Question for Troy: Do you happen to know what happened with the tire and possibly the wheel that came off the Ford truck when you changed the flat before Mona left Fairbanks for Moose Pass? It was not in the bed of the truck or under the truck and we are still driving on spare. Let me know, please.
I told you earlier of the book I've been reading concerning the Federalists Papers, which were the foundation for our Constitution and of how they were released to the newspaper back then and under the pen-name. Susan is reading it right now, like myself she is pretty much hooked to it and I'll have to finish it later. But what I found concerned me, in how the current congress was playing fast and loose with the Constitution, including our President. I had to keep wondering why were the courts, high courts or just some of those lawyers turned congressmen or congresswomen catching this. I barely made it through high school and if not for the military would probably still be flipping burgers. It truly is the watchers who keep our politicians in line. Now if you watch what is going on in Germany and England, their futures could easily see revolutions within the next 10-years. It begins with a lack of trust in the elected politicians, the media and then the military leadership. Keep your eye on those two countries and two out of three of those are already in motion, you'll see one of those news stories in this journal today. Take a moment, the modern English interpretation of the Federalist Papers, compare them with the Constitution and look at what is now happening. See if you agree with me or not. I'm not a Republican nor am I a Democrat, I belong to no party. I vote for the person and what he or she has to say, and if I believe they're telling the truth and have the means to back up what they promise. Right now I support Ben Carson.
Lets jump to some news: Gatestone: New leader of Britain's Labor Party, Jeremy Corbyn, reported to be a strong supporter of Hamas and Hezbollah terrorist organizations, referring to them as "friends", having spent years in the "Political Wilderness with Holocaust deniers, anti-Semites, terrorist-sympathizers and all manor of other undesirables", is now leader of Queen Elizabeth's opposition party
Gatestone: In France, protesters "demanded" that their President, Francois Hollande, challenge the Iranian President about his country's human rights abuses. Instead, France's leadership welcomed Iran's leadership like superstars.
China Daily News: North Korea warns it will use strategic weapons against US- Republic of South Korea forces in a preemptive strike, if they even show "small movements" by US or ROK special forces. North Korea accuses both USA and South Korea of attempting to bring about a collapse of North Korea's social system.
Spiegel News/Germany: (Paraphrased from much longer article) Readers are losing trust of mainstream media, to include reporters and publishers of the papers. Some people say it may have begun with the cover stories around the reports of sexual violence in the City of Cologne, Germany. Of how it took several days for the stories to come out in print with all the blame focused on the refugees. One reader, Isolde Beck, complained, Several days did indeed pass before mainstream media in Germany began reporting heavily on the events of New Years Eve." Now ranks of protesters carry signs attacking journalists, claiming that these journalists "Are no longer capable of being independent and unbiased. Recent poll, shown in his article, has 40% of Germans believe the media is no longer credible. ( Again, article failed to say how many people were polled and location of poll, or ages of those polled.) Some of the more vocal protesters, the anti-immigrant and Islamophobic members of the PEGIDA movement (unable to find what this movement was about), are calling on the public-"to get out the pitchforks and chase journalists out of newspaper offices." This Spiegel article does bear reading. With a breakdown in the media, Chancellor Merkels immigrant problems, along with Britain and the Czech Republic threatening to leave the European Union, Germany could be on a hot plate with revolution and breakdown on the European Union. Russia would love to see this occur, along with the desert countries allied with Russia. Within 48 hours we could be back to World War II alliances.
Japan Times: The Tepco Mega Corp has finally come out publically to admit it should have declared the meltdowns at Fukushima Nuclear Plant much earlier. They admit its on site staff failed to follow damage assessment guidelines in failing to report the meltdown almost immediately.
Japan Times: China has sent fighter jets to an island in the South China Sea. The same island where recently mega tons of dirt were brought out to enlarge the island to provide room for an active runway and buildings, where recently they deployed radar sites and very soon afterward deployed surface to air missile batteries. This has further heated up the situated as this island has been seen as being in International waters and is now ownership is being contested by Vietnam, China, Japan, Philippines and Taiwan. The U.S. Navy now has a carrier group is the region attempting to maintain peace, but on alert for the first sign of aggression.
Japan Times: Being a friendly neighbor, Russia has given Afghanistan 10,000 ...yes, that's ten thousand, AK-47 fully automatic rifles with the large clips and a plentiful supply of ammo for same. That was nice. I'd like one...now our men will be fighting an enemy using new rifles, in most cases superior to what they had before. All of a sudden were back in Vietnam all over again with us fielding one army and Russia fielding the other.
Washington Post: Did Justice Scalia Die from Sleep Apnea? ( Sounds like a tabloid lead) But his breathing machine was reportedly, set on his nightstand, found unplugged and turned off.
Jerusalem Post: Iran now offering financial rewards for the families of potential Palestinian "Intifada Martyrs". (Makes one wonder what the going rate is for suicidal assassins.)
Jerusalem Post: Report that ISIS is planting bombs inside copies of the Koran- Iran media reported such bombs were found in Ramadi. Word is ISIS is now on defensive , losing their numbers, which once ranged from 19,000 to 31,000 fighters to a revised current 20,000 to 25,000.
Beijing Globe News: Beijing reportedly now beats out New York City for the most billionaires in the world, according to the
Huron Report. While New York City only gained 1 new billionaire in 2015, Beijing gained 32 new billionaires. Articles didn't show total numbers for both cities, or names of said billionaires.
St. Petersburg, Russia News: Report that President Obama has recently asked Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe not to visit with Russia and to shun Putin for the May talks. This event runs counter to US policy, but Abe refused Obama and will meet with Putin. On the agenda is to discuss a decades old dispute over islands off Hokkaido, which both Russia and Japan
lay claim to following World War Two. Abe was said to have advised Obama that settling the dispute with Russia would contribute to stability in the East Asian region
Cairo, Egypt News: (People planning on traveling to Egypt should read this).
Cairo Military Court recently sentenced a 4 year old child, Ahmed Mansour Karni, ( I said four year old) to LIFE in prison for committing (4) murders, (8) attempted murders, destruction of state property and threatening police officers. At the time of said crimes, Karni was only ONE year old, but the court refused to accept his birth certificate into evidence or take notice of the 4 year old toddler sitting in his father's lap during the sentencing. Karni was among 116 people sentenced to life in prison that day. Later, it was shown the court, this was clearly a case of mistaken identity and the real Karni was a 16 year old juvenile, with same full name. Follow-up article shows Egypt authorities bowing to public outcry, admits they had made a mistake, but it remains unclear what action will be taken in concern for the child's future- jail time, criminal record....felon in the nursery home. ( But with this kind of kangaroo court, especially a military one on duty, you might want to bypass the pyarmids
and put the money in your children's college fund, the Casselman roofing fund or a tour of Universal Studios in Southern California. I understand the locals with throw in a few gang fights for free, some muggings....I move along to the next article.)
Russian Herald- Team of open-sourced researchers investigating the July 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flt 17, has published their report and provided it to Dutch prosecutors. Said report linked the Commanders of a Russian military until to the plane's downing- Russia's 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade listed as suspect in the death of 298 people. This assault vehile was listed in earlier reports and this new report adds information about Russian officers and enlisted soldiers who possibly manned BUK-M1 Surface-To-Air Missile Defense System, believed to have downed the airliner. Yet even with the report, the Dutch Board stopped short of assigning criminal blame, which was the prime focus for the four nation joint investigative team. There was a lot of speculation the Russian military, led by Putin, had a say in making sure their military vehicle would not be found at fault in this investigation.
The Guardian: World Health Organization (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer, says that Glyphosate was "probably carcinogenic to humans". This ingredient is used in most best-selling herbicides- such as Monsanto's "Round-up" Brand. It is widely used and found in English breads. After a bitter battle between scientists and experts, the European Union will vote on whether to re-license Glyphosate on March 7, 2016. ( I was unable to find current information on this stuff for the USA, but will look again. The easiest items often are the hardest to find.)
Guardian: United American Emirates- Two Americans, a father and son, Kamal and Mohamed Eldarat, holding dual citizenship with Libya, were reportedly kidnapped in Dubai by federal police. The two men have been held for 505 days without being charged, until just recently being brought before a judge and advised they were being charged as terrorists. Both men complain of being tortured, showing signs of physical abuse, electrocution and suffering mock executions. The father has suffered the loss of hearing in one ear. During this hearing, where they were advised of their charges, for which their charge sheets showed signed confessions. They were not allowed any lawyer. However, their lawyer received the paperwork in 11-days. Both men advised accusations of crimes were followed by lengthy periods of torture, with signed confessions brought about by more torture. The United Nations and Human Rights Groups have called to dismiss the case. The two men were abducted the night after United American Emirates and Egypt had intervened in Egypt's Civil War. Other men were also seized, with all having dual citizenship with USA. The Eldarat daughter said her father had aged 30 years, a walking skeleton, "it was like he was gone." She could see the bruising on their arms and the father complained of the pain to his back. They could not see their lawyer, so the family returned to the U.S. so they could campaign congress and find help from the State Department. Newspaper article said a member of the State Department began attending court hearings, but no status known on the two men or the others.
Taipei Times: The stress of being right across a narrow body of water from China must be raising the blood pressure in Taiwan, for the number of sleeping pills being sold is on the incline. In 2014 the Food and Drug Administration reported a record high of 339 million sleeping pills being sold, which is 12 million pills over 2013. Figures for 2015 are not in yet.
All for now. Been a long day of research, stretching and typing, but I enjoy it all so. Tomorrow, No journal. Now don't frown so, I know you need the break. Were off to Soldotna on our monthly trip. Hard part is coming home and getting everything all put away. My prize is hitting the 2nd best donut shop in Alaska- "Moose is Loose" You cannot beat their homemade chocolate icing. You all take care and God Bless. Happy Trails....sorry, no guitar. BILL