I am sitting here dreading taking that dumb pill at noon, Eating some pineapple jello ( only liquids from now till after the procedure.) I have headache...sure it is anxiety related. Bingeing Star Trek Voyager, again.
I don't have anything pithy or substantial to say about Turkey and Sweden and Muslims...though I hope eventually Turkey relents, Erdogan has a habit of walking a thin line between two sides...I do know that there were some men from Turkey on the dating site I used to be on, interesting people...
"The annoying contrast, of course, is between the way Muslim-world governments behave toward western democratic countries that accord equal human rights to their Muslim citizenry and how the same governments have nothing critical to say against the genocidal government of the Chinese Communist Party."
Back during the Cold War I observed the same thing as most countries, including Western democratic countries, condemned apartheid South Africa but said nothing about human rights violations in the Soviet Union or Mao's China.
And much the same pertains today toward Israel but not the Palestinians or Hamas. That is, given the 2 hostile populations in close contact with each other, one is expected to bend over backwards to follow the rules, while the other is given a pass to commit atrocities.
Marque, did you know TMD would be covering the problems facing Sweden and Finland in being approved as NATO members this morning? Both your and their writing on this subject are interesting.
It’s difficult to understand the kind of hold these Muslim countries have on their citizens, and how it is that the rest of the world ends up having to deal with it. I realize this doesn’t mean that all Muslims are the same, and I’m not meaning “Muslims” as “all Muslims.”
It sounds as though the elections in Turkey are part of the reason Erdogan is holding out. It also sounds as though the U.S. will have some pull because Turkey wants to buy fighter jets from us. I think, as long as someone doesn’t screw things up, we have a good shot at influencing Turkey to make the right decision.
Also, your recommendation to subscribe to Kyle Orton‘s Substack newsletter is much appreciated. I’m interested, but I’m not sure I can take much more bad news about the world we’re living in these days. (That’s not to say that we haven’t always had problems.)
I saw yesterday that a small meteor is heading towards earth! Its orbit could take it within 10,000 km of earth! They theorize it is so small that if it were to enter the Earth that it will break up and burn up before it destroys Cincinnati, or wherever it lands.
So you probably have nothing to fear, except for the destruction of earth, shortly before you find out whether or not the daffodils you planted last fall will bloom or not.
So if this is it, it has been nice knowing you all. But if it isn’t good, keep calm and carry on.
MG, What's up with the "pledge your support" and how does Substack work? Do you have expenses here? If so, I don't mind chipping in. Is this pledge thing a revenue source for Substack? Do you get a free ride until you don't?
Today’s special animal friend is the Proboscis Monkey, Nasalis larvatus, a large monkey native to Borneo. Found in coastal areas and mangrove forests around the island, the proboscis monkey is one of the largest monkeys in Asia. Males have a head-body length up to 30 inches, and they can weigh up to 66 lbs. Female grow up to 24 inches long and weigh up to 33 lbs. The males’ proboscis or nose can grow up to four inches long and hang below their chins. Females have much smaller noses. Specialized cartilage holds the noses on the face.
Proboscis monkeys have gray underfur and thicker, brown overcoats on their backs and shoulders, like they’re wearing a brown jacket over a gray jumpsuit. Adults of both sexes have cream-colored faces and bulging stomachs.
Like the pig-tailed macaques, proboscis monkeys live in family groups which assemble in larger bands of up to 60 individuals for protection at night or when food is very abundant. Males establish dominance with only mild violence, for primates, and females pass status to their female offspring. Mating season varies depending on weather patterns. Gestation is up to 200 days, and one baby is typical. Infants are weaned at about 7 months and remain with their mother for another year or so.
Fruit and leaves comprise most of the monkeys’ diet. Proboscis monkeys are largely arboreal, but they are also excellent swimmers. They prefer young leaves and unripe fruit. They are picky about their diet and are difficult to keep in zoos. The Singapore Zoo is one of the few that has kept them successfully.
Proboscis monkeys are rated Endangered by IUCN. Natural predators include crocodilians, clouded leopards, pythons, and sun bears. Young or sick individuals are vulnerable to birds of prey. Habitat loss is a significant threat as native forests are cleared for wood sales or oil palm plantations. They are hunted for meat in some areas and are in demand for traditional Chinese medicine, in spite of CITES Appendix I listing.
It is believed that the noses help to amplify their sound effects:
I wish we could trade Turkey for Sweden, but I don’t think that’s feasible.
Plus, kicking Turkey out may drive them closer to Russia or China, which isn’t what we want, either.
Foreign Policy, am I right?
Morning everyone....
I am sitting here dreading taking that dumb pill at noon, Eating some pineapple jello ( only liquids from now till after the procedure.) I have headache...sure it is anxiety related. Bingeing Star Trek Voyager, again.
I don't have anything pithy or substantial to say about Turkey and Sweden and Muslims...though I hope eventually Turkey relents, Erdogan has a habit of walking a thin line between two sides...I do know that there were some men from Turkey on the dating site I used to be on, interesting people...
"The annoying contrast, of course, is between the way Muslim-world governments behave toward western democratic countries that accord equal human rights to their Muslim citizenry and how the same governments have nothing critical to say against the genocidal government of the Chinese Communist Party."
Back during the Cold War I observed the same thing as most countries, including Western democratic countries, condemned apartheid South Africa but said nothing about human rights violations in the Soviet Union or Mao's China.
And much the same pertains today toward Israel but not the Palestinians or Hamas. That is, given the 2 hostile populations in close contact with each other, one is expected to bend over backwards to follow the rules, while the other is given a pass to commit atrocities.
Marque, did you know TMD would be covering the problems facing Sweden and Finland in being approved as NATO members this morning? Both your and their writing on this subject are interesting.
It’s difficult to understand the kind of hold these Muslim countries have on their citizens, and how it is that the rest of the world ends up having to deal with it. I realize this doesn’t mean that all Muslims are the same, and I’m not meaning “Muslims” as “all Muslims.”
It sounds as though the elections in Turkey are part of the reason Erdogan is holding out. It also sounds as though the U.S. will have some pull because Turkey wants to buy fighter jets from us. I think, as long as someone doesn’t screw things up, we have a good shot at influencing Turkey to make the right decision.
Also, your recommendation to subscribe to Kyle Orton‘s Substack newsletter is much appreciated. I’m interested, but I’m not sure I can take much more bad news about the world we’re living in these days. (That’s not to say that we haven’t always had problems.)
Assuming you posted (or at least wrote) this before TMD hit your inbox, congrats again for scooping the Mothership.
In a happy confluence of yesterday's "ants can smell cancer" and today's "will ya look at the honkers on those monkeys" this is from today's WaPo:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/01/26/smell-loss-covid-bionic-nose-brain
I saw yesterday that a small meteor is heading towards earth! Its orbit could take it within 10,000 km of earth! They theorize it is so small that if it were to enter the Earth that it will break up and burn up before it destroys Cincinnati, or wherever it lands.
So you probably have nothing to fear, except for the destruction of earth, shortly before you find out whether or not the daffodils you planted last fall will bloom or not.
So if this is it, it has been nice knowing you all. But if it isn’t good, keep calm and carry on.
MG, What's up with the "pledge your support" and how does Substack work? Do you have expenses here? If so, I don't mind chipping in. Is this pledge thing a revenue source for Substack? Do you get a free ride until you don't?
Today’s special animal friend is the Proboscis Monkey, Nasalis larvatus, a large monkey native to Borneo. Found in coastal areas and mangrove forests around the island, the proboscis monkey is one of the largest monkeys in Asia. Males have a head-body length up to 30 inches, and they can weigh up to 66 lbs. Female grow up to 24 inches long and weigh up to 33 lbs. The males’ proboscis or nose can grow up to four inches long and hang below their chins. Females have much smaller noses. Specialized cartilage holds the noses on the face.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1C9rM76BpI
Proboscis monkeys have gray underfur and thicker, brown overcoats on their backs and shoulders, like they’re wearing a brown jacket over a gray jumpsuit. Adults of both sexes have cream-colored faces and bulging stomachs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6JwIbU7W8U
Like the pig-tailed macaques, proboscis monkeys live in family groups which assemble in larger bands of up to 60 individuals for protection at night or when food is very abundant. Males establish dominance with only mild violence, for primates, and females pass status to their female offspring. Mating season varies depending on weather patterns. Gestation is up to 200 days, and one baby is typical. Infants are weaned at about 7 months and remain with their mother for another year or so.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pzO6xlf-y4
Fruit and leaves comprise most of the monkeys’ diet. Proboscis monkeys are largely arboreal, but they are also excellent swimmers. They prefer young leaves and unripe fruit. They are picky about their diet and are difficult to keep in zoos. The Singapore Zoo is one of the few that has kept them successfully.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZf4tLXvFwA
Proboscis monkeys are rated Endangered by IUCN. Natural predators include crocodilians, clouded leopards, pythons, and sun bears. Young or sick individuals are vulnerable to birds of prey. Habitat loss is a significant threat as native forests are cleared for wood sales or oil palm plantations. They are hunted for meat in some areas and are in demand for traditional Chinese medicine, in spite of CITES Appendix I listing.
It is believed that the noses help to amplify their sound effects:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X2TTP2pQjk