What's in the News? 2.0

[TheGlyphstone]

Oh my god that is so ridiculous.  Did he really say that? It reminds me back when Georgia Rep. Hank Johnson (D) asked if Guam would tip over and capsize due to over-population.

I had to go look that up, that's hilarious.
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/tipping-point/

[Haibane]

The trial starts in Amsterdam of four men accused of shooting down MH-417 over the Ukraine in 2014 with the loss of 298 lives.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-57443467

I have seen a lot of the open source material that investigative journalist teams such as Bellingcat have assembled on this case and its very compelling evidence, showing the military convoy departing from a Russian ground-to-air missile unit base near Kursk into eastern Ukraine and moving to a firing position near Pervomaiskyi, then making its way back into Russia. Added to this the legal team has secured the testimony of several eye-witnesses.

Russia's claims in the meantime have been weak and often based on internet conspiracy theories that have already been debunked.

I do feel a certain strength in knowing I live among regimes that do make their honest best effort towards the truth and are facing a regime that lies, commits atrocities and covers up its tracks with false theories. Of course its highly unlikely any of the four, who are being tried in absentia will ever face justice, but we will know the truth, who they are, what they did and that they will live with this for the rest of their lives. Most of all it gives closure for the families of those murdered. It also strengthen's the west's resolve against despicable regimes who will stoop lower than is thought possible for people who call themselves humans.

[Kathadon]

So college football looks to be going ahead with their play offs modeled after the NFL's. This is rather disgusting, even if you are not a sports fan.

This is a lot to ask of players who are not financially compensated beyond their scholarships and cost-of-attendance stipends. And it squashes any previous arguments that a larger playoff schedule wasn't possible because of the increased time demands on student athlete's educations. I hope this really adds fuel to the fire that the student athletes should be paid too if the schools and the NCAA are going to be this greedy.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/follow-the-money-why-the-college-football-playoff-has-expanded-so-fast-001640374.html

[Sara Nilsson]

https://abcnews.go.com/US/cashier-dead-wounded-argument-georgia-stores-mask-policy/story?id=78275587

A cashier is dead and two people were wounded after a shooting broke out following an argument inside a Georgia store Monday afternoon over its COVID-19 mask policy, authorities said.

Ffs,,, some douche didn't want to wear a mask, so left, returned with a gun, shot the cashier dead and wounded others.

What the HELL is wrong with you America?

[Haibane]

Its sickening isn't it?

Just get rid of the fucking guns already. 

[Andol]

Its sickening isn't it?

Just get rid of the fucking guns already. 

I don't think getting rid of the guns would work nor be realistic... in the case of this story this person obviously has issues enough they would have picked a different weapon. The mask thing has grown crazy in its polarization.

I mean why can't people just walk out, and go shop somewhere else. If it is so big of deal to them that they feel the need to kill over it, then just driving to another store and supporting them for not making you wear a mask seems the better choice. Support the business that goes along with your beliefs, but don't kill someone like a manic.

[Andol]

https://thehill.com/policy/international/russia/558249-putin-capitol-riot-shows-us-cracks-down-on-dissent

Guys what were thoughts on this if this the right place for it. It was an interesting turn of play by Putin to compare the crackdowns they have done to the crackdown we did and arrest after the Capitol insurrection in showing that we deal with ours they same why they do with "theirs". Those are his words... and it was interesting to read about.

Just seeing the way Biden has handled the G7 summit at least when it came to mistakes he made... like calling Syria... Libya... over three times... eh I am not confident about their upcoming meeting.

[Skynet]

The Capitol rioters had intentions to kill people and tried to overthrow the democratic system.

If this happened in Russia, most of the participants would be dead or have disappeared out of their homes.

[Fox Lokison]

Yeah, Putin's simply trying to make his actions look less terrible.

[Haibane]

I don't think getting rid of the guns would work nor be realistic... in the case of this story this person obviously has issues enough they would have picked a different weapon. The mask thing has grown crazy in its polarization.

As a British person it is completely clear and obvious that Americas big big problem (after racism) is guns. Take them away and the problem goes away. The statistics are proven on this. And its not just one person with poor anger management over masking - its hundreds of mass shootings year on year.

I agree the solution is hard to reach and we discussed it on here a few months back - before the Nov elections IIRC, but it really is the cornerstone of stopping the killing.

[Haibane]

The Capitol rioters had intentions to kill people and tried to overthrow the democratic system.

If this happened in Russia, most of the participants would be dead or have disappeared out of their homes.

Absolutely. He's doing this ahead of his Biden summit and its an obvious fail. Biden should easily correct him on that if the subject comes up.

Yeah, Putin's simply trying to make his actions look less terrible.

And failing.

I didn't see Trumps people trying to use Novichok on Biden when he was in political opposition to him. Or American military agents travelling to Europe to murder opposition exiles. There is no comparison between the attitude to political demonstration and dissent between the two powers.

[Andol]

Absolutely. He's doing this ahead of his Biden summit and its an obvious fail. Biden should easily correct him on that if the subject comes up.

I hope so. It would make for a nice burn, and actually return my confidence in Biden which has been destroyed by his many gaffes at the G7 summit. I hope they put it all on camera so we can have a ring sides seats

[Haibane]

What gaffes has he made at the G7 summit?

Why do people focus on the "gaffes" of politicians rather than what it is they are trying to do - such as mend and improve US-UK alliance and friendship, be supportive to the UK-EU-NI issues, highlight the problems the west needs to face up to as regards China and address climate change. Look at Trump's record in those same spheres. Trump's behaviour went beyond "gaffe" status and became "criminal incompetence".

If people only focus on the gaffes and not the actual progress of political debate and action then no politician will ever stand up to scrutiny.

[Annaamarth]

https://abcnews.go.com/US/cashier-dead-wounded-argument-georgia-stores-mask-policy/story?id=78275587

Ffs,,, some douche didn't want to wear a mask, so left, returned with a gun, shot the cashier dead and wounded others.

What the HELL is wrong with you America?

Its sickening isn't it?

Just get rid of the fucking guns already. 

Unfortunately, what is wrong with America is deeper and more pervasive than "too many guns."  The accessibility of firearms is a part of the problem, yes - but it's very much not the root cause.

Toxic masculinity is part of it.  Gun culture is another part, tied up in that toxic masculinity.  A crippled education system, greater income inequality, and a greater presence of misinformation are all part of the problem.  Violence as a part of culture is a big part of the problem - and I'm not talking about video games or

A heritage of racism - remember that the US spent a century practicing slavery, a second century practicing segregation, and still labours under laws with racist consequences - and that's just looking at black people.

There's a youtube series that takes a look at gun control from the American perspective, why it's been crap so far, and why what might work in some countries would be less likely to work in the States.  He seems like a good ol' southern boy - he is not.

This is a continuing series that he started in 2018.  The most recent video was this last April - and it may be educational to watch.  I recommend the first 2 or 3 videos for anyone with any curiosity about American gun issues.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZOMlO2_17fvGixcyOOWmwU_mpEm_T58E



Unrelated - speaking of climate change!

https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/irreversible-warming-tipping-point-may-have-been-triggered-arctic-mission-chief

We're all so screwed 

[Haibane]

I would say access to guns is the root cause and the other weaknesses in society - all of which are not unique to the USA only exacerbate it.

As for climate change, the critical issue is we personally are not screwed. The oil company CEOs are not screwed, the coal mine owners are not screwed, the Russian oligarchs mining coal in Siberia are not screwed, the Bitcoin miners with their thousands of computers grinding away burning electricity are not screwed. They (and we) can happily and greedily continue to make money. The people who are screwed are those not born yet. CEOs don't argue "its not economically viable to do X" because it is, what they mean is "its not economically viable because I can't sustain my super-rich lifestyle if my company doesn't carry on doing what its doing."

The selfishness of the human condition is at the root of the problem.

We are quite possibly going to have the younger eco-conscious generation in the decision making seats just that little bit too late.

[Haibane]

Dominic Cummings is such a bitter, spiteful little shit. He needs to realise he's had his 15 minutes of fame and got kicked out of government and just FOAD. Throwing dirt around really achieves nothing except to make him look worse.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-57498845

[Andol]

What gaffes has he made at the G7 summit?

Why do people focus on the "gaffes" of politicians rather than what it is they are trying to do - such as mend and improve US-UK alliance and friendship, be supportive to the UK-EU-NI issues, highlight the problems the west needs to face up to as regards China and address climate change. Look at Trump's record in those same spheres. Trump's behaviour went beyond "gaffe" status and became "criminal incompetence".

If people only focus on the gaffes and not the actual progress of political debate and action then no politician will ever stand up to scrutiny.

I pointed them out before. Within a short window he called Syria... Libya. Three times. Also he had to be corrected by Boris Johnson that the PM of South Africa had already been introduced.

The problem here is that Biden's gaffes have given off an air over and over again that the might not be fit for the job. Plus he doesn't have that charisma that Trump (Hate him all you want, but he did have a air of charisma that helped create Trumpism as you call it.) and Obama had. Heck Putin even has that charisma... so it just kind of makes the US look weak when the leader looks weak.

In a prefect world this crap wouldn't matter, but sadly we don't live in a perfect world. So it just kind of does... :(

https://nypost.com/2021/06/14/biden-gaffe-at-g-7-summit-sparks-laughter-from-world-leaders/

[Lustful Bride]

This puts such a nice smile on my face. To know those traitors and racists are now all worried about hearing the 5-0 and FBI kicking in the door or slapping them with a pair of handcuffs.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/new-telegram-audio-transcripts-show-how-proud-boys-panicked-when-members-started-getting-arrested-after-the-capitol-riot/ar-AAL6x1T?ocid=msedgntp

If anything we are being far too lenient, I'm sure we can turn up the pressure more and start giving them harsher charges. Traitors like these need to be reminded to respect their Uncle Sam.

[TheGlyphstone]

Wait, the people who talk big game about standing up to the Feds and starting the 2nd Civil War dont stick to their hundreds of guns when that confrontation actually comes to their doorstep?

[Lustful Bride]

Wait, the people who talk big game about standing up to the Feds and starting the 2nd Civil War dont stick to their hundreds of guns when that confrontation actually comes to their doorstep?

GOOD! I hope they are trembling under their confederate flag blankies in their MAGA jammies, knowing the Boogeyman in Black from the FBI is coming for them and Daddy Trump can't do jack shit to help them, while Moscow Mitch and all those other traitor cronies are wiping their hands of the mess and leaving their loyal constituency to be slapped with terrorism charges. 

[Fox Lokison]

I pointed them out before. Within a short window he called Syria... Libya. Three times. Also he had to be corrected by Boris Johnson that the PM of South Africa had already been introduced.

The problem here is that Biden's gaffes have given off an air over and over again that the might not be fit for the job. Plus he doesn't have that charisma that Trump (Hate him all you want, but he did have a air of charisma that helped create Trumpism as you call it.) and Obama had. Heck Putin even has that charisma... so it just kind of makes the US look weak when the leader looks weak.

In a prefect world this crap wouldn't matter, but sadly we don't live in a perfect world. So it just kind of does... :(

https://nypost.com/2021/06/14/biden-gaffe-at-g-7-summit-sparks-laughter-from-world-leaders/

Trump's appeal wasn't charisma, so much as it was approachability. He was a rich man who spoke and acted like a poor or average man, and he fueled the average american belief of "we are temporarily embarrassed millionaires" and "if the conditions are right, we can be like him". Aside from the myriad of shitty talking points he had, which attracted shitty people who liked that he espoused them openly, his appeal comes from how much his tacky, tasteless, crass, and awful mannerisms reminded his fans of themselves. Those who dislike the "wealthy elite" do not dislike them for their money - they love rich folks who back them, or who they think they can be. Those who dislike politicians do not dislike them because they are politicians - most will happily back a politician who supports their beliefs. It's about the fact that the wealthy, the politicians, all of them seem to have this air of untouchability about them. How true it is remains to be seen, but that makes the average voter, and especially the impoverished one, feel almost looked down upon. Trump's persona didn't look down on them, or even 'kneel down' or 'approach' them - he met them, at their level, and they related to that.

The best way I ever saw Trump described was "He's a poor man's idea of what a rich man should be."

[Saria]

Unfortunately, what is wrong with America is deeper and more pervasive than "too many guns."  The accessibility of firearms is a part of the problem, yes - but it's very much not the root cause.

I actually agree. Canada has about a tenth of the population of the US… but we have twice the number of registered guns.* Huge chunks of the country have a police force that is far closer to a military than even the most militarized US police forces (seriously, don’t fuck with the RCMP). Violent crime may be rare in Canada… but don’t assume that means we don’t have a metric fuckton of guns.

* (Note: Yes, Canada has twice the number of registered guns. However, the US has like fifty times the number of unregistered guns. So per capita, the US has like five times the guns. Keep in mind I’m quoting these numbers from memory, so they’ll be rough, but they should be in the ballpark.)

I don’t think that the mere number of guns is the root cause of the problem. Indeed, the fact that the number of guns is so high is more likely a symptom of the real root problem, rather than the root problem itself. But in any case, there are a lot of countries that have plenty of guns floating around, but do not have the levels of gun violence or gun fetishism that the US does.

I mean, good grief, what other country in the world can claim to have had a coup attempt by people who believe that their preferred politician was chosen by God to stop celebrities from drinking the blood of children they rape in underground dungeons to gain immortality?

That’s just fucked up, man, and it ain’t the guns that did that. US society is sick. It is diseased. And whatever the underlying cause of the disease is—the gun nuttery, and by extension the rampant gun violence—is merely one symptom among many. Taking the guns away from MAGA shitlords ain’t gonna fix things. I doubt there’s any such simple solution that could.

Wait, the people who talk big game about standing up to the Feds and starting the 2nd Civil War dont stick to their hundreds of guns when that confrontation actually comes to their doorstep?

Normally I abhor any state violence, and, of course, ACAB.

However…

… it is fucking hilarious to see these morons who shrieked about how being told to wear masks… or stop rolling coal… or not walk around with an arsenal hangin’ off them… or whatever else… morons who shrieked about how being told to act like a civil, compassionate human being in any way is “LIKE LIVING IN NAZI GERMANY!!!1!11!” get a taste of what it really feels like to have a government even just mildly peeved at them, and bringing the hammer down.

[Fox Lokison]

The difference between Canada and America's gun management and numbers makes me wanna start a thread on guns and gun control, just to compare and contrast our countries, honestly. It's a really fascinating comparison.

[Mechelle]

This is not so much what's "in" the news, as what "is" the news, but a new TV channel has started in Britain in the last few days, named GB News.
It still supposedly follows the Ofcom rules of impartiality, and does have some dissenting voices,  but is distinctly aligned to the right. Its founder, Andrew Neil is a very good broadcaster and  interviewer. Boris Johnson refused to be interviewed  by him before the last election, as Neil would have destroyed him, out of sheer forensic questioning and professionalism, despite his political sympathies.

In effect, the new channel wants to be Fox News, but despite my praise for Neil, it's hilarious. Some of the other presenters really can't hack it - they were previously right-wing guests  on talk-shows and now find themselves presenting programmes, while the vision and sound don't actually work properly.  It's getting quite good audiences, but this may be because people are watching to see how bad it is. Some advertisers are already pulling out.

I wonder - did Fox News have technical problems like this in their early days.


https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/jun/15/brands-pull-ads-from-gb-news-tv-channel-over-content-concerns

[Oniya]

I wonder - did Fox News have technical problems like this in their early days.

Being old enough to remember 'rabbit ears' outside of photo-bombs, Fox News grew out of a fairly strong existing infrastructure.  It's a descendant of '20th Century Fox', which has been in TV production since the 1950's, and the film industry since the 1930's.  The network itself was founded in the '80s, as competition for the Big Three (ABC, NBC, and CBS, which were 9, 4, and 7 on the old VHF dial in my region.  Fox came in on channel 5.)