OT subject but worth a main-stream read- OT News Feeds...

Botch

On a Mac, if you put the article in "Reader" view, it eliminates a bunch of junk and is much easier to cut-paste text from a paid website.  It's the page icon in the Address bar; if it's not there, hit <Command><Shift><R>.  

HeavyG

JohnInCarolina said:

Gulfcoastguy said:

I can't do that but give me a while and I can scan it from Papyrus news. Odd, when I did a direct search on USA Today the entire article came up.

Could be that the paywall was just triggered for me because I’ve visited usa today on my browser enough in the past.  These days I think many of these online newspapers are set up the same way - they let you read for free until they discover you’re coming back frequently.  It’s kind of a loss leader approach.

That article is marked as "for subscribers only" so I'm guessing GulfCoast subscribes.

Gulfcoastguy

HeavyG said:

JohnInCarolina said:

Gulfcoastguy said:

I can't do that but give me a while and I can scan it from Papyrus news. Odd, when I did a direct search on USA Today the entire article came up.

Could be that the paywall was just triggered for me because I’ve visited usa today on my browser enough in the past.  These days I think many of these online newspapers are set up the same way - they let you read for free until they discover you’re coming back frequently.  It’s kind of a loss leader approach.

That article is marked as "for subscribers only" so I'm guessing GulfCoast subscribes.

By paying the gas station for the paper version. Sort of nostalgic for my first paying job, 126 delivered daily back in the mid 70s.

HeavyG

Gulfcoastguy said:

HeavyG said:

JohnInCarolina said:

Gulfcoastguy said:

I can't do that but give me a while and I can scan it from Papyrus news. Odd, when I did a direct search on USA Today the entire article came up.

Could be that the paywall was just triggered for me because I’ve visited usa today on my browser enough in the past.  These days I think many of these online newspapers are set up the same way - they let you read for free until they discover you’re coming back frequently.  It’s kind of a loss leader approach.

That article is marked as "for subscribers only" so I'm guessing GulfCoast subscribes.

By paying the gas station for the paper version. Sort of nostalgic for my first paying job, 126 delivered daily back in the mid 70s.

Weird that it came up for you then since you aren't a subscriber.

nolaegghead

JohnInCarolina said:

Gulfcoastguy said:

I can't do that but give me a while and I can scan it from Papyrus news. Odd, when I did a direct search on USA Today the entire article came up.

Could be that the paywall was just triggered for me because I’ve visited usa today on my browser enough in the past.  These days I think many of these online newspapers are set up the same way - they let you read for free until they discover you’re coming back frequently.  It’s kind of a loss leader approach.

That is correct for most that have subscription services.  You may be able to clear your cookies to reset the counter unless they're tracking mac/ip on the server side.

Going back to the article, I really don't register any message other than the author wrote a fluff piece to get paid.  You can search for the "who's happiest" group categorized politically, nationality or any number of ways and find surveys and what not going either way.  True on just about anything subjective.

I'll tell you who's unhappy - people that struggle to survive.  People who have uncertain looming futures.  Think about that and put it into context.

Then there's this:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2022/03/21/finland-us-happiest-country/7114106001/

Gulfcoastguy

nolaegghead said:

JohnInCarolina said:

Gulfcoastguy said:

I can't do that but give me a while and I can scan it from Papyrus news. Odd, when I did a direct search on USA Today the entire article came up.

Could be that the paywall was just triggered for me because I’ve visited usa today on my browser enough in the past.  These days I think many of these online newspapers are set up the same way - they let you read for free until they discover you’re coming back frequently.  It’s kind of a loss leader approach.

That is correct for most that have subscription services.  You may be able to clear your cookies to reset the counter unless they're tracking mac/ip on the server side.

Going back to the article, I really don't register any message other than the author wrote a fluff piece to get paid.  You can search for the "who's happiest" group categorized politically, nationality or any number of ways and find surveys and what not going either way.  True on just about anything subjective.

I'll tell you who's unhappy - people that struggle to survive.  People who have uncertain looming futures.  Think about that and put it into context.

Then there's this:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2022/03/21/finland-us-happiest-country/7114106001/

Interesting take. You commented on the last couple of paragraphs.

HeavyG

nolaegghead said:

JohnInCarolina said:

Gulfcoastguy said:

I can't do that but give me a while and I can scan it from Papyrus news. Odd, when I did a direct search on USA Today the entire article came up.

Could be that the paywall was just triggered for me because I’ve visited usa today on my browser enough in the past.  These days I think many of these online newspapers are set up the same way - they let you read for free until they discover you’re coming back frequently.  It’s kind of a loss leader approach.

That is correct for most that have subscription services.  You may be able to clear your cookies to reset the counter unless they're tracking mac/ip on the server side.

Going back to the article, I really don't register any message other than the author wrote a fluff piece to get paid.  You can search for the "who's happiest" group categorized politically, nationality or any number of ways and find surveys and what not going either way.  True on just about anything subjective.

I'll tell you who's unhappy - people that struggle to survive.  People who have uncertain looming futures.  Think about that and put it into context.

Then there's this:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2022/03/21/finland-us-happiest-country/7114106001/

I thought it was pretty silly. The whole notion that microaggressions/othering/gaslighting is something only progressives engage in is laughable.

Gulfcoastguy

I freely admit that the last part of the article should not have been included. It was a digression from the points explored in 3\4 of the article and should have been discussed in more depth, with citations, In another article. But hey you at least skimmed it.

JohnInCarolina

I thought the whole thing was mostly tongue-in-cheek.

Gulfcoastguy

Btw I don’t post dislikes, I either ignore it or say so.

JohnInCarolina

Gulfcoastguy said:

Btw I don’t post dislikes, I either ignore it or say so.

I believe you.  You don’t strike me as a coward.  

lousubcap

Friday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Russia now controls one fifth of Ukraine's territory, according to Zelenskyy.Despite Russia’s progress, Zelenskyy says that fighting continues to rage down the front line, which stretches “more than 1,000 kilometers.” The announcement comes as Ukraine has just received new advanced weapons from the U.S., U.K. and Germany. Marc Santora, Matthew Mpoke Bigg and Michael Levenson report for the New York Times. 

Ukrainian forces took back control of 20 small towns and villages in the south of the country, an official said Thursday. This success was part of a counteroffensive intended to recapture lost territory and to tie up some Russian forces at a time when Moscow is intensely focused on an offensive in the east. However, Military analysts say the counter attacks Ukraine has launched in recent days in the Kherson region are unlikely to prove decisive at this point. Matthew Mpoke Bigg reports for the New York Times.

Russia says it will protect the safety of ships carrying grain from Ukraine. The Russian Defense Ministry said yesterday that grain can be exported from Ukraine’s ports in the Black Sea using humanitarian corridors. This comes as concerns have been mounting over a humanitarian crisis caused by a global grain shortage. U.S. intelligence reports have previously shown that a Russian naval blockade has halted trade at ports in Ukraine. Brittany Shammas reports for the Washington Post. 

Russia has achieved “tactical success” in the eastern Donbas region of Ukraine, but it's come at a "significant resource cost", according to the UK's Ministry of Defense. In a tweet released today, Russia has control over 90% of the Luhansk region and is likely to have complete control within two weeks. This has required Russia to concentrate almost all its resources on this region, however, meaning they have been unable to generate much progress in other parts of the country. BBC reports. 

China is cautious about appearing too supportive of Russia for fear of damaging relations with the West, according to Chinese officials. Russian officials have become increasingly frustrated as they continue to request greater aid from China, pursuant to its affirmation of a “no limits” partnership made weeks before the war in Ukraine began. However, China’s leadership wants to do so without running afoul of Western sanctions and has set limits on what it will do. Cate Cadell and Ellen Nakashima report for the Washington Post"

JohnInCarolina

http://twitter.com/SpiroAgnewGhost/status/1532877902445834240?s=20&amp;t=xmoOhfhk2APdB4ivEznQOA

lousubcap

It is sad that you can not make this up!  
Are there no limits??? A rhetorical question.  

JohnInCarolina

lousubcap said:

It is sad that you can not make this up!  
Are there no limits??? A rhetorical question.  

It’s just so crazy.  This kind of thing would have been unfathomable even ten years ago.

lousubcap

My daily Russia-Ukraine sources go dark on the weekend but here's  a good listen/read:
https://currently.att.yahoo.com/att/sasse-calls-out-weirdos-dividing-country-in-fiery-reagan-foundation-speech-184032984.html?.tsrc=daily_mail&uh_test=1_11  

lousubcap

Monday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Ukrainian forces recaptured half of the key eastern city of Severodonetsk, according to local officials today. As recently as Friday, Russia had taken control of 70% of the city, the control of which is crucial to Russia’s strategy in the Donbas. The incremental Ukrainian success comes as Russia is unable to deploy its artillery superiority in the close-quarters combat in the city streets. However, in the statement released today, Sergiy Gaiday, the governor of the Luhansk region, warned that the situation in the city had "worsened a little" again. The Telegraphreports. 

Putin threatened to hit new targets if the U.S. sends long-range missiles to Ukraine. In a statement released Sunday, Putin also downplayed the recent announcement from President Biden that the U.S. would send short-range missiles to Ukraine as “nothing new.” The warning comes despite the fact that Biden has not offered longer-range weapons and is not expected to do so. Biden also has insisted that Ukraine not use shorter-range weapons systems to attack Russia within its borders. Julian Duplain, Kim Bellware, David Walker and Akilah Johnson report for the Washington Post. 

Russia has increased its use of air power in support of troops fighting in the Donbas, according to a British intelligence report released on Saturday. The fighting is concentrated in the battle over control of the crucial eastern city of Severodonetsk. “The combined use of air and artillery strikes has been a key factor in Russia’s recent tactical successes in the region,” the report said. It noted that the increased use of unguided munitions has “almost certainly” caused civilian casualties. Matthew Mpoke Bigg reports for the New York Times. 

A Russian general was killed in the east of Ukraine, according to Russian state media. The death of Major General Roman Kutuzov was announced on Sunday, but state media declined to release precisely where he had been killed. His death adds to a string of high-ranking military casualties sustained by Moscow. Reuters reports. 

Ukraine rejected Macron’s pleas to not ‘humiliate’ Putin. In an interview published Friday, French President Macron said that while Putin had made a “historic mistake” and was isolated, he should be allowed to save face and that humiliating him will close diplomatic paths to ending the war. On Saturday, the Ukrainian foreign minister rebuffed Macron, arguing that lives would be saved and peace restored if nations focused “on how to put Russia in its place.” Alan Yuhas reports for the New York Times. "

Gulfcoastguy

I think Putin is running out of long range precision missiles. Ukraine has superior range and precision with its ordinary artillery, just lacking on numbers and warm bodies. That means Putin will have to risk his aircraft more and more. If Germany would actually deliver what it has promised in SAMs and artillery and the US would do the same it would help. Keep an eye on France though, Macron is talking about not humiliating Putin and trying to find a way around the sanctions. After all France provided the thermal sights for the newest Russian tanks.

lousubcap

Tuesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Russian troops intend to capture Zaporizhzhia, a large city in the country’s southeast, Zelenskyy said. In a press conference yesterday, Zelenskyy announced that the peace negotiations with Russia were at “level zero,” and that “the most threatening situation” has developed in the Zaporizhzhia region, parts of which have already been taken by Russia. Were Russia to capture the city, it would allow Russian troops to advance closer to the center of the country. Oleksandr Stashevskyi and Yuras Karmanau report for AP.

Street fighting continued yesterday as Russia and Ukraine battled for control of Severodonetsk. Russia continued its offensive in the major city while also subjecting other towns to constant shelling as Moscow pushed for control over the eastern Donbas. Zelenskyy remained defiant in the face of Russian success in Severodonetsk, saying that Ukrainian forces have “every chance” of fighting back, he added. Pavel Polityuk and Natalia Zinets report for Reuters. 

Guerilla attacks in southern Ukraine signal growing resistance to the Russian occupation. There have been more than a dozen high-profile attacks in recent weeks that analysts say indicate increased partisan activity aimed at Russian occupation forces in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions of southern Ukraine. Marc Santora reports for the New York Times. "

JohnInCarolina

http://twitter.com/NatashaBertrand/status/1534161105131556864?s=20&amp;t=MIXecxT1NC6Tva_86PYBUA

dmchicago

 Valerie decided to visit her school (or what’s left from it) on her prom day.

lousubcap

Wednesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Ukrainian forces continue to successfully hold Severodonetsk, stopping Russia from seizing control of the crucial eastern city, according to Ukrainian officials today. It comes as Russian troops bring in new resources to the Donbas in an intense battle for control of the eastern region. “The absolutely heroic defense of Donbas is ongoing,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video statement yesterday. Pavel Polityuk reports for Reuters. 

Ukraine faces a strategic dilemma in Severodonetsk about whether to withdraw from the mid-size city and take up more defensible positions, or to continue fighting. It reflects the choices the country has had to make since the Russian invasion began, between giving ground to avert death and destruction in the short term, and holding out against long odds in hopes it will pay off later. Zelenskyy appears to have made his position clear, remaining determined to hold onto the territory and yielding not an inch to Russia. Andrew Kramer provides analysis for the New York Times. 

Ukraine requested security guarantees for the exports of grain through the Black Sea.In a statement released yesterday, Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it is working with the United Nations and other mediating countries to secure a humanitarian corridor for agricultural exports in the Black Sea. The announcement came on the same day as the Russian government said its military has prepared two safe maritime corridors: one allowing shipment from Russian-occupied Mariupol to travel through the Sea of Azov, and another connecting cities including Kherson and Odessa along Ukraine’s southwestern coast on the Black Sea. Despite this, no deal has been brokered between the two nations on the matter. Amy Cheng reports for the Washington Post. 

In Mariupol, fears of a cholera outbreak have triggered a quarantine. Decomposing bodies and piles of garbage are contaminating drinking sources, leaving residents vulnerable to cholera, dysentery, and other ailments, according to the exiled mayor of the city. According to an aide to the mayor, Petro Andryushchenko, Russian officials who now control the city have imposed a quarantine. Reis Thebault reports for the Washington Post. 

Russia and Turkey have begun talks on securing the safe passage of grain from Ukraine. The talks began today with the aim of creating a sea lane to export grain from Ukraine as a part of a United Nations-backed effort to address a global food crisis. The potential agreement would involve Turkish warships demining Ukrainian ports and creating a safe passage for ships carrying wheat and other products across the Black Sea. But Ukraine hasn’t agreed to the possible deal between Turkey and Russia, saying that it needs guarantees that Russia wouldn’t use a potential safe corridor to launch additional attacks. Jared Malsin reports for the Wall Street Journal. "

lousubcap

Thursday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Russia is rushing to cement its control in southern Ukraine. While fighting continues in eastern Ukraine, Russian forces are moving to strengthen their long-term control over the region through restoring critical infrastructure and water sources. The extension of Russian infrastructure into the occupied south could allow Moscow to fortify a “land bridge” between Russia and Crimea and to expand efforts to introduce Russian currency and appoint proxy officials. Marc Santora, Thomas Gibbons-Neff, Anton Troianovski and Michael Levenson report  for the New York Times. 

More than 1000 Ukrainian soldiers taken prisoner after the battle for Mariupol have been transferred to Russia. These new prisoners give Russia a significant bargaining chip as the fighting continues in eastern Ukraine. Ukraine has an unspecified number of Russian troops in a camp in western Ukraine and the two countries have exchanged troops in the past in smaller numbers. Isabel Coles and Ann M. Simmons report for the Wall Street Journal.

The fight over Severodonetsk will determine the fate of the entire Donbas region, Zelenskyy said. In a video statement released yesterday, Zelenskyy said that the battle for the city is “one of the most difficult throughout this war.” “Sievierodonetsk remains the epicenter of the encounter in Donbas…Largely, that is where the fate of our Donbas is being decided now,” he added. Ukrainian fighters pulled back to the city’s outskirts yesterday but have vowed to fight there as long as possible. Pavel Polityuk and Abdelaziz Boumzar report for Reuters. 

Russian talks in Turkey over grain transportation made little progress as the leaders disagreed on the severity of the crisis.  The Russian foreign minister, Sergey  Lavrov sought to play down the entire issue, suggesting that a global food catastrophe caused by a Russian blockade was a western exaggeration and that it was Ukraine, in fact, who was responsible for the blockade. The Turkish foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, however, disagreed with Lavrov, saying that there was a global problem for which Russia was partially responsible. Neil MacFarquhar and Safak Timur report for the New York Times. "

lousubcap

Friday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Russian investigators opened over 1000 cases against Ukrainian soldiers, raising fears of show trials. The trials will fit into Putin’s narrative about  the war, whose stated aim was to “demilitarize and denazify Ukraine, as well as bring to trial those who perpetrated numerous bloody crimes against civilians.” Beyond holding trials to support its narrative on  the war, the Kremlin might also turn the fate of these prisoners into a powerful bargaining chip in  future talks with Kyiv. Ivan Nechepurenko reports for the New York Times. 

Russia may be profiting more from energy sales than it did before the war, U.S. Energy Security Envoy Amos J. Hochstein said yesterday. Testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Hochstein said that global demand for oil has been “far greater, stronger, than anyone predicted” after the pandemic. As a result, prices for fossil fuels have risen — possibly leading to Russia’s energy industry making more money despite having to sell its crude at a deeply discounted price. This windfall comes despite  western sanctions that have sought to cripple Russia’s international sales of oil. María Paúl reports for the Washington Post. 

The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency said yesterday that the situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine was untenable. Rafael Mariano Grossi expressed “grave concern” about the lack of security and guards at the  nuclear power plant. He said that five out of seven “indispensable” security pillars have been compromised at the plant, he added. Paulina Villegas reports for the Washington Post. 

Three foreign fighters captured by Russia were sentenced to death yesterday. A court in the Russian-occupied territory of Donetsk sentenced the three men — two from the U.K. and one from Morocco — to death for fighting as mercenaries alongside Ukrainian forces. Britain has condemned the trial in the unrecognized territory, saying it was being used for political ends and that the men should be treated as combatants. “They are prisoners of war,” Foreign Secretary Liz Truss tweeted after the sentence. “This is a sham judgment with absolutely no legitimacy.” Thomas Grove reports for the Wall Street Journal "

dbCooper

"Smartphones Blur the Line Between Civilian and Combatant"

"In Ukraine, civilians are valiantly assisting the army via apps—and challenging a tenet of international law in the process."

https://www.wired.com/story/smartphones-ukraine-civilian-combatant/

lousubcap

A field day for the lawyers right there.  Thanks @dbCooper.

lousubcap

The near-term way ahead for the January 6 hearings schedule:
"Significant updates:

1. Upcoming Hearings. Next week will include three hearings which reportedly will focus on the following topics and hear testimony from the following witnesses.

Hearing 2, June 13, 10am ET:
Topic: The spread of the Big Lie.
Witnesses: Former Fox News staffer Chris Stirewalt. 

Hearing 3, June 15, 10am ET:
Topic: Efforts to pressure and weaponize the Justice Department.
Witnesses: Former acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen, former acting Deputy Attorney General Richard Donoghue, and former United States Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel Steve Engel.

Hearing 4, June 16, 1pm ET:
Topic: Trump’s efforts to pressure VP Mike Pence to stop or delay the certification of the election.
Witnesses: Greg Jacob, the former chief counsel to the vice president will reportedly testify. Pence’s former chief of staff Marc Short is expected to be called to testify presumably for the same hearing."

dbCooper

Linked article was in my news-feed today, it is a couple years old.  I learned some history from it...

"A Brief History of Anti-Fascism"
"As long as the ideology has threatened marginalized communities, groups on the left have pushed back with force"

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/brief-history-anti-fascism-180975152/

lousubcap

Monday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Russia is likely to seize control of the entire Luhansk region within a few weeks, a senior U.S. defense official has said. Such a move would leave Russia short of its war aims of capturing all of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, but still amounts to a partial win for Russian forces. Dan Lamothe reports for the Washington Post. 

Russia's Defense Ministry said today that its missiles had destroyed a large quantity of weapons and military equipment in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, including some that had been sent by the U.S.. The ministry said high-precision air-based missiles had struck near the Udachne railway station, hitting equipment that had been delivered to Ukrainian forces. Reuters reports. 

Ukraine remains in control of the Azot chemical plant in Severodonetsk where hundreds of civilians are sheltering, the region’s governor has said after a Russia-backed separatist claimed 300 to 400 Ukrainian fighters were also trapped there. "The information about the blockade of the Azot plant is a lie," Serhiy Haidai, governor of the Luhansk region partially controlled by pro-Russian separatists, said on the Telegram messaging app. Reuters reports. 

Hadai said yesterday evening that the last crossing over the Siverskyi Donets river was still standing after another bridge was destroyed earlier in the day. Today he said fighting continues to rage in Severodonetsk, where Ukrainian forces were defending building by building. Natalia Zinets and Maria Starkove report for Reuters. 

Russia continues to seek to generate more combat units to deploy to Ukraine, according to a U.K. defense ministry intelligence update. In recent weeks, Russia has likely started preparing to deploy the third battalion from some combat formations - it will likely have to rely on new recruits or mobilised reservists to deploy these units to Ukraine, the update adds. "

lousubcap

Tuesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Russian forces have destroyed the last bridge linking Severodonetsk to a Ukrainian-held city on the other side of the river, cutting off all routes for evacuating citizens. "The situation in Severodonetsk is extremely aggravated - the Russians are destroying high-rise buildings," Serhiy Haidai, governor of the Luhansk region, said in a post on Telegram. Oleksandr Kozhukhar reports for Reuters.  

​​Ukraine said today that its forces were still holding out inside Severodonetsk and trying to evacuate civilians after Russia destroyed the last bridge to the city. "The situation is very difficult but there is communication with the city" despite the last bridge over the Siverskyi Donets river having been destroyed, said the Ukrainian mayor of Severodonetsk, Oleksandr Stryuk. "Russian troops are trying to storm the city, but the military is holding firm." Natalia Zinets reports for Reuters. 

Russia struck an artillery weapons depot with Kalibr cruise missiles in Ukraine's Chernihiv region, the RIA news agency reported today, citing the Russian defense ministry. Russian air defense forces shot down a Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jet and an Mi-24 helicopter, the TASS news agency reported, citing the ministry. Reuters reports. 

Russian forces appear to have made small advances in the northeastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv, their first in several weeks, according to the U.K. defense ministry’s latest intelligence update. The update also highlights a recent Russian announcement forecasting a sharp increase in defense spending, which could be as high as 20%. "