MomSense sent some amazing photos of the lake in the morning. Beam me up, or over, whatever transports me to this spot.
Anyone want to join me in heading over? I’m sure MomSense has room for all of us.
Open thread.
by WaterGirl| 10 Comments
This post is in: Open Threads
MomSense sent some amazing photos of the lake in the morning. Beam me up, or over, whatever transports me to this spot.
Anyone want to join me in heading over? I’m sure MomSense has room for all of us.
Open thread.
by Adam L Silverman| 5 Comments
This post is in: Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Military, Open Threads, Russia, Silverman on Security, War, War in Ukraine
(Image by NEIVANMADE)
A quick housekeeping note: Rosie is still doing fine. Her next chemo session is this coming Monday. Ruby is back to her normal self. Thank you to everyone for your good thoughts, well wishes, and/or prayers for both of them. And thank you to everyone who has either already donated to Rosie’s GoFundMe or is considering doing so. It is greatly appreciated! I’m going to keep tonight’s update on the shorter side, again, as I’m still playing catch up for the excitement on Tuesday and Wednesday.
As I start drafting tonight’s update at 7:45 PM EDT, air raid alerts are starting to go up. Vinnytsia’s was up as I started writing and, as of 7:53 PM EDT, an air raid alert has been posted for Mykolaiv Oblast. It’s now 8:10 PM EDT and the air raid alerts are up from Zhytomyr, Vinnytsia, Mykolaiv, and Odesa Oblasts. The air raid alert for Kharkiv Oblast went up by 8:20 PM EDT. It is now 8:40 PM EDT and the alert for Zhytomyr Oblast has come down.
Kharkiv spent over 16 hours under air raid overnight into today.
After 16 hours and 33 minutes, the air alert is over in Kharkiv.
— Iryna Voichuk (@IrynaVoichuk) May 16, 2024
Shaheds followed by missiles.
Explosion reported in Kharkiv! The city is under russian Shahed drone attack! https://t.co/NobV0lPXud
— Iryna Voichuk (@IrynaVoichuk) May 16, 2024
Right after the drone attack, russian forces are now hitting Kharkiv with missiles!!!
— Iryna Voichuk (@IrynaVoichuk) May 16, 2024
People in the Kharkiv metro are singing the anthem on Vyshyvanka Day today. These parades have been held for years, but this is the first one underground—a bold stand against the Russian advance, showing Kharkiv’s strength and resilience. Slava Ukraini! 🇺🇦💪🏻 pic.twitter.com/8rM9LA1u8Z
— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) May 16, 2024
Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.
We Managed to Build Confidence in Vovchansk Direction, yet Russian Shelling and Threats Persist – Address by the President
16 May 2024 – 20:12
Dear Ukrainians!
Today, in the first half of the day, I was in the Kharkiv region. First of all, to address defense issues and protection of people.
I held a meeting of the Staff in Kharkiv, involving the Commander-in-Chief, commanders of directions, heads of the security sector – the Defense Intelligence, the Foreign Intelligence Service, the Security Service, the State Border Guard Service, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the heads of the Kharkiv region. Thus, all aspects of the situation were considered. We discussed in detail the combat operations in the Kharkiv region, the protection of people, our positions, and the needs of the units that defend our positions. Now, thanks to our Forces, our measures, we have managed to build confidence in the direction of Vovchansk. However, Russian shelling and threats persist. Today, in particular, the head of the Vovchansk administration was wounded. Our counterattacks are ongoing, including in other parts of the Kharkiv border area. And there should be more results in repelling the assaults, in destroying the occupier. Russia is trying to expand the war, invariably accompanying it with empty words about peace. We must force Russia into a real, just peace by all means. In this context, our defense against assaults and attacks is crucial.
Today’s meeting also included reports on the occupier’s further intentions – we are preparing for all scenarios.
Today we also thoroughly analyzed the situation in the Donetsk region – on the relevant fronts. Pokrovsk, Kramatorsk, and others. There, the greatest number of combat encounters and the toughest conditions are observed. Of course, we are not neglecting this direction.
And we are thoroughly working with our partners to provide Kharkiv, Donetsk, Sumy, and other regions with more basic protection, namely air defense systems and sufficient long-range weapons. Upon my return to Kyiv, I spoke with Polish Prime Minister Tusk. We talked about our needs, about Patriot systems that could significantly change the situation in the Kharkiv direction. We also discussed the Russian terrorist attacks on our regions in the western part of Ukraine – the threat that attacks on gas infrastructure pose to everyone in Europe, not only to us but also to our neighbors. We must work together to counter this. I would also like to thank Denmark today – there is a new defense package worth €750 million to bolster our air defense and artillery. This is a timely decision, and I greatly appreciate it.
And one more thing.
Today I had the honor to personally award our warriors who are defending the Kharkiv direction. It is very important. The 57th, 42nd, and 92nd brigades. The warriors of the special forces of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine – I am grateful to each of you guys! Each of our soldiers, each sergeant, each officer – the bravery of each determines our common destiny. I am grateful to everyone who does everything for our state to withstand! I thank everyone in the world who helps!
Glory to Ukraine!
Denmark:
Denmark announced a new military aid package to Ukraine valued at 5.6 billion DKK (€750 million).
The package includes DKK 2.4 billion for strengthening Ukraine's air defense as well as additional contributions for the upcoming F-16 donation, and financial contributions for the… pic.twitter.com/WPtdDgVToz
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) May 16, 2024
Denmark announced a new military aid package to Ukraine valued at 5.6 billion DKK (€750 million).
The package includes DKK 2.4 billion for strengthening Ukraine’s air defense as well as additional contributions for the upcoming F-16 donation, and financial contributions for the donation of additional artillery pieces, shells, and anti-tank mines.
We are grateful to Denmark for their unwavering support.
Thank you for helping Ukraine win this war!
🇺🇦🤝🇩🇰
@Forsvarsmin
Germany and Lithuania:
According to the German Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius, Lithuania is contributing to the German IAAD initiative which aims to strengthen the Ukrainian air defence with six AMBER-1800 air surveillance radars. He did not provide any further details such as a planned delivery… pic.twitter.com/y67rSVA5wL
— German Aid to Ukraine 🇩🇪🤝🇺🇦 (@deaidua) May 16, 2024
According to the German Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius, Lithuania is contributing to the German IAAD initiative which aims to strengthen the Ukrainian air defence with six AMBER-1800 air surveillance radars. He did not provide any further details such as a planned delivery date.
An overview of the initiative ⬇️
Germany: 1 Patriot battery
Lithuania: 6 AMBER-1800 air surveillance radarsBelgium: €200 million
The Netherlands: €150 million
Denmark: €134 million (for financing a Patriot battery)
Canada: ~€52 million (for financing IRIS-T (SL) missiles)
Today is Vyshyvanka Day, celebrating the traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirt.
Visible or invisible, it is always under a defender's pixel, a rescuer's uniform, a medic's coat, a power engineer's jacket, a volunteer, a teacher, or anyone who holds the defense.
Our children… pic.twitter.com/0hlfnrwo5M
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 16, 2024
Today is Vyshyvanka Day, celebrating the traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirt.
Visible or invisible, it is always under a defender’s pixel, a rescuer’s uniform, a medic’s coat, a power engineer’s jacket, a volunteer, a teacher, or anyone who holds the defense.
Our children have known it since infancy. It represents the unity of all generations of Ukrainians over the centuries. Its pattern is unique because it is embroidered by our own actions on a canvas of our values.
Over the years of our resistance to aggression, it has become an informal uniform for all those who defend humanity, freedom, and the right to self-identity.
Happy Vyshyvanka Day to Ukraine, all Ukrainians, and Ukraine’s friends around the world! 🇺🇦
To keep traditions alive you must defend them.
Happy #Vyshyvanka Day!📷: Rubizh Brigade pic.twitter.com/60KRQCjovz
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) May 16, 2024
Today we mark Vyshyvanka Day. The code of the nation, a strong connection with traditions and history, a powerful talisman of Ukrainians. pic.twitter.com/Ed6kNP7AaL
— SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES OF UKRAINE (@SOF_UKR) May 16, 2024
Here is Mikhail Khodorkovsky’s assessment of the strategic situation in Ukraine. First tweet from the thread, the rest from the Thread Reader App:
The West is losing the war: current efforts are insufficient to prevent the fall of key Ukrainian regions to Putin in the next 2 years.
1/16 🧵The facts you need to know
(Follow for a second part on good and bad sanctions) pic.twitter.com/TjcvD43UZ7
— Mikhail Khodorkovsky (@khodorkovsky_en) May 16, 2024
Putin spends about $120bn a year on the war – 5.4% of Russia’s $2.2 trillion GDP – with the most commonly used Russian shell costing about $5002/16
European aid to Kyiv over two years amounts to $88bn – about 0.25% of the EU’s GDP – with shells that cost between $5,000 and $8,00023/16
This means that, if we include the American contribution, Putin is outproducing the West by at least 2.5:1. This year, without US support, that ratio jumps to 4:14/16
At the start of the war, Russia’s population was 142 million to Ukraine’s 40 million – a ratio of about 3.5:1. Now, two years later, that ratio is 7:1. And yet, we demand that Ukraine continue to fight on – but with what?5/16
At the current rate, Kharkiv will fall within the year, and Odesa – next year. By 2026, Ukraine will be capable only of maintaining a small-scale partisan resistance – and that is in the best case scenario6/16
Lviv will be preserved if Polish troops, as part of NATO, enter the city. This is a more optimistic scenario, provided that the Ukrainian Armed Forces continue their heroic resistance despite all the challenges.7/16
What is the thought process at play? ‘Perhaps if Putin takes Ukraine, he will calm down’? Perhaps he will – although as I have said before, that is highly unlikely8/16
More likely, when the war is over, Russian soldiers will be at Poland’s border. And they’ll be joined by some Ukrainians, resentful of the Western betrayal and, in need of some way to earn a living, forced to join a united Russian-Ukrainian army under Russian command.9/16
We saw a similar dynamic happen in Donbas.10/16
I’m sure nobody who has thought about this, really wants to see such an outcome. But as it stands, this is the most likely one. The only way to prevent it is for Western countries to step up their efforts to aid Ukraine and hinder Putin11/16
Without the support of its allies, Ukraine cannot be expected to fight off the invasion forever. Putin certainly has the support of his own allies. Xi Jinping has said that there are no limits to Sino-Russian co-operation. What can this tell us?12/16
It tells us that when democracies are not willing to unite and act decisively, then dictators feel empowered to act as they please without fear of consequences13/16
It’s important to keep in mind that Putin does not need territory. Putin needs a war for his domestic goals. And a weak West makes a wonderful target for him14/16
If the West hopes to trick the world’s autocrats into a world war, then it’s well on the way to realizing that aim.15/16
I work to draw attention to the nuances of Russian policy that mainstream outlets often miss. Follow for more analysis16/16
Thanks to @liberalemoderne for hosting this forum on the current state of affairs between the West and Russia
Kharkiv:
“We could have destroyed them, but we were not allowed to”—Kharkiv residents are angry about restrictions on using Western weapons inside Russia.
My latest on how Kharkiv braces for the offensive: https://t.co/QMazSDTmBB
— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) May 16, 2024
From The Atlantic Council: (emphasis mine)
Residents of Kharkiv have been monitoring reports with increasing urgency for the past five days as a new Russian offensive edges closer to the city. The stresses of war are nothing new to the Kharkiv population, which has been under daily bombardment since the start of the current year. Nevertheless, the opening of a new front less than half an hour’s drive from the city’s northern suburbs has raised the stakes dramatically.
Since the Russian offensive began last Friday, harrowing footage of burning villages and fleeing civilians has flooded social media, adding to the sense of mounting danger. Evacuation efforts are still underway in the border region, with around 8000 people so far brought from nearby communities to Kharkiv.
So far, Russian troops have made modest progress, advancing up to eight kilometers into Ukraine and capturing a number of Ukrainian villages. While the incursion is currently regarded as too small in scale to threaten Kharkiv itself, the reappearance of Russian soldiers in the region for the first time since 2022 has sparked considerable alarm and dismay.
Russia’s new offensive did not come as a complete surprise, of course. On the contrary, the build-up of Russian troops across the border had been common knowledge for weeks. Kharkiv Regional Council member and political sciences professor Halyna Kuts says she has been preparing for some time, and has a bag of emergency items packed and ready.
Kuts is one of many people in Kharkiv to express anger at restrictions preventing Ukraine from using Western weapons to strike targets inside Russia. Due to fears of possible Russian retaliation, most of Kyiv’s partners insist the military aid they supply only be used within Ukraine’s borders. These restrictions prevented Ukraine from attacking concentrations of Russian troops as they prepared for the current offensive. “We could have destroyed them, but we were not allowed to,” says Kuts.
With Russian troops now gradually moving toward the city, Kuts believes the only option is to “dig in” and prepare to defend Kharkiv. “This is no longer a center of culture and science; this is a military fortress. Everyone should be carrying a gas mask, bandages, and water with them at all times,” she says.
In recent days, it has become much rarer to encounter children on the streets of the city. Some families have now left Kharkiv due to the deteriorating security situation, heading west for the relative safety of Poltava, Kyiv, or beyond. Youngsters who remain are obliged to attend classes underground or online.
Defiance can be expressed in different ways. For Halyna Kuts, this means proceeding with Kharkiv’s annual Vyshyvanka Day parade on May 16 in one of the city’s underground metro stations. This colorful annual event, which features people sporting Ukraine’s traditional embroidered shirts, is widely seen as a celebration of Ukrainian patriotism and national identity. With Russian troops advancing toward the city, Kuts says it is now more important than ever to host this year’s parade as planned.
More at the link.
Also Kharkiv:
“Lacking sufficient forces and with a deficit of ammunition, Ukraine’s military responds to Russian breakthroughs by moving its best brigades and elite units around the front. This firefighting approach, which happened during the battles of Bakhmut and Avdiika, means that the…
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) May 16, 2024
“Lacking sufficient forces and with a deficit of ammunition, Ukraine’s military responds to Russian breakthroughs by moving its best brigades and elite units around the front. This firefighting approach, which happened during the battles of Bakhmut and Avdiika, means that the best units do not have enough time to rest and regenerate.”
@RALee85 @KofmanMichaelhttps://nytimes.com/2024/05/16/opinion/russia-ukraine-kharkiv.html
Vovchansk, Kharkiv Oblast:
The fight for Vovchansk pic.twitter.com/Y8OC7R4Vlk
— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) May 16, 2024
Ukraine's Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko states that terrorist formations of the so-called "russia" are taking civilians hostage in the northern section of Vovchans'k, to hold them in basements. Some of them were executed.
We have already seen this many times when… pic.twitter.com/4AYYK8Gx3L
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated) May 16, 2024
Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko states that terrorist formations of the so-called “russia” are taking civilians hostage in the northern section of Vovchans’k, to hold them in basements. Some of them were executed.
We have already seen this many times when terrorists, struggling to complete their objectives, take it out on civilians.
Clearly, Russian terrorist formations are following the example of their “colleagues” who organised similar events in Bucha and other towns of Ukraine and were later given state awards for these massacres.
Sumy Oblast:
2. As a result, entire villages are destroyed, people die and are maimed. Housing, civil infrastructure and the cultural heritage of the region are destroyed. Constant danger forces residents to leave their homes and evacuate to safer places.
— Holodomor Museum (@HolodomorMuseum) May 16, 2024
4. It is especially painful for us to realise this because, in the border areas of Sumy Oblast, we never had the opportunity to go on expeditions, to record the Holodomor witnesses of the Holodomor, or look for potential exhibits for our museum.
— Holodomor Museum (@HolodomorMuseum) May 16, 2024
6.Honouring the Sumy region today, we continue the series of publications about the Holodomor and modern crimes of the aggressor country committed in this region. We will also talk about the most interesting exhibits from our stock collection, representing the Sumy region.
— Holodomor Museum (@HolodomorMuseum) May 16, 2024
Russian occupied Crimea:
On @Maxar imagery, two MiG-31s and one Su-27 have been completely destroyed, and a MiG-29 damaged, at the Russian Air Force's Belbek Airbase in occupied Crimea. A fuel storage near the main airbase runway was also destroyed, and debris continued to burn in the aftermath. https://t.co/ZWflMYUFVw pic.twitter.com/80N56MRP2h
— Christiaan Triebert (@trbrtc) May 16, 2024
Here is Tatarigami’s and his Frontelligence Insight team’s battle damage assessment of the strike on the Belbek airbase. From the Thread Reader App:
Frontelligence Insight conducted an initial Battle Damage Assessment of strikes on Belbek Airfield in Crimea on May 15th and 16th. This analysis is based on mid-resolution images taken on May 16thBefore continuing, please like, share, and follow to aid with visibility. 🧵Thread
2/Three large scorch marks are visible in the central part of the airfield: two on the military jet apron and one in the fuel depot area. The exact diameter of these marks cannot be determined due to low resolution, but they appear to be approximately over 30m in size.3/ The imagery from July 2023 confirms that the apron was used to host military jets. Due to the resolution limitations, we cannot determine whether any aircraft were hit or destroyed, nor can we assess the level of damage, but we can conclude that missiles did reach the apron.4/ The third scorch mark is visible within the fuel depot area. This likely explains the large, bright fire observed in videos taken by local residents, indicating the complete destruction of the depot. The extent of damage to nearby buildings cannot be determined at this stage5/The characteristics and size of the scorch marks confirm that at least three missiles hit their targets. Damage from submunitions may not be visible at this resolution, and the actual damage could be more severe than what is visible in these images. High-res imagery is required6/ Thank you for reading. Please consider liking and sharing the first message of the thread to help increase visibility. If you would like to support us, you can find more information in this post:
The Avdiivka front:
Work of Bradley of the 47th Brigade of Ukraine on the Avdiivka front. https://t.co/SM2XJQMTBZ pic.twitter.com/ju8AJ1wOS2
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) May 16, 2024
Pokrovsk direction:
The 47th Mechanized Brigade released a video of the results of their combat work over the past month in the Pokrovsk direction. They destroyed 13 tanks, including three T-90s, and 20 IFVs. pic.twitter.com/nmscWJLpaX
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) May 16, 2024
Luhansk Oblast:
Booom!
An epic detonation of a russian Msta-S howitzer in the Luhansk region.📹: 10th Mountain Assault Brigade pic.twitter.com/qBYPhqneuU
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) May 16, 2024
Moscow:
The consequences of these events are yet to be fully comprehended, and they are likely to have profound long-term implications.
Following the Kremlin shakeup and the replacement of Shoigu with Belousov, a figure from the so-called "economic" or "technocratic" circles, there has… pic.twitter.com/Kzl0Wp3VjM
— Tatarigami_UA (@Tatarigami_UA) May 16, 2024
The consequences of these events are yet to be fully comprehended, and they are likely to have profound long-term implications.
Following the Kremlin shakeup and the replacement of Shoigu with Belousov, a figure from the so-called “economic” or “technocratic” circles, there has been speculation about the nature of these changes and Shoigu’s future role. Today, Shoigu appeared alongside Putin during his visit to China, though this isn’t the main focus of our discussion. The composition of this delegation might give us a lot of critical details and its goals.
In addition to Putin, Shoigu, Lavrov, Peskov, and the newly appointed Belousov, the expanded Russian delegation includes:
Minister of Natural Resources and Environment,
Head of the Central Bank, Minister of Economic Development, Minister of Finance, Director of the Federal Financial Monitoring Service, CEO of Rosatom,
Director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, First Deputy Prime Minister, Deputy Head of the Presidential AdministrationFurthermore, key representatives of businesses and oligarchs are part of the expanded delegation.
– Oleg Deripaska, oligarch and founder of RUSAL
– Igor Sechin, oligarch, CEO of Rosneft
– Herman Gref, Chairman of Sberbank’s Executive Board
– Andrey Kostin, President-Chairman of VTB Bank
– Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund
– Leonid Mikhelson, Chairman of NOVATEK
– Igor Shuvalov, Chairman of VEB.RF
– Alexander Shokhin, President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP)Such a list of decision-makers from the financial and economic sectors suggests that this delegation is not ordinary but rather an ambitious and serious effort to deepen economic and financial cooperation with China. Given the presence of the newly appointed Minister of Defense and the Director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, we should also anticipate discussions on military-industrial cooperation.
This should not be dismissed as a routine event. The last time Shoigu visited North Korea, Russia received millions of artillery shells and ballistic missiles. However, unlike that delegation, this one is heavily represented by the financial and economic sectors, suggesting Russia’s serious intent to address economic and financial problems caused by war.
Given China’s pragmatism and Russia’s weakened position, successful negotiations may require significant concessions or unfavorable long-term agreements for Russia. That being said, the successful outcome of these negotiations will create problems for Ukraine regardless, as Russia is clearly aiming to outproduce the West and Ukraine.
I’ll leave detailed economic discussions to specialists in their respective fields, but it’s evident that this could have significant global implications and will likely have a tangible impact on the ongoing war for years to come.
Xi stressed the “friendship” between Moscow and Beijing, saying he and Putin provided each other with “strategic guidance”, before the pair signed a statement on deepening their strategic partnership. https://t.co/VOfjBE2aNt https://t.co/DY8n2dIZ2H
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) May 16, 2024
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
First, some adjacent material from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense:
Defend what is yours.
📷: @StratCom_AFU pic.twitter.com/7LD76M9RS1
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) May 16, 2024
And Tom 😍 pic.twitter.com/pv0R4mxlUQ
— Patron (@PatronDsns) May 16, 2024
Open thread!
War for Ukraine Day 813: Vyshyvanka Day Under BombardmentPost + Comments (5)
by John Cole| 72 Comments
This post is in: John Cole Presents "This Fucking Old House"
Spent another day on the tractor cutting, and man I am fried. It never got over 75 and I used sun screen, but I am burnt to a crisp, regardless. Oh well.
A very weird and awful piece of legislation passed the NC Senate, and it is a doozy:
The North Carolina Senate voted along party lines Wednesday to ban anyone from wearing masks in public for health reasons, following an emotional debate about the wisdom of the proposal.
Republican supporters of the ban said it would help police crack down on protesters who wear masks — which some lawmakers called a growing concern, saying demonstrators are abusing Covid-19 pandemic-era norms to wear masks that hide their identities.
I suppose the message is that if you are immune compromised or don’t want to get sick in NC, the Senate Republicans are saying “get fucked.”
Not to be outdone, Texas Governor Abbott had this present for the country:
Daniel Perry, a former US Army sergeant who was convicted of murdering a protester at a Black Lives Matter rally in 2020, was released from prison Thursday after he was pardoned by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
Abbott’s decision comes after the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles voted unanimously Thursday to recommend a full pardon and the restoration of firearm rights for Perry, who was sentenced last year to 25 years in prison. Shortly after he was pardoned, Perry was released from Texas Department of Criminal Justice custody, a spokesperson for the agency told CNN.
Abbott asked the board to conduct an investigation in April 2023, and in a statement on Thursday, the board said its “investigative efforts encompassed a meticulous review of pertinent documents, from police reports to court records, witness statements, and interviews with individuals linked to the case.”
I hate the fact that these people exist, I really do.
In other news, meet Rocky: (from Indycat32)
This is Rocky. Just look at that face! He showed up at my house in February. I don’t know where he came from, but he was friendly and determined to come inside. He is a very sweet boy and needs a forever home. In addition to being a handsome young kitty (about one year old per the vet), he is a very good boy. While waiting for the vet he lay with his head on my arm and calmly watched the birds outside the window and purred so loudly during his exam she had trouble hearing his heartbeat. He is vaccinated, neutered, Bravecto and Profender-treated, and the vet gave him a clean bill of health. He weighs 11 pounds, likes hugs, and gets along with the other outdoor cats. He spends a lot of time hanging around the back door, hoping I’ll relent and let him in, (or maybe waiting for food). I live in Indianapolis but can travel. How can you say no to that face?!
If anyone is interesting in adopting Rocky, speak up in the comments!
That’s it for me- I am fried.
This post is in: C.R.E.A.M., Show Us on the Doll Where the Invisible Hand Touched You, Technology
SEE IT: Crews conducted a controlled demolition to break down the largest remaining steel span of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, a major step in the cleanup as officials seek to fully reopen the port’s busy shipping channel. https://t.co/vIH4r9UPoK pic.twitter.com/TtYSNjj7u4
— ABC News (@ABC) May 13, 2024
The Baltimore Bridge is EXPLODED 💥
Workers detonate explosives to help free the Dali from the wreckage of the Key Bridge near Baltimore. pic.twitter.com/tIk52mC0CF
— FocuSeaTV (@focuseatv) May 14, 2024
They left the crew on board for two months- and whilst they blew up the bridge on top of them- because “they don’t have visas or shore permits” https://t.co/I2tGc0O3ZL
— madeline odent (@oldenoughtosay) May 15, 2024
Per the BBC, “Crew trapped on Baltimore ship, seven weeks after bridge collapse”:
As a controlled explosion rocked the Dali on Monday, nearly two dozen sailors remained on board, below deck in the massive ship’s hull…
Authorities – and the crew – hope that the demolition will mark the beginning of the end of a long process that has left the 21 men on board trapped and cut off from the world, thousands of miles from their homes.
But for now, it remains unclear when they will be able to return home…
The crew, made up of 20 Indians and a Sri Lankan national, has been unable to disembark because of visa restrictions, a lack of required shore passes and parallel ongoing investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and FBI.
On Monday, the crew remained on board even as authorities used small explosive charges to deliberately “cut” an expanse of the bridge lying on the ship’s bow.
Ahead of the controlled demolition, US Coast Guard Admiral Shannon Gilreath said that the crew would remain below deck with a fire crew at the ready.
“They’re part of the ship. They are necessary to keep the ship staffed and operational,” Adm Gilreath said. “They’re the best responders on board the ship themselves.”…
Among those who have been in touch with the crew is Joshua Messick, executive director of the Baltimore International Seafarers’ Center, a non-profit organisation that works to protect the rights of mariners.
According to Mr Messick, the crew has been left largely without communication with the outside world for “a couple of weeks” after their mobile phones were confiscated by the FBI as part of the investigation.
“They can’t do any online banking. They can’t pay their bills at home. They don’t have any of their data or anyone’s contact information, so they’re really isolated right now,” Mr Messick said. “They just can’t reach out to the folks they need to, or even look at pictures of their children before they go to sleep. It’s really a sad situation.”
The plight of the sailors also attracted the attention of the two unions representing them, the Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union and the Singapore Organisation of Seamen.
In a joint statement on 11 May, the unions said that “morale has understandably dipped”, driven by “unfounded fear of personal criminal liability” and emotional distress.
The statement also called for the “swift return” of the crews’ phones, noting that losing communication with family members is “causing significant hardship for crew members with young children at home.” …
For the time being, the crew has been given SIM cards and temporary mobile phones without data included, according to Mr Messick.
They also received care packages from various community groups and private individuals, which in recent weeks have included batches of Indian snacks and handmade quilts…
Darrel Wilson, a spokesperson for Synergy Marine, the Dali’s Singapore-based management company, told the BBC that the crew is “holding up well” and that company representatives dispatched to Baltimore have been “checking on them constantly, from day one.”…
Mr Wilson, however, said he was unable to provide a timeline for the crew to disembark, noting that – in addition to the investigations – “nobody knows the ship better than they do” and that they are integral for it to function…
Ship that struck Baltimore bridge had 4 blackouts before disaster. Here's what we know https://t.co/QyAcEYShRN
— The Associated Press (@AP) May 16, 2024
The Dali container ship experienced a near-perfect storm of calamities before it struck Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge in March, killing six people. But Tuesday’s preliminary report by federal safety investigators leaves many questions unanswered.
For example, the National Transportation Safety Board described four power failures that beset the 984-foot (300-meter) ship. Reasons for three of them are yet to be explained, including two that occurred right before the crash…
HOW MANY TIMES DID THE SHIP LOSE POWER?
The Dali suffered four blackouts in roughly 10 hours: two the day before the crash and two in the minutes before.The first came after a crew member mistakenly closed an exhaust damper during maintenance, causing one of the ship’s diesel engines to stall, according to the safety report. A backup generator came on, but insufficient fuel pressure soon caused that generator to kick off, resulting in a second blackout. It’s unclear why the fuel pressure dropped…
The third outage struck hours later, after the ship had left the Port of Baltimore and was navigating the Patapsco River. Electrical breakers unexpectedly tripped, causing a power loss. The Dali’s diesel engine automatically shut down because its cooling pumps lost power.
The pilot’s dispatcher called police and notified the Coast Guard of the power loss. Crew members momentarily restored electricity by manually closing the breakers. Then more breakers tripped, causing another outage as the ship approached the bridge. The crew restored power, but it was too late.
One of the pilots ordered the rudder turned, but since the main engine remained down, there was no propulsion to assist with steering, the report said. The ship struck one of the bridge’s main supports, causing the span to collapse.
WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE BLACKOUTS?
The reason behind one power outage is known — the crew member’s failure to close the exhaust damper. The reason for the second blackout remains unclear, and the two instances of the tripped breakers appear to be complete mysteries…WHAT ELSE COULD HAVE BEEN DONE?
Gallagher added that the mistake with the damper would have caused some concern but not enough to raise major worries before leaving port.“They went for 10 hours and had no problems,” he said. “And in all fairness, the breakers that shut down when they were underway were not the same as what happened when the engine lost power because they closed the damper.”…
Bradley Martin, a former U.S. Navy captain and a senior policy researcher at the RAND Corporation, said the limited space in many ports increases the risks of these type of disasters.
“Anybody who’s ever been around ships knows that machinery fails at inopportune times,” Martin said. “And being so close to infrastructure like this means there’s no good way of reacting quickly enough.”
Thomas McKenney, a University of Michigan professor of naval architecture and marine engineering, said the tragedy in Baltimore raises questions about whether most cargo ships have enough safeguards.
“I think the relevant question here is how reliable and redundant should systems be onboard ships, especially understanding that ships have gotten larger and larger over time,” McKenney said, adding, “Shipping remains by far the most efficient way to transport goods. So it’s really having the right balance between cost efficiency without compromising safety.”
What will happen before, after the Dali is refloated? Here are next 3 steps for ship that hit Key Bridge. https://t.co/M8YpGTf3us
— The Baltimore Sun (@baltimoresun) May 16, 2024
Per the Baltimore Sun, “What will happen before, after the Dali is refloated? Here are next 3 steps for ship that hit Key Bridge”:
The ship that caused the Francis Scott Key Bridge to collapse in March, killing six construction workers, is expected to move soon, with officials setting a target of early next week for the refloat.
Moving the ship out of its current position is a critical step in Key Bridge Response Unified Command’s current efforts to reopen the Patapsco River’s main 50-foot-deep, 700-foot-wide shipping channel, which has been closed since March 26. The Fort McHenry Channel being blocked by the bridge wreckage has limited marine traffic into the Baltimore Harbor, though authorities have opened several smaller, alternate paths over the past several weeks to allow ships of increasingly larger sizes to come and go from the Port of Baltimore. The main channel is expected to be reopened by the end of the month…
Plans to refloat the Dali have been in flux — officials said while planning the controlled demolition that in a best-case scenario, the refloat could be done at high tide two days after the charges detonated. That point came and went Tuesday, as officials said they needed to clear additional wreckage and conduct a dive survey. Coast Guard Vice Admiral Peter Gautier told a congressional committee Wednesday that crews expect the ship “will be able to be refloated and removed from that site early next week.”…
Diving and clearing wreckage
Officials have already evaluated sonar and light detection and ranging imagery of the aftermath of the controlled demolition, but they will have to do more in-depth surveying to get a better look at the post-detonation wreckage.To refloat the ship carefully, crews will also have to conduct a dive survey, Unified Command said Wednesday. To dive safely, they will have to clear some of the submerged wreckage that plunged into the Patapsco River during the controlled demolition, as well as other unstable debris, such as the destroyed section of roadway that’s still hanging off the edge of the Dali’s bow. Some damaged containers will have to be secured or removed as well, officials said, though some bridge pieces might stay on the bow to be removed later…
Refloating the ship
Through the dives and other surveys, crews are still evaluating what exactly it will take to get the Dali moving.The factors at hand include the ability of the ship, which has been dormant with its crew onboard for more than 50 days, to operate during the roughly 2-nautical-mile journey. It’ll also take into account the position of the ship on the riverbed and of any remaining wreckage surrounding it. Any operations to move the ship will also have to consider a Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. pipeline, which has been purged of gas, that is beneath the riverbed, along with an old water main nearby…
Getting pieces off and people on
Once the ship is moored at Seagirt, more wreckage will be removed from the bow, as well as some of the roughly 4,500 containers on board. Engineers will take a closer look at the vessel’s condition and work on more repairs.Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board, which is probing the events leading up to the bridge collapse, will be allowed onto the ship ahead of inspections from parties who have made claims against the companies that own and manage the freighter, according to an email obtained by The Baltimore Sun late last week. The visits by experts and attorneys for the claimants, which include the city of Baltimore, will be limited, staggered and subject to restrictions due to salvage work on the bow of the ship, a representative for Grace Ocean Private Ltd. and Synergy Marine Pte Ltd., the vessel’s respective owner and manager, said in the email…
Thursday Evening Open Thread: Baltimore Key Bridge UpdatesPost + Comments (24)
by Betty Cracker| 113 Comments
This post is in: Open Threads, Politics, Republican Stupidity, Republican Venality
Overly be-shirted Trump goon Steve Bannon will probably be compelled to report to prison soon for a four-month sentence for two contempt of Congress violations:
In Tuesday’s court filing, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia told Nichols that because Bannon’s appeal was rejected “on all grounds … consequently, there is no longer a ‘substantial question of law that is likely to result in a reversal or an order for a new trial.’”
“Under these circumstances … the stay of the sentence must be lifted,” prosecutors wrote.
In a footnote, prosecutors wrote that a federal district court in D.C. and the appeals court rejected a similar request by another former Trump aide, Peter Navarro, to stay a four-month jail sentence for contempt of Congress.
I hope whichever minimum security lockup Bannon lands in has an enormous supply of industrial-strength Febreze. It won’t be enough, but several cases of a strongly scented odor-fighting product might help. Jails should be humane!
According to TPM, Bannon probably won’t get a special visit by a greasy member of the Trump clan such as Don Jr. while in the hoosegow, as was granted to Peter Navarro, who’s about two months in to his own four-month stretch for contempt of Congress. That’s because Trump doesn’t really like Bannon.
While they remain supporters of one another’s work, Trump and Bannon have been at odds since Bannon exited the White House. Bannon left primarily because he couldn’t get along with Jared Kushner, but Trump also reportedly blamed Bannon for information getting leaked to the media. He also reportedly got tired of Bannon claiming too much credit for Trump’s electoral victory in 2016.
Navarro finds his four-month confinement so horrific that he keeps petitioning the judge to cut the sentence. The judge will not:
Last week, Navarro asked district Judge Amit Mehta in Washington, DC, to allow him to cut 30 days off his prison sentence in exchange for 30 days of supervised release, citing the First Step Act. Mehta said no.
“In sum, a four-month prison term without supervised release was warranted at the time of Defendant’s sentencing, and it remains warranted now,” the judge wrote.
Navarro reported to a federal prison in Florida on March 19 after other appeals were rejected by the Supreme Court.
Heh. Rot in jail, you skeezy fuck!
The truth is, I relish every prison sentence handed down to Trump creeps, even if the sentences are too short. It’s especially humorous that Bannon was ensnared because in an unrelated case, he received a presidential pardon for a fraud crime that could have sent him away for years. And yet he couldn’t appreciate his luck and just stop criming! I hope the same fate befalls Roger Stone.
Open thread.
by Betty Cracker| 121 Comments
This post is in: 2024 Elections, Domestic Politics, Education, Open Threads, Politics, Republican Venality
I believe the story of U.S. politics in the Trump era is partly a tale of marks refusing to believe they’ve been conned. An example: my sister recently had a conversation with a MAGA relative who expressed a belief so incandescently stupid that I was momentarily taken aback.
In response to my sister’s query, our relative said he trusted Trump as president to put the country’s interests above his own in a national emergency. At least more than any other option, including Biden.
I’ll understand completely if you assume the person who said this is a blithering idiot, but I know otherwise. The thing is he’s prideful, and he refuses to admit he’s been conned.
Despite copious evidence to the contrary, he chooses to believe every other politician in the country is an even more rapacious crook than Donald Trump rather than accepting what’s glaringly obvious at this point — that Trump supporters have been taken in.
It’s a goddamn irritating dynamic. But apparently sometimes even poor judges of character and insight-free propaganda consumers wake up all on their own without a liberal blood relative beating some sense into their fucking heads.
Here’s an example in the form of a newly enlightened far-right school board member who ran on an anti-woke platform and then discovered who the real manipulators are. Most of the folks commenting here understood what the oligarchs were up to way back in 1999, but better late than never? (Texas Tribune)
When Courtney Gore ran for a seat on her local school board in 2021, she warned about a movement to indoctrinate children with “leftist” ideology. After 2 1/2 years on the board, Gore said she believes a much different scheme is unfolding: an effort by wealthy conservative donors to undermine public education in Texas and install a voucher system in which public money flows to private and religious schools.
Why did Gore run to overturn an indoctrination scheme that she later discovered didn’t really exist? It sounds like she genuinely believed the bullshit about children being exposed to Marxist and anti-Christian propaganda. That’s a sharp contrast to the cynical Republican political operatives who found Moms for Liberty-type groups — they know they’re lying to gain political power.
Anyhoo, here’s to waking up, however late the hour.
Open thread!
This post is in: Open Threads, Politics, Trump Indictments, Trump’s NY Criminal Trial
It’s Day 18 of the trial.
Is it still possible that the prosecution could rest as soon as today? Stay tuned!
Best sources of live blogging that I have found. It looks like some of them are only live blogging for the “big” witnesses, but I think the Michael Cohen cross qualifies as a big witness. Stormy Daniels had her Wednesday off last week, and she was able to come back and be even better as she handled the cross from the defense.
Hoping the defense didn’t use their Wednesday to improve their performance from Tuesday! Wondering if they are going to have Bove do the cross, which would not be as good for our side.
Josh Kovensky (TPM) live blogging
Mark Sumner (Daily Kos) live blogging
Tyler McBrien (Lawfare) on twitter
It’s a misty morning here at 100 Centre St for DAY 18 of Trump’s NY criminal trial.
This morning, Cohen is back on the stand.
I’ll be reporting it all alongside @AnnaBower for @lawfare.
Join me, won’t you? 🧵⚖️ pic.twitter.com/Xtur8tfBtd
— Tyler McBrien (@TylerMcBrien) May 16, 2024
Anna Bower (Lawfare) on twitter
Good morning from rainy New York City, where Donald Trump’s criminal trial is set to resume at 9:30 am ET.
On deck today? Trump’s attorney, Todd Blanche, is expected to continue his cross examination of Trump’s former “fixer,” Michael Cohen.
Follow along 👇 ⬇️ 👇 pic.twitter.com/dM1t9R8d7D
— Anna Bower (@AnnaBower) May 16, 2024
Adam Klasfeld on twitter.
Good morning from New York.
The first day of Michael Cohen’s cross-ex began with a reminder that he called Trump’s lead attorney Todd Blanche a “crying little s***.”
Outside the jury’s ear, the judge then scolded Blanche for “making this about yourself.”
Day Two ahead 🧵
— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) May 16, 2024
Still loving this awesome image.
But I may need to find a new one for when the defense puts on their case.
Open thread.
Trump’s NY Criminal Trial, Day 18 (Michael Cohen Cross)Post + Comments (169)