tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74353851504113334662024-03-12T16:46:30.357-07:00The Loose NukesNuclear (and loosely related) satire at its best (or worst)Leonard Eigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08211690207308023413noreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435385150411333466.post-28604155374900939222023-09-16T20:27:00.006-07:002023-10-02T11:43:20.698-07:00Vanguard class submarine transforms into giant Chia pet after recordbreaking six-month patrol<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">A Royal Navy ballistic missile submarine has just completed a record-breaking tour of over half a year at sea. The primary purpose of the extended patrol, in addition to better understanding how the crew could get along for so long without a decent shower, was to determine whether ballistic missile submarines could grow a coating of plant-based material on their hulls in order to lower their acoustic signature while at sea, thereby reducing the probability of detection by an unfriendly nation.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ageing-nuclear-submarine-breaks-record-for-longest-patrol-j2d2dd7h5">Times reported</a> that an unidentified submarine was <a href="https://twitter.com/SheilaLWeir/status/1701172772074926419">spotted</a> “encrusted with barnacles and covered in slime and a very high density of Chia sprouts” upon its recent return to the Faslane naval base in Scotland. The paper said the vessel was at sea for a patrol in excess of six months.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZgVaXsG6Dur8uNss9dk8UsZyrCKbLh7_GW3rSecP6t51klOH7vNp2uDBvlTsH4vPSMV1iX32KB5Dlt8jeIHhmtwxHbkm0rNq4vncQg2bkC2UakIALH54yT_w5PUiDvFYXxJa3qkUQczLzQ_EsQiIoilD4rAfBpq8xalJe7DuS9Z8XjnYj1bLYIxZ_VyW/s2962/trident%20chia%20pet.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1745" data-original-width="2962" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZgVaXsG6Dur8uNss9dk8UsZyrCKbLh7_GW3rSecP6t51klOH7vNp2uDBvlTsH4vPSMV1iX32KB5Dlt8jeIHhmtwxHbkm0rNq4vncQg2bkC2UakIALH54yT_w5PUiDvFYXxJa3qkUQczLzQ_EsQiIoilD4rAfBpq8xalJe7DuS9Z8XjnYj1bLYIxZ_VyW/w530-h313/trident%20chia%20pet.jpeg" width="530" /></a></div><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">A statement made by the Royal Navy added that Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden was in Scotland to welcome the submariners home. Dowden brought along his Chia Pet, fondly named “Holbrook,” after the British thermonuclear warhead fitted on the Trident II missiles deployed on Vanguard submarines.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Only two of Britain’s four Vanguard-class submarines – HMS Vigilant and HMS Vengeance – are currently deemed sea-worthy. The fleet’s first-in-class, HMS Vanguard, returned to Faslane this year after more than seven years undergoing maintenance, but will not be mission-ready until 2024. The fourth vessel, HMS Victorious, has been waiting to undergo its own maintenance following an onboard fire last year and has only just arrived at the Devonport dockyard in Plymouth.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Last year, it was reported that the lack of available Vanguard-class submarines meant crews were increasingly serving tours in excess of 150 days and being ordered to apply deodorant far more than should be required. By comparison, the average patrol on the previous generation of nuclear vessels rarely exceeded 60-70 days.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">An unidentified source inside the Ministry of Defence (MOD) told The Times that researchers stumbled upon Chia sprouts as a new method of lowering submarine's noise profile when a researcher started sprouting seeds in the laboratory to use in their sandwiches. Subsequent laboratory experiments demonstrated that a high-density coating of Chia sprouts effectively breaks up sound waves that bounce against the hull more effectively than the rubber tiles currently in use. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">In addition to concerns about the state of the vessels, there have also been concerns about the impact these extended tours have on crew discipline, morale, and psychological wellbeing. The Royal Navy has already opened an investigation into claims by female submariners working on Vanguard-class subs of sexual abuse and bullying by male colleagues and senior officers, and a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/dec/06/safety-fears-as-uk-trident-submarines-are-put-to-sea-for-longest-ever-patrols" target="_blank">former UK submarine commander</a> has warned of risks to sailors.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://cnduk.org/record-breaking-patrol-pushes-uks-nuclear-fleet-to-the-limit/?fbclid=IwAR2x0yStf8ElrC9y3VbfPbx3wzv3YH7jxiRTtSkpy-h_FSGm0QRL-w0-bIY&link_id=7&can_id=8ab8f3c27eebc0d4229d5695b2e19fa9&source=email-protest-and-survive-join-the-cnd-conference-2023&email_referrer=email_2045982&email_subject=protest-and-survive-join-the-cnd-policy-conference-2023">CND General Secretary Kate Hudson</a> passed off the Chia seed experiment as a cheap publicity stunt intended to divert attention from the serious problems faced by the Trident nuclear weapon system. “It’s extremely irresponsible of the British government and Royal Navy to expose crews to these conditions [essentially trapped in slimy, Chia-infested deathtraps]: not only to such lengths of time away from friends and family, but in vessels that are becoming increasingly unseaworthy and smelly. Clearly Britain is struggling to maintain its nuclear weapons safely. That is already potentially catastrophically dangerous without the added risks of malfunctioning equipment or personal error as a result of overtired and stressed staff. This whole [Chia] project is just a colossal waste of time and resources. The government must come to its senses and call time on its nuclear weapons programme, scrap its replacement, and instead invest in rebuilding our public services.” </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Chia Pets are American styled terracotta figurines used to sprout chia, where the chia sprouts grow within a couple of weeks to resemble the animal's fur or hair. Moistened chia seeds (Salvia hispanica) are applied to a grooved terracotta figurine. A range of generic animals has been produced, including a turtle, pig, puppy, kitten, frog, and hippopotamus. Cartoon characters have also been licensed, including Garfield, Scooby-Doo, Looney Tunes, Shrek, The Simpsons, and SpongeBob. Additionally, there are Chia Pets depicting real people, including Barack Obama and Donald Trump. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKPSF1WL3mRapC4k8RWyQIyJqNbsEdRaCQpsrgXEmJcHlM_T-GJmKxb9T3M7WkgDQ-TzJL3ayoNQvNTL5g7lKqUJySGlHHH738Bdw-a5b5Bmavfdo4O02Z4CUkfvJwurD-7R4T1equIVMiMzQVMfehwWGj-A2jrvy8yoEs0PcsTWKJB68GMFBq1SWYABjb/s1200/trump%20chia%20pet.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKPSF1WL3mRapC4k8RWyQIyJqNbsEdRaCQpsrgXEmJcHlM_T-GJmKxb9T3M7WkgDQ-TzJL3ayoNQvNTL5g7lKqUJySGlHHH738Bdw-a5b5Bmavfdo4O02Z4CUkfvJwurD-7R4T1equIVMiMzQVMfehwWGj-A2jrvy8yoEs0PcsTWKJB68GMFBq1SWYABjb/w552-h310/trump%20chia%20pet.jpg" width="552" /></a></div><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><b>Author's Note: Thanks to Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) for inspiring this satirical piece of pseudo-journalism, and for much of the information plagiarized herein.</b></i></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>Leonard Eigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08211690207308023413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435385150411333466.post-37996158525464319072023-08-01T17:49:00.004-07:002023-08-01T23:25:53.115-07:00Ron DeSantis Comes Unhinged Over Revisionist Accusations: or, There Is an Upside to Slavery<p>Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican presidential candidate, has been accused of suppressing U.S. history and whitewashing the systemic racism so central to our nation's historical legacy. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">DeSantis began by forcing the revision of the state’s Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies curriculum, purging key Black writers, feminists, and any references to Black Lives Matter.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Then, last week,, the Florida Department of Education released its social studies standards for the upcoming school year. The massive 216-page document states, “Instruction includes how slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit.” Wow, who could have known!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDOOTYSue4uxTS9gKlBluD612VqpBhNH-bVKiFWKzbILoWIi1PVfMpJ7NOsKVmvZgq5KcwRcCUlItgKKnuc1SNpTCy2SNDRPUnXrJTFTQlWNmOtPE7RABCClTneLWr2GXHRA01d-WzFhvx1tVvhorsGnkp5-SVGsaHIKOA9xpHKspV_45g5Xhl9wcHJgTw/s800/desantis.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDOOTYSue4uxTS9gKlBluD612VqpBhNH-bVKiFWKzbILoWIi1PVfMpJ7NOsKVmvZgq5KcwRcCUlItgKKnuc1SNpTCy2SNDRPUnXrJTFTQlWNmOtPE7RABCClTneLWr2GXHRA01d-WzFhvx1tVvhorsGnkp5-SVGsaHIKOA9xpHKspV_45g5Xhl9wcHJgTw/w640-h360/desantis.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2023/7/27/no_gov_desantis_there_s_no" target="_blank">Gov. DeSantis was asked to explain</a> this shocking rewrite of the brutal and bloody history of slavery in the United States, while at a campaign stop in Utah: “They’re probably going to show some of the folks that eventually parlayed, you know, being a blacksmith into doing things later in life.”</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">In a subsequent interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, DeSantis clarified his earlier comments.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The governor went on in great detail recounting the countless examples throughout history of peoples who “parlayed” difficult experiences into benefits, assuming they survived those early experiences.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“Look at Native Americans,” he said. “So many of their children benefited from a good education in the schools our government provided for them. After all, they had no school system of their own, and they got cool uniforms too. The allegations of physical and sexual abuse committed in those schools is patently false. The kids were just sexually precocious.”</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">DeSantis went on to say that, “All those stories about the white man's treatment of Native Americans are just false. We would never give them blankets infected with Smallpox, and of course <i>everyone</i> knows that Smallpox was invented in some Chinese laboratory... probably Wuhan.”</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPqr3SBtOZdw_BSiKgnOAz2Pv-ct9_Z7DujT-FsF87emyUlFCprQvTHPxdKFu1YDlUkykwOEI02DScdDhPOmPWXDp0_HmT-LgBgvU0VLxkAR_jsW6Lp5R9wNXMvdMeVmdoL1pgIueuNw0iiu1jnqPGYTeRch1sZLHaEW8wdcyvYaiGvrdv4SticvriWTA/s600/desantis_black_history_curriculum-936257454.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="600" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPqr3SBtOZdw_BSiKgnOAz2Pv-ct9_Z7DujT-FsF87emyUlFCprQvTHPxdKFu1YDlUkykwOEI02DScdDhPOmPWXDp0_HmT-LgBgvU0VLxkAR_jsW6Lp5R9wNXMvdMeVmdoL1pgIueuNw0iiu1jnqPGYTeRch1sZLHaEW8wdcyvYaiGvrdv4SticvriWTA/w640-h452/desantis_black_history_curriculum-936257454.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">DeSantis went on to explain that the Jews have benefited going all the way back to Biblical times. “Just look at their escape from slavery in Egypt. They would not have learned to make that flatbread that they use for their holiday celebrations. I've tried it, and it's pretty good, although it's a little dry and crumbly.” And don't forget their time in the camps during World War II. I'm sure those who survived learned skills from which they benefited. After all, look how well the Jews have done in our nation... all those doctors, and lawyers, and... violinists.”</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Without skipping a beat, DeSantis ranted about about how women in the U.S. complain about their treatment by the supposed entrenched patriarchy that has been in place since the founding of our nation (and long before that) saying, “I really don't understand the womens lib thing. Women have had a darn good ride from the time our great nation was founded, and the men who have defended our freedom relied upon the women tending the home fires and did the laundry... oh yeah, and having babies. Heck, Betsy Ross probably wouldn't have known how to sew a flag if she had gone off to fight in the Revolutionary War. As for the right to vote, women should be grateful to have that. And, you know, all they really had to do was ask... nicely... and we would have given it to them, so long as they promised to vote Republican.”</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Hannity's interview with DeSantis has not yet aired due to as yet unconfirmed rumors that the Fox Executive Board is concerned about possible fallout from the interview being made public.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">END</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><b>T</b><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><b>he Fine Print:</b></span><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> The author of this article makes no claims as to the accuracy of the information conveyed herein, except to say that aside from one quote cited (you guess which one), the rest were totally made up (although they might as well have been real). That being said, the author did his best to convey the absurdity of DeSantis' claims by using a bit of hyperbole.</span></i></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>Leonard Eigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08211690207308023413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435385150411333466.post-23831484263644815452023-07-27T19:49:00.004-07:002023-07-27T20:04:51.170-07:00South Korea Could Have It's Own Boomer<p>Republic of Korea (ROK) President Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady of the Republic of Korea Kim Keon Hee recently kicked the tires on one of the US Navy's aging OHIO Class “Trident” submarines in anticipation of possibly purchasing one of the soon to be retired ballistic missile submarines for their own nation.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Kentucky (SSBN 737) was on a port visit in Busan, South Korea on July 19, 2023 to not only demonstrate the United States’ ironclad commitment to the (ROK) for its extended deterrence guarantee, but to also give the President and First Lady a chance to tour and test drive a fully functioning ballistic missile submarine. A secondary purpose was to scare the pants off of President of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Kim Jong Un.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbb4n2CjnKYh37bkBtjE91P75GgkSVG73QJnCj7gn6s8ejLlk76qrr9So6VgVEIasFr72Cnc9Le5-CXOTQ8qR6q5SrbTycEdrRskRVIgi-cdurLCT2uQEhLr5xpBGUhk8NHvl_D7mniE1Sku8Qy6_fP3leihZVWKJVDzIjMFOV3hm6bShWKpMrf01b1-q/s1000/Kentuck2.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbb4n2CjnKYh37bkBtjE91P75GgkSVG73QJnCj7gn6s8ejLlk76qrr9So6VgVEIasFr72Cnc9Le5-CXOTQ8qR6q5SrbTycEdrRskRVIgi-cdurLCT2uQEhLr5xpBGUhk8NHvl_D7mniE1Sku8Qy6_fP3leihZVWKJVDzIjMFOV3hm6bShWKpMrf01b1-q/w526-h350/Kentuck2.webp" width="526" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ROK First Lady Kim Keon Hee checking out North Korea.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The 14 OHIO Class submarines currently in service, which represent the US Navy's kick-ass nuclear deterrent force, are scheduled to be replaced by the new and improved Columbia Class, which is slated to begin entering service in 2031. As the aging OHIO Class boats are taken out of service there will be a tremendous opportunity for countries like South Korea to have their very own nuclear deterrent and no longer need to rely on the US nuclear umbrella. It will also provide an opportunity for the US Navy to make some extra cash to keep building all the ships on its wish list.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Besides the deterrence aspect of owning your own ballistic missile submarine, there is also the major prestige factor of owning a vessel capable of incinerating an entire continent with the full complement Trident II D5 missiles loaded with a the maximum number of thermonuclear warheads.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">"Ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) are the most powerful nuclear assets in the world," said <a href="https://www.voanews.com/a/us-south-korea-kick-off-nuclear-consultative-group-in-seoul-/7186711.html">Park Won Gon</a>, professor at Ewha Womans University in Seoul. "North Korea's solid-fuel Hwasong-18 ICBM is no match to the SSBN. … North Korea is going to realize the imbalance between its nuclear capabilities and the U.S.'" After those comments, Park was overheard saying, “If Kim messes with us he will be toast.”</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">During the guided tour of the Kentucky the first couple viewed the missile compartment and they were blown away by the explanation of the Trident missile's capabilities, and nearly choked on their lunch with the realization that even after incinerating all of North Korea in a first strike (which is what Trident is designed for), they would still have plenty of missiles left to deal with China should the need arise.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The couple was assured by U.S. National Security Council Coordinator for Indo-Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell that the United States is committed to strengthening the ROK to meet its sovereign self-defense needs and to improve its capabilities to operate with U.S. forces to address shared security challenges. At the inaugural meeting of the long-lauded US-ROK Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG), coinciding with the Kentucky's port call, Campbell stated that the US is committed to ensure that the ROK is prepared to show Kim Jong Un who's boss on the Korean peninsula.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsnHUXu7DAUgZez2z4Cid_KHsGlAqQAOizQdKiXnJslPK2h9xf63lDx_AvPa_JmnxalKmyNCYmmCNbPHDyFEWF7DpJMMKNhctVQp4yLyEiVWV6w4ACgf3DjvU3oW2FysJ7HQYhJYee2PuOtpqPxF0B5W6bYxdx0756azbyTWe-vwQQEQXgW6iRpGOzYKNM/s1000/Kentucky1.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsnHUXu7DAUgZez2z4Cid_KHsGlAqQAOizQdKiXnJslPK2h9xf63lDx_AvPa_JmnxalKmyNCYmmCNbPHDyFEWF7DpJMMKNhctVQp4yLyEiVWV6w4ACgf3DjvU3oW2FysJ7HQYhJYee2PuOtpqPxF0B5W6bYxdx0756azbyTWe-vwQQEQXgW6iRpGOzYKNM/w509-h338/Kentucky1.webp" width="509" /></a></div><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">When President Yoon asked about the potential price tag, a representative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs assured him that he would be getting a huge price break, and that the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), as amended [22 U.S.C. 2751, et. seq.], authorizes the President to finance procurement of defense articles and services for foreign countries and international organizations. Foreign Military Financing (FMF) may be provided to a partner nation on either a grant (non-repayable) or direct loan basis.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The commanding officer of the Kentucky, Lee Fake (Gold crew), assured President Yoon that prior to purchase, their submarine would receive a thorough overhaul, including reactor refueling.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">When asked how he felt about the prospect of owning his very own ballistic missile submarine bristling withorth enough thermonuclear firepower to start World War III, President Yoon retorted, “How can one put a vualue on such a treasure as ultimate nuclear deterrence? I am humbled, and at the same time somewhat agiddy, at the thought of such power.”</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Disclaimer/Fine Print/etc: Although most of what is written in this post is true, the ROK first couple did not test drive an OHIO Class submarine, nor do they intend to purchase one for their country (as far as this journalist is aware).</b></p>Leonard Eigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08211690207308023413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435385150411333466.post-40262978024460429022023-03-29T09:31:00.003-07:002023-07-28T18:05:23.672-07:00 New revelations question previous narratives explaining responsibility for Nord Stream bombing<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQunVqyxaxUsvwa1B_M6N90r7ltxX0XtuRY7RljGP7ebFAoeA_IZkaHPkOjulEdDW0bfz6Rqrk0fwt0aUUqZLAs7lewp-86oeFBqawHR7cR-Ch1dmfvwsf7mNRwUz0tobuJuICkHe5nimE_SRgD2ipPI-wXwmi3ZWxJo_nkw25xZQAMV5rxuJ3Cxn2Ig/s640/UDT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="411" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQunVqyxaxUsvwa1B_M6N90r7ltxX0XtuRY7RljGP7ebFAoeA_IZkaHPkOjulEdDW0bfz6Rqrk0fwt0aUUqZLAs7lewp-86oeFBqawHR7cR-Ch1dmfvwsf7mNRwUz0tobuJuICkHe5nimE_SRgD2ipPI-wXwmi3ZWxJo_nkw25xZQAMV5rxuJ3Cxn2Ig/w617-h411/UDT.jpg" width="617" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The New York Times has reported that new intelligence reviewed by U.S. officials suggests that a pro-Ukrainian group may have carried out the attack on the Nord Stream pipelines last year.<p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">More recently, intelligence disclosed to The Loose Nukes by unnamed sources reveal that the Nord Stream sabotage may have been conducted by an elite team of canine mercenaries comprised of specially trained Golden Retrievers. It's still unclear whether the team was made up of mercenaries or whether they were working directly for a particular government.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">A spokesperson for the Humane Society International, who wished to remain anonymous, said that this disclosure is of great concern to animal rights advocates, and that it is unconscionable that anyone would put animals who don't even have opposable thumbs into such a dangerous situation as one involving high explosives.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">It is suspected that the canine underwater demolition team was trained at a secret facility disguised as an animal rescue facility, possibly in a Scandinavian country.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">A laboratory is currently analyzing residue from rawhide dog treats found on a beach at a Swedish nudist colony to determine their country of origin. Investigators hope to find other evidence as they comb that site.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The disclosure of the seagoing canines might constitute the first significant lead to emerge from several closely guarded investigations by numerous governments, the conclusions of which could have profound implications for the coalition supporting Ukraine.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Although some have pointed to the United States as being responsible for the bombing, this new finding, if confirmed, would refute that theory since it appears that the Canine divers are far more advanced than any US military specialist teams that would be capable of this kind of operation.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The U.S. Navy has employed marine mammals for decades in any number of roles.</p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: TiemposTextWeb, Georgia, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">In 1990, the New York Times </span></span></span><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1990/07/24/us/navy-suspends-a-plan-to-use-dolphins-as-guards.html">reported</a><span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: TiemposTextWeb, Georgia, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: TiemposTextWeb, Georgia, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">that former Navy trainers had told them dolphins were being taught "to kill enemy divers with nose-mounted guns and explosives," a charge denied by a Navy spokesman.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">And in 2000, the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/670551.stm">BBC reported</a> that Soviet-trained dolphins and other marine mammals were being trained by Russian experts to attack enemy warships and divers. "They could also undertake kamikaze strikes against enemy shipping carrying mines that would explode a ship on contact with its hull."</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">When asked about the use of dogs for such sophisticated activities as those involving planting explosives, an applied animal behaviorist, who wished to remain anonymous, said that dogs such as retrievers are capable of learning a vast array of skills and are excellent swimmers. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The expert also theorized that dolphins, because of their large and complex brains, may have decided to resist taking part in any activity involving harming other beings or infrastructure. In that case, she said, the Navy might find another animal that would be less likely to question orders, and retrievers would fit this category.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">For now, the quest to find the culprits of the Nord Stream attack continues. Mats Ljungqvist, a senior prosecutor leading Sweden’s investigation and member of the Kariskrona Nudist Colony, told The New York Times late last month that his country’s hunt for the perpetrators was continuing.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“It’s my job to find those who blew up Nord Stream. To help me, I have our country’s Security Service,” Mr. Ljungqvist said. “Do I think it was dogs that blew up Nord Stream? I never thought so. It’s not logical. But... you have to be open to all possibilities.”</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>Leonard Eigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08211690207308023413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435385150411333466.post-60762891810076508392022-08-27T19:31:00.007-07:002022-08-27T19:34:06.184-07:00Announcing the Nuclear Age Depression Foundation<p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_fl57xdOL_ADmp5f6EkSx-EWtqHYE7pigJwOGiuffs9E8OiQxZrk2Cgh6o5txUaonEPV_6QYxyTtLqNCa0GYOGS-wktuDy_NwMHSUXfNDQ5VzoQ1ZIcY8DZseF4PP8Pc15ehdpvupDokz2mbvrhegrWdlcP9gdHRLpyXjfsrVEPpQmQrekyF42yQjw/s1920/npt3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1920" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_fl57xdOL_ADmp5f6EkSx-EWtqHYE7pigJwOGiuffs9E8OiQxZrk2Cgh6o5txUaonEPV_6QYxyTtLqNCa0GYOGS-wktuDy_NwMHSUXfNDQ5VzoQ1ZIcY8DZseF4PP8Pc15ehdpvupDokz2mbvrhegrWdlcP9gdHRLpyXjfsrVEPpQmQrekyF42yQjw/w489-h305/npt3.jpg" width="489" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br /><span style="color: #202020; font-family: arial;">On Friday, A</span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: arial;">ugust 26th, after four weeks of deliberations, the 10th Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) concluded with no final agreement. This should come as no surprise as the nuclear-armed nations, led by the United States and Russia (the two largest nuclear-armed nations), have paid lip service to the NPT since its inception. </span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Humanity has, for the past 77 years, lived under the nuclear Sword of Damocles, and no one can live under the constant threat of nuclear annihilation without suffering some mental anguish. It is quite likely that much of the mental illness suffered by people throughout the nuclear age has been caused by the knowledge of the threat of use of nuclear weapons, which would result in unimaginable horrors.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The nuclear-armed nations that are signatories to the NPT have all but ignored the intentions of the treaty by not only NOT pursuing "negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament, and on a treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control," but also by increasing and modernizing their arsenals and delivery systems over many decades.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In the case of the United States, we hear a never-ending droning-on about the proliferation of nuclear weapons by other states (eg, North Korea) while the US stonewalls when it comes to meeting its obligations under the NPT. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Once, when asked what he thought of the NPT and the prospects for global disarmament, Edward Teller, known as the father of the hydrogen bomb, criptically remarked, "If anyone wants a hole in the ground, nuclear explosives can make big holes." Robert Oppenheimer, who didn't live to see the NPT enter into force, was once quoted as saying, “It is perfectly obvious that the whole world is going to hell. The only possible chance that it might not is that we do not attempt to prevent it from doing so.” Both quotes indicate people affected by mental illness of one form or another.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Therefore:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">With the understanding that the NPT was created by the nuclear-armed nations as a way of maintaining their nuclear hegemony and keeping other nations from possessing nuclear arms and,</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In response to the 54 year failure of the bogus NPT to bring about total and complete disarmament and,</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In response to 77 years of continuous threat of use of nuclear weapons, which would unleash horrors the likes of which are beyond human comprehension and, </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In response to the mental harm caused to most, if not all, of humanity by the constant threat of human extinction due to nuclear holocaust and,</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Since it is obvious that the governments representing the nuclear-armed nations have no intention of giving up their nuclear arsenals,</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Be it resolved that an eminent group of mental health professionals have come together to create the Nuclear Age Depression Foundation (NADF). The NADF will provide resources to all interested parties in an effort to treat the billions of residents of Planet Earth who suffer from some form of depression resulting from the knowledge that we are all totally f____d.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">More information can be found at <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://theloosenukes.blogspot.com&source=gmail&ust=1661737511967000&usg=AOvVaw0TLdq4lqw_PpfatK7hPYu0" href="https://theloosenukes.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://theloosenukes.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com</a>.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Disclaimer:</b> The Nuclear Age Depression Foundation is in no way related to or associated with the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation.</span></p>Leonard Eigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08211690207308023413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435385150411333466.post-74287639863198563102022-03-14T15:46:00.005-07:002022-03-14T15:52:28.544-07:00Celebrating the Apocalypse (in the Musical Way)...<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>Ah, the power of music... </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>The late Tom Lehrer is, in this humble radioactive activist's opinion, one of the greatest satirists of all time. You have to wonder how a Harvard-trained mathematician (he never got his doctorate, but who cares; he did something much more important!!!) goes to the dark side in such a bright, creative way???</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>Where would we be without satire in a world that for over three quarters of a century has been poised to destroy itself with the very omnicidal devices of its own making? It's very definition rises to the occasion: "<span style="caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 36); color: #202124;">the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues." Lehrer nails it by definition and far beyond!</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;">As he once wrote in a song about <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Wernher von Braun</a>, the former rocket scientist to the Nazis who the U.S. government brought to our shores to build our nation's rocket program (which became NASA), "'Once the rockets are up, who cares where they come down? That's not my department,' says Wernher von Braun." <br /><br />As for von Braun, who invented the infamous V-2 rocket, he infamously shot for the stars, but hit London.</span> <p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>As for Lehrer, he had a deep enough understanding of the madness of the nuclear arms race, and had the creative, satirical skills to write brilliant lyrics (and some darn good instrumentals too).</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>Other songs to help us all put on a happy face for the coming apocalypse include the quintessential <strike>nonproliferation</strike> proliferation piece <a href="https://youtu.be/oRLON3ddZIw" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Who's Next</a><b style="font-style: italic;">. </b>This might be the time to dust this one off with so many countries wondering if they should get their own nukes (to fend off mighty nuclear-armed nations like Russia... and maybe even the U.S.).</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>To finish things off (no pun intended), you can't do better than <b><i><a href="https://youtu.be/frAEmhqdLFs" target="_blank">We Will All Go Together When We Go</a></i></b> (and we certainly will if we don't abolish nuclear weapons before they abolish humanity!!!). </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>As for satire, long may it live... even though Lehrer once remarked that, "<b>P</b></span><b style="caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 36); color: #202124;">olitical satire became obsolete when Henry Kissinger was awarded the Nobel peace prize</b><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 36); color: #202124;">.” </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 36); color: #202124;">He's got a good point there...</span><span><br /></span><span><br /></span><span><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="389" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yrbv40ENU_o" width="468" youtube-src-id="yrbv40ENU_o"></iframe></span><span><br /></span></span></p><div><p><br /></p></div>Leonard Eigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08211690207308023413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435385150411333466.post-28624804688034210692022-02-22T17:57:00.004-08:002022-02-23T18:17:05.260-08:00Bomb Shelters Are Back... And They're The Bomb!What is it about fear that makes people go to such great (and seemingly futile) lengths and cost to feel safe? A story as old as (recorded) time, people have profited from the fears of others over countless centuries. It's what Naomi Klein calls Disaster Capitalism in the present-day context, and the disaster capitalists are doing quite well thanks to the mass fear mongering that has reached epic proportions as the Global War on Terror and the current Ukraine crisis have continued to escalate.<div><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Some of you will remember the good old bomb shelter days of the bad old Cold War. Back in the 1950s many folks decided that "duck and cover" just didn't cut it for their families. Keeping up with the Joneses in the 50s often meant building a bomb shelter in one's back yard (or basement). People buried huge steel drums outfitted with at least a few of the comforts of home - beds, lanterns, canned food and water - and waited for the sirens.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="clear: right; color: #ffffcc; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img align="BOTTOM" border="1" height="263" name="graphics1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFcdKORXejGSmCK2zNYn9e098JuTzKoowogWdJghrM6I9c2I2VLEGVmvxNJhGI4whcMtcelWH8Y4wX1Aw3yGffNo_08UyvlmUIln0J_EYjnv0Aj1J5toV4Fqy8q3E4nB7LT4A-DMnHE5Y/w368-h263/instantcoffee3_448.jpg" vspace="5" width="368" /></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Many also had a radiation detector, a nifty device with which they could determine when it was safe to go outside and try to rebuild their lives in what would have actually been a vast, radioactive wasteland had the Superpowers unleashed even a small portion of their massive nuclear arsenals (roughly 65,000 warheads at the peak of the Cold War).</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Even today the US and Russia combined have <a href="https://fas.org/issues/nuclear-weapons/status-world-nuclear-forces/" target="_blank">3250 "deployed strategic" thermonuclear warheads</a> mounted on missiles and bombs that are, as a result of their combined yield and accuracy, far more devastating than much of the old, Cold War nuclear weaponry.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Well folks, if this has you waxing nostalgic for the old days, look no further. Doomsday Shelters are making a comeback. This is Disaster Capitalism at its best (or should I say worst). Some folks are evidently making good money capitalizing on people's worst fears<span><span> </span></span>and digging some pretty big holes in the ground and calling them "Catastrophe Shelters." And, as the mid-19th century American showman P.T. Barnum once said, "There's a sucker born every minute."</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The Vivos Group has been buying up facilities originally built for the military, and making them available (as "memberships") to people desperate to survive everything you might imagine, and some you would never think of. A slick video showing a world map and displaying dots in various locations scrolls from one threat to the net, covering "HOLY WAR, EARTH CHANGES, ECONOMIC COLLAPSE, CIVIL WARS, EMP ATTACK, IMMIGRATION, MEGA TSUNAMI, MILITARIZATION, PANDEMICS, NIBIRU PLANET X, SECESSION FROM NATION, SUBMERSION, TERRORISM, WW3." Wow, did they leave anything out? </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I don't want to be too critical but hey, the only historically recognized "HOLY WAR" I recall was the period of the Crusades, which were a series of religious wars initiated, supported, and often directed by the Roman Catholic Church (a bunch of religious European mostly white people), and that long period of holy wars officially ended in 1699. Yet one might wonder if recent US invasions of sovereign, predominantly Muslim nations don't qualify as holy wars/crusades, considering the revelations of long-standing, rampant racism on the part of self-proclaimed [white] christian nationalists here in the good old USA). And don't forget the genocidal treatment of the indigenous [Native American] peoples of this continent and our history of slavery! And speaking of "CIVIL WARS", aside from the many civil wars on foreign soil that had - and some current wars that have - their roots in US interventions, I think it's safe to say those crazy white nationalists are itching for a fight.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">As for "NIBIRU PLANET X", you might be exclaiming, WTF is that?!?!?! According to Wikipedia, "The Nibiru cataclysm[involving Mibiru Planet X] is a supposed disastrous encounter between Earth and a large planetary object (either a collision or a near-miss) that certain groups believed would take place in the early 21st century." And it gets better - "The idea was first put forward in 1995 by Nancy Lieder, founder of the website ZetaTalk. Lieder describes herself as a contact with the ability to receive messages from extraterrestrials from the Zeta Reticuli star system through an implant in her brain." Lieder states that she was chosen to warn humankind that the encounter with Nibiru Planet X will cause a shift in the poles that will destroy most of humanity. Welcome to the Twilight Zone!</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">As crazy as the Planet X theory sounds, the doomsday scenario that really caught my attention is "MILITARISM." What's up with that??? Although the video shows a dot in South America, and others in what appear to include China and India, they forgot to include the United States. Let's face it; we invented militarism, and the US is number two in a list of "<a href="https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/gun-deaths-by-country" target="_blank">countries with the Highest Total Gun Deaths (all causes) in 2019</a>." Of course, we should include all the countries to which we (directly or indirectly) sell weapons (of all types); that would surely push the numbers way off the chart.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">By now it militarism (and the underlying violence that causes it) has become embedded in our DNA (figuratively speaking). Instead of Onsies, the baby shower gift of choice will one day become a functioning, baby-sized assault rifle (available in a variety of pastel colors); free pacifier included. If some gun manufacturers had their way every child would have kid-sized working tactical/assault weapon (and plenty of ammunition) by the time they reach elementary school. Is that cool or what, say open-carry dads around the country!!!</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Meanwhile, people are evidently signing up for "memberships" to get a piece of the Vivos dream. Think of it as the ultimate pre-catastrophe timeshare. When I first looked them up in 2010, you could buy a share for $50,000 per adult, and just half that for kids. The website currently lists a price of $35,000 per person for a "turnkey shelter." And you can shell out as much as "$110,000 to $120,000 for a fully built out bunker" at <a href="https://www.terravivos.com/secure/vivosxpoint.htm" target="_blank">Vivos xPoint</a>, touted as the "largest survival community on Earth." What a bargain!</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj06nxjVjJ5E2fkZaAD3PpyBzr-c9alCwVkde9lR3Mg8-9f0eqr3gRewp5xRlWf11z3z_fvDYUNgvGTN32vxYvzNyiJKJVnQ_K-jGEgClT1lzU6MsuTr7rR0ujohxYTnpvcU7-00cts_ghon3C8tcE-9TUOIuuhWyNrhoT1PSd52wjEIdkM4Ll07a38Eg=s1836" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="241" data-original-width="1836" height="68" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj06nxjVjJ5E2fkZaAD3PpyBzr-c9alCwVkde9lR3Mg8-9f0eqr3gRewp5xRlWf11z3z_fvDYUNgvGTN32vxYvzNyiJKJVnQ_K-jGEgClT1lzU6MsuTr7rR0ujohxYTnpvcU7-00cts_ghon3C8tcE-9TUOIuuhWyNrhoT1PSd52wjEIdkM4Ll07a38Eg=w519-h68" width="519" /></a></div><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">When something really nasty is about to go down, you just head over to your designated shelter and, assuming there isn't a massive, angry, heavily-armed mob also trying to get in, pop inside and wait out the worst (and wait, and wait, and wait...). Is that a great deal or what??? Of course, I won't ask how they are going to guarantee up to "five years with food, power, water and filtered air", not to mention how they will keep out the masses of post-apocalyptic ZOMBIES!</p><p>All kidding aside, the people behind this trend deny that they are profiting from people's fears. As <a href="https://www.terravivos.com/secure/management.htm" target="_blank">Robert K. Vicino</a>, Founder & CEO, a disaster denizen and founder of the <a href="https://www.terravivos.com" target="_blank">Vivos Global Shelter Network</a>, says:,</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a name="SPELLING_ERROR_1"></a></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">"You don't think of the person who sells you a fire extinguisher as taking advantage of your fear," he says. "The fact that you may never use that fire extinguisher doesn't make it a waste or bad... We're not creating the fear; the fear is already out there. We're creating a solution." </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I'm not so sure about the fire extinguisher analogy, but I can agree with him on one point; they are not creating the fear. Of course that is simply a matter of semantics. They are building (massively) on existing fears, and are doing a pretty good job of burying what is left of the Social Contract. This is the quintessential Naomi Klein vision of a Disaster Capitalism-plagued world where only the wealthy are saved.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.terravivos.com/secure/xpoint10best.pdf" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="2553" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtVORfsCDbxO9ias4k5VaNW2AXXFFlEmxR_vzt35QiHDNQvhNF3PIugadezjjlVjv9kS4p0RNdO1TersKhNmGtxlUEDTLXVgOrw8kIK53Z2AbUwnj0Um-vKq_ulyhvss4t0-dRYxXTzQ-Y1SWV8bP0E3Ggyc8gs7YZx0quL88wwZWvgZpoQfENE5QcOg=w523-h121" width="523" /></a></div><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">As for Vivos' claim that they are "creating a solution," I think a more productive (and socially conscious) solution, particularly from the standpoint of nuclear weapons, might be to learn to address conflict nonviolently, stop invading other nations, support and strengthen the United Nations, and abolish nuclear weapons. The terrorist nuclear threat has been overblown; the greatest threat from nuclear weapons currently is, and always has been, that of nuclear war. And currently there is a very real threat of the use of nuclear weapons between the US and Russia should conventional war break out over the Ukraine crisis.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">And now for the question of who gets to play? The Vivos website touts one of its shelters, <a href="https://www.terravivos.com/secure/vivosxpoint.htm" target="_blank">Vivos xPoint</a>, as "an epic humanitarian project the size of a city." WOW!!! How does a private, membership-only, survival shelter "with accommodations for more than 5,000 like-minded survivalists to ride out 'the event' and the aftermath to follow" qualify as a "humanitarian project"??? This no public works project; money speaks volumes here, and buys access. This NO humanitarian project, and I'm guessing with all their doublespeak about how to not become "a victim of the marauders during the aftermath following a large scale cataclysm or catastrophic event" is coded language for "white people only!" Just saying. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The people at Vivos are seriously working this thing to the max. playing up the End Times big time. Talk about some serious fear mongering; these folks are too much. First they tug at people's white nationalist heartstrings:</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">"Vivos is not just a shelter company. It is a network of communities of <b>like-minded people</b>, supporting each other for the best chance of surviving virtually any disaster."</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">And then further down the home page comes the End Times pitch:<br /><br />"<b>Be ready for the doomsday events predicted in the Bible and by prophets over the ages. </b>If you believe in the Biblical predictions of Armageddon, or the prophecies of Nostradamus, the Third Secret of Fatima, the visions of Edgar Cayce, or all of the current signs of attack by North Korea, WW3, a pandemic, an EMP power outage, Yellowstone's eruption, the increase threats of an asteroid collision, Nibiru/Planet X, widespread global radiation, major earth changes, or even a sudden pole shift, then it is time to prepare for your family's survival!"</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Meanwhile back in the shelter, assuming that people don't go totally nuts after being cooped up underground for such a long period of time after a nuclear holocaust (let's face it; how many times can you watch <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Day_After" target="_blank">The Day After</a></i> before wanting to end it all), once they see what they are returning to they just might wish that they had spent that $35,000 (and more) on one huge pre-Armageddon block party. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">As for me, I am spending my money and energy on nonviolent conflict resolution and nuclear abolition. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Biden and Putin - You have been warned! Time to ditch the nukes AND the militarism; why don't you both just grown up!!! And We The People must resist the fear mongers at at levels and seek collective, inclusive, nonviolent solutions to ALL the threats we face (many of which are initiated and propagated by the greed of a small number of people in power and the lower-level opportunists who take advantage of people for their own selfish gain.</b></p></div>Leonard Eigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08211690207308023413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435385150411333466.post-76404605235429435762022-02-18T12:34:00.004-08:002023-07-29T19:56:19.929-07:00Ukrainians Flocking To Buy Nuclear Survival Travel Trailers Amidst Potential Nuclear Crisis<p>As the US and Russia continue their saber-rattling, people in Ukraine are preparing for the eventuality of a nuclear war. An indicator of Ukrainians' angst is the mile-long line of people waiting to enter the Armageddon 2000 showroom in the city of Kyiv.</p><p>Armageddon Industries is the manufacturer of the world-renowned Armageddon 2000 nuclear survival travel trailer. </p><p>The showroom opened in January as Armageddon Industries began its 2022 global expansion plan to grow into new markets outside of the US as sales have skyrocketed in recent years due to the new global nuclear arms race.</p><p>Armageddon Industries founder and CEO Dave Patterson, in a recent TED Talk, spoke of "the need, in the absence of any sanity among the nuclear nations, to offer some modicum of protection to people everywhere, not just in the US." He outlined plans to open showrooms in both China and Russia by the end of 2022 and, "if the US can't get it together and save the JCPOA with Iran," a showroom in Tehran. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLt53mpnic0vnw0YWm0myKTqeqdZ017sJcSn46IDuVmVhTm7z0wC47-OYrdo5C5zoFilOrkhd0TN7X3YAEHn_i06ltGlKX-OqhUOF99ufCRh2EpHL14ZKFC-QMH3q3RGilrII4WKXbQjEOx6R51LUgbzfA3TunlpnJE_6Yk2qQjjnFD-W9IjLJ-pCpBQ=s720" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="720" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLt53mpnic0vnw0YWm0myKTqeqdZ017sJcSn46IDuVmVhTm7z0wC47-OYrdo5C5zoFilOrkhd0TN7X3YAEHn_i06ltGlKX-OqhUOF99ufCRh2EpHL14ZKFC-QMH3q3RGilrII4WKXbQjEOx6R51LUgbzfA3TunlpnJE_6Yk2qQjjnFD-W9IjLJ-pCpBQ=w510-h352" width="510" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the comforts of home; you'll barely notice the end of the world.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Many Ukrainians appreciate the concept of a travel trailer that can get them out of town before the shelling starts and, in the event of a nuclear war, protection against blast, radiation pulse, and radioactive fallout. As one </span>Kyiv resident, who had been waiting outside in a sleeping bag all night, said, "This is a great opportunity to be prepared for the worst and to have some fun while doing it. I picture myself and my family sitting in my A-2000 on the edge of the Black Sea with the warm glow of the firestorms off to the east."</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyyl_EAPgxO3PsvLpuclrHPVYW27me_MsYah9TbYj81EoDzhI6-Qnr5Gpb-hN1k7ws-raxP5dQbuWwQnxBQt7T4UNKrQgs_SM9uUwZ-q997kXeKlSGrPRAWxlBeqO3cydUHSPMvXL-n1xpDbtJYXWJcf6ZQqZ_k6foeSO2ZHPnQXOLPcpQh35mutLY6Q=s1606" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="677" data-original-width="1606" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyyl_EAPgxO3PsvLpuclrHPVYW27me_MsYah9TbYj81EoDzhI6-Qnr5Gpb-hN1k7ws-raxP5dQbuWwQnxBQt7T4UNKrQgs_SM9uUwZ-q997kXeKlSGrPRAWxlBeqO3cydUHSPMvXL-n1xpDbtJYXWJcf6ZQqZ_k6foeSO2ZHPnQXOLPcpQh35mutLY6Q=w518-h219" width="518" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The spacious floorpan of the 2022 A-2000; room for the entire family.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The 2022 Armageddon 2000 continues to lead the way in nuclear-hardened travel trailers. Its proprietary design features are light years ahead of any of its competitors, and even the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has been unable to reverse engineer any of the key features of the Armageddon 2000.<p></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPuw9dq90PBvbtZbQVw1lbiWM78LgE00lWopfzk7GRfalr0RhrrkNYmOiLMxO5TK_TgISD5pMvgAdr0bcm5OhfS5SwPLwQoQq7aBdDUlqI2Pb2MB7h3DA76v62B7S6cGzMYgfpUMASKrUx4QVAU0f_K-MnxXVUEbknu3vgTfFMVRwCmI2IkKh1PW3-KA=s500" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="397" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPuw9dq90PBvbtZbQVw1lbiWM78LgE00lWopfzk7GRfalr0RhrrkNYmOiLMxO5TK_TgISD5pMvgAdr0bcm5OhfS5SwPLwQoQq7aBdDUlqI2Pb2MB7h3DA76v62B7S6cGzMYgfpUMASKrUx4QVAU0f_K-MnxXVUEbknu3vgTfFMVRwCmI2IkKh1PW3-KA=s320" width="254" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fashion for a post-apocalyptic world!</td></tr></tbody></table>Armageddon Industries has consistently refused to enter into a contract with the Pentagon to build a military version of the A-2000. Patterson, who is also a member of Veterans for Peace, said he is "puzzled over a Pentagon that seems to act more like a public-works project, seeing its primary mission to spend money willy-nilly, fattening the pockets of fat-cat weapons builders. As much as I would love to get even a small portion of the mega-profits going to military contractors I cannot in good conscience work with a militaristic regime."<br /><br />The January issue of Trailer Life featured the 2022 Armageddon 2000 with the XLT package. Trailer Life review staff put the A-2000 through its paces in a number of extreme environments and laboratory tests, and the A-2000 got five stars on all counts. It received a near-perfect score in the obstacle course, which simulated a post-nuclear blast environment at a distance of one mile from the hypocenter of a single 90 kiloton - the explosive yield of the US Navy's W76-1 thermonuclear warhead - detonation. <br /><br />New features on the 2022 model include a closed loop process water recycling system, self-cleaning solar panels, improved photochromic blast resistant windows, and all radiation-hardened electronics. Also included are lifetime subscriptions to Disney+ and Prepper Survival Guide. Options include a high efficiency hydroponic growing system, real-time 24/7 exterior and interior radiation monitoring, and pop-up decontamination module (for after those hikes in the radioactive wasteland).<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuh22-sHGWP98tCkdjMndYsifaVk-L29PMouiAJZsKqearmutKHLCia5RTLgK0NaPxF7Xy_1h7ddm0_lT0VLDqB18papwo5ukICR8ZifFS1sXO9_MpwWTxfpi-WW0RJx4UnMdDZX4X3uHOuwtZL_JP3FgNp624uCQrHhtoxUJhSb6JwXOtys67TMnIZQ=s800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuh22-sHGWP98tCkdjMndYsifaVk-L29PMouiAJZsKqearmutKHLCia5RTLgK0NaPxF7Xy_1h7ddm0_lT0VLDqB18papwo5ukICR8ZifFS1sXO9_MpwWTxfpi-WW0RJx4UnMdDZX4X3uHOuwtZL_JP3FgNp624uCQrHhtoxUJhSb6JwXOtys67TMnIZQ=w495-h372" width="495" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Undated photo of Armageddon Industries CEO Dave Patterson with the <br />Armageddon 2000 prototype during initial testing at an <br />undisclosed location near the Nevada Test Site.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Patterson is a vocal advocate for a nuclear weapons-free world. When asked by Trailer Life what he thinks the prospects are in the burgeoning new era of proliferation he replied, "Yes, the nuclear armed nations keep putting humanity at risk of extinction, yet the vast majority of nations have called for an end to this madness via the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The handwriting is on the wall; time for the nuclear-armed nations to reach agreement and move toward zero [nuclear weapons]."</p><p>Patterson, whose company is 100% employee owned, announced that Armageddon Industries will this year begin donating 10% of pre-tax income to organizations working to abolish nuclear weapons and build a peaceful world for all. The company's website states that its employee retirement fund does not invest in any companies involved in the development, production or maintenance of nuclear weapons.</p><p>Meanwhile, in Kyiv, the excitement at the Armageddon Industries showroom is palpable. As a special incentive for pre-ordering a 2022 A-2000 XLT Ukraine Edition, Armageddon Industries announced it will include nuclear fallout protective suits for each member of the purchaser's immediate family. After all, you can't be cooped up indoors all the time, even after a nuclear holocaus<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">t.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></span></div>Leonard Eigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08211690207308023413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435385150411333466.post-69785360307319405352022-02-17T15:03:00.009-08:002022-02-18T09:11:18.542-08:00Biden: "The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming!!!"<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhoM2ozUkDb2V59NijTlWIP8eMeiktMlEMgdUwpBJi5hAlgiUlYr0NyqiteIsrlDHoTAq4sX0w9W-IyIvKsp4hKuZQ98Bylgx5RGq8v3UNAm6HUSs2GgnknpvExCCUUwbg2W4ZghAx-DBesYALHvEN-RO8CovvxlOKJzGNdh-jnNSz3jRjlTAMLfcJSWA=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhoM2ozUkDb2V59NijTlWIP8eMeiktMlEMgdUwpBJi5hAlgiUlYr0NyqiteIsrlDHoTAq4sX0w9W-IyIvKsp4hKuZQ98Bylgx5RGq8v3UNAm6HUSs2GgnknpvExCCUUwbg2W4ZghAx-DBesYALHvEN-RO8CovvxlOKJzGNdh-jnNSz3jRjlTAMLfcJSWA=w558-h314" width="558" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span data-offset-key="e1nsu-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">President Biden has been become increasingly frustrated that the American people are not taking him seriously when he warns (every day) that the Russians could </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">invade</span><span data-offset-key="e1nsu-2-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Ukraine at any moment. To demonstrate how imminent the threat is, The White House is arranging a national virtual screening of the 1966 movie "The Russians are Coming." </span></span><p></p><div data-block="true" data-editor="e2itl" data-offset-key="7t7ij-0-0" style="text-align: left;"><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span data-offset-key="a3vos-0-0"><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); white-space: pre-wrap;">Biden said in today's news conference that, "People watch the news every day seeing those Russian tanks driving really fast in the snow thinking, wow that looks so cool; don't they get it? This is real folks; they're ready to go at any moment. They got em surrounded! Bang, Bang; game over! This film will sober them up."</span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span data-offset-key="a3vos-0-0"><span style="color: #050505;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEih0E4NEqu3YiFh6V0fz-gzh1r4lm6Mp8EE6rAqSlS9rejTwlVhG2JTHBDqAnlLrNVjFm1vAG-xBeiNeGNrml4a6sef53SOXUYckxYW3MZWJ0o0sccFvvAy7O4JSYa9FI__JAZ3EUh2bxC6jy_ZHSLHkL4loPvCt7zJ24oFf23_XnPQnvHScy0WY9bCuw=s475" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="330" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEih0E4NEqu3YiFh6V0fz-gzh1r4lm6Mp8EE6rAqSlS9rejTwlVhG2JTHBDqAnlLrNVjFm1vAG-xBeiNeGNrml4a6sef53SOXUYckxYW3MZWJ0o0sccFvvAy7O4JSYa9FI__JAZ3EUh2bxC6jy_ZHSLHkL4loPvCt7zJ24oFf23_XnPQnvHScy0WY9bCuw=s320" width="222" /></a></span></span></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span data-offset-key="a3vos-0-0"><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); white-space: pre-wrap;">Speaking to the question of whether the film screening is a form of inflammatory, pro-war propaganda, Biden retorted, "Come on! This film gets right to it folks; the Russians have done this before, and they will try again. We've got to be strong against the aggressor. We're just protecting freedom like we always do."</span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="8cdn3-0-0">Corporate media outlets' initial response to the Biden administration's request was positive. A spokesperson for NBC who was not yet born when the film was first shown in </span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: arial;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); white-space: pre-wrap;">theaters said, "Wow, this looks like a great documentary; why wasn't it nominated for an Academy Award back in its time?"</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #050505; font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">A number of white nationalist militia groups have been showing excitement over the film screening. A member of The Proud Boys said, "If you thought January 6th was an opportunity for recruitment and radicalization action, this film could push all that way over the top. This is the ultimate vigilantism at its best; the heroes portrayed in this drama are just everyday Americans like me who love their country just the way it once was."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Since The White House announcement, submarine sightings on both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, as well as on the Great Lakes, have soared, clogging 911 emergency call centers around the country. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In Washington State, white vigilantes mistook an OHIO Class "Trident" ballistic missile submarine docked at Naval Base Kitsap Bangor on Hood Canal for a Russian submarine and attempted to board it from their small recreational fishing boat. They were stopped by Naval security personnel well before reaching the vessel. One vigilante, when asked how they could make such a mistake, said, "Heck, all submarines look the same to me. I don't know how we're supposed to tell a Roosky from an American sub."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Check your local Fox Network station for broadcast times for "The Russians Are Coming."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p></div>Leonard Eigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08211690207308023413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435385150411333466.post-34909206561440199692022-02-08T17:43:00.002-08:002022-02-08T17:43:34.853-08:00My Button's Bigger Than Yours!<p> WASHINGTON (The Loose Nukes) – A former Trump White House staffer, who wished to remain anonymous, has revealed that Trump had “no clue about anything related to nuclear weapons.” </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">As an anxious nation, and the corporations making tons of money from the US Government's addiction to nuclear weapons, await the release of the 2022 Nuclear Posture Review - the legislatively-mandated review that establishes U.S. nuclear policy, strategy, capabilities and force posture - the unnamed staffer just couldn't hold this information in any more.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">In an interview with the staffer, who had regular contact with the former president, just a day after the release of the 2018 Nuclear Posture Review, President Donald Trump expressed outrage that there was no mention of his “nuclear button.” Unnamed White House sources said the President “went ballistic” when he learned about the omission, asking how “Rocket Man” would take the U.S. nuclear threat seriously if he didn't think the United States has a nuclear button, and a much bigger one at that.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhopTNR1xbwwfq6Tncjqk0KbNcTu0Lq9ajta6KJPdYypPT0p-RFcQdZ9djKUS5fjjT2pT6FsBII0-txUfqCOeo_yVfkrCrZ4cVWlb_Uj0fxvjIW4wofOJrTCooO6z0CEq1RerzNRUv7qfoFvkwe77xAsyy1DazU6bxCrUH-Nb-EcepR-ZierRgU8qDZGg=s1280" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhopTNR1xbwwfq6Tncjqk0KbNcTu0Lq9ajta6KJPdYypPT0p-RFcQdZ9djKUS5fjjT2pT6FsBII0-txUfqCOeo_yVfkrCrZ4cVWlb_Uj0fxvjIW4wofOJrTCooO6z0CEq1RerzNRUv7qfoFvkwe77xAsyy1DazU6bxCrUH-Nb-EcepR-ZierRgU8qDZGg=w529-h297" width="529" /></a></div><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">In January 2018 Trump said that the nuclear launch button on his desk is "much bigger" and "more powerful" than that of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un – and that his button actually "works." Trump went on to say that, “North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the 'Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times,'" Trump tweeted. "Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!"</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVnw5FSr23F4iQ04jFt8cWz-YfVU402FNxVMbbIJVQzkdVZr53OPMwk_vHYH2bzva1rj3cJvuxNvwUN18xsKDcCDQTNHh439soPJ7uMGBIN-39UI2hFhEyw_xBY8GNOOGNULR3BTh7PUl8PkHj2EgMKjIXSQmZa7g9MhHMLAhQJ3nKWnOIjjiDEtNylg=s1524" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1524" data-original-width="1201" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVnw5FSr23F4iQ04jFt8cWz-YfVU402FNxVMbbIJVQzkdVZr53OPMwk_vHYH2bzva1rj3cJvuxNvwUN18xsKDcCDQTNHh439soPJ7uMGBIN-39UI2hFhEyw_xBY8GNOOGNULR3BTh7PUl8PkHj2EgMKjIXSQmZa7g9MhHMLAhQJ3nKWnOIjjiDEtNylg=s320" width="252" /></a></div>Trump was shocked when Secretary of Defense James “Mad Dog” Mattis informed him that no such nuclear button exists, and gave him a tutorial on the infamous “nuclear football,” which allows the president to transmit the orders to launch nuclear weapons and destroy all of humanity. Trump was dumbfounded; “you mean that guy in uniform following me around everywhere with that really big leather briefcase? By the way, is that real leather or faux leather? I don't care for faux leather; it's cheap; faux leather is for losers.” <br /><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The President immediately ordered Mattis to have a nuclear button installed on his desk. Trump is rumored to have said, “I don't care about codes. Who needs codes? What's the deal with that? And that guy sitting outside my bedroom all night with that briefcase chained to his wrist really creeps me out.” </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Fortunately for the citizens of the US Thermonuclear Monarchy, former President Trump, was never given the opportunity to try out the real “nuclear button.” The nation awaits yet another Nuclear Posture Review, and although President Biden seems like a reasonably stable individual... well, you never know!</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>Leonard Eigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08211690207308023413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435385150411333466.post-66818488709451975122019-11-18T18:18:00.001-08:002019-11-18T18:18:44.414-08:00Which Would You Prefer―Nuclear War or Climate Catastrophe?<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Which Would You Prefer―Nuclear War or Climate Catastrophe?</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">By Lawrence Wittner</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">[Dr. Lawrence Wittner (<a href="https://www.lawrenceswittner.com/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: blue; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">https://www.lawrenceswittner.com/</span></a> ) is Professor of History Emeritus at SUNY/Albany and the author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Confronting-Bomb-Disarmament-Movement-Stanford/dp/0804756325/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1440554214&sr=1-1&keywords=confronting+the+bomb"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: blue; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">Confronting the Bomb</span></a> (Stanford University Press).]</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>To: The people of the world</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>From: The Joint Public Relations Department of the Great Powers</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The world owes an enormous debt of gratitude to Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Narendra Modi, Boris Johnson, and other heroic rulers of our glorious nations. Not only are they hard at work making their respective countries great again, but they are providing you, the people of the world, with a choice between two opportunities for mass death and destruction.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Throughout the broad sweep of history, leaders of competing territories and eventually nations labored at fostering human annihilation, but, given the rudimentary state of their technology, were only partially successful. Yes, they did manage to slaughter vast numbers of people through repeated massacres and constant wars. The Thirty Years War of 1618-1648, for example, resulted in more than <a href="https://www.history.com/topics/reformation/thirty-years-war"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: blue; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">8 million casualties</span></a>, a <a href="https://blogs.icrc.org/law-and-policy/2017/05/23/thirty-years-war-first-modern-war/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: blue; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">substantial portion of Europe’s population</span></a>. And, of course, World Wars I and II, supplemented by a hearty dose of genocide along the way, did a remarkably good job of ravaging populations, crippling tens of millions of survivors, and blasting much of world civilization to rubble. Even so, despite the best efforts of national rulers and the never-ending glory they derived from these events, large numbers of people somehow survived.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Therefore, in August 1945, the rulers of the great powers took a great leap forward with their development―and immediate use―of a new, advanced implement for mass destruction: nuclear weapons. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Memoirs-Harry-S-Truman-Decisions/dp/156852062X"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: blue; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">Harry Truman</span></a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Triumph-Tragedy-Second-World-War/dp/0395410606"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: blue; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">Winston Churchill</span></a>, and <a href="https://thediplomat.com/2016/05/what-if-the-united-states-had-told-the-soviet-union-about-the-bomb/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: blue; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">Joseph Stalin</span></a> were all eager to employ atomic bombs against the people of Japan. Upon receiving the news that the U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima had successfully obliterated the population of that city, Truman rejoiced and called the action <span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: blue; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><a href="https://www.history.com/news/the-inside-story-of-harry-truman-and-hiroshima">“the greatest thing in history.”</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Efforts to enhance national grandeur followed during subsequent decades, as the rulers of the great powers (and some pathetic imitators) engaged in an enormous nuclear arms race. Determined to achieve military supremacy, they spared no expense, employed <a href="https://www.nonproliferation.org/wp-content/uploads/npr/72pavel.pdf"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: blue; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">Nazi scientists</span></a> and <a href="https://www.atomicheritage.org/history/soviet-closed-cities"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: blue; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">slave labor</span></a>, and set off <a href="https://www.ctbto.org/nuclear-testing/history-of-nuclear-testing/world-overview/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: blue; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">vast nuclear explosions</span></a> on the lands of colonized people and in their own countries. By the 1980s, about <a href="https://fas.org/issues/nuclear-weapons/status-world-nuclear-forces/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: blue; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">70,000 nuclear weapons</span></a> were under their command―more than enough to destroy the world many times over. Heartened by their national strength, our rulers threw down the gauntlet to their enemies and predicted that their nations would emerge <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Toward-Nuclear-Abolition-Disarmament-1971-Present/dp/B01NAOQLN5/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=toward+nuclear+abolition&qid=1572832769&s=books&sr=1-2"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: blue; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">victorious in a nuclear war</span></a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">But, alas, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Toward-Nuclear-Abolition-Disarmament-1971-Present/dp/B01NAOQLN5/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=toward+nuclear+abolition&qid=1572832769&s=books&sr=1-2"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: blue; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">the public</span></a>, failing to appreciate these valiant efforts, grew restive―indeed, disturbingly unpatriotic. Accordingly, they began to sabotage these advances by demanding that their governments step back from the brink of nuclear war, forgo nuclear buildups, and adopt nuclear arms control and disarmament treaties. The popular clamor became so great that even Ronald Reagan―a longtime supporter of nuclear supremacy and “winnable” nuclear wars―crumpled. Championing nuclear disarmament, he began declaring that “a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought.” National glory had been sacrificed on the altar of a cowardly quest for human survival.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Fortunately, those days are long past. In the United States, President Trump is determined to restore America’s greatness by <a href="https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/2019-03-04/mourning-inf-treaty"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: blue; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">scrapping nuclear arms control</span></a> and disarmament agreements, <a href="https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/USNuclearModernization"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: blue; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">spending $1.7 trillion</span></a> on refurbishing the entire U.S. nuclear weapons complex, and threatening to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/20/asia/trump-iran-strategy-north-korea-intl/index.html"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: blue; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">eradicate other nations</span></a> through nuclear war. Meanwhile, the president’s good friends in Moscow, Beijing, London, Paris, New Delhi, and elsewhere are busy spurring on their own <a href="https://fas.org/issues/nuclear-weapons/nuclear-notebook/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: blue; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">national nuclear weapons buildups</span></a>. As they rightly insist: The only way to stop a bad nation with the Bomb is with a good nation with the Bomb.</span></div>
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Nor is that all! Recently, our rulers have opened up a second opportunity for a planetary destruction: climate catastrophe. <a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: blue; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">Some scientists</span></a>, never satisfied with leaving the running of public affairs to their wise rulers, have claimed that, thanks to the burning of fossil fuels, rising temperatures are melting the polar icecaps, heightening sea levels, and causing massive hurricanes and floods, desertification, agricultural collapse, and enormous wildfires. As a result, they say, human and other life forms are on their way to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sixth-Extinction-Unnatural-History/dp/0805092994"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: blue; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">extinction</span></a>. <span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">These scientists―and the deluded people who give them any credence―are much like the critics of nuclear weapons: skeptics, nay-sayers, and traitorously indifferent to national grandeur. By contrast, our rulers understand that any curbing of the use of fossil fuels—or, for that matter, any cutbacks in the sale of the products that make our countries great―would interfere with corporate profits, undermine business growth and expansion, and represent a retreat from the national glory that is their due. Consequently, even if by some remote chance we are entering a period of climate disruption, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesellsmoor/2019/06/15/united-states-spend-ten-times-more-on-fossil-fuel-subsidies-than-education/#3c3d26384473"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: blue; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">our rulers will refuse to give way</span></a> before these unpatriotic attacks. As courageous leaders, they will never retreat before the prospect of your mass death and destruction.</span></div>
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We are sure that you, as loyal citizens, are as enthusiastic as we are about this staunch defense of national glory. So, if you notice anyone challenging this approach, please notify your local Homeland Security office. Meanwhile, rest assured, our governments will also be closely monitoring these malcontents and subversives!<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
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Naturally, your rulers would love to have your feedback. Therefore, we are submitting to you this question: Which would you prefer―destruction by nuclear war or destruction by climate catastrophe? Nuclear war will end your existence fairly quickly through blast or fire, although your death would be slower and more agonizing if you survived long enough to die of radiation sickness or starvation. On the other hand, climate catastrophe has appealing variety, for you could die by fire, water, or hunger. Or you might simply roast slowly thanks to unbearable temperatures.<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
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We’d appreciate receiving your opinion on this matter. After all, providing you with this kind of choice is a vital part of making our nations great again!<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
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Leonard Eigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08211690207308023413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435385150411333466.post-59424577229637758572018-06-25T22:53:00.000-07:002018-06-28T10:32:15.283-07:00US pulls out of the United Nations; No one notices<i>UNITED NATIONS, June 25, 2018 (<a href="http://theloosenukes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Loose Nukes</a>)</i> -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres regretted the withdrawal of the United States from the United Nations, said his spokesman earlier today.<br />
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"The secretary-general would have preferred for the United States to remain in the global body," said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, in a note to correspondents. "The United Nations came into being in 1945, following the devastation of the Second World War, with one central mission: the maintenance of international peace and security. The UN also promotes and protects human rights, promotes sustainable development, and upholds international law. The support of the US working for these goals, rather than against them, would be a huge boost for the UN."<br />
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The remarks came shortly after U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Nikki Haley announced in Washington that the United States is officially withdrawing from the UN. The message was met by a standing ovation on the floor of the General Assembly, where 192 member states - the US was conspicuously absent - were convened. The session resumed without any more mention of the US.<br />
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U.S. President Donald Donald Trump spoke of his decision, saying, “The United Nations has such great potential but right now it is just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. So sad! It's a bad deal for the US. We should get our money back."<br />
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A White House source, who wished to remain anonymous, said that Trump's decision came immediately following a meeting with his National Security Advisor, John Bolton.<br />
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Bolton is known for having said, in a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/john-bolton-quotes-iran-north-korea-iraq-2018-3" target="_blank">1994 speech</a> referring to the UN's headquarters, that, "The Secretariat building in New York has 38 stories; if you lost 10 stories today, it wouldn't make a bit of difference," He added later: "There's no such thing as the United Nations."<br />
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In Geneva, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein responded that the U.S. withdrawal is "not really surprising. The US has been going it alone for quite a while. This decision is the culmination of that decline."Leonard Eigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08211690207308023413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435385150411333466.post-44260222903666663812018-04-15T15:41:00.002-07:002018-05-02T08:37:43.248-07:00Uncle Sam says "So long, suckers! I Quit!"<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><span style="color: #2d3037;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">WASHINGTON (</span></span><a href="http://theloosenukes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #015782;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The Loose Nukes</span></span></span></a></i><span style="color: #2d3037;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>)</i> – In the greatest White House personnel shakeup in history, Uncle Sam gave notice that he is retiring.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2d3037;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Sam, who has been on the job since 1813, said that he has finally had enough, saying, “I'm tired of being the spokesman for warmongering, racist, oil-hungry scum!”</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #2d3037;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">In an unprecedented and surprise appearance before The White House Press Corps this morning, Sam appeared visibly shaken by recent events. He ranted for ten minutes about what has happened to our country and “what a damn mess Trump has made of it.” </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #2d3037;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">He also referred to Friday's missile strikes against Syria as "the last straw." The Congress has become a complete joke; they've handed the President a blank check for war and just about anything else he wants. And don't get me started on Bolton!"</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2d3037;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-lLNaXo9qb2Vpxox6B5OcNrsrxBMsQf1aI8Bpo8cuuQ-FG3uFqgG6X0OgRY41iONVRUHd_c3Vq42uStROof4aWbl0f1H92029nQ7m9VVXOf56nkjaXKVZT-u6ndvhcFbj8ErX5Lg-OUI8/s1600/T926-I-Quit-Uncle-Aam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="363" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-lLNaXo9qb2Vpxox6B5OcNrsrxBMsQf1aI8Bpo8cuuQ-FG3uFqgG6X0OgRY41iONVRUHd_c3Vq42uStROof4aWbl0f1H92029nQ7m9VVXOf56nkjaXKVZT-u6ndvhcFbj8ErX5Lg-OUI8/s400/T926-I-Quit-Uncle-Aam.jpg" width="302" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2d3037; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I really thought I was doing right by the American people over the past 200-plus years, but I can see clearly now that I have been used time and time again as a pawn for these low-lifes who have insidiously taken over our nation. While we have been sold a bill of goods about outside threats like communism and terrorists, we've been taken over by a bunch of greedy wolves who are getting rich off the sweat of hardworking American taxpayers. And that's just so wrong.”</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2d3037;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Sam nearly began to cry when asked about his iconic “I want you” posters that have been responsible for countless young Americans joining the military. After regaining his composure he said, “I sincerely regret luring so many of our young people to fight in U.S. wars of aggression. Retired Marine Corps General Smedley Butler got it right when he said that “W<a href="https://archive.org/stream/WarIsARacket/WarIsARacket_djvu.txt">ar Is A Racket.</a>” And it certainly is a profitable one for the <a href="http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/eisenhower001.asp">Military-Industrial Complex</a>. Damn, I wish I had listened to <a href="http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/eisenhower001.asp">Eisenhower</a> back in the day. We could have saved so many young people from needless death and suffering, not to mention the carnage and ill will we've created overseas.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2d3037;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Sam lamented how he wished he had the energy to get out in the streets and protest with the people, but said that, “After a couple centuries you just loose steam.”</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2d3037;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When asked where he is going upon his retirement, sam replied, “Where the hell can you go. No place is out of reach of U.S. military power or its nuclear weapons. I'm thinking of taking my savings and buying a time-share in an <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/2682570/buy-a-timeshare-in-the-ultimate-rv-park-doomsday-shelter">RV park doomsday shelter</a>. That seems like the best investment these days. I am so glad I bought that <a href="http://theloosenukes.blogspot.com/2017/10/the-new-and-improved-armageddon-2000.html" target="_blank">Armageddon 2000</a> travel trailer before they sold out. I will head out on the open road after completing some well-deserved psychotherapy to work on my recently diagnosed PTSD. ”</span></span></div>
Leonard Eigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08211690207308023413noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435385150411333466.post-82175144474141192212018-03-30T19:47:00.001-07:002018-05-02T08:35:53.039-07:00Trump picks "Fox and Friends" to do White House press briefings<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
WASHINGTON (<a href="http://theloosenukes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Loose Nukes</a>) – In yet another White House personnel shakeup, Chief of Staff John Kelley earlier today announced the firing of White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. </div>
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Kelley, looking baffled as he faced the White House press corp, said that, “President Trump has personally chosen the co-anchors of Fox News' “Fox and Friends” to replace Sanders. Steve Doocy, Ainsley Earhardt and Brian Kilmeade will take turns doing White House press briefings in order to have the least impact on their popular morning show.”</div>
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In an early morning Tweet, Trump said, “Thank you to @foxandfriends for for being soooo great! We are going to have so much fun! Oh yeah!”</div>
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When asked by a reporter why he fired Sanders, Trump replied, “It's about change. There will always be change, I want to see change<span style="color: black;">, and I think you want to see change. And you're gonna love these new guys. They are such great communicators. Great people at Fox, and these are the greatest, besides Bolton; he's great too.”</span></div>
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Sanders was briefly surrounded by members of the White House Press Corp as she was being escorted out of the White House. She refused to answer reporters' questions, although she was overheard muttering something about “moron” as she exited through the security gate.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sarah Huckabee Sanders surrounded by members of The White House <br />
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Leonard Eigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08211690207308023413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435385150411333466.post-73522821029523403192017-10-29T17:27:00.001-07:002017-10-30T17:42:43.536-07:00The New and Improved Armageddon 2000!Remember the Armageddon 2000? The <a href="https://theloosenukes.blogspot.com/2016/11/bomb-shelters-are-so-old-school.html" target="_blank"><b>Armageddon 2000 Nuclear Hardened Travel Trailer</b></a> is the only travel trailer that you can enjoy all year long and, when the mushroom clouds start to appear on the horizon, instantly converts into a bomb shelter.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://theloosenukes.blogspot.com/2016/11/bomb-shelters-are-so-old-school.html" target="_blank"><b>We introduced the Armageddon 2000</b></a> way back when President Trump was about to take office, and since then sales have gone through the roof. There is a one-year waiting period to get one (humanity should last that long)! And you can bet that all those people on the waiting list are getting nervous as Trump's days in office seem to go on forever and his Tweets keep pushing the world closer to the coming Trumpocalypse.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilbs2-rbYWdzUJspSwRBNI2t-lk3A4RcJsXe_CzQ-IBT5uw9gykQuo9q9EkKyBwrSsVJWb4NGEa1UPn_yLLkM4SZDfJ-m7FTQOS089GomJtkD8qQW0M8m0lctO33TS_DWOnPEyXDAwn_g/s1600/datauri-file.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilbs2-rbYWdzUJspSwRBNI2t-lk3A4RcJsXe_CzQ-IBT5uw9gykQuo9q9EkKyBwrSsVJWb4NGEa1UPn_yLLkM4SZDfJ-m7FTQOS089GomJtkD8qQW0M8m0lctO33TS_DWOnPEyXDAwn_g/s320/datauri-file.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;">Armageddon 2000 inventor Dave Patterson with the new<br />
and improved version at an undisclosed location during<br />
recent performance tests. Note the glow emitted<br />
by the plasma generator when engaged.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
If your were one of the early adopters, and have your Armageddon 2000 parked and ready for action, you are in luck. Legendary shelter designer Dave Patterson, a member of Veterans for Peace, San Diego Chapter, has introduced a brand new feature that can be retrofitted onto your Armageddon 2000.<br />
<br />
This amazing new feature is the <b>Ionized Radiation Plasma Deflection Generator (IRPDG). The IRPDG</b> drives all ionizing radiation away from the Armageddon 2000 while engaged. That means you can pull out the lawn chairs and have a barbecue without worrying about your hair falling out (and a slew of other unpleasant symptoms of radiation exposure) on those ribs (or vegan barbecue option).<br />
<br />
The plasma generator performed admirably during recent performance tests, and the manufacturer guarantees that it will perform at or beyond specifications during the real thing.<br />
<br />
Consider buying an <a href="https://theloosenukes.blogspot.com/2016/11/bomb-shelters-are-so-old-school.html" target="_blank"><b>Armageddon 2000</b></a> with the new <b>Ionized Radiation Plasma Deflection Generator</b> feature, or have yours retrofitted! Appointments are available, and it takes just a few hours to install.<br />
<br />
And be sure to check out the other new features and options of the soon-to-be-released 2018 Armageddon 2000, including extra large refrigerator and bluetooth capability. All electronics on the 2018 model have been modified with vacuum tubes, old-school technology proven to minimize the effects of nuclear electromagnetic pulse (EMP).<br />
<br />
The Armageddon 2000 - a heck of a lot better than hiding under a school desk (and a whole lot more fun).Leonard Eigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08211690207308023413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435385150411333466.post-269924990076930792016-11-30T21:02:00.000-08:002016-11-30T21:03:33.650-08:00What's better than a bomb shelter? The Armeggedon 2000!I know, I know... everyone's in crisis mode now that President-Elect Trump is about to take over The White House, and will have total (and essentially unchallenged) authority to launch nuclear weapons. Egads!!!<br />
<br />
So you've been thinking about digging a bomb shelter like people did back in the day. But you live in an apartment, or the soil in your back yard has rocks the size of an elephant. What are you supposed to do (besides "duck and cover")?<br />
<br />
Well, dig no further. If you've got a vehicle with a trailer hitch, you are in luck!<br />
<br />
Introducing the Armageddon 2000 Nuclear Hardened Travel Trailer. It's the only travel trailer that you can enjoy all year long and, when the mushroom clouds start to appear on the horizon, instantly converts into a bomb shelter.<br />
<br />
The Armageddon 2000 is built with special materials to resist incineration from a nuclear blast. It boasts lead shielding and Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) protection for all your sensitive electronics. Coupled with special air filters designed to keep your breathing air radioisotope free, and extra large capacity water tanks, the Armageedon 2000 is just what you need to survive any nuclear war, whether at home or away.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2_1Vx2bqkmVIrkw27py0lJYcVjA6YsOJtEXQBV2jjVBA3hHzSgIAxyUFBeLoBPy9lwcTGPVNOgI7boN0rsKSJ99nkkShXn73fiT2XLwBtdRtEOdu2aNugm8iIRN4y9_6S8Of5OHVvsJd/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2_1Vx2bqkmVIrkw27py0lJYcVjA6YsOJtEXQBV2jjVBA3hHzSgIAxyUFBeLoBPy9lwcTGPVNOgI7boN0rsKSJ99nkkShXn73fiT2XLwBtdRtEOdu2aNugm8iIRN4y9_6S8Of5OHVvsJd/s400/011.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Armageddon 2000 ready to deploy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Should you decide to let a lucky few people join you in your new portable digs, they will immediately recognize your rolling bomb shelter thanks to the official civil defense insignia posted prominently by the entrance door.<br />
<br />
Designed by legendary shelter designer Dave Patterson, a member of Veterans for Peace, San Diego Chapter, the Armageddon 2000 will let you roll down to the beach at sunset, then watch the sun rise twice, or maybe a hundred times, and finally kick back and wait a few decades once it's finally safe to go outside or all your canned food runs out (whichever comes first) and breathe the air or drink the water or eat anything that might grow after the long nuclear winter.<br />
<br />
A host of cool optional accessories are available, including continuous radioisotope monitoring instrumentation and direct communications link to the US Government's Cheyenne Mountain to receive advance warning of pending nuclear attack so you can beat the masses to the best KOA campsites near you.<br />
<br />
The Armageddon 2000 is not only stylish and streamlined; it is AFFORDABLE! Why spend all that time and money to build an in-ground bomb shelter, when you can have one right now - you never know when the bombs will start dropping - for far less money, and be able to take to any number of scenic spots AND get a free campsite!<br />
<br />
It doesn't get any better than the Armageddon 2000. Call today. Operators are standing by...Leonard Eigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08211690207308023413noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435385150411333466.post-38188258653972801832016-06-22T17:33:00.000-07:002016-06-23T09:24:09.049-07:00A Very Expensive Way to Fry Chicken<br />
<b>Here's one from the "What the Hell were these people thinking?!?!?!" files.</b><br />
<br />
Back in the 1950s the nuclear powers didn't have anything better to do than create newer and more absurd nuclear weapons systems. It's almost as if they were in a contest (albeit a deadly one) to see who could build the stupidest contraption; of course, nuclear weapons (and the people who would consider using them) are pretty stupid. This one probably would have garnered the attentions of animal welfare groups had it not been top secret.<br />
<br />
In the 1950s, physicists in the United Kingdom designed a nuclear land mine that would be placed along the West German border to stop a hypothetical Soviet ground assault on the rest of Europe, <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk/3588465.stm" target="_blank">according to a BBC report</a>. The landmine, dubbed Operation Blue Peacock, would be operated remotely (however that was going to work) so that it could be detonated at the moment when it could inflict maximal damage on the invading Soviet army.<br />
<br />
But the weapon had a major hitch. Buried underground, it was possible that the mine would become so cold that the detonator would not function. In 1957, British nuclear physicists found a solution: chickens.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaCpqJBQomo55062eBK8eqfM5DJ3jKj846Q7heSR1dIepINQFUVHjS8KI9Ef5x3i9_ybQX4sZEX-hFRBlga6i-RJ5l0hgSdd71vSdNKySaK4BAojR98q1cq4Y47VY1fEuqBIqRMghCMU-v/s1600/in-the-1950s-the-uk-had-serious-plans-to-use-live-chickens-to-help-keep-nuclear-land-mines-in-working-order.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaCpqJBQomo55062eBK8eqfM5DJ3jKj846Q7heSR1dIepINQFUVHjS8KI9Ef5x3i9_ybQX4sZEX-hFRBlga6i-RJ5l0hgSdd71vSdNKySaK4BAojR98q1cq4Y47VY1fEuqBIqRMghCMU-v/s400/in-the-1950s-the-uk-had-serious-plans-to-use-live-chickens-to-help-keep-nuclear-land-mines-in-working-order.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not much room for the poor chickens!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
That's right; one of the options (to keep the critical components warm) these geniuses came up with was to remodel the mine's interior to create a lovely chicken coop. The plan was to supply the chickens with enough seed and water to keep them alive (for awhile), and their body heat would be enough to keep everything ready to blow. We understand that the chickens were expected to live only a week, after which time some poor soul would have to open it up, clean out the mess, and pop in a fresh batch of chickens.<br />
<br />
I certainly wonder what might have happened had the chickens run out of food and started pecking at the wires and other things that initiate the nuclear detonation???<br />
<br />
The landmines designed in <a href="http://www.oddlyhistorical.com/2014/10/06/project-blue-peacock-english-plan-build-nuclear-landmine/" target="_blank">Operation Blue Peacock</a> were thought to yield a 10-kiloton explosion, which is roughly half the explosive yield of the bomb that incinerated Nagasaki. Such destructive potential ultimately led to the abandonment of the project as the British realized that there would be an unacceptable amount of nuclear fallout from such a blast. I can't imagine why anyone was worried about that back in those days.<br />
<br />
By 1958, after the production of only two prototypes, Operation Blue Peacock was abandoned after it was decided that this was much too expensive a method for cooking chicken. And the chickens rejoiced.<br />
<br />
And hopefully, the physicists involved found new and different lines of work.Leonard Eigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08211690207308023413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435385150411333466.post-64507896924973664342015-10-15T19:18:00.003-07:002015-10-15T19:18:49.077-07:00A Little Help for Jeremy Corbin's Nuclear Weapons PolicyThe big news out of the United Kingdom these days is that Labour Leader Jeremy Corbin, the person who one day could have his finger poised over the little (or maybe it's big) red nuclear button, has stated unequivocably that he would never push the button [that would send the message to Trident submarine crews to launch their Trident II D-5 missiles bristling with really nasty thermonuclear warheads that would bring about the end of tourism in whatever part of the world those missiles land].<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRHbHSAEbergCXSa2qj-0yhjJtWLGjSWU_GaCqfM5jPhqSOoEVzagFPR-TUNLBgK6BEIHIySktCL3ASPp0fjlVdXMdMvC7C-Dex0Tz1ZvOTk1nwRv4itNUN5UA-JnpdUQHaB2xFrkmvpm/s1600/nuclear_tourism.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRHbHSAEbergCXSa2qj-0yhjJtWLGjSWU_GaCqfM5jPhqSOoEVzagFPR-TUNLBgK6BEIHIySktCL3ASPp0fjlVdXMdMvC7C-Dex0Tz1ZvOTk1nwRv4itNUN5UA-JnpdUQHaB2xFrkmvpm/s400/nuclear_tourism.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
However, there is just one slight problem with Corbin's position. On a recent BBC news program, panelists reminded us that "if Corbin becomes Prime Minister but the party decides to keep Trident, it will be tricky, because there is no point in having a nuclear deterrent unless you're willing to use that crucial element of bluff, and Jeremy Corbin doesn't seem like the kind that can" (bluff that is) - he's no poker player.<br />
<br />
Well, one of the panelists on the BBC show <b><i>The News Quiz</i></b> has come up with a brilliant solution. Andy Hamilton says, "If we don't have nuclear weapons, but pretend that we do... we could still have a red button... It wouldn't be hard; we'd build missiles out of cardboard or recycled plastic or whatever... so they show up on... satellite photos; mysterious convoys going up and down; fake the occasional accident; fence off Wales..."<br />
<br />
Of course, this is not necessarily an altogether original idea. The North Koreans are geniuses when it comes to clever uses for cardboard (and other cheap materials made in forced labor camps). Just look at how the world pays attention when fearless leader Kim Jong-un thumps his chest and crows about his latest nuclear feat.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPVzgGcmOyYvwD9vx8go8GZpQot5B74odXnhIt6VHMz8Tlol5zlBNt_QnBCtbvF-cUJC8M82ANe3q2KLPBPnwoAJSGG4mLCUx2DZguYkWcPR3xqDt8dsEJmLBHbDSCsMWXoP96OaA6nQHP/s1600/tubefin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPVzgGcmOyYvwD9vx8go8GZpQot5B74odXnhIt6VHMz8Tlol5zlBNt_QnBCtbvF-cUJC8M82ANe3q2KLPBPnwoAJSGG4mLCUx2DZguYkWcPR3xqDt8dsEJmLBHbDSCsMWXoP96OaA6nQHP/s400/tubefin.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A North Korean prototype.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So there you go! We just "scrap Trident but don't tell anyone it's been scrapped. Brilliant!!!<br />
<br />
Rather than wasting billions of pounds (or in the case of the United States roughly a hundred billion dollars; $1,000,000,000 Billion) for a Trident replacement, we could simply pretend to have built a replacement.<br />
<br />
Since the official policy of the US (and I'm sure it's the same for the UK) is to "neither confirm nor deny the presence of nuclear weapons," what's the difference?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmaLbnte_6sJarfXpCyjnMXbEZJ3_Q8zbZAsiNHcm7vbuVVOnohXsd_DQNqqbJYMDA3ZjjrwMynPsJ5lsUmwHt0AtItCuwUGl4BZi2WWctPt3yF9ZGVVu0X6KJcZO6t2Bp9MRrq91Opa2R/s1600/north-korea-fake-sub-missile-fake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmaLbnte_6sJarfXpCyjnMXbEZJ3_Q8zbZAsiNHcm7vbuVVOnohXsd_DQNqqbJYMDA3ZjjrwMynPsJ5lsUmwHt0AtItCuwUGl4BZi2WWctPt3yF9ZGVVu0X6KJcZO6t2Bp9MRrq91Opa2R/s400/north-korea-fake-sub-missile-fake.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey, it works for North Korea!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Just think of the savings. The big question is, can we trust the government (either one) to put the money to good use? After all, they decided to build these useless nuclear weapon systems in the first place. But that's another discussion for another day...<br />
<br />
At any rate, I think Hamilton might be on to something here... <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06d9t31" target="_blank">Have a listen at <i>The News Quiz</i>.</a></b><br />
<br />
<b>Editor's Note:</b> There really is no nuclear button for the President or Prime Minister to push; it's much more complicated than that - phew!Leonard Eigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08211690207308023413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435385150411333466.post-3111724195458667892014-07-28T23:16:00.002-07:002014-07-29T08:35:13.318-07:00John Oliver Speaks on Weapons of Mass Insanity<b>HBO's John Oliver summed up nuclear weapons the other night in one sentence:</b> <b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large; font-style: italic;">“nuclear weapons are basically like America’s T-rex arms, they’re essentially useless.” </span>So there you go!!!</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>He also says that<span style="font-size: large;"> the public "does not give enough of a sh*t" about nuclear weapons. </span>Of course, in the U.S. we spend most of our time arguing about the really important issues... like gay marriage, a woman's right to control her contraceptive destiny, and a host of really important things that could really bring about the end of the world!!! </b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>You simply must watch this video of Oliver laying bare how bloody lucky we are to have survived the last nearly 70 years, </b><b>how stupid we must be to continue to rely on nuclear weapons, </b><b>and why we simply must get rid of every last one of these omnicidal weapons!!! Simply brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</b><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/1Y1ya-yF35g" width="560"></iframe>Leonard Eigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08211690207308023413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435385150411333466.post-70133300099541006402014-03-31T12:47:00.000-07:002014-03-31T12:47:08.450-07:00CND in historic U-turn on nuclear weapons<b>Editor's Note: This historic news just in from the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament!!!</b><br />
<br />
Press Office: 07968 420 859 - Switchboard: 020 7700 2393 - E-mail: pressoffice@cnduk.org<br />
Monday, 31 March 2014 - Attn: News desks / Defence / Political correspondents <br />
Embargoed: 00.01 Tuesday 1 April<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">CND in historic U-turn on nuclear weapons</span></b><br />
<br />
56 years after the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament was launched by luminaries including JB Priestly and Bertrand Russell, the organisation has finally given its backing to nuclear weapons.<br />
<br />
‘We backed the wrong horse,’ said CND’s General Secretary Kate Hudson, in a dramatic U-turn from the organisation’s founding objectives.<br />
<br />
‘We should have known that humanity’s penchant for self-destruction would lead inexorably to global nuclear proliferation. And from now on, that’s where our money is going to be put.’ <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhguAGs_WZog7FMh6YQVpbUMKeZbtNdDk2z3DUiEXCjFHbSsrF1gnuy2yx3_gFY638Zw6pN_RX0cJRaTdQNZdnjJ46Y0O5lxLpjQ40C5nG1VekUyV0AY4ClSQBZp2a-BuVjQA7ubC6yRFb_/s1600/220px-Peace_sign.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhguAGs_WZog7FMh6YQVpbUMKeZbtNdDk2z3DUiEXCjFHbSsrF1gnuy2yx3_gFY638Zw6pN_RX0cJRaTdQNZdnjJ46Y0O5lxLpjQ40C5nG1VekUyV0AY4ClSQBZp2a-BuVjQA7ubC6yRFb_/s1600/220px-Peace_sign.svg.png" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New CNA logo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
‘We now wholeheartedly endorse the Government’s assessment that £100bn is better spent on a new generation of weapons of mass destruction than on healthcare, education or green energy.’<br />
<br />
‘We also vehemently reject the strategic objections to Trident replacement: we’ve had it up to here with ex-Generals and defence analysts who say nuclear weapons are an obsolete Cold War relic, and that Trident spending is hollowing out the UK’s military.’<br />
<br />
‘That’s why from today we’re rebranding as the Campaign for Nuclear Armament. We’ll be ditching the iconic CND symbol – inverting it to create an encircled trident. We look forward to developing a robust and enduring relationship with the Government on this controversial public spending issue as we head into the next election.’<br />
<br />
- ends -<br />
<b><i><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></i></b>
<b><i><span style="color: red;">Yes, this is an April Fools' joke. Of course nuclear weapons are monstrous and we'll continue to campaign against them. :)</span></i></b><br />
<br />
For further information and interviews please contact Luke Massey, CND's Press & Communications Officer on 020 7700 2350 or 07968 420 859.Leonard Eigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08211690207308023413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435385150411333466.post-38519720296244085002014-01-30T14:21:00.002-08:002014-01-30T14:25:21.364-08:00Orcas go ballistic over Sochi; vow nonviolent responseIn a possible bid to increase the money made during the Winter Olympics, Sochi’s Aquatoria is said to be ready to receive two wild orcas–or killer whales, as they are often called–which were captured specifically for the aquarium., and Puget Sound Orcas are fighting mad!!!<br />
<br />
While whaling, which kills some of the largest marine animals in Earth’s big oceans, is illegal in most of the world, capturing these animals in the wild is not something that many countries have addressed. A pair of wild orcas were apparently officially sought by the Aquatoria, and were captured by whalers in ocean waters just a bit north of Japan.<br />
<br />
A resident Orca pod in Washington State's Puget Sound received word of the capture via Ocean Telegraph and went ballistic. Speaking to news media from Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, Washington, "L3", a member of the resident "L" pod said, "This is absolutely wrong, both legally and morally speaking. Orcas have every right to roam freely without risk of capture and incarceration. We are highly evolved, intelligent creatures. Based on our long-term observations of humans' disastrous impact on our planet, it is highly questionable whether they [humans] exhibit any intelligence at all."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsG2aTwvExaK9wbqunmz1zSmRQybrdLymR28_DC6fmF5LJfrV-DHTUwdjPuCA8SFuBmE27cgTRUSe3sKfMg_BSM7xC-xcyyJjbLc5JhT8LnHrEP7yyPkgSOY0PhQHrawqiz_PkdJOmvKEW/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsG2aTwvExaK9wbqunmz1zSmRQybrdLymR28_DC6fmF5LJfrV-DHTUwdjPuCA8SFuBmE27cgTRUSe3sKfMg_BSM7xC-xcyyJjbLc5JhT8LnHrEP7yyPkgSOY0PhQHrawqiz_PkdJOmvKEW/s1600/images.jpg" height="278" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orcas in their native habitat (where they belong)</td></tr>
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L3 also said that although this "orcanapping" was an inherently violent act, Orcas do not condone a violent response. "We are often given a 'bad rap' for the rare attack on a trainer, although orcas are not violent creatures. Of course we're wild, and it's hard being cooped up in a tiny tank and having humans pretend they are so smart."<br />
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Officials at the Aquatoria have officially confirmed that at least one orca is on its way to Sochi in time for the Olympics. The news was posted by the Russian Orca team, whose leaders consist of Erich Hoyt, a top level researcher at the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, and Alexander Burdin, the leader of the Laboratory of Animal Ecology at the Kamchatka Institute of Ecology and Nature Management.<br />
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According to a written statement made by the Aquatoria officials, a single orca was legally captured and taken to a base that is specially equipped to adapt the orca to captivity. The orca will later be brought to Sochi in time for the Winter Games.<br />
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Since the statement was released, public outcry has been intense. Advocates of whale protection have created an online petition asking Russia not to show the captured wild orcas during the Sochi Winter Olympics. It currently has nearly 110,000 signatures, and mentions that placing orcas in an aquarium causes suffering.<br />
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Paul Spong, the founder of the whale research station OrcaLab near Vancouver Island, agrees, adding that aside from unusual exceptions, the lives of captive orcas are much shorter than those of their ocean-dwelling relatives. He also mentioned how the spirit of the Olympics would be violated by such a display, saying that the Olympics are supposed to be demonstrating the best that humans can be, and that the capture and exhibition of wild orcas is not showing humanity at its finest. Others believe that capturing and holding an orca in a small tank is animal abuse and can put a great strain on the beloved orcas.<br />
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There has been no word from the Aquatoria since the public condemnation began, or if the orcas will still be displayed. Because the creatures are not part of any official Olympic event, it is unlikely that Olympic officials will be able to do much to dissuade the aquarium if they do decide to display the orcas.<br />
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Meanwhile, the Puget Sound Orcas continue their work to free the Sochi captives. They have called for a total mammalian boycott of the Sochi Olympics until the Orcas are returned to the sea. While some have called on the captive orcas to attack their captors, the consensus among the resident orca pods has been to practice active nonviolent resistance. According to the orca representative speaking in Friday Harbor this approach, made famous by notable historical figures such as Martin Luther King Jr, Mahatma Ghandi and Jesus, is seldom employed by governments, particularly Russia and the US. <br />
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Captive orcas have caused serious problems even after being stuck in the tanks. The famous and deadly incident at Sea World in 2010 had an orca killing its trainer, with the belief being that the whale in question was bored, isolated, sensory deprived and bred too often. Other orcas have also attacked their trainers, also. The documentary Blackfish asked the question whether dolphins and whales should be kept captive at all. If these wild orcas were captured solely for the purpose of being on display during the Sochi Winter Olympics, it will likely be up to the patrons of the games to support or boycott such an exhibition.<br />
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Editor's Note: Thanks to the following source for the real news that was butchered to create this post: <a href="http://guardianlv.com/2014/01/sochi-winter-olympics-captures-wild-orcas/">http://guardianlv.com/2014/01/sochi-winter-olympics-captures-wild-orcas/</a>Leonard Eigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08211690207308023413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435385150411333466.post-41296485277249239632014-01-17T16:54:00.001-08:002014-01-17T16:54:13.651-08:00NSA Fall Festival: Mark your calendars!Hey Everyone! Mark your calendars (see the poster below) well in advance to join us at the National Security Agency (NSA) headquarters for the annual NSA Fall Festival. It's a great opportunity for everyday people just like you and me to get up close and (not quite too) personal with the NSA.<br />
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Of course, you won't learn anything about how the NSA really works; heck, that's an extremely closely guarded secret... well, sort of (no thanks to that Ed Snowden guy). But hey; it's a time to have fun, and all at great taxpayer expense. After all; you the taxpayers are paying through the nose so that we can continue our unabated, endless spying on just about everyone on the planet. So what's a little more $$$ on some good, old-fashioned fun.<br />
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This is one for the entire family, even the family dog. In fact, there will be a special booth where NSA employees will embed your family pooch with a free teeny weeny microchip that will allow the NSA to listen in on your family's activities with even greater ease than we do now. The chip also helps you keep track of your pet's wanderings.<br />
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There will be plenty of parking, so there is no need for carpooling. In fact, we advise against it. NSA employees, or more likely private contractors, will be placing secret monitoring/tracking devices on every automobile at the Fall Festival.<br />
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An additional free bonus for everyone who attends will be an automatic retinal scan as you enter the Festival area. It's just one more reason we're building a brand new huge data storage facility in Utah that can actually store yottabytes of data. Geez!!! Even most folks at the NSA have a hard time fathoming such large numbers.<br />
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And kids; you will have the opportunity to learn more about an exciting and profitable (if you choose to work for one of the scores of private contractors doing security work for our nation) career in <strike>mass surveillance</strike> the protection of our <strike>global interests</strike> nation.<br />
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Tell your family, friends and co-workers. Everyone's welcome to this event. <a href="http://www.nsa.gov/" target="_blank"> Check the NSA Website</a> for more details. See you in September!<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">NSA - Defending Our Nation: Securing The Future</span></i></b></div>
<br />Leonard Eigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08211690207308023413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435385150411333466.post-68790763324397622932013-12-19T22:29:00.004-08:002013-12-19T22:51:48.435-08:00Trident Makes Bad People Go Away!The following graphic was issued this week by the United States Navy, Commander, Submarine Forces in an effort to help members of Congress better understand the rationale for building a new fleet of ballistic missile submarines to replace the current Trident fleet.<br />
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The Trident II D-5 missiles deployed on the nation's 14 OHIO Class submarines carry multiple thermonuclear warheads, each one many times the destructive force of the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Rear Adm. Joesph Tofalo has said that, “A single Trident submarine is the sixth largest nuclear nation in the world all by itself."<br />
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Carrying enough nuclear warheads to incinerate an entire continent, Trident is certainly an important tool in our nation's military tool box, and it most certainly can make lots of people "go away" in a flash.<br />
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The successor to the OHIO Class submarine fleet is known as the SSBN(X), and is currently in research and development. A fleet of 12 new submarines will cost approximately $100 billion to build.<br />
<br />Leonard Eigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08211690207308023413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435385150411333466.post-60907830368925952622013-12-13T16:32:00.000-08:002013-12-13T17:00:43.873-08:00Vladimir Putin speaks out for arctic drillingEditor's Note: As we believe everyone has the right to be heard, we share this letter from Glorious Supreme (and very muscular) Leader of Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin. Go Vladimir!!!<br />
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Dear World People:<br />
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Last week, esteemed colleague President Obama sent you email asking you to seed Yes Men group with cash.<br />
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Russia wishes to hereby erect our opposition. Like the Netherlands, Russia is well-endowed member of international oil community. But Yes Men hooligans make fun of Russia/Dutch coupling with stupid bear puppet in Amsterdam. That is gay to not only Russia, but to whole Netherlands people too.<br />
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Russia is like real and extremely large and strong bear: Moscow at head, paws on Middle East, wild Arctic at rear. Dutch come to help Russia thrust deep and hard to tame rear for all Man's benefit. Yes Men try to stop us, but limp fake bearhood is no match for firm real manhood of Russia and Netherlands ganging together.<br />
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Do not support Yes Men. If you do, we treat each of your country's Sochi Olympics visitors just like we do with Greenpeace boat hooligans: we knock them up in jail.<br />
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In some heat already,<br />
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Vladimir Vladmirovich Putin<br />
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Yes, those revolting YES Men have done it again (They penned this brilliant letter from Vlad). Vladimir could NOT have written a better letter expressing the hubris and downright stupidity of Russia AND so many other nations currently wreaking havoc on the very planet that could, should we choose to change our destructive ways, sustain all of humanity quite nicely.<br />
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With great thanks to Greenpeace, and all others, who engage in direct, nonviolent resistance to the forces of destruction at play here. <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/12/13-4" target="_blank">Click here</a> to read an article by Greenpeace Executive Director Kumi Naidoo -
<b><i><a href="http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/12/13-4" target="_blank">Gazprom's Over-Reaction to Arctic Oil Protest is a Sign Their Fortune is at Stake: Action on climate change would wipe billions off oil company balance sheets and they are determined to silence their critics</a>.</i></b><br />
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Once again it is the age-old story of profits (and power) over people. Time for a change. <a href="http://greenpeaceblogs.org/2013/09/26/arctic-sunrise-activists-charged-with-piracy-in-russia/?__utma=1.589334947.1386966360.1386966360.1386966360.1&__utmb=1.1.10.1386966360&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1386966360.1.1.utmcsr=google|utmccn=(organic)|utmcmd=organic|utmctr=(not%20provided)&__utmv=-&__utmk=110393989" target="_blank">Click here</a> to learn more at the Greenpeace Blog.<br />
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<b>Power to the people rather than power over the people!!!</b><br />
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<b>Dasvidaniya, </b><br />
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<i>The Loose Nukes</i><br />
<br />Leonard Eigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08211690207308023413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435385150411333466.post-64053333052663138392013-12-09T18:53:00.002-08:002013-12-09T18:59:27.945-08:00Republicans know the true meaning of Christmas... HumbugHo, Ho, Ho... With THANKS to Tom Tomorrow for showing us who really understands the true meaning of Christmas. "God bless us, every one!" Oh, and by the way; due to his family's inability to obtain government assistance, including food stamps, unemployment benefits, and health insurance, Timothy Cratchit (aka: "Tiny Tim") will have to forego treatment for his illness (most likely renal tubular acidosis or rickets - both treatable) and will likely die. Ah, it's looking very much like a Dickens world thanks to the Scrooges of DC.<br />
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<br />Leonard Eigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08211690207308023413noreply@blogger.com0