What's in the News? 2.0

[Thufir Hawat]

Peace in the Middle East is in the Book of Revelations as a sure sign of the Apocalypse because that area of the world has always been an unstable hornet's nest.   

I don't remember it from my last reading of the BoR, but whatever.
It is going to cost a lot other people now. Like "everyone who trusted the USA's promises".
Case in point:
https://apnews.com/article/soccer-womens-soccer-sports-afghanistan-taliban-2bf2d086d3379bb7838da57f936fc50e

[Oniya]

I don't remember it from my last reading of the BoR, but whatever.
It is going to cost a lot other people now. Like "everyone who trusted the USA's promises".
Case in point:
https://apnews.com/article/soccer-womens-soccer-sports-afghanistan-taliban-2bf2d086d3379bb7838da57f936fc50e

Just because Rev was a favorite chapter of mine when I was Catholic, I had to look this up - it's more explicit in Daniel 9:27 (but still vague in the way that prophecies are, so that anyone with a creative mind can point at it and immanentize the eschaton.)

I am no longer a Catholic, and am spoilering my rambling analysis

The ruler will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven [years], but after half this time, he will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings. And as a climax to all his terrible deeds, he will set up a sacrilegious object that causes desecration, until the fate decreed for this defiler is finally poured out on him.”

This is similar to various 3.5 year periods mentioned in Revelations, such as the trampling of the Holy City in Rev 11:2, the time that the 'woman clothed in the sun' was cared for in the wilderness (Rev 12:6 - the one my catechism teacher couldn't find ) and the beast out of the sea (fatally wounded but healed in Rev 13:5) allowed to rule for 42 months.  I could also point out that 42 months is almost the length of a US President's term, and twice that would be the maximum time one could spend in office - I'm sure this has been/will be applied to many, both past and future, depending on how much the End-Timers like the guy in the Oval.

In Biblical matters, however, numbers are often symbolic - like 7 being holy, 144,000 being a standard for 'very large amount', and 6 being 'bad' because it's not quite 7.  As a combination of 6 and 7, 42 shows up (as demonstrated) a lot in End-time crap (also 1260 days, because that's 42*30 (for a month, because lunar calendars and 29.5 is harder to calculate with).)  So, it basically comes down to 'a long time where bad stuff is happening.'  Taking it as a literal amount of time is the road to cork-boards and string mazes.  Conflating two prophecies on the basis of an amount of time is tenuous at best.

Frankly, (and more simply), I think that the concept that 'Peace in the Middle East = the End of Days' is more likely the equivalent of 'Yeah, when pigs fly.'  No apocalypse required.

[Thufir Hawat]

Just because Rev was a favorite chapter of mine when I was Catholic, I had to look this up - it's more explicit in Daniel 9:27 (but still vague in the way that prophecies are, so that anyone with a creative mind can point at it and immanentize the eschaton.)

I am no longer a Catholic, and am spoilering my rambling analysis

This is similar to various 3.5 year periods mentioned in Revelations, such as the trampling of the Holy City in Rev 11:2, the time that the 'woman clothed in the sun' was cared for in the wilderness (Rev 12:6 - the one my catechism teacher couldn't find ) and the beast out of the sea (fatally wounded but healed in Rev 13:5) allowed to rule for 42 months.  I could also point out that 42 months is almost the length of a US President's term, and twice that would be the maximum time one could spend in office - I'm sure this has been/will be applied to many, both past and future, depending on how much the End-Timers like the guy in the Oval.

In Biblical matters, however, numbers are often symbolic - like 7 being holy, 144,000 being a standard for 'very large amount', and 6 being 'bad' because it's not quite 7.  As a combination of 6 and 7, 42 shows up (as demonstrated) a lot in End-time crap (also 1260 days, because that's 42*30 (for a month, because lunar calendars and 29.5 is harder to calculate with).)  So, it basically comes down to 'a long time where bad stuff is happening.'  Taking it as a literal amount of time is the road to cork-boards and string mazes.  Conflating two prophecies on the basis of an amount of time is tenuous at best.

Frankly, (and more simply), I think that the concept that 'Peace in the Middle East = the End of Days' is more likely the equivalent of 'Yeah, when pigs fly.'  No apocalypse required.

Thank you for the quotes, Oniya, but... I didn't say "whatever" because I was willing to put up with my doubts to the veracity of the claim...
What I meant was that regardless of whether it's true, Afghanistan is part of Central Asia, not the Middle East ! So whether you read the Book of Revelations literally or metaphorically, it just doesn't apply.

[Oniya]

Afghanistan is part of Central Asia, not the Middle East ! So whether you read the Book of Revelations literally or metaphorically, it just doesn't apply.

Also an excellent point!   

[Lustful Bride]

Though the Taliban has taken Afghanistan, there are still people there who will not leave, and are already putting up an active resistance.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/anti-taliban-fighters-claim-victories-as-first-stirrings-of-armed-resistance-emerge/ar-AANygSv?ocid=msedgntp

[gaggedLouise]

Though the Taliban has taken Afghanistan, there are still people there who will not leave, and are already putting up an active resistance.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/anti-taliban-fighters-claim-victories-as-first-stirrings-of-armed-resistance-emerge/ar-AANygSv?ocid=msedgntp

Yep, I wonder how long it will be before the US or some other country begins supporting, assisting and training anti-Taliban guerilla movements. Secretly, of course.

If the Taliban are the way I think they are, women (especially) will pay a heavy price for this sudden turnover.  Many women stoned, hanged, flogged or forced back to the kitchen. :(

[Beorning]

On somewhat related note, something disgusting is happening at the Polish - Belarussian border:

https://notesfrompoland.com/2021/08/20/afghan-migrants-camp-on-polish-belarusian-border-amid-political-standoff/

Personally speaking? This is horrible. Yes, it's quite probably true that these people found themselves there because of Lukashenka trying to cause trouble by pushing refugees across the border. But, nevertheless, these people aren't part of Lukashenka's regime, but refugees trying to get somewhere safe! They openly asked for asylum! Why isn't Polish government letting them in?

And, even assuming that the government wants to make a point and not give in to Lukashenka's tactics... there's a difference between not letting these people in and not allowing anyone to provide aid for them! According to NGO activists dealing with the matter, these people are tired, wet, hungry and - possibly - sick. Meanwhile, Polish authorities aren't even allowing doctors to approach them and check on them. They are even blocking people who just want to give these people medical supplies! Okay, great, maybe we shouldn't let them in... I don't agree, but okay... but for crying out loud, we can't let these people die out there!

This is just inhuman. Today, I've seen a Twitter post showing how a vice-Speaker of the Polish Senate tried to approach these poor people with some supplies. She was literally blocked by a squad of masked Border Guards, who completely ignored the woman's official role (even though she presented to them her Senate ID) and kept cordoning her off... And this is how the authorities operate there all the time - yesterday, I saw a similar video, with a female doctor trying to make way to the refugees, almost begging to be let through... And she was met with a living barricade of masked BG soldiers who didn't even reply to her pleas. Heck, they didn't even deign to turn around - she just kept talking to their backs!

And, of course, it's not a coincidence that this is happening. It's not just about Lukashenka's tactics against us - it's about our government being xenophobic. Last week, when the Kabul exodus was starting, one of our Ministers (who is also a Deputy Prime Minister) commented that there will be a wave of Afghan refugees... and that the Polish government will not yield and defend Poland from that wave.

Let this sink in: our government wants to defend Poland... from... helpless... war refugees...

And this government has the balls to call itself a *Christian* government at the same time???     

Of course, it's not a surprise. They had exactly the same stance back in 2015, during the big migrant crisis. And they were saying really awful things... including Kaczyński (AKA Our Beloved Chairman) stating that the migrants are a threat to Polish people, because they could carry "parasites and protozoa"..!!! 

I'm genuinely ashamed for my country right now...

[Lustful Bride]

HA! Oh the Irony of this. Now that his supporters are dropping dead from Covid, he suddenly wants them vaccinated, but whoops!  Looks like they bought into the old grift too well.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-booed-at-alabama-rally-after-telling-supporters-to-get-vaccinated/ar-AANBrD0?ocid=msedgntp

[Azy]

HA! Oh the Irony of this. Now that his supporters are dropping dead from Covid, he suddenly wants them vaccinated, but whoops!  Looks like they bought into the old grift too well.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-booed-at-alabama-rally-after-telling-supporters-to-get-vaccinated/ar-AANBrD0?ocid=msedgntp

Considering things that have happened in the past, they probably think he was forced to recommend the vaccine by someone high up in the deep state.  I don't remember for sure, but I think last fall he did a 180 on mask wearing, and his supporters were saying he would never say that on his own, it must've been forced.  And maybe it was.  How much more proof do these people need that the orange thing cares only about getting attention, and not them?  It's hard to have any sympathy for the lemmings willingly jumping off the cliff because the orange god said so.  I'd have to go Google for the original source, but I remember reading maybe a month before the election that around 700 of the deaths from Covid the previous month had been people who got the virus at a Trump rally.  They were talking a little about it on The View that even though this virus is no big deal, you had to sign a waiver to attend a rally so you couldn't sue if you contracted Covid at the rally. 

[Skynet]

So OnlyFans made a rather strange decision to ban all sexual content which was quickly reversed.

There are several articles showcasing how one of the major decisions was due to ultra-conservative evangelical groups who want to ban porn and sex work entirely spearheaded the effort.

In spite of its proclamations, the Exodus Cry organization is far from a moral organization In addition to helping Ugandan politicans make homosexuality illegal and abortion illegal in the US, its founder has a history of saying and doing hateful things such as claiming that God appointed Hitler to kill Jews via the Holocaust. They've also been selected in which groups they go after in regards to exploitation and sex trafficking, and supported Trump's policies which actually cut funds to aiding survivors of sex trafficking.

https://www.wired.co.uk/article/onlyfans-ban-porn-exodus-cry

https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-real-reasons-why-onlyfans-porn-ban-is-taking-place

https://www.thedailybeast.com/inside-exodus-cry-the-shady-evangelical-group-with-trump-ties-waging-war-on-pornhub

https://www.thedailybeast.com/why-are-hbo-and-melissa-mccarthy-raising-money-for-exodus-cry-an-anti-abortion-group

[Skynet]

Clarification: Exodus Cry helped Ugandan politicans make homosexuality illegal in their own country, and the organization also supported anti-abortion initiatives in the United States.

[Lustful Bride]

For any Naturalized US Citizens, double and triple check your paperwork. Lest the ATLAS Algorithm decide you're an illegal citizen by a tiny margin of error.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/u-s-government-is-using-an-algorithm-to-flag-american-citizens-for-denaturalization-report/ar-AANMCM6?ocid=msedgntp

Honestly though everyone should check their paperwork. Can't trust algorithms for anything.

[Sara Nilsson]

https://www.businessinsider.com/waukesha-school-district-says-free-school-meals-spoil-students-2021-8

A federally funded US Department of Agriculture program that was launched in April gives free meals to all K-12 students, regardless of income. But students who are in the Waukesha School District won't get to participate in that program, as it is the only district in Wisconsin to opt out of it.

The reasoning for opting out was that families could become spoiled.

ARGH!! You fucking cumdrooling &#^$*#

Its kids! You are depriving kids of food and dare to say they would be spoiled? It isn't like school food is some 5 star gourmet shit. Its basic fucking food that every child should have when at school so they can fucking learn you dipshits!

SPOILED?! FUCKING WHAT?! Im so angry I am shaking. Fucking asswipes.  No, asswipes are useful these are as useful as a foot! A fucking foot!!!!!

[Oniya]

Fucking asswipes.  No, asswipes are useful

I believe George Takei had them pegged with 'You, sir, are a douchebag.'  (Most GYNs have fairly strong opinions about how 'useful' those are, and would cheerfully see Massengil go out of business.)

[Azy]

https://www.businessinsider.com/waukesha-school-district-says-free-school-meals-spoil-students-2021-8

ARGH!! You fucking cumdrooling &#^$*#

Its kids! You are depriving kids of food and dare to say they would be spoiled? It isn't like school food is some 5 star gourmet shit. Its basic fucking food that every child should have when at school so they can fucking learn you dipshits!

SPOILED?! FUCKING WHAT?! Im so angry I am shaking. Fucking asswipes.  No, asswipes are useful these are as useful as a foot! A fucking foot!!!!!

That's pretty much the argument used when taking away anything like that.  Giving people free things will spoil them and they will become lazy leeches.  Apparently none of those people were ever denied lunch at school because their account was overdrawn. 

[TheGlyphstone]

"I've never struggled, which means no one who matters has ever struggled."

[Sara Nilsson]

As Jesus famously said, For I was hungry and you gave me nothing, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing for fear I would become a leech on society. Matthew 25 according to Staint Bastard.

[Laughing Hyena]

https://www.businessinsider.com/waukesha-school-district-says-free-school-meals-spoil-students-2021-8

ARGH!! You fucking cumdrooling &#^$*#

Its kids! You are depriving kids of food and dare to say they would be spoiled? It isn't like school food is some 5 star gourmet shit. Its basic fucking food that every child should have when at school so they can fucking learn you dipshits!

SPOILED?! FUCKING WHAT?! Im so angry I am shaking. Fucking asswipes.  No, asswipes are useful these are as useful as a foot! A fucking foot!!!!!

No words save three: Vote them out!

[Oniya]

I have to wonder what these people would do if the coffee machine at work suddenly disappeared.  Or if they had to pay out of pocket for their own office supplies.  Can't have them getting spoiled on free stuff.  (Even the ones with their own personal Keurigs probably make use of the free one.)

[gaggedLouise]

Weird local news from my town: sunday morning, a man enters into a suburban home at dawn, stark naked, but gets going again when he realizes someone is up and awake. Continues down the street, breaks into a garage and nicks...just a pair of rubber boots! Man continues down the street towards a nearby wooded valley (a nature reservation area and a well-known local recreation spot) but before he gets there he is arrested with his boots on - but nothing mpre, "under tumultuous circumstances". Guy is taken to the nearest police station in handcuffs, still wearing just the boots.  Charges will follow. 

[TheGlyphstone]

How did Florida Man get all the way  to your part of the world?

[Thufir Hawat]

Weird local news from my town: sunday morning, a man enters into a suburban home at dawn, stark naked, but gets going again when he realizes someone is up and awake. Continues down the street, breaks into a garage and nicks...just a pair of rubber boots! Man continues down the street towards a nearby wooded valley (a nature reservation area and a well-known local recreation spot) but before he gets there he is arrested with his boots on - but nothing mpre, "under tumultuous circumstances". Guy is taken to the nearest police station in handcuffs, still wearing just the boots.  Charges will follow. 

I guess he wasn't used to going around barefooted ?

[Sara Nilsson]

https://www.vice.com/en/article/akgpdg/remington-subpoenas-report-cards-of-five-children-killed-in-sandy-hook-shooting

Gun company Remington has subpoenaed the report cards, attendance records, and disciplinary records of five kindergarten and first grade students murdered in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, according to new court filings in a civil lawsuit filed against the company.

Yeah.. so some Sandy Hook parents have been in a lawsuit against gun manufacturer Remington, and as per the whole discovery thing the gun manufacturer is asking for the disciplinary records etc of some of the kids.

Why? *shrugs* who knows

also

Remington previously responded to a discovery request for its internal company communications by producing more than 18,000 unsorted files containing memes, cartoons, and ice bucket challenge videos.

Classy...

real.. classy

[HannibalBarca]

That's pretty much the argument used when taking away anything like that.  Giving people free things will spoil them and they will become lazy leeches.  Apparently none of those people were ever denied lunch at school because their account was overdrawn. 

That invalidates anyone who inherits their fortune from their parents, too (listening, Donald?)

I'm a teacher, and I work in a poor community.  If anything should be free and given to children, it should be food.  Not snacks and extra stuff, but the basics--and this isn't new in politics.  FDR talked about freedom from want, and he didn't mean caviar and cell phones.  Just the basics to survive should be available to everyone.  Everywhere.  And paid for by those who have far too much to ever spend it all in their lifetimes.

[Azy]

That invalidates anyone who inherits their fortune from their parents, too (listening, Donald?)

I'm a teacher, and I work in a poor community.  If anything should be free and given to children, it should be food.  Not snacks and extra stuff, but the basics--and this isn't new in politics.  FDR talked about freedom from want, and he didn't mean caviar and cell phones.  Just the basics to survive should be available to everyone.  Everywhere.  And paid for by those who have far too much to ever spend it all in their lifetimes.

My school had free and discounted lunch.  We weren't poor enough for free lunch, but I did get the discount.  And to keep the other kids from knowing we went through the same line as everyone else and had to punch our student ID number into a computer.  Breakfast was free for everyone.  And no, we didn't get anything fancy.  Most days breakfast was vitamin fortified donuts and orange juice.