Hi there, !
Today Sat 09/15/2018 Fri 09/14/2018 Thu 09/13/2018 Wed 09/12/2018 Tue 09/11/2018 Mon 09/10/2018 Sun 09/09/2018 Archives
Rantburg
531688 articles and 1855967 comments are archived on Rantburg.

Today: 79 articles and 237 comments as of 10:45.
Post a news link    Post your own article   
Area: WoT Operations    WoT Background    Opinion        Politix   
Nangarhar: Momand Dara district jacket wallah causes 160 casualties, Taliban say wasn’t them
Today's Headlines
Headline Comments [Views]
Page 3: Non-WoT
2 21:09 Procopius2k [] 
6 20:38 Erandi [1] 
3 15:05 Skidmark [] 
9 11:49 Skidmark [] 
0 [] 
1 02:27 Skidmark [1] 
12 22:12 james [1] 
0 [] 
1 19:14 charger [] 
0 [2] 
1 08:17 bernardz [] 
0 [] 
2 10:49 Mullah Richard [1] 
0 [] 
0 [] 
7 22:37 ruprecht [1] 
12 22:17 bbrewer126 [1] 
0 [] 
3 10:27 Glenmore [] 
7 20:13 Frank G [2] 
2 04:05 Procopius2k [] 
2 11:36 swksvolFF [] 
5 14:13 magpie [] 
Page 1: WoT Operations
13 22:19 These Sinatra3854 [1]
2 10:29 Mullah Richard []
0 []
0 []
3 07:44 JohnQC []
0 [2]
0 []
0 []
0 []
1 03:30 gorb [1]
0 [1]
0 [1]
0 [2]
0 [1]
0 []
0 [1]
0 [1]
2 13:19 Zenobia Floger6220 []
1 01:27 g(r)omgoru []
0 []
0 []
5 16:48 swksvolFF [1]
Page 2: WoT Background
2 09:10 gorb []
12 18:37 Woodrow []
5 18:41 Woodrow []
0 []
0 [2]
4 18:40 Woodrow []
0 []
0 [1]
0 []
2 17:15 Mike Kozlowski [1]
1 03:47 gorb [2]
0 []
0 []
0 []
1 05:15 g(r)omgoru []
1 02:17 Skidmark [1]
6 08:09 Procopius2k [1]
Page 4: Opinion
0 [1]
10 19:21 charger [2]
1 04:12 Procopius2k []
0 []
0 [3]
2 23:15 Clem [1]
2 04:14 Procopius2k [2]
9 13:25 Skidmark []
Page 6: Politix
15 22:45 gorb [1]
0 []
5 23:04 Besoeker [1]
7 19:23 charger [4]
3 16:49 Skidmark []
9 19:26 Zenobia Floger6220 []
10 14:18 Zenobia Floger6220 []
5 10:54 JohnQC []
4 12:38 trailing wife [1]
-Lurid Crime Tales-
Border Patrol in Texas nabs more than 130 illegals in just over 24 hours
[FOX] U.S. Border Patrol agents scooped up 131 illegal immigrants, including 22 unaccompanied minors, in just a little over a day in the Rio Grande Valley, officials said Tuesday.

The arrests stem from two separate incidents in a span of just over 24 hours.

Weslaco agents first arrested 66 illegals from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras on Monday. The group comprised 20 families and 11 unaccompanied minors.

Then on Tuesday, Weslaco agents arrested an additional 65 illegal immigrants from Guatemala and El Salvador. That group was made up of 25 families and 11 unaccompanied children.

Officials said in a press release that all 131 illegal immigrants were being processed by the Border Patrol.
Posted by: Skidmark || 09/12/2018 02:03 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Aborted Baby Body Parts Traffickers May Be Raking In U.S. Tax Dollars
[The Federalist] A new report shows that an organization that harvests aborted baby organs for research has been charging more than what is legally reimbursable.

The 11-page report details how Advanced Bioscience Resources, Inc. (ABR), which is currently under investigation by the Department of Justice (DOJ), charged universities a significantly marked-up price for the organs it harvested from aborted babies.

Federal law prohibits the sale or purchase of fetal tissue ‐ that is, human body parts harvested from pre-born or aborted babies ‐ for "valuable consideration." The law does, however, allow reimbursing baby body part suppliers for costs "associated with the transportation, implantation, processing, preservation, quality control, or storage of human fetal tissue."

This is the very workaround that undercover videos showed abortion giant Planned Parenthood using to make money from human remains. That got it hauled into Congress for investigations but as of yet has cost PP none of its half trillion in annual federal funding.

The Center for Medical Progress released a report on Monday showing ABR charged researchers up to hundreds of dollars per harvested human organ in addition to packing and shipping fees ‐ prices that indicate the organization may have been marking up the cost of fetal tissue beyond what is legally reimbursable.
Posted by: Besoeker || 09/12/2018 01:10 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Remember...the "Republicans" "control" Congress.

Like the highly principled conservative Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan.
Posted by: charger || 09/12/2018 19:14 Comments || Top||


-Short Attention Span Theater-
Veteran and former NFL player Nate Boyer says media, fans are missing the point of player protests
[AOL] In August of 2016, then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick took a stand by taking a seat.

Kaepernick chose to remain seated on the bench during the playing of the national anthem prior to his team's final preseason game against the Green Bay Packers. He later explained that his actions were done in protest of police brutality and social injustices people of color face in the United States. It wasn't the first time Kaepernick had made the move, but this time, people noticed.

Nate Boyer, a U.S. Army veteran and former NFL long snapper, was one of those people.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: 746 || 09/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Hmmmm....they certainly aren't protesting highly disproportionate amounts of crime in certain communities that tend to draw law enforcement attention and depress interest in risking resources and assets in commerce.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 09/12/2018 3:59 Comments || Top||

#2  I don't give a shit about the point. I don't want politics and SJW shit in my football. You continue to inject them and I will continue to not watch or go to games.

So go fuck yourself.
Posted by: DarthVader || 09/12/2018 8:47 Comments || Top||

#3  Had to be the stupid fans, right ?
Posted by: Besoeker || 09/12/2018 8:56 Comments || Top||

#4  POINT??? ANTHEM, STAND--------PERIOD! That's the point. HONOR BY STANDING! DAMN~IT!
Posted by: ranture || 09/12/2018 10:04 Comments || Top||

#5  #2 Amen!
Posted by: NoMoreBS || 09/12/2018 11:41 Comments || Top||

#6  #2 Ditto. I don't defecate in your pool, so stop crapping your politics all over my leisure entertainment.
Posted by: magpie || 09/12/2018 12:44 Comments || Top||

#7  Shocking that the left still doesn't understand that most Americans are proud of their country.
Posted by: ruprecht || 09/12/2018 22:37 Comments || Top||


Doctor shoots himself dead while checking to see why his gun wasn't working during celebratory gunfire at Turkish wedding
Posted by: Skidmark || 09/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Weapon functions check gone very badly.
Posted by: Besoeker || 09/12/2018 7:55 Comments || Top||

#2  Obviously not a rocket surgeon.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 09/12/2018 11:36 Comments || Top||


-Signs, Portents, and the Weather-
Why Does It have to be Snakes?
[USAToday] An Australian snake catcher captured video of two coastal carpet pythons attacking each other inside a family's spare bedroom.
Fighting over a girlfriend?
It all went down, literally, after the male snakes fell from a ceiling duct inside a home in a western Brisbane suburb.
At least they were not on a plane.
"This pair has been a bit naughty," Lana Field from Snake Catchers Brisbane said in a Facebook Live from the scene on Sunday. "They have pushed their way through from the ceiling and left a bit of a mess."
Was one named Monty?
The snakes, apparently "small" for that area, are about 5.7-feet-long, Field said, as the reptiles thrashed and wrestled near a bedroom closet. The video shows the snakes twisting around each other, and even slamming the other to the ground.
I'd really hate to see a big one.
The reason for the violent fight? A lady snake. Field explained that males tracking the scent of a female python will often duke it out to prove who is stronger, and more deserving of the mate.

"They can continue like this for hours until one is exhausted," Field said.

While these snakes were evenly matched, Field said battles between large and small snakes can end in a nasty bite. Field, who appeared feet away from the raging pythons, also assured viewers that she was watching at a safe distance and the snakes were more interested in each other than her.
I'd hate it if a snake was interested in me.
She recorded more than five minutes of video before she said she caught and relocated the pythons to a bushy creek over a mile away.

No word on the location or relationship status of the female python at the center of this love triangle.
Posted by: Deacon Blues || 09/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  she caught and relocated the pythons

Did she have an apple?
Posted by: Skidmark || 09/12/2018 2:41 Comments || Top||

#2  Field explained that males tracking the scent of a female python will often duke it out to prove who is stronger, and more deserving of the mate.

She needs to explain these basics to the highly credentialed creatures that inhabit our institutions of higher learning, particularly the 'Studies' departments. I'm sure they'll denounce her as an agent of the patriarchy.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 09/12/2018 4:05 Comments || Top||


-War on Police-
LAPD releases video of officer being shot at point-blank range during traffic stop
[FoxNews] The Los Angeles Police Department on Monday released graphic video footage of July 28 shootout that occurred during a routine traffic stop that resulted in the injury of an officer and the death of the suspect.

The police officers seen in the video were not identified and the events leading up to the shooting appeared routine. The female officer-- who approached from the drivers' side-- worked in the gang unit and apparently knew the suspect.

The officer asked the driver to exit the car, at which point he could be seen pulling out a .380-caliber handgun and firing just inches from the officer. She could be seen falling to the ground and her partner-- who was at the passengers’ side-- returns fire, mortally wounding gang member Richard Mendoza, 32, according to Fox 11.

The Los Angeles Times reported that Mendoza was hit multiple times in his head a torso and died later at a nearby hospital.

The shooting occurred in Mission Hills in the San Fernando Valley at about 10:15 p.m., the report said. The female officer was hit in the leg. She is recovering, police said.
Posted by: Skidmark || 09/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Arabia
Saudi imported weapons graphic


Posted by: 3dc || 09/12/2018 01:56 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  This graphic shows Lightning flash density – 12 hourly averages over the year (NASA OTD/LIS)
This shows that lightning is much more frequent in summer than in winter, and from noon to midnight compared to midnight to noon.
Posted by: Skidmark || 09/12/2018 2:27 Comments || Top||


Caribbean-Latin America
NBC: Russia Now Main Suspect Behind Cuban Embassy Sonic Attacks
[Hot Air] Did Russia chase the US diplomatic mission out of Cuba ‐ and try to do the same thing in China? According to NBC, US intel agencies believe they know who’s behind a series of bizarre and mysterious illnesses that befell diplomatic personnel in Havana starting two years ago, and which suddenly started appearing in China this year. And they’re pointing the finger at Moscow, although they don’t know yet exactly how it was done:

A couple of years ago, the possibility of Russia being behind the attacks may not have made much sense. After the brazen and obvious assassination attempt on Sergei Srkipal with the Soviet-produced Novichok, it seems anything’s possible:
Please someone, how does making US Embassy personnel sick further the goal of Russian intelligence collection.
Posted by: Besoeker || 09/12/2018 02:06 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Russian suspect on the left is aiming hand-held pocket illness device at embassy window. The Intelligence Community and NBC believe both suspects are now deceased.
Posted by: Besoeker || 09/12/2018 2:17 Comments || Top||

#2  Please someone, how does making US Embassy personnel sick further the goal of Russian intelligence collection.

Depends on which Embassy personnel you target.....

There's only 4 players that could do this: US, PRC, Israel, and Russia. Ivan has been at the top of list since day 1.
Posted by: Bangkok Billy || 09/12/2018 7:11 Comments || Top||

#3  Bangkok Billy - What are your thoughts on the possibility of internal counter-surveillance equipment being at fault ?
Posted by: Besoeker || 09/12/2018 7:31 Comments || Top||

#4  ....possibility of internal counter-surveillance equipment being at fault ?

A number between zero and zero. Most (if not all) of the physical symptoms were experienced a various residential locations throughout Havana. Same with the 1 case in Guangzhou. I would venture to say any countermeasures we have are based in locations we have absolute control over...like the Chancery. These CM are constantly checked/tweeked. I doubt the CM would malfunction for a long period of time w/out someone noticing.
Posted by: Bangkok Billy || 09/12/2018 7:39 Comments || Top||

#5  Thanks! I figured you would wound know. Another of my theories debunked.
Posted by: Besoeker || 09/12/2018 7:42 Comments || Top||

#6  Please someone, how does making US Embassy personnel sick further the goal of Russian intelligence collection.

Regardless of how secure encrypted comms may be, audio rendition is subject to 'man-in-the-middle' interception. Can't tap the headset input but the audio induced to the ear canal is available for sampling or injection via a sufficiently sensitive sampling signal.
Posted by: Skidmark || 09/12/2018 10:07 Comments || Top||

#7  Ref #6: I continue to learn inspite of myself.
Posted by: Besoeker || 09/12/2018 10:28 Comments || Top||

#8  So would the proper response be CIA folk all over the world armed with MASERS cooking Russian Embassy folks?
Posted by: 3dc || 09/12/2018 11:29 Comments || Top||

#9  So would the proper response be

Closing embassies.
Culturally historic artifacts from the Imperial era.
Posted by: Skidmark || 09/12/2018 11:49 Comments || Top||


Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Russia is suspected of attacks against diplomats in Cuba. Will US strike back?
[Stars&Stripes]
First, does anybody have a feel if Russia did this or is it just another shout of "Squirrel!"?
An NBC report quoting unidentified U.S. officials said federal agencies investigating the incidents have intercepted intelligence communications that point to Russian responsibility for the attacks, although the evidence is not conclusive enough to formally accuse Moscow.

But if a Russian role is confirmed, “that would be unprecedented. That’s never happened,” said Frank Mora, who served as deputy secretary of defense for Latin America and now heads the Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center at Florida International University.

“Russia has meddled in the U.S. elections and has been behind the attacks on former Russian spies in England, but to provoke serious injuries to U.S. officials, that is much more complicated and the United States has to react in some way,” he added.

The NBC report said the U.S. military is working to replicate the weapon or weapons used to injure 26 employees of the State Department, the CIA and other federal agencies as well as relatives who were based in Havana. The victims suffered symptoms such as loss of hearing, cognitive problems and some experienced brain damage.

A team of doctors that investigated the incidents at the request of the U.S. government has said it’s possible the attackers used a “neuro-weapon” of directed energy that could damage the brain by causing a “cavitation” effect with ultrasonic, electromagnetic or microwaves. The U.S. Air Force research program on directed energy is participating in the investigation.
Posted by: 3dc || 09/12/2018 05:58 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Commies

#1  considering another attack on US citizen in China, might wanna look there.
Posted by: Mercutio || 09/12/2018 8:42 Comments || Top||

#2  Now, now. Nobody wants to talk about China.
Posted by: Abu Uluque || 09/12/2018 13:18 Comments || Top||

#3  Nobody wants to talk about China.

If a million monkeys can write Shakespeare,
what can 2 billion Chinese do?

I'm thinking they don't need quantum.
Just give each of them a bit.
Posted by: Skidmark || 09/12/2018 15:05 Comments || Top||


Russia launches biggest ever war games
[DAWN] Russia on Tuesday launched what it has called its largest ever military drills, with hundreds of thousands of Russian troops taking part along with Chinese soldiers in a massive show of force that has rattled the West.

The week-long war games dubbed "Vostok-2018" (East-2018), "have kicked off" in far eastern Russia and on the Pacific Ocean, the defence ministry said in a statement.

It released video footage of military vehicles, planes, helicopters and ships getting into position for the initial stage of the drills.

The drills, which include the Chinese and Mongolian armies, have been condemned by NATO
...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Originally it was a mutual defense pact directed against an expansionist Soviet Union. In later years it evolved into a mechanism for picking the American pocket while criticizing the cut of the American pants...
as a rehearsal for "large-scale conflict".

Russia's President Vladimir Putin
...President-for-Life of Russia. He gets along well with other presidents for life. He is credited with bringing political stability and re-establishing something like the rule of law, which occasionally results in somebody dropping dead from poisoning by polonium or other interesting substance. Under Putin, a new group of business magnates controlling significant swathes of Russia's economy has emerged, all of whom have close personal ties to him. The old bunch, without close personal ties to Putin, are in jail or in exile or dead from poisoning by polonium or other interesting substances...
is expected to attend Vostok-2018 after hosting an economic forum in Russia's far eastern city Vladivostok where his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping is one of the prominent guests.

The military exercises come at a time of escalating tensions between Moscow and the West over accusations of Russian interference in western affairs and ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Syria.

Posted by: Fred || 09/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I doubt that anyone is worried, the time that Russia could take on China is long past.
Posted by: bernardz || 09/12/2018 8:17 Comments || Top||


China-Japan-Koreas
China move points to a possible end of birth limits
[DAWN] China is eliminating a trio of agencies responsible for enforcing family planning policies in a further sign the government may be planning to scrap long-standing limits on the number of children its citizens can have.

Alarmed by the rapidly aging population and shrinking workforce, China abandoned its notorious one-child policy two years ago to allow two children, producing a nearly 8 per cent increase in births in 2016, with nearly half of the babies born to couples who already had a child.
The move was part of a reorganization of the National Health Commission announced Monday that creates a new single department called the Division of Population Monitoring and Family Development responsible for "establishing and perfecting a specialised system for supporting families".

Expectations of an end to birth limits were also raised by the appearance of a postage stamp last month featuring smiling mother and father pigs with three piglets.

Alarmed by the rapidly aging population and shrinking workforce, China abandoned its notorious one-child policy two years ago to allow two children, producing a nearly 8 per cent increase in births in 2016, with nearly half of the babies born to couples who already had a child.

However,
a person who gets all wrapped up in himself makes a mighty small package...
that appeared to have been a one-time increase, with 17.2 million births in the country last year, down from 17.9 million in 2016. Meanwhile,
...back at the abandoned silver mine, the water was up to Jack's neck and still rising. And then he smelled the smoke...
the proportion of the population aged 60 or older increased last year to 17.3pc.

Posted by: Fred || 09/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Commies

#1  So much for Central Planning(tm)
Posted by: Procopius2k || 09/12/2018 8:15 Comments || Top||

#2  Problem is, all the young guys who have the wherewithal (also intelligent and having skills) are moving out of the country to find suitable mates. Not enough eligible women, plus the women who are know that they're a 'precious commodity' and behave as such.

The 'One Child' policy usually resulted in a son for some 'unknown' reason ....unexpectedly.
Posted by: Mullah Richard || 09/12/2018 10:49 Comments || Top||


Economy
U.S. job openings climb to record 6.9 million
[Market Watch] Job openings rose from 6.82 million in June, the government said Tuesday.

About 5.68 million people were hired and 5.53 million lost their jobs in July. Such a high level of what economists call "churn" is common in the huge U.S. economy.

The share of people who left jobs on their own, known as the quits rate, rose a notch to a 2.7% among private-sector employees. The record is 2.9%, set in 2001.

The quits rate was 2.4% among all workers ‐ also near a record high. The government began keeping track in 2000.

Workers who switch jobs usually get better pay than those who remain in their old ones. And more people switch when they are confident about the economy.
Posted by: Besoeker || 09/12/2018 01:13 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


20 year olds are making 6 figure salaries in W Texas - and there still aren't enough workers
Posted by: Frozen Al || 09/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The stripper bars are probably doing great business as a result.
Posted by: gorb || 09/12/2018 3:59 Comments || Top||

#2  I take it Army recruiters are running dry in the region. Hope HQ adjusted quotas accordingly. Nah, who am I kidding.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 09/12/2018 4:01 Comments || Top||

#3  It’s hard work, and.dirty; not that many young people interested in jobs like that.
Posted by: Glenmore || 09/12/2018 10:27 Comments || Top||


Europe
US defense chief to visit Macedonia, concerned about Russian ‘mischief’
[ARABNEWS] US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Tuesday he would visit Macedonia before a Sept. 30 referendum on changing the country’s name, also expressing concern about suspected Russian interference in the vote, which Moscow denies.

Macedonia scheduled the referendum on the government’s deal in June with neighboring Greece to change its name to the Republic of North Macedonia which would open the door for it to join NATO
...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A collection of multinational and multilingual and multicultural armed forces, all of differing capabilities, working toward a common goal by pulling in different directions...
and the European Union
...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing...
"I am concerned about it... The kind of mischief that Russia has practiced from Estonia to the United States, from Ukraine and now to Macedonia, it always has adapted to the specific situation and it’s always beyond the pale," Mattis, who will visit Macedonia over the weekend, told news hounds.

Mattis said he wanted to make it clear the United States supported the Macedonian people.

NATO invited Macedonia to begin accession talks with the alliance, but said it would have to change its constitution and adopt the new name first. The EU has also said it would set a date for Macedonian accession talks pending implementation of the name deal.

Moscow’s ambassador to Skopje has criticized Macedonia’s ambitions to join NATO, saying it could become "a legitimate target" if relations between NATO and Russia deteriorate further.
Posted by: Fred || 09/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:


Asylum Application Rejected Because Afghan ‘Homosexual' Doesn't Watch Gay Porn
[Breitbart] Austria has rejected the asylum claim of an Afghan national who claims to be fleeing persecution for being homosexual after not being able to find any gay pornography on his mobile phone.
Some of us are not interested in watching other people get it on. Some of us don’t watch professional sports for the same reason.
The man, who sought asylum in Austria after claiming to be oppressed for his homosexuality in his native Afghanistan, was rejected by the country’s asylum authority, the Austrian Federal Office for Asylum (BFA), who deemed him not likely to be homosexual, Focus reports.

The BFA rejected the Afghan saying in a letter: "After you have a smartphone and apparently also use the internet, it is extremely unlikely that you are in actual communication with other men with no photos (resulting from chats) on your mobile phone."

"Also, it can not be understood that you can only give superficial information about your Internet usage behaviour. There should be interest here (as stated) in pornographic material of homosexuals, at least from favourited sites on the Internet," the letter continued.

The decision sparked outrage among pro-migrant groups like the organisation Fairness Asyl ("Fair Asylum") which called it a "mockery".

The case comes after two other alleged homosexual asylum seekers were rejected by the BFA, including an Iraqi who was rejected because the agency found him too "girlish" in his behaviour and an 18-year-old Afghan who was rejected for not acting gay enough in his clothing or mannerisms.

Since the formation of the conservative-populist government under Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, Austria has vowed to be tougher on asylum issues with populist Freedom Party (FPÖ) Interior Minister Herbert Kickl promising to reform the system after a wave of migrant violence.

The government has also focused on increasing deportations of failed asylum seekers with figures released in June revealing a 36 percent increase in deportations compared to 2017.

Mr Kickl has also been firm in his anti-Islamisation stance, pushing for the criminalisation of those who advocate for sharia law to be implemented in Austria.


Posted by: Vast Right Wing Conspiracy || 09/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under: Moslem Colonists

#1  This stinks like fake news.
Posted by: Herb McCoy || 09/12/2018 2:19 Comments || Top||

#2  An easier test would be to feed him beans and wait to see if he farts high C or not.
Posted by: gorb || 09/12/2018 4:02 Comments || Top||

#3  "Are either of you homosexual?"

"You mean like flaming, or..."
Posted by: Raj || 09/12/2018 9:49 Comments || Top||

#4  Future career in the NFL?
Posted by: Woodrow || 09/12/2018 18:46 Comments || Top||

#5  Not fake news. While Austrian authorities might get a bit over the top with this one, this has to do with the problem that many "refugees" from Afghanistan chose to claim persecution because of homosexuality. This is a much easier way than to prove political persecution. In fact many young men who do so aren't homosexuals.
Posted by: European Conservative || 09/12/2018 19:13 Comments || Top||

#6  Thank you for clarifying, European Conservative.
Posted by: trailing wife || 09/12/2018 19:48 Comments || Top||

#7  In fact many young men who do so aren't homosexuals.

Unless there's a younger dancing boy around, then Game On™
Posted by: Frank G || 09/12/2018 20:13 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Politix
WaPo Rediscovers Its Interest In Federal Deficits
These assholes and the rest of the media (but I repeat myself) may have run a handful of these columns while Obama was in office but now that Trump's in office, we'll see this theme rehashed on a weekly basis.
Then again, Congress could do something about this, something really radical, like cut spending, and that ain't happening with Paul Ryan as House speaker.

[Washington Post] - Government borrowing soars despite robust economy

The U.S. budget deficit is reaching levels that are abnormally high for a robust economy, and lawmakers from both parties are proposing ideas that would make the deficit swell even further.

The government spent $895 billion more than it brought in from taxes and other revenue sources during the past 11 months, the Congressional Budget Office said this week, a 33 percent increase from one year before.

Typically, the deficit shrinks during strong economic times, as the need for costly government support wanes and tax revenue rises. In 2000, the last time the unemployment rate was at its current level of 3.9 percent, the government ran a surplus, meaning tax revenue eclipsed all spending.
Posted by: Raj || 09/12/2018 12:32 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Shame on "conservatives" for letting this get so far out of hand.

And I would rather they talk about debt, not deficit.
Posted by: gorb || 09/12/2018 15:29 Comments || Top||

#2  They're pulling in record taxes, so it can't be collection, only spending. Last time I checked my copy of the Constitution, that power rests with Congress.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 09/12/2018 21:09 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Begum Kulsoom Nawaz passes away in London after battle with cancer
[DAWN] Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, wife of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif
... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf, then by the courts...
, passed away in London on Tuesday after a months-long battle with cancer.

She is survived by her husband and four children, Hassan, Hussain, Maryam and Asma.

PML-N Spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb told the News Agency that Dare Not be Named that arrangements were being made to bring her body back to Pakistain for burial.

Party leader Khawaja Imran Nazeer, speaking to the media in Lahore, said Begum Kulsoom may be laid to rest in the family home at Raiwind, but clarified that all decisions will be finalised only after consultation between family members. He said in case the family decides to bury her in Pakistain, the repatriation process may take two or three days.

Posted by: Fred || 09/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


LHC accepts petition demanding cremation ground for Hindus in Lahore
[DAWN] The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday accepted a petition pertaining to the absence of a cremation ground in Lahore for Hindus to perform the last rites for their dead.
71 years, and they're just getting around to it.
Justice Ali Akber Qureshi ruled on the maintainability of Advocate Ishtiaq Chaudhry's appeal in this regard.

The court has ordered the director general of Lahore Development Authority, the secretary of local government and the deputy commissioner of Lahore to submit their replies in the matter by September 13 (Thursday).

According to the petitioner, the 1973 Constitution safeguards the rights of all citizens.

"There is no cremation ground in Lahore for Hindus to perform the last rites of their dead. The community faces great difficulty due to this." the petition said.

The petitioner moved the court to order that a cremation ground be constructed in Lahore.

Posted by: Fred || 09/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Govt allows Nawaz Sharif, Maryam to attend Kulsoom funeral in Lahore on parole
[DAWN] The government on Wednesday said it would allow incarcerated former prime minister Nawaz Sharif
... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf, then by the courts...
to attend the funeral of his late wife and PML-N stalwart, Kulsoom Nawaz, along with Maryam Nawaz. The father and daughter will be granted parole to attend her last rites.

According to DawnNews, Nawaz and Maryam boarded a special plane after being released from Adiala Jail in order to be taken to Jati Umra. Members of the Sharif family were also reportedly on the special plane going to Lahore.

Kulsoom passed away in London on Tuesday after a prolonged battle with lymphoma.

Rooters quoted Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry as saying: "We have just received a request from the family, and, Inshallah, we will be granting parole."

He said Nawaz and Maryam would be freed for 12 hours on the day of the funeral and burial, which is likely to take place in three to four days after the body is flown back home from London.

Posted by: Fred || 09/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Science & Technology
Air Force to roll out implanted headset device for TEETH dubbed 'molar mics' that will allow hands-free radio calls that transmit sound using the jaw bone
[MAIL] The United States Air Force will soon roll out a unique communications system that will be implanted on soldiers' back teeth.

Sonitus Technologies recently announced their $10million contract with the Department of Defense, which will allow them to continue through their second phase of developing the 'Molar Mic' for the Air Force.

'The innovative two-way, personal communication system fits a miniaturized traditional headset into a device that clips to a user's back teeth,' according to the California-based company.
Posted by: Skidmark || 09/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  'Molar Mic' unfortunately coming a bit too late for Serena and her coach.
Posted by: Besoeker || 09/12/2018 1:54 Comments || Top||

#2  May circumvent the 'Cuba Effect'.
Posted by: Skidmark || 09/12/2018 10:21 Comments || Top||

#3  Nothing new. The old silver amalgam dental fillings created a point-contact galvanic reaction between two tooth fillings and saliva. Acted as a semiconductor of sorts.

Let you listen to Ozzie and Harriet if you lived close enough to an AM broadcast transmitter.

When we were kids, we always thought it would be pretty neat to make that a two-way communications system.

Of course, we were serious nerds.
Posted by: Mullah Richard || 09/12/2018 10:40 Comments || Top||

#4  The old silver amalgam dental fillings created a point-contact galvanic reaction

HA, chewing aluminum gum wrappers.
Shocking!
Posted by: Skidmark || 09/12/2018 10:52 Comments || Top||

#5  Remember the old paper half-pint cartons? Some had aluminum foil ribbon seals for fruit drinks. Hit a amalgam filling with that!
Posted by: magpie || 09/12/2018 14:13 Comments || Top||


Government
Black Market Discovered in Social Security Numbers - Unexpectedly!
[WashingtonExaminer] The Immigration Reform Law Institute said that from 2012 to 2016 there were "39 million instances where names and Social Security numbers on W-2 tax forms did not match the corresponding Social Security records." The group said that there is a "thriving black market" used by illegal immigrants to get Social Security numbers needed to get a job.
This was my perception, in the D.C.area construction market, ten years ago. I said, the employers are not always to blame. Not always.
Their report draws attention to a move by former President Barack Obama to stop sending so-called "no match" letters to employers notifying them that numbers used by employees on the wage forms do not match their identity.

The change followed the president's decision to approve amnesty for some 700,000 younger immigrants let into the U.S. under his Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. Some of those have been dubbed "dreamers."
Posted by: Bobby || 09/12/2018 10:19 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The SSN system is broken beyond repair. Every American's SSN has already been stolen multiple times. There are no real controls over who has this information or what it is used for, and no serious consequences for losing it. Just look at what (didn't) happen to Equifax.
Posted by: Iblis || 09/12/2018 10:58 Comments || Top||

#2  This can be fixed fairly easily. When a new employee fills out a W-4 form, the employer is only required to keep a copy of it and use it for payroll tax deductions. Instead, if this form was also sent to the IRS, they could then cross-check it with the SSA to see if it's legit. The IRS / SSA cross-check is already used for various tax return verifications, such as a taxpayer receiving a 1099-R from a retirement fund (401(k), etc.) and seeing if the 10% early withdrawal penalty applies (check against your date of birth at the SSA is the cross-check). You'd also have to include the person's date of birth on that W-4 form for complete verification, but that's a minor modification. The verification process should not take more than two weeks. I'd be willing to trade the additional 200 or so IRS hacks needed to implement this against the massive multi-billion dollar fraud & abuse that's happening, not to mention identity theft.
Posted by: Raj || 09/12/2018 11:11 Comments || Top||

#3  Add a 3D biometric fingerprint to the crosschecked form?
Posted by: 3dc || 09/12/2018 12:02 Comments || Top||

#4  Add a 3D biometric fingerprint to the crosschecked form?

Put it all on the digital passport.
Posted by: Skidmark || 09/12/2018 15:39 Comments || Top||

#5  Cross check against voter rolls.

Note: this was an attempt at humor
Posted by: Airandee || 09/12/2018 19:56 Comments || Top||

#6  Jiji. I laughed twice. Gracias, amigx!
Posted by: Erandi || 09/12/2018 20:38 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Culture Wars
Silk purse industry under stress
h/t Instapundit
[UPI] College can be so stressful that many students think about killing themselves, and some even try, a new study suggests.

Among more than 67,000 students surveyed, over 20 percent said they experienced stressful events in the last year that were strongly associated with mental health problems, including harming themselves and suicidal thoughts or attempts, researchers found.
Like white/male supremacist instructors demanding they write in English and solve quadratic equations?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 09/12/2018 01:40 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  OCR Investigating ‘Financial Discrimination’ Against Men at Tulane
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 09/12/2018 2:03 Comments || Top||

#2  Silk purse industry under stress

Well yeah, Kate Spade died!
Posted by: Skidmark || 09/12/2018 2:30 Comments || Top||


#4  Dear Parents,
If you co-sign a student loan, you are still on the hook even if junior offs herself/himself before discharge of the debt. Maybe that college track wasn't a good deal to push rather than working the oil rigs in West Texas or the strip joints nearby. Just saying.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 09/12/2018 8:14 Comments || Top||

#5  I know it sounds bizarre, but I wonder if anyone has given any thought to young people working their way through school ?
Posted by: Besoeker || 09/12/2018 8:16 Comments || Top||

#6  ...or the GI bill?
Posted by: Procopius2k || 09/12/2018 8:33 Comments || Top||

#7  Oh, you guys are so 1960s!
Posted by: Bobby || 09/12/2018 10:29 Comments || Top||

#8  Used to you could work your way through school but the schools have been raising tuition far faster than the rate of inflation. Also they have added more useless required courses for graduation. You also get shafted on the required text books written by the Profs.
Posted by: Bugs Thud4877 || 09/12/2018 13:06 Comments || Top||

#9  Fast food is honorable work.
Posted by: gorb || 09/12/2018 13:40 Comments || Top||

#10  Penn State math course covers 'imperialism' and 'cultural intolerance'
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 09/12/2018 13:57 Comments || Top||

#11  I bought a math book for my daughter. I was reading the reviews while shopping, the review which sold me went something like, "If you want your child to do word problems and pass Common Core tests get (that book). If you want your child to learn math, get this book."

She may need to know, how many moles of halothene a five pound dog will need for an hour long surgery?

Or we could learn that if Timmy is leaving Chicago on a train traveling 35 mph, why is xe such a bigot for not wanting to live in the city?
Posted by: swksvolFF || 09/12/2018 16:24 Comments || Top||

#12  Bugs is correct. Even for state schools.
Posted by: james || 09/12/2018 22:12 Comments || Top||


NFL Tries Offering Cheaper Concession Food To Lure Fans
Posted by: DarthVader || 09/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Don't seem as if they understand their dwindling fan base.
Posted by: ruprecht || 09/12/2018 0:18 Comments || Top||

#2  They could ban the players and teams from Nike goods.
Posted by: 3dc || 09/12/2018 0:19 Comments || Top||

#3  Is it Halal?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 09/12/2018 1:54 Comments || Top||

#4  What? The shi+ sandwiches not doing the trick?
Posted by: gorb || 09/12/2018 3:56 Comments || Top||

#5  Gorb for Snark of the Day.
Posted by: BrerRabbit || 09/12/2018 5:13 Comments || Top||

#6  I have an idea - ten cent beers! What could go wrong?
Posted by: Raj || 09/12/2018 9:44 Comments || Top||

#7  I have an idea - ten cent beers! What could go wrong?

Only Jack Arabs drink beer.
Posted by: Skidmark || 09/12/2018 10:18 Comments || Top||

#8  I'm a hoptamist. I believe everything could be just fine drinking a good beer.
Posted by: Deacon Blues || 09/12/2018 11:22 Comments || Top||

#9 
Posted by: Skidmark || 09/12/2018 12:43 Comments || Top||

#10  More male cheerleaders and pink uniforms/accessories - that'll fix it.
Posted by: mossomo || 09/12/2018 17:59 Comments || Top||

#11  ...Dropping the price of a beer down to say $10 or so couldn't hurt...

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski || 09/12/2018 21:01 Comments || Top||

#12  Cheap food alone isn't going to cut it in Detroit.
Posted by: bbrewer126 || 09/12/2018 22:17 Comments || Top||



Who's in the News
40[untagged]
8Islamic State
4Govt of Iran
3Taliban
3Commies
3Govt of Pakistan
3Sublime Porte
2Moslem Colonists
2Hezbollah
2Govt of Iran Proxies
1Houthis
1Human Trafficking
1al-Nusra
1Muslim Brotherhood
1Palestinian Authority
1Antifa
1al-Qaeda
1Govt of Saudi Arabia
1Hamas

Bookmark
E-Mail Me

The Classics
The O Club
Rantburg Store
The Bloids
The Never-ending Story
Thugburg
Gulf War I
The Way We Were
Bio

Merry-Go-Blog











On Sale now!


A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.

Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.

Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has dominated Mexico for six years.
Click here for more information

Meet the Mods
In no particular order...
Steve White
Seafarious
tu3031
badanov
sherry
ryuge
GolfBravoUSMC
Bright Pebbles
trailing wife
Gloria
Fred
Besoeker
Glenmore
Frank G
3dc
Skidmark

Two weeks of WOT
Wed 2018-09-12
  Nangarhar: Momand Dara district jacket wallah causes 160 casualties, Taliban say wasn’t them
Tue 2018-09-11
  9/11/2018: On this day, we remember
Mon 2018-09-10
  84 dead in fighting in Yemen's Hodeida after talks fail
Sun 2018-09-09
  Battle for Idlib & Hama finally begins
Sat 2018-09-08
  Syrian army advances in al-Safa, killing over 40 turbans, 1000+ trapped on volcano
Fri 2018-09-07
  Houthis fire missiles toward two southern Saudi airports, hit one
Thu 2018-09-06
  Two major Syrian Army divisions head toward Hama for upcoming offensive
Wed 2018-09-05
  Al Qaeda trying to regain primacy as Islamic State loses ground: NATO
Tue 2018-09-04
  Jalaluddin Haqqani joins the Choir Eternal
Mon 2018-09-03
  Islamists militants in northeast Nigeria kill up to 30 48 soldiers: Sources
Sun 2018-09-02
  Yemen’s army imposes full control over Saada’s Al-Zaher directorate
Sat 2018-09-01
  Dutch police shoot suspect after he stabs two people at an Amsterdam train station
Fri 2018-08-31
  ISIS leader Yasir Khurasani killed with 5 comrades in Nangarhar drone strike
Thu 2018-08-30
  Egyptian forces kill 20 militants in Sinai operation: Army
Wed 2018-08-29
  Syrian Army foils ISIL breakout attempt in east Sweida

Better than the average link...



Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
44.221.83.121
Help keep the Burg running! Paypal:
WoT Operations (22)    WoT Background (17)    Opinion (8)    (0)    Politix (9)