Bad news for US: there is no competition between US and China. US lost it already. All those economic sanctions stuff against China have been like mending a broken fence after the horses gone. US is inconveniencing China right now, but can US hinder Chinese people to innovate, to progress, to revenge, and so have the last word? Nyet. Posted by: KitaySupporter | Jan 27 2023 18:22 utc | 46
I read some disturbing things about where the United States is heading. Anyone who believes that the USA isn’t going to “start a war with China” is delusional. No matter what China does, good or bad, the United States is planning on fighting. And it is planning on a remote far-away war.
If China falls for this trap, it deserves what ever happens to it. No excuses.
Meanwhile the United States (and it’s proxies) are pushing, pushing, and pushing. These are dangerous times.
I need a drink.
How to Make a Whiskey Sour: Classic Whiskey Sour Recipe
Written by MasterClass
Last updated: Dec 25, 2022
The Whiskey Sour is a structured and refreshing cocktail that can be drunk from the afternoon until late in the night.
What Is the Whiskey Sour?
The Whiskey Sour is made with two parts rye whiskey or bourbon, to one part each of lemon juice and simple syrup. Classic sours typically call for two parts of a spirit, along with one-to three-quarter parts each of sweetener and acid. Some sour cocktails feature an egg white for a bit of froth and volume, which is optional for the Whiskey Sour. The acidic citrus in this classic cocktail brings levity to the spice and smoke of barrel-aged whiskey. The Whiskey Sour is shaken and served over ice in a rocks glass.
Ingredients
- Combine the whiskey, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker and fill with ice cubes. Shake well for 30 seconds.
- Strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice. Garnish with the orange slice and maraschino cherry.
Iran Under Attack!
The United States / Israel (obviously) hit Iran because of shipments of weapons and drones to Russia. -MM
More than half a dozen explosions have rocked different cities inside Iran as of 7:17 PM eastern US time on Saturday, 28 January 2023. The explosions have all been hitting military industrial facilities. Micro Aerial Vehicles (drones) and hitting numerous targets throughout Iran.
In addition, reports are now coming in claiming the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) is engaging in air attacks inside Syria, against allegedly Iranian targets.
This is happening right now. Details coming in, Check back for updates.
7:20 PM EST — 5-6 explosions reported in different provinces of Iran just now – Industrial Plants, Weapons Depot, Airbase, Military buildings targeted, – Drones/Quadcopters suspected
7:27 PM EST — The map below shows the locations of several attacks so far:
***** BULLETIN *****
“Israel launches a special military operation inside Iran” – Al Arabiya News Network
More:
“The official goal of the Israeli army is the destruction of Iran’s military industry” – Al Arabiya
7:31 PM EST — Videos surfacing of Iranian Air Force scrambling
Russian and Iranian State Media is already claiming that the Drone Attacks on Military Facilities inside of Iran tonight are suspected to be from a NATO or NATO-Linked Country.
7:35 PM EST — There are rumors tonight that the Azerbaijani Embassy in the Iranian Capital of Tehran is currently being Evacuated with several trucks seen being loaded with Equipment and Documents from the Embassy.
TEHRAN NOW: GROUND DEFENSE SYSTEMS ARE RESPONDING TO AIR TARGETS OVER THE CAPITAL, TEHRAN.
7:37 PM EST — The Iranian National Security Council has convened an emergency meeting
7:39 PM EST — The strikes on Iran are extremely distributed all over the country. No less than 7 large cities have been struck.
The Iranian security council has been convened for an emergency session.
The Iranian Ministry of Defense: The air defense hit one of the drones that were trying to target the Isfahan Military Factory, and the other two planes fell into defensive traps and exploded.
7:42 PM EST — Explosion at the air base in the city of Dezful, Iran
Confirmed (locally) blast-incidents in the past hour in Iran:
1. Isfahan, #Isfahan Province
2. Khoy West Azerbaijan Province
3. Azarshahr East Azerbaijan Province
4. Karaj #Alborz Province
Multiple Middle Eastern Media Sources tonight are reporting that Israel has launched a Military Operation against Iran but so far nothing has been Officially Announced by the Israeli Government or Military.
7:47 PM EST — IT IS ALLEGED THAT SOME GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS IN IRAN WERE HIT. (UNCONFIRMED)
Reports indicate that there is an intense security situation in the routes leading to the ammunition manufacturing centers of the Ministry of Defense in Isfahan
8:07 PM EST — Blast in Hamedan, Hamedan Province of Iran. 4th one tonight Each incident site is at least a couple of hundred km far from each other.
8:13 PM EST — The flow of news out of Iran has just . . . stopped. Nothing coming through. Complete silence. Something is up . . .
ANALYSIS — The most peculiar part of the reporting above is that the Embassy of Azerbaijan, in Tehran, is being EVACUATED right now. So I found myself asking, WTF?
Then I recalled, Azerbaijan is having a tiff with Armenia (again) and the Iranians (Shia Muslims) are backing (Christian) Armenia. So I started wondering if tonight’s attacks inside Iran might actually have something to do with Azerbaijan?
I note as well, that both Russian and Iran state media are reporting, almost from gitgo, that tonight’s attacks “are suspected to be from a NATO or NATO-Linked Country.” Would that be Azerbaijan?
Just yesterday, the head of security at the Azerbaijan Embassy in Tehran was murdered. It is now being RUMORED (unconfirmed) that he was part of an operation to smuggle micro drones into the Embassy, and those drones might be what’s attacking inside Iran tonight. These RUMORS (again, unconfirmed) go on to claim that Iran found out what was coming, couldn’t do anything in time to prevent it, so they allegedly outright murdered the Head of Security for the Azerbaijan Embassy.
All very convoluted.
Still awaiting more info.
Toothpick Artist Takes Nine Months to Create Jaw-Dropping Replica of Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia
It has taken nine months and more than 35,000 toothpicks – but Stan Munro has once again proved he is a real stickler for detail with the unveiling of his latest masterpiece. The model-making maestro has recreated Barcelona’s iconic Sagrada Familia out of nothing but tiny pieces of wood and PVA glue.
And the stunning construction is entirely faithful to Antoni Gaudi’s original design – with the Basilica’s nativity facade and highly detailed spires all visible.
World Health Organization issues List of Medicines Nations Should Stockpile “In case of nuclear emergency”
In yet another indication that governments of the world are preparing for a coming nuclear war with Russia, the World Health Organization (WHO) has issued instructions as to which medications nations must stockpile to deal with “nuclear emergency.”
The global health body issued guidance on how to survive a nuclear catastrophe in a new report today, warning against ‘intentional uses of radioactive materials with malicious intent’.
The report was published as the spectre of nuclear war looms over the world after the West supplied state-of-the-art tanks to Ukraine to the fury of Vladimir Putin.
The Kremlin accused NATO of a ‘blatant provocation’ and threatened a ‘global catastrophe’ in response to the deal.
Today, Stefano Sannino, secretary general of the European Union’s European External Action Service, said Putin had ‘moved from a concept of special operation to a concept now of a war against NATO and the West’.
He went on to claim the EU is not looking to escalate hostilities but is ‘just giving the possibility of saving lives and allowing the Ukrainians to defend (themselves) from these barbaric attacks.
Dr Maria Neira, WHO Acting Assistant Director-General warned that many governments today are not prepared for a nuclear or radiation disaster.
She said: ‘In radiation emergencies, people may be exposed to radiation at doses ranging from negligible to life-threatening. Governments need to make treatments available for those in need – fast.
‘It is essential that governments are prepared to protect the health of populations and respond immediately to emergencies. This includes having ready supplies of lifesaving medicines that will reduce risks and treat injuries from radiation.’
WHO outlines that a national stockpile normally includes PPE, trauma kits, fluids, antibiotics and painkillers.
But the health body said: ‘Many countries, however, still lack the essential elements of preparedness for radiation emergencies.’
Meanwhile, the Kremlin said today the US holds the key to ending the war in Ukraine but refuses to use it.
Spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused Joe Biden of ‘pumping weapons into Ukraine’ when he could instead be instigating a ceasefire.
Cinnamon Chicken (Kota Kapama)
Ingredients
- 8 pieces chicken
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 1/2 cups finely chopped onions
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped or minced garlic
- 6 fresh garden tomatoes or 1 cup chopped, drained, canned plum tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/2 cup chicken stock
- 1 (4-inch long) cinnamon stick
- Freshly-grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Grind some sea salt and black pepper over the chicken pieces.
- Heat the butter and olive oil over moderate heat in a sauté pan, and brown the chicken pieces. Transfer them to a plate.
- Pour off all but a thin film of fat add the onions and garlic. Cook and stir for a few minutes until the onions are light brown. Stir in tomatoes, tomato paste, chicken stock, cinnamon stick, 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt and a few grindings of black pepper. Bring to a boil, and then return the chicken to the pan and baste it thoroughly with the sauce. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer, basting occasionally, for about 30 minutes.
- Serve with white or brown rice or pasta. Spoon the tomato sauce over the chicken and rice or pasta. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese if desired.
‘My Gut Tells Me Will Fight in 2025’: US Four-star General Warns of War with China
Last Updated: January 29, 2023, 06:37 IST
A four-star US Air Force general said in a memo that his gut told him the United States would fight China in the next two years, comments that Pentagon officials said were not consistent with American military assessments.
”I hope I am wrong,” General Mike Minihan, who heads the Air Mobility Command, wrote to the leadership of its roughly 110,000 members. ”My gut tells me will fight in 2025.”
The letter was dated Feb. 1 but had been sent out on Friday.
The general’s views do not represent the Pentagon but show concern at the highest levels of the U.S. military over a possible attempt by China to exert control over Taiwan, which China claims as a territory.
Both the United States and Taiwan will hold presidential elections in 2024, potentially creating an opportunity for China to take military action, Minihan wrote.
”These comments are not representative of the department’s view on China,” a U.S. defense official said.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said earlier this month he seriously doubted that ramped up Chinese military activities near the Taiwan Strait were a sign of an imminent invasion of the island by Beijing.
China has stepped up its diplomatic, military and economic pressure in recent years on the self-governed island to accept Beijing’s rule. Taiwan’s government says it wants peace but will defend itself if attacked.
Reuters reviewed a copy of Minihan’s memo, which was first reported by NBC News.
In response to a request for comment, Air Force Brigadier General Patrick Ryder said in a statement that military competition with China is a central challenge.
”Our focus remains on working alongside allies and partners to preserve a peaceful, free and open Indo-Pacific,” he said.
Greek Chicken with Artichokes
(Kottopoulo me Anginares)
Ingredients
- 4 large chicken breast halves (about 2 pounds)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 1 clove garlic, chopped
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon instant chicken bouillon
- 1 (14 ounce) can small artichoke hearts, drained
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 2 eggs
Instructions
- Remove bones and skin from chicken breast halves. Heat oil in 10-inch skillet until hot. Cook chicken over medium heat until brown on both sides, about 15 minutes; drain fat. Sprinkle chicken with salt, pepper and garlic. Add water and bouillon. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer 10 minutes. Add artichoke hearts. Cover and simmer until chicken is done and artichoke hearts are hot, about 5 minutes.
- Remove chicken and artichoke hearts to warm platter with slotted spoon; keep warm. Beat lemon juice, cornstarch and egg in small bowl until smooth, using fork. Add enough water to pan juices to measure 1 cup. Beat into egg mixture, using fork. Return mixture to skillet. Heat to boiling over medium heat; boil and stir 1 minute. Pour sauce over chicken and artichokes. Sprinkle with minced parsley if desired.
Photographs Of Meals From Famous Novels
The photographs in this series, Fictitious Dishes, enter the lives of five fictional characters and depict meals from the novels The Catcher in the Rye, Oliver Twist, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and Moby Dick. Created by Dinah Fried.
Why do young Chinese have so little interest in democracy?
Maybe because they are very smart. Democracy in India made them 10 times poorer, Democracy in Philippines made them fall from 2nd biggest economy in Asia to a basket case in 3 decades!
They looked at the US and saw a million homeless living on tents, the watch people gunned down daily by random shooting, they know 64% of Americans living day to day on basic income and 35% have no health insurance and voted in a womaniser and con artist as a president and says we don’t want this shit.
They saw dilapidated infrastructure in America, witness police killing blacks for the slightest flaw, and know 25% of the world’s incasserated is in the US prisons and know 1% owns 90% of the US wealth and 99% share the balance 10% living with a double digit inflation and a 5 bucks gas a gallon, with empty supermarket shelves and they say thanks but no thanks!
But America says be democratic like us and you get to choose between 2 candidates chosen by the few rich and influential people once every 4 years and be proud of that. Chinese youth says go ahead and pretend you are free and have fun voting if Trump don’t steal the next election.
Scans Reveal Magic Amulets Inside Egyptian Golden Boy Mummy
CT scans conducted during a recent study of the “Golden Boy” mummy, which was discovered in 1916 in southern Egypt, has revealed a hidden collection of 49 magical amulets, including many forged in gold. It is believed the amulets were “strategically” placed on the mummy’s body to “vitalize the dead body.”
The ancient Egyptians believed amulets, figurines, and charms held powerful supernatural energies, offering protection for both the living and the dead. As such, amulets were deposited on or inside bodies during mummification, which is exactly what happened in the case of the 2,300-year-old Golden Boy mummy.
The outer coffin of the Golden Boy mummy on the left and inner wooden sarcophagus on the right, which shows that the boy was draped with a garland of ferns and wore a gold gilded face mask. (Saleem, Seddik and el-Halwagy / CC BY 4.0 )
Death Strategies in Ancient Egypt
Laid to rest inside two coffins, an outer coffin inscribed with Greek texts and an inner wooden sarcophagus, the Golden Boy earned his nickname because a fabulous gilded head mask was found in the mummy’s sarcophagus. And because the deceased’s wisdom teeth had not yet emerged, researchers know the person was about 14 or 15 years old when he died.
After its discovery in Nag el-Hassay in southern Egypt, the mummy was stored in the basement of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo without further inspection where it has remained ever since. Now, lead author of a new study Dr. Sahar Saleem, a professor of radiology at the Faculty of Medicine in Cairo University, has taken high resolution computed tomography scans, known as CT scans , of the mummy. The researcher has revealed 21 amulets in different styles, shapes and sizes placed strategically in and around the Golden Boy mummy.
CT scans revealed a number of amulets, many of them made of gold, within the mummified remains known as the Golden Boy mummy. (Saleem, Seddik and el-Halwagy / CC BY 4.0 )
Prepped for the Afterlife with a Golden Tongue
The new study published in Frontiers in Medicine explained that the boy was discovered wearing a pair of sandals with a garland of ferns draped across his body. A two-finger amulet was discovered next to the boy’s uncircumcised penis, and the boy’s tongue was capped in gold.
While the boy’s identity is not clear, the vast collection of luxury grave goods discovered by the CT scans indicate that he was born into a family of high socio-economic status. According to EurekAlert!, the researcher concluded that this mummy served as a “showcase of Egyptian beliefs about death and the afterlife” during the Greek ruled Ptolemaic period which lasted from 305 BC to 30 BC.
A series of images from the study, including CT scans that “digitally unwrapped” the Golden Boy mummy. Source: Saleem, Seddik and el-Halwagy / CC BY 4.0
The Human Soul Vs the Goddess’s Feather
Ancient Egyptian cultures believed that different stones, metals, and crystals provided essential life energies and that they affected the body in various ways. But amulets also served functional roles in the afterlife. Thus, the tongue of the teenage Golden Boy was capped in gold, “to ensure the deceased could speak in the afterlife,” and his sandals allowed him “to enable the deceased to walk and leave the tomb in the afterlife,” according to the Frontiers in Medicine study.
The tongue of the teenage Golden Boy was capped in gold, “to ensure the deceased could speak in the afterlife – https://ctt.ec/0zuR0+
Out of all of the artifacts identified by the CT scan, a golden heart scarab amulet found inside the boy’s torso cavity stood out to Dr. Saleem. The heart scarab is mentioned in a specific chapter of the ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead and it was considered important for the soul’s journey in the afterlife.
This particular magical device was needed during the judging of the deceased, when the heart was weighed against a goddess’s feather. Specifically, it prevented the deceased’s heart from speaking during judgment, therefore, it was placed inside the torso during mummification as a replacement for the heart.
3D Printing Ancient Artifacts
Dr. Saleem said this particular scarab was engraved with spells on its back, created by priests to protect the boy during his journey in the afterlife. And so fascinated was the researcher with this single piece that she used a 3D printer to recreate it. Saleem told Live Science it was “really amazing” to hold the ancient design in her hands.
Previous studies of the Golden Boy mummy, and the latest discovery of the hidden trove of amulets, have provided valuable new insights into ancient Egyptian ideas surrounding death and the afterlife. The amulets were placed on and around the mummy to protect the boy in the afterlife, and this new study provides valuable information about the socio-economic status of the mummy, and how elite Egyptians prepared for death and rebirth.
Resulting from these new findings, the Golden Boy mummy has been moved to the main exhibition hall at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo where it can be viewed alongside the CT images and a 3D printed version of the heart scarab amulet.
Top image: CT images of the mummy revealed amulets were placed on or inside the mummified body of the Golden Boy mummy, including a two-finger amulet discovered next to the boy’s uncircumcised penis. (Saleem, Seddik and el-Halwagy / CC BY 4.0 )
By Ashley Cowie
“Suburbia”: The Melancholic and Mythological Artworks by Carlos Barahona Possollo
Degree in Painting, final mark of 18/20, from the Faculty of Fine Arts of the Lisbon University. In 1995 Carlos Barahona Possollo accepted an invitation to teach at the Faculty. He had read Architecture at the Technical University of Lisbon from 1986 to 1989.
He was officially commissioned to paint the Portrait of the Portuguese president Cavaco Silva, shown at the Presidents’ Gallery permanent collection in the Museum of the Presidency of the Republic, since 2016. Since 1995 he has been co-operating with the Portuguese Mail in the production of originals for the printing of stamps, notably their commemorative series of the 500th anniversary of Vasco da Gama’s arrival in India (1996-98), and also with the Portuguese edition of the National Geographic Magazine (first nine issues).
His works can be found in private collections in Portugal, Spain, France, Switzerland, Italy – most notably, of many in this country, in that of Prince Jonathan Doria- Pamphilj – The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, U S A and Argentina. Also, in public collections such as the Vatican (IOR), The White House, the Bank of Portugal, the Portuguese Museum of Communications, The Setubal Museum, and the Union of Portuguese Speaking Capital Cities.
More: Carlos Barahona Possollo, Instagram, Facebook
Leopard Tanks and “Marder” Infantry Fighting Vehicles Already entering Poland
This train was seen earlier in northern Germany, and is shown above after having entered Poland.
Among the ammunition used by these weapons systems is Uranium-core shells; which Russia has already announced, “will be viewed as a dirty nuclear bomb being used against Russia, with all the ensuing consequences.”
REWARD OFFERED FOR FIRST KILL
A Russian Oil company has publicly announced it will pay a reward of five million Rubles, which equal fifty thousand US Dollars, for the “First Kill” by a Russian Soldier, of either a U.S. “M1” or a German “Leopard-2” Tank in Ukraine. Subsequent kills of such weapons systems will result in reward of five-hundred thousand Rubles, which equals five-thousand U.S. Dollars.
Greek Fried Cheese (Saganaki)
A visit to a Greek restaurant anywhere in the world is likely to feature waiters setting this dish ablaze and parading it through the room, accompanied by an appreciative “OPA!” from the guests.
Yield: 6 to 8 servings
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 egg, well beaten
- 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
- 1/2 pound kasseri cheese*, sliced 1/2 inch thick
- 2 tablespoons brandy
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
Instructions
- Heat the butter in a large heavy skillet over moderate heat.
- Beat the egg and flour together, and dip the cheese slices into the mixture. Fry until well browned on both sides.
- Remove from the heat and add the brandy. Carefully ignite the brandy with a match, and shake the skillet until the flame is extinguished.
- Squeeze the lemon juice over the cheese, and serve from the skillet along with crusty bread.
Notes
* Available in finer supermarkets and Middle Eastern specialty shops. Parmesan or Romano cheese may be substituted.
The pictures of the ancient ruins, and walking around it them, that reminded me of the video game ‘Rime’. It was a very short game, you can beat it in a day or two of play time, but it offered fantastic scenery and game art. Worth playing if you can find the time. Trailer: https://youtu.be/biPr3V7-IXI
Philippines joining US-Japan alliance to counter China. Yet China is the biggest trading partner of the Philippines. China deserves to die if it doesn’t halt trading or economic activities with Philippines. Japan wants to conquer China. Some days I get so exasperated I wish they would start fighting. China shld sink Japan into the ocean. Whoosh. Gone. Some 8 to 9 million Taiwan-born Chinese got Japanese blood. So they wud enjoy a big fight with mainland China. I think the CPC is too patient. Just let those who want to be Chinese cross over to Xiamen. Those Taiwanese who want to be Japanese or yankee, stay put and join the fishes in the ocean. I bet you won’t print this. Nvm.
Historian, Larry Romanoff, writes: “The reason the Americans and the European Jewish mafia hate China’s one-party system is not because it’s a bad system, but because it cannot be controlled by external forces. China’s one-party system is a perfect form of government, as is obvious by the results it has produced, but the Americans and the Jews cannot get their fingers into it. If China has no political parties and no public elections, how can I buy the candidates? And if I cannot buy the candidates, how can I control the government?” https://www.bluemoonofshanghai.com/politics/9719/