#1
Nice timing -- listened straight through for the first time in several years just a couple of days ago (Gardiner/ORR (noice) in 2003 movie (bleh... coulda been Netflix without the sex).
#2
Close parentheses. And speaking of [reaches for reach extender] deaf composers (Boyce ;-))...
Regenerate art! It annoys:
The sameness, the flames, and the noise...
And under that hat,
Just the felt and the fat
And the downfall of all, eh, Herr Beuys?
[PJ] Nearly thirteen hundred years ago today, on May 28, 722,* a little-known but profoundly important battle was waged, setting the tone for the next eight hundred years of Christian/Muslim "coexistence" in Spain: the Battle of Covadonga.
Ten years earlier, Arabs and Africans — "Moors," under the banner of Islam — had "godlessly invaded Spain to destroy it," to quote from the Chronicle of 754. Once on European soil, they "ruined beautiful cities, burning them with fire; condemned lords and powerful men to the cross; and butchered youths and infants with the sword."
After meeting and beating Spain’s Visigothic nobles at the Battle of Guadalete — "never was there in the West a more bloody battle than this," wrote the Muslim chronicler al-Hakam, "for the Muslims did not withdraw their scimitars from them [Christians] for three days" — the invaders continued to penetrate northward into Spain, "not passing a place without reducing it, and getting possession of its wealth, for Allah Almighty had struck with terror the hearts of the infidels."
Such terrorism was intentionally cultivated, in keeping with the Koran (3:151, 8:12, etc.). For instance, the invaders slaughtered, cooked, and pretended to eat Christian captives, while releasing others who, horrified, fled and "informed the people of Andalus [Spain] that the Muslims feed on human flesh," thereby "contributing in no small degree to increase the panic of the infidels," wrote al-Maqqari, another Muslim chronicler.
Contrary to the claim that, seeing Muslim rule was no worse and possibly preferable to Visigothic rule, Spain capitulated easily, even Muslim chroniclers note how "the Christians defended themselves with the utmost vigor and resolution, and great was the havoc that they made in the ranks of the faithful." In Córdoba, for example, a number of Spaniards holed themselves up in a church. Although "the besieged had no hopes of deliverance, they were so obstinate that when safety was offered to them on condition either of embracing Islam, or paying jizya, they refused to surrender, and the church being set on fire, they all perished in the flames," wrote al-Maqqari. The ruins of this church became a place of "great veneration" for later generations of Spaniards, because "of the courage and endurance displayed in the cause of their religion by the people who died in it."
In the end, native Spaniards had two choices: acquiesce to Muslim rule or "flee to the mountains, where they risked hunger and various forms of death." Pelagius, better known as Pelayo (685—737), a relative of and "sword-bearer" to King Roderick, who survived Guadalete, followed both strategies. After the battle, he retreated north, where Muslim rule was still tenuous; there he eventually consented to become a vassal of Munnuza, a local Muslim chief. Through some "stratagem," Munnuza "married" Pelayo’s sister — a matter that the sword-bearer "by no means consented to." Having expressed displeasure at the seizure of his sister, and having ceased paying jizya (tribute), Muslims were sent "to apprehend him treacherously" and bring him back "bound in chains." Unable to fight the oncoming throng "because they were so numerous," Pelayo "climbed a mountain" and "joined himself to as many people as he found hastening to assemble."
[CrossAndCockade] This article by Peter Dye came about because of the chance purchase of a dozen prints from aerial photographs taken in the Ottoman Empire’s Eastern Provinces during the First World War.
Researching their history has revealed new details of the fighting between the Ottoman and Russian armies, rarely mentioned in popular histories of the First World War, and of the tragedy that befell the Armenian communities of the Eastern Provinces. Many of the images show abandoned villages, their roofs missing and the population either killed or deported. The scale of the destruction is sobering, as is the rugged beauty of the landscape, dominated by high mountain ranges, steep-sided valleys, and swift flowing streams. Winter comes early to the Armenian Highlands and lasts deep into Spring. There are few roads or large towns, but numerous small settlements can be found, scattered across the valleys and high plains. The area is dominated by the Euphrates River and its tributaries that flow west from the mountains, north of the Taurus, before turning south towards Syria and Iraq. It is difficult to believe that a war was fought here or that these photographs represent the very first aerial views of this remote and inaccessible region, providing a unique record of a landscape and a way of life that disappeared with the Armenian genocide of 1915.
Most of the prints are uncaptioned and none are dated. Modern satellite imagery has allowed a few locations to be identified, but many remain ‘unknown’. The region has changed hugely over the last hundred years as rapid economic development (and, sadly, natural disasters) have literally transformed the land. However, it is hoped that someone reading this article may be able to identify the remaining locations. A further complication in this search is that most settlements have changed names over the last century. To make matters more difficult, many villages in the Armenian Highlands were known by several different names - depending on the community or language involved. Where possible, both ‘original’ and contemporary names are identified.
By early 1916, the war was not going well for the Ottoman Empire. Admittedly, the Allies had been forced to give up their bridgehead in Gallipoli, evacuating their forces in the face of an aggressive Ottoman defence. In Mesopotamia, the British had been surrounded at Kut, south of Baghdad, and would soon surrender. However, the initial Ottoman offensives against the Russians in the Caucasus and the British in Egypt had been costly failures. Although the Ottoman army had been bolstered by the loan of German staff officers, they lacked modern aircraft. As a result, Germany had sent increasing numbers of aircraft and aviation personnel to support the small Ottoman air service and, from March 1916, entire flying units. These ‘Pascha’ squadrons proved invaluable, although they were handicapped by the long supply lines to Germany.
The Allied withdrawal from Gallipoli allowed the Ottoman High Command to reinforce their positions in the Eastern Provinces. The experienced Ottoman 2nd Army, transferred from the Dardanelles, took over the southern part of the front while the Ottoman 3rd Army attempted to halt further Russian advances in the north. It was hoped that the Ottoman 2nd Army would threaten the flank of any future Russian offensive, however, most of its units were not in position when the Russians launched a major attack between Trabzon and Lake Vad, inflicting severe casualties on the Ottoman 3rd Army. Erzurum (present-day Erzerum) was captured on 1 March 1916, followed by Trabzon on 15 April and Erzincan on 25 July. There was now a danger that further Russian advances could see them link up with the British in Mesopotamia. The presence of a RNAS armoured car detachment, part of the British Armoured Car Expeditionary Force under Lieutenant-Commander Oliver Locker-Lampson, which helped the Russians capture Musch (Moush) in August 1916, may have made this possibility look all the more likely. Read the rest at the link
[NY Post] Is Joe Biden crazy like a fox, or just crazy?
That’s the question careening around the world after the president said last week that the United States would respond militarily if China invades Taiwan.
The shocking remark in Tokyo came just two months after Biden, on a visit to Poland, insisted Vladimir Putin “cannot remain in power” because of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine.
Both bombshells sent the White House into DEFCON damage control as aides rushed out “clarifications” to insist there was no change in longstanding policies. They said the United States is still only committed to selling Taiwan military equipment to defend itself and claimed Biden was definitely not talking about “regime change” in Russia.
In both cases, their attempts amounted to denials the president said what he clearly said. That set off a round of accusations that the unelected staff was subverting the commander in chief and added fresh impetus to questions of whether Biden is really running the White House.
Given the many walk-backs, cleanups and clarifications during the brief Biden era, these two incidents would be fairly routine — and almost comical — except for the serious subject matters and the president’s own additional statements.
For example, the Tokyo remarks were the third time since he took office that Biden essentially said the same thing about militarily defending Taiwan. Either he means it, or he’s lost it.
... The growing global tensions and doubts about the president’s ability to manage them recall Robert Gates’ infamous assertion that Biden “has been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national-security issue over the past four decades.”
Gates made the stinging comment in a 2014 memoir, and last year cited Biden’s botched, chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan as current evidence.
That history, coupled with the rampant domestic disasters defining Biden’s term, means we are witnessing him at a later stage of life in a bigger job making bigger, more dangerous mistakes.
Finally, it is fair but not very comforting to recall Barack Obama’s warning about his former vice president: “Don’t underestimate Joe’s ability to f- -k things up.”
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/29/2022 09:42 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[14 views]
Top|| File under: Tin Hat Dictators, Presidents for Life, & Kleptocrats
#1
No one takes Joe serious. He is a demented old fool. taking any serious action based on something he says is a huge mistake and thankfully most people in charge around the world know this.
#2
To the extent that Old Uncle Joe is allowed to keep issuing threats his bony ass can't back up I guess our foreign allies and enemies have to keep watching and wondering.
[Townhall] As the nation sinks inexplicably into self-created crisis after crisis, debate rages whether President Joe Biden is incompetent, mean-spirited, or an ideologue who feels the country's mess is his success.
A second national discussion revolves around who actually is overseeing the current national catastrophe, given Biden's frequent bewilderment and cognitive challenges.
But one area of agreement is the sheer craziness of Biden's cabinet appointments, who have translated his incoherent ideology into catastrophic governance.
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas has essentially nullified federal immigration law. Over 2 million foreign nationals have illegally crossed the southern border without audit -- and without COVID vaccinations and tests during a pandemic.
Mayorkas either cannot or will not follow federal law.
But he did create a new Disinformation Governance Board. To head his new Orwellian Ministry of Truth, he appointed Nina Jankowicz -- an arch disinformationist who helped peddle the Russian collusion, Steele dossier, and Alfa Bank hoaxes.
While Jankowicz's adolescent videos and past tweets finally forced her resignation, Mayorkas promises his board will carry on.
In the days before the recent Virginia election, grassroots parent groups challenged critical race theory taught in the schools.
In reaction and under prompts from teachers' unions, Attorney General Merrick Garland directed both the FBI and the Justice Department to establish a special task force apparently to "investigate threats" from parents against school board members.
The FBI recently has been knee-deep in political controversies. It illegally doctored a FISA application to entrap an American citizen. Its former directors, under oath before Congress, either claimed faulty memory or admitted lying to federal investigators.
#1
This is what you get when you try to avoid truths and create a governing body and system that bears more resemblance to a Ptolemaic universe than the real one.
#5
Biden has some cabinet members that are really bad, but his team also has amazing depth with regard to poor performance: Transportation, Energy, Interior, Chief of Staff, Defense and Press Secretary. Any professional sports team that performed so consistently poorly would be accused of tanking.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
05/29/2022 15:35 Comments ||
Top||
#6
Whoa, man! Sounds like VDH done sit his butt down at The Night o' Joy lounge.
Posted by: Rex Mundi ||
05/29/2022 18:44 Comments ||
Top||
Apparently a subject that requires a great deal of ink to explore. Here is the first part of it.
[Dawn] A score and day ago from today, Pakistain conducted five nuclear tests at Ras Koh, Chagai, codenamed Chagai-I. Two days later, Pakistain conducted another test, this time in Kharan, codenamed Chagai-II. With six tests done on May 28 and May 30, 1998, Pakistain completed its hot-test validation of devices of different designs. five nuclear tests at Ras Koh, Chagai, codenamed Chagai-I. Clever!
Since then, Pakistain has not hot-tested any other nuclear device, though it has steadily improved its missile capability, the most reliable carriers for nuclear warheads.
Earlier, on May 11 and 13, India had conducted five tests. Codenamed Pokhran II, India tested three devices: Shakti 1, 2 and 3. The world was shocked while India celebrated. India’s home minister L.K. Advani warned Pakistain that the strategic balance in the region had changed. Another leader, Krishan Lal Sharma, was quoted as saying that India was "now in a position to take control of Azad Kashmir
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: trailing wife ||
05/29/2022 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[13 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan
#1
there has been no all-out war, and that is a testament to the viability of deterrence in South Asia.
[DW] Political instability coupled with a severe economic crisis has compounded the suffering of common Paks. The country's ruling class doesn't seem to care much.
As Pakistain's ousted Premier Imran Khan ...aka The Great Khan, who ain't the sharpest bulb on the national tree... vows to overthrow what he calls a US-backed "imported government," his supporters erupted into the streets on Wednesday and Thursday.
Continued on Page 49
[Mayo Clinic] Gluten is a protein found in certain grains, such as wheat, barley, rye, and a cross between wheat and rye called triticale.
A gluten-free diet helps manage symptoms of celiac disease and other medical conditions associated with gluten consumption. This type of diet also has gained popularity among people without gluten-related medical conditions. The claimed benefits of the diet are improved health, weight loss and increased energy.
Removing gluten from your diet likely changes your overall intake of fiber, vitamins and other nutrients. Therefore, regardless of your reasons for following a gluten-free diet, it's important to know how it can affect your overall nutritional intake.
These medical conditions require a gluten-free diet:
Celiac disease
This is an autoimmune disorder in which gluten triggers immune system activity that damages the lining of the small intestine. Over time, this damage prevents the absorption of nutrients from food.
Gluten sensitivity
This causes some of the same signs and symptoms associated with celiac disease, including abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, foggy brain, rash or headache, even though there is no damage to the tissues of the small intestine. Studies show that the immune system plays a role, but the process isn't well-understood.
Gluten ataxia
This is an autoimmune disorder in which gluten affects certain nerve tissues, and causes problems with muscle control and voluntary muscle movement.
Wheat allergy
Like other food allergies, wheat allergy is the result of the immune system mistaking gluten or some other protein found in wheat as a disease-causing agent, similar to a virus or bacteria. The immune system creates an antibody to the protein, prompting an immune system response that may result in congestion, breathing difficulties and other symptoms.
Your health care team or a dietitian can help you make appropriate dietary choices to maintain a well-balanced diet with the diagnosis of any of these conditions.
#11
*Shrug* Welcome to the Genetic Lottery Wheel™ step and give the wheel a spin. My sister had a set of exhaustive tests done and discovered that some of the enzymes necessary to process wheat starch were missing in her upper intestine. The wheat starch wouldn't be turned into sugars and would hang around to be turned to fat in the lower intestines... *Yay* That makes a maple frosted donut the ultimate diet destroyer, go figure. So "You have to eat for you, not that Mythic Average Person™".
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.
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.
[NY Post] Is Joe Biden crazy like a fox, or just crazy? 
...aka 
