As a result of the back-and-forth between Israel and Iran, Israel implemented a few security measures around the various holy sites. For example, visits to the Wailing Wall is now limited to 50 people.
However, and you knew this was coming, the Haram el-Sharif on top of the Temple Mount is under a lot tighter restrictions, and Saudi Arabia and a bunch of other Muslim countries are Unhappy about it.
The Latin Patriarchate agreed to postpone the traditional procession from the Mount of Olives to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, but for the first time in "centuries" the actual service in the church was blocked by Israeli police. Which has earned the Israeli Government the ire of the Vatican and the Italian Government.
The smallest nuclear bombs ever are the alleged "backpack" nukes. Even then, they are 100+ pounds and rather too bulky for an actual backpack.
You need a minimum critical mass of enriched Uranium and or plutonium to cause an explosion... too small to be carried in a vest... more ottoman though.
I had a fantabulous trip to Egypt this past January. Sure glad I got that in before everything went to shit. I mean, Egypt's probably still ok, and you know it's still amazing and the people are kind and friendly and outgoing and WILL try to sell you something.
I didn't mind the constant sales pitch. Most people were good natured about it. And it's how they survive. Or rather, it was how they survived. I've heard it said that the official estimate is 40% of their economy depends on tourism, but if you count all the under-the-table transactions it's probably more like 60%.
Tourism was already down from the regional tensions, I can't imagine many people are booking flights to Egypt right now. Even if the country's stable(ish) who knows what's going to happen to air travel. I sure wouldn't go.
So this is a cry of sympathy for all those lovely people who are now suffering as a follow on effect of our folly. All those children who laughed and waved and shouted "HELLO!" as our bus went past. That guy at Giza who laughed with me while I denied his sales pitch. Our wonderful kind tour guides. Those kids by Aswan who would paddle up to your boat and sing at you until you gave them something, then sing some more 'cause they figured you might be a patsy.
Hey, it’s not dilapidated. It’s just a little rough. Dive tanks, fenders hanging in anchorage, one useless and deflated, (maybe he’s hoping for a friend to raft up), gasoline generator in the cockpit (nothing unsafe there), a few scrapes and dings in the hull, but the hand written (Sharpie?) “Fuck Trump” on the flag shows his heart is on the correct side.
"While this was an extreme example, the sacraliztion of Marat became a powerful tool of revolutionary propaganda. indeed, Marat dead was perhaps more useful for the Jacobins than the unpredictable, choleric live politician."
Reminds me of MAGA and a certain guy named Charlie.
LOL I was just thinking about Charlotte Corday a few days ago and wondered if there were any public statutes of her, so I Googled it and discovered there is one, but it's in a museum in Swindon, England, which seemed rather odd.
She told her tribunal “I killed one man to save 100,000.” Her last request was to have her portrait painted. There's a movie about her called "Marat/Sade" which I've never seen, but I think it must be worth seeing because Glenda Jackson plays Corday.
I was at a theater festival where we did a production of the play with Rebecca de Mornay as Corday. The set stuff was outstanding, with all of these pipes and water and stuff.
Something which was confirmed for me yet again while at the Boston 'No Kings' rally: not everyone is a good public speaker, or even an adequate public speaker. They may be good community organizers, good at being the head of the ACLU or even good politicians, but that does not mean they are good at 'speechifying' to a crowd of thousands, outside on a cold, blustery day.
Something else which was confirmed to me is that rally organizers urgently need to find good (any?) producers who understand how the size and context of a rally should determine and shape its form and content, and know how to produce events which fit those parameters. Sadly, the Boston rally was barely adequate. The sound system(s) were poor, the video projection was inadequate, many of the people speaking were just bad at it and there was not enough music.
This was the third No Kings event in Boston and they do not seem to be improving.
Not many people are good public speakers. I am shitty at it. I could stand on the stage at Carnegie Hall and dance, play my violin, sing, or act in a play, and entertain everyone pretty well, but if I had to stand there and give a speech, people would doze off after 3 minutes.
Honest to god, the more speakers they add, the less likely I am to go. I went to a smaller visibility event in St Paul & that sufficed. Apparently Jane Fonda lamented the delays in the schedule & how people had planes to catch...I'm not sure anyone was clamoring for you to come Jane.
I trust your judgement. I would say, since COVID, producers have been really thin on the ground. A lot of good, experienced producers are just gone.
Unfortunately, my generation has been utter shit at training people. All our careers, we had it hammered into us that we could be replaced at the drop of a hat, and we internalized it. No way were we going to train in our younger, cheaper, replacements.
So now we're retiring, and there's nobody to take our place.
Hey, I'll take the work and the money. I've always lived in fear of the day the phone stops ringing, but I'm coming to realize that day ain't comin'; I'm going to have to turn down work if I want to retire.
But what you're describing is indeed what happens when there isn't somebody in charge who knows which end is up.
In the Twin Cities, the AFL-CIO and "Indivisible" have some pretty good local contacts who know the local landscape and get the right vendors involved.
NOTHING gives me the oogies like bad and inadequate event support.
Being a Canadian member of the Wonketeriat means I know more about US politics than I likely should. Certainly more than a LOT of Americans (like the doofus low info voters that brought about Trump 2.0) but ALSO more than most Canadians.
People are always surprised that I can quote accurate numbers, and chapter and verse about certain news stories at them in local conversations.
Al-Shara is "Al-Nusra." Meaning, he's a US/Israeli cutout.
It does seem Al-Shara is getting big ideas, now he's head of Syria. Ideas like, he thinks he works for Syria now.
But you can't quit CIA/Mossad. Not like that. He's going to have to get used to giving up Western Syria, because that's the Israeli/US plan and has been for quite some time.
Quite a few now-dead national leaders have had similar unfortunate, fatal, reminders of the terms of their employment.
Would you like to play a game?
No? Ok fuck you then.
This is me playing with my niece today. It's "what city is this?"
She's remarkably good.
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1XHxCPoSg24cRfkmOGsftI0BCMPdx8onJoeyusfnBwWs/edit?usp=sharing
Remember when Obama won the war in Libya with nothing but air strikes? Just saying.
Even NATO helped.
As a result of the back-and-forth between Israel and Iran, Israel implemented a few security measures around the various holy sites. For example, visits to the Wailing Wall is now limited to 50 people.
However, and you knew this was coming, the Haram el-Sharif on top of the Temple Mount is under a lot tighter restrictions, and Saudi Arabia and a bunch of other Muslim countries are Unhappy about it.
The Latin Patriarchate agreed to postpone the traditional procession from the Mount of Olives to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, but for the first time in "centuries" the actual service in the church was blocked by Israeli police. Which has earned the Israeli Government the ire of the Vatican and the Italian Government.
Making friends all over the place, ain't ya Bibi?
Billions of stars, trillions of planets, and earth held hostage over 100,000 square miles
And a few tankers of oil.
Bubububububbuut Nuclear Suicide VESTS!
-JDunce Vance
The smallest nuclear bombs ever are the alleged "backpack" nukes. Even then, they are 100+ pounds and rather too bulky for an actual backpack.
You need a minimum critical mass of enriched Uranium and or plutonium to cause an explosion... too small to be carried in a vest... more ottoman though.
Then there's the not-so-insignificant matter of making a quick getaway.
Well . . . https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Atomic_Demolition_Munition
Wait what? Canada has a king?
Geddy Lee
Huh. And all this time I thought he was Michael j fox.
Good one! 🤣🤣🤣
Yeah I think it’s a KINO.
And every hour on the hour between 9 to Noon EDT in Canada, Charles In Charge calls out the KINO numbers. Winner get 1,000,000 Loonie birds!!! ;-)
I was wondering when I left that out there.
Goddammit! Spanish irregular verbs in the preterite tense have no fucking pattern!
That being said, it still makes more sense than English.
I hope our Wonkette overlords are watching the Sunday shows, because I can’t, or I’m sure there will be broken shit in my house.
Michael Mora performs that service on our behalf and reports on it on Monday. And for that I am eternally grateful.
Purple Heart.
For sure
Mora's gonna need to up his Valium game this weekend.
I hope he hasn't stopped sniffing glue this week
I had a fantabulous trip to Egypt this past January. Sure glad I got that in before everything went to shit. I mean, Egypt's probably still ok, and you know it's still amazing and the people are kind and friendly and outgoing and WILL try to sell you something.
I didn't mind the constant sales pitch. Most people were good natured about it. And it's how they survive. Or rather, it was how they survived. I've heard it said that the official estimate is 40% of their economy depends on tourism, but if you count all the under-the-table transactions it's probably more like 60%.
Tourism was already down from the regional tensions, I can't imagine many people are booking flights to Egypt right now. Even if the country's stable(ish) who knows what's going to happen to air travel. I sure wouldn't go.
So this is a cry of sympathy for all those lovely people who are now suffering as a follow on effect of our folly. All those children who laughed and waved and shouted "HELLO!" as our bus went past. That guy at Giza who laughed with me while I denied his sales pitch. Our wonderful kind tour guides. Those kids by Aswan who would paddle up to your boat and sing at you until you gave them something, then sing some more 'cause they figured you might be a patsy.
All those people. I'm sorry.
Hey, it’s not dilapidated. It’s just a little rough. Dive tanks, fenders hanging in anchorage, one useless and deflated, (maybe he’s hoping for a friend to raft up), gasoline generator in the cockpit (nothing unsafe there), a few scrapes and dings in the hull, but the hand written (Sharpie?) “Fuck Trump” on the flag shows his heart is on the correct side.
NOTICE of little importance but very well meant: Thank you for your Kind Hive Comments and Counsel about My Stupid Hip and Summer Plans.
"While this was an extreme example, the sacraliztion of Marat became a powerful tool of revolutionary propaganda. indeed, Marat dead was perhaps more useful for the Jacobins than the unpredictable, choleric live politician."
Reminds me of MAGA and a certain guy named Charlie.
LOL I was just thinking about Charlotte Corday a few days ago and wondered if there were any public statutes of her, so I Googled it and discovered there is one, but it's in a museum in Swindon, England, which seemed rather odd.
She told her tribunal “I killed one man to save 100,000.” Her last request was to have her portrait painted. There's a movie about her called "Marat/Sade" which I've never seen, but I think it must be worth seeing because Glenda Jackson plays Corday.
That movie is batshit crazy. Highly recommend!
I was at a theater festival where we did a production of the play with Rebecca de Mornay as Corday. The set stuff was outstanding, with all of these pipes and water and stuff.
I can't wait to debate this issue on the topic of one Donald J. Trump.
Remember when Thatcher finally kicked it? Let's see Central Park that joyous day.
Sign at No Kings protest:
"Tiger Woods for Trump's Chauffeur"
Will work it into my act . . .
Be sure to wear the plaid jacket and squirting boutonniere when you tell it. I always get a kick out of that.
The most Drumpf ordered shoes mandatory too.
Palate cleanser: From "Girl with the Dogs", Vanessa gives Archie, a Cocker Spaniel-Poodle mix, a spa day. By the way, Archie has some behavior issues:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYxafk6rHdc
Re: 'No Kings' Boston
Something which was confirmed for me yet again while at the Boston 'No Kings' rally: not everyone is a good public speaker, or even an adequate public speaker. They may be good community organizers, good at being the head of the ACLU or even good politicians, but that does not mean they are good at 'speechifying' to a crowd of thousands, outside on a cold, blustery day.
Something else which was confirmed to me is that rally organizers urgently need to find good (any?) producers who understand how the size and context of a rally should determine and shape its form and content, and know how to produce events which fit those parameters. Sadly, the Boston rally was barely adequate. The sound system(s) were poor, the video projection was inadequate, many of the people speaking were just bad at it and there was not enough music.
This was the third No Kings event in Boston and they do not seem to be improving.
Not many people are good public speakers. I am shitty at it. I could stand on the stage at Carnegie Hall and dance, play my violin, sing, or act in a play, and entertain everyone pretty well, but if I had to stand there and give a speech, people would doze off after 3 minutes.
I’m okay playing music or teaching a class. Anything else freezes me up completely.
Honest to god, the more speakers they add, the less likely I am to go. I went to a smaller visibility event in St Paul & that sufficed. Apparently Jane Fonda lamented the delays in the schedule & how people had planes to catch...I'm not sure anyone was clamoring for you to come Jane.
I trust your judgement. I would say, since COVID, producers have been really thin on the ground. A lot of good, experienced producers are just gone.
Unfortunately, my generation has been utter shit at training people. All our careers, we had it hammered into us that we could be replaced at the drop of a hat, and we internalized it. No way were we going to train in our younger, cheaper, replacements.
So now we're retiring, and there's nobody to take our place.
Hey, I'll take the work and the money. I've always lived in fear of the day the phone stops ringing, but I'm coming to realize that day ain't comin'; I'm going to have to turn down work if I want to retire.
But what you're describing is indeed what happens when there isn't somebody in charge who knows which end is up.
In the Twin Cities, the AFL-CIO and "Indivisible" have some pretty good local contacts who know the local landscape and get the right vendors involved.
NOTHING gives me the oogies like bad and inadequate event support.
One of the good things about a sidewalk rally is there's no speakers. Just hobnobbing and organizers walking around getting feedback. Very informal.
If we had billionaires funding us like the right wing, we would have all of this.
that reminds me-
goes and checks mail box.
Nope, still no soros bucks.
It's Sunday - no mail.
You didn't sign up for the Venmo disbursement? <g>
I gotta sign up for another app?!
Being a Canadian member of the Wonketeriat means I know more about US politics than I likely should. Certainly more than a LOT of Americans (like the doofus low info voters that brought about Trump 2.0) but ALSO more than most Canadians.
People are always surprised that I can quote accurate numbers, and chapter and verse about certain news stories at them in local conversations.
And that's because of this place.
"Why can't Republicans govern?"
"Because Democrats...."
(this argument won in 2024. Do people still believe it)
https://substack.com/@aaronrupar/note/c-235057179
Probably.
With Trump in tow, the possibilities are endless.
𝘐𝘴𝘳𝘢𝘦𝘭𝘪 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘐𝘵𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘳 𝘉𝘦𝘯 𝘎𝘷𝘪𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘈𝘩𝘮𝘢𝘥 𝘈𝘭-𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢.
“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘚𝘺𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥—𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘯𝘢𝘬𝘦.
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘚𝘺𝘳𝘪𝘢 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘐𝘴𝘳𝘢𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨.”
https://xcancel.com/TMT_arabic/status/2037954320428106183#m
Apparently these idiots are too fucking stupid to know that assassination can go in both directions.
Al-Shara is "Al-Nusra." Meaning, he's a US/Israeli cutout.
It does seem Al-Shara is getting big ideas, now he's head of Syria. Ideas like, he thinks he works for Syria now.
But you can't quit CIA/Mossad. Not like that. He's going to have to get used to giving up Western Syria, because that's the Israeli/US plan and has been for quite some time.
Quite a few now-dead national leaders have had similar unfortunate, fatal, reminders of the terms of their employment.
The Iranian PM before the Shah took over... for example.
Funny, they welcomed him at first.
I guess the honeymoon is over.
Didn't get the toaster he specified in the registry.
Lighten up, Francis.