Blind..

 

In this new century of war, Americans have lost their way. We have become existentially unmoored. The very language we use to describe war with strangely disconnected words like “asymmetric” or “hybrid” tells the world how confused and uncertain we feel when it comes to using military power effectively. But war has not changed in 10,000 years. 

We seem to think “real war” is about something else entirely: tank-on-tank, airpower resplendent, forces moving majestically on the field of battle. Other wars are somehow lesser and unworthy.

Hence even as we assault the walls or trenches right in front of us, our psychic energy is still flowing to the battles we yearn to fight. Our war-desire always overcomes reality. Because we are always dreaming of the war we want, we are blind to the war we have. Thus our failures have not been defeats necessarily on the battlefield, but deeper defeats: defeats of the mind.

This is not a problem of simply seeing war wrongly, but rather that in seeing it wrongly, there are almost immediate negative effects — on our warfighting, our strategy, and our society. We have lost wars because fighting the war we wanted was more important to us than winning the war we had. — as in Vietnam, as in Iraq.  

ARE WE BLIND TO AN ENDURING REALITY OF WAR?  MICHAEL VLAHOS -AUGUST 20, 2014

Dementia in Chief..

 

Russian newspaper is taking aim at President Biden, claiming he suffers from dementia.

Citing the World Health Organization’s definition of dementia, Lyudmila Plotnikova, the author of the article, said Biden is "very elderly" and "too often in the last years of his life he either forgot names and dates, or lost his orientation in space."

Pointing to columns written by American physicians, as well as previous health battles Biden has faced, including those related to brain aneurysms, the paper suggested Biden has repeatedly "embarrassed himself" on the world stage as a result of some kind of cognitive impairment.

The paper highlighted a recent appearance Biden made in North Carolina where he "finished his speech, turned to the side and began to speak into empty space, and then began to imitate a handshake with someone invisible."

"Biden began to feverishly look around the stage on which he stood," the author said of the incident. "His expression was confused. This miserable spectacle ended with the fact that the president began to wander aimlessly around the crowded hall."

Nothing is wrong with that.

We labled Putin with many thing we did in Iraq, Syria, Libya but we completely forgot.

Lips..

“If you saw the rooster first, it means you’re quite shy,” Meriot said.

“You only like attention when you’re in the right mood.”

People who saw a pair of lips immediately have a very different personality

If you saw the mouth first, it means you’re confident, strong, and independent,” Meriot explained.

But that comes with a drawback: “you can be a little bit stubborn and aggressive when things don’t go the exact way you want them to,” he added.

Some viewers said that Meriot’s descriptions fit them exactly.

Loyal..

 

This optical illusion can reveal how traditional you are.

There are two images hidden in this silhouette and the one you see first can be very revealing.

You could see either an elephant or a village with huts, trees and birds.

Those who see the village in the optical illusion first are more traditional.

They prefer calmness and a peaceful, simple way of life instead of the buzz of a city.

And those who see the elephant first are loyal and respectful of their friends and family.

They are a great listener as well as friendly, thoughtful and considerate. They are well-liked and respected.

So look for the Elephant.  Just a thought.

No Mandate..

 

Sinking..

 

Shaving..

 

Walking at a brisk pace could shave years off your biological age, new research suggests. 

Researchers from the University of Leicester and Leicester Biomedical Research Centre looked at genetic data from 405,981 middle-aged UK residents, averaging in their mid 50s.  They compared the typical self-reported walking pace of participants with signs of biological aging by measuring a key marker of cellular health called telomeres. 

Telomeres are the tail ends of chromosomes, or strands of our DNA, and provide stability as cells divide over time. As we age, telomeres become shorter, like a candle burning down — shorter telomeres are linked to age-related illnesses such as cancer.

A faster walking pace was associated with fewer markers of aging in a large group of older adults with data suggesting that faster walking may reduce markers of aging by as much as 16 years by midlife, according to a study published April 20 in the journal Communications Biology. 

The Gap..

 

France's Emmanuel Macron looks set to comfortably beat his far-right rival Marine Le Pen in Sunday's election, securing a second term as president on his pro-business and pro-EU agenda.

Centrist Macron looks set to gain around 58% with Marine Le Pen of the nationalist and far-right National Rally party on 42%. 

Immediately after the exit polls, Le Pen spoke to her supporters in Paris and accepted defeat. She said her result was a "victory" for her political movement and pointed to parliamentary elections which take place in June.

Despite the predicted victory for Macron, the margin represents a smaller gap between the two candidates.

CNN+

 

Palm..

 

The world's top palm-oil producer announced that it will ban exports of the commodity starting Thursday, sending the prices of edible oils soaring.

Indonesia accounts for about half of the world's supply of palm oil, the world's most widely used vegetable oil. Palm oil is used for cooking and for the production of thousands of consumer products including biscuits, detergents, and lipsticks.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo said the move was designed to bring down domestic palm-oil prices and ensure domestic food availability in the wake of global food inflation.

"The move comes as Indonesia has seen recent protests over the high prices of cooking oil, with retail prices gaining more than 40% so far this year, according to Reuters.

The ban is expected to be in place until further notice. Indonesian palm-oil exports are worth about $30 billion in 2021, according to data provider Statista.