Brig Uniforms

From Military.com:

“Navy Adds Color Coding to Prisoner Uniforms to Avoid Brig Mix-Ups”

Navy Personnel Command has a new uniform for prisoners at all ashore correctional facilities, and it's uni-service. Wearing of the new uniform will be mandatory starting May 1 for all prisoners in pre-trial and post-trial confinement at Military Correctional Facilities (MCFs) run by the Navy, regardless of the prisoner's service affiliation, the Navy said in a news release last week. The new standardized prison uniform (SPU) also will likely save the Navy money, the release states. The costs associated with buying and maintaining service uniforms for a prisoner become a tremendous and unnecessary fiscal burden to the Navy and the taxpayer, the service said. The new uniform will come in two colors, dependent on the prisoner's legal status, the release states. Those in pre-trial confinement will get a chocolate-brown uniform, and those in post-trial confinement will get a tan uniform. Currently, prisoners at Navy MCFs wear their service utility uniforms, in line with the Navy's theory that doing so helps maintain discipline and aids in rehabilitation. "However, having prisoners wear their service uniform creates security and public safety challenges, such as difficulty in distinguishing staff from prisoners," Jonathan Godwin, senior corrections program specialist with the Corrections and Programs Office of the Navy Personnel Command, said in a statement. In addition, sentences often also involve total forfeiture of all pay and allowance, "and it is rare for a prisoner to return to active duty," Godwin said. The new standardized prison uniform (SPU) also will likely save the Navy money, the release states. The costs associated with buying and maintaining service uniforms for a prisoner become a tremendous and unnecessary fiscal burden to the Navy and the taxpayer, the service said. According to the release, the cost for a service-specific military utility uniform with one pair of trousers and a top is about $95. Add a fleece jacket, and the cost exceeds $150. The new SPU top and trousers will cost approximately $18.50, the release states. Add a belt, buckle, ball cap and watch cap, and the price is about $22. With a jacket, the complete price to clothe a prisoner will be about $45. "In addition to the enhancement of correctional security, improved public safety and significant fiscal savings, the wearing of the new SPU will produce numerous benefits across a wide range of Navy corrections operations," Godwin said. "These include an SPU with a neat and professional look, an easier-to-maintain and care-for uniform, and less wear and tear on equipment, i.e. washing machines and dryers, and less cleaning supplies, i.e. laundry detergent."

^ It makes sense to have a uniform to wear before and during your trial and then a uniform to wear if you are convicted. I don’t know if the other military branches have a similar uniform policy, but if they do not then they should. ^

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/04/29/going-brig-anytime-soon-navy-has-new-uniform.html

Emperor Abdicates

From the BBC:

“Emperor Akihito: Japanese monarch declares historic abdication”

 The day began with private rituals in the Imperial Palace Japan's Emperor Akihito has declared his abdication in a historic ceremony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. In his last public address as emperor, Akihito handed over the symbols of power and thanked the public for their support during his 30-year reign. The 85-year-old was given permission to abdicate after saying he felt unable to fulfil his role because of his age and declining health.  He is the first Japanese monarch to stand down in more than 200 years. Akihito will technically remain emperor until midnight.  His eldest son, Crown Prince Naruhito, will ascend the throne later on Wednesday. A new era - called Reiwa, meaning order and harmony - will begin in Japan's unique calendar. While the emperor holds no political power, he serves as a national figurehead. Akihito has endeared himself to many Japanese people during his reign as he has interacted with those suffering from disease and disaster. 

What happened at the abdication ceremony?

In the morning, the emperor took part in a Shinto ceremony to report his plans to the mythological ancestors of Japan's imperial family.  The emperor took part in private Shinto ceremonies to start the day  The main "Ceremony of the Abdication" took place in a state room of the Imperial Palace in front of about 300 people including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Crown Prince Naruhito, and Crown Princess Masako. Imperial chamberlains carried the state and privy seals into the hall, along with a sacred sword and a jewel which are considered symbols of the imperial family. In a short ceremony, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe addressed the emperor, saying: "While keeping in our hearts the path that the emperor has walked, we will make utmost efforts to create a bright future for a proud Japan that is full of peace and hope." Then in his final speech Akihito, wearing a Western-style morning coat, said he "wished Japan and the world peace and prosperity". Akihito is the first Japanese emperor to step down in more than 200 years  "I am deeply grateful for the people that accepted me as a symbol and supported me," he said. "I sincerely wish, together with the Empress, that the Reiwa era which begins tomorrow will be a stable and fruitful one," he added. "I pray, with all my heart, for peace and happiness for all the people in Japan and around the world." The Imperial Treasures that make a man an emperor. After helping his wife, Empress Michiko, down the steps of the ceremonial platform, the emperor bowed towards the gathered officials then left the room.

Why did the emperor decide to abdicate? 

The 85-year-old had surgery for prostate cancer in 2003 and a heart bypass operation in 2012. In a rare speech in 2016, he said that he feared his age would make it hard for him to carry out his duties and strongly hinted that he wanted to stand down.  Opinion polls showed that the vast majority of Japan sympathised with the emperor and a year later parliament enacted a law that made his abdication possible. 

Who is the incoming emperor? 

Prince Naruhito will become Japan's 126th emperor - and will officially lead the country into the new Reiwa era. It will mark the end of the current Heisei era, which began when Akihito ascended the throne in 1989.  The 59-year-old Oxford University graduate is married to Crown Princess Masako. Their only child, Princess Aiko, was born in 2001.  Japan's current law prohibits women from inheriting the throne so Princess Aiko's uncle Prince Fumihito is now first in line, followed by her cousin, 12-year-old Prince Hisahito. Princess Aiko, the only child of Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito, will not ascend the throne because she is female

Why is the Japanese monarchy important? 

It's the oldest continuing hereditary monarchy in the world. Legends date it back to about 600 BC.  The emperors used to be seen as gods, but Hirohito - the father of Akihito - publicly renounced his divinity as part of Japan's surrender at the end of World War Two. It was Emperor Akihito who helped repair Japan's post-war reputation. Previous emperors rarely interacted with the public, but Akihito redefined the role - and has come to be known for his compassion.  In 1991, two years after he ascended the throne, Akihito and the empress broke with norms and knelt down to speak to people affected by a volcanic eruption in Nagasaki.  Akihito also took up the role of a diplomat, becoming an unofficial ambassador for Japan and travelling abroad extensively. While Tuesday sees the first abdication in 200 years, it wasn't so rare historically.  According to Japan's state broadcaster NHK, about half the country's emperors or empresses have done the same, and it happened frequently from the 8th Century to the 19th Century.

 How are Japanese people marking the handover?

The Golden Week break - Japan's annual spring holiday - has been extended to a record 10 days to mark the occasion.  When Emperor Akihito succeeded his late father the country was in mourning, but this time people will be going on holidays, to cinemas, or staying at home to watch the events on TV. Many said they would miss the departing emperor, who will now hold the title "Joko", which means "grand emperor" or "Emperor Emeritus". "I think the emperor is loved by the people," Morio Miyamoto told Reuters news agency. "His image is one of encouraging the people, such as after disasters, and being close to the people." "The emperor worked very hard for 30 years so I hope the handing over of the baton to the new emperor will go smoothly," Mikiko Fujii told the agency.  "I'm sad but also hopeful about the next era. I hope it will be a peaceful, gentle period for the second half of my life," said Masatoshi Kujirai, on his way to a Shinto shrine to mark the day.

^ Emperor Akihito did a lot to repair the damage the Japanese did during World War 2 around the world. His father was the Emperor during the War and so it was really only once the son came to power that a neutrality was seen (ie. someone that wasn’t directly involved in what happened.) Emperor Akihito also tried to modernize the Imperial Family within Japanese society and to show a more “human face.” I hope the new Emperor (Naruhito) will continue to balance the traditional with the modern in the Japanese Imperial Family and build on what Emperor Akihito did. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-48020703

Rejected Passports

From the BBC:

“Ukraine's president-elect rejects Russian passport plan”

Ukraine's president-elect has mocked Russia's offer to give passports to his countrymen, saying the document would provide "the right to be arrested". In a Facebook post rejecting the idea, Volodymyr Zelensky pledged to give citizenship to "suffering" Russians. Earlier this week, Russia's President Vladimir Putin signed a decree offering people in eastern Ukraine's separatist territories passports. He later said he was mulling extending the scheme to all Ukrainians. But Mr Zelensky - a former comedian with no political experience who was elected last Sunday - said he did not believe many of his countrymen would take up the offer."Ukrainians are free people in a free country," he said. Instead, he offered citizenship to "all people who suffer from authoritarian and corrupt regimes", but firstly "to the Russian people who suffer most of all". The Facebook post was written in both Ukrainian and Russian "so that everyone can hear us", Mr Zelensky said. Relations between the two countries were further strained this week when Ukraine's parliament passed a law making the use of the Ukrainian language mandatory for public sector workers. Russia says the move discriminates against Russian speakers in Ukraine - for many, particularly in eastern regions, Russian is still the first language.  The new tensions add to the challenges facing Mr Zelensky, who ousted Petro Poroshenko by a landslide.

What did Putin say?

On Wednesday, the Russian leader announced the passport scheme would be applied to Donetsk and Luhansk, the self-declared republics seized by Russian-backed separatists in 2014 after Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine. Crimea itself was incorporated into Russia, giving its inhabitants the same citizenship rights as those in Russia. Mr Putin said people living in Donetsk and Luhansk who considered themselves Russian were entitled to Russian passports. On Saturday, he said: "We're considering providing a simplified procedure [of obtaining Russian citizenship] to all the residents of Ukraine."

How did Ukraine respond?

Mr Zelensky said a Russian passport provides "the right to be arrested for a peaceful protest" and "the right not to have free and competitive elections." He also demanded a "complete de-occupation" of eastern Ukraine and Crimea stressing that his country "doesn't give up". Ukrainian politicians accuse Russia of trying to make its territorial divisions permanent. Thousands of people have died in Ukraine's eastern regions since 2014  But Mr Zelensky also struck a conciliatory tone, saying he was ready for negotiations on the armed conflict, that has claimed about 13,000 lives since 2014.  "I hope that Russia is more inclined to speak than to shoot," he wrote. Zelensky team plans Ukraine anti-corruption drive In the run-up to his election, he said he had wanted to "renew relations" with eastern Ukraine and start a "powerful information war to end the conflict". In response, Russia said it wanted him to show "sound judgement", "honesty" and "pragmatism" so that relations could improve. 

What is the new language law? 

Under the new law:

Ukrainian must be used for signs, letters and in adverts

Local TV channels are set a target of 90% Ukrainian content

Ukrainian should be used for all official duties of public servants ranging from the president to judges, doctors and bank workers

Mr Zelensky, whose own first language is Russian, defended the new legislation, which Mr Poroshenko had championed. However, he added that he intended to review it once he took office. 

^ It is a little funny that Putin wants to give Russian citizenship to their rebels fighting in Donbas. I guess after 5 years of supporting the rebels with weapons, money and soldiers and only creating a stalemate the least they can offer in Russian citizenship. Russian law allows for dual citizenship (Ukrainian law does not.) Even with fighting a 5 year war in Donbas and part of their territory (Crimea) annexed by Russia  Ukrainian citizens have visa-free access or visa-on-arrival to 128 countries/territories (including the Schengen Area of the European Union) while Russian citizens have visa-free access or visa-on-arrival to 118 countries/territories (but not to the Schengen Area of the European Union.) It seems the Ukraine is more stable than Russia is right now and so it wouldn’t make sense to switch citizenships or passports – unless you are a rebel fleeing from Ukraine to Russia because you lost. As for the Ukrainian Language law; Russia has a similar law that promotes the Russian Language inside of Russia. In Russian-annexed Crimea anyone who using the Crimean Tatar or Ukrainian Languages disappears because Russian Government in Moscow is trying to wipe out all Crimean Tatar and Ukrainian culture in annexed- Crimea and promote Russification. It only seems right that the Ukrainian Language should be the official language in Ukraine then same way the Russian Language is the official language of Russia. It does seem that Putin is desperately  trying to get more supporters with this latest move because current Russian citizens are starting to wake up from their Kool-Aid sleep and starting to question Putin and his actions within Russia and around the world. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-48085505

Sri Lanka Coverings

From the BBC:

“Sri Lanka attacks: Face coverings banned after Easter bloodshed”

A ban has been put in place but no specific mention of the niqab or burka was made. Sri Lanka has banned face coverings in public, following a spate of suicide attacks on Easter Sunday that killed at least 250 people and injured hundreds. President Maithripala Sirisena said he was using an emergency law to impose the restriction from Monday. Any face garment which "hinders identification" will be banned to ensure security, his office said. Muslim leaders criticised the move. The niqab and burka - worn by Muslim women - were not specifically named. The move is perceived as targeting those garments, however.  Sri Lanka remains on high alert eight days after Islamist attacks that hit churches and hotels. Dozens of suspects have been arrested, but local officials have warned that more militants remain at large.

How many people are affected?

Sri Lanka has a sizeable and centuries-old Muslim population - of the country's 21-million population, just under 10% are Muslim. Only a small number of women are thought to wear the face-covering niqab, or the burka - a one-piece garment that covers the face and body.  Last week a Sri Lankan MP had proposed a ban on women wearing the burka, saying it should be outlawed on security grounds. 

What's the difference between niqab or burka?

Muslim groups have been highly critical of the president's decision. "It is the stupidest thing to do. Three days ago we [the Muslim community] took a voluntary decision regarding this. The All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulema told all Muslim women not to wear face veils for security reasons. If they wanted to wear a veil, then they were told not to come out," Hilmy Ahmed, vice-president of the Sri Lanka Muslim Council, told the BBC.  "We see this as a reflection of the conflict between the president and the prime minister. We strongly criticise the decision. We will not accept the authorities interfering with the religion without consulting the religious leadership."

Several countries have permanently banned full-face veils in public places, including France, Belgium and Denmark.  Chad, Gabon and the Republic of Congo in Africa also have restrictions in place.

What's the situation on the ground?

Over the weekend thousands of Sri Lankan troops stood guard on the streets, protecting churches and mosques. Sunday church services were cancelled across the country as a precaution, but worshippers in the capital gathered to pray outside St Anthony's Shrine, which was badly damaged in the attacks. The number of people arrested in connection with the bloodshed rose to 150. Authorities are also hunting for around 140 followers of the jihadist group Islamic State, which has said it was behind the bombings, but has not provided firm evidence of direct involvement.

^ Every country around the world should have a similar ban on covering your face in public-  with very limited exceptions. It’s sad that a country like Sri Lanka has to make the law after a terrorist attack occurs – rather than before one happens. The same kind of bans are working throughout Africa and Europe. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-48088834

Waiting For Guides

From the BBC:

“The long wait facing guide dog users”

 There are more than 1,400 guide dogs trained in the UK each year  "For me to walk down the centre of my village with a cane would be an Olympic event. But to do that with a dog is totally safe. The dog is trained." For the past two years, Eddie Warke has been on the waiting list for a guide dog.  Since his dog Creighton retired on medical grounds in March 2017, Mr Warke - a 52-year-old who lives in Dundonald - has had to go back to using a cane.  Guide dog owners in the UK face an average wait of almost a year between their guide dog retiring and receiving a new dog.  While more than 1,400 dogs are trained in the UK each year, it is more than just a numbers game - and the process of matching an owner with a dog is a delicate one.  "When you get the dog, you step up the ladder in terms of more independence," says Mr Warke, a national account manager for manufacturer Swift Fine Foods. "The reassurance that it gives you, and the confidence that it gives you."

Matching a dog 

With owners having their guide dogs for about eight years, a lot goes into the matching process.  "We are continually putting measures in place, and I would say the waiting time is one of our biggest priorities," explains Andrew Murdock, policy and engagement manager with Guide Dogs NI.  "Depending on the person, how old they are, how fast they walk, their temperament - these things all go into it.  "Some dogs will be tall, some will be small. In the matching process, they look at the physical control someone has." Even something like voice intonation can be a significant factor in successfully placing a guide dog, says Mr Murdock. Matching a guide dog can depend on age, a person's walking speed, temperament, and even voice intonation  "If someone is working in an office, they need a dog who is relaxed and doesn't mind lying down, that is something else which would be considered," he adds. 

Concentration

Eddie Warke's dog Creighton, which he had for two years, was retired when he became too unsettled to work. "He was such a beautiful dog, he was a long-haired black retriever with salmon eyes, and these used to just melt people," recalls Mr Warke.  Eddie Warke had his dog Creighton for two years  Describing navigating with a dog as "fabulous", he says using a cane is much more sensitive.  "You need to concentrate 100% to use it properly," he says.  "And that's hard to do, it's very tiring. If you're not concentrating 100%, you can miss a curb, especially if it has been trimmed down."

Bridges the gap

Stephen Campbell, who swam for Ireland in the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, applied for his first dog around the start of 2005, and was matched with Finn in the early part of 2007.  "I got around a lot faster, a lot safer," he says.  Stephen Campbell competed for Ireland in the Beijing Paralympics  "It did give me a sense of freedom. I was on the Ireland squad for eight years. Having that dog with me to go down to Dublin, I was just a lot more independent." Having worked alongside him throughout his entire adult life, when it came time for Finn to retire in 2015, he made the decision not to go back on the list immediately - so he could keep Finn in his retirement.  "Finn was in the tech with me in Dungannon, he went to university at Magee with me, and then he was at Queen's with myself in my post-grad. He was also part of the family as well," he said.  Mr Campbell has been back on the waiting list since January 2018. He says it took around a year after his dog retired for his cane skills to return to where they were previously.  "The dog somewhat bridges that gap where it makes a person notice," he says. "When they notice the dog, they follow the dog's head to the harness, and then the harness to the lead, and the lead to me. And they realise 'oh, it's a guide dog'." 

'Walking down the road drunk'

For Eddie Warke, the process of finding a dog to suit his professional needs has been difficult, with three unsuccessful attempts at a match.  He says his perfect dog would "have energy", but would still be "calm enough to stay in an environment where it is busy". "With the last dog I tried to match with, Bella, it was OK in a crowded environment, but then you're not in top gear," he says. "On an open stretch I couldn't keep her straight.  "Her head is cocking around to the left, so she's leaning around to the left, and then I'm trying to correct that by going around to the right, and you would have thought me and Bella were drunk walking down the road."   

^ It's a shame that so many people (whether in the UK or any other place in the world) have to wait to get a guide animal to help them doing every day things. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-48036712

Latest Snow

^ I have lived here just over 10 years and it has snowed on Memorial Day twice in that time. ^

Orthodox Easter

Many Orthodox churches base their Easter date on the Julian calendar, which often differs from the Gregorian calendar that is used by many western countries. Therefore the Orthodox Easter period often occurs later than the Easter period that falls around the time of the March equinox.

Is Orthodox Easter Day a Public Holiday?

Orthodox Easter Day is not a public holiday. It falls on Sunday, April 28, 2019 and most businesses follow regular Sunday opening hours in Russia.

What Do People Do?

Millions of Orthodox Christians worldwide, including about six million in North America, observe Easter, also known as Pascha, each year. It is estimated that there are more than 250 million Orthodox Christians in the world.

In Lebanon, many Orthodox Christians attend a church liturgy at Easter, whether it is on Sunday morning or midnight liturgy between Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday. On Easter Sunday, many families hold a special lunch consisting of turkey or chicken stuffed with nuts and served with rice. The afternoon is spent visiting friends and family members. Many homes have maamoul (cookies) on a plate with other delicacies such as chick peas covered with sugar and sweet almonds.

In Bulgaria, many worshippers celebrate outside churches after midnight liturgy, carrying candles to symbolize the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Painted eggs are cracked or smashed and richly-painted Orthodox churches are filled with clouds of incense and choir songs.

In Greece, Easter Sunday is also a widely celebrated occasion. Lambs are roasted on a spit and the provision of wine is abundant. The roasted lamb is served in honor of Jesus Christ, who was sacrificed and rose again on Easter. Lamb is the most traditional Greek Easter food. Red-dyed eggs are cracked against each other and the person with the last remaining uncracked egg will have good luck. Easter Sunday is a time of festivity and people eat, chat or dance throughout the night.

On the island of Crete, many villages prepare for a bonfire effigy of Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus Christ, as described in the New Testament of the Bible.  In the lead up to the bonfire event, people gather sticks and branches to prepare to burn the effigy.

Around the world, many Orthodox Catholic Churches, including the Greek and Russian Orthodox churches, hold Easter liturgies during the Easter period according to the Julian calendar. Families unite and join in Orthodox Easter activities, festivities and traditions.

Public Life

Countries that officially observe the Orthodox Easter period include: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Lebanon, Republic of Macedonia, Romania, Russia, and Ukraine. There are no federal Orthodox Easter public holidays in countries such as Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. However, it is a time for families and friends of the Orthodox Christian faith to gather together and to celebrate the Orthodox Easter period.

Easter is not a federal holiday in Jordan, although many Orthodox Christians are pushing to make it an official holiday. There have been petitions calling for the government in Jordan to make Easter an official public holiday. Jordan has a population of about six million people, and about six percent consists of Christians while about 92 percent consists of people of the Sunni Muslim faith.

In Lebanon – a country with a population of nearly 60 percent being Muslim and about 39 percent being Christian – Easter Sunday and Good Friday are public holidays.

Background

In 325CE the Council of Nicaea established that Easter would be held on the first Sunday after the first full moon occurring on or after the March equinox. From that point forward, the Easter date depended on the ecclesiastical approximation of March 21 for the March equinox. Easter is delayed one week if the full moon is on Sunday, which decreases the chances of it falling on the same day as the Jewish Passover.

Although the Council of Nicaea established the Easter date for churches around the world, not all Christian churches observe Easter according the Gregorian calendar. Many Orthodox churches still observe Easter in accordance with the Julian calendar.

In the Orthodox circles, tensions exist between New Calendarists – those who use the revised Julian calendar for calculating the feasts of the ecclesiastical year – and Old Calendarists – those who continue to use the traditional Julian calendar. The calendar question reflects the dispute between those who wish to synchronize with the modern Gregorian calendar and those who wish to maintain the traditional ecclesiastical calendar based on the Julian calendar.

There have been a number of proposed Easter date reforms. In 1997 the World Council of Churches proposed a reform to solve the Easter date difference between churches that observe the Gregorian calendar and those that observe the Julian calendar. So far, this reform has not been implemented.

Symbols

Easter celebrations in Orthodox Christian communities usually include a spit-roast lamb dinner and a display of hard-boiled eggs, dyed red to symbolize the blood of Christ. The egg was an important symbol in the mythologies of many early civilizations and was also connected with the springtime fertility rituals. Many Greeks rap their eggs against their friends' eggs and the owner of the last uncracked egg is considered lucky. The red eggs are usually prepared on Holy Thursday in countries such as Greece. According to tradition, the Virgin Mary dyed eggs red to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ and to celebrate life. A traditional Easter dinner may consist of red-dyed eggs baked into a braided loaf of bread, spit-roasted, herb-perfumed baby lamb, and assorted vegetables.

One of the most common Christian symbols associated with Easter is the lamb. It is often depicted with a banner that bears a cross, and it is known as the Agnus Dei, meaning "Lamb of God" in Latin. The symbol’s origin relates to the Jewish Passover. In ancient times the Jews sacrificed a lamb in the course of the festival. The early Christians associated the sacrifice of the lamb with Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross. They connected the joyous Passover festival, which celebrates the liberation of Jewish people from years of bondage in Egypt, with the liberation from death represented by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/common/orthodox-easter-day

Христос воскрес!

50% Easter

From the MT:

“Half of Russians Say They Don't Know Why Easter Is Celebrated – Poll”

Half of Russia’s Orthodox Christians do not know the origins of Easter, according to a state-run poll published on Friday. Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Day after his death on the cross. Orthodox Easter falls on Sunday, April 28, ending seven weeks of fasting and kickstarting the traditions of spring cleaning and egg-dyeing. Exactly half of Russian respondents correctly named resurrection when asked what the religious holiday celebrates, the state-funded VTsIOM pollster found. Jesus’ birthday was the second-most popular answer at 6 percent. Four percent each guessed that Easter was either an “important Christian holiday” or memorial day. Three percent said the holiday marks the end of fasting. VTsIOM noted the growing share of Russians who say celebrating Easter is an important religious tradition, as well as its popularity among non-Christians. VTsIOM conducted the phone survey among 1,600 respondents on Wednesday, April 24.

^ When you consider that Russians (like other Soviets) were officially forbidden from any religion from 1917-1991 by the Communists it is not that surprising that half of Russians do not know what Easter is 28 years after the USSR collapsed. What is shocking is where the article states that 50% of Russian Orthodox Christians do not know what Easter is about. If someone claims to be a practicing Christian then they should at least know what Christmas, Easter, etc. are about. ^

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2019/04/26/half-of-russians-say-dont-know-why-easter-celebrated-poll-a65400

Remote Independence

From Disability Scoop:

“Remote Monitoring Offering Adults With Disabilities More Independence”

If his support worker isn’t on the way out the door by 9 p.m., John Mogan might encourage the exit. That’s when his alone time starts. The 50-year-old gets to sleep, watch television or listen to music without someone watching over him. No one in his home, anyway. Ali Rahimi monitors Mogan remotely, by way of video cameras, sensors and other devices. Rahimi can dim lights, lock doors, play relaxing songs and, most importantly, see when Mogan needs in-person help. Mogan has developmental disabilities and mental illness. Those conditions make it all but impossible for him, and for thousands of other Ohioans, to safely manage day-to-day life without assistance. “John used to have staff with him 24/7,” said Rahimi, founder and CEO of Medforall, a company based in Grandview Heights. “We’ve been able to cut that in half.” Although its use is still far from widespread, “supportive technology” is emerging as an answer to some of the disability community’s most pressing issues. Advocates see it as a means to help people gain greater independence and reduce reliance on the direct-support workforce, which is struggling under low wages, a shortage of employees and alarmingly high turnover rates. “I truly believe that what we’re doing will save the industry,” Ken Smith of Rest Assured, a telecare and remote support company out of Lafayette, Ind., said during a recent meeting with Ohio officials. “It can’t continue this way. We don’t have the bodies.” As governor, John Kasich signed an executive order last year that made Ohio the first state to formally emphasize expanding access to technology for people with developmental disabilities. “The kind of entrepreneurship, passion and commitment we have is just phenomenal,” said Jeff Davis, director of the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities. Rahimi, 37, is an Iranian immigrant and Ohio State University graduate, a computer scientist and engineer who didn’t exactly dream of being a trailblazer in the field of disability services. The seed grew after a chance meeting 16 years ago, when he interviewed social worker Patti Ruble for a college assignment. Ruble, who is now 76, lost almost all her mobility to polio at age 12. Rahimi was astounded that she had gone on to earn two degrees and establish a career. “I guess I had preconceived notions,” he said. “It was a positive shock, really. It got my brain firing.” Rahimi couldn’t stop pondering the frustrations and limitations of Ruble’s wheelchair, apartment and unreliable support providers. He could barely contain all the ideas he had to make things easier for her. And — this is the most important part, Rahimi said — he quickly grew to care for Ruble. He considers Mogan a friend, too. “It’s that human element that’s making this happen,” he said. “I’m an engineer, so as much as I want to give credit to the technology, that’s not it. It’s wanting to help make someone’s life better.”

Solving problems

Rahimi and his staff in the tiny lab at Medforall mix off-the-shelf hardware such as smartphones and Amazon Alexa with custom designs, programs and even 3-D-printed devices. Offerings range from relatively simple smart-home features — Ruble’s University District apartment has several — to specialized video that protects privacy in bedrooms and bathrooms. There are sensors that notify workers when a client gets out of bed, gaze-activated screens, and visual and voice prompts when medications are due. “Pretty much everything we do, we just start from solving one problem,” Rahimi said. One cutting-edge development underway uses augmented reality to create a calming, interactive model that looks like a young client’s father, for example. “Imagine that there is an invisible person on the couch, but only the phone can see it,” said Medforall animator Jesse Cutrell. The pace of advances is breathtaking, Ruble said. “Ali doesn’t even know where a lot of this stuff is going to lead him.” She remains most impressed, however, with his compassion. “He’s a son to me,” she said. Even before Medforall took off, Rahimi sought to help Ruble obtain more responsive support staff members. In 2011, he started Ohio At Home, a health-care agency now connected to the supportive-technology business he founded in late 2015. “I was fearful,” Rahimi said. “I remember the first person we hired. I said, ‘Patti, what are we doing?’ And now we have 64.” Rahimi hires Ohio State students, most of whom are majoring in health- and social-service fields. “They’re pre-conditioned,” he said. “I don’t have to teach them why this work matters.”

Increasing numbers

According to the state, about 420 people in Ohio have remote support as part of their disability services, and approximately 480 are using assistive-technology devices. Some opt for both. Disabilities officials have a plan to increase the total to 2,150 this year, which still would be just a fraction of the 44,000 Ohioans whose Medicaid funding can be used to pay for support workers, tech-based care and other community services. “Getting the manpower out there to talk about it is a challenge,” said Adam Shoemaker of THS Remote Support Services in the Cincinnati area. “There’s a lot of education to be had.” Incorporating technology typically requires cooperation with paid support providers, and that can raise questions about expectations and billing, risk and liability. Ohio’s county disability boards need to become more aware of the technology so that case coordinators can explain options, advocates said. But families shouldn’t be made to feel as if they are being pushed to agree to technological support as a means of saving money. “It’s not a good fit for everybody,” Shoemaker said. Costs vary widely, depending on the service or device. But Shoemaker said a client who switches from in-person support to remote monitoring for even a few hours each week could easily reduce spending by thousands each year. He’d like to see some of the savings go toward boosting wages for support workers, few of whom earn more than $12 an hour. John Mogan’s father, Pat, admits to “some trepidation” about the family’s decision more than a year ago to trust that technology could help his son regain time on his own in his West Side apartment. The Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities had recommended around-the-clock support a few years ago after Mogan suffered a series of injuries. That change raised expenses and, at times, Mogan’s stress level. A case coordinator told his father that while it was obvious that Mogan couldn’t be on his own, “he can still be independent, and this is how we can do it.” Mogan, whose speech is severely affected, said he likes his home and doesn’t mind the cameras. He’s clearly fond of Rahimi. “Ali comes to John’s at all hours of the night,” Pat Mogan said. “If they notice something, or if John is restless, he’ll be right there.” Rahimi is among a handful of technology vendors communicating with the state about progress and problems. He can’t help but laugh when he considers where he started. When he first built a technology “hub” for Ruble, he didn’t even know he could get paid for providing such services. “We had no idea,” Rahimi said. He just figured that, based on his skills and her needs, it was the right thing to do. “The home health-care model is not going to be the same,” Rahimi said. “Everything is changing. But what technology is not going to be able to take over is love and compassion.”

^ This seems too good to be true, but I really hope that it is true and that it can help millions more disabled people around the world to gain more independence. ^

https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2019/04/24/remote-monitoring-more-independence/26487/

Biden Running

From Reuters:

“Ex-Vice President Biden launches 2020 presidential campaign”

Former Vice President Joe Biden formally joined the crowded Democratic presidential contest on Thursday, betting that his working-class appeal and ties to Barack Obama's presidency will help him overcome questions about his place in today's increasingly liberal Democratic Party. He made his announcement in a video posted on Twitter, declaring, "We are in the battle for the soul of this nation." "If we give Donald Trump eight years in the White House, he will forever and fundamentally alter the character of this nation," Biden said. "Who we are. And I cannot stand by and watch that happen." Thursday's announcement marks the unofficial end of the chaotic early phase of the 2020 presidential season. The field now features at least 20 Democrats jockeying for the chance to take on President Donald Trump next year. Several lesser-known candidates may still join the race. Biden, a 76-year-old lifelong politician, becomes an instant front-runner alongside Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who is leading many polls and has proved to be a successful fundraiser . Among Democrats, Biden has unmatched international and legislative experience, and he is among the best-known faces in U.S. politics. But the anti-establishment wave that swept Trump into office has not been kind to either party's statesmen. Biden's team worries about his fundraising ability and his tendency to commit gaffes. His centrist approach in a party moving left on major policy debates raises questions about his appeal. Four years Trump's senior, Biden would be the oldest person ever elected president should he win. Yet his allies believe the skeptics will ultimately warm to his strong connections to the Obama years. Biden has said he would campaign as an "Obama-Biden Democrat," who is as pragmatic as he is progressive. He's aiming to be a conduit between working-class white voters and the younger, more diverse voters who backed Obama in historic numbers. The Republican Party wasted no time seeking to undercut Biden's record, releasing a video on Wednesday questioning economic growth under Obama and Biden while resurrecting conservative arguments against Obama's health care law and a failed investment in green energy company Solyndra. The video ends with the words, "Joe Biden: Backwards, not forwards." Yet privately, Trump allies have warned that Biden might be the biggest re-election threat given the former vice president's potential appeal among the white working class in the Midwest, the region that gave Trump a path to the presidency. The Republican video notably does not argue a Biden candidacy would lead to socialism, as Trump and his backers have said would happen with many in the large 2020 Democratic presidential field. Biden is paying special attention to Pennsylvania, a state that swung to Trump in 2016 after voting for Democratic presidential candidates for decades. The former vice president will be in the state three times within the opening weeks of his campaign. He'll be in Philadelphia on Thursday evening headlining a fundraiser at the home of David L. Cohen, executive senior vice president of Comcast. Biden is aiming to raise $500,000 at the event. He will hold an event in Pittsburgh on Monday and will return to Philadelphia in the next two weeks for a major rally. His plans were described by people who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss his schedule and fundraising goals. With a record that stretches half a century, Biden's challenges are easy to find. Most recently, he struggled to respond to claims that he touched 2014 Nevada lieutenant governor nominee Lucy Flores' shoulders and kissed the back of her head before a fall campaign event. A handful of other women have made similar claims, though none has alleged sexual misconduct. Biden initially said he didn't recall the Flores incident but credited her with coming forward. He took a different approach in a subsequent statement, saying, "Never did I believe I acted inappropriately." Biden later pledged in an online video to be "much more mindful" of respecting personal space but joked two days later that he "had permission" to hug a male union leader before addressing the group's national conference. The episode offered a stark reminder of Biden's proclivity to gaffes and his long record in public office that has never felt the full glare of the spotlight that comes along with being a presidential front-runner. His first White House bid in 1988 ended after a plagiarism scandal. He dropped out of the 2008 race after earning less than 1 percent of the vote in the Iowa caucuses. Later that year, Obama named Biden as his running mate. More recently, Biden's willingness to work with Republicans has caused him political headaches. He was forced to walk back a comment last month that Vice President Mike Pence is "a decent guy" after intense blowback from liberal activists upset with Pence's opposition to gay rights. In recent weeks, Biden also has been repeatedly forced to explain his 1991 decision, as Senate Judiciary Committee chairman, to allow Anita Hill to face difficult questions from an all-male panel about allegations of sexual harassment against Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas, who later was confirmed to the high court. Biden has since apologized for his role in the hearing. But in the #MeToo era, particularly after the contentious confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, the episode remains a significant political liability. Likewise, Biden once played a key role in anti-crime legislation that had a disproportionately negative impact on African Americans. And while several 2020 Democratic contenders have embraced the possibility of reparations to African Americans for slavery in recent weeks, Biden last month struggled to explain comments he made as a freshman senator in 1975 about the school busing debate. Biden's 2020 bid comes four years after he opted against challenging Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic contest. In a book he wrote about conversations with his dying son, he opened up about the difficult choice to sit out the last presidential race: abandon a careerlong quest for the presidency or lose precious time with a family he'd held together through tragedy, from his first wife's and his daughter's deaths in a 1972 car accident to son Beau Biden's 2015 death from cancer. "He was worried that what I'd worked on my whole life, the things that mattered to me the most since I was a kid, that I'd walk away," Biden said of his son. Ultimately, the draw to take on Trump in 2020 was too strong.

^ His campaign slogan should be "Touching Americans (whether they wanted it or not) for over 70 years." It also gives new meaning to "Hands Across America." ^

https://news.yahoo.com/ex-vice-president-biden-launches-2020-presidential-campaign-100201207--election.html

No Joe!

^ No Means No Joe! ^

What's Anzac?

ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) Day is the anniversary of the landing of troops from Australia and New Zealand on the Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey, in World War I on April 25, 1915. The bravery of all military personnel who participated in this campaign and the lives of those who died in all military actions are remembered.

Is ANZAC Day a Public Holiday?

ANZAC Day is a public holiday. It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed.

Celebrate ANZAC Day

Many ceremonies, parades, and other activities are held on ANZAC Day to remember the lives of those who participated or died in military action, particularly on the Gallipoli peninsula in World War I. Dawn prayer or church services are a particularly important aspect of ANZAC Day. These represent the comradeship that the soldiers experienced as they rose each morning to prepare for another day of military action. After the services, gunfire breakfast (coffee with rum in it) is often served. In major cities and many smaller towns, parades, marches, and reunions of current and past military personnel and memorial services are held. The fourth stanza or verse of a well-known poem, known as The Ode, is read aloud at many ceremonies. The poem is called “For The Fallen” and was written by Laurence Binyon in 1914. It commemorates those who died and can never grow old.

Public Life

ANZAC Day is on April 25 and it is celebrated Australia-wide. However, holiday arrangements vary in states and territories. If April 25 is on a Saturday or Sunday, the following Monday is a day off for the general population in Western Australia. In the Australian Capital Territory, only public servants, including school teachers, get the day off. This excludes those employed by the federal government. In the Northern Territory, the Monday following ANZAC Day is a non-working day only if April 25 falls on a Sunday. In the rest of Australia, there is no day in lieu when ANZAC Day falls on a weekend, although there may be substitution arrangements in some cases. Even where Monday is a public holiday if ANZAC Day falls on a weekend day, remembrance ceremonies usually occur on April 25, regardless of the day of the week. In many areas, large retail outlets, including supermarkets, department stores, and shops in designated shopping areas, are closed all day on ANZAC Day or the public holiday associated with it. Some small stores and those supplying building materials and motor vehicle parts and accessories are open from noon. Public transport systems operate a normal, weekend, or reduced service depending on the location. Some public transport services do not run on ANZAC Day, while extra services may be provided around special events, such as the parades. It is wise to check the appropriate timetables carefully if you need to travel on ANZAC Day. There may be some disruption to traffic, particularly around parades and ceremonies.

About ANZAC Day

In the early months of 1915, World War I was raging in most of Europe, including the Ottoman empire in the geographical area that is now Turkey. Russian troops were fighting on many fronts, particularly against troops from Germany and the Ottoman and Austro -Hungarian empires. At dawn on April 25, 1915, forces from France, Great Britain, and the British Empire, including Australia and New Zealand, landed at a number of places on the Gallipoli peninsula. The campaign aimed to open up new fronts for the Allied forces and a trade route to Russia. In the ensuing battle, many lives were lost on both sides and the Allied forces did not succeed in opening a trade route to Russia. The last ANZAC forces withdrew from the Gallipoli peninsula by December 20, 1915, in a successful operation with very few casualties. In spite of their losses, the ANZAC servicemen and many Australians and New Zealanders saw this battle as the start of the ANZAC spirit. This is an Australasian ideal based on the “mateship” and cheerful suffering the forces showed during this campaign ANZAC Day is also a public holiday and day of remembrance in New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa, and Tonga. It is also commemorated with special services and events on or around April 25 in a range of countries across the globe. These include the United Kingdom, France, Turkey, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Canada, and the United States (including Hawaii).

https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/australia/anzac-day

Anzac Day!

Appealing Equality

From Military.com:

“Government Appeals Judge's Ruling That Found Male-Only Draft Unconstitutional”

The Justice Department has appealed a Texas judge's ruling that the country's male-only draft registration system is unconstitutional. Attorneys for the Selective Service System filed paperwork Monday over a ruling in February by Houston-based Judge Gray Miller, who decided that the U.S. government's requirement that only male U.S. citizens register for a potential draft is discriminatory under the Fifth Amendment's equal protection clause. Miller stopped short of ordering the Selective System to include women, and it continues to require that only men register at age 18. But the federal government appealed the case after the plaintiffs this month requested a motion to expand the ruling to require that either both genders register, or neither do. In its opposition to the request, the government argued that such a decision would be "particularly problematic."" It would impose a draft registration on all eligible American women by judicial fiat before Congress has considered how to address the matter. No party before this Court represents the interests of those who would be impacted by this," wrote Justice Department attorney Michael Gerardi on April 15. The appeal now moves the case to the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. It was initially filed in 2013 by Texas resident James Lesmeister and San Diego resident Anthony Davis, backed by the National Coalition for Men, who argued that it is discriminatory because it precludes 50 percent of the population from draft eligibility. The legal case continues as a congressional commission debates whether the country needs a system for a military draft and who should be required to register. The National Commission on Military, National and Public Service is expected to release a report next year on recommendations for the Selective Service System and other federal opportunities for public service. Between February and June, the commission plans 14 public hearings on public and military service. On April 24 in Washington, D.C., members will hear from experts on the need for compulsory or voluntary military mobilization and national emergencies. The next day, they will consider arguments for and against the current male-only system and future requirements. In his argument against an injunction, Gerardi said that a judicial ruling before the commission has issued its findings would be inappropriate. "It should be left to Congress in consultation with the executive branch and military officials, to determine how to revise the registration system in response."

^ It seems the Federal Government is just stalling. They have had years to deal with this – ever since women were allowed in combat and all over areas of the Military – and they did little to nothing in those years to resolve this issue. I am all for women being treated equally as men, but that equality also extends to registering for the Selective Service. If men are required to do it than women also have to be required to do it. I don’t see how this will be problematic. If the Selective Service is kept then women will just have to go online and register the same way men have to go online to register. If the Selective Service is done away with then both men and women don’t have to do a thing. Doesn’t sound very problematic to me. ^

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/04/23/government-appeals-judges-ruling-found-male-only-draft-unconstitutional.html

FSB

I went to the bank (FSB – I know it sounds like the Russian successor to the KGB) to get something notarized. I have gone and had things notarized for over a decade now with no problems. That changed today. The same woman that notarized things for me in the past all of the sudden said she couldn’t because of “liability issues.” That is the dumbest excuse I have ever hear. What liability does a notary have to worry about? They are only there to say they checked your picture ID and witnessed you sign whatever form you sign in from of them. On the way out of the bank I saw what looked like an altar to sacrifice things on – it was very creepy. I guess there’s a reason that every time I went in to the bank over the past 10 years there was always more tellers than bankers.

I went to another bank in town (TD Bank) to try there. I had never been to this local TD branch before. The teller was not only very friendly, but also notarized the form for me. On top of that there was no charge (unlike FSB which always charged.) I was very impressed with this TD Bank and would gladly go back there – and not just to have something notarized.

Armenian Remembrance

Armenian Genocide

The Armenian genocide was the ruthless slaughter of millions of Armenians by the Turks of the Ottoman Empire. In 1915, during World War I, leaders of the Turkish government set in motion a plan to expel and massacre Armenians. By the early 1920s, when the massacres and deportations finally ended, between 600,000 and 1.5 million Armenians were dead, with many more forcibly removed from the country. Today, most historians call this event a genocide: a premeditated and systematic campaign to exterminate an entire people. However, the Turkish government still does not acknowledge the enormity or scope of these events.

Armenian Genocide Begins

On April 24, 1915, the Armenian genocide began. That day, the Turkish government arrested and executed several hundred Armenian intellectuals.  After that, ordinary Armenians were turned out of their homes and sent on death marches through the Mesopotamian desert without food or water.  Frequently, the marchers were stripped naked and forced to walk under the scorching sun until they dropped dead. People who stopped to rest were shot. At the same time, the Young Turks created a “Special Organization,” which in turn organized “killing squads” or “butcher battalions” to carry out, as one officer put it, “the liquidation of the Christian elements.” These killing squads were often made up of murderers and other ex-convicts. They drowned people in rivers, threw them off cliffs, crucified them and burned them alive. In short order, the Turkish countryside was littered with Armenian corpses. Records show that during this “Turkification” campaign, government squads also kidnapped children, converted them to Islam and gave them to Turkish families. In some places, they raped women and forced them to join Turkish “harems” or serve as slaves. Muslim families moved into the homes of deported Armenians and seized their property. Though reports vary, most sources agree that there were about 2 million Armenians in the Ottoman Empire at the time of the massacre. In 1922, when the genocide was over, there were just 388,000 Armenians remaining in the Ottoman Empire.

Armenian Genocide Today

After the Ottomans surrendered in 1918, the leaders of the Young Turks fled to Germany, which promised not to prosecute them for the genocide. (However, a group of Armenian nationalists devised a plan, known as Operation Nemesis, to track down and assassinate the leaders of the genocide.)  Ever since then, the Turkish government has denied that a genocide took place. The Armenians were an enemy force, they argue, and their slaughter was a necessary war measure.  Today, Turkey is an important ally of the United States and other Western nations, and so their governments have likewise been reluctant to condemn the long-ago killings. In March 2010, a U.S. Congressional panel at last voted to recognize the genocide. However, little has changed in Turkey: Despite pressure from Armenians and social justice advocates throughout the world, it’s still illegal in Turkey to talk about what happened to Armenians during that era.

https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/armenian-genocide

Veteran Question

From Military.com:

 “Utah Man Pushes for Census to Include Veterans Question “

The former head of the Utah Department of Veterans Affairs is pushing for the U.S. census to include a question about veterans next year. Terry Schow, a Vietnam veteran, wants the 2020 census to ask about veteran status so the state can have a more accurate count of people with military service, the Standard-Examiner reported Saturday. "It's really just one question: Are you a veteran?" Schow said. The Census Bureau pulled the veteran status question from the questionnaire in 2010, according to the agency. The bureau continues to collect data on veterans through three smaller surveys: the American Community Survey, the Current Population Survey and the Survey of Income and Program Participation. These surveys only go to a portion of the population, Schow said. The American Community Survey, the largest of the three, is sent out to about 3.5 million people each year. Current counts of veterans from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Census Bureau are likely missing a significant number of people, Schow said. The department lists about 152,000 veterans in Utah while the bureau says the state has about 144,000. A state database indicates Utah has about 180,000 veterans, Schow said. The VA uses census data to determine spending on veteran housing, hospitals and assistance programs, Schow said. Republican U.S. Rep. Rob Bishop sent a letter to the bureau's director earlier this month, asking for the veterans question to be included. "I believe this small change will have a big impact on our ability to take care of our nation's heroes and the proper allocation of resources for veterans cemeteries and homes," Bishop wrote.

^ The veteran question should be on all Federal Government Censuses. It is the perfect way to know exactly how many veterans there are in the country as well as in each region and each state. That will show where veteran-related programs should go and only help those men and women who risked everything to protect our country. ^

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/04/22/utah-man-pushes-census-include-veterans-question.html

New IRA Killing

From the BBC:

“Lyra McKee killing: 'New IRA' admits responsibility”

The New IRA has admitted responsibility for the murder of journalist Lyra McKee, according to the Irish News. In a statement given to the paper the group offered "full and sincere apologies" to her family and friends. Ms McKee, 29, was shot in the head on Thursday night while observing rioting in Londonderry's Creggan estate. On Tuesday police confirmed the arrest of a 57-year-old woman in connection with Ms McKee's death. The woman was arrested under the Terrorism Act. Police say there has been a "massive response" to her killing and have urged more members of the public to come forward. The statement from the New IRA comes after the hard-left republican political party Saoradh - which has the support of the New IRA - had previously sought to justify the use of violence on Thursday.  Ms McKee was standing near a police 4x4 vehicle when she was shot after a masked gunman fired towards police and onlookers. A protest by friends of Ms McKee took place on Monday outside the office of Saoradh, a political group linked to the New IRA. A number of women smeared red paint in hand prints on republican slogans outside the office. Police were present but did not make any immediate arrests. Police said the public response to the killing had been "massive".  Det Supt Jason Murphy said there had been a "palpable change" in community sentiment in support of their investigation, in terms of off-the-record intelligence. He has urged members of the public to "come forward and have a conversation with me". It is understood that police and the Public Prosecution Service have discussed what measures could be available to protect witnesses fearful of giving evidence at trial. The New IRA is believed to have been formed between 2011 and 2012 following the merger of a number of smaller groups, including the Real IRA, which itself was born out of a split in the mainstream Provisional IRA (PIRA) in October 1997 over Sinn Fein's embrace of the peace process. The New IRA has been linked with four murders. Ms McKee's killing came 21 years after the Good Friday peace agreement was signed in Northern Ireland. The 1998 peace deal marked the end in the region of decades of violent conflict - known as the Troubles - involving republicans and loyalists during which about 3,600 people are estimated to have died. The Good Friday Agreement was the result of intense negotiations involving the UK and Irish governments and Northern Ireland's political parties. Ms McKee's funeral will be held at St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast on Wednesday. Her partner, Sara Canning, said the service would be a "celebration of her life".

^ There is no reason for the New IRA or any Catholic or Protestant para-military group to continue using violence and murder to achieve their goals (whether for a reunited Ireland or keeping Northern Ireland inside the United Kingdom.) The Troubles are over and so should the killing and wounding.

The Troubles in Northern Ireland (1968-1998) started when Northern Irish Catholics peacefully demanded equal Civil Rights – the same ones given to Northern Irish Protestants and British citizens. The response of the Northern Irish Protestants was death and violence. The British Army was deployed to Northern Ireland and initially welcomed by the Northern Irish Catholics as a neutral force. All of that changed when the British Army started massacring innocent men, women and children simply because they were Catholic (which the British Prime Minister and Government eventually admitted to doing decades later.) Because of the violent actions of both the Northern Irish Protestants and the British Government the Northern Irish Catholics stopped their peaceful protests and followed the Protestants’ example of death and violence. The Troubles ended with the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 which finally gave Northern Irish Catholics equal rights with Northern Irish Protestants as well as the Welsh, the Scots and the English. 3,532 people from all sides were killed (52% of them were civilians) and 47,500 people from all sides were wounded (60% of them were Northern Irish Catholics) during The Troubles. 

The only solution to the Northern Ireland status today (whether to be reunited with Ireland or stay inside the United Kingdom) should be a referendum on the issue and not violence. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-48018615

Comedian President

From the BBC:

“Ukraine election: Comedian Zelensky wins presidency by landslide”

Ukrainian comedian Volodymyr Zelensky has won a landslide victory in the country's presidential election, exit polls suggest. The polls give the political newcomer, who dominated the first round of voting three weeks ago, more than 70% support.  Mr Zelensky, 41, challenged incumbent president Petro Poroshenko who has admitted defeat. The apparent result is being seen as a huge blow to Mr Poroshenko and a rejection of Ukraine's establishment. "I will never let you down," Mr Zelensky told celebrating supporters on Sunday.  "I'm not yet officially the president," he added. "But as a citizen of Ukraine I can say to all countries in the post-Soviet Union: Look at us. Anything is possible!" If polls are correct, he will be elected for a five-year term. Official results are expected to come in throughout Sunday night. Mr Zelensky is best known for starring in a satirical television series in which his character accidentally becomes Ukrainian president. The president holds significant powers over the security, defense and foreign policy of the country. Ukraine's choice was between an experienced politician with five years as president on his CV and a comedian wielding little more than a blank sheet of paper. That so many people have opted for Volodymyr Zelensky is a humiliation for Petro Poroshenko. Thirty-seven candidates were removed from the ballot paper from the first round and yet the president only picked up about 9% more votes this time. Mr Zelensky gained almost 45%.  This feels like a massive protest vote and for now Mr Zelensky and his campaign team are celebrating.  It's hard to see the feeling lasting long. The hard work will come when they have to start fleshing out what are at the moment vague policies.  It's one thing to have bold ideas but quite another to implement them. Polls gave Mr Poroshenko, who has been in power since 2014, 25% of the vote. "The outcome of the election leaves us with uncertainty [and] unpredictability," he said after exit polls were released. He added: "I will leave office but I want to firmly stress - I will not quit politics." The billionaire was elected after an uprising overthrew the country's previous pro-Russian government. Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea peninsula in March 2014 after a controversial referendum on self-determination - a move condemned internationally. Since then, Ukrainian forces have been fighting Russian-backed separatists and volunteers in the east. In a tweet, Mr Poroshenko said "a new inexperienced Ukrainian president... could be quickly returned to Russia's orbit of influence". Petro Poroshenko was elected after an uprising overthrew the previous pro-Russian government  But Russia's foreign ministry said Ukrainian voters had expressed their desire for political change.  "The new leadership now must understand and realize the hopes of its electors," deputy foreign minister Grigory Karasin told the Ria Novosti news agency. "This of course applies to domestic as well as foreign affairs." Meanwhile, Mr Zelensky told a news conference he would "reboot" peace talks with the separatists. "We will... continue with the Minsk talks - we will reboot them," he said. "I think that we will have personnel changes. In any case we will continue in the direction of the Minsk talks and head towards concluding a ceasefire."

Who is Volodymyr Zelensky?

Mr Zelensky starred in the long-running satirical drama Servant of the People in which his character accidentally becomes Ukraine's president.  He plays a teacher who is elected after his expletive-laden rant about corruption goes viral on social media. He ran under a political party with the same name as his show. Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed to tackle corruption and cronyism  With no previous political experience, Mr Zelensky's campaign focused on his difference to the other candidates rather than on any concrete policy ideas. Despite this, he won the first round with more than 30% of the vote - almost double what Mr Poroshenko got when he finished in second place with 15.95%.

What do voters think of him?

Analysts believe Mr Zelensky's informal style and vow to clean up Ukrainian politics resonated with voters who are disillusioned with the country's path under Mr Poroshenko.  Eschewing traditional campaign tactics, Mr Zelensky channeled his on-screen persona by promising to stamp out corruption and loosen the grip of oligarchs on Ukraine. Experts say his supporters, frustrated with establishment politicians and cronyism, have been energized by his charisma and anti-corruption message.  His critics, meanwhile, are skeptical about his credentials, with many expressing concern over his close links to the billionaire oligarch Ihor Kolomoyskyi. They have expressed doubts that he will be able to take on the country's influential oligarchs and stand up to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

^ I just hope this comedian can put away the jokes and do what is necessary for Ukraine and the Ukrainians. His country is still dealing with Russian-annexed Crimea and the Russian-backed War in the Donbas after 5 years. There is nothing funny about the suffering of occupied people or the death or internal displacement of men, women and children. I also hope that he does not simply turn the clock back and make Ukraine a Russian puppet state as it was until 2014. Ukraine has come a long way in the past 5 years while dealing with the Russian annexation of Crimea, fighting the Russians in the Donbas, dealing with it’s Soviet Communist past, dealing with corruption, etc. I would like to see a Ukraine that continues to move more into the international world (Ukrainian citizens got visa-free travel to the EU not to long ago) rather than be bogged down with wars and the Russian threat. The Ukrainian people deserve that much and hopefully their new President can deliver that to them. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-48007487

Leader Arrested

From the BBC:

“US arrests 'member of border militia' in New Mexico”

Members of the United Constitutional Patriots have been seen patrolling with weapons  US authorities have arrested an alleged member of a militia that has been stopping migrants trying to cross the US-Mexico border. Larry Mitchell Hopkins, 69, was detained in New Mexico as a felon in possession of a weapon. It comes just days after a video emerged of militia members detaining dozens of migrants in the desert. The group, United Constitutional Patriots, has been condemned by civil rights groups and local officials. "This is a dangerous felon who should not have weapons around children and families," said New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas. "Today's arrest by the FBI indicates clearly that the rule of law should be in the hands of trained law enforcement officials, not armed vigilantes." While his statement said Mr Hopkins had been arrested as a felon, it did not specify what the underlying conviction had been. The alleged militia member is expected to appear in court on Monday. United Constitutional Patriots, a small volunteer group, argues it is helping US Border Patrol to deal with a surge in migrants crossing America's southern border. It is one of several militias operating in the region. As details of this week's latest video emerged, New Mexico governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said on Twitter that "menacing or threatening migrant families and asylum seekers is absolutely unacceptable and must cease". US Customs and Border Protection have previously said they are opposed to civilians patrolling the border in search of illegal crossers.

^ While I believe there is an illegal immigration and drug-trafficking problem on the US—Mexican border I believe it is up to the Government (the Federal, State and local) to patrol and arrest the border – not ordinary citizens. If an illegal immigrant goes on to your property then I believe you can then detain them as you would any criminal on your own personal property, but going out to the border with weapons is not the right answer to this problem. If these citizens want to patrol the border without weapons and help the US Border Patrol and local and state police by calling in the location of illegal immigrants (without detaining them themselves) then that is fine, but we can’t have random armed people going all over the place detaining people at gunpoint. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-48000774

Sri Lanka Attacks

From the BBC:

“Sri Lanka Attacks: Death Toll Soars To 290”

Three churches were targeted during Easter services  The death toll in Sri Lanka has soared to 290 after a wave of blasts hit churches and luxury hotels across the country on Sunday. Police said that 24 people have been arrested, but it is not yet known who carried out the attacks.  About 500 people are injured and dozens of foreigners are among the dead. The country is in shock after the Easter Sunday bombings, the deadliest violence since the end of the civil war in 2009. Late on Sunday Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said security services had been "aware of information" of possible attacks but that the information had not been acted upon.

How did the attacks unfold?

The first reports of explosions came at about 08:45 (03:15 GMT) local time - with six blasts reported within a small space of time. Three churches in Negombo, Batticaloa and Colombo's Kochchikade district were targeted during Easter services and blasts also rocked the Shangri-La, Kingsbury and Cinnamon Grand hotels in the country's capital. As police hunted those responsible, two further explosions were reported. One blast hit near the zoo in Dehiwala, southern Colombo, and an eighth was reported near the Colombo district of Dematagoda during a police raid, killing three officers. Late on Sunday, the air force said an improvised explosive device had been found and disposed of close to the country's main airport in the capital, Colombo.  "A PVC pipe which was six feet [1.8m] in length containing explosives in it was discovered," spokesman Gihan Seneviratne told local media.

What's known about the attackers?

It remains unclear who was behind the attacks, but 24 arrests were made by police. The government has said they believe suicide bombs were used at some of the sites.  The BBC's Azzam Ameen in Colombo says the attackers are thought to be part of a "radical extremist Islamist group" according to authorities. During a news conference on Sunday evening, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe addressed rumors that officials had had prior intelligence of forthcoming attacks. "We must look into why adequate precautions were not taken. Neither I nor the Ministers were kept informed," he said. "For now the priority is to apprehend the attackers," he added. Government officials have called for the public to remain calm while investigations take place. There are reports of social media networks being temporarily restricted to try and stop misinformation spreading.  Popular messaging services like WhatsApp and Facebook are said to be unavailable to many.

Who are the victims?

The vast majority of those killed are thought to be Sri Lankan nationals, including scores of Christians who died at Easter church services. The country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it believes 36 foreign nationals are among the dead, with most still unidentified at a Colombo morgue.

The international victims include:

At least five British citizens - including two with joint US citizenship 

Three Danish citizens 

One Portuguese citizen and three Indian nationals, according to Sri Lankan officials 

Two engineers from Turkey, according to Turkish news outlet Anadolu 

One person from the Netherlands 

One person from Japan, according to Japanese media citing government sources

How has the world responded?

World leaders have been offering their shock and condolences to Sri Lanka over the deadly blasts. Several prominent international monuments, including the Eiffel Tower, were dimmed or lit in Sri Lanka's colors in solidarity on Sunday night. Pope Francis, in his traditional Urbi et Orbi speech at the Vatican, condemned the attacks as "such cruel violence" targeting Christians celebrating Easter. A spokesperson for UN Secretary General António Guterres said he was "outraged" by the attacks, and expressed his hope the perpetrators would be "swiftly brought to justice". Archbishop of Colombo: ''A very, very sad day for all of us" India's Narendra Modi condemned the attacks as "barbaric" while Pakistan's leader Imran Khan also offered his "profound condolences" to Sri Lanka. UK PM Theresa May wrote in a tweet that the "acts of violence against churches and hotels in Sri Lanka are truly appalling". US President Donald Trump tweeted "heartfelt condolences" for the "horrible terrorist attacks". The leader of New Zealand, where deadly mosque attacks killed 50 last month, labelled the bombings "devastating". "Collectively we must find the will and the answers to end such violence," Jacinda Ardern said.

What is Sri Lanka's recent history?

Sunday's attacks are the deadliest seen in Sri Lanka since the end of the country's civil war in 2009. The civil war ended with the defeat of the Tamil Tigers, who had fought for 26 years for an independent homeland for the minority ethnic Tamils.  The war is thought to have killed between 70,000 and 80,000 people. The nation has seen some sporadic violence since. In March 2018 a state of emergency was declared after members of the majority Buddhist Sinhala community attacked mosques and Muslim-owned properties.

^ These terrorist attacks on Christians in Sri Lanka on Easter show the world that the threat of terrorism any where around the world is still very high. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-48008073