#rise against eu tour

[ag-updates-and-archives]

story by anthonygreen666, february 9

[frankbankinternational]

L.S. Dunes - The Sound, Del Mar 22/11/2024

and that's the end of L.S. Dunes tour 2024, until the next leg of the Rise Against! EU/UK tour in January/February 2025. by then Violet will be released and it will be exciting to see how the setlist changes with the new songs (and hopefully some headline shows will be announced in due course).

what a great run of shows for these guys 💜

(video via Frank's biggest fan, Michael Romance)

[mostlysignssomeportents]

This day in history

I'm touring my new, nationally bestselling novel The Bezzle! Catch me in TOMORROW (Apr 17) in CHICAGO, then Torino (Apr 21) Marin County (Apr 27), Winnipeg (May 2), Calgary (May 3), Vancouver (May 4), and beyond!

#20yrsago Mickey Mouse’s dwindling brand https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/18/arts/film-building-a-better-mouse.html

#15yrsago Wired publishes documents detailing the FBI’s spyware https://www.wired.com/2009/04/fbi-spyware-pro/

#15yrsago Gorilla-viewing glasses prevent eye-contact https://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/no-eye-contact-glasses/

#15yrsago Man assaulted by police during G20 died from internal bleeding, not heart-attack http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8004222.stm

#15yrsago Sales booming in remote-kill devices for cars sold to poor credit-risks https://edition.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/wayoflife/04/17/aa.bills.shut.engine.down/index.html

#15yrsago Canadian Members of Parliament voting records (finally) online https://web.archive.org/web/20090419144031/http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/620435

#15yrsago Jokes from the Cultural Revolution https://thechinabeat.blogspot.com/2009/04/jokes-from-great-proletarian-cultural.html

#15yrsago Swedish Pirate Party membership surges after Pirate Bay verdict https://web.archive.org/web/20090420055230/http://translate.google.com/translate?prev=hp&hl=en&js=n&u=http%3A%2F%2Fpress.piratpartiet.se%2F2009%2F04%2F17%2Finternet-kokar-piratpartiet-har-nu-fler-medlemmar-an-fp%2F&sl=sv&tl=en

#15yrsago Google Book Search settlement gives Google a virtual monopoly over literature https://memex.craphound.com/2009/04/17/google-book-search-settlement-gives-google-a-virtual-monopoly-over-literature/

#15yrsago Bruce Sterling’s “White Fungus” — architecture fiction for rising seas and the econopocalypse https://web.archive.org/web/20090420053737/http://www.sunarchitecture.nl/upload/49d601a8ba4b25.51434338.pdf

#10yrsago Video: Bart Gellman and me opening for Ed Snowden at SXSW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mltClsxsJw4

#10yrsago UK Tory MP who helped kill Legal Aid is wiped out by defending himself against sexual assault claim https://web.archive.org/web/20140414232920/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/130000-poorer-in-fees-nigel-evans-admits-regret-for-past-support-of-legal-aid-cuts-9259579.html

#5yrsago “A Message From the Future”: short film about the “Green New Deal Decade,” narrated by AOC, drawn by Molly Crabapple, presented by Naomi Klein https://theintercept.com/2019/04/17/green-new-deal-short-film-alexandria-ocasio-cortez/

#5yrsago Canadian Civil Liberties Association sues Toronto, Ontario, and Canada over the plan for a Google Sidewalk Labs “smart city” in Toronto https://www.vice.com/en/article/gy4bgj/canada-is-getting-sued-over-sidewalk-labs-smart-city-in-toronto

#5yrsago Ecuadorean authorities have unjustly arrested free software developer Ola Bini as part of their Assange dragnet https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2019/04/free-ola-bini

#5yrsago Bernie Sanders outraised every other Democrat in North Carolina https://amp.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article229277549.html #5yrsago What it’s like to watch someone you love fall down the Fox News rabbit-hole https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/04/i-gathered-stories-of-people-transformed-by-fox-news.html

#5yrsago When Rivers Were Trails: an indigenous take on Oregon Trail https://indianlandtenure.itch.io/when-rivers-were-trails

#5yrsago As the EU Copyright Directive was approved, Germany admitted it requires copyright filters, putting it on a collision course with the EU-Canada trade deal https://memex.craphound.com/2019/04/17/as-the-eu-copyright-directive-was-approved-germany-admitted-it-requires-copyright-filters-putting-it-on-a-collision-course-with-the-eu-canada-trade-deal/

#5yrsago London cops switch off wifi in the tube to make it harder for climate protesters to organise https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/17/18411820/london-underground-tube-wi-fi-down-shut-off-protests-extinction-rebellion

#5yrsago Republican lawmaker who dared AOC to come visit coal miners in his constituency gets scared, withdraws offer https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1118181129213943815

#5yrsago Lulzy Instagram memers are organizing a deadly serious trade union https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2019/04/instagram-memers-are-unionizing/587308/

#5yrsago Denver suburb officially changes name from “Swastika Acres” to “Old Cherry Hills” https://www.denverpost.com/2019/04/16/swastika-acres-renamed/

[beardedmrbean]

1. 'A breath of fresh air': Van Peteghem bonds alleviate Belgian public debt concerns

Belgium's successful issuance of special one-year "Van Peteghem bonds" is easing concerns over the country's soaring levels of public debt, Belgian officials and analysts say. Read more.

2. Belgian residents advised to take out fixed energy contracts as prices rise

Belgium's consumer protection organisation, Test Achats, has warned that energy prices are rising again, which could be reflected in the cost of fixed contracts next month. Read more.

3. What to do in Brussels this weekend: 25 - 27 August

How the summer has flown by! As the final weekend of August is upon us, take this opportunity to explore events where you would not usually venture. From a tomato-centric festival to a board game bonanza, here's what's on this weekend. Read more.

4. EU imposes stricter rules on big tech companies from today: What changes for users?

From today, the 19 largest internet platforms and search engines operating in the European Union must comply with stricter European rules – contained in the Digital Services Act (DSA). Read more.

5. Minors can easily buy spirits and tobacco in Belgian stores

A "mystery shoppers" test carried out in Belgium highlighted how easily minors are able to buy alcohol and tobacco despite it being against the law. Read more.

6. From winter drink to summer aperitif: Cider is taking beer-loving Brussels by storm

Cider, the alcoholic beverage made from fermented apple juice, has long been overlooked in the land of beer, but the drink is now taking Belgium by storm: an entire festival is being dedicated to it in Brussels. Read more.

7. Filmmaker Tim Burton's quirky universe comes to Brussels

The extraordinary world of Tim Burton, famous for his films Edward Scissorhands and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, will feature at Tour & Taxis in Brussels this autumn with a new exhibition. Read more. ____________________

[thoughtswordsaction]

Rise Against Announce UK And EU Tour Dates For 2025

Photo by Alexa Viscius Today, ahead of their imminent US headline tour, Chicago punk trailblazers Rise Against announce their highly anticipated return to UK and European stages. Universally known for their high-octane live performances and universally loved back-catalogue, the band are set to grace the stages of beloved UK and EU venues from early 2025. This announcement comes on the heels of…

[head-post]

Stoltenberg visits the Western Balkans

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg arrived in Sarajevo on Sunday, launching a tour across four countries in the Western Balkans, three of which were considered a potential security threat, according to Euractiv.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has been participating in the NATO Membership Action Plan since 2010, but has yet to take concrete steps toward membership due to the slow pace of reforms and political blockade by Bosnian Serb leaders. They oppose NATO membership and sanctions against Russia.

Since the outbreak of war in Ukraine in February 2022, the security environment in Europe has changed, with NATO increasing its support for Bosnia. In 2023, the organisation approved a new Defence Capacity Building package for the country.

Stoltenberg is set to meet with the Bosniak, Croat, and Serb members of Bosnia-Herzegovina’s collective presidency on Sunday. Afterwards, he will head to Kosovo, a former province of Serbia that declared independence in 2008 and is still patrolled by NATO-led peacekeeping troops, KFOR, on Monday.

The visit followed a breakdown in political talks and rising tensions between Serbia and Kosovo in recent months, which culminated in an attack by armed militants on a Kosovo police patrol in September that the EU called a “terrorist attack.”

Read more HERE

[hardynwa]

Deadly Mediterranean wildfires kill more than 40

More than 40 people have died in Algeria, Italy and Greece as Mediterranean wildfires threaten villages and holiday resorts, and thousands have been evacuated. Greece is preparing for more evacuation flights from Rhodes, as fires also rage on the islands of Corfu and Evia. The current long heatwave shows no let-up - temperatures are expected to rise above 44C (111F) in parts of Greece. Fires in Sicily and Puglia have forced thousands of people to flee. High winds and tinder-dry vegetation mean firefighters are struggling in many areas to douse the flames and create firebreaks. The heaviest death toll so far is in Algeria, where the 34 victims included 10 soldiers surrounded by flames during an evacuation in the coastal province of Bejaia, east of Algiers. Bejaia is the worst-hit area, accounting for 23 of the deaths, local media report. Algerian authorities said 80% of the blazes had been put out since Sunday, but a massive firefighting effort continues, involving about 8,000 personnel, hundreds of fire engines and some aircraft. Fires have also raged in neighbouring Tunisia, where 300 people had to be evacuated from the coastal village of Melloula. In Greece, the Civil Protection Ministry warned of an "extreme danger" of fire in six of the country's 13 regions on Wednesday. A team of climate scientists - the World Weather Attribution group - said this month's intense heatwave in Southern Europe, North America and China would have been virtually impossible without human-induced climate change. Two pilots died on the island of Evia, just north of Athens, when their Canadair firefighting plane crashed into a ravine. Elsewhere on the island a man's charred body was found in a remote rural shack. On the island of Rhodes more than 20,000 people have been evacuated from homes and resorts in the south in recent days. An airport official told AFP news agency that more than 5,000 had flown home on more than 40 emergency flights between Sunday and Tuesday. Holiday firms Jet2 and Tui have cancelled departures for Rhodes for the coming days. Tourism accounts for one in five jobs in Greece, and the industry is vital for Rhodes and many other islands. The UK Foreign Office has not advised against travel to the affected parts of Greece, but has urged tourists to check with tour operators for updates. Thousands of people have also been evacuated on Evia and Corfu, while Crete - another major holiday destination - is on high alert. Italy has been hit by contrasting extreme weather events - with deadly storms in the north and wildfires in Sicily as well as several more southern regions. A couple in their 70s were found dead in a fire-gutted holiday home near Palermo, after fire came close to the boundary of the city's airport. An 88-year-old woman also died near the city. Parts of the city of Catania went without water and power after cables burned in temperatures that climbed to 47.6C on Monday. On the mainland, in Calabria, just east of Sicily, a man aged 98 was trapped by flames in his home and his daughter and son-in-law suffered burns while trying to save him. A wildfire in the Foggia region, on Italy's Adriatic coast, forced the evacuation of 2,000 people from hotels and campsites. The blaze approached Vieste from a nearby national park. The storms in the north, meanwhile, claimed two lives on Tuesday - victims of falling trees. Tornadoes, hailstorms and gale-force winds of up to 110km/h (70mph) struck Lombardy and other northern regions. Chiara Rossetti, 16, was on a scouts' summer camp trip when her tent was hit by a tree in the province of Brescia. "We are experiencing in Italy one of the most complicated days in recent decades - rainstorms, tornadoes and giant hail in the north, and scorching heat and devastating fires in the centre and south," said Civil Protection minister Nello Musumeci. He said he intended to appeal to the EU to boost its fleet of Canadair firefighting planes. Fires also broke out on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica in the early hours of Wednesday. Gales of up to 130km/h (80mph) whipped up the flames and for several hours three villages came under threat. Read the full article

[laurahphoto]

Amazing music photographers around the world

We’re currently facing a world crisis unlike we have seen in a generation. Due to shutdowns of pretty much all normal life, the music industry has completely shutdown touring. Festivals and tours all over the world have been cancelled, and the loss of income to all of those connected to that industry will be devastating. 

This is my very small attempt at trying to help out some of my favourite photographers, nearly all of whom are affected by these shutdowns. I’ve tried my best to link to all their print stores, instagram and websites, but if there are direct ways you want to help them, please reach out. Give them a follow. Share their posts. Tell them how amazing they are. Spirits are low right now, and boosting someone’s spirits is one of the best things we can do to get through this.

We’re all in this together. I hope you discover your new favourite photographer.

UK/EU

Bethan Miller // Cardiff, UK

Bethan Miller is a Cardiff based photographer who works within music, event and wedding photography. I’ve followed Bethan’s work for years, and seeing her come as far as she has, and being a full-time freelancer is incredible. She tours regularly with rising UK band Holding Absence, and her work with them truly captures their moody-vibe.  PRINT STORE // INSTAGRAM // WEBSITE

Corinne Cumming // London, UK

Best known as ‘Captured by Corinne’, one of the music industry’s NICEST humans on the planet, London based Corinne is also an incredible photographer, from her work with Rock Sound with some of your favourite bands, to her unmatched stunning studio work with Drag Queens. I feel so proud when I see her work - we would often share the pit together when we were newbies and now she’s a full-time photographer and owner of her own studio, Hot Dog Studios.

INSTAGRAM // WEBSITE

Isha Shah // London, UK

Honestly, a true legend. Isha’s work is so vibrant, innovative and quite genius. She’s able to work with a range of artists and musicians, and also inspires other creatives with her creative collective, Platform London. Never afraid to speak up, Isha’s no BS attitude makes her so unique, and honestly my feeds would be way too quiet without her. 

INSTAGRAM // WEBSITE

Jennifer McCord // London, UK

Finding beauty in the minimal, Jenny’s work is emotive in the way she photographs some of the most delicate moments, no matter whether she’s shooting live music, portraits or weddings. Seeing her grow from shooting hardcore shows to working with Ellie Goulding, Jenny is IN DEMAND, and there’s a reason why.

PRINT STORE // INSTAGRAM // WEBSITE

Phoebe Fox // London, UK

It blows me away that Phoebe (SHOTBYPHOX) is only 22. She has toured with artists such as Anne Marie, SWMRS, Anteros and The Amazons and is a powerhouse of beautiful content. Her work is clean, bold, and simply stunning.

INSTAGRAM // WEBSITE

Zac Mahrouche // London, UK

Zac shoots a lot of live music, but also creates some really beautiful editorial/fashion photos. I can always look to Zac’s work for inspiration, and I love the way he presents his work across socials.

INSTAGRAM // WEBSITE

Doug Elliott // Brighton, UK

The moody cold tones of Doug’s work make it really atmospheric and cinematic. It’s been amazing to follow Doug’s journey over the years and see him work with artists such as Against The Current. 

INSTAGRAM // WEBSITE

Martyna “Gingerdope” // Stroud, UK

One of the most unique viewpoints in music photography come from Gingerdope. She captures some of the most delicate, overlooked moments on tour, and has introduced me to some of the UK’s best indie bands. 

ONLINE STORE // INSTAGRAM

Ellie Mitchell // UK

Ellie is a machine, and seems to be always touring! I admire how she works within particularly male-dominated genres and has become one of the most consistent music photographers out there. 

INSTAGRAM // WEBSITE

Arne Desmedt “CardinalsMedia” // Antwerp, Belgium

I’ve followed Arne’s work for a while, and he always delivers stunning, dynamic live photos across multiple music genres. His portfolio is an endless stream of incredible shots.

INSTAGRAM // WEBSITE

Sarah Louise Bennett // London, UK

Another amazing woman working in the music industry, and killing it with every shoot she does. Sarah is so hardworking, producing stunning covers/features for Upset & Dork magazines and continuously setting the bar high. 

INSTAGRAM // WEBSITE

CANADA

Brandynnleigh // Calgary, AB

One of THE most creative photographers out there, I love the concepts and essence of her work; there’s a story within every photo and there’s a vintage feel to them that works perfectly. Brandynnleigh is based in Calgary and shoots live music as well as portraits, conceptual projects and landscapes.

INSTAGRAM // WEBSITE 

Lindsey Blane // Vancouver, BC

Ok, I’m biased, because Lindsey is one of my closest friends but also a ridiculously talented human, a bit of a workaholic and someone who gives every project 110%. When we met, we were both working at a camera store (in different locations) and she stalked me on Instagram and messaged me on Christmas Day 2016, and within weeks she was sleeping on my sofa a couple times a month, so she could come over to Vancouver from Victoria and shoot some shows/build her relationships with artists. It’s paid off and seeing her work with some of the biggest artists in Canada is mindblowing.

PRINT STORE // INSTAGRAM // WEBSITE

Brandon Dacosta // Toronto, ON

Brandon works with a range of indie artists including Canadian bands Bearings and Belmont. His work is so energetic and he checks off everything live music photography is all about. Brandon always delivers stunning content, and as a photographer who tours so much, he will need as much support as possible!

PRINT STORE // INSTAGRAM // WEBSITE

Shayla Lee // Edmonton, AB

A multi-talented incredible human, Shayla has continued to develop her own unique style and approach to her work, particular with electronic and EDM acts. We were introduced by Lindsey Blane (she threw us all in a car and took us to Bumbershoot) and have been great friends since. Shayla is also a writer and runs her own blog, Femme Riot. She attends more festivals than I knew existed and creates weird and wonderful photos/collages. 

INSTAGRAM // WEBSITE // FEMME RIOT

Timothy Nguyen // Vancouver, BC

One of the most humble, kind humans I’ve had the pleasure of calling my friend. Having road-tripped down to Seattle for Warped Tour and Bumbershoot, Tim is always so much fun to be around, and you can always lean on him for advice. An amazing photographer with a big heart, you’ll see him catching no sleep and shooting 5 gigs in one night. 

INSTAGRAM // WEBSITE

Kelli Anne // Vancouver, BC

My favourite Kiwi, and potentially one of the funniest people I know, Kelli has come a long way since she started taking photos on her phone at concerts. She is now one of the most consistent live music photographers, continuously producing incredible content. Her portrait work is always STUNNING and I’m jealous of how she achieves those warm dreamy tones.

PRINT STORE // INSTAGRAM // WEBSITE

Bailey Morgan // Vancouver, BC

I’ve only known Bailey a short amount of time, but she is slowly becoming one of my favourite photographers. She has a heart of gold and creates beautiful visuals, working mainly with music, portraits and families. She recently set up Rebel Gal Creators, a collective of womxn photographers.

INSTAGRAM // WEBSITE // REBEL GAL CREATORS

USA

Heather Hawke // Los Angeles, CA

Heather is more than just a photographer. She works within the music industry in PR, runs her own magazine - Decorated Youth and writes thoughtful articles and interviews. She also has really great taste in music. She’s a hard-working powerhouse, and a wonderful human. Support her work!

INSTAGRAM // WEBSITE // DECORATED YOUTH

Sara Feigin // New York, NY

I met Sara at a gig in London waaaaay back. She moved back to the States, where she is currently working as a photographer and writer. Her artist portraits are among my favourite, and she continues to blow me away with her consistency. 

INSTAGRAM // WEBSITE

Kaytlin Dargen // Fargo, ND

I know her as ‘kaydargs’, I’ve loved her work for so long. She has such a unique style and perspective, always putting out incredible work. She works with lots of bands, and I loved her recent album cover for Hot Mulligan. A true artist, and a big inspiration of mine.

PRINT STORE // INSTAGRAM // WEBSITE

Carter Howe // Los Angeles, CA

Carter’s work feels like a movie - dramatic and emotional. I love how her photos are so well executed, and how she finds beauty in the ordinary. 

PRINT STORE // INSTAGRAM // WEBSITE

Alyson Coletta // NJ

A live-music photographer who’s work continues to always make me feel like I was at the concert she shot. She always captures ‘the moment’ whether it’s an arena or tiny sweaty show. Message her to buy any print off her IG/website!

INSTAGRAM // WEBSITE

Maggie Friedman // New York, NY

One of the most active music photographers, she’s probably shot at least five of your favourite artists. Minimum. A content-machine, Maggie’s work is always outstanding. You can buy a print buy messaging her!

INSTAGRAM // WEBSITE

Melodi Ramirez // Austin, TX

A versatile photographer, often switching between bad-ass live music and strong bold portraits.

INSTAGRAM // WEBSITE

Cina Nguyen // Washington, DC

Known as her handle ‘ilikeyourface’ on IG, Cina creates art-pieces with her surreal, dreamy photos. I could honestly look at her work all day. 

INSTAGRAM // WEBSITE

Victoria Sanders // Chicago, IL

Victoria Sanders does’t just photograph concerts - she’s an advocate for pushing for more women in music, and cofounded The Photo Ladies, bringing together a community of women around the world who work in music. Oh and she takes amazing pics, of course.

PRINT STORE // INSTAGRAM // WEBSITE 

Gina Scarpino // New York, NY

Inspirational portraits & live music photos, Gina’s got a real eye for visual concepts, and I always admire how well she executes all of her work.

PRINT STORE // INSTAGRAM // WEBSITE

Natalie Somekh // Newport Beach, CA

Natalie has a vintage feel to her portraits + live music photos which are super dreamy. Message her for prints!

INSTAGRAM // WEBSITE

Kat Nijmeddin // Los Angeles, CA

Kat is a photographer/designer who works with Pure Noise Records. I really love how energetic her photos are, yet her tones are soft and pastel colours which create a really cool style. PRINT STORE // INSTAGRAM 

[swobe]

BAD NEWS FOR LABOUR: Where do we go from here?

Here it is, 2020, the year of Democratic Socialism for all: a revived NHS; buoyancy in the jobs market on the back of a Green Industrial Revolution; and my broadband connection is finally above 75mbps (thank you, Lord Sugar). 

Wait… Blyth Valley’s gone blue? 42 seats down? Well, this year’s already gone to the dogs. 

We’ve had time to reflect (grieve, even), and long may the lamentation continue, given a Conservative majority ensures Boris Johnson has the ‘transformative’ Brexit mandate he so desired. 

It was a campaign defined by media and marketing; the echolalia of a few empty phrases from the Prime Minister, focusing on ‘getting Brexit done’, avoiding ‘dither and delay’, and something about him knowing how to use an oven. Johnson’s puppet-master, Dominic Cummings, applied a near-identical plan of action for the General Election as he did the EU Referendum, following the tried and tested formula for marketing success. Per the buzzwords, Brexit is going to get done, but will their oven-ready plan be Tesco’s Finest or Sainsbury’s Basic?  

The time for slogans is over now and while Labour licks its wounds, the Government has just one year to complete a trade deal with the European Union. So, if you catch Johnson on his way out from Sunday Service, let him know that we, too, are praying for that logistical miracle. May the plastic sealing our ready-meal deal have more integrity than the wax of the candles we light. 

However, if Pinocchio and Geppetto manage to package their deal as remotely appealing, there is a real chance that Labour could be locked out of No.10 for another century. 

 Where did we go wrong? 

To the surprise of some, none of the reasons Labour failed include the British electorate being neo-fascist, uneducated scabs. Brexit; claims of racism; issues of leadership; and hostility towards the more conservative members of our party, peers, and nation as a whole, are mostly valid, but the failure of the leadership team to engage with these issues is illustrative of an inability to present a palatable narrative for the Labour Party’s largely popular policy stance. 

1. First and foremost, we must recognise the impact of media portrayal on Corbyn’s Labour Party. Persistent anti-Corbyn headlines were echoed in broadcast media, shared to digital platforms and then shared by word of mouth in mess rooms, over dinner tables and on factory floors across the country. It isn’t exactly surprising that such a concerted vilification campaign was deemed necessary for a radical, anti-establishment movement. At least not when 71% of the UK’s print media market is dominated by three companies. The Murdochs and Rothermeres of the world felt threatened by a movement they deemed incompatible with their worldview, and also their tax avoidance, as Labour had vowed to scrap their non-domicile status, which allows some UK residents to limit tax paid on earnings outside of the country.

Hence, Labour need to take advantage of their active membership and use this time to develop an active alternative communication infrastructure, because the mobilisation of a Commons Majority can only occur if their vision is not diluted with smears. Goldsmiths’ own, Prof. Natalie Fenton, engaged with this in her 2016 publication, ‘Digital, Political, Radical’, stating that we need to acknowledge that global media in its present form is incompatible with democracy. Fenton believes it necessary for the field of media and communications to mobilise in the face of an agenda content on indirectly subordinating us through their content.

2. On the topic of media and communications, it is also important to recognise that the Labour message did not connect as well as it needed to. However ideologically inspiring, the delivery has been poor in practice, and this goes beyond Corbyn and into his leadership office.

10.29 million heads for Labour in 2019, sees a 7.8% reduction in vote share from 2017, dropping from 40% to 32.2%. A drastic shake up but arguably proving that there is still appetite for a socially radical programme in Britain. The issue is instead with the Labour Leadership office of Seamus Milne, Karie Murphy, Len McCluskey and Andrew Murray who championed a campaign that seemingly took Labour Leave seats for granted and focused resources on rather unattainable Tory Leave seats. This stoked the flames of ideological infighting against Corbyn-sceptic MPs and turned what should’ve been a political open goal for the Labour Party in the form of a ‘Don’t Trust Boris’ campaign, into a cut and shut victory for the Tories. The chart below displays Labour’s 60 offensive targets, only one of which they managed to secure, Putney.

(image: Sunday Times, 2019)

As you can see, the offensive campaign fell flat on its arse and with two thirds of Labour held seats voting Leave in the 2016 EU Referendum, the defensive side of the campaign wasn’t too healthy either. One would argue that the stoic attempt at neutrality on the issue of the UK’s exit from the EU was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Dubbed the Brexit Election, there is no doubt that the Party’s ambiguous position on the constitutional crunch did them no favours. Neutrality was perceived as weakness by the many and was adopted as weapon of choice for the Conservative few. This method, which focused on healing national divisions on the issue, only polarised the electorate further. Uncertainty around the Party’s Brexit position caused Labour’s ‘Red Wall’ in the North of England, to collapse. With 1/5 of Labour Leave voters jumping ship to the Tories it was apparent this position was perceived as a non-position; it’s unfortunate that this just so happened to be the key political issue of the decade that they had managed to cock up. 

In the midst of Brexit we are operating in a climate of rising nationalist populism in the UK and our campaign was reluctant to engage with this; mass immigration was seemingly ignored; patriotism and cultural identity absent; and not one compelling illustration of the low-wage, technocratic economy that the Conservative government are constructing. With a nation-wide tour and massive crowds gathering to hear Jeremy speak, it was easy to think that we would build on 2017.  However, we now know that was not the case and have clear lessons to learn about how engaging with Labour heartlands will need to be more about listening and less about preaching to the choir. 

3. Finally, we mustn’t tiptoe around leadership, time and time again Labour volunteers on the doorstep were met with concerns about Jeremy Corbyn’s perceived incompetence (I was actually marched out of one flat block in Kensington). It’s frustrating, because although I joined the party in 2017 as a result of Jeremy and have the utmost respect for the seeds he sowed in dragging our country’s political conversation to the left, I, too, understand that in the current political climate many see Corbyn as a hark back to the 70’s, and thus render him as an unelectable candidate. 

‘One of the most consistent findings in social psychology is that people find ways to believe what they want to believe. The Conservative Party has always been able to appeal to large numbers of people on the basis of faux patriotism and conning voters into thinking it can deliver economic growth and prosperity.’ (James Melville, Byline Times, 2019)

The media vilification campaign against him forced Jeremy into regularly deflecting issues instead of utilising the pragmatic engagement we have come to expect from him. Making it easier than ever for the right-leaning press to portray the Leader of the Opposition as an unpatriotic shrugging school-boy; wounded by claims of anti-Semitism; and seemingly insufficiently briefed by his team.  

But don’t despair. We have much to learn from the Corbyn project, and plenty to take hope from too. This is merely a post-election reflection, fuelled by the malaise. I am holding out hope that maybe the Labour Leadership team planned this all along, an elaborate rouse to achieve Brexit, whilst their intricate and convincing socialist narrative for post-Brexit Britain is sat warming in the oven. Or maybe that’s just fantasy. However, I know one thing for sure, the past four years have ensured the socialist flame in the heart of the party has been reignited for good, so now Labour must focus on electoral success, which means backing the leader we believe can lead us to victory in the post-Brexit culture war.

Oh, and if you have any ideas about Labour’s post-Brexit rebuild campaign, I encourage you all to start trademarking slogans now, before Dominic Cummings gets there first. 

[turixoco-blog]

What Everybody Is Saying About Kaliningrad Visa Is Dead Wrong and Why

https://it.ivisa.com/kaliningrad-visa

You'll be arrested if you put in a restricted area, so it's imperative that you include all destinations on your visa application.  Schedules are subject to change, it's advised to consult the corporation's website at.  You will require a transit visa even if you're just passing through to change airports.

Kaliningrad Visa and Kaliningrad Visa - The Perfect Combination To have a tour ticket you have to order a tour program with the assistance of our business and give us a photo copy of your passport.   You will require a letter of invitation from a business registered in Russia.  You won't get a copy of this document.

Using Kaliningrad Visa The economy is just one of several tribulations plaguing the Kaliningrad district.  The main reason is because you're basically entering Russia twice.  If you intend to travel overland between Kaliningrad and other parts of Russia, you'll need no less than a double-entry visa as a way to exit and re-enter Russia.

Flights aren't very pricey and you safe each of the hassles of handling transit visas. Starting from July 1, it's going to be possible to see the Kaliningrad region employing an electronic visa.  But if you'd like to do independent touring of Kaliningrad, you will require a Visa.

The goal of travel can be tourism, organization, or humanitarian factors.  When the application is finished, applicants should pay the fee and watch for a confirmation email.

As the amount of worldwide expatriates continues to rise, it's possible that an increasing amount of international business will create particular goods, services and expatriate media to serve the requirements of this target group. The e-visa process doesn't have any charge, so foreign nationals will have the ability to save costs normally connected with applying for non-electronic visas.  The conventional processing time for the Kaliningrad visa on the internet is 4 days, although in some instances this could take longer.

Type of Kaliningrad Visa There are lots of nations in Africa which are visa-free access for UK citizens.  English is understood by a lot of people.  DPRK nationals will be permitted to remain in the city for as many as eight days, it added, and won't be charged a consular fee.

A lot of the historic substance remains though, and there are many districts and a number of monuments from pre-war times.  The phenomenon was condemned by local Kremlin supporters as an indication of Germanisation.  It's not only that folks come and spend money, but in addition that actually people leave with a rather different impression of Russia.

Currently there are five bridges, the issue is solvable.  In this instance, please make sure your face is clearly visible from the base of the chin to the surface of the forehead.  The photo must demonstrate the surface of your head and the surface of your shoulders.

The Benefits of Kaliningrad Visa There are lots of border crossing points.  The island of Kant, previously known as the island of Kneiphof, is situated in the center of the Pregolya River.

| Kaliningrad Visa Can Be Fun for Everyone For England fans heading over for the last group game against Belgium, it is not anything that a budget flight to Gdansk and a quick bus ride can't solve.  It is essential that if you're preparing the trip all on your own, that you speak with the hotel regarding your invitation.  You need to depart and come back to the port with the tour, you don't have the choice to stay in St. Petersburg and come back to the ship by yourself.

You're able to produce the request remotely.  You will require a letter of invitation from a business registered in Russia.  You won't get a copy of this document.

Most Noticeable Kaliningrad Visa Any component of a visit to this nation is a risk.  Some airports may still require that you finish the migration card manually.  You're able to stay for as many as eight days.

While the proportion of migrants in the overall population of developed countries continues to rise, in addition, there are a growing number of expatriates from developed countries that move abroad for professional or private factors.  Yes, there's no exceptional exception.  All individuals from eligible nations, no matter their age, have to have an individual eVisa to be able to stop by Kaliningrad.

The Characteristics of Kaliningrad Visa It's well-known that global tourism is a huge tool to help achieve that end.  The region was known from classical antiquity as a chief source of amber in Europe.  The tour here enables you the chance to see several old structures that have survived from German times.

The economy is just one of several tribulations plaguing the Kaliningrad district.  The main reason is because you're basically entering Russia twice.  If you intend to travel overland between Kaliningrad and other parts of Russia, you'll need no less than a double-entry visa as a way to exit and re-enter Russia.

Flights aren't very pricey and you safe each of the hassles of handling transit visas. If you want to travel overland between Kaliningrad and other parts of Russia and you're a visa national, you will have to have no less than a normal double entry visa as a way to exit and re-enter Russia.  But if you'd like to do independent touring of Kaliningrad, you will require a Visa.

Type of Kaliningrad Visa He added that Trump's visit is going to be rescheduled whenever possible.  You don't need to be a Member to come to a HU meeting, access the site, the HUBB or maybe to obtain the e-zine.  For example, a lot of the worldwide expatriate medical insurance businesses and expatriate banking providers are based in the united kingdom.

You'll be arrested if you put in a restricted area, so it's imperative that you include all destinations on your visa application.  Schedules are subject to change, it's advised to consult the corporation's website at.  While seeking information about travelling to Russia, you may have heard that you have to register your visa.

Tips will clarify the significance of the questions you should reply.   When the application is finished, applicants should pay the fee and watch for a confirmation email.

Because of this you need to wait, after which you get nervous and get started searching for a different visa provider hoping for the very best.  The e-visa process doesn't have any charge, so foreign nationals will have the ability to save costs normally connected with applying for non-electronic visas.  The conventional processing time for the Kaliningrad visa on the internet is 4 days, although in some instances this could take longer.

| Type of Kaliningrad Visa UK citizens are most likely among the most well-travelled people I know.  English is understood by a lot of people.  DPRK nationals will be permitted to remain in the city for as many as eight days, it added, and won't be charged a consular fee.

A lot of the historic substance remains though, and there are many districts and a number of monuments from pre-war times.  Yes, there's no exceptional exception.  All individuals from eligible nations, no matter their age, have to have an individual eVisa to be able to stop by Kaliningrad.

Naturally, there weren't any borders then.  It isn't surprising that British organizations are also leading the way in regards to creating special expatriate services.  The payment confirms the grade of the service.

Using Kaliningrad Visa You find virtually every conceivable problem in Kaliningrad.   Kaliningrad region is known for its production of amber.  Indeed, Kaliningrad is a little enclave surrounded by the EU countries, therefore it is reasonable.

Indeed, in regards to tourism, Russia is apparently opening for business. The way the new e-visa rule will affect DPRK citizens who aspire to go to Saint Petersburg remains to be viewed.  Getting into Russia is easy if you're on a cruise or organized group.

You're able to locate a large number of souvenirs, necklaces, knick knacks and other jewelry made from amber in a various stalls and shops all over the city.  It is essential that if you're preparing the trip all on your own, that you speak with the hotel regarding your invitation.  You need to depart and come back to the port with the tour, you don't have the choice to stay in St. Petersburg and come back to the ship by yourself.

The 30-Second Trick for Kaliningrad Visa He added that Trump's visit is going to be rescheduled whenever possible.  You don't need to be a Member to come to a HU meeting, access the site, the HUBB or maybe to obtain the e-zine.  For example, a lot of the worldwide expatriate medical insurance businesses and expatriate banking providers are based in the united kingdom.

All communications concerning the condition of the visa (like the final approved visa) will be transmitted via email.  It will be essential to apply for one more kind of visa as a way to travel to other areas of Russia.  If you're a citizen of a country on the next list, you are needed to get a Schengen visa in order to see the Schengen nations.

The New Fuss About Kaliningrad Visa You're able to produce the request remotely.  You will require a letter of invitation from a business registered in Russia.  You won't get a copy of this document.

The goal of travel can be tourism, organization, or humanitarian factors.  When the application is finished, applicants should pay the fee and watch for a confirmation email.

Because of this you need to wait, after which you get nervous and get started searching for a different visa provider hoping for the very best.  If you're unclear about any facet of the entry requirements, or you require further reassurance, you're need to get hold of the embassy, higher commission or consulate of the nation or territory you're travelling to. The conventional processing time for the Kaliningrad visa on the internet is 4 days, although in some instances this could take longer.

[ag-updates-and-archives]

story by babyyodajr, january 30

[newagesispage]

                                                  APRIL                      2019

PAGE   RIB

***** The Rolling Stones have cancelled their North American tour. Mick Jagger apologized for cancelling due to undisclosed medical treatments.  Oh Baby, Get Well Soon!!!!

***** Mick and his squeeze, Melanie Hamrick have put together a ballet set to Stones music called Porte Rouge. After premiering in Russia it will come to NY on April 18 for an opening night charity event to benefit Youth America Grand Prix.  Tickets start at $600.

***** Tina Fey and Carol Burnett  are working on a movie about Carol’s book, Carrie and me: A Mother –Daughter love story.

***** When I hear Bernie Sanders going on, I can’t help but think of Jimmy Carter. He was pushing many of these messages in the seventies. He tried to get us to have more respect for the land and to save energy and the greedy wrote him off as boring and the era of greed took over. Will we listen this time?

***** The Mueller report was finally turned over to Attorney General William Barr. This has started a whole new set of problems. Barr gives us a summary that is like springtime for Trump. He jumps right in to those that done him wrong and FISA warrants. Should congress get a look at the full report? Everyone is talking over each other and don’t seem to hear what the other is saying. Everybody piles on Adam Schiff because they think he isn’t accepting the report like a good Dem should. If they would listen, he makes it very clear that he respects the findings but they need to see the report. How dare they ask HIM to resign as Intel committee chair. It was heartwarming to see his backbone. They must quit backing down. We still don’t have the whole story but he still free to say that he thinks the actions we already know of were wrong. What the hell is wrong with that? Barr is supposed to release the heavily redacted report in mid- April. No collusion? Perhaps, Scary Clown 45 would probably not get his hands dirty. Obstruction? We’ll see. ** Tyler Mcgaughey, William Barrs son in law will now advise Trump and the White House staff. ** I am really sick of listening to the old white man POV.

***** Dow chemical has donated a mil to Trump’s campaign. Strange that Trump has blocked a report  that took years of research and shows proof of Dow toxic pesticides which jeopardizes over 1,200 endangered species.

***** US from Jordan Peele opened to 70.3 mil. Just like his last movie, critics tell us to watch it twice. How great for the bottom line.

***** John McCarty, a dead man is running for village President in Spring Bay, Il.

***** Look out for the new film, The Kid, directed by Vincent D’onofrio. The western stars Ethan Hawke, Chris Pratt, Hawk , D’onofrio , MorningStar Angeline and Leila George.

***** Did you ever see the reunion movie ‘Return to Green Acres? ‘  They tried to warn us of who Trump was a long time ago. How strange that it came full circle with that ridic Emmy Green Acres thing he did.

***** Shaq has become a deputy sheriff and has also been added to the board of directors of Papa John’s where he is an investor.

***** In sexual harassment news, Lucy Flores, a former Nevada assemblywoman has accused Joe Biden of unwanted touching and kissing at a 2014 campaign event.

***** Mark Hamill will voice the Chucky doll in the new Child’s Play.

***** Law and Order will get its 21st season.

***** The daytime Emmy noms have been announced and Days got the most this year. WOO HOO! The soap was nominated for drama, writing, costume, music, casting, art direction and oh, just everything. In the acting category the lead noms are Marci Miller, Tyler Christopher and Billy Flynn.  Kate Mansi was noticed for a guest spot as Abigail so 2 actresses are up for Emmys in the same role. Other guest noms went to Thaao Penghlis and Philip Anthony Rodriguez. Kassie Depaiva, Linsey Godfrey (really?), Martha Madison, Greg Rikaart and Eric Martsolf were all nominated.  Younger actor nods went to Olivia Rose Keegan, Lucas Adams, Victoria Konefal and Kyler Pettis.  C’mon , why nothing for Lauren Koslow, Greg Vaughan, Casey Moss, Susan Seaforth Hayes and Robert Scott Wilson?? I think I would switch a few of these around but it is still great to see Days so blessed.  I was also happy to see Max Gail from GH get noticed. CBS led the networks in noms. Hooray for Wayne Brady for game show host and Mark Hamill, Ruth Negga and Steve Buscemi in animated programs. Watch for the Daytime Emmys on May 5 which will not be on television again.

***** General Robert Neller has told the Pentagon that funds diverted to the wall are keeping Marines from rebuilding hurricane hit bases.

***** Devin Nunes is suing Twitter for the parody accounts, Devin Nunes Mom and Dvin Nunes cow which is pretty funny.

***** The EU is banning straw, cotton swabs and plastic cutlery by 2021.

***** Jenny McCarthy has a book out that slams The View.

***** Roseanne is thinking about suing ABC and has said some rather nasty stuff about Sara Gilbert.

***** Michael Avenatti was arrested for trying to extort $20 mil from Nike in NY. He claims he was just doing some lawyering.  California has him on bank fraud charges.  Why is there so much shadiness in this world? Let’s start rewarding the people doing good in this world and quit talking these headlines everyday.

***** Why did this Jussie Smollett thing go away?

***** Wal Mart is walking back this getting rid of the elderly and handicapped greeter thing.

***** Tracy Morgan and Will Forte are to star in the new animated Scooby Doo movie.

***** Johnny Depp has sued ex Amber Heard over the abuse allegations.

***** Martha Stewart is diving into the Marijuana product industry.

***** New York charges Manafort with 16 crimes. Perhaps he won’t get off as lightly with the state crimes.

***** Season 9 of American Horror Story has no premiere date yet. Emma Roberts is confirmed to return. It looks like it will also include Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters and silver medalist Gus Kenworthy.

***** New California Gov. Gavin Newsom has halted executions for now.

***** Dems will hold their convention in Milwaukee. And if I hear again that Hillary didn’t go to these sorts of places, I am gonna puke. She went! She went! Just not so much at the end.

***** Howard Stern will release his first book in 20 years this May.

***** Ok, so glad to see Whoopie Goldberg is starting to get back to work but it is just so unbelievable in this day and age and access to info that she seemed shocked that the insurance companies decide people’s fate. Of course, that is if you are lucky enough to have insurance.

***** Sandy Hook families can take lawsuits against the gun companies to court now.** Three suicides have recently come from survivors and a parent of Parkland and Sandy Hook. The pain goes on.

***** The Senate voted 59-41 to terminate the emergency declaration. VETO

***** Rick Singer, founder if a college prep business had pled guilty to money laundering, obstruction of justice and racketeering. The nationwide college entrance exam scandal involves about 50 people including Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin that dates back to 2011. People paid millions to use ringers to take or fix their children’s exams and sometimes faked photos with coaches to include them in sports they were never involved in. The U.S. attorney does not believe the schools themselves were involved. **Lawsuits have already begun from those claiming they could not get into a good college because those spots were taken by these alleged cheaters.

***** Jennifer Hudson will play Aretha Franklin in the biopic.

***** Experts say a recession is on the horizon.

***** Two Sacramento police officers will face no charges for their overkill of the unarmed Stephon Clark. Oh Big surprise!!

***** White supremacist groups on line are growing faster than ISIS. ** I never get it, if white supremacists are so supreme, so wonderful, wouldn’t they rise to the top naturally? Why do they need to rid the world of others or keep minorities down?? If they think others are so inferior, those they hate or fear should not be a problem .

***** Jeanine Pirro was pulled off Fox news after a racist rant about Muslims. ** And where is Rudy? The lawyer hasn’t been seen on the air since January. ** Is this true? Did Ivanka and Jared really try to resign? Did Scary Clown 45 try to push them into it and then not accept those resignations?

***** This can’t be true. Only 5 states have laws requiring patient consent for medical students to do vaginal exams on women under sedation.

***** I rarely think about Jay Leno but he was right about the late night comics all doing different versions of the same joke.  But, who is he to talk? I mean how many different things did you do on OJ and Clinton?? At least these guys are funny.

***** The talk that people stay in their bubble becomes crystal clear when you see the poll asking if the President is truthful: Fox viewers : 84%, MSNBC viewers : 21% and CNN viewers: 1%. Whoa!

***** Word is that Scary Clown ordered economic advisor Gary Cohn to pressure the Justice Department to file a lawsuit to block the Att-Time Warner merger to retaliate against CNN.

***** At least 250 power plants across the country are leaking toxic chemicals into nearby water.

***** Jay Inslee is running for president! I think Stacey Abrams and Jay Inslee would be a nice ticket>

***** Beta O’Rourke is running for President! The psychedelic warlord!

***** Kristen Gillibrand is running for President!

***** Conor McGregor was arrested and charged with felony strong armed robbery and criminal mischief in Miami.

***** The process is in the works to get Trumps tax returns.** The house Judiciary committee has requested 81 documents.** This can’t be true. Trump was signing Bibles for volunteers and survivors in Alabama??

***** Just when it can’t get any weirder: Li Yang and her hubby, Zubin Gong run a string of massage parlors with questionable reputations. Until recently they ran the one that Robert Kraft was busted in. They also had a web site that seemed to sell access to their buddy, Donald Trump with Chinese business contacts. As soon as the story broke, the sites for an international consulting firm, text only in Chinese and no prices for the meets came down. Li Yang and her associates are in pictures at the inauguration, the White House, Mar A Lago and Trump’s super bowl party with the Pres, his sons and other Trump family members. We should have seen this coming. The old adage that always holds true with this administration seems true here. They always blame others for what they are really guilty of, this explains the Pizzagate garbage. This could be bigger than we ever dreamed. Even stories that we may have thought a bit out there need to be looked at closer. Can we connect the sex trafficking, the White House, the money? It is time to quit fucking around with the sellers and customers of those exploited in the sex trade. I don’t get it, all these men from Trump to R Kelly have the power over the women they supposedly use and abuse and yet they are always so angry. Perhaps they wouldn’t be losing their power if you treated others with respect and dignity. They always want all the power for themselves. And c’mon media, stop talking your heads off about the Omar story and give this Li Yang story a closer look.

***** The story of the fall of Theranos and Elizabeth Holmes is a sad one. It does show that greed and massive fraud are not just for the men of this world. When I first heard of her plans for the blood testing, I was so impressed with what she was accomplishing at her age. Yes, she was another poor little rich girl whose family fortune was quite diminished by the time it got to her. Even without the Fleischman yeast money, she did seem to have advantages. I can see how some of us were fooled but what about the big investors, the stalwart statesmen?  Do they not remember that if it seems too good to be true, it probably is? How can all the hype, the press, the marketing snowball before there is any proof that something is what is actually supposed to be?? I always assumed that by the time I am hearing about it, things are about ready to go. Seeing all these stories like Trump and Deutsche bank, light sentences for Manafort and now Holmes and her partner in crime seeming to get off lightly, there is not much hope for the little guy. WHY can’t we hold those involved in big money crimes really responsible??

***** It’s true, rich people cause socialism – Neal Brennan.

***** Even in 1692 the rich were different. –Stacy Schiff- The Witches.

***** FEMA released the personal data of 2.3 million victims.

***** They have dug up old words from Fox’s Tucker Carlson. Big surprise that he seemed to empathize with Warren Jeffs, thought women should just shut up and called a woman “cunty.”  The women who lap up the words of these men must not think much of themselves.

***** Why are we letting the banks finance detention centers and prisoners? It’s more than immigration or punishing criminals. Why is this big business?? I can’t believe this is still going on. Wake up!!! When will the children be free?  C’mon House and Senate, Pass the Shut Down child prison camps bill.

***** Somebody has to pay for this President’s folly: The scary clown new budget cuts:$ 1.5 trillion from Medicaid/ $845 billion from Medicare/ &25 billion from Social Security.

***** About 1 rural hospital a month is shutting down due to lack of support and lack of funds.

***** Globalization seems to be spreading a pathogen killing the olive trees in Italy.

***** A fake Melania?? WTF? UGH!

***** Matthew Whitaker is out! Bill Shine is out!

***** When will we ever be able to buy the boxed set of Late Night with Dave?? Hurry so the next generation can see the genius they may have missed.

***** Pete Davidson and Kate Beckinsale??

***** Hey Bill Maher, way to go with your PETA message about the terrible treatment of the geese used to make Canada Goose down jackets.  I will stay away!!

***** J Lo and A Rod are engaged.

***** Bette Midler and Judith Light will join the cast of The Politician.

***** Jussie Smollett has been indicted on 16 felony counts.

***** HBO’s Crashing was cancelled. Pete Holmes was great in this but I never really saw much promotion for it. I hate it when good stuff falls thru the cracks.

***** Kathy Griffin has a new film about the ridiculous Trump head, nearly career ending, Government harassment crap in her life. Kathy Griffin: A Hell of a story. Make that lemonade!! A girl has to take care of herself. It premiered at SXSW.** Speaking of SXSW, Alexandria Ocasio Cortez drew great crowds while she was there.

***** R Kelly lives in Trump tower in Chicago. Well, of course he does.  Why is it ok for the rest of us to put up with these arrogant, abusive males in this society? Everyone is giving kudos to Gayle King for her calm demeanor in her interview. Yes, how professional of her but why should she be subject to that disrespect??  She is in her workplace. Would R Kelly have liked his Mother or daughter to be treated that way?

***** So, word is that Isaiah 45 is a Trump thing with the evangelicals. This scripture refers to Cyrus , the anointed one. OY!

***** Days alert: Robin Strasser is coming OH BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!** Judith Chapman and her old style soap acting just too much. ** C’mon Chloe and Rex!!** More Nurse Shelly!! ** Is Johnny Dimera on his way to town? ** I was so glad to see Tony, one of the best characters ever anywhere, even if it was part of an out of body experience.

***** Why do we have to keep talking about George and Kelly Ann Conway?? Are they just covering their bases? With one on each side of the Trump argument, they win no matter what happens right?

***** So now we know that about 400 Catholic clergy have been accused of sexual  misconduct in Illinois. It never ends.

***** End the electoral college!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

***** S

***** Fox has hired Donna Brazile. People seem to finally be taking Bill Maher’s advice and telling their point of view to the other side. How else will sanity prevail if we don’t find common ground? We cannot look to this administration for guidance in this world, we have to figure these things out for ourselves, which we should be able to do anyway.

***** Suicide is the second leading cause of death for 15-24 year olds.  We have to find our self- worth.  

R.I.P. Andy Anderson, Katherine Helmond, Nathaniel Taylor, Luke Perry, Alabama tornado victims, Jan Michael Vincent,  the Ethiopian airlines disaster victims, Hal Blaine, victims of the New Zealand Mosque shootings, Sydney Aiello, the Ogossogou village attack victims, Denise DuBarry, Larry Cohen, Jeremy Richman, Ray Sawyer, Tania Mallet and Nipsey Hussle.

[authenticjapanesecuisine]

The renewal of Georgia's visa-free one-year-stay permission in half a day

Georgia, a small country in the Caucasus, allows Japanese passport holders a visa-free stay of one year. This also means you must leave the country once before one year has passed since your last entry. In 2021, I had several trips between Georgia and other countries, so I did not have to think about the day renewal of visa-free permission, but in 2022, I have not been outside Georgia at all. At the end of September, the deadline for my departure is approaching. I wish I could have traveled somewhere, but this time I didn't have the chance, and the time has come.

The Georgian currency, the Lari, has been appreciating against the US dollar and the Euro in the past six months, especially against the Japanese yen, which has increased about 1.5 times in the past year, and the image that many people had of Georgia as a low-cost country where you can spend a long time has completely disappeared. It is unclear why the Lari is this high, but one factor may be that there are no notable concerns about energy supply like in the EU countries. However, there is no doubt that electricity and gas prices have risen considerably over the past year, although not to the same extent as in Western Europe. Looking at the price tags at the local French supermarkets, food prices and other prices have been rising slowly and steadily. Because of the strong Lari exchange rate, imported goods should be cheaper, but unfortunately, this is not the case. Therefore, those coming to Georgia from Japan, the US, or other countries should expect to spend more than twice as much on living and accommodation as they did a few years ago. Living in rural Japan and the U.S. may be less expensive than in urban Georgia. Summer is the high season here in Batumi, and hotel charges and apartment rent always have expensive. Still, since the beginning of this year, it has increased dramatically. Combined with the mysterious, strong Lari exchange rate, I can imagine it is becoming harder for the average traveler from abroad to visit.

I'm getting sidetracked, but I decided to do renewal of visa-free stay-permission before the September departure deadline. Renewing visa-free stay-permission means leaving the country before the expiration date of the stay and re-entering the country not much later. I had the experience of renewing visa-free stay permission overland several times when I was in Thailand about ten years ago. At that time, entry to Thailand by land was a 14-day visa-free stay, and I remember having renewed visa-free stay permission every two weeks. I think it took about 4 hours from Bangkok to Cambodia's border. There was a bus tour with a dedicated vendor, so we took that, and it took us a whole day. Maybe things are very different now, though.

So, this is the renewal of Georgia's visa-free stay permission in half a day. Once re-entry is granted, Georgia allows an additional year of visa-free stay from that time, regardless of air or land travel. It is about 20 km from Old Batumi to the Turkish border village (Salpi), and it takes about one hour by city bus, but it costs only 0.3 Lari (about USD 0.1) each way! It can be said to be conscientious because the same flat rate as in the city is applied even for 20 kilometers. This is still three times the price of 0.1 Lari, which was 0.1 Lari until last year.

If you take bus #16, you should be able to enter the border checkpoint without getting lost, as the last stop is right near the entrance to the checkpoint.

The entrance to the border checkpoint is at the far right of the photo above, and as soon as you enter, you will see the Georgia passport control booth. I just had my passport ready and took it out when it was my turn, and I could leave the country smoothly without any problems. Following the route, we continued walking down the long aisle toward the Turkish side, and now the Turkish immigration booth appeared. Perhaps because it was around midday in the height of summer in late August, there was already no line, and we finally arrived at the booth after nearly an hour of chaos. The immigration inspector just checked my passport quickly and stamped my entry into Turkey without asking me anything in particular. It was so easy that it was a little discouraging. It was probably the shortest immigration check I have ever gone through, except for Japan, my home country. I have a lot of stamps and expired work visas left in my passport, so some countries take a lot of time to check my passport carefully. So I was a bit impressed this time. After immigration, there is a baggage check, just like at an airport. When I was about to remove my belt from my pants, as is my habit, the customs official informed me that I did not need to do so because we were not in an airport. That's right, and I was a little embarrassed.

After baggage screening, you walk a short distance and down the stairs to the Turkish side of the building.

There was nothing exceptional around the Turkish side, and there seemed to be only one cafeteria cum store nearby. Oh, yes, and don't forget. A mosque was there to welcome us, as it is in a Muslim country. However, there is a mosque next to my apartment in Batumi, so I did not feel I had entered Turkey.

Since this is a renewal of visa-free stay permission in half a day, there is no reason to stay longer on the Turkish side, as I did not have the Turkish Lira ready. I will be re-entering Georgia immediately. A little thought crossed my mind that if I were too early, there was a possibility that the entry data might not have gone to the Turkish side at passport control, so I ended up hanging around outside for an hour or so.

Now, re-entering Georgia, I was a bit nervous because I had never challenged the renewal of visa-free stay permission through such a short stay (less than an hour) before. You have to enter the checkpoint from the Turkish side entrance, about 30 meters away from the exit where you entered Turkey. There were far fewer people at this time than at the time of entry, and my turn came quickly. I was expecting to be asked something after submitting my passport as usual, but I was not asked anything and was able to leave the country smoothly as well. Turkey is the coolest!

Next up is the riskiest of all: re-entry into Georgia. As someone who had left the country just two hours earlier and was about to re-enter in such a short time, it was no wonder I was asked any questions I might have. I didn't have any answers prepared in advance; I just thought I would give honest answers when asked. I knew I would not be taken to another room, but I was still worried. As it happened, there was only one other person besides me in the immigration booth on the Georgia side, and immigration inspection began immediately. I submitted my passport and the immigration officer started checking it. As I was waiting to see what he would ask me, the immigration officer seemed to say something. I said, "Excuse me?" and he said, "Hideyuki?" When I answered "Yes, he said "Welcome" and stamped my passport. I was able to re-enter the country, and my renewal of Georgia's visa-free stay permission was a success. It may be my imagination, but it seems that every time I enter Georgia, I am asked for only my first name, not both my last name and first name. Oh well, it doesn't matter either way.

As a result, it took about four hours from when I left home to when I returned.

Incidentally, Georgia and Turkey do not require proof of vaccination or PCR testing at immigration. Batumi, which once had PCR testing stations all over the city, has lost all trace of its former glory. I sometimes see people wearing masks, but the percentage is definitely less than 1%. Japan seems to be a somewhat different world, though.

[americanmysticom]

Henry Kissinger: Ukraine must give Russia territory - The Telegraph

Ambrose Evans-Pritchard Mon, May 23, 2022, 12:48 PM·6 min read

https://archive.ph/Gxyw1

Veteran US statesman Henry Kissinger has urged the West to stop trying to inflict a crushing defeat on Russian forces in Ukraine, warning that it would have disastrous consequences for the long term stability of Europe.

The former US secretary of state and architect of the Cold War rapprochement between the US and China told a gathering in Davos that it would be fatal for the West to get swept up in the mood of the moment and forget the proper place of Russia in the European balance of power.

Dr Kissinger said the war must not be allowed to drag on for much longer, and came close to calling on the West to bully Ukraine into accepting negotiations on terms that fall very far short of its current war aims.

“Negotiations need to begin in the next two months before it creates upheavals and tensions that will not be easily overcome. Ideally, the dividing line should be a return to the status quo ante. Pursuing the war beyond that point would not be about the freedom of Ukraine, but a new war against Russia itself,” he said.

He told the World Economic Forum that Russia had been an essential part of Europe for 400 years and had been the guarantor of the European balance of power structure at critical times. European leaders should not lose sight of the longer term relationship, and nor should they risk pushing Russia into a permanent alliance with China.

“I hope the Ukrainians will match the heroism they have shown with wisdom,” he said, adding with his famous sense of realpolitik that the proper role for the country is to be a neutral buffer state rather than the frontier of Europe.

The comments came amid growing signs that the Western coalition against Vladimir Putin is fraying badly as the food and energy crisis deepens, and that sanctions may have reached their limits.

“We’re seeing the worst of Europe,” said German vice-chancellor Robert Habeck in an angry outburst in Davos, accusing Hungary and other recalcitrant states of paralysing attempts by the rest of the EU to craft a full-fledged oil embargo.

Mr Habeck, who doubles as economy minister, said Germany is more or less ready to endure the shock of a total cut-off in Russian oil imports but others want to carry on as if nothing had changed. “I expect everyone to work to find a solution, and not to sit back and work on building their partnership with Putin,” he said.

Yuriy Vitrenkio, head of the Ukrainian energy consortium Naftogas, said the refuseniks are demanding exemptions from the embargo on false pretences. “What they really want is a free-ride on discounted Russian oil,” he said.

Eleven Republican senators and 57 congressmen in the US voted against the colossal $40bn aid package for Ukraine, an early sign of fragmenting cohesion in Washington.

“Putin is counting on the West to lose focus and that is our real challenge. People are as concerned, or more concerned, about the rising price of gas and groceries,” said Senator Christopher Coons.

“I’m not sure the unity will last. We may not get the next vote,” said Eric Cantor, former House Whip and a key figure in the sanctions policy against Iran.

Nobody is sure whether the US is trying to punish Russia for its aggression or whether the goal is a subtler use of policy that gives the Kremlin a “route out of sanctions” if it changes course. The fundamental divisions over the West’s war aims in Ukraine have so far been masked by an outpouring of solidarity and emotion, but these rifts are coming to the fore.

President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered his usual tour de force in a video address to the forum, saying “this is the year when we learn whether brute force will rule the world”. If it does, he added with his trademark touch, there will be no point in any more World Economic Forums in Davos.

Yet he also said Russia should be shut out of the civilised world entirely, and that all trade should stop until Russian forces are driven from Ukraine. “Sanctions should be maximum, so that Russia and every other potential aggressor that wants to wage a brutal war against its neighbour would clearly know the immediate consequences of their actions," he said.

It is doubtful whether the West can maintain a united front in pursuit of such far-reaching war aims with absolutist aims. Mr Cantor said it would require secondary sanctions against other countries, putting the West in a head on clash with China, India, and almost 60 states that refused to back a UN resolution denouncing Russia’s invasion.

India’s energy minister Shri Hardeep Puri brushed aside suggestions that his country should stop buying Russian oil. “The Europeans buy more Russian energy in an afternoon than we do in a quarter,” he said in Davos.

Mr Cantor said the US was in danger of overplaying its hand. “We have got to have multilateral support. We are already being accused of weaponising the world’s reserve currency. Even allies and friends are starting to ask, if you are using it in this way, we too could one day be subject to these sanctions,” he said.

The US Congress is split on the ultimate war aim. Senator Joe Manchin said the US should keep going until there was a clear “win” that restored all of Ukraine’s territory and led to the toppling of Vladimir Putin but other members of the Congressional delegation in Davos want a negotiated outcome.

Saudi Arabia and the Opec states have made it clear that they will not draw on their spare capacity to cover the lost Russian supply of oil, estimated at around one million barrels a day at the end of April. This makes it extremely hard to plug the gap if Europe cuts off purchases of Russian barrels.

Francisco Blanch from Bank of America said the oil market is now extremely tight. “The energy buffer is nearing a vanishing point. Crude oil inventories are down to a dangerously low point across Europe, North America, and OECD Asia. Inventories have also fallen to precarious levels for middle distillates and even gasoline as the market heads into the peak of the US driving season,” he said.

Unless there is a global recession and violent demand destruction, crude prices could soon spiral higher. “We’re not living in a dream world: we have to replace the lost oil with other oil,” said Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency.

Mr Birol said that the OECD bloc of rich states are releasing 1.5m barrels a day of oil to stabilise the market, and have so far depleted 9pc of their stocks. This is before the European embargo against Russia even begins. “This winter in Europe will be tough,” he said.

[classyfoxdestiny]

Prime minister Boris Johnson warned of allowing Covid variant to ‘run rampant’ by easing travel restrictions

Prime minister Boris Johnson warned of allowing Covid variant to ‘run rampant’ by easing travel restrictions

Boris Johnson risks allowing a new Covid variant to “run rampant” through the country by further easing restrictions for EU and US travellers, Labour has warned.

People visiting from the US and the EU who are fully vaccinated against coronavirus will be allowed to enter England without the need to quarantine from next week.

The new rules will come into effect at 4am on Monday, with transport secretary Grant Shapps expressing hopes the US will become more relaxed about allowing Britons to visit “in time”.

But following an encouraging few days in which Covid-19 case numbers in the UK have fallen from above 50,000 on 17 July to 27,734 by 9am on Wednesday, Labour sounded warnings over the impact of the travel changes.

Shadow transport secretary Jim McMahon said: “The government’s track record on our borders has been one of recklessness and confusion.

“They are in danger of continuing this by setting out changes in policy, applying to England only, without the scientific data and criteria we need to make sure we don’t see another Johnson variant run rampant through the country and damage the effort of the British public.

“We want to see international travel opened up safely.

“Ministers need to be clear on what progress has been made on reaching reciprocal agreements for Brits travelling abroad – particularly regarding the NHS app being accepted as proof of Covid status.

“We also need a clear green and red list and the country-by-country data to back it up.”

The rule change will also apply to fully vaccinated EU and US visitors to Scotland from Monday.

The Welsh government said it “regrets” the move to remove the quarantine requirement in England, but added it would be “ineffective” to have different rules for Wales.

Ministers in Northern Ireland will consider their position on the charge at Thursday’s meeting of the powersharing executive.

Currently, only travellers who have received two doses of a vaccine in the UK are permitted to enter from an amber country – such as the US and most of the EU – without self-isolating for 10 days, except those returning from France.

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29 July 2021

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28 July 2021

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27 July 2021

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26 July 2021

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25 July 2021

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24 July 2021

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23 July 2021

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22 July 2021

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21 July 2021

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20 July 2021

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19 July 2021

Commuters, some not wearing facemasks, at Westminster Underground station, at 08:38 in London after the final legal Coronavirus restrictions were lifted in England

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18 July 2021

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17 July 2021

Cyclists ride over the Hammersmith Bridge in London. The bridge was closed last year after cracks in it worsened during a heatwave

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16 July 2021

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15 July 2021

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14 July 2021

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13 July 2021

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12 July 2021

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11 July 2021

England’s Bukayo Saka with manager Gareth Southgate after the match

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10 July 2021

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9 July 2021

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8 July 2021

Karolina Pliskova celebrates after defeating Aryna Sabalenka during the women’s singles semifinals match on day ten of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London

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7 July 2021

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6 July 2021

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5 July 2021

Alexander Zverev playing against Felix Auger-Aliassime in the fourth round of the Gentlemen’s Singles on Court 1 on day seven of Wimbledon at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club

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4 July 2021

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3 July 2021

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2 July 2021

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1 July 2021

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30 June 2021

Dancers from the Billingham Festival and Balbir Singh Dance Company, during a preview for the The Two Fridas, UK Summer tour, presented by Billingham International Folklore Festival of World Dance in collaboration with Balbir Singh Dance Company, inspired by the life and times of female artists Frida Kahlo and Amrita Sher-Gil , which opens on July 10 at Ushaw Historic House, Chapel and Gardens in Durham

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29 June 2021

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28 June 2021

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27 June 2021

People walk along Regent Street in central London during a #FreedomToDance march organised by Save Our Scene, in protest against the government’s perceived disregard for the live music industry throughout the coronavirus pandemic

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26 June 2021

A pair of marchers in a Trans Pride rally share a smile in Soho

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25 June 2021

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24 June 2021

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23 June 2021

Bank of England Chief Cashier Sarah John displays the new 50-pound banknote at Daunt Books in London

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22 June 2021

Actor Isaac Hampstead Wright sits on the newly unveiled Game of Throne’s “Iron Throne” statue, in Leicester Square, in London, Tuesday, June 22, 2021. The statue is the tenth to join the trail and commemorates 10 years since the TV show first aired, as well as in anticipation for HBO’s release of House of the Dragon set to be released in 2022

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21 June 2021

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon receives her second dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine

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20 June 2021

Joyce Paton, from Peterhead, on one of the remaining snow patches on Meall a’Bhuiridh in Glencoe during the Midsummer Ski. The event, organised by the Glencoe Mountain Resort, is held every year on the weekend closest to the Summer Solstice

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19 June 2021

England appeal LBW during day four of their Women’s International Test match against India at the Bristol County Ground

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18 June 2021

Scotland fans let off flares in Leicester Square after Scotland’s Euro 2020 match against England ended in a 0-0 draw

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17 June 2021

Members of the Tootsie Rollers jazz band pose on the third day of the Royal Ascot horse racing meet

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16 June 2021

A woman and child examine life-size sculptures of a herd of Asian elephants set up by the Elephant Family and The Real Elephant Collective to help educate the public on the elephants and the ways in which humans can better protect the planets biodiversity, in Green Park, central London

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15 June 2021

Hydrotherapists with Dixie, a seven-year-old Dachshund who is being treated for back problems common with the breed, in the hydrotherapy pool during a facility at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home’s in Battersea, London, to view their new hydrotherapy centre

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14 June 2021

Scotland’s David Marshall in the net after Czech Republic’s Patrik Schick scored their second goal at Hampden Park

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13 June 2021

Raheem Sterling celebrates with Harry Kane after scoring England’s first goal of the Euro 2021 tournament in a match against Croatia at Wembley

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12 June 2021

Oxfam campaigners wearing costumes depicting G7 leaders pose for photographers on Swanpool Beach near Falmouth, Cornwall

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11 June 2021

Members of the Vaxinol team, who are commercial, industrial and residential cleaners specialising in disinfection and decontamination, use electrostatic spray systems to deep clean the Only Fools Bar in Liverpool

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10 June 2021

A woman walks her dogs as the incoming tide begins to wash away the heads of G7 leaders drawn in the sand by activists on the beach at Newquay, Cornwall

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Professor Christina Pagel, director of the clinical operational research unit at UCL, said she was worried about variants that are better at infecting people who are already vaccinated given that those who are fully vaccinated could still catch and pass on the virus.

Speaking to the Guardian, she said a “worrying new variant could emerge” in the US or Europe – or “a variant that emerges anywhere will spread everywhere” if travel were less inhibited between those places and the UK.

Hailing the policy change, Mr Shapps said: “Whether you are a family reuniting for the first time since the start of the pandemic or a business benefiting from increased trade, this is progress we can all enjoy.”

Asked whether he was confident the US and Europe would reciprocate in allowing fully vaccinated travellers from England without needing to quarantine, Mr Shapps said: “I’ve just spoken to my US counterpart today and in the US they still have an executive order which prevents travel from the UK, from Europe, from several other countries to the US.

“So we’re saying, ‘You can come here, you can come visit, you can come see friends, you can come as a tourist if you’ve been double vaccinated and follow the rules without quarantine’.

“We can’t change that on the other side but we do expect that in time they will release that executive order, which was actually signed by the previous president, and bans inward travel.”

Additional reporting by Press Association

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[thekingsnecktie-blog]

Paging Mr. Occam

As more and more indictments come down in the Mueller probe and more and more is revealed, might we someday look back on the Helsinki summit as the moment the worm turned for Donald Trump? Or more precisely, will it be the moment at which public opinion finally began to swing definitively against him, as no reasonable person can any longer question that, for one reason or another, he is Putin’s poodle?

Maybe that is wishful thinking. I have ceased believing that there is anything Trump could say or do, or be shown to have done in the past, that would pierce the armor of self-denial in which his staunchest supporters have cloaked themselves. It is a kind of mass psychosis that future historians (and psychiatrists) will study for generations.

But for anyone with enough brainwave activity to measure on an EEG, the truth about Trump is now undeniable. At what point will American conservatives—to the extent that the term still applies—finally open their eyes and acknowledge this brazen traitor’s obvious fealty to Moscow? We are in a bad spy movie and the American right is twenty steps behind the obvious plot twist.

Ultimately, the motive behind Trump’s behavior is secondary in terms of the immediate danger to national security and the well-being of the American experiment. In his aforementioned criticism, John Brennan said Trump’s behavior at Helsinki “rises to & exceeds the threshold of ‘high crimes & misdemeanors.’” To that end, Trump’s actions on this European tour, culminating in the appalling spectacle in Finland, arguably justify impeachment in and of themselves independent of their underlying cause, whatever it might be.

David Frum put it very well in The Atlantic:

The reasons for Trump’s striking behavior—whether he was bribed or blackmailed or something else—remain to be ascertained. That he has publicly refused to defend his country’s independent electoral process—and did so jointly with the foreign dictator who perverted that process—is video-recorded fact.

And it’s a fact that has to be seen in the larger context of his actions in office: denouncing the EU as a “foe,” threatening to break up NATO, wrecking the US-led world trading system, intervening in both UK and Germanpolitics in support of extremist and pro-Russian forces, and his continued refusal to act to protect the integrity of U.S. voting systems—it adds up to a political indictment whether or not it quite qualifies as a criminal one….

(C)onfronting the country in the wake of Helsinki is this question: Can it afford to wait to ascertain whyTrump has subordinated himself to Putin after the president has so abjectly demonstrated that he has subordinated himself? Robert Mueller is leading a legal process. The United States faces a national-security emergency.