1: Capitol

From Reuters:

“U.S. politicians speak on anniversary of Capitol attack”

(U.S. Capitol Police members are briefed by Chief J. Thomas Manger on the east side of the U.S. Capitol on the first anniversary of the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump, on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., January 6, 2022.)

Here are reactions on the first anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by a mob of supporters of Republican then-President Donald Trump in a failed bid to halt certification of Democrat Joe Biden's 2020 presidential election victory.

U.S. PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN "We must be absolutely clear about what is true and what is a lie. Here's the truth: A former president of the United States of America has created and spread a web of lies about the 2020 election. He's done so because he values power over principle. ... "One year ago today in this sacred place, democracy was attacked. Simply attacked. The will of the people was under assault. The Constitution, our Constitution, faced the gravest of threats. ... "The former president and his supporters have decided the only way for them to win is to suppress your vote and subvert our elections. ... "He's just not a former president; he's a defeated former president."

REPUBLICAN FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP "Biden, who is destroying our Nation with insane policies of open Borders, corrupt Elections, disastrous energy policies, unconstitutional mandates, and devastating school closures, used my name today to try to further divide America. This political theater is all just a distraction for the fact Biden has completely and totally failed."

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER, A DEMOCRAT "I'm pleading with Republican voters, Republican people across the country: Do not follow the Big Lie. Your ideology doesn't have to be the same as ours. We can disagree respectfully, but we cannot follow a big lie."

U.S. SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER MITCH MCCONNELL "January 6th, 2021, was a dark day for Congress and our country. The United States Capitol, the seat of the first branch of our federal government, was stormed by criminals who brutalized police officers and used force to try to stop Congress from doing its job. ... "As I said yesterday, it has been stunning to see some Washington Democrats try to exploit this anniversary to advance partisan policy goals that long predated this event. It is especially jaw-dropping to hear some Senate Democrats invoke the mob's attempt to disrupt our country's norms, rules, and institutions as a justification to discard our norms, rules, and institutions themselves."

REPUBLICAN U.S. SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM "I still cannot believe that a mob was able to take over the United States Capitol during such a pivotal moment - certifying a presidential election. It would have been so easy for terrorists to bootstrap onto this protest and wreak even further destruction on the U.S. Capitol. Regardless of the reason for the assault on the Capitol, to lose control in such a fashion twenty years after 9/11 is stunning. "I have consistently condemned the attack and have urged that those involved be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. "Finally, President Biden and Vice President Harris's speeches today were an effort to resurrect a failed presidency more than marking the anniversary of a dark day in American history."

REPUBLICAN U.S. REPRESENTATIVE LIZ CHENEY, VICE CHAIR OF THE HOUSE JAN. 6 COMMITTEE "Our institutions held, but they only held because of the people who were willing to stand up against the pressure from former President Trump. "The threat continues. Former President Trump continues to make the same claims that he knows caused violence on Jan. 6."

REPUBLICAN U.S. REPRESENTATIVE ADAM KINZINGER, HOUSE JAN. 6 COMMITTEE MEMBER "I'm really disappointed today. I'm sad ... mostly because we haven't made progress ... as the American people, particularly as Republicans, I think we're almost in a worse position than we were the day after Jan. 6."

DEMOCRATIC U.S. REPRESENTATIVE NORMA TORRES "Today, I no longer feel safe at work, and I still fear for our country because so many people want to forget the events of that day, or flat out deny that they happened."

DEMOCRATIC U.S. REPRESENTATIVE CORI BUSH "One year later and we still have to show up to work with Republican members of Congress who worked to incite a deadly insurrection at our place of work. It’s still not safe at the Capitol. Congress needs to pass my bill, H.Res. 25, to investigate and expel them."

REPUBLICAN U.S. SENATOR MITT ROMNEY "We ignore the lessons of Jan. 6 at our own peril. Democracy is fragile; it cannot survive without leaders of integrity and character who care more about the strength of our Republic than about winning the next election."

DEMOCRATIC FORMER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA "Historically, Americans have been defenders of democracy and freedom around the world – especially when it’s under attack. But we can’t serve that role when leading figures in one of our two major political parties are actively undermining democracy at home. We can’t set an example when our own leaders are willing to fabricate lies and cast doubt on the results of free and fair elections."

REPUBLICAN FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS "The D.C., New York media - this is their Christmas, January 6th. ... They are going to take this and milk this for anything they could to try to be able to smear anyone who ever supported Donald Trump."

NEW YORK CITY MAYOR ERIC ADAMS, A DEMOCRAT "One year ago today we witnessed a terror attack on our Capitol. Let's call it what it was. A violent mob tried to topple American democracy. And too many of those involved have yet to experience any real consequence for their actions."

^ 1 year on and while Biden has failed at many things (Afghanistan, Covid, Illegal Immigration, Build Back Better, Foreign Relations, Supply Shortages, etc.) he is the legally elected President of the United States. Anyone who continues to dispute that fact is just a sad, lonely person with nothing better going on in their life. The people who broke into the Capitol 1 year ago today are Traitors to America and to our 246 year old Democracy. They deserve to spend the rest of their lives in prison and their names should be made public so the American people can know exactly who tried to destroy our country. ^

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/do-not-follow-big-lie-americans-speak-first-anniversary-us-capitol-attack-2022-01-06/

Inadmissible Cake

From Reuters:

“European Court rules Northern Ireland gay cake case inadmissible”

(Daniel McArthur general manager of Ashers bakery involved in a "gay cake" legal dispute arrives at a Supreme Court hearing in Laganside courts in Belfast, Northern Ireland, May 2, 2018.)

A complaint of discrimination previously dismissed by Britain's highest court against a bakery that refused to make a cake with a pro-gay message was inadmissible, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled on Thursday. Ashers Baking in Belfast was found guilty of discrimination in 2015 for refusing to make a cake for a customer iced with the words "Support Gay Marriage" because of the owners' Christian beliefs.

The bakery failed in an appeal to the local courts in 2016 but the Supreme Court, the UK's highest judicial body, overturned that decision two years later, saying the bakers' objection was to the message on the cake, not to any personal characteristics of the messenger, or anyone with whom he was associated. Gareth Lee, a gay rights activist who had ordered the cake, argued that the Supreme Court failed to give appropriate weight to him under the European Convention of Human Rights. But the ECHR said it could not usurp the role of the local courts after Lee failed to exhaust all domestic remedies. It said this was particularly so in British-run Northern Ireland, "where there is a large and strong faith community and where the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTIQ) community has endured a history of considerable discrimination and intimidation."

While same-sex marriage was enacted in the rest of the United Kingdom in 2014, it was made legal in Northern Ireland only in 2020 amid opposition from the largest party in the region, the socially conservative Democratic Unionist Party. LGBTIQ support organisation, the Rainbow Project, said the decision brought the case to a close, but that there remained a number of questions around what protections exist following the 2018 Supreme Court decision. The Christian Institute, which supported the bakery owners through the courts, said the outcome was "good news for free speech and good news for Christians."

^ I support Gay Marriage and Equal Homosexual Rights, but I agree with the courts on this one. If the cake was just supposed to have something like the couple’s name and date on it or “Congratulations!” and the bakery refused to put that then it would be discrimination, but to not put a political message like “Support Gay Marriage” should be up to the bakery whether it’s for a Straight Couple or a Gay Couple. I would not personally support or buy anything from a place that openly discriminates against someone because of their Sexual Orientation, their Sex, their Race or a Disability – but that doesn’t mean it is illegal not to do something. ^

https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/european-court-rules-northern-ireland-gay-cake-case-inadmissible-2022-01-06/

Todd Nicely

From Yahoo:

“Quadruple Amputee Veteran Receives Service Dog 'Blessing': 'My Quality of Life Is a Lot Better'”

Almost 12 years after nearly losing his life to an improvised explosive device (IED) while serving in the Marines, Todd Nicely is healing from the incident with the help of a special companion. The St. Louis veteran joined the Marines in 2007, reported KMOV News 4, and was severely injured by an improvised explosive device (IED) while serving abroad in 2010. Nicely lost his arms and legs after stepping on an IED that almost claimed his life as well. "I didn't want to put my guys through anything that I wouldn't want to do, so a lot of the times I was in the front," he told the news outlet while recalling the incident that changed his life. Over the past decade, Nicely has learned to navigate the world with amputated limbs, a way of life that recently became a bit easier thanks to the addition of a service dog.

CHAMP Assistance Dogs in St. Louis, Missouri, gifted Nicely with a service dog named Hugo this holiday season. The nonprofit's mission focuses on connecting service dogs to people with disabilities who need them. Hugo is trained to assist Nicely with his day-to-day tasks, small gestures that add up to significant changes for the veteran. "Nearly 12 years later, Hugo is part of the family. Having him here to pick things up that I drop is kind of a blessing in disguise. It makes my quality of life is a lot better," Nicely told KMOV News 4. This improved quality of life is what CHAMP strives to provide veterans and other individuals who benefit from the support of a service dog. "Hugo is making a difference in Todd's life. It is a wonderful feeling for all of us, and we all rejoice in seeing someone become more independent because a dog is there to help them," Pam Budke, CHAMP Assistance Dogs' executive director, shared with KMOV News 4. Nicely hopes that Hugo helps other veterans by showing them it's important to seek assistance when you need help. "You are supposed to be this tough military man. Now, all of a sudden, you're asking for help. It's like, 'am I weak?' 'No,'" Nicely said. "It doesn't make you weak. It actually makes you stronger to ask for help," he added.

According to KMOV News 4, it can cost CHAMP Assistance Dogs upwards of $30,000 to train a service dog, which is always gifted to their recipient. To learn more about the nonprofit's life-changing work and how to support these efforts, visit CHAMP Assistance Dogs' website.

^ I am always happy to hear that a Disabled person got an Assistance Dog to help them. When I hear that the Disabled person is also a Veteran and gets an Assistance Dog it means even more for me. ^

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/quadruple-amputee-veteran-receives-dog-190931235.html

1G Before 5G

Before cell phone companies start putting up 5G networks across the nation it would be nice if my town had a 1G network.

1: Coup Attempt

From the US Attorney’s Office:

“One Year Since the Jan. 6 Attack on the Capitol”

Thursday, Jan. 6 2022, marks one year since the attack on the U.S. Capitol that disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress in the process of affirming the presidential election results. The government continues to investigate losses that resulted from the breach of the Capitol, including damage to the Capitol building and grounds, both inside and outside the building. According to a May 2021 estimate by the Architect of the Capitol, the attack caused approximately $1.5 million worth of damage to the U.S. Capitol building. Under the continued leadership of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the attack continues to move forward at an unprecedented speed and scale. The Department of Justice’s resolve to hold accountable those who committed crimes on Jan. 6, 2021, has not, and will not, wane. Based on the public court documents, below is a snapshot of the investigation as of Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021.

Arrests made: More than 725 defendants have been arrested in nearly all 50 states and the District of Columbia. (This includes those charged in both District and Superior Court).

Criminal charges: More than 225 defendants have been charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers or employees, including over 75 individuals who have been charged with using a deadly or dangerous weapon or causing serious bodily injury to an officer. Approximately 140 police officers were assaulted Jan. 6 at the Capitol including about 80 U.S. Capitol Police and about 60 from the Metropolitan Police Department.  Approximately 10 individuals have been arrested on a series of charges that relate to assaulting a member of the media, or destroying their equipment, on Jan. 6. Approximately 640 defendants have been charged with entering or remaining in a restricted federal building or grounds. Over 75 defendants have been charged with entering a restricted area with a dangerous or deadly weapon. More than 45 defendants have been charged with destruction of government property, and over 30 defendants have been charged with theft of government property. At least 275 defendants have been charged with corruptly obstructing, influencing, or impeding an official proceeding, or attempting to do so. Approximately 40 defendants have been charged with conspiracy, either: (a) conspiracy to obstruct a congressional proceeding, (b) conspiracy to obstruct law enforcement during a civil disorder, (c) conspiracy to injure an officer, or (d) some combination of the three.

Pleas: Approximately 165 individuals have pleaded guilty to a variety of federal charges, from misdemeanors to felony obstruction, many of whom will face incarceration at sentencing. Approximately 145 have pleaded guilty to misdemeanors. Twenty have pleaded guilty to felonies. Six of those who have pleaded guilty to felonies have pleaded to charges related to assaults on law enforcement. Four face statutory maximums of 20 years or more in prison as well as potential financial penalties. Two face statutory maximums of eight years in prison as well as potential financial penalties.

Sentencings: Approximately 70 federal defendants have had their cases adjudicated and received sentences for their criminal activity on Jan. 6. Thirty-one have been sentenced to periods of incarceration. Eighteen have been sentenced to a period of home detention, and the other defendants have been sentenced to probation with no term of incarceration.

Public Assistance: Citizens from around the country have provided invaluable assistance in identifying individuals in connection with the Jan. 6 attack. The FBI continues to seek the public’s help in identifying more than 350 individuals believed to have committed violent acts on the Capitol grounds, including over 250 who assaulted police officers. Additionally, the FBI currently has 16 videos of suspects wanted for violent assaults on federal officers and one video of two suspects wanted for assaults on members of the media on January 6th and is seeking the public’s help to identify them.

^ 1 year since the Coup Attempt and the US is still here as is the US Federal Government. The Traitors from January 6^th tried and failed to destroy our 246 year old Democracy. One thing I really like to see is the social media photos and videos made by those who tried to Overthrow the Government used against themselves in their own trials sending them to jail where they all belong. ^

https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/one-year-jan-6-attack-capitol#:~:text=One%20Year%20Since%20the%20Jan.%206%20Attack%20on,the%20process%20of%20affirming%20the%20presidential%20election%20results.

1: January 6th

 

Three Kings Day

Epiphany (Three Kings’ Day)

An epiphany is described as a new insight or “an intuitive grasp of reality through something (as an event) usually simple and striking an illuminating discovery”. The Epiphany is a day or time of celebration for many Christian religions because it is the time that Jesus was revealed or shown to the world.

When is Epiphany (Three Kings’ Day)? January 6, 2022

On the day Jesus was born, not many throughout the lands knew of this glorious event. Wise men, shepherds, and others came from far away lands to worship the baby Jesus. It took many days of travel for them to arrive at Jesus’ birthplace. Traveling during this period was slow and done by riding donkeys, camels, or walking. There were several wise men that had been sent by King Herod to find the newborn baby Jesus. The wise men “Who having heard the king, went their way; and behold the star which they had seen in the east, went before them until it came and stood over where the child was. And seeing the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And entering into the house, they found the child with Mary his mother, and falling down they adored him; and opening their treasures, they offered him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” (St. Matthew 2:9-11) In some religions and some countries, Epiphany is a day of celebration and is held on January 6th which is the twelfth day after Christmas. The focus is on the actual mission of Jesus’ arrival on earth which is one of peace and salvation for all people. Jesus offered salvation to all on earth. It was and still is up to each individual to choose the direction for his or her own life. In the end, each will be held accountable for his or her choice. Some countries in South America as well as in Europe call Epiphany day the Three Kings Day or Kings Day. The name comes from the three kings or wise men sent by Herod to locate the baby Jesus.  In some religions and some countries, the twelve day period from the birth of Jesus to His revelation is considered a time for the celebration called the Epiphany. The period lasts from the birth of Jesus on December 25th through the day Jesus was revealed on January 6th. The entire period is a time for celebration in various ways.

Conclusion Throughout the world, Epiphany Day is held mainly on January 6th of the New Year. In some cultures and religions, it is held on a different day. Throughout the world, different countries celebrate Epiphany Day in various ways. In some cultures and religions, there is baking or partying. No matter what culture, country or religion, the reason to celebrate the Epiphany remains the same: The celebration of Jesus’ revelation to the people of this world.

http://www.holidayscalendar.com/event/epiphany-three-kings-day/

Epiphany

 

Homer Pardoned

From the BBC:

“Homer Plessy: Pardon for 'separate but equal' civil rights figure”

(Homer Plessy)

The governor of Louisiana has pardoned Homer Plessy, a 19th century black activist whose arrest 130 years ago led to one of the most criticised Supreme Court decisions in US history. Plessy was arrested in 1892 after he purchased a ticket and refused to leave a whites-only train car in New Orleans. In 1896, the top US court ruled against Plessy, clearing the way for Jim Crow segregation laws in the American South. The pardon was spearheaded by the very office that sought charges against him. After Plessy was removed from the train, his case - Plessy v Ferguson - wound up in front of the Supreme Court. The court ruled that accommodations can exist for different races - a doctrine dubbed "separate but equal". Their decision stood for decades, until the landmark 1954 Brown v Board of Education case helped begin to dismantle racial segregation laws. Plessy, a shoemaker who was one-eighth black, died in 1925 with the conviction still on his record. The pardoning ceremony on Wednesday was held outside the former train station where he was arrested.

(Governor Bel Edwards signed the pardon near the site of Plessy's arrest)

It was attended by Louisiana Governor Bel Edwards, as well as Plessy's descendants and those of John Howard Ferguson, the Louisiana judge who found Plessy guilty of violating the state's Separate Car Act of 1890. The law at the time required railway companies to provide "equal but separate accommodations" for black and white travellers. "The 1896 Plessy decision ordained segregation for the explicit purpose of declaring and perpetuating white supremacy, as immoral and factually erroneous as that was - and is," said Gov Edwards. "Mr Plessy's conviction should never have happened," he continued. "But, there is no expiration on justice. No matter is ever settled until it is settled right." Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams, whose office historically prosecuted the case, had fought for the posthumous pardon. "While Homer Plessy's actions made him guilty of a crime under law, it was the law that was the real crime," said Mr Williams. Keith Plessy, a distant relative of Plessy, told the Times-Picayune newspaper at the ceremony: "I feel like my feet are not touching the ground today, because the ancestors are carrying me."

^ This is long-overdue. This shows that the actions of the US Supreme Court (which allowed Racial Segregation across the US with their 1896 Decision in Plessy v. Ferguson) are not always right or good. It was finally over-ruled by the US Supreme Court 58 years later in their 1954  Brown v. Board of Education Decision.) ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-59888947

Kazakh Call For Russians

From the BBC:

“Kazakhstan unrest: Government calls for Russian help”

(Police firing on Protesters on January 5, 2022)

Russian-led military troops will be deployed to help quell anti-government demonstrations in Kazakhstan. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called for support from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) amid escalating nationwide unrest. The protests were first sparked by rising fuel prices, but have broadened to include other political grievances. President Tokayev claimed the unrest was the work of foreign-trained "terrorist gangs".

However, Kate Mallinson, an expert on Central Asia at the foreign affairs think tank Chatham House in London, said the protests are "symptomatic of very deep-seated and simmering anger and resentment at the failure of the Kazhak government to modernise their country and introduce reforms that impact people at all levels". The president has imposed a nationwide state of emergency that includes an overnight curfew and a ban on mass gatherings and has vowed a tough response to the protests. In a televised speech in the early hours of Thursday, he said he had sought help from the CSTO - a military alliance made up of Russia and five ex-Soviet states to help stabilise the country. Later on Wednesday the CSTO's chairman, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, confirmed in a statement on Facebook that the alliance would send peacekeeping forces "for a limited period of time". The US State Department said it is "closely following" the situation in Kazakhstan, with a spokesman urging restraint by authorities and protesters alike.

President Tokayev is only the second person to lead Kazakhstan since it declared independence in 1991. His election, in 2019, was condemned by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) as showing scant respect for democratic standards. Much of the anger on the streets, however, seems to have been aimed at his predecessor, Nursultan Nazarbayev, who has held a powerful national security role since stepping down. On Wednesday, he was fired in a bid to subdue the growing unrest. Protesters had been heard chanting Mr Nazarbayev's name, while a video showing people attempting to pull down a giant bronze statue of the former leader has been shared online. According to BBC Monitoring, the now-dismantled monument appears to have stood in Taldykorgan, Mr Nazarbayev's home region. Staff at Kazakhstan's main airport had to flee anti-government demonstrators, who have also targeted government buildings. Protesters gathered at the mayor's office in Almaty before eventually storming it. Videos on social media showed a plume of smoke rising from the building, while gunfire could also be heard. The city's police chief, Kanat Taimerdenov, said "extremists and radicals" had attacked 500 civilians and ransacked hundreds of businesses. Water cannon were used against protesters in the western city of Aktobe. There are reports that security forces have sided with protesters in some places.

However, getting a clear picture of what is happening in the central Asian nation is proving difficult. The interior ministry released figures of reported casualties among the security forces, but there were no equivalent reports of any injuries or deaths among protesters amid what monitoring groups have described as a "nation-scale internet blackout". Other attempts to end the protests, which began on Sunday when the government lifted the price cap on liquefied petroleum gas which many people use to power their cars, causing it to double in cost, have been made. As well as Mr Nazarbayev's dismissal, the entire government has resigned.

Protests are not only about fuel The speed at which the protests turned violent took many by surprise, both in Kazakhstan and in the wider region, and hinted that they are not only about an increase in fuel prices. This is a traditionally stable Central Asian state, which is often described as authoritarian. Until 2019 it was run by President Nursultan Nazarbayev, whose rule was marked by elements of a personality cult, with his statues erected across the country and a capital renamed after him. Yet when he left, it was amid anti-government protests which he sought to limit by stepping down and putting a close ally in his place. Most elections in Kazakhstan are won by the ruling party with nearly 100% of the vote and there is no effective political opposition. The analysts I spoke to say that the Kazakh government clearly underestimated how angry the population was, and that these protests were not surprising in a country with no electoral democracy - people need to take to the streets to be heard. And their grievances are almost certainly about a far wider set of issues than the price of fuel.

^ This is exactly what happened in Ukraine in 2014. The then Ukrainian Dictator-President, Viktor Yanukovych murdered 780 Ukrainian Citizens and wounded 1,900 Citizens during EuroMaiden. He then got Russia involved and then he fled to live in Russia.

Putin then illegally invaded and occupied Crimea. Since 2014 Russian Occupation Forces have worked to erase all Ukrainian and Tartar Culture from Crimea – including arresting Men, Women and Children from Occupied Crimea and deporting them to Russia where no one hear’s from them again. Crimeans have been forced to use only the Russian Language, the Internal Russian Passport, the International Russian Passport, the Russian Education System, the Russian Ruble and Crimean Men are Conscripted into the Russian Military – basically what Nazi Germany did to Austria when they invaded and occupied them in 1938 (including holding a Referendum Vote with guns pointed on everyone who voted.)

International Sanctions (by the US, Canada, the UK, the EU, etc.) go after any person (Russian or not) who has anything to do with Occupied Crimea – including visiting there on vacation.

Putin then invaded Donbas in eastern Ukraine in 2014. They continue to fight the Ukrainians there. 4,619 Ukrainian Soldiers have been killed; 10,500 Ukrainian Soldiers have been wounded; 5,785 Russian Soldiers have been killed; 13,300 Russian Soldiers have been wounded; 3,393 Ukrainian Civilians have been killed; 1,414,798 Ukrainian Civilians have fled to other parts of Ukraine and 925,500 Ukrainian Civilians have fled to other countries.

Since the Russian-Ukrainian War started the parts of Ukraine not occupied by Russia (Crimea and Donbas) have higher standards of living, they are allowed Visa-Free Travel to the EU and Ukraine has become a Modern Democracy.

Since the Russian-Ukrainian War started the parts of Ukraine occupied by Russia (Crimea and Donbas) as well as 97.4% of Russia itself has seen a much lower standard of living than they had before 2014 (Putin even raised the Pension Age to above the average life expectancy and did away with many benefits – so the majority of Russians will now be dead before they can retire.)

In Kazakhstan the protests are similar to Ukraine. The ordinary people want an end to their country’s Dictatorship (Nursultan Nazarbayev was President for 29 years -until 2019 -  when he then made himself Chairman and still runs everything) and to become Democratic and have a better Standard of Living.

Russian Troops are now going to go into Kazakhstan and I don’t see them leaving anytime soon. Kazakhstan has always feared the Russians (since they gained their independence in 1991.) 19% of the population is ethnic Russian  - due to being deported to Kazakhstan during Soviet Times.

The Kazakhs have tried to change things over recent years. In 1997, they even moved their capital from Almaty in the south to Nur-Sultan (named after the Dictator) in the north by the Russian border. They are also switching the Kazakh Language from the Cyrillic Alphabet (which Russia uses) to the Latin Alphabet. They have also tried to promote the use of the Kazakh Language in everyday and official settings instead of the Russian Language.

Sadly, I see Kazakhstan becoming another Russian Puppet State as it was during Czarist and Soviet Times) and everything Russian (Language, Currency, Passport, Military, etc.) replacing everything Kazakh.

I have Kazakh Friends (in Kazakhstan, in Russia, in the US and in Israel) and it’s sad to see what happened to my Ukrainian Friends in 2014 happen to my Kazakh Friends in 2022.  ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-59880166

Trudeau's Tests

From Reuters:

“Trudeau says Canadians angered at anti-vaxxers; promises more tests”

(Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes part in a news conference, as the latest Omicron variant emerges as a threat amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada January 5, 2022.)

Canadians are angered by people who are not vaccinated against COVID-19, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday, and he also promised more than 100 million rapid tests will be distributed quickly to provinces that are eagerly waiting. Trudeau has mainly tried cajoling Canadians into getting inoculated and his comments reflect a growing impatience by various levels of government trying to combat the rapid spread of the Omicron variant. Most of Canada's 10 provinces have reimposed limits on businesses and gatherings as medical professionals have warned that healthcare systems could be swamped. read more "When people see we're in lockdowns, or serious public health restrictions right now, because of the risk posed to all of us by unvaccinated people - people get angry," Trudeau told a briefing, saying governments and health workers were frustrated. Trudeau spoke after being asked about remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron, who said he wanted to "piss off" unvaccinated people. read more Trudeau also promised a full investigation into footage of passengers snapping selfies, drinking alcohol and congregating close together on a Dec. 30 Sunwing Airlines flight from Montreal to Mexico. read more "I'm extremely frustrated ... it's a slap in the face to see people putting themselves, putting their fellow citizens, putting airline workers at risk by being completely irresponsible," he said.

Official data show that as of Dec 18, 87.3% of people ages 12 and over had received two vaccine doses. Only 1.3% of children aged from 5 to 12 were fully inoculated. "There's no magic bullet on this," Trudeau said, stressing the importance of vaccines and tests. "We're going to keep getting through this. There will be better days ahead." Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said Ottawa would deliver 140 million rapid tests to the provinces by the end of January, over and above the 120 million already distributed. Local authorities are complaining about a shortage of tests. read more Duclos said 7 million booster shots had been administered. Canada has a population of 38 million.

^ Canada (and many other countries like the US) need to provide more rapid Covid tests. It isn’t just Canadians that are sick and tired by the Unvaccinated straining our hospitals, closing our schools, making us wait longer at stores because of lack of employees, etc. Americans are too. ^

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/canada-will-boost-supply-covid-19-tests-life-set-get-better-pm-trudeau-2022-01-05/

Kazakh Protests

From the MT:

“State of Emergency in Kazakhstan as President Vows Crackdown”

Authorities in Kazakhstan declared a nationwide state of emergency and promised a tough crackdown on Wednesday as mass unrest plunged the country into chaos. Long seen as one the most stable of the ex-Soviet republics of Central Asia, energy-rich Kazakhstan is facing its biggest crisis in decades after protesters angry over rising fuel prices stormed government buildings. Authorities appealed for calm but also shut down the internet and warned that lawlessness would not be tolerated. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev accused the protesters of "massive attacks on law enforcement" that left several dead and wounded. "I intend to act as tough as possible ... Together we will overcome this black period in the history of Kazakhstan," he said. Protests spread across the nation of 19 million this week in outrage over a New Year increase in prices for liquid petroleum gas (LPG), which is widely used to fuel cars in the west of the country. Thousands took to the streets in the country's biggest city Almaty and in the western province of Mangystau, saying the price rise was unfair given oil and gas exporter Kazakhstan's vast energy reserves. After a night of unrest that saw more than 200 people detained, several thousand protesters stormed the mayor's office in Almaty on Wednesday afternoon and appeared to have seized control of the building.

Stun grenades, tear gas

(Smoke rises from the city hall building during a protest in Almaty, Kazakhstan, January 5, 2022.)

Police fired stun grenades and tear gas at the crowd, some armed with batons and shields seized from police, but were unable to prevent them from entering the building, an AFP correspondent at the scene said. Local media said protesters then set their sights on the presidential residence in Almaty. Both it and the mayor's office were reported to be in flames. There were reports of widespread unrest throughout the country and unconfirmed claims that protesters had seized control of the airport in Almaty. Several flights from Moscow to cities in Kazakhstan were cancelled or postponed on Wednesday night. But the full picture was unclear after major disruptions to communications, including a nationwide shutdown of the internet, the blocking of online messengers and cuts to mobile phone services.

The protests are the biggest threat so far to the regime established by Kazakhstan's founding president Nursultan Nazarbayev, who stepped down in 2019 and ushered Tokayev into the presidency.  Tokayev tried to head off further unrest by announcing the resignation of the government headed by Prime Minister Askar Mamin early on Wednesday. He also announced he was taking over from Nazarbayev as head of the powerful security council, a surprise move given the ex-president's continued influence. But with protests escalating, the government late on Wednesday said a state of emergency declared in protest-hit areas would be extended nationwide and in effect until Jan. 19. It imposes an overnight curfew, restricts movements and bans mass gatherings.  The restrictions are aimed at "ensuring public safety, restoring law and order, and protecting rights and freedoms of citizens," a broadcaster said on state television channel Khabar 24. Much of the anger appeared directed at Nazarbayev, who is 81 and had ruled Kazakhstan since 1989 before handing power to Tokayev.

'Old Man Out!' Many protesters shouted "Old Man Out!" in reference to Nazarbayev and images posted on social media showed a statue of the ex-president being torn down. Tokayev was handpicked as a successor by Nazarbayev, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. One of five ex-Soviet nations in Central Asia, Kazakhstan is of crucial importance to Russia as an economic partner and home to a large ethnic Russian population. Moscow called for a "peaceful solution ... through dialogue, not through street riots and violation of laws." The European Union and the United Nations called for "restraint" on all sides, while Washington urged authorities to allow protesters to "express themselves peacefully." Kazakhstan's government tolerates little real opposition and has been accused of silencing independent voices. Spontaneous, unsanctioned protests are illegal despite a 2020 law that eased some restrictions on freedom of assembly. Smaller rallies had been staged in cities across the republic from Sunday, beginning with the town of Zhanaozen in Mangystau. The initial cause of the unrest was a spike in prices for LPG in hydrocarbon-rich Mangystau. Reports by independent media suggested that Tokayev's announcement of a new price of 50 tenge (11 U.S. cents) per litre, down from 120 at the beginning of the year, failed to weaken the rallies in Zhanaozen and Mangystau's capital Aktau as demonstrators aired new demands.

^ I always saw Kazakhstan as a stable country (because of its strict Dictatorship – that seemed to focus on the people rather than the strict Dictatorship in Russia which focuses on dominating the world.) I may have been wrong on what I thought about Kazakhstan (but am sure I am right on Russia.) Hopefully, the Kazakh Government doesn’t bring in Russian Troops into their country otherwise this will become even more deadly and violent then it already is. ^

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/01/05/state-of-emergency-in-kazakhstan-as-president-vows-crackdown-a75977

CDC/Biden's Covid Failure

From Yahoo:

“CDC sticks with new COVID isolation guidelines despite criticism”

(President Biden, second from left, and Vice President Kamala Harris, second from right, meet with the White House COVID-19 response team on Tuesday.)

Despite criticism from a number of public health experts, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention affirmed its new guidelines suggesting those with COVID-19 can exit isolation in five days without testing. The CDC announced the initial changes on Dec. 27, saying it was “shortening the recommended time for isolation from 10 days for people with COVID-19 to five days, if asymptomatic, followed by five days of wearing a mask when around others.” In a statement posted to its website Tuesday evening updating its quarantine and isolation suggestions, the CDC said there was “accumulating evidence” supporting the decision. The new guidance included information for people who want to test negative to exit isolation but also for those who do not have access to a test. The organization also pointed to the “societal” impact of longer isolations, writing: “Spread of the Omicron variant has the potential to worsen staffing shortages and increase supply chain challenges, which jeopardize industry, education, and other systems that are essential to maintain a functioning society and economy.” “The Omicron variant is spreading quickly and has the potential to impact all facets of our society,” said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the CDC director, in a statement about the change. “CDC’s updated recommendations for isolation and quarantine balance what we know about the spread of the virus and the protection provided by vaccination and booster doses. These updates ensure people can safely continue their daily lives.”

The United States had over 1 million COVID-19 cases on Monday. The new Omicron variant has led to a number of “breakthrough” infections of vaccinated people, though those cases have generally resulted in more mild symptoms. According to tracking by the New York Times, there has been a 254 percent increase in positive cases and a 51 percent rise in hospitalizations over the last 14 days. Deaths from the virus have dipped 3 percent over that same time. Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Biden’s chief medical adviser, had implied on Sunday that a larger COVID guidelines change tied to the testing was potentially coming. “You’re right there has been some concern about why we don’t ask people at that five-day period to get tested,” Fauci said in an interview with ABC News. “That is something that is now under consideration. The CDC is very well aware that there has been some pushback about that. Looking at it again, there may be an option in that, that testing could be a part of that, and I think we’re going to be hearing more about that in the next day or so from the CDC.” U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy then echoed that in a Tuesday morning interview with CNN.

“They have certainly received feedback and questions about the role of testing in shortening that quarantine period, and they’re actually working right now on issuing a clarification on that,” Murthy said, adding, “They’re going to speak to the role that testing can play in a situation like reducing isolation.” While the change in guidelines last week had support among public health experts, there was plenty of criticism. Union leaders noted that the reduction to five days came after a push from the business community to halve the isolation period so that jobs could be filled. Others posited that the testing was not included due to the sometimes hours-long waits for COVID tests at clinics and a shortage of at-home tests — partly because U.S. health authorities underestimated the testing infrastructure that would be needed for new variants. At a Dec. 6 briefing, press secretary Jen Psaki dismissed the idea of mailing free tests to all Americans. “Ending isolation of COVID cases in five days without testing negative is the nose-out-of-mask of COVID-19 policies,” Saad Omer, director of the Yale Institute for Global Health, wrote on Twitter of the initial changes. “By not including a testing requirement, there will be a lot of infectious people in the workforce transmitting the virus to the others — further increasing the public health risks and likely economic disruptions.” “Of course, shortage of tests and masks is an issue but increasing supply of tests and high-quality masks should be a national priority,” Omer concluded. “We can’t have our pandemic control cake and eat it too.” “It’s frankly reckless to proceed like this. Using a rapid test or some type of test to validate that the person isn’t infectious is vital,” Dr. Eric Topol, founder and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, said last week, adding, “There’s no evidence, no data to support this.”

During a Dec. 29 briefing of the White House COVID-19 response team, Walensky had defended the decision. She said the CDC did not know if antigen, or rapid, tests were capable of assessing transmissibility at day five and beyond, while the PCR tests could show a positive result up to 12 weeks after infection — “long after” a person is no longer infectious — limiting their utility in preventing further spread of the virus at that stage. She also noted that “studies show that people are most infectious in the one to two days before symptoms develop, and in the two to three days after,” with an estimated 85-90 percent of transmission occurring in the first five days of infection with COVID-19, adding that “after five days, the risk of transmission substantially decreases.” In an interview with CNN earlier that day, Walensky further said the CDC’s new five-day isolation guidelines were also based on an assessment of what “people were willing to adhere to.” “We have seen relatively low rates of isolation for all of this pandemic,” Walensky told the news network. “Some science has demonstrated that less than a third of people are isolating when they need to. So we really wanted to make sure we had guidance, in this moment where we’re going to have a lot of disease, that could be adhered to, that people were willing to adhere to, and that spoke specifically to when people were maximally infectious.”

The White House also defended the CDC’s guidelines at Tuesday’s press briefing. “The CDC is offering its updated guidance in real time of a fast-moving and changing pandemic environment,” Psaki said. “We’ve seen them change guidance and update guidance on other occasions. They made this recommendation last week based on science. The vast majority of transmission infectiousness occurs in the first five days after diagnosis with COVID-19 — somewhere in the range of 85 to 90 percent.”

^ The CDC and those associated with making and approving the recommendations (Walensky, Fauci, Biden, etc.) have put money over health in this instance. They are more concerned with a shortage of employees than people dying. If you have Covid you should NOT be allowed to work or be around other people in any capacity until you test negative for Covid. I understand there is a lack of Covid Testing and what Testing there is takes people hours in line to get and then days to get the results – that is another major failure on the part of Biden and his people.

We are 2 years into Covid and 1 year into Biden being President during Covid so there is no reason  (except for incompetence) that there is a shortage of Covid Testing or a delay in Testing.

I have long said I trust the Science and that is still true. In this case I do not trust Biden, Walensky or Fauci. They have decided not to trust the Science and instead are more focused on the Economy and Employee Shortages rather than the spread of Covid and the complete collapse of our already over-burdened hospitals from Delta and Omicron. ^

https://www.yahoo.com/news/cdc-sticks-with-new-covid-isolation-guidelines-despite-criticism-142545981.html

China's Covid Failure

From the DW:

“How China's 'zero COVID' pursuit is stoking anger, public shaming”

As Chinese authorities impose stringent measures to curb COVID infections, some controversial incidents have sparked public outcry. Over the past two weeks, Chinese authorities have reimposed strict pandemic control measures to curb a new wave of domestic coronavirus outbreaks. However, some of the extreme measures have triggered a public backlash, as Chinese people question the validity of these restrictions.    For the last 13 days, residents of Xi'an — an ancient capital with 13 million people — have been banned from leaving their homes, causing many of them to run short on food and other essential supplies like medicine. So far, more than 1,600 confirmed COVID cases have been reported in the city since December 9. On the Chinese social media platform Weibo, phrases such as "having difficulty to buy food" and "unstable supply of necessities" became hot topics.

Public outcry over supply shortages One Xi'an resident said that since December 27, all people in the city have been banned from leaving their homes. While many people went shopping the day before the lockdown was imposed, some disadvantaged residents, including elders who live alone, were struggling to get food or the medicines they need. "I think the authorities will only think about how to prevent the local outbreak from spreading, and as long as people are not starving to death from food shortages, they will not pay too much attention to the wellbeing of the residents in lockdown," the resident, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals, told DW. Local authorities admitted on December 29 that, since employees of many logistic businesses couldn't return to work due to the lockdown, the supply of food and other materials have been affected. Despite a public outcry, the authorities insisted that they have been working to ensure there are enough supplies for all residents of Xi'an. At least two Communist Party officials in the city have been removed from their posts. Over the last two days, the number of newly confirmed cases has been trending down in China. On January 3, only 95 cases were reported in Xi'an, the first time in ten days that the daily number of new confirmed infections has dropped to below 100 for two days in a row.

Anger on the rise Public anger toward the authorities' handling of the situation has been on the rise not just because of the stringent restrictions but also due to the seeming lack of compassion. A video emerged recently showing a young man being beaten by government workers after he left his neighborhood to buy some food. Though local police said on December 31 that they had taken action against the workers, netizens said the incident reflects local authorities' lack of compassion for residents while enforcing pandemic control rules. "Many people still don't have enough food at home, and those who are in quarantine haven't received any supplies for 5 to 6 days," wrote one netizen on Weibo. Another person called for help on Weibo after her father, who suffered a heart attack, was initially rejected by several hospitals in Xi'an even though they had obtained all the necessary documents for him to be admitted into the hospital. After hours of delay and an emergency surgery, the netizen wrote that she had lost her father. The original post has reportedly been removed from Weibo. Several people described the situation as "inhumane" while many others confirmed it has been very difficult for citizens to seek the non-COVID medical treatment they need.

The result of China's 'zero COVID' campaign? Public health experts say the strict enforcement of pandemic control measures has a lot to do with China's aggressive campaign to achieve "zero COVID."  "One of the political goals to maintain zero COVID is to ensure the 2022 Beijing Olympics won't be sabotaged by any domestic outbreak," said Chunhuei Chi, a public health professor at the Oregon State University in the US. "Additionally, the Chinese government needs to maintain its legitimacy to rule the country both at home and abroad. Domestically, they need to keep domestic outbreaks under control to showcase their governance. Internationally, they need to prove that China is the savior rather than the initiator of the global pandemic. The way to achieve these goals is to show how well Beijing can stick to the goal of zero COVID," he told DW. Others believe the policy reflects the lack of government accountability in China. "For local authorities in China, one of the most important goals is achieving zero COVID, as it means a possible career advancement for many of them if they achieve the goal," said Wang Yaqiu, senior China researcher at Human Rights Watch (HRW). "If people's rights are abused or if their access to health and food is restricted, it doesn't matter to local authorities, because they will not be held accountable."

The practice of public shaming returns In addition to the strict enforcement of lockdown in Xi'an, incidents featuring public shaming have sparked criticism of authorities' pandemic control measures. Last week, a video circulating on social media showed armed police in Guangxi province parading four people who reportedly violated COVID prevention measures. They were in hazmat suits and carried placards that displayed their names and photos. Each of them was guarded by two police officers and circled by another group of police carrying riot gear or holding guns. According to the state-run Guangxi News, the four were accused of illegally transporting migrants into China even though the country's borders were basically closed due to the pandemic. The news outlet described the measures as disciplinary measures that offered "real-life warning" to the public and "deterred border-related crimes." However, people and some state-run media questioned the legality of these public shaming practices. The Beijing News, which is owned by the Chinese Communist Party, wrote in an opinion piece that even if the measures were adopted for the purpose of enforcing pandemic control measures, authorities should still avoid measures such as "parading the suspects" from reappearing in China, as they violate the spirit of the rule of law. Other netizens questioned the actual effect of "parading the suspects."  "Since China is already a country with a sound legal system, if anyone commits any crime, they should be sentenced according to law," wrote one Netizen on Weibo. "Parading suspects is a bad tactic used in feudal society, so it's a bit hard to understand why public security personnel in Guangxi would find such measures appropriate."

'Most Chinese are not willing to speak up' Some observers point out that human rights violations and public shaming have been a common phenomenon across China since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, as authorities tried to impose strict measures to contain the spread of the virus. "This is not a new phenomenon in China. Local authorities have tied residents who allegedly violated regulations to trees to publicly shame them, while others have been publicly criticized in sports stadiums," said Teng Biao, a Chinese human rights lawyer. While public pressure may force authorities to apologize for their mistakes or impose certain punishments on perpetrators, those who are willing to speak up are still in the minority in China. "Most Chinese people are not willing to speak up online as they know they may be punished," HRW's Wang told DW. "And since there is no accountability mechanism, local authorities will only respond when they are under a lot of pressure. "Teng believes authorities would often respond by slightly adjusting their inhumane practices. "They may punish some officials who are involved with the practices or simply scapegoat someone, but it is difficult to force them to improve the whole system through public pressure," he said. Wang also highlighted a new trend emerging from discussions related to the lockdown in Xi'an. When someone criticizes the government online, other nationalistic netizens will come out and accuse them of being supporters of Western governments, she pointed out. "In the past two years, the Chinese government's censorship and propaganda have become more effective," she said. "It's evident that some people have started to help the government censor others. They have internalized the propaganda."

^ The Chinese Communist Government doesn’t care about the induvial Chinese Citizen – whether they live or die. They only care about keeping their Dictatorship in control so the few can have the privileges while the majority suffer. No one should be surprised at how poorly the Chinese have handled and mishandled Covid from the very beginning. It started in China and was allowed to spread to the rest of the world so that the Chinese Government could then seem like the world’s savior by sending PPE, medicines, etc. to the inflected countries. For the most part that has failed with most of the Aid received by the Chinese being defective and even rejected. At no time has the Chinese Government cared about their own Chinese Citizens throughout Covid. Sadly, the vast majority of Chinese Citizens are too brainwashed to know any better or to do anything about it. The few that do are silenced immediately by the Government. As for the Winter Olympics next month: it seems like a huge waste of time and money since no one can watch it in-person. ^

https://www.dw.com/en/how-chinas-zero-covid-pursuit-is-stoking-anger-public-shaming/a-60327210

Hero Dog

From NECN:

“‘A Miracle!' Hero Dog Leads Rescuers to Owner Thrown From Truck During Crash on I-89”

A man from Vermont is crediting his loyal dog with lending a hand — or make that, a paw — in helping save her owner’s life following a nasty crash. "It’s honestly remarkable," Cam Laundry, 31, of North Hartland, said of what his dog, Tinsley, did Monday night. "It’s a miracle!" Laundry crashed his pickup where Interstates 89 and 91 meet, in Hartford. In a post shared widely on Facebook, New Hampshire State Police said the driver was thrown from the truck, and was seriously injured. Laundry said in an interview Tuesday that he was knocked out when the truck rolled and he was ejected. He also suffered a concussion, he said. When he came to, Laundry said Tinsley was there with a New Hampshire State Trooper and police officers from Lebanon, who said they found Cam suffering from hypothermia.

Tinsley is a Shiloh Shepherd, just over a year old, Laundry said. "She’s my little guardian angel, you know?" Laundry said of his dog, whom he described as his constant co-pilot in his truck. Lebanon’s police chief said Tuesday his department received emergency calls about a dog walking on the bridge heading into Vermont. Tinsley just wouldn’t be corralled, Chief Phillip Roberts explained, not until she seemingly pointed the first responders north — to the crash site. “We’ve had, you know, a lot of amazing stories with our trained K9s and stuff, but not for just a household pet to lead you down that road and play a role in saving some lives,” Roberts said, describing how he cannot recall encountering a situation like this before. Ambulance crews from Hartford took Laundry and his passenger, who was also injured, to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, according to the Hartford Fire Department.

Vermont State Police identified the passenger as Justin Connors, 40. Connors is expected to be fine, in time, Laundry said, but he first does have serious injuries to nurse.  Laundry expressed remorse that his friend had a dog in the car, too. The other dog was hit on the interstate after the crash. Vermont State Police are investigating what led up to the crash, according to a VSP spokesman. Laundry acknowledged in an interview that he did have some drinks earlier in the night, but he added that he didn’t think it was too much. “It definitely was a wake-up call,” Laundry said. “It all could’ve been a lot worse.” As for Tinsley, whose owner described her as "quite remarkable," she was going to be spoiled with a big venison dinner as a reward — and nonstop gratitude from her family. "I’m just thankful she’s always with me," Cam Laundry said of the dog who truly is this man’s best friend. "Everybody loves Tinsley!"

^ This shows why dogs are the best. ^

https://www.necn.com/news/local/a-miracle-hero-dog-leads-rescuers-to-owner-thrown-from-truck-during-crash-on-i-89/2646414/

Roadside Prep

From News Nation:

“How to prepare for roadside emergencies”

Roadside emergencies can result from all manner of mayhem: Fires, floods, blizzards — and that’s just for starters. To prepare for such scenarios, here’s a list of items that you should keep in your car (and a checklist of car-safety tips) before setting out on that journey:

 

Essentials

phone charger

bottled water

snacks

paper towels

flashlight with batteries

booster cables

first aid kit

flares or other warning devices

 

Winter must-haves

blankets

tire chains

sand or kitty litter for slick roads

small shovel

ice scraper

 

Check before leaving

windshield wipers

heater/defroster

headlights and brake lights

at least half a tank of gas

battery

brakes

tread on tires

If you ever find yourself in a an emergency on the road, AAA has some advice. “If it’s a life-threatening emergency, you want to call 911; if it’s a non-life-threatening emergency, then you can call AAA and we can come out to you as soon as we can get to you,” said David Bennett, a AAA expert. As for major slowdowns, “You can call the local non-emergency line for the area for the emergency dispatch or your local police station so they can kind of give you some information on, ‘Hey, what’s going on? Is this going to be a while? How far is the accident ahead?’ Things you don’t want to do is start driving on the shoulder or the median because that’s now going to block access for the emergency vehicles, tow trucks, first responders.”

^ I always have Summer and Winter Items in my car since there is a year-round threat of being stuck or stranded up here due to ice, rain, snow, washed-out roads and bridges. I also have a bag I bring with me with supplies (for humans and dogs) when I am not in my own car. ^

https://www.newsnationnow.com/weather/how-to-prepare-for-roadside-emergencies/

Strong Ukraine

From Reuters:

“In snowy trenches, Ukrainian soldiers vow to stand firm against Russia”

(Service members of the Ukrainian armed forces chop and carry firewood at combat positions near the line of separation from Russian-backed rebels outside the settlement of Krymske in the Luhansk region, Ukraine, January 4, 2022.)

A soldier peers over the top of a wooden trench as snow falls thickly on the surrounding fields near the village of Krymske in eastern Ukraine. Inside the trench, another soldier stands in front of a small Christmas tree, with messages and drawings from well-wishers pinned on the wall behind him. This is the frontline of Ukraine's eight-year war against Russian-backed forces in the Donbass region. Russian troop movements near Ukraine's borders have alarmed Kyiv and its Western allies in recent weeks. The soldiers say they are ready for any escalation from Russia. "We are determined to stand firm, we will not give up our country. We fought for independence for a long time," said one serviceman, who gave his nom-de-guerre as Martin. "At home, my parents and wife are worrying," he said. "I don't plan to stay here forever. I plan to repel (a Russian attack) and come back home so that my daughter will later say: 'Wow, father, you managed to stop superpower with your own hands.' U.S. officials have said Russia might launch a new attack against Ukraine as early as the second half of January. Russia denies it is planning an offensive and accuses Kyiv of building up its own forces in the east of the country. But Moscow has demanded security guarantees it wants from the West in order to defuse the current crisis. Another serviceman, who gave his name as Oleh, played down the prospect of a major escalation. "If they show off their muscles and rattle their sabres, then it is unlikely they will attack. If someone wants to attack, he does it covertly," he said.

^ The Ukrainians have suffered and fought against the Russians for the past 8 years now. The Russians invaded and occupied Crimea (Ukraine) in 2014 and continue to illegally occupy Crimea. The Russians have been fighting the Ukrainians in Donbas (eastern Ukraine) since 2014. The likelihood that Putin will invade and fight more in Ukraine is likely to deflect from his poor policies and the low Standard of Living of ordinary Russians. Russia has a much powerful Military than Ukraine does, but Ukraine has done a good job in keeping them at-bay since 2014 in Donbas and now they have more training, more weapons and more support from other countries so Russia will face an even more difficult time in Ukraine if they attack it even more. ^

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/snowy-trenches-ukrainian-soldiers-vow-stand-firm-against-russia-2022-01-04/

100: Irish Civil War

From the BBC:

“Ireland 1922: The new Irish state descends into civil war”

(The bombardment of the Four Courts marked the beginning of the Irish Civil War)

After the bloodshed of the Irish War of Independence, which raged from January 1919 to July 1921, hopes were high that the Anglo-Irish Treaty would bring peace to Ireland. The treaty, which created an independent Irish Free State within the British Empire, was signed in London in December 1921 and needed to be ratified by the parliaments in London in Dublin. But there was bitter division among Irish republicans over a number of aspects of the treaty, including an oath to the King and the copper-fastening of the partition of Ireland. Civil war broke out as a result. Meanwhile in the north, unionists were busy shoring up Northern Ireland, which had come into existence in June 1921. Here are some of the key events of another tumultuous year in Irish history.

7 January Dáil Eireann - the breakaway parliament in Dublin set up by Irish republicans - begin debating the Anglo-Irish Treaty in December 1921, days after it was signed. The lengthy and bitter debates come to an end on 7 January when the Dáil votes to ratify it by 64 votes to 57.

9 January At this point the only effective government in the southern part of Ireland is the breakaway administration of the Irish Republic. Éamon de Valera, the leader of the anti-treaty faction of republicans, resigns as president of the republic and is replaced by Arthur Griffith.

16 January

(Michael Collins arrives at Dublin Castle for the handover of power)

In accordance with the treaty, the provisional government of the Irish Free State takes office with Michael Collins holding the role of chairman - effectively the prime minister of the transitional administration. Dublin Castle, the headquarters of the British administration in Ireland is handed over to Collins as centuries of English and British rule comes to an end.

March Éamon de Valera forms Cumann na Poblachta, a political party composed of the anti-treaty wing of Sinn Féin, although he remains a Sinn Féin member as well. IRA members who oppose the treaty hold an army convention and repudiate the authority of the Dáil to ratify the treaty.

24 March In Belfast, six Catholic civilians are shot dead, apparently by police officers, in what becomes known as the McMahon killings. A week later, another six Catholic civilians are shot dead, with police again believed to be responsible.

April The anti-treaty IRA members form their own army executive which they say is the only legitimate government of Ireland. Michael Collins tries to re-unite the IRA but is unsuccessful. On 14 April, anti-treaty IRA members led by Rory O'Connor occupy the Four Courts in Dublin in an aim to spark a new conflict with the British. At this point, no action is taken against them by the provisional government. Meanwhile in Belfast, the Special Powers Act is passed, giving the minister of home affairs sweeping powers to maintain law and order and secure the existence of the new Northern Ireland state.

May

(Ongoing sectarian violence in Belfast forces refugees to flee, including these people in Dublin)

The IRA in Northern Ireland launches an unsuccessful campaign against the new Belfast government.

1 June The Royal Ulster Constabulary is officially founded as the new police service of Northern Ireland.

18 June Dáil elections are held to pave the way for the formal establishment of the Irish Free State. Both pro-treaty and anti-treaty candidates stand under the Sinn Féin banner, with 58 pro-treaty and 36 anti-treaty candidates elected. Labour and the Farmers' Party, which also supported the treaty, win 17 and seven seats respectively.

22 June British Field Marshal Sir Henry Hughes Wilson, who played an important role in the War of Independence, is assassinated by IRA men in London. The British government tells the provisional government in Dublin that it must clear the anti-treaty IRA from the Four Courts.

27-30 June

(A National Army soldier brings a wounded anti-treaty fighter out of the Four Courts)

The new National Army of the provisional government bombards the Four Courts, often considered the official start of the Irish Civil War. After shelling and the storming of the building by National Army troops, the IRA garrison surrenders. Shortly before the surrender, a massive explosion destroys the Irish Public Record Office, destroying many irreplaceable records of Ireland's history.

July The National Army secures Dublin under the control of the provisional government. Anti-treaty forces are scattered throughout the rest of the country.

12 August

(Arthur Griffith's coffin is carried by comrades including Michael Collins)

Arthur Griffith, who founded Sinn Féin in 1905 and is president of the Dáil, dies at the age of 51 of a cerebral haemorrhage.

22 August A convoy carrying Michael Collins, who is visiting his native County Cork, is ambushed at the isolated Béal na Bláth crossroads. Collins jumps from the vehicle to fight the anti-treaty ambushers but is shot in the head and killed.

30 August Having lost two of its most senior members in a matter of days, the provisional government elects WT Cosgrave as its new chairman. By this point, most of the large towns in Ireland have fallen to the National Army.

27 September The Public Safety Bill is passed by the Dáil on the instigation of the provisional government. It allows for the death penalty to be imposed on people fighting against the National Army or possessing weapons without the government's authority.

25 October De Valera and anti-treaty members of the Dáil set up their own republican government. It has no real authority as anti-treaty forces control very little territory.

17 November The provisional government begins executing anti-treaty prisoners under the Public Safety Bill when five IRA men are shot by firing squad. Between now and the end of the civil war, 81 will officially be put to death. There are rumours that almost twice as many are unofficially executed.

6 December

(WT Cosgrave becomes the first prime minister of the Irish Free State)

The Irish Free State officially comes into existence. The provisional government becomes the new state's permanent government and WT Cosgrave is elected as its prime minister - officially known as the president of the executive council. He will hold the role for 10 years.

7 December The Parliament of Northern Ireland exercises its right under the Anglo-Irish Treaty to opt out of the Free State by sending a petition to the King. Partition in Ireland is confirmed.

^ 2022 is the 100^th Anniversary of the Irish Civil War. It divided the war island (the Irish Free State – later the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.) It’s important to note that this article is from the BBC – so has a British view to everything. The Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921, the Irish Civil War of 1922-23 and the divisions and violence each caused directly lead to the continued Official Discrimination of Irish Catholics in Northern Ireland (leading to the 1968-1998 Troubles) and the current issues over Brexit and Northern Ireland and Ireland. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-59548846