Extraordinary...

 

And so we have been left with a two-dimensional portrait of the duke; salt-tongued and short-tempered, a man who told off-colour jokes and made politically incorrect remarks.
 Prince Philip was an extraordinary man who lived an extraordinary life; a life intimately connected with the sweeping changes of our turbulent 20th Century, a life of fascinating contrast and contradiction, of service and some degree of solitude. A complex, clever, eternally restless man.

Philip fought for Britain in the Royal Navy, three of his sisters actively supported the Nazi cause.

When peace came, and with it eventual economic recovery, Philip would throw himself into the construction of a better Britain, urging the country to adopt scientific methods, embracing the ideas of industrial design, planning, education and training. 

A decade before Harold Wilson talked of the "white heat of the technological revolution", Philip was urging modernity on the nation in speeches and interviews. And as the country and the world became richer and consumed ever more, Philip warned of the impact on the environment, well before it was even vaguely fashionable.

Respect...

 

A somber and focused funeral service was held Saturday for Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh — a service that Philip himself had chosen, despite the COVID-19 protocols that meant only 30 people could attend. Queen Elizabeth sat alone at the service due to the virus.

Many of the funeral's personal touches were planned by Philip, including the music sung by a choir of just four people. He also designed the Land Rover that brought his coffin to St. George's Chapel on the grounds of Windsor Castle. 

People across Britain held a moment of silence before the funeral, and the service reflected Philip's dedication to military service. His casket was draped with his military cap and sword, and military bands played tribute to him. 

Prince Philip was interred in the Royal Vault at St. George's Chapel alongside the remains of other royals.

The funeral brought the Royal Family together in public for the first time in many months.

Duty...

 

Bye...

 

Version...

 

The Soviets occupied Afghanistan during the 1980s and ultimately withdrew after resistance from fighters, collectively known as mujahedeen. Among them was Osama bin Laden. 

The US funneled arms and help to these anti-Soviet forces. 

But in the post-Soviet power vacuum, the Taliban was formed under the leadership of Mullah Mohammed Omar, who wanted to create an Islamic society, expel foreign influences like TV and music from the country and impose a repressive version of Islamic law that is particularly harsh on women.

By 2001, they controlled nearly all of the country.

Did we win any thing of being there for that long?

Back...

 

The Mayor of New York City on a daily basis is talking about back to school.

Herd...

 

Please note that the Covid vaccines is approved under "Emergency Use Only". Politicians and Ministers can't just go around Approving the Usage particularly that so much is unknown about the vaccines.

Six month into the process, Johnson and Johnson was put to pause for major problems discovered, and may be other problems that weren't discovered yet.  Just a thought.

Looting...

 

Florida has approved an “anti-riot” bill that gives harsher penalties to protesters.

The bill, passed by the state’s Republican-controlled legislature , includes stiffer punishment for crimes committed during a riot or violent protest. It would allow authorities to hold arrested protesters until a first court appearance, and it would establish new felonies for organizing or participating in a violent demonstration.

The proposal would make it a second-degree felony to destroy or demolish a memorial, plaque, flag, painting, structure or other object that commemorates historical people or events. That would be punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

It would also strip local governments of civil liability protections if they interfere with law enforcement’s efforts to respond to a violent protest, and adds language to state law that could force local governments to justify a reduction in law enforcement budgets.

Clots...!!

 

Federal health officials say the ultra-rare blood clots reported in six people who received Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine are similar to blood clots detected in a  small number of people in Europe who were immunized with AstraZeneca’s shot.

 The six cases in the U.S. were in women between the ages of 18 and 48.  Women have been disproportionately affected by both vaccines.

The blood-clotting disorder is called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, and it was only reported in individuals who also had low levels of blood platelets, a condition called thrombocytopenia.

The Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines are both adenovirus viral vector-based vaccines with similar mechanism.

 
No thrombotic syndrome cases have been reported in people who have received either the Pfizer Inc. PFE, or Moderna Inc. MRNA, mRNA vaccines.

Is it necessary for young people to be vaccinated at all?   Listen to the science.

Stripped...

 

In February, the Air Force announced that it will begin retiring the B-1B Lancer from service by divesting 17 bombers from the fleet of 62.

The divestment is being done to cut costs, streamline modernization and maintenance for other aircraft, and prepare for the introduction of the Air Force's future B-21 Raider bomber.

"Beginning to retire legacy bombers, to make way for the B-21 Raider, is something we have been working toward for some time," Gen. Tim Ray, the head of Air Force Global Strike Command, said in a release. "We're just accelerating planned retirements."

Four of the bombers are expected to be kept in Type 2000 storage, meaning they can be returned if needed after maintenance, but may most likely be stripped for parts. (The Air Force has already resurrected two B-52s.)