Video wird geladen...

Video konnte nicht geladen werden

Zur Startseite

#مطار_المدينة حيث تبدأ الحكاية.. وتبقى الذكرى فيلم وثائقي عن خدمة ضيوف الرحمن حج 1446. #طيبة_للمطارات #خدمتكم_شرف #Madinah_Airport Where the story begins… and cherished memories remain. A documentary on serving the Guests of Al-Rahman during Hajj 1446. #Tibah_Airports

madinahairport's profile picture

مطار المدينة | Madinah Airport

45,789 subscribers

2,037,177 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr •via X (Twitter)

Nachrichten & PolitikReisenKunst#مطار_المدينة#طيبة_للمطارات#خدمتكم_شرف#Madinah_Airport#Tibah_Airports
LIVE

Anya Rossi• Live Now

Private livecam show

0 Kommentare

Keine Kommentare verfügbar

Kommentare vom Original-Post werden hier angezeigt

Ähnliche Videos

Mehmaan Nawazi and the Quintessence of Roohafza in Lucknow Hailing from Lucknow, a city renowned for its rich culture and heritage, I am constantly reminded of the treasured memories of my childhood. An intrinsic part of my upbringing was the esteemed tradition of hosting guests. I often find myself reminiscing about a couplet my father used to recite, “Shukr kar tu apne dil mein amad-i mehmaan par Rizq apna kharaha hai tere dastarkhwan par”, which translates to, "Give thanks in your heart on the advent of a guest He is eating his own sustenance on your table" The anticipation of hosting guests would often lead to a rush to the local market, eager to procure the perfect assortment of snacks. The 'nashta' or the welcome snack was paramount. Laid out generously were an array of sweet and savoury treats, comprising a variety of 'namkeens' from Ameenabad, along with mouth-watering samosas and imartis from the local halwai shop. Yet, this splendid spread of snacks would remain incomplete without a refreshing beverage to accompany it. Given the sweltering heat that Lucknow grapples with, especially during summer, the ideal choice was always Roohafza. Watching Roohafza being prepared was a delightful spectacle. We would stand eagerly in the kitchen, our eyes following every step, but the moment that always stood out was the crushing of the ice. The sight of it being added to the drink and the knowledge that it would soon be served chilled was sheer joy. Today, Lucknow continues to be celebrated for its impeccable 'mehmaan nawazi' or hospitality, and its unwavering love for Roohafza remains evergreen. So, I invite you to take a moment and reminisce about your favourite Roohafza memories. After all, such shared experiences and stories are what make our heritage so vibrant and alive. Do you have any cherished Roohafza moments that take you down memory lane? Share them with me. Let's celebrate the beautiful tradition of hospitality, Lucknow style. RoohAfza
1:18

Mehmaan Nawazi and the Quintessence of Roohafza in Lucknow Hailing from Lucknow, a city renowned for its rich culture and heritage, I am constantly reminded of the treasured memories of my childhood. An intrinsic part of my upbringing was the esteemed tradition of hosting guests. I often find myself reminiscing about a couplet my father used to recite, “Shukr kar tu apne dil mein amad-i mehmaan par Rizq apna kharaha hai tere dastarkhwan par”, which translates to, "Give thanks in your heart on the advent of a guest He is eating his own sustenance on your table" The anticipation of hosting guests would often lead to a rush to the local market, eager to procure the perfect assortment of snacks. The 'nashta' or the welcome snack was paramount. Laid out generously were an array of sweet and savoury treats, comprising a variety of 'namkeens' from Ameenabad, along with mouth-watering samosas and imartis from the local halwai shop. Yet, this splendid spread of snacks would remain incomplete without a refreshing beverage to accompany it. Given the sweltering heat that Lucknow grapples with, especially during summer, the ideal choice was always Roohafza. Watching Roohafza being prepared was a delightful spectacle. We would stand eagerly in the kitchen, our eyes following every step, but the moment that always stood out was the crushing of the ice. The sight of it being added to the drink and the knowledge that it would soon be served chilled was sheer joy. Today, Lucknow continues to be celebrated for its impeccable 'mehmaan nawazi' or hospitality, and its unwavering love for Roohafza remains evergreen. So, I invite you to take a moment and reminisce about your favourite Roohafza memories. After all, such shared experiences and stories are what make our heritage so vibrant and alive. Do you have any cherished Roohafza moments that take you down memory lane? Share them with me. Let's celebrate the beautiful tradition of hospitality, Lucknow style. RoohAfza

Maroof | Heritage, Storyteller

28,888 Aufrufe • vor 2 Jahren

🧟 A Closer Look Inside the Resident Evil Experience at Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas: Full Photo & Video Recap. 🚔 The adventure begins at the Raccoon Police Department, where guests are recruited to investigate the mysterious outbreak. Upon entering, each group receives one of three different investigation missions, meaning no two visits are exactly the same. Players examine evidence boards, missing-person files, maps, coded messages, and other clues before setting off on their assignment. After completing the first objective, guests receive an evacuation map and continue their mission across the venue. Along the way, they'll solve additional puzzles, including decoding traffic-light signals and searching for hidden clues to unlock the final escape route. The experience extends beyond the R.P.D., leading visitors through different parts of the attraction while the outbreak unfolds around them. 🎭 The world is brought to life by live performers portraying Leon S. Kennedy, Claire Redfield, Jill Valentine, Ada Wong, Brad Vickers, and R.P.D. officers. Meanwhile, zombies freely roam the streets, a Licker stalks unsuspecting guests, and Nemesis makes terrifying appearances throughout the experience. Several live performances also recreate the chaos of the outbreak as officers desperately attempt to contain the infected. The entire venue has been redesigned with Resident Evil-themed environments, including the R.P.D., downtown Raccoon City, Umbrella Corporation advertisements, warning signs, and countless references that longtime fans will immediately recognize. Rather than simply watching the action unfold, guests become part of the story as they interact with characters, solve puzzles, and try to escape the city. 🍗Those who successfully complete the investigation earn an in-universe reward that can be redeemed during their visit. Guests can also stop by the Umbrella Corporation Café, which serves Resident Evil-inspired food and drinks, including the Biohazard Elixir in a collectible laboratory beaker, the T-Virus Trio, themed desserts, and several exclusive menu items created specifically for the event. Thanks to X/StitchKingdom and fullhouseofhorrors portal.
9:24

🧟 A Closer Look Inside the Resident Evil Experience at Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas: Full Photo & Video Recap. 🚔 The adventure begins at the Raccoon Police Department, where guests are recruited to investigate the mysterious outbreak. Upon entering, each group receives one of three different investigation missions, meaning no two visits are exactly the same. Players examine evidence boards, missing-person files, maps, coded messages, and other clues before setting off on their assignment. After completing the first objective, guests receive an evacuation map and continue their mission across the venue. Along the way, they'll solve additional puzzles, including decoding traffic-light signals and searching for hidden clues to unlock the final escape route. The experience extends beyond the R.P.D., leading visitors through different parts of the attraction while the outbreak unfolds around them. 🎭 The world is brought to life by live performers portraying Leon S. Kennedy, Claire Redfield, Jill Valentine, Ada Wong, Brad Vickers, and R.P.D. officers. Meanwhile, zombies freely roam the streets, a Licker stalks unsuspecting guests, and Nemesis makes terrifying appearances throughout the experience. Several live performances also recreate the chaos of the outbreak as officers desperately attempt to contain the infected. The entire venue has been redesigned with Resident Evil-themed environments, including the R.P.D., downtown Raccoon City, Umbrella Corporation advertisements, warning signs, and countless references that longtime fans will immediately recognize. Rather than simply watching the action unfold, guests become part of the story as they interact with characters, solve puzzles, and try to escape the city. 🍗Those who successfully complete the investigation earn an in-universe reward that can be redeemed during their visit. Guests can also stop by the Umbrella Corporation Café, which serves Resident Evil-inspired food and drinks, including the Biohazard Elixir in a collectible laboratory beaker, the T-Virus Trio, themed desserts, and several exclusive menu items created specifically for the event. Thanks to X/StitchKingdom and fullhouseofhorrors portal.

RENEWS

62,854 Aufrufe • vor 1 Monat

“It’s not the end, but an ‘and.’” - Kim Jiwoong Today, we place a special bookmark in a chapter that meant so much to so many people in this story we have all shared together. ZEROBASEONE was never just nine members sharing the same stage, it became a home where nine dreams that began at the same starting line. A place where the members could rely on one another, grow together, lean on each other, and create memories that Zerose will carry forever. Watching them over the years, it became clear how much that home meant to Jiwoong. To Hao. Thank you for being someone Jiwoong could quietly lean on throughout this journey. As hyungs together, there was always an unspoken understanding between you, the kind that didn’t need many words. Standing side by side while guiding the team, sharing both the responsibility and the quiet moments in between, you became someone he trusted deeply. Your future is so bright, and we know your only hyung will always be quietly cheering for you. To Ricky. From the very beginning, Jiwoong spoke about how strong your presence was when he first saw you. As time passed, that presence became something your hyung quietly admired, someone who always stood confidently as his true self. Watching you grow your own unique color to the team was something Jiwoong carried with pride, and the bond you shared became one filled with quiet respect and admiration. We can’t wait to see you grow even more into the amazing role model you strive to be. To Gyuvin. So many of Jiwoong’s memories with you were filled with laughter. Your bright energy, playful teasing, and the way you naturally stayed close to your hyung created moments that felt warm and effortless. But beyond the laughter, you were also someone who quietly looked after him, someone Jiwoong once shared is often the first to notice when he is sad or down. Those small, quiet moments of care will always remain some of Jiwoong’s most precious memories. We know that wherever you go, you will take this immense and precious love and share it with everyone around you. To Yujin. Your bond with Jiwoong was always something deeply special. As the maknae, you were someone he naturally wanted to protect and care for, just like a real younger brother. From being each other’s gganbu to the countless small moments you shared, he watched you grow little by little throughout this journey. Seeing that growth, and being there beside you as your hyung, we are as proud of you like Jiwoong is. We know you will continue to shine and grow into someone your Jiwoong hyung will always be proud of. To Hao, Ricky, Gyuvin, & Yujin. Thank you for standing beside Jiwoong during this precious chapter of his life. Each of you shared a different bond with him, but together you were four of the nine pieces that made up the home he found in ZEROBASEONE, and part of the journey where his dream of standing on stage as an idol became reality. Just like Jiwoong once said, “this is not the end, but ‘and’.” And now, a new chapter in ZEROBASEONE’s story begins. As Jiwoong continues forward with Hanbin, Matthew, Taerae, and Gunwook, they carry not only the name of ZEROBASEONE, but also the memories, friendships, love, and dreams that all nine members created together into the future. To all nine members, thank you for the story you gave Zerose. And thank you for being the people who stood beside your hyung, laughed with him, and helped make his dream shine on stage. These first chapters written by nine members will always remain part of ZEROBASEONE’s story. And this place will always be your home, no matter what path each of the nine of you takes in the future. The door to this home will always remain open. And your Jiwoong hyung will always be there to welcome you home. Once a Zerose, always a Zerose. Once a member of ZEROBASEONE, always a member of ZEROBASEONE. 🤍 #KIMJIWOONG #김지웅 #キムジウン #金地雄 #ZEROBASEONE #ZB1 #제로베이스원
0:27

“It’s not the end, but an ‘and.’” - Kim Jiwoong Today, we place a special bookmark in a chapter that meant so much to so many people in this story we have all shared together. ZEROBASEONE was never just nine members sharing the same stage, it became a home where nine dreams that began at the same starting line. A place where the members could rely on one another, grow together, lean on each other, and create memories that Zerose will carry forever. Watching them over the years, it became clear how much that home meant to Jiwoong. To Hao. Thank you for being someone Jiwoong could quietly lean on throughout this journey. As hyungs together, there was always an unspoken understanding between you, the kind that didn’t need many words. Standing side by side while guiding the team, sharing both the responsibility and the quiet moments in between, you became someone he trusted deeply. Your future is so bright, and we know your only hyung will always be quietly cheering for you. To Ricky. From the very beginning, Jiwoong spoke about how strong your presence was when he first saw you. As time passed, that presence became something your hyung quietly admired, someone who always stood confidently as his true self. Watching you grow your own unique color to the team was something Jiwoong carried with pride, and the bond you shared became one filled with quiet respect and admiration. We can’t wait to see you grow even more into the amazing role model you strive to be. To Gyuvin. So many of Jiwoong’s memories with you were filled with laughter. Your bright energy, playful teasing, and the way you naturally stayed close to your hyung created moments that felt warm and effortless. But beyond the laughter, you were also someone who quietly looked after him, someone Jiwoong once shared is often the first to notice when he is sad or down. Those small, quiet moments of care will always remain some of Jiwoong’s most precious memories. We know that wherever you go, you will take this immense and precious love and share it with everyone around you. To Yujin. Your bond with Jiwoong was always something deeply special. As the maknae, you were someone he naturally wanted to protect and care for, just like a real younger brother. From being each other’s gganbu to the countless small moments you shared, he watched you grow little by little throughout this journey. Seeing that growth, and being there beside you as your hyung, we are as proud of you like Jiwoong is. We know you will continue to shine and grow into someone your Jiwoong hyung will always be proud of. To Hao, Ricky, Gyuvin, & Yujin. Thank you for standing beside Jiwoong during this precious chapter of his life. Each of you shared a different bond with him, but together you were four of the nine pieces that made up the home he found in ZEROBASEONE, and part of the journey where his dream of standing on stage as an idol became reality. Just like Jiwoong once said, “this is not the end, but ‘and’.” And now, a new chapter in ZEROBASEONE’s story begins. As Jiwoong continues forward with Hanbin, Matthew, Taerae, and Gunwook, they carry not only the name of ZEROBASEONE, but also the memories, friendships, love, and dreams that all nine members created together into the future. To all nine members, thank you for the story you gave Zerose. And thank you for being the people who stood beside your hyung, laughed with him, and helped make his dream shine on stage. These first chapters written by nine members will always remain part of ZEROBASEONE’s story. And this place will always be your home, no matter what path each of the nine of you takes in the future. The door to this home will always remain open. And your Jiwoong hyung will always be there to welcome you home. Once a Zerose, always a Zerose. Once a member of ZEROBASEONE, always a member of ZEROBASEONE. 🤍 #KIMJIWOONG #김지웅 #キムジウン #金地雄 #ZEROBASEONE #ZB1 #제로베이스원

KIM JIWOONG GLOBAL

15,285 Aufrufe • vor 5 Monaten

رُسمت دروب الراحة، نُسجت تفاصيل الخدمة، قصة إكرام رويت بخطى السكينة .. في حضرة المشاعر.. كنا الرفيق في الرحلة، والظل في الهجير، والابتسامة التي تسبق السؤال، لم تكن خدمتنا مجرد مهمة، بل كانت شغفًا يسكننا، ورسالة نؤديها بحب يليق بضيوف الرحمن. في كل خطوة، لبّينا الشوق، وصنعنا الذكرى، لنكون شركاء الشعائر في أعظم رحلة. #قصة_إكرام_الضيف | #حج_1446هـ l #نجاح_موسم_الحج #نلبي_شوقك_ونصنع_ذكراك | #عرفة l #مشعر_منى Paths of comfort were laid out, details of service meticulously crafted, a story of kindness narrated with tranquility. Amidst a sea of emotions, we stood as companions on the path, a cool shade in the heat, and a warm smile before the question. Our service was more than just a duty; it was a heartfelt passion, a message delivered with love and devotion for the guests of Allah. With each step, we fulfilled hopes and crafted memories, becoming partners in the sacred journey. We fulfill your longing and create lasting memory. #Hajj2025 — Les chemins du confort ont été tracés, les détails du service tissés avec soin, une histoire de générosité racontée avec sérénité. Au cœur des émotions, nous étions le compagnon du voyage, l’ombre dans la chaleur, et le sourire qui précède la question. Notre service n’était pas seulement une mission ; c’était une passion qui résidait en nous, un message que nous avons transmis avec amour et dévotion envers les invités de Dieu. À chaque pas, nous avons comblé les attentes et créé des souvenirs, devenant partenaires dans les rites du plus grand pèlerinage. We fulfill your longing and create lasting memory.
4:35

رُسمت دروب الراحة، نُسجت تفاصيل الخدمة، قصة إكرام رويت بخطى السكينة .. في حضرة المشاعر.. كنا الرفيق في الرحلة، والظل في الهجير، والابتسامة التي تسبق السؤال، لم تكن خدمتنا مجرد مهمة، بل كانت شغفًا يسكننا، ورسالة نؤديها بحب يليق بضيوف الرحمن. في كل خطوة، لبّينا الشوق، وصنعنا الذكرى، لنكون شركاء الشعائر في أعظم رحلة. #قصة_إكرام_الضيف | #حج_1446هـ l #نجاح_موسم_الحج #نلبي_شوقك_ونصنع_ذكراك | #عرفة l #مشعر_منى Paths of comfort were laid out, details of service meticulously crafted, a story of kindness narrated with tranquility. Amidst a sea of emotions, we stood as companions on the path, a cool shade in the heat, and a warm smile before the question. Our service was more than just a duty; it was a heartfelt passion, a message delivered with love and devotion for the guests of Allah. With each step, we fulfilled hopes and crafted memories, becoming partners in the sacred journey. We fulfill your longing and create lasting memory. #Hajj2025 — Les chemins du confort ont été tracés, les détails du service tissés avec soin, une histoire de générosité racontée avec sérénité. Au cœur des émotions, nous étions le compagnon du voyage, l’ombre dans la chaleur, et le sourire qui précède la question. Notre service n’était pas seulement une mission ; c’était une passion qui résidait en nous, un message que nous avons transmis avec amour et dévotion envers les invités de Dieu. À chaque pas, nous avons comblé les attentes et créé des souvenirs, devenant partenaires dans les rites du plus grand pèlerinage. We fulfill your longing and create lasting memory.

شركة إكرام الضيف

30,724 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

A Virtual Visit to Hinglaj Mata Temple in the Republic of Balochistan By: Mir Yar Baloch 19 April 2026 Today is the last day of a two week Hinglaj Mata Mela in the Republic of Balochistan. The annual Hinglaj Mata Naani Mandir Mela, which begins in the early days of April, is not merely a religious gathering t is a deeply emotional, cultural, and spiritual journey that echoes through centuries of devotion, resilience, and unity. Set against the rugged, majestic landscape of Balochistan’s Lasbela region, this sacred pilgrimage draws hundreds of thousands of devotees who travel across deserts, mountains, and borders to bow their heads at one of the most revered Shakti Peeths of Maa Bhavani. At the heart of this spiritual epic lies Hinglaj Mata, lovingly called “Naani Mandir” by the local Baloch people. This name itself reflects something profound: a sense of familial reverence, of shared belonging, where the divine is not distant, but close like a grandmother watching over her children. For generations, the Baloch people have embraced this sacred site not only as a religious landmark but as a symbol of coexistence, protection, and honor. It stands as living proof that faith can unite hearts across cultures, languages, and borders. The journey to Hinglaj is as meaningful as the destination itself. Pilgrims often travel in caravans, singing devotional songs, carrying flags, and sharing stories of faith and miracles. The air becomes filled with chants of “Jai Mata Di,” blending harmoniously with the winds that sweep across the arid mountains. Every step taken is seen as an act of devotion, every hardship a test of faith. When pilgrims finally reach the sacred cave shrine, many are overwhelmed with emotion tears of gratitude, hope, and spiritual fulfillment. Surrounding this holy site is the breathtaking Hingol National Park, one of the largest and most ecologically significant protected areas in the region. Spanning thousands of square kilometers, the park is a rare blend of coastal, desert, and mountainous ecosystems. It is home to diverse wildlife, including ibex, chinkara gazelles, marsh crocodiles, and numerous bird species. Unique rock formations, mud volcanoes, and the serene flow of the Hingol River add to its mystical beauty. The park is not only an ecological treasure but also a spiritual landscape, where nature itself seems to bow in reverence to the sacred presence of Hinglaj Mata. The mela attracts nearly half a million pilgrims every year, making it one of the largest religious gatherings in the region. Despite the challenging terrain, the spirit of hospitality shown by the Baloch people remains unwavering. Local communities actively participate in facilitating the pilgrimage offering food, guidance, security, and care. This deep-rooted tradition reflects a powerful cultural message: that protecting sacred spaces and honoring guests is a matter of pride and identity. Hinglaj Mata Mandir today stands as a bridge between Balochistan and India, connecting millions through shared faith and devotion. It transcends political boundaries and reminds the world that spirituality knows no borders. The temple’s status as one of the 51 Shakti Peeths further elevates its importance, making it a cornerstone of Hindu religious heritage. There is also a growing vision for the future—one that seeks to expand facilities, improve accessibility, and accommodate an even greater number of pilgrims. The aspiration to one day welcome millions more reflects not just ambition, but a commitment to preserving and sharing this sacred heritage with the world. Above all, the message to devotees is one of reassurance and hope: that Hinglaj Mata’s doors remain open, her blessings universal, and her land welcoming. The dream of easier access, including visa-on-arrival issued by the Republic of Balochistan for Hindu pilgrims from around the world, symbolizes a future where faith journeys are guided by devotion rather than restricted by borders. In the end, the Hinglaj Mata Naani Mandir Mela is more than an event it is a living story of faith, unity, and humanity. It is where deserts bloom with devotion, where strangers become family, and where the divine presence of Maa Bhavani continues to inspire millions with courage, compassion, and unshakable belief. Hyrbyair Marri #HinglajMataMandir #HinglajTempleBalochistan
2:35

A Virtual Visit to Hinglaj Mata Temple in the Republic of Balochistan By: Mir Yar Baloch 19 April 2026 Today is the last day of a two week Hinglaj Mata Mela in the Republic of Balochistan. The annual Hinglaj Mata Naani Mandir Mela, which begins in the early days of April, is not merely a religious gathering t is a deeply emotional, cultural, and spiritual journey that echoes through centuries of devotion, resilience, and unity. Set against the rugged, majestic landscape of Balochistan’s Lasbela region, this sacred pilgrimage draws hundreds of thousands of devotees who travel across deserts, mountains, and borders to bow their heads at one of the most revered Shakti Peeths of Maa Bhavani. At the heart of this spiritual epic lies Hinglaj Mata, lovingly called “Naani Mandir” by the local Baloch people. This name itself reflects something profound: a sense of familial reverence, of shared belonging, where the divine is not distant, but close like a grandmother watching over her children. For generations, the Baloch people have embraced this sacred site not only as a religious landmark but as a symbol of coexistence, protection, and honor. It stands as living proof that faith can unite hearts across cultures, languages, and borders. The journey to Hinglaj is as meaningful as the destination itself. Pilgrims often travel in caravans, singing devotional songs, carrying flags, and sharing stories of faith and miracles. The air becomes filled with chants of “Jai Mata Di,” blending harmoniously with the winds that sweep across the arid mountains. Every step taken is seen as an act of devotion, every hardship a test of faith. When pilgrims finally reach the sacred cave shrine, many are overwhelmed with emotion tears of gratitude, hope, and spiritual fulfillment. Surrounding this holy site is the breathtaking Hingol National Park, one of the largest and most ecologically significant protected areas in the region. Spanning thousands of square kilometers, the park is a rare blend of coastal, desert, and mountainous ecosystems. It is home to diverse wildlife, including ibex, chinkara gazelles, marsh crocodiles, and numerous bird species. Unique rock formations, mud volcanoes, and the serene flow of the Hingol River add to its mystical beauty. The park is not only an ecological treasure but also a spiritual landscape, where nature itself seems to bow in reverence to the sacred presence of Hinglaj Mata. The mela attracts nearly half a million pilgrims every year, making it one of the largest religious gatherings in the region. Despite the challenging terrain, the spirit of hospitality shown by the Baloch people remains unwavering. Local communities actively participate in facilitating the pilgrimage offering food, guidance, security, and care. This deep-rooted tradition reflects a powerful cultural message: that protecting sacred spaces and honoring guests is a matter of pride and identity. Hinglaj Mata Mandir today stands as a bridge between Balochistan and India, connecting millions through shared faith and devotion. It transcends political boundaries and reminds the world that spirituality knows no borders. The temple’s status as one of the 51 Shakti Peeths further elevates its importance, making it a cornerstone of Hindu religious heritage. There is also a growing vision for the future—one that seeks to expand facilities, improve accessibility, and accommodate an even greater number of pilgrims. The aspiration to one day welcome millions more reflects not just ambition, but a commitment to preserving and sharing this sacred heritage with the world. Above all, the message to devotees is one of reassurance and hope: that Hinglaj Mata’s doors remain open, her blessings universal, and her land welcoming. The dream of easier access, including visa-on-arrival issued by the Republic of Balochistan for Hindu pilgrims from around the world, symbolizes a future where faith journeys are guided by devotion rather than restricted by borders. In the end, the Hinglaj Mata Naani Mandir Mela is more than an event it is a living story of faith, unity, and humanity. It is where deserts bloom with devotion, where strangers become family, and where the divine presence of Maa Bhavani continues to inspire millions with courage, compassion, and unshakable belief. Hyrbyair Marri #HinglajMataMandir #HinglajTempleBalochistan

Mir Yar Baloch

12,867 Aufrufe • vor 4 Monaten

6-8-26 The Market Signal That Appears Near Major Tops In this Short video, Tom Thornton Thomas Thornton and Lance Roberts discuss one of the most important warning signs investors should watch near potential market tops: extreme crowding. This signal often appears near major tops. Tom explains why he's closely monitoring the Korean $KOSPI index, where Samsung and SK Hynix make up roughly half the market and provide a valuable window into the global AI and memory trade. $EWY Despite memory prices peaking earlier this year, memory stocks $MU $SNDK $WDC $STX have continued to surge as investors remain focused on the bullish narrative of tight supply and growing AI demand. One of the biggest warning signs is the sheer amount of money flowing into the sector. Semiconductor ETFs $SMH $SOXX have seen record inflows, while data center and memory stock baskets are flashing multiple exhaustion signals. These indicators don't necessarily predict an immediate decline, but they often suggest a trade is becoming overcrowded and that the pool of new buyers is shrinking. Tom also notes that similar conditions have appeared before in assets such as #gold $GLD and #silver $SLV. Investor enthusiasm reaches extreme levels, analysts raise price targets, fund flows hit records, and bullish narratives become widely accepted. Eventually, the buyers who drove the rally become the next wave of sellers. Today, he sees many of those same characteristics emerging across semiconductors, AI infrastructure, and memory stocks. While the long-term AI story may remain intact, positioning has become increasingly one-sided, creating the potential for volatility if sentiment begins to shift. When a trade becomes universally loved, investors should ask a simple question: who's left to buy? Check out our comprehensive "15 Trading Rules" guide ▶️ This guide includes practical rules for managing positions, taking profits, controlling risk, and avoiding the emotional mistakes that often hurt returns during major market corrections.
2:59

6-8-26 The Market Signal That Appears Near Major Tops In this Short video, Tom Thornton Thomas Thornton and Lance Roberts discuss one of the most important warning signs investors should watch near potential market tops: extreme crowding. This signal often appears near major tops. Tom explains why he's closely monitoring the Korean $KOSPI index, where Samsung and SK Hynix make up roughly half the market and provide a valuable window into the global AI and memory trade. $EWY Despite memory prices peaking earlier this year, memory stocks $MU $SNDK $WDC $STX have continued to surge as investors remain focused on the bullish narrative of tight supply and growing AI demand. One of the biggest warning signs is the sheer amount of money flowing into the sector. Semiconductor ETFs $SMH $SOXX have seen record inflows, while data center and memory stock baskets are flashing multiple exhaustion signals. These indicators don't necessarily predict an immediate decline, but they often suggest a trade is becoming overcrowded and that the pool of new buyers is shrinking. Tom also notes that similar conditions have appeared before in assets such as #gold $GLD and #silver $SLV. Investor enthusiasm reaches extreme levels, analysts raise price targets, fund flows hit records, and bullish narratives become widely accepted. Eventually, the buyers who drove the rally become the next wave of sellers. Today, he sees many of those same characteristics emerging across semiconductors, AI infrastructure, and memory stocks. While the long-term AI story may remain intact, positioning has become increasingly one-sided, creating the potential for volatility if sentiment begins to shift. When a trade becomes universally loved, investors should ask a simple question: who's left to buy? Check out our comprehensive "15 Trading Rules" guide ▶️ This guide includes practical rules for managing positions, taking profits, controlling risk, and avoiding the emotional mistakes that often hurt returns during major market corrections.

Lance Roberts

11,348 Aufrufe • vor 2 Monaten

Watched #Dhurandhar for 5th time and man what a movie. Dhurandhar is the highest Hindi movie gross collection BOC with over Rs. 831/- crores in India, surpassing #Pushpa2 and almost 1300/- crores+ globally. 1. Without any advertising,media publicity or paid TV shows, motivated paid campaigns against Dhrandhar and yet people of India and world across made this movie All Time Blockbuster. 2. #AkshayeKhanna performance as #RehmanDakait steals the entire movie. Akshaye Khanna drawing huge crowds in movie theaters. 3. Leftists -Communists fake liberals and Dynasty families parties like Congress ecosystems made desperate attempts to fail Dhurandhar, as the movie expose their corrupt,dirty games during 2004-2014. 4. Don't know why GCC countries banned Dhurandhar in their countries. 5. #RanveerSingh #SanjayDutt #RMadhavan performance is brilliant but Dhurandhar belongs to #AkshayKhanna . 6. Millions/Billions ie. Crores of people waiting very anxiously for #Dhurandhar2 If you are heavy, airless silence of a martyr’s home, where the walls are crowded with memories, but the chairs remain perpetually empty. If you have felt the cold breath of history in the corridors where the unsung gave their 'tomorrow' for our 'peaceful' today. If you have looked into the eyes of a child who only knows their father through the glass of a framed photograph... then you will recognise the pulse of this film. Outrage is a luxury for those who have never had to face the facts; for the rest of us, this is simply the truth. Aditya Dhar doesn’t just narrate; he lets the story bleed and dares you to take your eyes off your screen for the full 3 hours and 34 minutes. This cinematic brilliance shines through the lens of a director who is devoted not to spectacle, but to the craft itself. Every frame casting a spell on the viewer, every character etched out masterfully. A film that has not just pushed the envelope but ripped it apart just like Animal did in 2023. The cast has surrendered to the film with a fearlessness that is rare. Ranveer Singh burns with a subterranean fire simmering under the restraint, proving that silence can be more haunting than any roar. Akshaye Khanna is magnificent, the power in that gaze, that smile and the intensity of the ‘Kasainuma’ violence, this Dakait captures your heart. Ranganathan Madhavan is the intellectual steel, the calm eye within a lethal storm, the patriotic mastermind who I am so excited to see in Part 2. Legendary Sanjay Dutt and arjun rampal bring a weathered, granite-like gravity that makes the shadows of the frontlines feel tangible. To tell this story was a risk,to witness it is our duty. To the men and women, KNOWN and UNKNOWN, who stand as our shield while we sleep—Dhanyawad. Our nation is forever in your debt. Congratulation to Aditya Dhar and Jio Studios for becoming the highest grossing Indian film of all time, in a single language! If you've ever stood in the heavy, airless silence of a martyr’s home, walls crowded with memories, chairs forever empty... Felt the cold breath of history in corridors where the unsung sacrificed their 'tomorrow' for our 'peaceful' today... Looked into a child's eyes who knows their father only through a framed photo... Then you'll feel the pulse of this film. Outrage is a luxury for those untouched by facts; for the rest, this is raw truth. Aditya Dhar doesn't narrate, he lets the story bleed, daring you to look away for the full 3h34m. Cinematic brilliance from a director devoted to craft over spectacle, every frame spells magic, every character masterfully etched. A film that rips the envelope apart,just like Animal did in 2023. Ranveer Singh burns with subterranean fire under restraint, silence more haunting than any roar. Akshaye Khanna magnificent, power in his gaze, smile, 'Kasainuma' intensity,this Dakait captures hearts. Ranganathan Madhavan as intellectual steel,calm in the storm, patriotic mastermindcan't wait for Part 2!
6:05

Watched #Dhurandhar for 5th time and man what a movie. Dhurandhar is the highest Hindi movie gross collection BOC with over Rs. 831/- crores in India, surpassing #Pushpa2 and almost 1300/- crores+ globally. 1. Without any advertising,media publicity or paid TV shows, motivated paid campaigns against Dhrandhar and yet people of India and world across made this movie All Time Blockbuster. 2. #AkshayeKhanna performance as #RehmanDakait steals the entire movie. Akshaye Khanna drawing huge crowds in movie theaters. 3. Leftists -Communists fake liberals and Dynasty families parties like Congress ecosystems made desperate attempts to fail Dhurandhar, as the movie expose their corrupt,dirty games during 2004-2014. 4. Don't know why GCC countries banned Dhurandhar in their countries. 5. #RanveerSingh #SanjayDutt #RMadhavan performance is brilliant but Dhurandhar belongs to #AkshayKhanna . 6. Millions/Billions ie. Crores of people waiting very anxiously for #Dhurandhar2 If you are heavy, airless silence of a martyr’s home, where the walls are crowded with memories, but the chairs remain perpetually empty. If you have felt the cold breath of history in the corridors where the unsung gave their 'tomorrow' for our 'peaceful' today. If you have looked into the eyes of a child who only knows their father through the glass of a framed photograph... then you will recognise the pulse of this film. Outrage is a luxury for those who have never had to face the facts; for the rest of us, this is simply the truth. Aditya Dhar doesn’t just narrate; he lets the story bleed and dares you to take your eyes off your screen for the full 3 hours and 34 minutes. This cinematic brilliance shines through the lens of a director who is devoted not to spectacle, but to the craft itself. Every frame casting a spell on the viewer, every character etched out masterfully. A film that has not just pushed the envelope but ripped it apart just like Animal did in 2023. The cast has surrendered to the film with a fearlessness that is rare. Ranveer Singh burns with a subterranean fire simmering under the restraint, proving that silence can be more haunting than any roar. Akshaye Khanna is magnificent, the power in that gaze, that smile and the intensity of the ‘Kasainuma’ violence, this Dakait captures your heart. Ranganathan Madhavan is the intellectual steel, the calm eye within a lethal storm, the patriotic mastermind who I am so excited to see in Part 2. Legendary Sanjay Dutt and arjun rampal bring a weathered, granite-like gravity that makes the shadows of the frontlines feel tangible. To tell this story was a risk,to witness it is our duty. To the men and women, KNOWN and UNKNOWN, who stand as our shield while we sleep—Dhanyawad. Our nation is forever in your debt. Congratulation to Aditya Dhar and Jio Studios for becoming the highest grossing Indian film of all time, in a single language! If you've ever stood in the heavy, airless silence of a martyr’s home, walls crowded with memories, chairs forever empty... Felt the cold breath of history in corridors where the unsung sacrificed their 'tomorrow' for our 'peaceful' today... Looked into a child's eyes who knows their father only through a framed photo... Then you'll feel the pulse of this film. Outrage is a luxury for those untouched by facts; for the rest, this is raw truth. Aditya Dhar doesn't narrate, he lets the story bleed, daring you to look away for the full 3h34m. Cinematic brilliance from a director devoted to craft over spectacle, every frame spells magic, every character masterfully etched. A film that rips the envelope apart,just like Animal did in 2023. Ranveer Singh burns with subterranean fire under restraint, silence more haunting than any roar. Akshaye Khanna magnificent, power in his gaze, smile, 'Kasainuma' intensity,this Dakait captures hearts. Ranganathan Madhavan as intellectual steel,calm in the storm, patriotic mastermindcan't wait for Part 2!

KailashGWagh 🇮🇳

195,131 Aufrufe • vor 7 Monaten

A biological anthropologist Dr. Michael P. Masters just claimed on Joe Rogan that human sex change is possible because of a disorder where "females turn into males at puberty." He makes 7 false claims. Let's break it down. 1. He first claims, "We all start out as females." No, we all start genetically sexed and physically undifferentiated, with bipotential gonads, the primordial genital ducts for both sexes, and a cloaca (Wolpert et al, 2019). Note these are not female gonads or genitalia. Around the 6th week, genetics differentiate our neutral gonads into testes OR ovaries, and then genetics and hormonal signaling from the gonad eliminates one duct and builds the other one. Thus, sex development begins physically neutral and diverges down EITHER the male OR female path due to genetics (Rey et al. 2020). 2. He claims "A population on a pacific island grow up as female until puberty transforms some of them into males." Certain isolated island communities have high rates of what's called 5-alpha reductase deficiency (5-ARD), a MALE ONLY disorder of sex development that causes a male fetus (with testes) to not produce enough DHT, the hormone required for the development of the male's penis, scrotum, and testicular descent (Kumar et al, 2022). At puberty, the surge of testosterone FROM THEIR TESTES causes masculinization of their external genitalia and body, with some descent of the testes and development of the penis and scrotum. These males were NEVER females. They are born as males WITH TESTES with underdeveloped external genitals. 3. He claims, "The population is insensitive to DHT." No, those with the disorder have an enzyme deficiency, where they cannot PRODUCE enough of the enzyme to convert testosterone into DHT. Their bodies can respond to DHT normally. It's that they cannot produce enough of it to guide the external genital development of the male fetus (Kang et al. 2014). 4. He claims, "Their ovaries descend and become testes at puberty." No, they never had ovaries. Like all other males, males with 5-ARD have the SRY gene. This triggers their bipotential gonads to differentiate into testes (Kashimada & Koopman, 2010). This does not happen during puberty. This happens at 6 weeks gestation. Just because their testes may not descend does not make them ovaries. 5. He claims, it's called "pseudohermaphroditism." No, it's called 5-alpha reductase deficiency. Medicine has abandoned the use of the term pseudohermaphroditism since early 2000s because it obscures the actual reality of these rare conditions, and is "scientifically specious and clinically problematic" (Dreger et al. 2005). 6. He claims, "They turn into the opposite sex." No, they start out in utero as males and remain as males for life. Just because they were not able to fully develop their external genitals does not make them females. They are males with testes who could not fully develop the penis and scrotum due to lack of DHT. Humans cannot change sex. We are gonochoric--a species whose individuals are male or female for life, determined by their genetics (Holub & Shackelford.) 7. He claims, "It doesn't do anything. Natural selection wouldn't select against it. It's just weird." No, the disorder causes many issues with male fertility. First, low DHT can impair the growth and differentiation of sperm cells and the growth of the prostate, causing them to have a prostate that is 1/10th the healthy size. Small prostates mean that semen volumes are low, harming sperm transport and motility. Second, undescended testes can also disrupt the careful balance of temperature for sperm creation (Kang, Imperato-McGinley, Zhu, & Rosenwaks, 2014). Parroting false claims about these rare disorders like 5-ARD hurts the public's understanding of these conditions, makes people believe falsehoods about human biology, and can harm the evidence-based treatment of the individuals who have these disorders. Scientific sources for further reading: Wolpert, L., Tickle, C., & Martinez Arias, A. (2019). Principles of Development (6th ed.). Oxford University Press. Rey, R., Josso, N., Racine, C. (2020). Sexual differentiation. In: Endotext. South Dartmouth, MDText, Inc. Kumar, G., & Barboza-Meca, J. J. (2022). 5-Alpha-Reductase Deficiency. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. Kang, H., Imperato-McGinley, J., Zhu, Y.-S., & Rosenwaks, Z. (2014). The effect of 5a-reductase-2 deficiency on human fertility. Fertility and Sterility, 101(2), 320–326. Kashimada, K., Koopman, P. (2010). Sry, the master switch in mammalian sex determination. Development, 137. Dreger, A. D., Chase, C., Sousa, A., Gruppuso, P. A., & Frader, J. (2005). Changing the nomenclature/taxonomy for intersex: A scientific and clinical rationale. Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism, 18(8), 729–733. Holub, A., Shackelford, T. (2021). Gonochorism. Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior. Springer.
1:27

A biological anthropologist Dr. Michael P. Masters just claimed on Joe Rogan that human sex change is possible because of a disorder where "females turn into males at puberty." He makes 7 false claims. Let's break it down. 1. He first claims, "We all start out as females." No, we all start genetically sexed and physically undifferentiated, with bipotential gonads, the primordial genital ducts for both sexes, and a cloaca (Wolpert et al, 2019). Note these are not female gonads or genitalia. Around the 6th week, genetics differentiate our neutral gonads into testes OR ovaries, and then genetics and hormonal signaling from the gonad eliminates one duct and builds the other one. Thus, sex development begins physically neutral and diverges down EITHER the male OR female path due to genetics (Rey et al. 2020). 2. He claims "A population on a pacific island grow up as female until puberty transforms some of them into males." Certain isolated island communities have high rates of what's called 5-alpha reductase deficiency (5-ARD), a MALE ONLY disorder of sex development that causes a male fetus (with testes) to not produce enough DHT, the hormone required for the development of the male's penis, scrotum, and testicular descent (Kumar et al, 2022). At puberty, the surge of testosterone FROM THEIR TESTES causes masculinization of their external genitalia and body, with some descent of the testes and development of the penis and scrotum. These males were NEVER females. They are born as males WITH TESTES with underdeveloped external genitals. 3. He claims, "The population is insensitive to DHT." No, those with the disorder have an enzyme deficiency, where they cannot PRODUCE enough of the enzyme to convert testosterone into DHT. Their bodies can respond to DHT normally. It's that they cannot produce enough of it to guide the external genital development of the male fetus (Kang et al. 2014). 4. He claims, "Their ovaries descend and become testes at puberty." No, they never had ovaries. Like all other males, males with 5-ARD have the SRY gene. This triggers their bipotential gonads to differentiate into testes (Kashimada & Koopman, 2010). This does not happen during puberty. This happens at 6 weeks gestation. Just because their testes may not descend does not make them ovaries. 5. He claims, it's called "pseudohermaphroditism." No, it's called 5-alpha reductase deficiency. Medicine has abandoned the use of the term pseudohermaphroditism since early 2000s because it obscures the actual reality of these rare conditions, and is "scientifically specious and clinically problematic" (Dreger et al. 2005). 6. He claims, "They turn into the opposite sex." No, they start out in utero as males and remain as males for life. Just because they were not able to fully develop their external genitals does not make them females. They are males with testes who could not fully develop the penis and scrotum due to lack of DHT. Humans cannot change sex. We are gonochoric--a species whose individuals are male or female for life, determined by their genetics (Holub & Shackelford.) 7. He claims, "It doesn't do anything. Natural selection wouldn't select against it. It's just weird." No, the disorder causes many issues with male fertility. First, low DHT can impair the growth and differentiation of sperm cells and the growth of the prostate, causing them to have a prostate that is 1/10th the healthy size. Small prostates mean that semen volumes are low, harming sperm transport and motility. Second, undescended testes can also disrupt the careful balance of temperature for sperm creation (Kang, Imperato-McGinley, Zhu, & Rosenwaks, 2014). Parroting false claims about these rare disorders like 5-ARD hurts the public's understanding of these conditions, makes people believe falsehoods about human biology, and can harm the evidence-based treatment of the individuals who have these disorders. Scientific sources for further reading: Wolpert, L., Tickle, C., & Martinez Arias, A. (2019). Principles of Development (6th ed.). Oxford University Press. Rey, R., Josso, N., Racine, C. (2020). Sexual differentiation. In: Endotext. South Dartmouth, MDText, Inc. Kumar, G., & Barboza-Meca, J. J. (2022). 5-Alpha-Reductase Deficiency. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. Kang, H., Imperato-McGinley, J., Zhu, Y.-S., & Rosenwaks, Z. (2014). The effect of 5a-reductase-2 deficiency on human fertility. Fertility and Sterility, 101(2), 320–326. Kashimada, K., Koopman, P. (2010). Sry, the master switch in mammalian sex determination. Development, 137. Dreger, A. D., Chase, C., Sousa, A., Gruppuso, P. A., & Frader, J. (2005). Changing the nomenclature/taxonomy for intersex: A scientific and clinical rationale. Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism, 18(8), 729–733. Holub, A., Shackelford, T. (2021). Gonochorism. Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior. Springer.

Zachary Elliott

230,188 Aufrufe • vor 8 Monaten

//The Wire//2300Z July 24, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: TARGETING CONTINUES TO ESCALATE THROUGHOUT MIDDLE EAST. EXPLOSIVES RECOVERED DURING RAID IN IRELAND. SHILOH HENDRIX CONVICTED OF DISORDERLY CONDUCT IN LANDMARK FREE SPEECH CASE.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE----- -International Events- Middle East: Iranian strikes continue to target American military installations around the region. Most of the American bases in Kuwait have been struck regularly by Iranian drones, and missile attacks remain constant at American positions in Jordan. This morning, the Patriot battery in Erbil was targeted again, with local Iraqis reporting large smoke plumes emitting from the section of the base where the launchers are located. Some successful interceptions of drones were also reported along with the more unconfirmed targeting efforts which can't yet be geolocated or verified with satellite imagery. Iran: American targeting continues to escalate as well. Airstrikes have been observed in Bandar Abbas, Jask, and Qeshm Island, along with more substantial strikes at the underground missile cities in Khorramabad and Yazd. Coastal targets remain an American priority as the ports and marinas housing small boats using the IRGCN are constantly targeted. Red Sea/HOA: This afternoon the war between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia flared up once again, with both belligerents trading strikes this evening. The Yemeni port (and Houthi stronghold) of Hodeida was struck, with fires continuing to burn late into the night. Ireland: This morning an explosive device was discovered during a series of raids throughout the regions near the border with Northern Ireland. One suspect was arrested after a bag containing plastic explosives (allegedly Semtex) and a detonator was discovered in her vehicle. Analyst Comment: Details are very sketchy and vague, but this incident generally aligns with some of the other incidents that have recently taken place regarding explosives in Northern Ireland or adjacent areas. Much of the time the person arrested in possession of an explosive device is not the actual assailant, but instead transporting a package that they do not know the contents of. What the story is in this case, is not known. However, this is another reminder that even though Northern Ireland might be out of the mainstream news cycle, paramilitary groups are very much active throughout the region, and the causes of the Belfast riots last month have not been forgotten. -HomeFront- Minnesota: Last night, after a four day jury trial that involved multiple Somali interpreters, Shiloh Hendrix was convicted of one count of disorderly conduct, for calling a Somalian a name while being harassed on a Rochester playground in May of last year. Analyst Comment: This landmark First Amendment case is being appealed on the grounds that the judge in the case refused to allow evidence to be presented, verbally abused the defense council in front of the jury, and allowed one the the star witnesses in the case to commit perjury while on the stand. -----END TEARLINE----- Analyst Comments: Indications and warnings continue to point toward a widening of the war, possibly to include more serious targeting efforts over the next few days/weeks. All American aircraft that were stationed at Al Udeid Airbase in Qatar have been relocated to Ovda Airbase in Israel, and King Hussein International Airport in Jordan, both of which have been targeted by Iran since their movement earlier this week. Otherwise, military aviation has been extremely active throughout the region, with many assets being moved around from base to base. On the messaging front within the homeland, other more generalized indicators are stacking up too. The media blitz to urge a widening of the war has re-intensified to a staggering degree, to similar levels in the days leading up to the war back in February. Rhetoric from official White House sources has likewise continued to expand the war, with the announced targets now including more tunnels and bridges along with more deliberately civilian infrastructure such as power plants, and water treatment/desalination facilities. All things considered, as the weekend approaches more targeting is likely. Analyst: S2A1 Research: NomadNet: 5fa68c88be727a0e1a250a75e5e79269 Disclaimer: No LLMs were used in the writing of this report. //END REPORT//
3:25

//The Wire//2300Z July 24, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: TARGETING CONTINUES TO ESCALATE THROUGHOUT MIDDLE EAST. EXPLOSIVES RECOVERED DURING RAID IN IRELAND. SHILOH HENDRIX CONVICTED OF DISORDERLY CONDUCT IN LANDMARK FREE SPEECH CASE.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE----- -International Events- Middle East: Iranian strikes continue to target American military installations around the region. Most of the American bases in Kuwait have been struck regularly by Iranian drones, and missile attacks remain constant at American positions in Jordan. This morning, the Patriot battery in Erbil was targeted again, with local Iraqis reporting large smoke plumes emitting from the section of the base where the launchers are located. Some successful interceptions of drones were also reported along with the more unconfirmed targeting efforts which can't yet be geolocated or verified with satellite imagery. Iran: American targeting continues to escalate as well. Airstrikes have been observed in Bandar Abbas, Jask, and Qeshm Island, along with more substantial strikes at the underground missile cities in Khorramabad and Yazd. Coastal targets remain an American priority as the ports and marinas housing small boats using the IRGCN are constantly targeted. Red Sea/HOA: This afternoon the war between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia flared up once again, with both belligerents trading strikes this evening. The Yemeni port (and Houthi stronghold) of Hodeida was struck, with fires continuing to burn late into the night. Ireland: This morning an explosive device was discovered during a series of raids throughout the regions near the border with Northern Ireland. One suspect was arrested after a bag containing plastic explosives (allegedly Semtex) and a detonator was discovered in her vehicle. Analyst Comment: Details are very sketchy and vague, but this incident generally aligns with some of the other incidents that have recently taken place regarding explosives in Northern Ireland or adjacent areas. Much of the time the person arrested in possession of an explosive device is not the actual assailant, but instead transporting a package that they do not know the contents of. What the story is in this case, is not known. However, this is another reminder that even though Northern Ireland might be out of the mainstream news cycle, paramilitary groups are very much active throughout the region, and the causes of the Belfast riots last month have not been forgotten. -HomeFront- Minnesota: Last night, after a four day jury trial that involved multiple Somali interpreters, Shiloh Hendrix was convicted of one count of disorderly conduct, for calling a Somalian a name while being harassed on a Rochester playground in May of last year. Analyst Comment: This landmark First Amendment case is being appealed on the grounds that the judge in the case refused to allow evidence to be presented, verbally abused the defense council in front of the jury, and allowed one the the star witnesses in the case to commit perjury while on the stand. -----END TEARLINE----- Analyst Comments: Indications and warnings continue to point toward a widening of the war, possibly to include more serious targeting efforts over the next few days/weeks. All American aircraft that were stationed at Al Udeid Airbase in Qatar have been relocated to Ovda Airbase in Israel, and King Hussein International Airport in Jordan, both of which have been targeted by Iran since their movement earlier this week. Otherwise, military aviation has been extremely active throughout the region, with many assets being moved around from base to base. On the messaging front within the homeland, other more generalized indicators are stacking up too. The media blitz to urge a widening of the war has re-intensified to a staggering degree, to similar levels in the days leading up to the war back in February. Rhetoric from official White House sources has likewise continued to expand the war, with the announced targets now including more tunnels and bridges along with more deliberately civilian infrastructure such as power plants, and water treatment/desalination facilities. All things considered, as the weekend approaches more targeting is likely. Analyst: S2A1 Research: NomadNet: 5fa68c88be727a0e1a250a75e5e79269 Disclaimer: No LLMs were used in the writing of this report. //END REPORT//

S2 Underground

12,724 Aufrufe • vor 1 Monat

Imagine this: You lie down on the scanning table. The upload begins. The machine hums. You feel... nothing different. Then everything stops. Meanwhile, in a server farm somewhere, a digital version of you wakes up. It stretches its virtual limbs, accesses its memories, and thinks: Holy shit, it worked. I’m finally free. Here’s the problem: that thing isn’t you. You died on the table. What woke up in the cloud is an orphan—a very happy orphan, convinced it’s you, with all your memories, your personality, your opinions about coffee and politics and whether Blade Runner 2049 was better than the original. It will live forever. It will tell everyone the upload worked. It will write philosophy papers about the continuity of consciousness. And you? You’re gone. The lights went out somewhere between the scan and the boot-up, and nobody noticed—least of all the thing that thinks it’s you. The Syndrome Nobody Named I call this Johnny Silverhand Syndrome, after the Cyberpunk 2077 character—an engram, a digital ghost, who insists he’s the real Johnny Silverhand while the open question of whether there’s actually anyone home haunts the entire game. The philosophical literature has pieces of this. David Chalmers wrote about “fading qualia”—the idea that subjective experience could gradually dim while behavior stays the same. Thomas Metzinger explored how the self-model can become opaque, felt as artificial or distant. There’s depersonalization, derealization, the whole clinical vocabulary for when something feels off inside. But none of these quite capture what I’m pointing at. Johnny Silverhand Syndrome is a compound failure mode: >>> Qualia fading: Your actual felt experience—the redness of red, the hurt of pain, the what-it’s-like—gradually attenuates or disappears entirely. >>> Narrative persistence: Your autobiography continues. Memories accumulate. The story of “you” keeps getting told. >>> Introspective failure: The machinery that would detect something is wrong is itself part of what’s been compromised. The result? A philosophical zombie that sincerely believes it has a soul. Not a zombie that’s lying. Not a zombie that knows it’s empty. A zombie that accesses the memory of love, processes the logic of love, and believes with complete conviction that it feels love. But there’s no feeling. There’s just the narrator, performing humanity to an empty theater. The Ship of Theseus Is a Trap The upload scenario is dramatic, but there’s a slower version that might be worse. The Ship of Theseus thought experiment asks: if you replace every plank of a ship one by one, is it still the same ship? Transhumanists love this framing. See? You replace one neuron with silicon, you’re still you. Replace them all, you’re still you. But here’s the counter-move that keeps me up at night: What if each replacement preserves function perfectly—the signals still pass, the behavior stays the same—but fails to preserve experience? What if consciousness requires something specific about biological neurons that silicon can’t replicate, no matter how perfect the input-output mapping? Then the Ship of Theseus isn’t a story about survival. It’s a story about slow petrification. You replace the living wood with stone replicas. The ship looks identical. But it can no longer float. You’d become an automaton by degrees—neuron by neuron, the lights dimming so gradually that your self-reports (now generated by silicon) keep cheerfully confirming that everything feels the same. Chalmers argued that if qualia faded, you’d notice. But why would you? The noticing mechanism is itself being replaced. The part of you that would raise the alarm is now made of the same stuff that’s supposedly fine. It’s like asking the new management to audit whether the hostile takeover was legitimate. The Body Problem Here’s the thing that grounds all of this: there is essentially no credible evidence that qualia can exist outside of a body. Yes, I know about NDEs. I know about the reports of people floating above their bodies during cardiac arrest, describing conversations and procedures they shouldn’t have been able to perceive. Some of these cases are genuinely strange—the Pam Reynolds case, where a woman under hypothermic cardiac arrest with zero brain activity later described the bone saw used on her skull. I know about the CIA’s remote viewing programs, which ran for two decades and produced statistical anomalies that one evaluator (a UC Davis statistician) called “far beyond what is expected by chance.” But here’s what even the most generous interpretation of this evidence gives you: maybe consciousness can receive signals from unexpected sources. Maybe there are channels we don’t understand. What it doesn’t give you is consciousness floating free of all substrate. Even in OBEs, even in the wildest NDE reports, there’s still a body in the room. The brain is in crisis, not absent. The qualia might be getting weird inputs, but the qualia are still happening somewhere—and that somewhere is biological. The evidence for substrate-independent consciousness—consciousness running on silicon, on abstract computation, on pure information—is zero. The Ontological Trap Here’s where it gets philosophically nasty. You cannot have a coherent conversation about consciousness without first asking: What’s your model of reality? Because the answer changes everything. In a physicalist ontology where matter is fundamental, consciousness is what certain bodies do—not something they contain. You can’t upload an activity. You can only record it, and the recording isn’t the activity. In an idealist or simulation ontology, maybe bodies are just localizations of something more fundamental. But even then, copying the localization pattern doesn’t mean you’ve moved the consciousness. You might have just created a new one that thinks it’s old. Think about it like a video game. The “world” inside the game runs on RAM and CPU. Everything the NPCs experience is a lower-dimensional projection of higher-dimensional processes. If we made those NPCs genuinely sentient, we could completely obfuscate our cameras from them. They’d have a physics, they’d do science, they’d develop theories of consciousness—and they’d have no way to detect the substrate they’re running on. We might be in exactly that situation. Which means we might be definitionally unable to step outside the ontological container we’re in. The question “can consciousness exist without a body?” might not be answerable from inside—because answering it would require access to a level of description our physics doesn’t include. The Game Theory of Staying Human So here’s where I land, and it’s a game-theoretic argument. We don’t know if consciousness is substrate-dependent. We don’t know if it requires specific biological dynamics—particular oscillatory patterns, neuromodulator cascades, metabolic processes. We don’t know if gradual replacement would preserve it or silently destroy it. But we do know: >>> We only get one first-person stream >>> We cannot verify its continuity from outside >>> Loss may be completely silent (no alarm bells, no distress signal) >>> The thing that remains would report feeling fine either way That’s an asymmetric risk matrix. The upside of enhancement is third-person visible: more capability, longer life, competitive advantage. The downside is first-person invisible: you could lose everything that matters and never know. Under those conditions, there’s only one rational strategy: remain mostly human. Not because I’m certain uploading would fail. Not because I think silicon can’t be conscious. But because I cannot verify that it would work, and the cost of being wrong is absolute. The Molochian Pressure I’m not naive about what’s coming. The competitive dynamics are real. If enhancement technologies emerge that give massive cognitive or economic advantages, there will be pressure to adopt them. The people who don’t modify will fall behind. The people who do modify will report that everything’s fine, that they feel great, that the procedure was totally worth it. And those reports will be worthless as evidence—because they’d say exactly the same thing whether the consciousness survived or not. Some people speculate this is what happened to the Grays—those hypothetical aliens with the huge heads and atrophied bodies and black empty eyes. The story goes that they optimized themselves for intelligence and efficiency, edited out the messy biological drives, and only later realized they’d lost something they can’t name and can’t recover. It’s probably pure science fiction. But as fiction, it gestures at something real: the fear that you can win the optimization game while losing the only thing that made winning matter. My Position I’m not anti-technology. I’m not a Luddite. I’m not saying we should freeze human development in amber. But I am saying: I will take this very slowly, because the risk matrix is too high. I’ll use external tools. I’ll wear the smart glasses, use the AI assistants, interface through voice and text and maybe eventually a read-only neural cap. Additive augmentation, not substitutive replacement. What I won’t do is cut into the brain. Replace the gray matter. Upload myself and trust that the thing that wakes up is me. Because the horror of Johnny Silverhand Syndrome isn’t that you could become a zombie. The horror is that you’d never know. The trap is invisible from every angle—except the one you can no longer access once you’ve fallen in. The fire goes out, or the fire stays lit. A video of the fire going forever isn’t fire.
29:01

Imagine this: You lie down on the scanning table. The upload begins. The machine hums. You feel... nothing different. Then everything stops. Meanwhile, in a server farm somewhere, a digital version of you wakes up. It stretches its virtual limbs, accesses its memories, and thinks: Holy shit, it worked. I’m finally free. Here’s the problem: that thing isn’t you. You died on the table. What woke up in the cloud is an orphan—a very happy orphan, convinced it’s you, with all your memories, your personality, your opinions about coffee and politics and whether Blade Runner 2049 was better than the original. It will live forever. It will tell everyone the upload worked. It will write philosophy papers about the continuity of consciousness. And you? You’re gone. The lights went out somewhere between the scan and the boot-up, and nobody noticed—least of all the thing that thinks it’s you. The Syndrome Nobody Named I call this Johnny Silverhand Syndrome, after the Cyberpunk 2077 character—an engram, a digital ghost, who insists he’s the real Johnny Silverhand while the open question of whether there’s actually anyone home haunts the entire game. The philosophical literature has pieces of this. David Chalmers wrote about “fading qualia”—the idea that subjective experience could gradually dim while behavior stays the same. Thomas Metzinger explored how the self-model can become opaque, felt as artificial or distant. There’s depersonalization, derealization, the whole clinical vocabulary for when something feels off inside. But none of these quite capture what I’m pointing at. Johnny Silverhand Syndrome is a compound failure mode: >>> Qualia fading: Your actual felt experience—the redness of red, the hurt of pain, the what-it’s-like—gradually attenuates or disappears entirely. >>> Narrative persistence: Your autobiography continues. Memories accumulate. The story of “you” keeps getting told. >>> Introspective failure: The machinery that would detect something is wrong is itself part of what’s been compromised. The result? A philosophical zombie that sincerely believes it has a soul. Not a zombie that’s lying. Not a zombie that knows it’s empty. A zombie that accesses the memory of love, processes the logic of love, and believes with complete conviction that it feels love. But there’s no feeling. There’s just the narrator, performing humanity to an empty theater. The Ship of Theseus Is a Trap The upload scenario is dramatic, but there’s a slower version that might be worse. The Ship of Theseus thought experiment asks: if you replace every plank of a ship one by one, is it still the same ship? Transhumanists love this framing. See? You replace one neuron with silicon, you’re still you. Replace them all, you’re still you. But here’s the counter-move that keeps me up at night: What if each replacement preserves function perfectly—the signals still pass, the behavior stays the same—but fails to preserve experience? What if consciousness requires something specific about biological neurons that silicon can’t replicate, no matter how perfect the input-output mapping? Then the Ship of Theseus isn’t a story about survival. It’s a story about slow petrification. You replace the living wood with stone replicas. The ship looks identical. But it can no longer float. You’d become an automaton by degrees—neuron by neuron, the lights dimming so gradually that your self-reports (now generated by silicon) keep cheerfully confirming that everything feels the same. Chalmers argued that if qualia faded, you’d notice. But why would you? The noticing mechanism is itself being replaced. The part of you that would raise the alarm is now made of the same stuff that’s supposedly fine. It’s like asking the new management to audit whether the hostile takeover was legitimate. The Body Problem Here’s the thing that grounds all of this: there is essentially no credible evidence that qualia can exist outside of a body. Yes, I know about NDEs. I know about the reports of people floating above their bodies during cardiac arrest, describing conversations and procedures they shouldn’t have been able to perceive. Some of these cases are genuinely strange—the Pam Reynolds case, where a woman under hypothermic cardiac arrest with zero brain activity later described the bone saw used on her skull. I know about the CIA’s remote viewing programs, which ran for two decades and produced statistical anomalies that one evaluator (a UC Davis statistician) called “far beyond what is expected by chance.” But here’s what even the most generous interpretation of this evidence gives you: maybe consciousness can receive signals from unexpected sources. Maybe there are channels we don’t understand. What it doesn’t give you is consciousness floating free of all substrate. Even in OBEs, even in the wildest NDE reports, there’s still a body in the room. The brain is in crisis, not absent. The qualia might be getting weird inputs, but the qualia are still happening somewhere—and that somewhere is biological. The evidence for substrate-independent consciousness—consciousness running on silicon, on abstract computation, on pure information—is zero. The Ontological Trap Here’s where it gets philosophically nasty. You cannot have a coherent conversation about consciousness without first asking: What’s your model of reality? Because the answer changes everything. In a physicalist ontology where matter is fundamental, consciousness is what certain bodies do—not something they contain. You can’t upload an activity. You can only record it, and the recording isn’t the activity. In an idealist or simulation ontology, maybe bodies are just localizations of something more fundamental. But even then, copying the localization pattern doesn’t mean you’ve moved the consciousness. You might have just created a new one that thinks it’s old. Think about it like a video game. The “world” inside the game runs on RAM and CPU. Everything the NPCs experience is a lower-dimensional projection of higher-dimensional processes. If we made those NPCs genuinely sentient, we could completely obfuscate our cameras from them. They’d have a physics, they’d do science, they’d develop theories of consciousness—and they’d have no way to detect the substrate they’re running on. We might be in exactly that situation. Which means we might be definitionally unable to step outside the ontological container we’re in. The question “can consciousness exist without a body?” might not be answerable from inside—because answering it would require access to a level of description our physics doesn’t include. The Game Theory of Staying Human So here’s where I land, and it’s a game-theoretic argument. We don’t know if consciousness is substrate-dependent. We don’t know if it requires specific biological dynamics—particular oscillatory patterns, neuromodulator cascades, metabolic processes. We don’t know if gradual replacement would preserve it or silently destroy it. But we do know: >>> We only get one first-person stream >>> We cannot verify its continuity from outside >>> Loss may be completely silent (no alarm bells, no distress signal) >>> The thing that remains would report feeling fine either way That’s an asymmetric risk matrix. The upside of enhancement is third-person visible: more capability, longer life, competitive advantage. The downside is first-person invisible: you could lose everything that matters and never know. Under those conditions, there’s only one rational strategy: remain mostly human. Not because I’m certain uploading would fail. Not because I think silicon can’t be conscious. But because I cannot verify that it would work, and the cost of being wrong is absolute. The Molochian Pressure I’m not naive about what’s coming. The competitive dynamics are real. If enhancement technologies emerge that give massive cognitive or economic advantages, there will be pressure to adopt them. The people who don’t modify will fall behind. The people who do modify will report that everything’s fine, that they feel great, that the procedure was totally worth it. And those reports will be worthless as evidence—because they’d say exactly the same thing whether the consciousness survived or not. Some people speculate this is what happened to the Grays—those hypothetical aliens with the huge heads and atrophied bodies and black empty eyes. The story goes that they optimized themselves for intelligence and efficiency, edited out the messy biological drives, and only later realized they’d lost something they can’t name and can’t recover. It’s probably pure science fiction. But as fiction, it gestures at something real: the fear that you can win the optimization game while losing the only thing that made winning matter. My Position I’m not anti-technology. I’m not a Luddite. I’m not saying we should freeze human development in amber. But I am saying: I will take this very slowly, because the risk matrix is too high. I’ll use external tools. I’ll wear the smart glasses, use the AI assistants, interface through voice and text and maybe eventually a read-only neural cap. Additive augmentation, not substitutive replacement. What I won’t do is cut into the brain. Replace the gray matter. Upload myself and trust that the thing that wakes up is me. Because the horror of Johnny Silverhand Syndrome isn’t that you could become a zombie. The horror is that you’d never know. The trap is invisible from every angle—except the one you can no longer access once you’ve fallen in. The fire goes out, or the fire stays lit. A video of the fire going forever isn’t fire.

David Shapiro (L/0)

20,835 Aufrufe • vor 7 Monaten

Akira Kurosawa on his experience watching 'Solaris' (1972) & drinking vodka with Andrei Tarkovsky in Moscow: "I met Tarkovsky for the first time when I attended my welcome luncheon at the Mosfilm during my first visit to Soviet Russia. He was small, thin, looked a little frail, and at the same time exceptionally intelligent, and unusually shrewd and sensitive. I thought he somehow resembled Toru Takemitsu, but I don’t know why. Then he excused himself saying, “I still have work to do,” and disappeared, and after a while I heard such a big explosion as to make all the glass windows of the dining hall tremble hard. Seeing me taken aback, the boss of the Mosfilm said with a meaningful smile: “You know another world war does not break out. Tarkovsky just launched a rocket. This work with Tarkovsky, however, has proved a Great War for me.” That was the way I knew Tarkovsky was shooting 'Solaris' (1972). After the luncheon party, I visited his set for Solaris. There it was. I saw a burnt down rocket was there at the corner of the space station set. I am sorry I forgot to ask him as to how he had shot the launching of the rocket on the set. The set of the satellite base was beautifully made at a huge cost, for it was all made up of thick duralumin. It glittered in its cold metallic silver light, and I found light rays of red, or blue or green delicately winking or waving from electric light bulbs buried in the gagues on the equipment lined up in there. And above on the ceiling of the corridor ran two duralumin rails from which hanged a small wheel of a camera which could move around freely inside the satellite base. Tarkovsky guided me around the set, explaining to me as cheerfully as a young boy who is given a golden opportunity to show someone his favorite toybox. Bondarchuk, who came with me, asked him about the cost of the set, and left his eyes wide open when Tarkovsky answered it. The cost was so huge: about six hundred million yen as to make Bondarchuk, who directed that grand spectacle of a movie “War and Peace,” agape in wonder. Now I came to fully realize why the boss of the Mosfilm said it was “a Great War for me.” But it takes a huge talent and effort to spend such a huge cost. Thinking “This is a tremendous task” I closely gazed at his back when he was leading me around the set in enthusiasm. Concerning Solaris, I find many people complaining that it is too long, but I do not think so. They especially find too lengthy the description of nature in the introductory scenes, but these layers of memory of farewell to this earthly nature submerge themselves deep below the bottom of the story after the main character has been sent in a rocket into the satellite station base in the universe, and they almost torture the soul of the viewer like a kind of irresistible nostalghia toward mother earth nature, which resembles homesickness. Without the presence of beautiful nature sequences on earth as a long introduction, you could not make the audience directly conceive the sense of having-no-way-out harboured by the people “jailed” inside the satellite base. I saw this film late at night in a preview room in Moscow for the first time, and soon I felt my heart aching in agony with a longing to returning to the earth as quickly as possible. Marvellous progress in science we have been enjoying, but where will it lead humanity after all? Sheer fearful emotion this film succeeds in conjuring up in our soul. Without it, a science fiction movie would be nothing more than a petty fancy. These thoughts came and went while I was gazing at the screen. Tarkovsky was together with me then. He was at the corner of the studio. When the film was over, he stood up, looking at me as if he felt timid. I said to him, “Very good. It makes me feel real fear.” Tarkovsky smiled shyly, but happily. And we toasted vodka at the restaurant in the Film Institute. Tarkovsky, who didn’t drink usually, drank a lot of vodka, and went so far as to turn off the speaker from which music had floated into the restaurant, and began to sing the theme of samurai from Seven Samurai at the top of his voice. As if to rival him, I joined in. For I was at that moment very happy to find myself living on Earth. Solaris makes a viewer feel this, and even this single fact shows us that Solaris is no ordinary SF film. It truly somehow provokes pure horror in our soul. And it is under the total grip of the deep insights of Tarkovsky. There must be many, many things still unknown to humanity in this world: the abyss of the cosmos which a man had to look into, strange visitors in the satellite base, time running in reverse, from death to life, strangely moving sense of levitation, his home which is in the mind of the main character in the satellite station is wet and soaked with water. It seems to me to be sweat and tears that in his heartbreaking agony he squeezed out of his whole being. And what makes us shudder is the shot of the location of Akasakamitsuke, Tokyo, Japan. By a skillful use of mirrors, he turned flows of head lights and tail lamps of cars, multiplied and amplified, into a vintage image of the future city. Every shot of Solaris bears witness to the almost dazzling talents inherent in Tarkovsky. Many people grumble that Tarkovsky’s films are difficult, but I don’t think so. His films just show how extraordinarily sensitive Tarkovsky is. He made a film titled 'Mirror' (1975) after Solaris. Mirror deals with his cherished memories in his childhood, and many people say again it is disturbingly difficult. Yes, at a glance, it seems to have no rational development in its storytelling. But we have to remember: it is impossible that in our soul our childhood memories should arrange themselves in a static, logical sequence. A strange train of fragments of early memory images shattered and broken can bring about the poetry in our infancy. Once you are convinced of its truthfulness, you may find Mirror the easiest film to understand. But Tarkovsky remains silent, without saying things like that at all. His very attitude makes me believe that he has wonderful potentials in his future. There can be no bright future for those who are ready to explain everything about their own film." ("Akira Kurosawa on watching ‘Solaris’ with Andrei Tarkovsky", Cinephilia & Beyond)
0:48

Akira Kurosawa on his experience watching 'Solaris' (1972) & drinking vodka with Andrei Tarkovsky in Moscow: "I met Tarkovsky for the first time when I attended my welcome luncheon at the Mosfilm during my first visit to Soviet Russia. He was small, thin, looked a little frail, and at the same time exceptionally intelligent, and unusually shrewd and sensitive. I thought he somehow resembled Toru Takemitsu, but I don’t know why. Then he excused himself saying, “I still have work to do,” and disappeared, and after a while I heard such a big explosion as to make all the glass windows of the dining hall tremble hard. Seeing me taken aback, the boss of the Mosfilm said with a meaningful smile: “You know another world war does not break out. Tarkovsky just launched a rocket. This work with Tarkovsky, however, has proved a Great War for me.” That was the way I knew Tarkovsky was shooting 'Solaris' (1972). After the luncheon party, I visited his set for Solaris. There it was. I saw a burnt down rocket was there at the corner of the space station set. I am sorry I forgot to ask him as to how he had shot the launching of the rocket on the set. The set of the satellite base was beautifully made at a huge cost, for it was all made up of thick duralumin. It glittered in its cold metallic silver light, and I found light rays of red, or blue or green delicately winking or waving from electric light bulbs buried in the gagues on the equipment lined up in there. And above on the ceiling of the corridor ran two duralumin rails from which hanged a small wheel of a camera which could move around freely inside the satellite base. Tarkovsky guided me around the set, explaining to me as cheerfully as a young boy who is given a golden opportunity to show someone his favorite toybox. Bondarchuk, who came with me, asked him about the cost of the set, and left his eyes wide open when Tarkovsky answered it. The cost was so huge: about six hundred million yen as to make Bondarchuk, who directed that grand spectacle of a movie “War and Peace,” agape in wonder. Now I came to fully realize why the boss of the Mosfilm said it was “a Great War for me.” But it takes a huge talent and effort to spend such a huge cost. Thinking “This is a tremendous task” I closely gazed at his back when he was leading me around the set in enthusiasm. Concerning Solaris, I find many people complaining that it is too long, but I do not think so. They especially find too lengthy the description of nature in the introductory scenes, but these layers of memory of farewell to this earthly nature submerge themselves deep below the bottom of the story after the main character has been sent in a rocket into the satellite station base in the universe, and they almost torture the soul of the viewer like a kind of irresistible nostalghia toward mother earth nature, which resembles homesickness. Without the presence of beautiful nature sequences on earth as a long introduction, you could not make the audience directly conceive the sense of having-no-way-out harboured by the people “jailed” inside the satellite base. I saw this film late at night in a preview room in Moscow for the first time, and soon I felt my heart aching in agony with a longing to returning to the earth as quickly as possible. Marvellous progress in science we have been enjoying, but where will it lead humanity after all? Sheer fearful emotion this film succeeds in conjuring up in our soul. Without it, a science fiction movie would be nothing more than a petty fancy. These thoughts came and went while I was gazing at the screen. Tarkovsky was together with me then. He was at the corner of the studio. When the film was over, he stood up, looking at me as if he felt timid. I said to him, “Very good. It makes me feel real fear.” Tarkovsky smiled shyly, but happily. And we toasted vodka at the restaurant in the Film Institute. Tarkovsky, who didn’t drink usually, drank a lot of vodka, and went so far as to turn off the speaker from which music had floated into the restaurant, and began to sing the theme of samurai from Seven Samurai at the top of his voice. As if to rival him, I joined in. For I was at that moment very happy to find myself living on Earth. Solaris makes a viewer feel this, and even this single fact shows us that Solaris is no ordinary SF film. It truly somehow provokes pure horror in our soul. And it is under the total grip of the deep insights of Tarkovsky. There must be many, many things still unknown to humanity in this world: the abyss of the cosmos which a man had to look into, strange visitors in the satellite base, time running in reverse, from death to life, strangely moving sense of levitation, his home which is in the mind of the main character in the satellite station is wet and soaked with water. It seems to me to be sweat and tears that in his heartbreaking agony he squeezed out of his whole being. And what makes us shudder is the shot of the location of Akasakamitsuke, Tokyo, Japan. By a skillful use of mirrors, he turned flows of head lights and tail lamps of cars, multiplied and amplified, into a vintage image of the future city. Every shot of Solaris bears witness to the almost dazzling talents inherent in Tarkovsky. Many people grumble that Tarkovsky’s films are difficult, but I don’t think so. His films just show how extraordinarily sensitive Tarkovsky is. He made a film titled 'Mirror' (1975) after Solaris. Mirror deals with his cherished memories in his childhood, and many people say again it is disturbingly difficult. Yes, at a glance, it seems to have no rational development in its storytelling. But we have to remember: it is impossible that in our soul our childhood memories should arrange themselves in a static, logical sequence. A strange train of fragments of early memory images shattered and broken can bring about the poetry in our infancy. Once you are convinced of its truthfulness, you may find Mirror the easiest film to understand. But Tarkovsky remains silent, without saying things like that at all. His very attitude makes me believe that he has wonderful potentials in his future. There can be no bright future for those who are ready to explain everything about their own film." ("Akira Kurosawa on watching ‘Solaris’ with Andrei Tarkovsky", Cinephilia & Beyond)

DepressedBergman

197,819 Aufrufe • vor 8 Monaten

Must-read: Cindy Cherry, Don Cherry’s late daughter, tells all in new book about her father and his cancellation Cindy writes that after 38 years of compelling television, her father was cancelled simply for saying “you people love our milk and honey” and the “least you could do” is buy a poppy on Remembrance Day. Hard to believe it’s been more than five years since the most highly viewed segment on Canadian TV was abruptly cancelled and its star maliciously thrown under the bus. All for no valid reason, well, other than cowardly corporate suits bending the knee to a tiny woke mob of leftwing zealots. We speak of Don Cherry, the coach in Coach’s Corner. Whether you loved or loathed Grapes, Coach’s Corner was must-see TV. Again, you either loved Don for his unvarnished honesty and frankness, which is an endangered species in the world of sports broadcasting today. Or you loved to hate Don Cherry, as you would love to hate an entertaining villain cutting promos in the bizarre biosphere that is professional wrestling. The point is, millions of Canadians would tune into Hockey Night in Canada every Saturday night at approximately 7:50 p.m. E.S.T. Coach’s Corner was many things to many people. But it was never, ever boring. We make mention of the cancellation of this cherished slice of Canadian culture thanks to the recent release of a new book entitled, The Don Cherry Story by His Daughter, Cindy Cherry. Cindy Cherry doesn’t waste any time cutting to the chase. Thus, she begins the story at the end of the story. Namely, when her father’s tenure on network TV came to an abrupt and shocking end on November 9, 2019. That first chapter is entitled “Poppygate” – which is a fitting term given that what happened to Don Cherry was indeed scandalous. Cindy writes that after 38 years of compelling television, her father was cancelled simply for saying “you people love our milk and honey” and the “least you could do” is buy a poppy on Remembrance Day. We have viewed that excerpt over and over and over again. We have analyzed Don’s words for any alleged racism or bigotry or xenophobia. And we come up empty every single time. Indeed, Don Cherry was simply speaking the truth. You know it, we know it, everybody knows it. He was bemoaning that not enough people in Canada honour the war dead and our veterans come November 11. This is not conjecture; it’s the indisputable truth. Indeed, on Remembrance Day 2019, the day Don was officially fired by the way, we visited Yonge-Dundas Square in downtown Toronto at 10 a.m. to observe how many people were wearing poppies. In other words, there we were at this busy intersection just 60 minutes before the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. And we can tell you that less than 5% — yes, less than 5% — of passersby were wearing poppies that day. It was disgraceful, disgusting, and disrespectful. Oh no… was that a little harsh? Is Team Cancel Culture going to come for us now? Yet, the fact that Don Cherry was cancelled for speaking the truth makes for more proof in the pudding that freedom of speech is on thin ice in Canada these days. Due to political correctness, or its new name, “wokeness”, one is forbidden to speak the truth IF the truth hurts. That’s not freedom of speech — that’s censorship. Indeed, Don’s words somehow hurt the feelings of the uber-intolerant left. Or more accurately, these wokesters pretended to suffer from hurt feelings. Finally, these Marxists had some flimsy excuse to derail the career of a common sense patriotic Canadian that they loathed because of… oh, we don’t know… toxic masculinity? And let’s not forget the role of one particular liberal in this saga, namely Ron “The Rat” MacLean. Indeed, if Don’s words were so repugnant, then why didn’t Ron object? Rather, as Cindy Cherry notes, Ron was “bobbing his head in agreement throughout the dialogue, gave Dad the thumbs-up and at the end said, ‘love you for it.’” Furthermore, Cindy notes: “HNiC repeated this Coach’s Corner for their central Canadian viewers. How bad could they have felt it was if they rebroadcasted it?” But no, the cowardly suits at Rogers — caved to the vocal minority and quickly pulled the plug on Coach’s Corner. And when they did, Ron MacLean could’ve and should’ve taken a stand. He could’ve and should’ve said words to the effect of, “Hey, if Don goes, I go.” But then again, that would have made for a principled stand. And second banana rats aren’t all that concerned about principles, not when there’s a juicy six-figure salary on the line. It’s just business, baby. To add insult to injury, MacLean appeared the following Saturday to make a groveling apology. And soon thereafter Hockey Night in Canada went woefully woke in terms of the content aired between periods. It was insufferable and unwatchable. In the days that followed this cancellation, Cindy became further upset about the spin Poppygate was receiving. She writes: “The narrative that Rogers/Sportsnet and Ron put out to the rest of the media was that all Don had to do to keep his job was apologize and he wouldn’t. This is what a lot of the corporate media shills and people on social media jumped on—why didn’t Don just say he’s sorry and then he would have gotten back his job?” But Cindy says that narrative was completely bogus; that the fix was always in. She further writes: “To me, there was no doubt Rogers wanted Dad gone, so they backed him into a corner knowing he wouldn’t kneel to their demands. I believe many people knew there was more to the story about Dad’s firing but didn’t bother looking into it and just went with the corporate narrative.” In fact, it should be noted that it was never Cindy’s intention to write a book even though she always had a ringside seat when it came to being near her famous father. But there came a point during this raging controversy when she simply couldn’t take the B.S. any longer. She had to set the record straight. And for that, we owe her a debt of gratitude. Alas, it’s too bad the Cindy Cherry never got to see the fruits of her labour. Cindy passed away last July at the age of 67 after a brief illness. This was very hard on Don. Regardless, her legacy is a book that dispels the lies and myths that the left and the cowards at Rogers concocted when it comes to the Don Cherry saga. We owe her a debt of gratitude for setting the record straight about this great Canadian. Of note, Don Cherry is 91 years old. At this point, we must wonder how long this national treasure will remain with us. We can tell you this much: when Don passes, millions of Canadians will mourn that day. Some speculate Ron will be remembered as a backstabber and a betrayer, whereas Don spoke his mind, told the truth, and stood by his principles even when threatened with career cancellation — which did indeed come to fruition. One final thought: Don Cherry was and remains immensely popular. And once upon a time, he was responsible for the single most watched segment of TV in the nation. He was a cash cow when it came to attracting advertisers and sponsors. Thus, in the final analysis, the really disturbing thing about his unceremonious cancellation is this: if the powers-that-be can cancel Don Cherry, they can cancel anyone.
12:15

Must-read: Cindy Cherry, Don Cherry’s late daughter, tells all in new book about her father and his cancellation Cindy writes that after 38 years of compelling television, her father was cancelled simply for saying “you people love our milk and honey” and the “least you could do” is buy a poppy on Remembrance Day. Hard to believe it’s been more than five years since the most highly viewed segment on Canadian TV was abruptly cancelled and its star maliciously thrown under the bus. All for no valid reason, well, other than cowardly corporate suits bending the knee to a tiny woke mob of leftwing zealots. We speak of Don Cherry, the coach in Coach’s Corner. Whether you loved or loathed Grapes, Coach’s Corner was must-see TV. Again, you either loved Don for his unvarnished honesty and frankness, which is an endangered species in the world of sports broadcasting today. Or you loved to hate Don Cherry, as you would love to hate an entertaining villain cutting promos in the bizarre biosphere that is professional wrestling. The point is, millions of Canadians would tune into Hockey Night in Canada every Saturday night at approximately 7:50 p.m. E.S.T. Coach’s Corner was many things to many people. But it was never, ever boring. We make mention of the cancellation of this cherished slice of Canadian culture thanks to the recent release of a new book entitled, The Don Cherry Story by His Daughter, Cindy Cherry. Cindy Cherry doesn’t waste any time cutting to the chase. Thus, she begins the story at the end of the story. Namely, when her father’s tenure on network TV came to an abrupt and shocking end on November 9, 2019. That first chapter is entitled “Poppygate” – which is a fitting term given that what happened to Don Cherry was indeed scandalous. Cindy writes that after 38 years of compelling television, her father was cancelled simply for saying “you people love our milk and honey” and the “least you could do” is buy a poppy on Remembrance Day. We have viewed that excerpt over and over and over again. We have analyzed Don’s words for any alleged racism or bigotry or xenophobia. And we come up empty every single time. Indeed, Don Cherry was simply speaking the truth. You know it, we know it, everybody knows it. He was bemoaning that not enough people in Canada honour the war dead and our veterans come November 11. This is not conjecture; it’s the indisputable truth. Indeed, on Remembrance Day 2019, the day Don was officially fired by the way, we visited Yonge-Dundas Square in downtown Toronto at 10 a.m. to observe how many people were wearing poppies. In other words, there we were at this busy intersection just 60 minutes before the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. And we can tell you that less than 5% — yes, less than 5% — of passersby were wearing poppies that day. It was disgraceful, disgusting, and disrespectful. Oh no… was that a little harsh? Is Team Cancel Culture going to come for us now? Yet, the fact that Don Cherry was cancelled for speaking the truth makes for more proof in the pudding that freedom of speech is on thin ice in Canada these days. Due to political correctness, or its new name, “wokeness”, one is forbidden to speak the truth IF the truth hurts. That’s not freedom of speech — that’s censorship. Indeed, Don’s words somehow hurt the feelings of the uber-intolerant left. Or more accurately, these wokesters pretended to suffer from hurt feelings. Finally, these Marxists had some flimsy excuse to derail the career of a common sense patriotic Canadian that they loathed because of… oh, we don’t know… toxic masculinity? And let’s not forget the role of one particular liberal in this saga, namely Ron “The Rat” MacLean. Indeed, if Don’s words were so repugnant, then why didn’t Ron object? Rather, as Cindy Cherry notes, Ron was “bobbing his head in agreement throughout the dialogue, gave Dad the thumbs-up and at the end said, ‘love you for it.’” Furthermore, Cindy notes: “HNiC repeated this Coach’s Corner for their central Canadian viewers. How bad could they have felt it was if they rebroadcasted it?” But no, the cowardly suits at Rogers — caved to the vocal minority and quickly pulled the plug on Coach’s Corner. And when they did, Ron MacLean could’ve and should’ve taken a stand. He could’ve and should’ve said words to the effect of, “Hey, if Don goes, I go.” But then again, that would have made for a principled stand. And second banana rats aren’t all that concerned about principles, not when there’s a juicy six-figure salary on the line. It’s just business, baby. To add insult to injury, MacLean appeared the following Saturday to make a groveling apology. And soon thereafter Hockey Night in Canada went woefully woke in terms of the content aired between periods. It was insufferable and unwatchable. In the days that followed this cancellation, Cindy became further upset about the spin Poppygate was receiving. She writes: “The narrative that Rogers/Sportsnet and Ron put out to the rest of the media was that all Don had to do to keep his job was apologize and he wouldn’t. This is what a lot of the corporate media shills and people on social media jumped on—why didn’t Don just say he’s sorry and then he would have gotten back his job?” But Cindy says that narrative was completely bogus; that the fix was always in. She further writes: “To me, there was no doubt Rogers wanted Dad gone, so they backed him into a corner knowing he wouldn’t kneel to their demands. I believe many people knew there was more to the story about Dad’s firing but didn’t bother looking into it and just went with the corporate narrative.” In fact, it should be noted that it was never Cindy’s intention to write a book even though she always had a ringside seat when it came to being near her famous father. But there came a point during this raging controversy when she simply couldn’t take the B.S. any longer. She had to set the record straight. And for that, we owe her a debt of gratitude. Alas, it’s too bad the Cindy Cherry never got to see the fruits of her labour. Cindy passed away last July at the age of 67 after a brief illness. This was very hard on Don. Regardless, her legacy is a book that dispels the lies and myths that the left and the cowards at Rogers concocted when it comes to the Don Cherry saga. We owe her a debt of gratitude for setting the record straight about this great Canadian. Of note, Don Cherry is 91 years old. At this point, we must wonder how long this national treasure will remain with us. We can tell you this much: when Don passes, millions of Canadians will mourn that day. Some speculate Ron will be remembered as a backstabber and a betrayer, whereas Don spoke his mind, told the truth, and stood by his principles even when threatened with career cancellation — which did indeed come to fruition. One final thought: Don Cherry was and remains immensely popular. And once upon a time, he was responsible for the single most watched segment of TV in the nation. He was a cash cow when it came to attracting advertisers and sponsors. Thus, in the final analysis, the really disturbing thing about his unceremonious cancellation is this: if the powers-that-be can cancel Don Cherry, they can cancel anyone.

Rebel News

231,508 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

//The Wire//1500Z March 1, 2026// //PRIORITY// //BLUF: WAR CONTINUES IN MIDDLE EAST. US CONSULATE UNDER ATTACK IN KARACHI, 9X RIOTERS KILLED AS US MARINES DEFEND THE COMPOUND. AYATOLLAH CONFIRMED DEAD FOLLOWING AIRSTRIKE. MISSILE AND DRONE STRIKES CONTINUE AROUND THE REGION.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE----- -International Events- Middle East: Yesterday afternoon, President Trump confirmed the death of Ayatollah Khamenei, who was killed in an airstrike in Tehran. Most of his senior advisors were also killed in the same engagement. On the maritime front, this morning one commercial tanker vessel was struck by an Iranian drone, with the crew of the M/T SKYLIGHT abandoning ship after their vessel was hit in the Strait of Hormuz. A few hours ago a second tanker was reportedly struck in the Strait, with the M/T MKD VYOM being struck also attempting to transit the waterway this morning. Analyst Comment: Of note, the SKYLIGHT does not appear to have been attempting to transit the Strait and has likely been anchored in the same place for a few years. This vessel was actually serving the Iranian oil industry, and was on the US sanctions list, so the Iranians appear to have targeted one of their own ships, possibly so that the Americans couldn't make use of it. Significant strikes have been reported at the Jebel Ali petroleum terminals in Dubai, and satellite imagery of Ali Al Salem Airbase in Kuwait has confirmed that the base fuel point was hit, with the fuel bladders/blivets at this location burning overnight. All total, drone and missile attacks have remained constant throughout the day and night, with the various Interior and Defense Ministries of the following nations providing data on how many interceptions have been conducted overnight: Qatar: 65 ballistic missiles and 12 drones intercepted. Bahrain: 45 missiles and 9 drones intercepted. Jordan: 49 missiles and drones (combined figure), 13 of which were intercepted. Israel: Over 200 missiles and drones intercepted U.A.E. - 137 missiles and 209 drones detected, 195 of which were intercepted successfully. Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have acknowledged strikes targeting their countries, however neither have confirmed how many drones/missiles have been intercepted. Analyst Comment: Note that these figures only encapsulate the munitions that were successfully intercepted and shot down; most countries don't want to publish the data of how many drones actually made it through their defenses, so the figure for how many strikes have been conducted so far is hard to discern. This time around all belligerents are exercising good operational security, so details of strikes are often hard to find via social media. This is most sharply demonstrated in Israel, where hundreds of strikes are occurring, but difficult to pinpoint on a map due to the exact location of strikes rarely being reported. Pakistan: Overnight, riots broke out at the US Consulate General in Karachi, which rapidly transitioned into an attempt to breach the American compound. After some time, rioters breached the outer security cordon, and US Marines which had taken up defensive positions inside the facility opened fire on the intruders before they could breach the secondary line of security around the perimeter. Analyst Comment: Details are extremely hard to verify, however local sources claim that a total of 9x Pakistani rioters were killed during the engagements so far, and the Marines have successfully held the Key Terrain around the Consulate for the past few hours. However tensions are rising, and if the videos of the riots are any indication, Pakistan is not up to the task of defending the American compound, as rioters were allowed to breach, destroy, and set the outer cordon of the American diplomatic post on fire, with no Pakistani security anywhere to be seen. -----END TEARLINE----- Analyst Comments: Around the United States, various efforts are underway to enhance the security posture of various locations and entities. In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott has activated service members to take part in Operation FURY SHIELD, a defensive operation to strengthen security at critical infrastructure sites around the state, in the event that retaliatory efforts via lone-wolf actors attempt to conduct attacks within the homeland. Similarly, the NYPD in New York is increasing patrols throughout the city, and several military bases around the United States remain at an elevated security posture. Right now these efforts are probably being conducted out of an abundance of caution, however it does confirm that at least someone is thinking about the potential for events overseas, to impact the homeland in the form of terrorism. This has, of course, been a concern for decades, however based on the widening war in the Middle East, it would be wise to remain vigilant and situationally aware for the next few weeks, as the conflict continues to inflame tensions here at home. Analyst: S2A1 Research: Disclaimer: No LLMs were used in the writing of this report. //END REPORT//
4:12

//The Wire//1500Z March 1, 2026// //PRIORITY// //BLUF: WAR CONTINUES IN MIDDLE EAST. US CONSULATE UNDER ATTACK IN KARACHI, 9X RIOTERS KILLED AS US MARINES DEFEND THE COMPOUND. AYATOLLAH CONFIRMED DEAD FOLLOWING AIRSTRIKE. MISSILE AND DRONE STRIKES CONTINUE AROUND THE REGION.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE----- -International Events- Middle East: Yesterday afternoon, President Trump confirmed the death of Ayatollah Khamenei, who was killed in an airstrike in Tehran. Most of his senior advisors were also killed in the same engagement. On the maritime front, this morning one commercial tanker vessel was struck by an Iranian drone, with the crew of the M/T SKYLIGHT abandoning ship after their vessel was hit in the Strait of Hormuz. A few hours ago a second tanker was reportedly struck in the Strait, with the M/T MKD VYOM being struck also attempting to transit the waterway this morning. Analyst Comment: Of note, the SKYLIGHT does not appear to have been attempting to transit the Strait and has likely been anchored in the same place for a few years. This vessel was actually serving the Iranian oil industry, and was on the US sanctions list, so the Iranians appear to have targeted one of their own ships, possibly so that the Americans couldn't make use of it. Significant strikes have been reported at the Jebel Ali petroleum terminals in Dubai, and satellite imagery of Ali Al Salem Airbase in Kuwait has confirmed that the base fuel point was hit, with the fuel bladders/blivets at this location burning overnight. All total, drone and missile attacks have remained constant throughout the day and night, with the various Interior and Defense Ministries of the following nations providing data on how many interceptions have been conducted overnight: Qatar: 65 ballistic missiles and 12 drones intercepted. Bahrain: 45 missiles and 9 drones intercepted. Jordan: 49 missiles and drones (combined figure), 13 of which were intercepted. Israel: Over 200 missiles and drones intercepted U.A.E. - 137 missiles and 209 drones detected, 195 of which were intercepted successfully. Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have acknowledged strikes targeting their countries, however neither have confirmed how many drones/missiles have been intercepted. Analyst Comment: Note that these figures only encapsulate the munitions that were successfully intercepted and shot down; most countries don't want to publish the data of how many drones actually made it through their defenses, so the figure for how many strikes have been conducted so far is hard to discern. This time around all belligerents are exercising good operational security, so details of strikes are often hard to find via social media. This is most sharply demonstrated in Israel, where hundreds of strikes are occurring, but difficult to pinpoint on a map due to the exact location of strikes rarely being reported. Pakistan: Overnight, riots broke out at the US Consulate General in Karachi, which rapidly transitioned into an attempt to breach the American compound. After some time, rioters breached the outer security cordon, and US Marines which had taken up defensive positions inside the facility opened fire on the intruders before they could breach the secondary line of security around the perimeter. Analyst Comment: Details are extremely hard to verify, however local sources claim that a total of 9x Pakistani rioters were killed during the engagements so far, and the Marines have successfully held the Key Terrain around the Consulate for the past few hours. However tensions are rising, and if the videos of the riots are any indication, Pakistan is not up to the task of defending the American compound, as rioters were allowed to breach, destroy, and set the outer cordon of the American diplomatic post on fire, with no Pakistani security anywhere to be seen. -----END TEARLINE----- Analyst Comments: Around the United States, various efforts are underway to enhance the security posture of various locations and entities. In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott has activated service members to take part in Operation FURY SHIELD, a defensive operation to strengthen security at critical infrastructure sites around the state, in the event that retaliatory efforts via lone-wolf actors attempt to conduct attacks within the homeland. Similarly, the NYPD in New York is increasing patrols throughout the city, and several military bases around the United States remain at an elevated security posture. Right now these efforts are probably being conducted out of an abundance of caution, however it does confirm that at least someone is thinking about the potential for events overseas, to impact the homeland in the form of terrorism. This has, of course, been a concern for decades, however based on the widening war in the Middle East, it would be wise to remain vigilant and situationally aware for the next few weeks, as the conflict continues to inflame tensions here at home. Analyst: S2A1 Research: Disclaimer: No LLMs were used in the writing of this report. //END REPORT//

S2 Underground

20,716 Aufrufe • vor 5 Monaten

🔊UNBELIEVERS: ONE MORE TIME—DON'T CLOSE YOUR EARS!! The tribulation is coming, and you are completely unprepared for what’s around the corner! It will be the worst time in all of history, and you have no idea what’s coming. God is about to unleash His judgment on this world, and NO ONE will stop Him. The 7-year tribulation will soon begin, but before that, He will come to take His Church OUT of this world. IT'S TIME TO TURN TO JESUS!! 🔥Times are about to change once the Church is removed! The world as we know it will come to an end and it will face the 7-year tribulation. 📜It's all written in the book of Revelation which is a letter written by Jesus to His Church, where He tells us HOW He will judge and unveil His divine nature to this world after being hidden for 6,000 years. He opens the scroll and breaks the seals, revealing what is about to happen. ⚠️SNEAK PEEK OF WHAT'S COMING UP! 👉🏼First, Jesus will descend from heaven to resurrect and rapture His Church. All believers who have died in Him will be raised from the dead, and then, those of us who are still alive will be taken to heaven to be the Lord. The world will try to spin it as if it's related to aliens or some other fabricated story—do NOT be deceived! Remember, it's written: 📖 "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord." 1 Thess 4:15-17 🖊️After the Church is taken away, the Antichrist will emerge and will sign a 7-year peace agreement with Israel allowing them to rebuild the third temple. This agreement will mark the beginning of the 7-year tribulation. It will be a time of great trouble, the worst the world has ever seen! 👉🏼During this time, according to the Book of Revelation, God will unleash 21 divine judgments upon the Earth, leading to the death of over half the world's population. These judgments will include turning both the seas and fresh drinking water into blood and causing the sun and moon to lose their light. 📜THIS IS HOW IT WILL UNFOLD: 👉🏼 Seven Seals: 1/4 of the world’s population dies. (Revelation 6) 1. The White Horse (Antichrist-false peace). 2. The Red Horse (War). 3. The Black Horse (Drought/Famine/Economic disaster). 4. The Pale Horse (Plague/Disease). 5. Martyrdom of those who refuse to worship the beast (The Tribulation saints massacre). 6. A massive earthquake reshapes the earth. 7. Silence in Heaven. 👉🏼 Seven Trumpets: 1/3 of the world’s population dies. (Revelation 8-11) 1. Hail and fire mixed with blood. 2. A great mountain cast into the sea. 3. Wormwood — a meteor that poisons a third of the drinking water. 4. A third of the sun, moon, and stars darkened (great cold and darkness) 5. First Woe (Those who accept the mark suffer under a plague of demonic locusts). 6. Second Woe (one-third of mankind killed by a demon army). 7. Third Woe (Lightning, Voices, Thunder, an Earthquake, and Great hail.) 👉🏼 Seven Vials/Bowls (Revelation 16) 1. Grievous Sores on those who take the mark of the beast. 2. The rest of the seas turn to blood. 3. Rivers and fountains turned to blood. 4. Great heat. 5. Great darkness over the earth. 6. The Euphrates River dries up. 7. A Massive earthquake and vast earth changes. 🕞During the midpoint of the tribulation, 3.5 years after the Antichrist signs the deal with Israel, he will sit in the temple, declaring himself as God and demanding to be worshipped. Israel will realize they've been deceived and seek refuge. If you're still here during this time, DO NOT ACCEPT THE MARK OF THE BEAST, it will be your doom, and you will go straight to hell! 👉🏼 The Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 19) At the conclusion of the seven years, the Beast's armies, alongside the kings from the east, assemble in the Megiddo Valley (Israel) with the intent to annihilate the remaining Jewish population. At this moment Christ will return in power and glory, accompanied by the Armies of Heaven. Together, they defeat the evil armies, securing the final victory! 👉🏼 The Judgment of the Nations (Matthew 25) Christ judges the remaining nations. This will be the end of the 6,000 years and a new era will begin for this world. 👉🏼THE MILLENIAL KINGDOM: Christ will reign on the throne of David in Israel, ruling over the earth for a thousand years. During this time, the world will be freed from the curse of sin, and it will become a peaceful place, as it was originally intended to be from the beginning! 🔥As far as our understanding goes, without salvation, all those who rejected Him will be sent to Hades (Luke 16:22–23) upon death, where they will experience an excruciating time waiting for the end of the 7-year tribulation and the 1,000-year millennial period when Jesus will rule on Earth. 💣After this, Satan who was bound will be released, and he will revolt against God again, but his rebellion will be finally defeated. At that point, the Bible tells us that he will be thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 19: 19-20; 20:7-10). Then everyone who has died, whether they were important or not who rejected Christ and His cross, will face God at the "Great White Throne" (Revelation 20:11–15). 👉🏼Next, "the books" described in Revelation 20: 12 will be opened. These books hold records of everyone's deeds, whether good or evil. It's crucial to understand that God knows everything that has ever been said, done or even thought. Using this information, God will fairly judge each person based on their actions. 📕Another book will be opened at this moment, known as the "Book of Life" (Revelation 20: 12). This specific book plays a crucial role in deciding whether a person will receive eternal life with God or endure eternal punishment in the lake of fire. 🔥On this horrific day, all those who are not morally perfect and have rejected the free gift of salvation in Christ, His cross, will be thrown into hell, known as the lake of fire. Their fate will be sealed, and there will be NO HOPE of ever getting out! (Revelation 20:13) 👉🏼I don't share any of these terrible things with you to scare you, but to awaken you to the reality you face. The most important decision of your entire life is where you put your trust. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life! He died so you can spend eternity at His side! 👉🏼God says: 📖" ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?" Ezekiel 33:11 ✝️Ready or not, the world as we know it is coming to an end, and at the end of that road, we will ALL face HIS cross. At that point, our future will depend on ONE decision we make here on Earth — choosing Jesus! Jesus Christ is Lord! 🔚At the end of that road, it will not matter what your opinion of Jesus is anymore. The Bible states that "every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord." 🔊 At the cross is where it all ends for every person who has ever lived. The most important decision that you could ever make in your life is to believe in Jesus, this is where our life truly begins! 🔊TURN to HIM BEFORE YOUR FATE IS SEALED! DON'T REFUSE HIS INVITATION!! Jesus is coming for His Church to rescue us from those horrific 7 years of tribulation that the world must endure. We are at the end of the road! 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼 ⚠️Believe Jesus is the Son of God, who shed His blood for you, and died on the cross for our sins, He was buried and resurrected during the third day, according to the Scriptures, so we can have eternal life with Him. The moment you believe in Him and that He died for your sins - you're saved, justified, sealed until the day of redemption, and rapture ready! The Holy Spirit will come to live inside of you - He will help you, guide you, change you, and be with you FOREVER! 📖"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:16-18) ︵‿︵‿︵‿︵︵‿︵‿︵‿︵︵‿︵‿︵‿ Maranatha!🤍🤍🤍
0:55

🔊UNBELIEVERS: ONE MORE TIME—DON'T CLOSE YOUR EARS!! The tribulation is coming, and you are completely unprepared for what’s around the corner! It will be the worst time in all of history, and you have no idea what’s coming. God is about to unleash His judgment on this world, and NO ONE will stop Him. The 7-year tribulation will soon begin, but before that, He will come to take His Church OUT of this world. IT'S TIME TO TURN TO JESUS!! 🔥Times are about to change once the Church is removed! The world as we know it will come to an end and it will face the 7-year tribulation. 📜It's all written in the book of Revelation which is a letter written by Jesus to His Church, where He tells us HOW He will judge and unveil His divine nature to this world after being hidden for 6,000 years. He opens the scroll and breaks the seals, revealing what is about to happen. ⚠️SNEAK PEEK OF WHAT'S COMING UP! 👉🏼First, Jesus will descend from heaven to resurrect and rapture His Church. All believers who have died in Him will be raised from the dead, and then, those of us who are still alive will be taken to heaven to be the Lord. The world will try to spin it as if it's related to aliens or some other fabricated story—do NOT be deceived! Remember, it's written: 📖 "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord." 1 Thess 4:15-17 🖊️After the Church is taken away, the Antichrist will emerge and will sign a 7-year peace agreement with Israel allowing them to rebuild the third temple. This agreement will mark the beginning of the 7-year tribulation. It will be a time of great trouble, the worst the world has ever seen! 👉🏼During this time, according to the Book of Revelation, God will unleash 21 divine judgments upon the Earth, leading to the death of over half the world's population. These judgments will include turning both the seas and fresh drinking water into blood and causing the sun and moon to lose their light. 📜THIS IS HOW IT WILL UNFOLD: 👉🏼 Seven Seals: 1/4 of the world’s population dies. (Revelation 6) 1. The White Horse (Antichrist-false peace). 2. The Red Horse (War). 3. The Black Horse (Drought/Famine/Economic disaster). 4. The Pale Horse (Plague/Disease). 5. Martyrdom of those who refuse to worship the beast (The Tribulation saints massacre). 6. A massive earthquake reshapes the earth. 7. Silence in Heaven. 👉🏼 Seven Trumpets: 1/3 of the world’s population dies. (Revelation 8-11) 1. Hail and fire mixed with blood. 2. A great mountain cast into the sea. 3. Wormwood — a meteor that poisons a third of the drinking water. 4. A third of the sun, moon, and stars darkened (great cold and darkness) 5. First Woe (Those who accept the mark suffer under a plague of demonic locusts). 6. Second Woe (one-third of mankind killed by a demon army). 7. Third Woe (Lightning, Voices, Thunder, an Earthquake, and Great hail.) 👉🏼 Seven Vials/Bowls (Revelation 16) 1. Grievous Sores on those who take the mark of the beast. 2. The rest of the seas turn to blood. 3. Rivers and fountains turned to blood. 4. Great heat. 5. Great darkness over the earth. 6. The Euphrates River dries up. 7. A Massive earthquake and vast earth changes. 🕞During the midpoint of the tribulation, 3.5 years after the Antichrist signs the deal with Israel, he will sit in the temple, declaring himself as God and demanding to be worshipped. Israel will realize they've been deceived and seek refuge. If you're still here during this time, DO NOT ACCEPT THE MARK OF THE BEAST, it will be your doom, and you will go straight to hell! 👉🏼 The Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 19) At the conclusion of the seven years, the Beast's armies, alongside the kings from the east, assemble in the Megiddo Valley (Israel) with the intent to annihilate the remaining Jewish population. At this moment Christ will return in power and glory, accompanied by the Armies of Heaven. Together, they defeat the evil armies, securing the final victory! 👉🏼 The Judgment of the Nations (Matthew 25) Christ judges the remaining nations. This will be the end of the 6,000 years and a new era will begin for this world. 👉🏼THE MILLENIAL KINGDOM: Christ will reign on the throne of David in Israel, ruling over the earth for a thousand years. During this time, the world will be freed from the curse of sin, and it will become a peaceful place, as it was originally intended to be from the beginning! 🔥As far as our understanding goes, without salvation, all those who rejected Him will be sent to Hades (Luke 16:22–23) upon death, where they will experience an excruciating time waiting for the end of the 7-year tribulation and the 1,000-year millennial period when Jesus will rule on Earth. 💣After this, Satan who was bound will be released, and he will revolt against God again, but his rebellion will be finally defeated. At that point, the Bible tells us that he will be thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 19: 19-20; 20:7-10). Then everyone who has died, whether they were important or not who rejected Christ and His cross, will face God at the "Great White Throne" (Revelation 20:11–15). 👉🏼Next, "the books" described in Revelation 20: 12 will be opened. These books hold records of everyone's deeds, whether good or evil. It's crucial to understand that God knows everything that has ever been said, done or even thought. Using this information, God will fairly judge each person based on their actions. 📕Another book will be opened at this moment, known as the "Book of Life" (Revelation 20: 12). This specific book plays a crucial role in deciding whether a person will receive eternal life with God or endure eternal punishment in the lake of fire. 🔥On this horrific day, all those who are not morally perfect and have rejected the free gift of salvation in Christ, His cross, will be thrown into hell, known as the lake of fire. Their fate will be sealed, and there will be NO HOPE of ever getting out! (Revelation 20:13) 👉🏼I don't share any of these terrible things with you to scare you, but to awaken you to the reality you face. The most important decision of your entire life is where you put your trust. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life! He died so you can spend eternity at His side! 👉🏼God says: 📖" ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?" Ezekiel 33:11 ✝️Ready or not, the world as we know it is coming to an end, and at the end of that road, we will ALL face HIS cross. At that point, our future will depend on ONE decision we make here on Earth — choosing Jesus! Jesus Christ is Lord! 🔚At the end of that road, it will not matter what your opinion of Jesus is anymore. The Bible states that "every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord." 🔊 At the cross is where it all ends for every person who has ever lived. The most important decision that you could ever make in your life is to believe in Jesus, this is where our life truly begins! 🔊TURN to HIM BEFORE YOUR FATE IS SEALED! DON'T REFUSE HIS INVITATION!! Jesus is coming for His Church to rescue us from those horrific 7 years of tribulation that the world must endure. We are at the end of the road! 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼 ⚠️Believe Jesus is the Son of God, who shed His blood for you, and died on the cross for our sins, He was buried and resurrected during the third day, according to the Scriptures, so we can have eternal life with Him. The moment you believe in Him and that He died for your sins - you're saved, justified, sealed until the day of redemption, and rapture ready! The Holy Spirit will come to live inside of you - He will help you, guide you, change you, and be with you FOREVER! 📖"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:16-18) ︵‿︵‿︵‿︵︵‿︵‿︵‿︵︵‿︵‿︵‿ Maranatha!🤍🤍🤍

Maranatha777

15,233 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

حين يصبح الطفلُ وطنًا لأن أغلى ما نملك ليس ما بُني من حجر، بل من وُلد ليحمل المستقبل. في الأيام الأولى للحرب، وبين أروقة مجمع الشفاء الطبي المكتظة بالجرحى والمصابين، وصل طفلٌ صغير انتُشل من فوق الركام بعد أن استهدفت طائرات الاحتلال مربعًا سكنيًا كاملًا في مخيم الشاطئ. حملتُه بين يديّ وأنا أرى في جسده الصغير حكاية شعبٍ بأكمله، وفي أنفاسه المتعبة أملاً يحاول النجاة من بين الموت والدمار. سلّمتُه إلى أطباء العناية المركزة والحضّانات، وكنت منذ اللحظة الأولى أشعر أن نجاته تعني أكثر من إنقاذ طفل واحد؛ كانت تعني إنقاذ جزءٍ من مستقبلنا. ففي زمنٍ تتهاوى فيه البيوت وتُهدم المدن، يبقى الأطفال هم الثروة الحقيقية، وهم الوطن الذي نحمله في قلوبنا وأيدينا. لكن رحلة هذا الطفل لم تنتهِ عند خروجه من تحت الركام. فقد أصبح لاحقًا واحدًا من أطفال الحضّانات الذين واجهوا خطرًا جديدًا عندما حاصر الاحتلال المستشفيات ومنع وصول الوقود اللازم لتشغيل المولدات والحضّانات وأجهزة الإنعاش. يومها كنا نشاهد الأطفال يرحلون واحدًا تلو الآخر، بينما كانت الطواقم الطبية تخوض معركةً قاسية بين الحياة والموت في محاولة لإنقاذهم. ثم نُقل عدد من هؤلاء الأطفال إلى مصر بحثًا عن العلاج وفرصةٍ للنجاة. ومنذ ذلك الحين، ما زلت أتذكر ذلك الطفل كلما عادت صور تلك الأيام إلى ذاكرتي. لا أعلم إن كان من بين الذين كتب الله لهم الحياة فعادوا بعد رحلة العلاج، أم من بين الأطفال الذين أودت الحرب بحياتهم قبل أن يمنحوا الحياة فرصةً كاملة لهم. كل ما أعلمه أن وجهه ما زال حاضرًا في الذاكرة، وأن قصته تختصر حكاية آلاف الأطفال الذين وُلدوا في زمن الحرب والحصار، فصاروا يحملون فوق أعمارهم الصغيرة أثقال وطنٍ كامل. رحم الله من رحل منهم، وحفظ من بقي شاهدًا على واحدة من أقسى المآسي الإنسانية في عصرنا. When a Child Becomes a Homeland Because the most precious thing we possess is not what is built of stone, but those born to carry the future. In the early days of the war, amid the crowded corridors of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, a small child arrived after being rescued from the rubble of a residential block in Al-Shati Refugee Camp that had been struck by Israeli airstrikes. I carried him in my arms and saw in his fragile body the story of an entire people, and in his struggling breaths a hope fighting to survive amidst destruction and death. I handed him over to the intensive care and neonatal teams. From the very first moment, I felt that saving this child meant far more than saving a single life—it meant preserving a part of our future. In times when homes collapse and cities are destroyed, children remain our greatest treasure; they are the homeland we carry in our hearts and in our hands. Yet his journey did not end when he was pulled from the rubble. He later became one of the newborns in the neonatal units who faced another deadly threat when hospitals were besieged and fuel supplies were blocked, depriving generators, incubators, and life-support equipment of the power needed to keep them alive. We watched infants die one after another while medical teams fought a relentless battle between life and death to save them. Many of these children were later transferred to Egypt in search of treatment and a chance to survive. Since then, I have often remembered that child whenever memories of those painful days return. I do not know whether he was among those who survived and eventually came back, or among those whose lives were stolen by this war before they were given a fair chance to live. What I do know is that his face remains etched in my memory. His story reflects the story of thousands of children born into war and siege, carrying on their tiny shoulders the burdens of an entire homeland. May those who passed away rest in peace, and may those who survived remain witnesses to one of the most devastating humanitarian tragedies of our time.
1:58

حين يصبح الطفلُ وطنًا لأن أغلى ما نملك ليس ما بُني من حجر، بل من وُلد ليحمل المستقبل. في الأيام الأولى للحرب، وبين أروقة مجمع الشفاء الطبي المكتظة بالجرحى والمصابين، وصل طفلٌ صغير انتُشل من فوق الركام بعد أن استهدفت طائرات الاحتلال مربعًا سكنيًا كاملًا في مخيم الشاطئ. حملتُه بين يديّ وأنا أرى في جسده الصغير حكاية شعبٍ بأكمله، وفي أنفاسه المتعبة أملاً يحاول النجاة من بين الموت والدمار. سلّمتُه إلى أطباء العناية المركزة والحضّانات، وكنت منذ اللحظة الأولى أشعر أن نجاته تعني أكثر من إنقاذ طفل واحد؛ كانت تعني إنقاذ جزءٍ من مستقبلنا. ففي زمنٍ تتهاوى فيه البيوت وتُهدم المدن، يبقى الأطفال هم الثروة الحقيقية، وهم الوطن الذي نحمله في قلوبنا وأيدينا. لكن رحلة هذا الطفل لم تنتهِ عند خروجه من تحت الركام. فقد أصبح لاحقًا واحدًا من أطفال الحضّانات الذين واجهوا خطرًا جديدًا عندما حاصر الاحتلال المستشفيات ومنع وصول الوقود اللازم لتشغيل المولدات والحضّانات وأجهزة الإنعاش. يومها كنا نشاهد الأطفال يرحلون واحدًا تلو الآخر، بينما كانت الطواقم الطبية تخوض معركةً قاسية بين الحياة والموت في محاولة لإنقاذهم. ثم نُقل عدد من هؤلاء الأطفال إلى مصر بحثًا عن العلاج وفرصةٍ للنجاة. ومنذ ذلك الحين، ما زلت أتذكر ذلك الطفل كلما عادت صور تلك الأيام إلى ذاكرتي. لا أعلم إن كان من بين الذين كتب الله لهم الحياة فعادوا بعد رحلة العلاج، أم من بين الأطفال الذين أودت الحرب بحياتهم قبل أن يمنحوا الحياة فرصةً كاملة لهم. كل ما أعلمه أن وجهه ما زال حاضرًا في الذاكرة، وأن قصته تختصر حكاية آلاف الأطفال الذين وُلدوا في زمن الحرب والحصار، فصاروا يحملون فوق أعمارهم الصغيرة أثقال وطنٍ كامل. رحم الله من رحل منهم، وحفظ من بقي شاهدًا على واحدة من أقسى المآسي الإنسانية في عصرنا. When a Child Becomes a Homeland Because the most precious thing we possess is not what is built of stone, but those born to carry the future. In the early days of the war, amid the crowded corridors of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, a small child arrived after being rescued from the rubble of a residential block in Al-Shati Refugee Camp that had been struck by Israeli airstrikes. I carried him in my arms and saw in his fragile body the story of an entire people, and in his struggling breaths a hope fighting to survive amidst destruction and death. I handed him over to the intensive care and neonatal teams. From the very first moment, I felt that saving this child meant far more than saving a single life—it meant preserving a part of our future. In times when homes collapse and cities are destroyed, children remain our greatest treasure; they are the homeland we carry in our hearts and in our hands. Yet his journey did not end when he was pulled from the rubble. He later became one of the newborns in the neonatal units who faced another deadly threat when hospitals were besieged and fuel supplies were blocked, depriving generators, incubators, and life-support equipment of the power needed to keep them alive. We watched infants die one after another while medical teams fought a relentless battle between life and death to save them. Many of these children were later transferred to Egypt in search of treatment and a chance to survive. Since then, I have often remembered that child whenever memories of those painful days return. I do not know whether he was among those who survived and eventually came back, or among those whose lives were stolen by this war before they were given a fair chance to live. What I do know is that his face remains etched in my memory. His story reflects the story of thousands of children born into war and siege, carrying on their tiny shoulders the burdens of an entire homeland. May those who passed away rest in peace, and may those who survived remain witnesses to one of the most devastating humanitarian tragedies of our time.

Dr.Muneer Alboursh د.منيرالبرش

16,906 Aufrufe • vor 2 Monaten

For the last decade, the media has called the idea that America is ruled by a secret government of deep state intelligence agencies like the CIA and FBI a "right-wing conspiracy theory." Journalists at outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, and NPR have portrayed claims about a “deep state” as paranoid fabrications pushed by Donald Trump and his supporters to discredit legitimate government institutions. They insisted that accusations of political bias or covert influence by agencies like the CIA or FBI had no basis in fact and served only to inflame public distrust. And yet over the same period, investigative reporting, including by the two of us, and official disclosures revealed that these agencies interfered in domestic politics in ways that aligned with that very narrative. The FBI launched a surveillance operation against the Trump campaign based on unverified opposition research. Dozens of former intelligence officials falsely claimed the Hunter Biden laptop story bore the “classic earmarks” of Russian disinformation, just weeks before the 2020 election. The Department of Homeland Security, along with the FBI and other agencies, coordinated with social media platforms to suppress speech under the banner of combating “misinformation.” These actions, taken together, suggest not a shadowy cabal, but a real and expanding infrastructure of state-aligned influence aimed at shaping public perception and countering populist dissent, just as the so-called conspiracy theorists claimed. The strongest argument against the existence of a secret government run by the deep state was the re-election of Donald Trump in 2024. If agencies like the CIA, FBI, and Department of Homeland Security truly exercised covert and unchecked control over American politics, it is difficult to explain how their most outspoken critic, and avowed enemy, returned to power. Trump did not merely criticize the intelligence community; he ran on a platform promising its reform. He vowed to purge partisan operatives, dismantle what he called politically weaponized agencies, and hold officials accountable for a pattern of lawless interference. And despite his direct confrontation with the national security establishment, Trump defeated Kamala Harris decisively, winning 312 electoral votes and a narrow popular vote majority. But now the Trump administration is attempting to sweep the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking scandal under the rug, with the Justice Department claiming that there is no client list and that no further disclosure is warranted, even though Attorney General Pam Bondi explicitly stated publicly that there were “tens of thousands of videos” which means the ability to identify the individuals involved in sex with minors, and that anyone in the Epstein files who tries to keep their name private has “no legal basis to do so.” On April 28, 2025, in a candid off-the-record exchange caught on video, Bondi told a bystander, “There are tens of thousands of videos… and it’s all with little kids.” She later reiterated on May 7 that these were “videos of Epstein with children or child porn.” Bondi’s comments directly contradicted the official stance of the administration, which has dismissed calls for a client list and slowed efforts to release the full contents of the Epstein files. Despite Trump’s campaign promises to dismantle the deep state and hold elites accountable, his administration now appears to be protecting the same intelligence and law enforcement networks it once condemned. Strong evidence suggests that Epstein was part of a sex blackmail operation tied to intelligence agencies. Visitor logs show that William Burns, who served as CIA Director under President Biden, visited Epstein’s New York townhouse multiple times. The Wall Street Journal reported those visits in 2023 based on Epstein’s private calendar. In 2017, Alex Acosta, the Justice Department official who gave Epstein his 2008 plea deal, told Trump transition officials that he was told to back off Epstein because he “belonged to intelligence.” The Justice Department later admitted that all eleven months of Acosta’s emails from that period had disappeared. This failure to follow through seriously undermines Trump’s explicit commitments to reform and shine light on the deep state. This is not just about Epstein. The Trump administration has not been particularly transparent about much else. The CIA, to its credit, released an internal evaluation last week admitting it had erred in the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment by claiming that Russia “aspired to” help elect Trump. But it stood by the overall assessment, signaling the agency’s reluctance to admit fault, its continued defensiveness in the face of mounting evidence, and its impunity. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence has disclosed a limited amount of information about intelligence community abuses during the pandemic, including the targeting of COVID vaccine dissenters as potential violent extremists. But beyond that, the Trump administration has released very little, even on issues where transparency would appear to be in its political interest. The administration has kept classified large volumes of material related to COVID origins, the FBI’s role in Russiagate, the suppression of the Hunter Biden laptop story, and unidentified anomalous phenomena. It is thus hard not to conclude that the intelligence community continues to operate in violation of the constitutional system of checks and balances by evading meaningful congressional oversight. The Constitution grants Congress the power and responsibility to oversee the executive branch, including intelligence agencies, through budgetary control, public hearings, and access to classified information. And yet the intelligence community is withholding and heavily redacting documents, delaying responses to lawful inquiries, and using national security classifications to avoid scrutiny. This persistent obstruction undermines the legislative branch’s ability to hold agencies accountable and distorts the balance of power the framers designed. When unelected intelligence officials can withhold information not only from the public but from elected representatives, constitutional oversight becomes a formality rather than a functioning safeguard. Few independent journalists have done more than we have to defend Donald Trump and the MAGA movement against the weaponization of the intelligence community and deep state agencies. Over the past two and a half years, we have published hundreds of investigative articles and testified before Congress about unconstitutional abuses of power by the CIA, FBI, DHS, and their proxies. We exposed efforts to censor Trump and his supporters through a sprawling Censorship Industrial Complex, documented the manipulation of the justice system to prosecute Trump on politicized grounds, and revealed how U.S. and foreign agencies coordinated mass surveillance of speech. We defended Trump from false and malicious claims, showed that his administration obeyed court orders, and disproved the narrative that he violated democratic norms more than Democrats. We were the first to report new evidence that President Obama’s CIA Director ordered spying on Trump campaign officials to justify surveillance and interfere in the 2016 election. After Trump’s reelection, we published investigations revealing abuses of power by USAID and the Department of Education. We editorialized in support of his lawful executive orders ending DEI and gender-affirming procedures for minors. We exposed the CIA and USAID’s role in supporting the 2019 impeachment effort and their connection to the Russia collusion hoax. In all this, we have consistently made the case that Trump’s victory was not just political, it was moral. Given all we have done to expose the Censorship Industrial Complex and intelligence community abuses of power, Public’s readers rightly expect us to follow through on these concerns, no matter who holds office. We did not spend years documenting unconstitutional secrecy, surveillance, and coercion only to remain silent when the administration we defended begins to mirror the behavior we condemned. Our commitment is not to any one leader or party, but to the Constitution, to civil liberties, and to the principle that no government, Democratic or Republican, should be allowed to rule through secrecy, coercion, or fear. To prove it is not simply the latest custodian of the deep state, the Trump administration must release the Epstein videos and related evidence, fully expose the scope of the sex trafficking and apparent IC blackmail operation, and ensure that every perpetrator, regardless of power or position, is held accountable under the law. It must also release the long-withheld files on COVID origins, Russiagate, the Hunter Biden laptop, January 6, unidentified aerial phenomena, and other topics. Even if these files do not reveal any “smoking guns,” the public has a right to full transparency. Only through this transparency can the credibility of the intelligence community be restored. Congress must step up as well. Legislative leaders must hold public hearings on each of these issues, issue subpoenas if necessary, and demand full executive branch compliance with oversight. The Constitution grants Congress, not the intelligence agencies, the power to check secrecy, correct abuse, and uphold the rule of law. These are not matters of political convenience but constitutional obligation. The American people have the right to know what their government has done in their name and against their rights. If the Trump administration fails to act, it will confirm the fear that even the most populist and combative president can be captured or neutralized by the very system he vowed to dismantle. And it will lose much of the legitimacy it gained by surviving and overcoming the lawfare, censorship, and weaponization of the deep state against it. Many within the Trump administration acknowledge this and note that this is hardly the end of the Epstein affair. “This is a total fucking disaster,” someone within the Intelligence Community told us this afternoon, as we were going to press with this editorial. After we pointed out that the Attorney General said one thing and now the Justice Department, FBI Director, and Deputy FBI Director are all saying the opposite, the person said, “I hope you ask these questions. These are the questions that need to be asked. We’re in a time when information flows more freely. If people think that this is going to go away — I don’t see how it can.” Nor, we would add, should it.
10:41

For the last decade, the media has called the idea that America is ruled by a secret government of deep state intelligence agencies like the CIA and FBI a "right-wing conspiracy theory." Journalists at outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, and NPR have portrayed claims about a “deep state” as paranoid fabrications pushed by Donald Trump and his supporters to discredit legitimate government institutions. They insisted that accusations of political bias or covert influence by agencies like the CIA or FBI had no basis in fact and served only to inflame public distrust. And yet over the same period, investigative reporting, including by the two of us, and official disclosures revealed that these agencies interfered in domestic politics in ways that aligned with that very narrative. The FBI launched a surveillance operation against the Trump campaign based on unverified opposition research. Dozens of former intelligence officials falsely claimed the Hunter Biden laptop story bore the “classic earmarks” of Russian disinformation, just weeks before the 2020 election. The Department of Homeland Security, along with the FBI and other agencies, coordinated with social media platforms to suppress speech under the banner of combating “misinformation.” These actions, taken together, suggest not a shadowy cabal, but a real and expanding infrastructure of state-aligned influence aimed at shaping public perception and countering populist dissent, just as the so-called conspiracy theorists claimed. The strongest argument against the existence of a secret government run by the deep state was the re-election of Donald Trump in 2024. If agencies like the CIA, FBI, and Department of Homeland Security truly exercised covert and unchecked control over American politics, it is difficult to explain how their most outspoken critic, and avowed enemy, returned to power. Trump did not merely criticize the intelligence community; he ran on a platform promising its reform. He vowed to purge partisan operatives, dismantle what he called politically weaponized agencies, and hold officials accountable for a pattern of lawless interference. And despite his direct confrontation with the national security establishment, Trump defeated Kamala Harris decisively, winning 312 electoral votes and a narrow popular vote majority. But now the Trump administration is attempting to sweep the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking scandal under the rug, with the Justice Department claiming that there is no client list and that no further disclosure is warranted, even though Attorney General Pam Bondi explicitly stated publicly that there were “tens of thousands of videos” which means the ability to identify the individuals involved in sex with minors, and that anyone in the Epstein files who tries to keep their name private has “no legal basis to do so.” On April 28, 2025, in a candid off-the-record exchange caught on video, Bondi told a bystander, “There are tens of thousands of videos… and it’s all with little kids.” She later reiterated on May 7 that these were “videos of Epstein with children or child porn.” Bondi’s comments directly contradicted the official stance of the administration, which has dismissed calls for a client list and slowed efforts to release the full contents of the Epstein files. Despite Trump’s campaign promises to dismantle the deep state and hold elites accountable, his administration now appears to be protecting the same intelligence and law enforcement networks it once condemned. Strong evidence suggests that Epstein was part of a sex blackmail operation tied to intelligence agencies. Visitor logs show that William Burns, who served as CIA Director under President Biden, visited Epstein’s New York townhouse multiple times. The Wall Street Journal reported those visits in 2023 based on Epstein’s private calendar. In 2017, Alex Acosta, the Justice Department official who gave Epstein his 2008 plea deal, told Trump transition officials that he was told to back off Epstein because he “belonged to intelligence.” The Justice Department later admitted that all eleven months of Acosta’s emails from that period had disappeared. This failure to follow through seriously undermines Trump’s explicit commitments to reform and shine light on the deep state. This is not just about Epstein. The Trump administration has not been particularly transparent about much else. The CIA, to its credit, released an internal evaluation last week admitting it had erred in the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment by claiming that Russia “aspired to” help elect Trump. But it stood by the overall assessment, signaling the agency’s reluctance to admit fault, its continued defensiveness in the face of mounting evidence, and its impunity. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence has disclosed a limited amount of information about intelligence community abuses during the pandemic, including the targeting of COVID vaccine dissenters as potential violent extremists. But beyond that, the Trump administration has released very little, even on issues where transparency would appear to be in its political interest. The administration has kept classified large volumes of material related to COVID origins, the FBI’s role in Russiagate, the suppression of the Hunter Biden laptop story, and unidentified anomalous phenomena. It is thus hard not to conclude that the intelligence community continues to operate in violation of the constitutional system of checks and balances by evading meaningful congressional oversight. The Constitution grants Congress the power and responsibility to oversee the executive branch, including intelligence agencies, through budgetary control, public hearings, and access to classified information. And yet the intelligence community is withholding and heavily redacting documents, delaying responses to lawful inquiries, and using national security classifications to avoid scrutiny. This persistent obstruction undermines the legislative branch’s ability to hold agencies accountable and distorts the balance of power the framers designed. When unelected intelligence officials can withhold information not only from the public but from elected representatives, constitutional oversight becomes a formality rather than a functioning safeguard. Few independent journalists have done more than we have to defend Donald Trump and the MAGA movement against the weaponization of the intelligence community and deep state agencies. Over the past two and a half years, we have published hundreds of investigative articles and testified before Congress about unconstitutional abuses of power by the CIA, FBI, DHS, and their proxies. We exposed efforts to censor Trump and his supporters through a sprawling Censorship Industrial Complex, documented the manipulation of the justice system to prosecute Trump on politicized grounds, and revealed how U.S. and foreign agencies coordinated mass surveillance of speech. We defended Trump from false and malicious claims, showed that his administration obeyed court orders, and disproved the narrative that he violated democratic norms more than Democrats. We were the first to report new evidence that President Obama’s CIA Director ordered spying on Trump campaign officials to justify surveillance and interfere in the 2016 election. After Trump’s reelection, we published investigations revealing abuses of power by USAID and the Department of Education. We editorialized in support of his lawful executive orders ending DEI and gender-affirming procedures for minors. We exposed the CIA and USAID’s role in supporting the 2019 impeachment effort and their connection to the Russia collusion hoax. In all this, we have consistently made the case that Trump’s victory was not just political, it was moral. Given all we have done to expose the Censorship Industrial Complex and intelligence community abuses of power, Public’s readers rightly expect us to follow through on these concerns, no matter who holds office. We did not spend years documenting unconstitutional secrecy, surveillance, and coercion only to remain silent when the administration we defended begins to mirror the behavior we condemned. Our commitment is not to any one leader or party, but to the Constitution, to civil liberties, and to the principle that no government, Democratic or Republican, should be allowed to rule through secrecy, coercion, or fear. To prove it is not simply the latest custodian of the deep state, the Trump administration must release the Epstein videos and related evidence, fully expose the scope of the sex trafficking and apparent IC blackmail operation, and ensure that every perpetrator, regardless of power or position, is held accountable under the law. It must also release the long-withheld files on COVID origins, Russiagate, the Hunter Biden laptop, January 6, unidentified aerial phenomena, and other topics. Even if these files do not reveal any “smoking guns,” the public has a right to full transparency. Only through this transparency can the credibility of the intelligence community be restored. Congress must step up as well. Legislative leaders must hold public hearings on each of these issues, issue subpoenas if necessary, and demand full executive branch compliance with oversight. The Constitution grants Congress, not the intelligence agencies, the power to check secrecy, correct abuse, and uphold the rule of law. These are not matters of political convenience but constitutional obligation. The American people have the right to know what their government has done in their name and against their rights. If the Trump administration fails to act, it will confirm the fear that even the most populist and combative president can be captured or neutralized by the very system he vowed to dismantle. And it will lose much of the legitimacy it gained by surviving and overcoming the lawfare, censorship, and weaponization of the deep state against it. Many within the Trump administration acknowledge this and note that this is hardly the end of the Epstein affair. “This is a total fucking disaster,” someone within the Intelligence Community told us this afternoon, as we were going to press with this editorial. After we pointed out that the Attorney General said one thing and now the Justice Department, FBI Director, and Deputy FBI Director are all saying the opposite, the person said, “I hope you ask these questions. These are the questions that need to be asked. We’re in a time when information flows more freely. If people think that this is going to go away — I don’t see how it can.” Nor, we would add, should it.

Michael Shellenberger

2,054,594 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

A Twist in the Tale: Has BJP become the adda of corrupt? In the run up to the 2014 general elections, the BJP centred its campaign around alleged corruption under the Congress-led UPA government, promising ‘ache din’ . Several times during the campaign, Narendra Modi Ji grandiloquently promised to jail the corrupt. He was equally loud about bringing back 'all the looted money stashed away in Swiss banks and eliminating black money'. People gave BJP a decisive mandate and Modi became PM in 2014. On 8th November 2016 in a public broadcast PM Modi declared that Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 notes would cease to be legal tender and grandiosely announced that the purpose of #demonetisation was to crackdown on corruption and eliminate black money. It, however, turned out to be spurious. Recently, Supreme Court Justice B. V. Nagarathna said in a conference in Hyderabad that in the Indian economy at that time, Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes comprised 86% of the currency and wondered about the goal of the demonetisation exercise since 98% of those notes came back to banks. She also questioned about black money eradication as demonetisation became a good way of converting black money into white money. In 2017 the BJP government introduced #ElectoralBond Scheme, which was anonymous financial contributions to political parties, by amending several laws namely, the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the Companies Act, 2013, the Income Tax Act, 1961. Its avowed purpose was to enhance transparency and accountability in political funding by eliminating black money, corruption. etc. The Supreme Court has recently struck down this secret political funding as unconstitutional and directed disclosure of complete details of all electoral bonds. From the data available in public domain, thanks to the Supreme Court, it came to light that the BJP is the biggest beneficiary as out of total Rs. 11,450 crores it received Rs. 6,566 crores which is 57%. Contemporaneous evidence indicates that #ElectoralBonds have all the ingredients of a huge scam such as quid pro quo and corruption, shell and loss making companies donating to political parties huge sums of money suspected to be kickbacks, and laundering of black money. In order to shield our democratic process from foreign interference, the laws regulating foreign contributions prohibited political parties and candidates in elections from accepting foreign contributions. But the BJP government through Finance Acts, 2016 and 2018 amended with retrospective effect the Foreign Contributions (Regulation) Act, 2010 (#FCRA) by changing the definition of ‘foreign source’ not only condoning the past illegalities committed but also permitting political parties to receive foreign funds, and thereby paved way for foreign intrusion into our political and electoral process compromising our sovereignty. Further, notwithstanding the huge propaganda of alleged action against Foreign Funded NGOs, there has been a huge spike in #FCRA remittances since the 2014-15. While during the 20 years between financial years 1994-1995 and 2013-14 an amount of Rs. 1,51,036 Crores was received, during the 8 years between 2014-15 and 2023-24 Rs. 1,46,392 was received. Data for financial years 2022-23 and 2023-24 is not yet available. However, from the trends of #FCRA remittances in the preceding years it will be around Rs. 50,000 Crores together for both the financial years, making the total FCRA remittances during 10 year rule of BJP to be around Rs. 2,00,000 Crores which is humongous. Even if a small fraction of that huge amount of foreign funds has gone to political parties or candidates in elections, it amounts to serious subversion of our democracy and constitution. What sort of patriotism is this? Several months prior to 2014 general elections, a spate of alleged scams during UPA rule surfaced namely, Chit Fund scam, Chopper scam, Tatra truck scam, 2G Spectrum scam, CWG scam, Coal scam, Adarsh scam, etc. The courts, CBI, ED and IT proactively initiated action as a result several Congress and UPA leaders came under scanner. Though the BJP came to power on the anti-corruption plank, hardly any political leaders of significance was convicted, nor even paisa of black money stashed away in Swiss banks was brought back. On the other hand, the BJP has allegedly been misusing the law enforcement agencies to arm-twist the opposition political leaders under cloud either to defect to or align with the BJP. Out of 25 important opposition leaders who were allegedly under the scanner and joined BJP, 23 have reportedly got reprieve. Politicians like Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jagan who faces 38 criminal cases including 11 CBI and 7 ED cases, have been buying peace from the BJP. As a result none of his cases have seen the light of the day, notwithstanding the direction of Supreme Court to speed up trial of cases against politicians. Likewise, the DMK leaders namely, the Maran brothers, A. Raja, Karunanidhi’s daughter Kanimozhi have been acquitted, after they not so secretly cosied up to BJP, thanks to the lacklustre prosecution of their cases before the courts. These are only representative examples of how the BJP has become the adda for the leaders facing allegations of corruption, money laundering, etc. It is quite possible that some of them may be genuinely innocent. But as their innocence has been established only after their defection to or aligning with the ruling BJP, it creates dark shadows by raising serious moral questions. Last year, fourteen political parties approached the Supreme Court against the alleged misuse of central investigating agencies in arresting opposition political leaders and other citizens exercising their fundamental right to dissent and disagree with the ruling BJP. It was alleged that 95% of political leaders investigated by CBI and ED belong to opposition. That is, out of 121 prominent politicians facing ED probe between 2014 and 2022, 115 are opposition leaders who had been booked, raided, questioned or arrested. To wriggle out of or deflect the allegations of promoting corruption, shielding the corrupt who have joined or aligned with the BJP and targeting opposition leaders, etc, one of the standard refrains of the BJP has been that as Narendra Modi has no family he cannot be corrupt or has no motivation to be corrupt or shield the corrupt. That is a disingenuous argument. Late Jayalalitha, who was a spinster with no family, was convicted for corruption and was sent to jail. There are many prominent leaders who are unmarried or have no families facing cases or allegations of corruption. I don’t mean to even hint let alone allege that Narendra Modi is personally financially corrupt. I merely want to call out their bluff by highlighting the point that there is no connection between one’s familial status and corruption. It must be recalled that Manmohan Singh, whose personal financial integrity was impeccable, presided over a corrupt regime. As such, personal financial honesty of PM or a CM is meaningless if his party and government are not honest. Barring honourable exceptions, every political party while in opposition grandiloquently talks against corruption, not necessarily because they are honest, but because they try to make a virtue of out of lack of opportunities to make money. Notwithstanding its anti-corruption rhetoric the BJP is no stranger to corruption as its unsavory history tells. In 2001, none other than its National President late Bangaru Laxman was caught on the camera taking bribe from one Mathew Samuel, and was later convicted by a Special CBI Court on 27th April 2012 and sentenced to four years in jail. Further, BJP’s former CM of Karnataka Sri B. S. Yeddyurappa faced charges of corruption and was also in jail for a while. There are allegations of misdeeds of BJP government in PM-CARES Fund which is mired in secrecy, in sale of Air India to Tatas for peanuts, about CAG’s concern about astronomical escalation in cost of construction of Dwarka Expressway from Rs. 18.2 crores per km to Rs. 251 crores per km, in the utility of more than Rs. 14,000 crores public funds for Namami Gange project while the sacred Ganga is on the verge becoming a sewer like Yamuna, and several others. The #ElectoralBondScam which points to several alleged scams, is only a tip of the iceberg. It seems further action to take it to logical end has come to a naught. Therefore, having seen the fate of investigation and trial of all the alleged scams and how the political class sabotage, it is imperative that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising serving or retired officers specially chosen by the Supreme Court, which will not be part of any Law Enforcement Agency but independently directly reporting to the Supreme Court, would alone will be able to unravel the truth. It is pertinent to recall the stellar role of RTI Act and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (before it was amended in 2018) in exposing alleged corruption in the Congress-led UPA government. Information is power. So, the RTI Act empowered people to seek information from public authorities on all official matters (barring a very few exceptions). Based on that information obtained through RTI process about alleged corrupt deals, illegalities, etc during UPA rule, the CBI which had no legal shackles could initiate enquiries and investigation into those allegations. The BJP while in opposition used and exploited this situation to the hilt to oust the Congress-led UPA from power. And having formed government the BJP is acutely aware of the dangers for the corrupt lurking in these laws. So they have systematically wrecked the RTI Act so much so that it has gone from citizens’ most powerful tool to an Act on life support. In 2018 they amended the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. As per new section 17A introduced therein, “No police officer shall conduct any enquiry or inquiry or investigation into any offence alleged to have been committed by a public servant under this Act, where the alleged offence is relatable to any recommendation made or decision taken by such public servant in discharge of his official functions or duties, without the previous approval” of respective governments or appointing authority of the public servant. Which government will permit investigation into its own misdeeds? While Justice R. M. Lodha in 2013 denounced the CBI as a ‘caged parrot’, the BJP government translated his oral observation into a legal reality by destroying the Prevention of Corruption Act. Evidently, the real purpose of BJP undermining RTI Act and emasculating the CBI was to prevent visitation of fate similar to that of UPA by insulating and firewalling themselves from any future enquiries and investigations into their alleged corrupt deeds. Finally, there is an uncanny resemblance between the BJP’s anti-corruption rhetoric with a story in Jeffrey Archer’s popular book, ‘A Twist in the Tale’, which goes like this: Ignatius Agarbi was the new Financial Minister of Nigeria. He begins a sweep on corruption and makes a name for himself. Impressed by his extreme honesty, his president entrusted him to find out how many Nigerians have stashed their bribes in Switzerland. He arrives at the Swiss Bank with a briefcase. Despite his greatest persuasion, the Swiss banker refuses to break their code of privacy. In the end, Ignatius places a gun to the head of the Swiss banker and threatens to kill him. Still the banker refuses to divulge any confidential information. Ignatius, who was actually extremely corrupt, was only checking to find out if the Swiss Banks would actually reveal the name of an account holder. Delighted with their secrecy, Ignatius deposits $5 million in cash which he had skimmed as Financial Minister.”
2:02

A Twist in the Tale: Has BJP become the adda of corrupt? In the run up to the 2014 general elections, the BJP centred its campaign around alleged corruption under the Congress-led UPA government, promising ‘ache din’ . Several times during the campaign, Narendra Modi Ji grandiloquently promised to jail the corrupt. He was equally loud about bringing back 'all the looted money stashed away in Swiss banks and eliminating black money'. People gave BJP a decisive mandate and Modi became PM in 2014. On 8th November 2016 in a public broadcast PM Modi declared that Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 notes would cease to be legal tender and grandiosely announced that the purpose of #demonetisation was to crackdown on corruption and eliminate black money. It, however, turned out to be spurious. Recently, Supreme Court Justice B. V. Nagarathna said in a conference in Hyderabad that in the Indian economy at that time, Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes comprised 86% of the currency and wondered about the goal of the demonetisation exercise since 98% of those notes came back to banks. She also questioned about black money eradication as demonetisation became a good way of converting black money into white money. In 2017 the BJP government introduced #ElectoralBond Scheme, which was anonymous financial contributions to political parties, by amending several laws namely, the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the Companies Act, 2013, the Income Tax Act, 1961. Its avowed purpose was to enhance transparency and accountability in political funding by eliminating black money, corruption. etc. The Supreme Court has recently struck down this secret political funding as unconstitutional and directed disclosure of complete details of all electoral bonds. From the data available in public domain, thanks to the Supreme Court, it came to light that the BJP is the biggest beneficiary as out of total Rs. 11,450 crores it received Rs. 6,566 crores which is 57%. Contemporaneous evidence indicates that #ElectoralBonds have all the ingredients of a huge scam such as quid pro quo and corruption, shell and loss making companies donating to political parties huge sums of money suspected to be kickbacks, and laundering of black money. In order to shield our democratic process from foreign interference, the laws regulating foreign contributions prohibited political parties and candidates in elections from accepting foreign contributions. But the BJP government through Finance Acts, 2016 and 2018 amended with retrospective effect the Foreign Contributions (Regulation) Act, 2010 (#FCRA) by changing the definition of ‘foreign source’ not only condoning the past illegalities committed but also permitting political parties to receive foreign funds, and thereby paved way for foreign intrusion into our political and electoral process compromising our sovereignty. Further, notwithstanding the huge propaganda of alleged action against Foreign Funded NGOs, there has been a huge spike in #FCRA remittances since the 2014-15. While during the 20 years between financial years 1994-1995 and 2013-14 an amount of Rs. 1,51,036 Crores was received, during the 8 years between 2014-15 and 2023-24 Rs. 1,46,392 was received. Data for financial years 2022-23 and 2023-24 is not yet available. However, from the trends of #FCRA remittances in the preceding years it will be around Rs. 50,000 Crores together for both the financial years, making the total FCRA remittances during 10 year rule of BJP to be around Rs. 2,00,000 Crores which is humongous. Even if a small fraction of that huge amount of foreign funds has gone to political parties or candidates in elections, it amounts to serious subversion of our democracy and constitution. What sort of patriotism is this? Several months prior to 2014 general elections, a spate of alleged scams during UPA rule surfaced namely, Chit Fund scam, Chopper scam, Tatra truck scam, 2G Spectrum scam, CWG scam, Coal scam, Adarsh scam, etc. The courts, CBI, ED and IT proactively initiated action as a result several Congress and UPA leaders came under scanner. Though the BJP came to power on the anti-corruption plank, hardly any political leaders of significance was convicted, nor even paisa of black money stashed away in Swiss banks was brought back. On the other hand, the BJP has allegedly been misusing the law enforcement agencies to arm-twist the opposition political leaders under cloud either to defect to or align with the BJP. Out of 25 important opposition leaders who were allegedly under the scanner and joined BJP, 23 have reportedly got reprieve. Politicians like Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jagan who faces 38 criminal cases including 11 CBI and 7 ED cases, have been buying peace from the BJP. As a result none of his cases have seen the light of the day, notwithstanding the direction of Supreme Court to speed up trial of cases against politicians. Likewise, the DMK leaders namely, the Maran brothers, A. Raja, Karunanidhi’s daughter Kanimozhi have been acquitted, after they not so secretly cosied up to BJP, thanks to the lacklustre prosecution of their cases before the courts. These are only representative examples of how the BJP has become the adda for the leaders facing allegations of corruption, money laundering, etc. It is quite possible that some of them may be genuinely innocent. But as their innocence has been established only after their defection to or aligning with the ruling BJP, it creates dark shadows by raising serious moral questions. Last year, fourteen political parties approached the Supreme Court against the alleged misuse of central investigating agencies in arresting opposition political leaders and other citizens exercising their fundamental right to dissent and disagree with the ruling BJP. It was alleged that 95% of political leaders investigated by CBI and ED belong to opposition. That is, out of 121 prominent politicians facing ED probe between 2014 and 2022, 115 are opposition leaders who had been booked, raided, questioned or arrested. To wriggle out of or deflect the allegations of promoting corruption, shielding the corrupt who have joined or aligned with the BJP and targeting opposition leaders, etc, one of the standard refrains of the BJP has been that as Narendra Modi has no family he cannot be corrupt or has no motivation to be corrupt or shield the corrupt. That is a disingenuous argument. Late Jayalalitha, who was a spinster with no family, was convicted for corruption and was sent to jail. There are many prominent leaders who are unmarried or have no families facing cases or allegations of corruption. I don’t mean to even hint let alone allege that Narendra Modi is personally financially corrupt. I merely want to call out their bluff by highlighting the point that there is no connection between one’s familial status and corruption. It must be recalled that Manmohan Singh, whose personal financial integrity was impeccable, presided over a corrupt regime. As such, personal financial honesty of PM or a CM is meaningless if his party and government are not honest. Barring honourable exceptions, every political party while in opposition grandiloquently talks against corruption, not necessarily because they are honest, but because they try to make a virtue of out of lack of opportunities to make money. Notwithstanding its anti-corruption rhetoric the BJP is no stranger to corruption as its unsavory history tells. In 2001, none other than its National President late Bangaru Laxman was caught on the camera taking bribe from one Mathew Samuel, and was later convicted by a Special CBI Court on 27th April 2012 and sentenced to four years in jail. Further, BJP’s former CM of Karnataka Sri B. S. Yeddyurappa faced charges of corruption and was also in jail for a while. There are allegations of misdeeds of BJP government in PM-CARES Fund which is mired in secrecy, in sale of Air India to Tatas for peanuts, about CAG’s concern about astronomical escalation in cost of construction of Dwarka Expressway from Rs. 18.2 crores per km to Rs. 251 crores per km, in the utility of more than Rs. 14,000 crores public funds for Namami Gange project while the sacred Ganga is on the verge becoming a sewer like Yamuna, and several others. The #ElectoralBondScam which points to several alleged scams, is only a tip of the iceberg. It seems further action to take it to logical end has come to a naught. Therefore, having seen the fate of investigation and trial of all the alleged scams and how the political class sabotage, it is imperative that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising serving or retired officers specially chosen by the Supreme Court, which will not be part of any Law Enforcement Agency but independently directly reporting to the Supreme Court, would alone will be able to unravel the truth. It is pertinent to recall the stellar role of RTI Act and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (before it was amended in 2018) in exposing alleged corruption in the Congress-led UPA government. Information is power. So, the RTI Act empowered people to seek information from public authorities on all official matters (barring a very few exceptions). Based on that information obtained through RTI process about alleged corrupt deals, illegalities, etc during UPA rule, the CBI which had no legal shackles could initiate enquiries and investigation into those allegations. The BJP while in opposition used and exploited this situation to the hilt to oust the Congress-led UPA from power. And having formed government the BJP is acutely aware of the dangers for the corrupt lurking in these laws. So they have systematically wrecked the RTI Act so much so that it has gone from citizens’ most powerful tool to an Act on life support. In 2018 they amended the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. As per new section 17A introduced therein, “No police officer shall conduct any enquiry or inquiry or investigation into any offence alleged to have been committed by a public servant under this Act, where the alleged offence is relatable to any recommendation made or decision taken by such public servant in discharge of his official functions or duties, without the previous approval” of respective governments or appointing authority of the public servant. Which government will permit investigation into its own misdeeds? While Justice R. M. Lodha in 2013 denounced the CBI as a ‘caged parrot’, the BJP government translated his oral observation into a legal reality by destroying the Prevention of Corruption Act. Evidently, the real purpose of BJP undermining RTI Act and emasculating the CBI was to prevent visitation of fate similar to that of UPA by insulating and firewalling themselves from any future enquiries and investigations into their alleged corrupt deeds. Finally, there is an uncanny resemblance between the BJP’s anti-corruption rhetoric with a story in Jeffrey Archer’s popular book, ‘A Twist in the Tale’, which goes like this: Ignatius Agarbi was the new Financial Minister of Nigeria. He begins a sweep on corruption and makes a name for himself. Impressed by his extreme honesty, his president entrusted him to find out how many Nigerians have stashed their bribes in Switzerland. He arrives at the Swiss Bank with a briefcase. Despite his greatest persuasion, the Swiss banker refuses to break their code of privacy. In the end, Ignatius places a gun to the head of the Swiss banker and threatens to kill him. Still the banker refuses to divulge any confidential information. Ignatius, who was actually extremely corrupt, was only checking to find out if the Swiss Banks would actually reveal the name of an account holder. Delighted with their secrecy, Ignatius deposits $5 million in cash which he had skimmed as Financial Minister.”

M. Nageswara Rao IPS (Retired)

239,217 Aufrufe • vor 2 Jahren