De-Escalation...

 

Russia, Iran and Turkey agreed to establish “de-escalation zones” in Syria, signing on to a Russian plan under which President Bashar Assad’s air force would halt flights over designated areas.
Safe zones would bring relief for hundreds of thousands of civilians and encourage refugees to return.

The opposition is protesting Iran’s participation at the conference and role as a guarantor of the agreement, accusing it of fuelling the sectarian nature of the conflict that has killed some 400,000 people and displaced half the country’s population.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said the United States has “reason to be cautious” about the chances for success of the deal, though it appreciates the efforts by Russia and Turkey to help lower violence in Syria. She added that U.S. has concerns, including about Iran’s “guarantor” role in the Kazakhstan deal.

Who is backing up the opposition?   How far are we behind them? What is the max destruction and loss of lives that the Arab world willing to accept?

Tinder...

Seven armed robberies and one attempted armed robbery -- all involving dating apps -- have been reported within 10 days in Omaha, Nebraska, and police say the incidents appear to be related.

In all eight incidents -- which involved the use of either Tinder or PlentyOfFish -- a male victim set up a date with someone presenting as female on the dating app, Omaha Police Department.

The latest of the robberies was this morning. The 19-year-old victim told police when he arrived at a location to meet someone from online, he went to the front door and told the person he was there. The individual replied "I'm coming," but the victim said the situation felt "sketchy," according to the incident report.

When the victim started walking back to his car, an armed man pulled out a gun and told him "empty your pockets and lay it on the ground,".  

The police department said it "encourages the public to utilize personal safety practices when meeting unknown parties on social media."

Fearless...

A new statue of a resolute young girl staring down Wall Street's famous Charging Bull was erected by a major asset managing firm for International Women's Day to make a point: There's a dearth of women on the boards of the largest U.S. corporations.

1/8...

The "Veep" star tweeted that she has been diagnosed with the disease and pleaded for universal health care to help others going through similar battles.

"1 in 8 women get breast cancer. Today, I'm the one," she wrote. "The good news is that I have the most glorious group of supportive and caring family and friends, and fantastic insurance through my union. The bad news is that not all women are so lucky, so let's fight all cancers and make universal health care a reality."

Hugh...

Hugh Hefner is an American publisher and playboy. He was best known as the editor-in-chief of Playboy magazine, which he founded in 1953.^[2] An advocate of sexual liberation and freedom of expression, Hefner was a political activist and philanthropist in several other causes and public issues.

An advocate of sexual Liberation and Freedom of Expression.         Just a thought.

Awful...

Kim...

"I always remember that horrible day that we ran from life to death," says Kim Phuc, the girl in that iconic photo. Now 52, she lives just outside Toronto, a wife, mother and survivor inextricably linked to a photograph that dominated front pages in 1972, seven months before the signing of Paris Peace Accords led to the withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from South Vietnam.

The Vietnam War on PBS.  

Referendum...

 

The Iraqi government escalated its confrontation with its northern Kurdish region, threatening to send troops and seize oil fields and taking steps to shut down international flights in the region.

The moves came in retaliation for a referendum in which the region, Iraqi Kurdistan, voted decisively to seek independence from Iraq. Nearly 93 percent of voters approved the referendum, which aims to create an independent state for the Kurds, an ethnic minority in Iraq.

Iraq’s Parliament asked the country’s prime minister to deploy troops to the oil-rich city of Kirkuk, and to take control of all oil fields in the Kurdish region.

Iraq has called the vote illegal and has vowed to ignore the results. The vote has also provoked the Kurdish region’s two powerful neighbors, Turkey and Iran.

All three countries have been conducting military exercises near the border of Iraqi Kurdistan this week.

Quality...

 



New Jersey Governor Chris Christie held the third formal meeting of President Trump's ongoing Commission on Combatting Drug Addiction and Opioid Crisis.

NIH Director advised the commission that the agency is looking to build partnerships with researchers across academia, government, prescribers and patients to "cut in half the time needed to make available prescriptions that are non-addictive." And developing "potent but non-addictive drugs" for pain relief .

PhRMA CEO announced another significant step in the effort to curb the abuse of opioid prescriptions, telling the commission that the company will support limiting the supply of opioids to 7 days, as opposed to the traditional 30-day supply.

However, The 7 days supply suggested by the pharma manufacturing, will increase the healthcare cost by requiring frequent visitation to the Medical offices, and the pharmacies.  In addition, will reduce the quality of life of many of the patients who need assistance to reach medical office.

Get something new without multiplying the cost.   Just a thought.

Resist...

The book tour by Hillary is not really to document why did she loose. That is a one page summery. It seems to me that Hillary is campaigning for something in addition to money.

Schumer and Pelosi's cooperation with Trump will hurt even more as Trump's agenda of Tax reform, Immigration,.. etc takes place. So here it is, Resist....