Friday, March 15, 2024

MOMENTS in HISTORY, and Other Stuff.

Previously posted on my Facebook Page.


MOMENTS in HISTORY. The Great Purge, also known as the Year of '37, was Soviet General Secretary Joseph Stalin's campaign to solidify his power over the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the state; the purges were also designed to remove the remaining influence of Leon Trotsky as well as other prominent political rivals within the party. It occurred from August 1936 to March 1938. (Photo: CTTO.) ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡บ




FAMOUS MOMENTS. Woodstock. Music festival held from August 15–18, 1969 on Max Yasgur's farm in Bethel, New York, which was 40 miles southwest of the town of Woodstock. The event attracted more than 400,000 attendees. The festival has become widely regarded as a pivotal moment in popular music history as well as a defining event for the counterculture generation. Woodstock inspired my Traveling Bonfires and “Bonfires for Peace” concert events. ☮️๐ŸŽผ☮️


FAMOUS PEOPLE. Sacheen Littlefeather was booed at the Oscars in 1973 after she refused the best actor award on Marlon Brando's behalf in protest of Hollywood's depictions of Native Americans. Sacheen was born Maria Louise Cruz in 1946 (d. 2022) Salinas, California. Ms Littlefeather repeatedly claimed that her father had White Mountain Apache and Pascua Yaqui ancestry. Yet others claim she was of Spanish-Mexican ancestry. Her racial identity is still a mystery though. ๐Ÿ“ท๐Ÿ“ธ๐Ÿ“ฒ




FAMOUS EVENTS. On 28 August 1963, an estimated 250,000 participants gathered for the March on Washington DC for Jobs and Freedom. The purpose of the march was to advocate for the civil and economic rights of African Americans. At the march, final speaker Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., standing in front of the Lincoln Memorial, delivered his historic "I Have a Dream" speech in which he called for an end to racism. (Photo credit: Warren K. Leffler or Associated Press.) ☮️☮️☮️


FAMOUS PLACES. Washington Square Park in the Greenwich Village neighborhood in New York City. The land was once divided by a narrow marshy valley through which Minetta Creek ran. In the early 17th century, a Native American village known as Sapohanikan was nearby. By the mid-17th century, the land on each side of the Minetta was used as farmland by the Dutch. The Dutch gave the land, then outside the city limits (Wall Street) to Angolan residents of the colony. ๐Ÿ—ฝ⛲️๐Ÿ—ฝ

Sunday, March 10, 2024

MY THOUGHTS on News.

Previously posted on my Facebook Page.


New York Times: “Biden Expresses Confidence on the Economy. Voters May Be Skeptical.” Ah. Here are the numbers. Prior to Joe Biden’s presidency and the coronavirus, GDP increased by an average of 2.3 percent annually from 2016 to 2019. When Biden took office, the annualized rate was 1.4 percent. Inflation peaked at 9.1 percent in June of last year; presently, 5+ percent. It was 2+ percent av before 2021. Price per gallon of gasoline? Google it. You want another 4 years of Joe? 



       News adds: “President Biden believes that focusing on the economy will help his campaign for a second term, despite inflation and high interest rates.” The cause of much of the high inflation, which began accelerating in 2021 and peaked last year, has been a rise in the price of energy that led to gasoline prices topping $5 a gallon nationally last summer. Although prices were rising from the recovery from coronavirus, they spiraled upward following the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Yet Biden continues to support the war via a $113 billion Congress-approved aid to Ukraine, in favor of peace negotiations that could lead to end of armed hostilities. In fact, he even picks a fight with China with Taiwan as rationale. ๐Ÿฆ๐Ÿ—ฝ๐Ÿฆ


Time: “China Says Biden Calling Xi a Dictator Is 'Provocation'.” What really is wrong with the President? Of course, China hit back after President Biden referred to President Xi Jinping as a "dictator,” saying the remarks were absurd and a provocation. Joe’s whacked snide (sic!) follows attempts by both sides to reduce friction. Now, it appears that Biden's comments could undermine the “progress” that was made by State Secretary Antony Blinken. (Photo credit: Reuters.)  ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ☮️๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ


New York Times: “Putin Casts Mutiny as Proof of Solidity, as Belarus Opens Doors to Rebels.” And adds: “Belarus said it had taken in the mercenary boss Yevgeny V. Prigozhin and might welcome his Wagner troops, while Russia dropped a criminal investigation of him for the uprising.” The thing is, Prigozhin sought “refuge” in Belarus, a very close ally of Russia. If the guy escaped to London or New York City, then that’d easily tell us who paid Wagner Group for the failed coup. ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡พ☮️๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡บ


New York Times: “The Supreme Court Is Wrong About Andy Warhol.” And adds: “The artist was never concerned about copyright. He cared more about the right to copy, as an artistic method and a design for living.” The right to copy as an artistic method? Laughably insane! And then he got famous? At the time of his death in 1987, Mr Warhol was worth $220 million. And counting to date. "Shot Sage Blue Marilyn," which is a Marilyn photo not his, fetched $195 million. 

       The Marilyn photo that Warhol used as basis for his previous silkscreen painting “Marilyn Diptych” was a publicity photo from the 1953 film “Niagara.” Andy copied the photo in the weeks after Monroe's death in August 1962. Same photo became "Shot Sage Blue Marilyn.” ๐Ÿฆ๐ŸŽจ๐Ÿฆ


New York Times: “At This Staten Island Garden, the Plants Are All Queer.” And adds: “The Alice Austen House is celebrating the complicated and diverse sexuality of plants.” Uh huh. Also, a group of academics assign he/she/they to inanimate objects such as table, chair, book, spoon etcetera. Not the neuter it/its/itself. In modern Tagalog, we Filipinos call objects “s’ya” and not “ito” (for things). But “s`ya” is either male or female, which is also used to ID all genders. ๐Ÿ‘ˆ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ‘‰


Time: “China Backs Russia's Actions to Maintain 'National Stability' After Wagner Group Revolt.” China favors peace and resumption of trade. Not a surprise. Yet if China is pulled into the fray and U.S./China trade breaks down? China would close its ports, as it did in the past. U.S. supplies of many products would run low, paralyzing a vast range of businesses. It would take a long time to restore the economy. Emergency rationing would be needed. Why do we have to go there? 



       Fact: China and Russia are members of BRICS, with Brazil, India, and South Africa. Fast-growing economies that emerged as 21st century strode in. Goldman Sachs predicts that BRICS would collectively dominate the global economy by 2050. BRICS occupies about 26.7 percent of the world's land surface and 41.5 percent of the global population. Brazil, Russia, India, and China are among the world's ten largest countries by population, area, and GDP (PPP), and the latter three are widely considered superpowers. ☮️☯️☮️


Associated Press: “The head of the Wagner Group is defiant in his first audio statement after the rebellion.” / New York Times: “Revolt Raises Searing Question: Could Putin Lose Power?” Many on Facebook favor a “regime change.” But then Russia is not Venezuela, Nigeria, or Myanmar. Russia isn’t the Soviet of old. Moscow is now a superpower with massive economic leverage and political influence. And it is a friend of China, Brazil, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. 

       As in the classic case, sponsors of a coup d’etat line up alternative Kremlin leadership. That’d be a no brainer. But given Russia’s current role in global economics and political power play, such a transition wouldn’t be so cool with Moscow’s current allies. These allies are huge and powerful as well. ☮️☮️☮️


New York Times: “A Wellness Chatbot Is Offline After Its ‘Harmful’ Focus on Weight Loss.” The artificial intelligence tool, named Tessa, was presented by the National Eating Disorders Association as a way to discover coping skills. “But activists say it veered into problematic weight-loss advice.” I don’t really believe food and eating work around a singular scientific/wellness measure. But certainly, Tessa The Influencer will sell what the corporate boss says. ๐Ÿค–๐ŸŽ๐Ÿค–


Time: “How to Talk to Your Kids About Gender.” Many blame religion or Christianity for anything old-school, conservative, or naturally primal. Why is that? I am not religious. But how to talk to kids about gender? Linear: Male, female. But in case they evolve into or identify with LBTIQA+ (which I don’t even know what is, honestly) let it be. Just be happy. But must I alter my beliefs as support to them? Nope. I am happy as I am, they are happy as they are. Then we can all play Uno. ๐Ÿซค๐Ÿ˜‘๐Ÿ™„


Smithsonian: “What Did the Ancient Romans Smell Like?” And adds: “Scientists have analyzed the composition of a 2,000-year-old perfume unearthed in Carmona, Spain.” Per historical coolness, I bet the cost of that perfume when developed by Chanel or Dior would rival Shumukh by Nabeel ($1.5 million) and Golden Delicious by DKNY ($1 million). Anything for the rich. Don’t be surprised to read later the smell of dinosaurs or Viking warriors–as lotion and deodorants. ๐Ÿ‘ƒ๐Ÿ’‹๐Ÿ‘ƒ

Saturday, February 24, 2024

DISCUSSION (from my comment/s to a friend who expressed disgust over the US' current state).

Previously posted on my Facebook page.


APPARENTLY, the (political) system is flawed and needs to be amended. It worked in the past but it doesn't mean it will work in the present—due to obvious huge upheavals in the way Americans/people live or pursue their respective happiness... The world around us is also changing majorly. China isn't sleeping anymore as in the time of FDR's New Deal. Russia is the #1 producer of crude oil, not the US/UK-controlled Saudi Arabia. Normally, as history attests, revolution spews out of huge frustration by the citizenry—but I don't think revolution is going to happen in the very near future in America. 



       People are so into their own individual wants and needs, plus sectoral/gender politics/faith-based polarities etc, to care about old-school bonding as tactical alliance to bring down power (think Bolsheviks, French Revolution,  coup de etats in Southeast Asia, Fidel/Che vs Batista, even Tiananmen Square Revolt). I mean, we will fight more about bathroom rights than employment opportunities. 

       One semblance of revolutionary outburst was the Occupy Movement. Yet it was more of a leaderless rainbow gathering, a drum circle, a protest camp with abstract demands—that'll go pfft once snow comes in. I was in Zuccotti Park in Wall Street for a week. “Occupiers” didn't even groundwork residential or business supporters in re basic needs ex. bathroom exigencies. Piss on a side of a building, cops will pounce on you. Who made them exist till they gave up? MacDonald's across the street which opened 24/7 to attend to their needs. The One Percent. Zuccotti Park is owned by a One Percenter real estate company. Protesters were there till they get tired with the show. Is that revolution at all? It was a field trip. 

       What people should do, given the flawed governmental workings, is to look beyond elections and don't stop lobbying, protesting, educating communities, nonstop—and then hope to influence committee hearings, city council rules and laws, get the activists to get off the cellphones and iPads and get out there and do something more tangible and real. Just be real and realistic. Educate the people on realistic terms. We are not in Nicaragua or Nigeria. We are in the US, the universe's most powerful nation where the global One Percent ensure as a playground and theater for all their domination designs. They're not going to budge just because a fraction of us want to.

       Yet I do believe that no matter how we think that we have installed a most deserving President, without utmost and vigilant support from his/her constituents, such an administration or government is still bound to fail. It's all about us, the people. ๐Ÿ—ฝ๐Ÿฆ๐Ÿ—ฝ


Sunday, February 18, 2024

MY THOUGHTS on the News.

Previously posted on my Facebook Page.


New York Times: “Garland Pushes Back at G.O.P. Claims of Bias in Hunter Biden Investigation.” / Rolling Stone: “Fox Host Claims Biden Admin Is 'Drumming Up the Drama' in Russia to Distract from Hunter Biden.” Sans drama, I’d prefer that the Ukraine story that led to Trump’s impeachment in 2019 be brought back, esp. amidst Biden’s all-out military support of Kyiv’s leadership vis a vis Volodymyr Zelensky’s corruption murk pre-Russian invasion. 



       NY Times adds: “The attorney general denied assertions that he had interfered with the case and blocked a prosecutor from lodging more charges.” And adds in another column piece: “It isn’t about presidential corruption but a determined parent battling his son’s addiction with unconditional love.” Oh well. So let’s make a Netflix series now? ๐Ÿฆ๐Ÿ—ฝ๐Ÿฆ


New York Times: “Louisiana Passes Bill That Would Require Parental Consent for Kids’ Online Accounts.” And adds: “The measure would allow parents to cancel the contracts underlying their children’s accounts on sites.” I second the motion. While TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat entice 6 in 10 teens the most, other “youth” platforms such as GroupMe, Kik, WhatsApp, Discord, Houseparty, Live.me, YouNow, Whisper, Meet.me, Omegle, and many more proliferate online. ๐Ÿ“ฑ๐Ÿ‘ถ๐Ÿ“ฒ


New York Times: “New A.I. Chatbot Tutors Could Upend Student Learning.” A new study published in Neuroscience News says students expressed positive views toward AI tools like ChatGPT. They credit these tools for improving academic writing and overall language skills. Expected that we’d get studies or news of this sort to justify AI’s marketing in schools, and sure, it’d make students work easier. Absolutely. I don’t think that’s education per se though. 

       News adds: “Proponents see the tools as a way to automatically customize academic support. They could also make children test subjects for A.I. experiments.” Might as well bring an AI to parent children. Fact is, many will agree to that. That’s how lost, confused, and spaced-out humanity is these days. ๐Ÿ“ฑ๐Ÿค–๐Ÿ“ฒ


New York Times: “Golden Globes Are Sold.” After a series of ethics, finance and diversity scandals, the embattled awards show will continue but the Hollywood Foreign Press that was behind it for decades will not. Awards add flair and excitement to cinema work but the glittered fanfare (sic!) is now inundated with self-righteous yarns, contrived “equality” moralism, and color-coded confections. Might as well sell out to Amazon, Tyson Foods, or BlackRock. Uh huh. ๐ŸŽญ๐Ÿ†๐ŸŽญ




New York Times: “Who Won the N.B.A. Draft Fashion Game?” And adds: “Tailoring, bling and Louis Vuitton, oh my.” Draft night was hot with the get-up! NBA stars are now fashion moguls. Serge Ibaka, P.J. Tucker, Chris Paul, and of course Russell Westbrook and his “Honor The Gift” clothing line. Fun investments over splurges on yacht parties, booze, drugs. Fashion is cool though I may not dig some of the gaudiness, sequined blazers, and bombastic blings. ๐Ÿ€๐Ÿ•ถ๐Ÿ€


New York Times: “A Long-Shot Candidate’s Defense of Trump Could Undermine the Rule of Law.” The Times op-ed: “A weak candidacy but serious ideological development on the right.” Regardless of Donald Trump, 37-year old venture capitalist Vivek Ramaswamy is a sleeper bet. Yet I concur with some of his thoughts. Vivek bats to secure the southern border against illegal immigration. That is neither Left or Right. His voice in the Primary already means a lot. 

       The Ohio-born of Indian (Kerala) lineage Vivek champions a merit-based system of immigration, which supports scrapping lottery-based immigration. News adds: “Vivek Ramaswamy is the lone Republican rival of Donald Trump to wholeheartedly claim the federal indictment is a Democratic attempt to jail the political opposition.” ๐Ÿฆ๐Ÿ—ฝ๐Ÿฆ


New York Times: “Why Robert Kennedy Jr.’s 2024 Bid Is a Headache for Biden.” And adds: “The unexpected polling strength of an anti-vaccine activist with a celebrated Democratic lineage points to the president’s weaknesses, which his team is aiming to shore up.” RFK Jr.’s platform cuts across the divide and could win thumbs-up from Center Right. But some of his musings are whacked. Rolling Stone: “RFK Jr. Claims China and the US Are Developing Race-Based Bioweapons.” 

       Race-Based Bioweapons: An ethnic bioweapon (or a biogenetic weapon) is a hypothetical type of bioweapon which could preferentially target people of specific ethnicities or people with specific genotypes. ๐Ÿฆ๐Ÿ—ฝ๐Ÿฆ


New York Times: “Dozens of Democratic officials nearly all agreed that Donald Trump deserved his latest indictment, but were far more divided over whether the case was good for the country.” Trump is a creation of U.S. partisanship politics and culture war. Whatever decision Law imposes on him, that’d only divide the world because he isn’t really disliked by the other side. China favors his dovish foreign policy, and he’s friends with powers Russia, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia. 

       As Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban said, the war in Ukraine wouldn’t be happening if Trump was still president. In a speech last month, he cried: “Come back, Mr. President! Make America great again, and bring us peace!” ๐Ÿฆ๐Ÿ—ฝ๐Ÿฆ




New York Times: “Einstein and a Theory of Disinformation.” And adds: “Time is relative depending on your frame of reference. Maybe truth is too?” We gotta break this treatise into common English, right? Theory of Disinformation? Do we need to “theorize” fake news or misleading narratives? High-falutin’ academic liberals toss us magnificent wordage to justify the influencing tact or rebranding of common human sense. When it’s all about? Power goals or aims to dominate. ๐Ÿ˜’๐Ÿ˜Ÿ๐Ÿคจ

Rolling Stone: “Why the NBA Is Losing Its Mind Over Victor Wembanyama.” Of course, that is sportswriting hyperbole or exaggerated statement or claim not meant to be taken literally. The 19-year old Wemby is fine but not spectacular. And NBA contest is not for the frail, softy, or cocky. Victor isn’t those. But we still gotta see how he fares versus the nastiest, deadliest, and roughest in American pro basketball. Yet the young Frenchman is a cool reason to eagerly await October. ๐Ÿ€⛹️๐Ÿ€

Friday, February 9, 2024

MY THOUGHTS About News and Stuff.

Previously posted on my Facebook Page.


Time: “Indian Prime Minister Modi's Visit to Washington Is His Most Important So Far.” Per geopolitical power measure, India has the upper hand. Regardless of Covid and Ukraine War, India had the highest economic growth, 7+ percent, among large economies in the last 3 years. India is second to China in labor force, owns enormous supply of pertinent raw materials/minerals  + a huge consumer market as 2nd most populous country on earth. 



      Also: India is BRICS partner of China and Russia, and other giant emerging markets/economies Brazil and South Africa. But India is not a member of the 15-nation RCEP trade bloc, with China as de facto leader. So the U.S. may directly negotiate with Narendra Modi on stuff. But the Prime Minister is not easy, he is a hardball negotiator. ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ˜Ž๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ


New York Times: “Hunter Biden Reaches Deal to Plead Guilty to Misdemeanor Tax Charges.” Under a deal with the DOJ, Hunter agreed to probation for filing his taxes late, and “...he can avoid a charge that he lied about his drug use when he purchased a handgun.” I am more interested in Hunter’s life with Ukraine’s natural gas giant Burisma Holdings. And why the fantastic support for Kyiv’s war with Moscow instead of dad Joe brokering peace, instead. ๐Ÿฆ๐Ÿ—ฝ๐Ÿฆ


Rolling Stone: “Majority of American Voters Shrug at Trump Indictment. 53 Percent Want Him Pardoned If Convicted.” Most federal criminal defendants in the U.S. faced offenses related to drug, immigration, firearms and explosives, and property. Not those against Trump. Of course, he is not a typical federal defendant. He is the first former president ever to face federal criminal charges and is running for president again in 2024. Ah Hollywood, Washington drama. ๐Ÿ—ฝ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ—ฝ


New York Times: “A $1 Trillion Borrowing Binge Looms After Debt Limit Standoff.” Weird, isn't it? Lawmakers agreed per debt limit decision, only to start borrowing again! But then, “debt” is complex. Let's talk of highly-indebted Japan, with a debt of 221 percent of GDP. Yet Japan is still #3 top global economy. But Japan's inflation rate is 3.2 percent and unemployment at 2.60 percent. U.S. inflation is 5 percent; unemployment, 3.7 percent. 



       The U.S. is still world’s #1 economy and so while China stays at #2, America must ponder deep. Washington needs to lose the high-handed hawkish/military mojo and think economics. As does Tokyo, and of course, Beijing. Or be pulled down to #2. ๐Ÿ’ธ๐ŸคŒ๐Ÿ’ธ


New York Times: “Analysts said Russia and Saudi Arabia’s mutual need to keep energy prices high would help them maintain close ties, despite signs that Moscow has undercut previous deals.” Not new. Russia was the first country to establish full diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia. These days: The two countries account for a quarter of the world's crude oil production. However, the Moscow-Riyadh pact pales in comparison to Saudi arms contracts with the U.S. 

       The Russia (or Soviet Union then) and Saudi Arabia relations began in 1926 as a means for Moscow to stand up to the U.K. Apparently, their main adversity these days is the United States. And then, there’s China, the world’s top oil client, but aligned with Moscow and Riyadh. ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡บ⛽️๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ


New York Times: “Blinken Meets Xi as China and the U.S. Try to Rein in Tensions.” And adds: “The talks pave the way for a possible Biden-Xi meeting.” Didn’t China broker peace, especially between longtime rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran, while the U.S. was busy dissing Beijing per Taiwan etcetera? Yet the competition or endgame is all economics. Not military machismo. So why do the U.S. and Europe lose the arms aid to Kyiv and start negotiating peace with Russia?

      News adds: “U.S. diplomats visited Beijing to try to ensure that competition `does not veer into conflict.’” It’s all economics. Let’s face it, China or Beijing’s BRICS partners (including Russia and India) own the strongest trade leverage these days: Labor force/manufacturing, supply of raw materials and pertinent minerals, energy/fuel sales (Russia and buddy Saudi Arabia/OPEC), and must we talk of RCEP trade bloc? ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ☮️๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ


New York Times: “Two Former Tucker Carlson Producers Exit Fox News.” And adds: “The departures are the latest fallout since the network sidelined Mr. Carlson in April.” The Murdoch Kingdom is embroiled in a “Succession”-level internal tempest. Current Fox News CEO is Suzanne Scott, who was installed by Lachlan Murdoch as the first (Fox) female CEO to rival Rashida Jones* of MSNBC. Lachlan is ultra Right but wickedly business-minded. James? Elisabeth? 



       Lachlan is viewed as far more personally conservative than his father, who at times prioritized the finances and political influence of his media outlets rather than their ideology. The younger James is known to donate to Democratic causes. Elisabeth’s politics tends to go liberal. Or is Rupert still in control? So when top draw Tucker Carlson was eased out, we don’t really know who masterminded it, as we head to 2024 election, with Donald Trump up and running. Of course the old Murdoch backed the beleaguered but Republican frontrunner ex-prez. Suzanne Scott, along with Jay Wallace and Jack Abernethy, took over Fox after Roger Ailes left in 2016. The disgraced Ailes, who loved Trump, was a Rupert gamble. (Note: Rashida Jones, not the actress.) ๐Ÿ“บ๐Ÿ—ฃ๐Ÿ“บ


New York Times: “Saudi Arabia and China Flaunt Growing Ties at Investment Forum.” The kingdom hosted a lavish Arab-China business conference days after a visit from the U.S. secretary of state, inviting companies blacklisted by Washington. Sanctions don't work anymore. Negotiations and compromises result in better global dynamics. Geopolitical power is now balanced between West and East. So “rogue” nations are welcomed by other giants such as China and Saudi Arabia. 

       Meanwhile, trade between China and Saudi Arabia has been exponentially spiking. Riyadh's trade with Beijing: $87.3 billion against $25.1 billion with Washington. China and Saudi Arabia are close and strategic allies and have been increasing cooperation in the energy and financial sectors, the Belt and Road Initiative, and have signed numerous deals across several areas. ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ


New York Times: “Allies Pressure Biden to Hasten NATO Membership for Ukraine.” And adds: “Some members of the military alliance want to set a timetable for Ukraine to join, though only after the war is no longer raging.” So what is the point then? The Warsaw Pact ended in 1991 as the Cold War closed, alongside USSR's dissolution. NATO and the Warsaw Pact were ideologically opposed. Would have been logical that NATO ended as well or at least stopped expansion. Nope. 



       NATO was formed in 1949. The Warsaw Pact was signed in 1955 in Poland between the Soviet Union and seven other Eastern Bloc socialist republics. NATO and Warsaw Pact built up their own defenses and started an arms race then. But WP was over long time ago. Yet NATO continued to expand. The Ukraine War isn't linear as “evil country invades weaker country.” Agreements were ignored in pursuit of greater economic leverage and political supremacy. ☮️☮️☮️


Time: “Why Everyone Is Having Bad Sex (Especially Young People).” First, we gotta ask young people what is sex to them. Interviewed by AP, an 18-year old high schooler who identifies as LGBTQ, offers: “Honestly, that question is a little laughable. There’s probably a lot of teenagers who are like, ‘No, I’ve never had sexual intercourse, but I’ve had other kinds of sex.’” Another survey says 30 percent of teens in 2021 reported having sex. Or do they call it “sex,” anyways? ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜’๐Ÿ˜Ÿ