has sat largely idle will soon resume activity. A three-judge panel on Friday denied an appeal from the South Carolina State Ports Authority that would have instead maintained the fairly unique “hybrid” model that relies on state and union employees. The ruling handed a victory to International Longshoremen’s Association members in the least unionized state seeking to hold onto jobs after technological changes last century that threatened their work. The labor dispute began when the ILA sued the United States Maritime Alliance for sending shipping lines to Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal shortly after the completion of its first phase two years ago. The union alleged the move violated the terms of a master contract prohibiting the use of newly constructed terminals where ILA dockworkers do not perform all unloading tasks.

[usafphantom2]

British F-35Bs Deploy on Air Policing Mission for the First Time

Four F-35Bs of 617 Squadron have deployed to Iceland to begin a NATO Air Policing deployment, the first ever deployment of its type for the F-35 in British service.

Kai Greet

RAF F-35B Air Policing

An F-35B of 617 Squadron, Royal Air Force, taxiing to depart RAF Marham for Iceland to begin a NATO Air Policing deployment. The aircraft is carrying two ASRAAM air-to-air missiles on its external hardpoints. (Image credit: UK Ministry of Defence)

The NATO Icelandic Air Policing mission dates back to 2007, put in place following the end of a permanent U.S. Air Force fighter presence in the country, which does not have its own air force. Various NATO nations have taken turns to deploy fighter aircraft to the joint civilian-military airfield at Keflavik, around 30 miles from the capital city of Reykjavik.

617 Squadron’s F-35Bs have assumed the mission from the U.S. Air Force’s 492nd Fighter Squadron, whose F-15E Strike Eagles have been stationed at the base since June. Prior to this, four F-35As were provided by the Royal Norwegian Air Force.

This makes the UK the second nation to deploy the F-35B variant on the Icelandic Air Policing mission, after Italy augmented its four F-35As with two F-35Bs during their 2022 detachment as the existing support element in place provided an opportunity for cold climate training.

For the UK, the decision to send F-35Bs rather than the more usual Typhoons is a chance to demonstrate the stealth fighter’s multirole abilities. While the aircraft do maintain an air defence role when stationed aboard the Royal Navy’s two aircraft carriers, the UK’s homeland air defence is provided exclusively by Typhoon FGR4s, and these have always been used for prior air policing missions.

The Typhoon fleet inherited this responsibility from Tornado F3s retired in 2011. In comparison, the aircraft replaced, either in full or in part, by the F-35B, like the Harrier GR9 and Tornado GR4, lacked significant air-to-air capabilities and were not ideally suitable for air policing deployments.

F-35B ZM148/014 departing RAF Marham for the deployment to Iceland. Note two ASRAAM fitted to external hardpoints, and radar reflectors fitted to the aircraft’s upper fuselage. (Image credit: UK Ministry of Defence)

The RAF’s most recent deployment to Iceland with Typhoons was in 2019, where 180 practice intercepts were made and 59 training sorties flown. Alongside various air policing deployments, the RAF Typhoon force has also had to maintain a standing deployment to RAF Akrotiri on the island of Cyprus for Operation Shader – the UK’s counter-ISIS effort – since 2015. By making the Lightning force available for air policing missions, some strain on the Typhoon fleet can be lessened.

Speaking in his role as Minister for the Armed Forces, Member of Parliament Luke Pollard said: “The UK is unshakeable in its commitment to NATO. With threats increasing and growing Russian aggression, it is vital that we stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies… …This latest air policing mission in Iceland displays the UK’s ability to operate and deter our adversaries across the alliance’s airspace.”.

Group Captain John Butcher, Commander of the UK’s Lightning Force, which now comprises two frontline squadrons, one training squadron, and one development squadron, further remarked: “This will be the first time that the Lightning Force has deployed to contribute to NATO Air Policing, and will no doubt once again prove the flexibility that this platform offers as it demonstrates its capability to operate from both a land and maritime environment.”

Iceland’s strategic position in the North Atlantic, as part of the Greenland-Iceland-UK (GIUK) gap, makes it a valuable but also vulnerable NATO member state. Airspace incursions by Russian military aircraft following the withdrawal of U.S. Air Force F-15s from Keflavik in 2006 spurred the creation of the NATO air policing mission, and Russian military aircraft continue to be intercepted off the Icelandic coasts.

Keflavik has never been a stranger to military operations, having been constructed during the Second World War for United States military use, though in the post Cold War era there was a lull in its utility. When the permanently based F-15s left much of the US’ other based units did so along with them, putting the US-run base into mothballed status. The airfield, though, did remain open as the base for NATO air policing, and as Reykjavik’s second airport.

It wasn’t until 2015, after the Russian invasion of Crimea and uptick in long range Russian Air Force and Russian Navy operations that the base was fully reactivated. While no permanently based fighters returned to Iceland, it has become a significant hub for NATO maritime patrol aircraft and even, more recently, US strategic bombers. P-8 Poseidons operating from Keflavik monitor not only local waters and GIUK gap, but also the Baltic region and Barents Sea.

On two occasions, in 2021 and 2023, U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit strategic stealth bombers have forward deployed to Keflavik for Bomber Task Force exercises. These came after a brief stopover by a B-2 in 2019. These deployments are somewhat out of the ordinary for the B-2 force, who usually operate from airfields specifically equipped to care for the stealth aircraft’s delicate radar-absorbent material coating.

While many of the deployments to Iceland are operational ones, the combination of different assets from different nations in one area also presents good opportunities for joint training exercises. B-2s deployed to RAF Fairford, UK, in 2020 flew to Iceland and joined with F-15Cs from RAF Lakenheath and F-35As that were deployed by Norway on the Icelandic air policing mission to conduct integration and interoperability training.

A Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4 at Keflavik Air Base on a previous air policing deployment in 2019. (Image credit: UK Ministry of Defence)

About Kai Greet

Kai is an aviation enthusiast and freelance photographer and writer based in Cornwall, UK. They are a graduate of BA (Hons) Press & Editorial Photography at Falmouth University. Their photographic work has been featured by a number of nationally and internationally recognised organisations and news publications, and in 2022 they self-published a book focused on the history of Cornwall. They are passionate about all aspects of aviation, alongside military operations/history, international relations, politics, intelligence and space.

@TheAviationist .com

[stay-young-look-young-blog]

THE ATHENS POLICE

🏛️ Athens, one of the most prominent city-states of Ancient Greece, exerted a significant influence over other Greek policies during the Classical period.

His domain was multifaceted and spanned a wide range of areas, from politics to culture and economy.

Politically, Athens emerged as the leader of the League of Delos, a military and economic alliance formed after the Medical Wars to defend the Greeks against the Persian threat.

Originally conceived as a coalition of cities-states to ensure mutual security, the League of Delos eventually turned into a tool of Athenian domination.

Athens has used its powerful naval fleet to impose its will on other member cities, demanding taxes and subjugating them to their authority.

Culturally, the city exerts an incomparable influence.

Polis was the epicenter of Greek culture, home to great philosophers such as Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, as well as playwright's such as Eschilus, Sophocles and Euripides.

Athens' artistic and intellectual production not only captivated its own citizens but also radiated to other policies, shaping the worldview and values of the time.

Economically, the policy benefited from taxation imposed on cities member of the League of Delos, which provided significant financial resources to sustain its military power and monumental building projects, such as the Parthenon on the Acropolis.

Furthermore, booming maritime trade guarantees its position as an important economic center of the Greek world, facilitating the exchange of goods and ideas with other policies.

His influence also extended to the intellectual and educational field.

The city was home to the first known democracy in history, where citizens had the right to participate in political decision-making.

Athenian democracy, although restricted to male citizens and excluding women, foreigners and slaves, still served as a model for other Greek societies and even modern democracies.

Athens' influence and dominance over other Greek policies was palpable in every aspect of political, cultural, economic and intellectual life,the city-state left a lasting legacy that shaped the course of history not only of Ancient Greece, but also of the Western world.