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Russian President Vladimir Putin has launched an illegal, unjustified war against Ukraine and Putin himself is the only person who can stop the war immediately. In this episode, we seek to understand why President Putin has launched this horrific war in order to judge our country's ability to bring the war to a quicker end. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via PayPal Support Congressional Dish via Patreon (donations per episode) Send Zelle payments to: Donation@congressionaldish.com Send Venmo payments to: @Jennifer-Briney Send Cash App payments to: $CongressionalDish or Donation@congressionaldish.com Use your bank's online bill pay function to mail contributions to: 5753 Hwy 85 North, Number 4576, Crestview, FL 32536. Please make checks payable to Congressional Dish Thank you for supporting truly independent media! Background Sources Recommended Congressional Dish Episodes CD244: Keeping Ukraine CD186: National Endowment for Democracy CD168: Nuclear Desperation Ukraine Civil War Alan MacLeod. Feb 22, 2022. “Documents Reveal US Spent $22 Million Promoting Anti-Russia Narrative in Ukraine & Abroad.” The Washington Standard. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Oct 8, 2021. “Conflict-related civilian casualties in Ukraine.” United Nations. Andrew Higgins and Peter Baker. Feb 6, 2014. “Russia Claims U.S. Is Meddling Over Ukraine.” The New York Times. NATO Expansion Becky Sullivan. Updated Feb 24, 2022. “How NATO's expansion helped drive Putin to invade Ukraine.” NPR. Henry Meyer and Ilya Arkhipov. Dec 17, 2021. “Russia Demands NATO Pullback in Security Talks With U.S.” Bloomberg. Joe Dyke. Mar 20, 2021. “NATO Killed Civilians in Libya. It's Time to Admit It.” Foreign Policy. NATO. Updated May 5, 2020. “Enlargement.” NATO. 2020. “The Secretary General's Annual Report.” National Security Archive. December 12, 2017. “NATO Expansion: What Gorbachev Heard.” Arms Control Association. “The Debate Over NATO Expansion: A Critique of the Clinton Administration's Responses to Key Questions.” “Record of conversation between Mikhail Gorbachev and James Baker in Moscow. (Excerpts.)” February 9, 1990. National Security Archive. “Ukraine: The Orange Revolution and the Yushchenko Presidency.” In The Encyclopedia Britannica. NATO in Ukraine Xinhua. Nov 14, 2021. “Ukraine, NATO countries hold naval drills in Black Sea.” News.cn Chad Menegay and Aimee Valles. Sept 22, 2021. “US, NATO, Ukraine enhance interoperability with Rapid Trident exercise.” NationalGuard.mil Reuters. April 3, 2021. “Ukraine and Britain to Hold Joint Military Drills.” U.S. News and World Report. NATO Allied Maritime Command. Mar 17, 2021. “NATO forces train with the Ukrainian Navy.” European Deterrence Initiative Paul Belkin and Hibbah Kaileh. Updated July 1, 2021. “The European Deterrence Initiative: A Budgetary Overview” [IF10946.] Congressional Research Service. Weapons Treaties TASS. Feb 21, 2022. “Europe won't understand Kiev talking of regaining nuclear weapons — Russian diplomat.” Center for Arms Control and Non-proliferation. Updated March 2021. “Fact Sheet: Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty.” Arms Control Association. Last reviewed August 2019. “The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty at a Glance.” General Dynamics General Dynamics. “Corporate Governance: Board of Directors.” Russia-China Alliance Chen Aizhu. Feb 4, 2022. “Russia, China agree 30-year gas deal via new pipeline, to settle in euros.” Reuters. Robin Brant. Feb 4, 2022. “China joins Russia in opposing Nato expansion.” BBC News. Sanctions Matina Stevis-Gridneff. Feb 25, 2022. “European Leaders Agree to a Second Wave of Russia Sanctions.” The New York Times. Congressional Response Joe Gould. Feb 22, 2022. “Emergency funding proposal for Ukraine gets bipartisan backing in Congress.” Defense News. Reuters. Feb 25, 2022. “U.S. providing $600 mln for Ukraine defensive weapons -House Speaker Pelosi.” Reuters. Images State Property Fund of Ukraine USAID Partnership Audio Sources House Speaker Weekly Briefing February 23, 2022 YouTube Version Overview: At her weekly briefing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), along with several of her Democratic colleagues, talked about the situation in Ukraine and President Biden's sanctions after Russia recognized the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk in the Donbas region. Clips 10:25 Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA): Putin is terrified by the prospect of a democracy at his border. A democracy, giving an example to the Russian people of the kind of life and economy they might enjoy if they cast aside their own autocrat. This is, I think, one of the preeminent motivations of Vladimir Putin. 15:32 Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA): I chair the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign operations, which oversees many of the resources to assist the Ukrainian people through this crisis. This includes our economic assistance to Ukraine, including loan guarantees. Economic assistance would come through the economic support accounts for Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia, those of the accounts that would come through. Without getting in too many of the weeds, I wanted to just mention that because it's an effort that we're looking at now in terms of our funding. It also includes humanitarian plans, including funding for refugees, God forbid, and for those internally displaced by conflict. The administration has committed to us that in the event of conflict, there is a need over the next 12 months of at least $1 billion for humanitarian needs. So I support the efforts of the administration also to bolster Ukraine's economy, including the proposed $1 billion in loan guarantees to continue with Ukraine's economic reforms. 22:08 Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA): I will just close by saying this: I had the privilege of going with President Clinton, who invited four members of Congress House and Senate, Democrat and Republican, the Senate Democrat was Senator Joe Biden. And we went to the expansion of NATO meeting in Paris. And it was all the heads of state of the then NATO countries who spoke and it was so beautiful because they all spoke in such a positive way about NATO. We thought like we were NATO and they were also NATO, they had ownership and agency in possession of the NATO possibilities. The representative of Russia who was there was Boris Yeltsin. And he was very ebullient, but he was welcoming to what was called was the expansion we had supported in our own country, the Baltic States, Poland, others countries becoming what was called the Partnership for Peace and it included many countries. Now Putin is saying push it back to pre-1997. Don't ever try to add another country and remove weapons out of Eastern Europe. That's what he wanted. No, that was not going to happen. 33:35 Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA): What is this about? The people of Hung -- many of us have visited Ukraine and have seen that they love democracy. They do not want to live under Vladimir Putin. He does not want the Russian people to see what democracy looks like. And therefore he wants to bring them under his domain. 35:15 Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA): When we talk about the president, he's doing the sanctions. He has a full picture of all this. As I said, he was present there the day of the expansion of NATO. I saw the respect he commanded then, and that was 1997, by the heads of state of all those countries, and of course, that has only grown over time, by his leadership, but also the expansion of NATO. I think we're very well served, I respect his judgement. And again, it's not just about when you do the sanctions, or how you support the people. It's about how the world views what Putin is doing. This is a very evil move on the part of Vladimir Putin. President Biden Remarks on Russia and Ukraine February 22, 2022 YouTube Version Transcript Overview: During an address, President Biden announced new sanctions against Russia in response to President Vladimir Putin sending Russian troops into separatist regions of Ukraine. Clips 1:57 President Biden So, today, I'm announcing the first tranche of sanctions to impose costs on Russia in response to their actions yesterday. These have been closely coordinated with our Allies and partners, and we'll continue to escalate sanctions if Russia escalates. We're implementing full blocking sanctions on two large Russian financial institutions: V.E.B. and their military bank. We're implementing comprehensive sanctions on Russian sovereign debt. That means we've cut off Russia's government from Western financing. It can no longer raise money from the West and cannot trade in its new debt on our markets or European markets either. Starting tomorrow [today] and continuing in the days ahead, we will also impose sanctions on Russia's elites and their family members. They share in the corrupt gains of the Kremlin policies and should share in the pain as well. And because of Russia's actions, we've worked with Germany to ensure Nord Stream 2 will not — as I promised — will not move forward. 3:23 President Biden: Today, in response to Russia's admission that it will not withdraw its forces from Belarus, I have authorized additional movements of U.S. forces and equipment already stationed in Europe to strengthen our Baltic Allies — Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Let me be clear: These are totally defensive moves on our part. We have no intention of fighting Russia. We want to send an unmistakable message, though, that the United States, together with our Allies, will defend every inch of NATO territory and abide by the commitments we made to NATO. 4:22 President Biden: Russian forces remain positioned in Belarus to attack Ukraine from the north, including war planes and offensive missile systems. Russia has moved troops closer to Ukraine's border with Russia. Russia's naval vessels are maneuvering in the Black Sea to Ukraine's south, including amphibious assault ships, missile cruisers, and submarines. Russia has moved supplies of blood and medical equipment into position on their border. You don't need blood unless you plan on starting a war. 6:25 President Biden: I'm going to take robust action and make sure the pain of our sanctions is targeted at the Russian economy, not ours. We are closely monitoring energy supplies for any disruption. We're executing a plan in coordination with major oil-producing consumers and producers toward a collective investment to secure stability and global energy supplies. This will be — this will blunt gas prices. I want to limit the pain the American people are feeling at the gas pump. This is critical to me. 7:37 President Biden: Yesterday, the world heard clearly the full extent of Vladimir Putin's twisted rewrite of history, going back more than a century, as he waxed eloquently, noting that — well, I'm not going to go into it, but nothing in Putin's lengthy remarks indicated any interest in pursuing real dialogue on European security in the year 2022. 8:04 President Biden: He directly attacked Ukraine's right to exist. He indirectly threatened territory formerly held by Russia, including nations that today are thriving democracies and members of NATO. He explicitly threatened war unless his extreme demands were met. And there is no question that Russia is the aggressor. Russian President Putin Statement on Ukraine February 21, 2022 YouTube Version Transcript Overview: Russian President Vladimir Putin announced after a Security Council meeting that Russia would recognize the independence of the separatist republics of Donetsk and Luhansk in Ukraine's Donbas region. Clips 00:15 President Putin: I would like to emphasise again that Ukraine is not just a neighbouring country for us. It is an inalienable part of our own history, culture and spiritual space. These are our comrades, those dearest to us – not only colleagues, friends and people who once served together, but also relatives, people bound by blood, by family ties. 1:22 President Putin: I would like to start by saying that the modern Ukraine was completely created by Russia. To be more exact, Bolshevist, partially communist Russia. This process started almost immediately after the 1917 revolutions, leading and planning and his group of supporters did it in a rough way. If we talk about Russia, they were alienating parts of historical territories of Russia. And millions of people who live there, obviously no one asked anything. Then before the Great Patriotic War, Stalin added to the USSR and handed over some lands that belonged to Poland and Hungary, and as a compensation gave some ancient German lands to Poland. And the 1960s crucial decision to take Crimea away from Russia and also gave it to Ukraine. That's how the territory of Soviet Ukraine was formed. 3:05 President Putin: We cannot help but react to this real threat, especially since I would like to reiterate that Western backers they can help Ukraine with getting this weapon to create yet another threat for our country because we can see how consistently they are pumping Ukraine with weapons. The United States alone starting from 2014 transferred billions of dollars including the arm supply training personnel. In recent months, Western weapons are sent to Ukraine given ceaselessly in front of the eyes of the entire world 7:05 President Putin: Actually, as I have already said, Soviet Ukraine is the result of the Bolsheviks' policy and can be rightfully called “Vladimir Lenin's Ukraine.” He was its creator and architect. This is fully and comprehensively corroborated by archival documents, including Lenin's harsh instructions regarding Donbass, which was actually shoved into Ukraine. And today the “grateful progeny” has overturned monuments to Lenin in Ukraine. They call it decommunization. You want decommunization? Very well, this suits us just fine. But why stop halfway? We are ready to show what real decommunizations would mean for Ukraine. 9:31 President Putin: Everything seemed to be working well in conditions of the totalitarian regime, and outwardly it looked wonderful, attractive and even super-democratic. And yet, it is a great pity that the fundamental and formally legal foundations of our state were not promptly cleansed of the odious and utopian fantasies inspired by the revolution, which are absolutely destructive for any normal state. 10:05 President Putin: It seems that the Communist Party leaders were convinced that they had created a solid system of government and that their policies had settled the ethnic issue for good. But falsification, misconception, and tampering with public opinion have a high cost. The virus of nationalist ambitions is still with us, and the mine laid at the initial stage to destroy state immunity to the disease of nationalism was ticking. As I have already said, the mine was the right of secession from the Soviet Union. 13:55 President Putin: Even two years before the collapse of the USSR, its fate was actually predetermined. It is now that radicals and nationalists, including and primarily those in Ukraine, are taking credit for having gained independence. As we can see, this is absolutely wrong. The disintegration of our united country was brought about by the historic, strategic mistakes on the part of the Bolshevik leaders and the CPSU leadership, mistakes committed at different times in state-building and in economic and ethnic policies. The collapse of the historical Russia known as the USSR is on their conscience. 14:39 President Putin: It was our people who accepted the new geopolitical reality that took shape after the dissolution of the USSR, and recognised the new independent states. Not only did Russia recognise these countries, but helped its CIS partners, even though it faced a very dire situation itself. This included our Ukrainian colleagues, who turned to us for financial support many times from the very moment they declared independence. Our country provided this assistance while respecting Ukraine's dignity and sovereignty. According to expert assessments, confirmed by a simple calculation of our energy prices, the subsidised loans Russia provided to Ukraine along with economic and trade preferences, the overall benefit for the Ukrainian budget in the period from 1991 to 2013 amounted to $250 billion. 21:24 President Putin: A stable statehood has never developed in Ukraine; its electoral and other political procedures just serve as a cover, a screen for the redistribution of power and property between various oligarchic clans. Corruption, which is certainly a challenge and a problem for many countries, including Russia, has gone beyond the usual scope in Ukraine. It has literally permeated and corroded Ukrainian statehood, the entire system, and all branches of power. Radical nationalists took advantage of the justified public discontent and saddled the Maidan protest, escalating it to a coup d'état in 2014. They also had direct assistance from foreign states. According to reports, the US Embassy provided $1 million a day to support the so-called protest camp on Independence Square in Kiev. In addition, large amounts were impudently transferred directly to the opposition leaders' bank accounts, tens of millions of dollars. 23:37 President Putin: Maidan did not bring Ukraine any closer to democracy and progress. Having accomplished a coup d'état, the nationalists and those political forces that supported them eventually led Ukraine into an impasse, pushed the country into the abyss of civil war. 26:30 President Putin: In fact, it all came down to the fact that the collapse of the Ukrainian economy was accompanied by outright robbery of the citizens of the country, and Ukraine itself was simply driven under external control. It is carried out not only at the behest of Western capitals, but also, as they say, directly on the spot through a whole network of foreign advisers, NGOs and other institutions deployed in Ukraine. They have a direct impact on all the most important personnel decisions, on all branches and levels of government: from the central and even to the municipal, on the main state-owned companies and corporations, including Naftogaz, Ukrenergo, Ukrainian Railways, Ukroboronprom, Ukrposhta , Administration of Sea Ports of Ukraine. There is simply no independent court in Ukraine. At the request of the West, the Kiev authorities gave representatives of international organizations the pre-emptive right to select members of the highest judicial bodies - the Council of Justice and the Qualification Commission of Judges. In addition, the US Embassy directly controls the National Corruption Prevention Agency, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, and the Supreme Anti-Corruption Court. All this is done under a plausible pretext to increase the effectiveness of the fight against corruption. Okay, but where are the results? Corruption has blossomed as luxuriantly, and blooms, more than ever. Are the Ukrainians themselves aware of all these managerial methods? Do they understand that their country is not even under a political and economic protectorate, but reduced to the level of a colony with a puppet regime? The privatization of the state has led to the fact that the government, which calls itself the "power of patriots", has lost its national character and is consistently leading the matter towards the complete desovereignization of the country. 31:04 President Putin: In March 2021, a new Military Strategy was adopted in Ukraine. This document is almost entirely dedicated to confrontation with Russia and sets the goal of involving foreign states in a conflict with our country. The strategy stipulates the organisation of what can be described as a terrorist underground movement in Russia's Crimea and in Donbass. It also sets out the contours of a potential war, which should end, according to the Kiev strategists, “with the assistance of the international community on favourable terms for Ukraine.” 32:05 President Putin: As we know, it has already been stated today that Ukraine intends to create its own nuclear weapons, and this is not just bragging. Ukraine has the nuclear technologies created back in the Soviet times and delivery vehicles for such weapons, including aircraft, as well as the Soviet-designed Tochka-U precision tactical missiles with a range of over 100 kilometres. But they can do more; it is only a matter of time. They have had the groundwork for this since the Soviet era. In other words, acquiring tactical nuclear weapons will be much easier for Ukraine than for some other states I am not going to mention here, which are conducting such research, especially if Kiev receives foreign technological support. 33:47 President Putin: Foreign advisors supervise the activities of Ukraine's armed forces and special services and we are well aware of this. Over the past few years, military contingents of NATO countries have been almost constantly present on Ukrainian territory under the pretext of exercises. The Ukrainian troop control system has already been integrated into NATO. This means that NATO headquarters can issue direct commands to the Ukrainian armed forces, even to their separate units and squads. The United States and NATO have started an impudent development of Ukrainian territory as a theatre of potential military operations. Their regular joint exercises are obviously anti-Russian. Last year alone, over 23,000 troops and more than a thousand units of hardware were involved. A law has already been adopted that allows foreign troops to come to Ukraine in 2022 to take part in multinational drills. Understandably, these are primarily NATO troops. This year, at least ten of these joint drills are planned. Obviously, such undertakings are designed to be a cover-up for a rapid buildup of the NATO military group on Ukrainian territory. This is all the more so since the network of airfields upgraded with US help in Borispol, Ivano-Frankovsk, Chuguyev and Odessa, to name a few, is capable of transferring army units in a very short time. Ukraine's airspace is open to flights by US strategic and reconnaissance aircraft and drones that conduct surveillance over Russian territory. I will add that the US-built Maritime Operations Centre in Ochakov makes it possible to support activity by NATO warships, including the use of precision weapons, against the Russian Black Sea Fleet and our infrastructure on the entire Black Sea Coast. 36:54 President Putin: Article 17 of the Constitution of Ukraine stipulates that deploying foreign military bases on its territory is illegal. However, as it turns out, this is just a conventionality that can be easily circumvented. Ukraine is home to NATO training missions which are, in fact, foreign military bases. They just called a base a mission and were done with it. 37:16 President Putin: Kiev has long proclaimed a strategic course on joining NATO. Indeed, each country is entitled to pick its own security system and enter into military alliances. There would be no problem with that, if it were not for one “but.” International documents expressly stipulate the principle of equal and indivisible security, which includes obligations not to strengthen one's own security at the expense of the security of other states. This is stated in the 1999 OSCE Charter for European Security adopted in Istanbul and the 2010 OSCE Astana Declaration. In other words, the choice of pathways towards ensuring security should not pose a threat to other states, whereas Ukraine joining NATO is a direct threat to Russia's security 38:10 President Putin: Let me remind you that at the Bucharest NATO summit held in April 2008, the United States pushed through a decision to the effect that Ukraine and, by the way, Georgia would become NATO members. Many European allies of the United States were well aware of the risks associated with this prospect already then, but were forced to put up with the will of their senior partner. The Americans simply used them to carry out a clearly anti-Russian policy. 38:41 President Putin: A number of NATO member states are still very sceptical about Ukraine joining NATO. We are getting signals from some European capitals telling us not to worry since it will not happen literally overnight. In fact, our US partners are saying the same thing as well. “All right, then” we respond, “if it does not happen tomorrow, then it will happen the day after tomorrow. What does it change from the historical perspective? Nothing at all.” Furthermore, we are aware of the US leadership's position and words that active hostilities in eastern Ukraine do not rule out the possibility of that country joining NATO if it meets NATO criteria and overcomes corruption. All the while, they are trying to convince us over and over again that NATO is a peace-loving and purely defensive alliance that poses no threat to Russia. Again, they want us to take their word for it. But we are well aware of the real value of these words. In 1990, when German unification was discussed, the United States promised the Soviet leadership that NATO jurisdiction or military presence will not expand one inch to the east and that the unification of Germany will not lead to the spread of NATO's military organisation to the east. This is a quote. They issued lots of verbal assurances, all of which turned out to be empty phrases. Later, they began to assure us that the accession to NATO by Central and Eastern European countries would only improve relations with Moscow, relieve these countries of the fears steeped in their bitter historical legacy, and even create a belt of countries that are friendly towards Russia. However, the exact opposite happened. The governments of certain Eastern European countries, speculating on Russophobia, brought their complexes and stereotypes about the Russian threat to the Alliance and insisted on building up the collective defence potentials and deploying them primarily against Russia. Worse still, that happened in the 1990s and the early 2000s when, thanks to our openness and goodwill, relations between Russia and the West had reached a high level. Russia has fulfilled all of its obligations, including the pullout from Germany, from Central and Eastern Europe, making an immense contribution to overcoming the legacy of the Cold War. We have consistently proposed various cooperation options, including in the NATO-Russia Council and the OSCE formats. Moreover, I will say something I have never said publicly, I will say it now for the first time. When then outgoing US President Bill Clinton visited Moscow in 2000, I asked him how America would feel about admitting Russia to NATO. I will not reveal all the details of that conversation, but the reaction to my question was, let us say, quite restrained, and the Americans' true attitude to that possibility can actually be seen from their subsequent steps with regard to our country. I am referring to the overt support for terrorists in the North Caucasus, the disregard for our security demands and concerns, NATO's continued expansion, withdrawal from the ABM Treaty, and so on. 43:05 President Putin: Today, one glance at the map is enough to see to what extent Western countries have kept their promise to refrain from NATO's eastward expansion. They just cheated. We have seen five waves of NATO expansion, one after another – Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary were admitted in 1999; Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia in 2004; Albania and Croatia in 2009; Montenegro in 2017; and North Macedonia in 2020. As a result, the Alliance, its military infrastructure has reached Russia's borders. This is one of the key causes of the European security crisis; it has had the most negative impact on the entire system of international relations and led to the loss of mutual trust. The situation continues to deteriorate, including in the strategic area. Thus, positioning areas for interceptor missiles are being established in Romania and Poland as part of the US project to create a global missile defence system. It is common knowledge that the launchers deployed there can be used for Tomahawk cruise missiles – offensive strike systems. In addition, the United States is developing its all-purpose Standard Missile-6, which can provide air and missile defence, as well as strike ground and surface targets. In other words, the allegedly defensive US missile defence system is developing and expanding its new offensive capabilities. The information we have gives us good reason to believe that Ukraine's accession to NATO and the subsequent deployment of NATO facilities has already been decided and is only a matter of time. We clearly understand that given this scenario, the level of military threats to Russia will increase dramatically, several times over. 45:07 President Putin: I will explain that American strategic planning documents confirm the possibility of a so-called preemptive strike at enemy missile systems. We also know the main adversary of the United States and NATO. It is Russia. NATO documents officially declare our country to be the main threat to Euro-Atlantic security. Ukraine will serve as an advanced bridgehead for such a strike. 46:00 President Putin: Many Ukrainian airfields are located not far from our borders. NATO's tactical aviation deployed there, including precision weapon carriers, will be capable of striking at our territory to the depth of the Volgograd-Kazan-Samara-Astrakhan line. The deployment of reconnaissance radars on Ukrainian territory will allow NATO to tightly control Russia's airspace up to the Urals. Finally, after the US destroyed the INF Treaty, the Pentagon has been openly developing many land-based attack weapons, including ballistic missiles that are capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 5,500 km. If deployed in Ukraine, such systems will be able to hit targets in Russia's entire European part. The flying time of Tomahawk cruise missiles to Moscow will be less than 35 minutes; ballistic missiles from Kharkov will take seven to eight minutes; and hypersonic assault weapons, four to five minutes. It is like a knife to the throat. I have no doubt that they hope to carry out these plans, as they did many times in the past, expanding NATO eastward, moving their military infrastructure to Russian borders and fully ignoring our concerns, protests and warnings. Excuse me, but they simply did not care at all about such things and did whatever they deemed necessary. Of course, they are going to behave in the same way in the future. 47:46 President Putin: Russia has always advocated the resolution of the most complicated problems by political and diplomatic means, at the negotiating table. We are well aware of our enormous responsibility when it comes to regional and global stability. Back in 2008, Russia put forth an initiative to conclude a European Security Treaty under which not a single Euro-Atlantic state or international organisation could strengthen their security at the expense of the security of others. However, our proposal was rejected right off the bat on the pretext that Russia should not be allowed to put limits on NATO activities. Furthermore, it was made explicitly clear to us that only NATO members can have legally binding security guarantees. 48:35 President Putin: Last December, we handed over to our Western partners a draft treaty between the Russian Federation and the United States of America on security guarantees, as well as a draft agreement on measures to ensure the security of the Russian Federation and NATO member states. The United States and NATO responded with general statements. There were kernels of rationality in them as well, but they concerned matters of secondary importance and it all looked like an attempt to drag the issue out and to lead the discussion astray. We responded to this accordingly and pointed out that we were ready to follow the path of negotiations, provided, however, that all issues are considered as a package that includes Russia's core proposals which contain three key points. First, to prevent further NATO expansion. Second, to have the Alliance refrain from deploying assault weapon systems on Russian borders. And finally, rolling back the bloc's military capability and infrastructure in Europe to where they were in 1997, when the NATO-Russia Founding Act was signed. These principled proposals of ours have been ignored. 50:21 President Putin: They are again trying to blackmail us and are threatening us with sanctions, which, by the way, they will introduce no matter what as Russia continues to strengthen its sovereignty and its Armed Forces. To be sure, they will never think twice before coming up with or just fabricating a pretext for yet another sanction attack regardless of the developments in Ukraine. Their one and only goal is to hold back the development of Russia. 51:06 President Putin: I would like to be clear and straightforward: in the current circumstances, when our proposals for an equal dialogue on fundamental issues have actually remained unanswered by the United States and NATO, when the level of threats to our country has increased significantly, Russia has every right to respond in order to ensure its security. That is exactly what we will do. 51:33 President Putin: With regard to the state of affairs in Donbass, we see that the ruling Kiev elites never stop publicly making clear their unwillingness to comply with the Minsk Package of Measures to settle the conflict and are not interested in a peaceful settlement. On the contrary, they are trying to orchestrate a blitzkrieg in Donbass as was the case in 2014 and 2015. We all know how these reckless schemes ended. Not a single day goes by without Donbass communities coming under shelling attacks. The recently formed large military force makes use of attack drones, heavy equipment, missiles, artillery and multiple rocket launchers. The killing of civilians, the blockade, the abuse of people, including children, women and the elderly, continues unabated. As we say, there is no end in sight to this. Meanwhile, the so-called civilised world, which our Western colleagues proclaimed themselves the only representatives of, prefers not to see this, as if this horror and genocide, which almost 4 million people are facing, do not exist. But they do exist and only because these people did not agree with the West-supported coup in Ukraine in 2014 and opposed the transition towards the Neanderthal and aggressive nationalism and neo-Nazism which have been elevated in Ukraine to the rank of national policy. They are fighting for their elementary right to live on their own land, to speak their own language, and to preserve their culture and traditions. How long can this tragedy continue? How much longer can one put up with this? Russia has done everything to preserve Ukraine's territorial integrity. All these years, it has persistently and patiently pushed for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2202 of February 17, 2015, which consolidated the Minsk Package of Measures of February 12, 2015, to settle the situation in Donbass. Everything was in vain. Presidents and Rada deputies come and go, but deep down the aggressive and nationalistic regime that seized power in Kiev remains unchanged. It is entirely a product of the 2014 coup, and those who then embarked on the path of violence, bloodshed and lawlessness did not recognise then and do not recognise now any solution to the Donbass issue other than a military one. In this regard, I consider it necessary to take a long overdue decision and to immediately recognise the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Lugansk People's Republic. I would like to ask the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation to support this decision and then ratify the Treaty of Friendship and Mutual Assistance with both republics. These two documents will be prepared and signed shortly. 54:52 President Putin: We want those who seized and continue to hold power in Kiev to immediately stop hostilities. Otherwise, the responsibility for the possible continuation of the bloodshed will lie entirely on the conscience of Ukraine's ruling regime. Ukraine is 'longing for peace' says Zelensky at Munich Security Conference February 19, 2022 Transcript Overview: Western powers should drop their policy of "appeasement" toward Moscow, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky told a security forum Saturday, as fears mount of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. Clips 13:37 Vladimir Zelensky: Ukraine has received security guarantees for abandoning the world's third nuclear capability. We don't have that weapon. We also have no security. 14:37 Vladimir Zelensky: Since 2014, Ukraine has tried three times to convene consultations with the guarantor states of the Budapest Memorandum. Three times without success. Today Ukraine will do it for the fourth time. I, as President, will do this for the first time. But both Ukraine and I are doing this for the last time. I am initiating consultations in the framework of the Budapest Memorandum. The Minister of Foreign Affairs was commissioned to convene them. If they do not happen again or their results do not guarantee security for our country, Ukraine will have every right to believe that the Budapest Memorandum is not working and all the package decisions of 1994 are in doubt. President Biden Remarks on Russia-Ukraine Situation February 18, 2022 YouTube Version Transcript Overview: Following talks with NATO allies, President Biden provided an update on Russia-Ukraine tensions and international efforts to resolve the crisis. Clips 3:04 President Biden: You know, look, we have reason to believe the Russian forces are planning to and intend to attack Ukraine in the coming week — in the coming days. We believe that they will target Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, a city of 2.8 million innocent people.War posturing - Biden US provided record security assistance to Ukraine 4:00 President Biden: This past year, the United States provided a record amount of security assistance to Ukraine to bolster its defensive — $650 million, from Javelin missiles to ammunition. And we also previously provided $500 million in Ukrai- — in humanitarian aid and economic support for Ukraine. And earlier this week, we also announced an additional sovereign loan guarantee of up to $1 billion to strengthen Ukraine's economic resilience. 7:24 President Biden: Well, I don't think he is remotely contemplating nuclear — using nuclear weapons. But I do think it's — I think he is focused on trying to convince the world that he has the ability to change the dynamics in Europe in a way that he cannot. President Biden Remarks on Russia and Ukraine February 15, 2022 YouTube Version Transcript Overview: President Biden gave an update on tensions between Russia and Ukraine, calling for diplomacy to resolve tensions. Clips 1:47 President Biden: The United States has put on the table concrete ideas to establish a security environment in Europe. We're proposing new arms control measures, new transparency measures, new strategic stability measures. These measures would apply to all parties — NATO and Russia alike. 2:14 President Biden: We will not sacrifice basic principles, though. Nations have a right to sovereignty and territorial integrity. They have the freedom to set their own course and choose with whom they will associate. 3:17 President Biden: And the fact remains: Right now, Russia has more than 150,000 troops encircling Ukraine in Belarus and along Ukraine's border. An invasion remains distinctly possible. That's why I've asked several times that all Americans in Ukraine leave now before it's too late to leave safely. It is why we have temporarily relocated our embassy from Kyiv to Lviv in western Ukraine, approaching the Polish border. 4:12 President Biden: The United States and NATO are not a threat to Russia. Ukraine is not threatening Russia. Neither the U.S. nor NATO have missiles in Ukraine. We do not — do not have plans to put them there as well. 4:26 President Biden: To the citizens of Russia: You are not our enemy. And I do not believe you want a bloody, destructive war against Ukraine — a country and a people with whom you share such deep ties of family, history, and culture. 5:52 President Biden: Today, our NATO Allies and the Alliance is as unified and determined as it has ever been. And the source of our unbreakable strength continues to be the power, resilience, and universal appeal of our shared democratic values. Because this is about more than just Russia and Ukraine. It's about standing for what we believe in, for the future we want for our world. 7:25 President Biden: And when it comes to Nord Stream 2, the pipeline that would bring natural gas from Russia to Germany, if Russia further invades Ukraine, it will not happen. 7:35 President Biden: While I will not send American servicemen to fight Russia in Ukraine, we have supplied the Ukrainian military with equipment to help them defend themselves. We have provided training and advice and intelligence for the same purpose. 7:50 President Biden: And make no mistake: The United States will defend every inch of NATO territory with the full force of American power. An attack against one NATO country is an attack against all of us. And the United States commitment to Article 5 is sacrosanct. Already, in response to Russia's build-up of troops, I have sent additional U.S. forces to bolster NATO's eastern flank. Several of our Allies have also announced they'll add forces and capabilities to ensure deterrence and defense along NATO's eastern flank. We will also continue to conduct military exercises with our Allies and partners to enhance defensive readiness. And if Russia invades, we will take further steps to reinforce our presence in NATO, reassure our Allies, and deter further aggression. 9:12 President Biden: I will not pretend this will be painless. There could be impact on our energy prices, so we are taking active steps to alleviate the pressure on our own energy markets and offset rising prices. We're coordinating with major enersy [sic] — energy consumers and producers. We're prepared to deploy all the tools and authority at our disposal to provide relief at the gas pump. And I will work with Congress on additional measures to help protect consumers and address the impact of prices at the pump. Hearing on U.S. Policy Toward Russia Senate Committee on Foreign Relations December 7, 2021 Overview: Victoria Nuland, the undersecretary of state for political affairs, testified at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on U.S. policy toward Russia. She addressed President Biden's earlier call with Russian President Vladimir Putin and said that Russia would suffer severe consequences if it attacked Ukraine. Other topics included the use of sanctions if Russia invades Ukraine, the cooperation of NATO and U.S. allies, Russia's use of energy during conflict, and the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline Clips 10:42 Victoria Nuland: Since 2014 The United States has provided Ukraine with $2.4 billion in security assistance including $450 million this year alone. 30:55 Sen. Todd Young (R-IN): President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov have repeatedly indicated that they seek to deny any potential path to NATO membership for Ukraine and other Eastern European countries. Does the administration view this demand is a valid issue for negotiation? Victoria Nuland: No we do not and President Biden made that point crystal clear to President Putin today that the issue of who joins NATO is an issue for NATO to decide it's an issue for applicant countries to decide that no other outside power will or may have a veto or a vote in those decisions. Foreign Affairs Issue Launch with Former Vice President Joe Biden January 23, 2018 Clips 24:30 Former Vice President Biden: I'll give you one concrete example. I was—not I, but it just happened to be that was the assignment I got. I got all the good ones. And so I got Ukraine. And I remember going over, convincing our team, our leaders to—convincing that we should be providing for loan guarantees. And I went over, I guess, the 12th, 13th time to Kiev. And I was supposed to announce that there was another billion-dollar loan guarantee. And I had gotten a commitment from Poroshenko and from Yatsenyuk that they would take action against the state prosecutor. And they didn't. So they said they had—they were walking out to a press conference. I said, nah, I'm not going to—or, we're not going to give you the billion dollars. They said, you have no authority. You're not the president. The president said—I said, call him. (Laughter.) I said, I'm telling you, you're not getting the billion dollars. I said, you're not getting the billion. I'm going to be leaving here in, I think it was about six hours. I looked at them and said: I'm leaving in six hours. If the prosecutor is not fired, you're not getting the money. Well, son of a bitch. (Laughter.) He got fired. And they put in place someone who was solid at the time. Cover Art Design by Only Child Imaginations Music Presented in This Episode Intro & Exit: Tired of Being Lied To by David Ippolito (found on Music Alley by mevio)

Released September 2019 Updated May 2020 Golden State Killer, East Area Rapist, Original Night Stalker, Visalia Ransacker and more. The Story of The Golden State Killer's Beginnings. Who else was he as he traveled through time? Was he, is he the Zodiac Killer who terrorized us in the 1960's and is that who else sits in the Sacramento County Jail awaiting trial? Anne presents evidence of other monikers that may belong to this man. Spanning almost 6 decades the killer roamed the state of California. The career and possible monikers for the same man 1960 - 2018. This is the true story of how such a man remained free all of these years. This is the true story of the man's pattern's and attacks from the beginning until the end. The story continues. The most prolific serial criminal in California History. He could be the most prolific serial killer ever. He could not be stopped until DNA and Genetic Genealogy found him. What if this is truly how the story goes? Anne has written about the possibilities and writes about things no one else has mentioned in the Zodiac story. After much research and investigation's, the geography and timelines reveal the story about who the Zodiac Killer is. Follow the evidence with us.about 1 year ago #-, #ed, #golden, #if?, #killer, #opperman, #report, #solved, #spreaker, #state, #what, #zodiac

Released September 2019 Updated May 2020 Golden State Killer, East Area Rapist, Original Night Stalker, Visalia Ransacker and more. The Story of The Golden State Killer's Beginnings. Who else was he as he traveled through time? Was he, is he the Zodiac Killer who terrorized us in the 1960's and is that who else sits in the Sacramento County Jail awaiting trial? Anne presents evidence of other monikers that may belong to this man. Spanning almost 6 decades the killer roamed the state of California. The career and possible monikers for the same man 1960 - 2018. This is the true story of how such a man remained free all of these years. This is the true story of the man's pattern's and attacks from the beginning until the end. The story continues. The most prolific serial criminal in California History. He could be the most prolific serial killer ever. He could not be stopped until DNA and Genetic Genealogy found him. What if this is truly how the story goes? Anne has written about the possibilities and writes about things no one else has mentioned in the Zodiac story. After much research and investigation's, the geography and timelines reveal the story about who the Zodiac Killer is. Follow the evidence with us. about 1 year ago #-, #ed, #golden, #if?, #killer, #opperman, #report, #solved, #spreaker, #state, #what, #zodiac

Preserved From The Beast (25) David Eells - 1-2-22 (Audio) Babylon Weaponizes Cells and Computers   We just received by faith at random a text we have received many, many times. It is the story of God's apostate people trusting in the strength of man to save them from the DS Babylonish Beast, which is costing their lives. Jer. 43:4-7  So Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, and all the people, obeyed not the voice of Jehovah, to dwell in the land of Judah.  5  But Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, took all the remnant of Judah, that were returned from all the nations whither they had been driven, to sojourn in the land of Judah;  6  the men, and the women, and the children, and the king's daughters, and every person that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan; and Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch the son of Neriah.  7  And they came into the land of Egypt; for they obeyed not the voice of Jehovah: and they came unto Tahpanhes.  God's people went to trust in Egypt to save them from Babylon who then went to Egypt and killed them.  Jer 43:9-11  Take great stones in thy hand, and hide them in mortar in the brickwork, which is at the entry of Pharaoh's house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah;  10  and say unto them, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will set his throne upon these stones that I have hid; and he shall spread his royal pavilion over them.  11  And he shall come, and shall smite the land of Egypt; such as are for death shall be given to death, and such as are for captivity to captivity, and such as are for the sword to the sword. I thought to myself this must be very important to the Lord since we have received this text many times concerning his people going down to Egypt and being killed by the DS Babylon, which represents those trusting in the DS depopulationists to give them a vaccine rather than trust the Lord. Jer 17:5-8  Thus saith Jehovah: Cursed is the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from Jehovah.  6  For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, a salt land and not inhabited.  7  Blessed is the man that trusteth in Jehovah, and whose trust Jehovah is.  8  For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, that spreadeth out its roots by the river, and shall not fear when heat cometh, but its leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. DS Babylon just burned a thousand homes in Colorado just like in Paradise with D/E/W weapons. Conservatives and Christians were resisting the DS there. It reminds me of this verse about Babylon taking down the apostate leadership of God's people. Jer 52:13  And he burned the house of Jehovah (Churches), and the king's house (Their leaderships houses); and all the houses of Jerusalem, even every great house (The great men), burned he with fire. Based on these verses I said almost 5 years ago that Babylon would burn churches and leadership homes. Many apostate Church leaders have sent their people to get the vac/cin/es and now they are dying. Backlash is coming.   In the US, the Supreme Court has ruled that vaccinated people worldwide are products, patented goods, according to US law, no longer human. Telegram @ Dark Universe Through a modified DNA or RNA vaccination, the mRNA vaccination, the person ceases to be human and becomes the OWNER of the holder of the modified GEN vaccination patent, because they have their own genome and are no longer “human” (without natural people), but “trans-human”, so a category that does not exist in Human Rights. The quality of a natural person and all related rights are lost. This applies worldwide and patents are subject to US law. Since 2013, all people vaccinated with GM-modified mRNAs are legally trans-human and legally identified as trans-human and do not enjoy any human or other rights of a state, and this applies worldwide, because GEN-POINT technology patents are under US jurisdiction and law, where they were registered. Download PDF here: Vaccined No Longer legally human .pdfDownload SOURCE of the decision of the US SUPREME COURT    Then this came to me that Michael had found a video that the DS is able to assassinate people by their cellphone. And also the Grap/hine ox/ide computer/cellphone connection is in those who were vac/cin/ated.  The thought came to me that they are able to execute these people by cell phone or computer which we know is capable to contact the graphine oxide in the vaccinated to affect their person. This could be done on multitudes of people scattered over a large area and people would just consider that they died of Covid and the educated would believe by the vac/cin/e.   Here is the video of a woman who is getting her nails done at a salon. The salon video cameras picked up footage of her cell phone sending out electrical flashes towards her left arm and then she immediately went into convulsions and fell out onto the floor.    One Day In 2022 Your Cell Phone May Kill You Or Turn You Into Zombies Before it's News - 12/26/21   Did they figure out how to depopulate humanity using frequency sound weapons, using cell phone tech? I'm not sure they would even need 5G to do that but I do believe that's the plan!! Remember that 2022 is the final year in their three year plan... Frequency weapon…. some of us have seen the videos where people are being frequency attacked by their phones… that's why this video is important. It's likely the woman had the vaxx… did she live or die on the spot?  Your Cell Phone May Kill You    1980′s Music Video “Experiment IV” About Frequency Sound Weapon   Kate Bush nails it on 1980′s Music Video “Experiment IV” About Frequency Sound Weapons… [Editor's note: This video appears to show an inventor whose heart was to do good to humanity with his invention. I believe this could represent Nicolai Tesla whose revelation and inventions proved that frequencies could heal which was his purpose, however, wicked military people turned this into a weapon on the other end of the scale of frequencies. In the video it appears he was very frustrated and angry this was happening. It appeared to at first be a good thing but ended up being deadly. When it got out in the video it killed many.] The final chilling words of her song, “And the public are warned to stay off.” Here are the lyrics:  [Verse 1] We were working secretly for the military. Our experiment in sound was nearly ready to begin. We only know in theory what we are doing. Music made for pleasure, music made to thrill. It was music we were making here, until…[Chorus] They told us all they wanted was a sound that could kill someone from a distance. So we go ahead, and the meters are over in the red. It's a mistake in the making.  [Verse 2] From the painful cry of mothers. To the terrifying scream. We recorded it and put it into our machine. [Chorus] But they told us all they wanted was a sound that could kill someone from a distance. So we go ahead, and the meters are over in the red. It's a mistake that we're making.  [Bridge] It could feel like falling in love. It could feel so bad. But it could feel so good. It could sing you to sleep. But that dream is your enemy. [Verse 3] We won't be there to be blamed. We won't be there to snitch. (The killers will be far away)  I just pray that someone there can hit the switch. [Editor's note: It appears that Tesla tried to turn the switch off but failed.] [Chorus] But they told us all they wanted was a sound that could kill someone from a distance. So we go ahead, and the meters were over in the red. It's a mistake we've made. [Outro] And the public are warned to stay off.    Weaponized Cell Phone Theory Demonstrated in the Movie “Cell”  [Editor's note: John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson star in this tale of a mysterious phone signal that turns much of the population into murderous predators. Signature Entertainment releases Cell. [Here is the trailer: https://youtu.be/BCns4w3GA9A ]   Zombie Alert Early 2022 Watch the Movie “Cell” Now… It Is Probably A Documentary!!  [Editor's note: The DS always tells us what they are going to do before they do it.]  (Writer's) Theory: Zombies Created With 5G + Graphene Oxide (Vaxx Ingredient) + Cell Phone!! CONOP 8888 US Dept. Of Defense Strategic Command Zombie Defense Plan Exists!! Airlines Panicking Over 5G Rollout!! Folks… this is important… there IS a zombie event coming… the military AND Pentagon already know!!   U.S. military actually made a zombie apocalypse training manual. Yes, really. Internet Culture Published May 14, 2014 - Updated May 31, 2021  If the U.S. is ever attacked by evil magic zombies, or even the relatively tame creature that is a chicken zombie, rest assured that the Department of Defense has it covered. Seriously, a document has apparently been unearthed by Foreign Policy magazine that appears to show either the incredible level of preparedness of the U.S. national security community, or it demonstrates how the people tasked with keeping the nation safe are insane. The zombie attack training manual, “CONOP 8888,” or “Counter Zombie Dominance,” is dated April 2011, and was supposedly found buried on a secret military computer. It tells military planners how to defeat an invasion of flesh eaters, (Editor's note: Remember he outbreak of zombies that were devouring peoples faces.) and how to preserve the sanctity of “non-zombie life.” From magic zombies to chicken zombies, even vegetarian zombies, they're all in the file, with a plan for how to take them out.  “Zombies pose a threat to all non-zombie human life,” says CONOP8888. “[Strategic Command] will be prepared to preserve the sanctity of human life and conduct operations in support of any human population—including traditional adversaries.” While the manual says in its disclaimer that “this plan was not acutally designed as a joke,” it still kind of is. What the intelligence community has done here is use “zombie” as a kind of code word for “enemy,” so as not to look like the Pentagon is planning for an invasion of a particular country, religion, or plague. To prepare for all possible situations, it says, “We elected to use a completely-impossible scenario that could never be mistaken for a real plan.” All of which begs the question, of course, if zombies are being used as metaphors for real threats, what... are “Vegetarian zombies” doing in there? Chicken zombies could, of course, mean avian bird flu, and evil magic zombies could easily be a thinly veiled reference to Al' Qaeda or some other real enemy. But there can be no such thing as a vegetarian zombie. And second, what threat do vegetarians pose, either in this universe or the one inhabited by the person who wrote this manual? In fact, according to the military zombie survival guide, vegetarian zombies “pose no direct threat to humans because they only eat plant life,” which makes total sense… CONOP 8888 also known as Counter-Zombie Dominance is a U.S. Department of Defense Strategic Command CONOP document that describes a plan for defending against zombies. The April 30, 2011 document depicts fictional scenarios of zombie attacks for training students in military planning. Read the full zombie apocalypse training manual below: CONPLAN 8888 Now if that was all bad enough… the airlines are panicking over 5G (The opening scene of the movie “Cell” takes place in airport!!)  What do they know????    Planned 5G Wireless Deployment Could Compromise Airline Safety, Aviation Executives Warn  Newsweek - Justin Klawans - Dec 21, 2021    Aviation executives expressed their fears Monday that the potential coming deployment of 5G wireless technology could harm the airline industry. In a joint letter acquired by Reuters addressed to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun and Airbus Americas CEO Jeffrey Knittel urged DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg to postpone the upcoming rollout of the technology, citing multiple concerns. "5G interference could adversely affect the ability of aircraft to safely operate," the letter stated, adding that the rollout of the technology could have "an enormous negative impact on the aviation industry.” Both AT&T and Verizon are planning to deploy C-band spectrum 5G wireless networks across the United States on Jan. 5. The technology was originally slated to go online in November, but the companies agreed to push the date into 2022 after concerns were cited, and now the airline executives are hoping to slide that date even further down the calendar. The airplane manufacturers, who are typically considered direct competitors, came together in a rare show of unity to voice concerns that the 5G initiative could lead to numerous delays at airports throughout the country. The pair of companies represent the vast majority of the airplanes built for commercial aviation use, and they also have a large market share of military aircraft. The letter from Boeing and Airbus cited a statistic from trade group Airlines for America, which stated that if 5G had been in effect in 2019, it would've resulted in the delay or cancellation of 345,000 passenger flights and 5,400 cargo flights. The sentiment from the airline executives echoed a report released Dec. 7 from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that said 5G technology could lead to scheduling problems and safety issues in the skies. After issuing its report, the FAA went on to present a pair of airworthiness directives that would prohibit aircraft from operating certain radio functions while in the area of 5G signals. "Because radio altimeter anomalies that are undetected by the aircraft automation or pilot, particularly close to the ground ... could lead to loss of continued safe flight and landing," one of the directives stated. However, the FAA later issued a statement in which it said that the "expansion of 5G and aviation will safely co-exist." Verizon also released a statement pushing back against the FAA guidelines, stating that "there is no evidence that 5G operations using C-band spectrum pose any risk to aviation safety, as the real-world experience in dozens of countries already using this spectrum for 5G confirms." The communications giant added that it was taking "additional steps to minimize energy coming from 5G base stations." However, in spite of the statements released by multiple parties, the Air Line Pilots Association stated Monday that the discussions regarding 5G were at a stalemate, adding that it was "a big problem for passengers, shippers and the American economy.”  Equally important to look at is what is in the vaccines: Look At The Freaky Live Blood Sample Of Vaxxed Under Microscope!! “The Thing” Is Definitely Alive, As Are Other Strange Unidentified Creatures Swimming Around In Blood Sample Of Vaxxed!! It's Like An Ecosystem Humanity Has Never Seen Before!!     Dr. Ariyana Love said, "I agree with what one scientist suggested… that the reason the vaxxes are kept under extremely cold storage, is to keep the creatures under a suspended animation… until they are thawed out, and activated by human temperatures.  Now looking at this blood sample.. it's clear we can see several creatures moving about, a blue colourful ‘thing', and a large ‘hydra'-like creature, that some are suggesting might be able to self-regenerate itself, and therefore is basically, immortal.  The tinier critters look rather ‘active' and like they are more developed than simple bacteria… I wonder what everybody is doing… probably eating stuff, eliminating waste and reproducing. Most likely… what this means, is that the blood of the vaxxed has likely become a literal alien-hybrid cesspool of waste byproducts, and who knows what else… we're still finding out! Folks… we could be looking at an alien invasion under microscope… and at the very least, the new blood of the new hybrid (human)!”    Is This Why They Want to Change our DNA?  Source: Uncensored Sam, Published September 9, 2021  God's true name is recorded within our DNA. So, just let me go ahead and explain. Our chains of DNA contain four nucleotide-based pairs called Adenine, Guanine, Thiamine, and Cytosine. And then there's a unit within the DNA strand called a sulfuric bridge.  This sulfuric bridge holds our entire DNA strand together. It only appears after every ten nucleic acids have been laid down, and then after every five nucleic acids, then after every six, and then again, after every five nucleic acids. So, we get this repeating numerical value of 10, 5, 6, 5 within our DNA strand. Well, it turns out the Biblical name for God, YHWH, contains the same numerical value as our DNA strand. Yod He Vav He equals ten, five, six, five. What's even more interesting is that if you take the Hebrew name of YHWH and place it on its side, you get the image of a human being. Part three of this video series suggests that DNA is a language. Many people were wondering what god made the language of DNA. Researchers at Harvard University announced today that they have found what appears to be a message from God written inside the human genome. In a little-explored section of non-coding DNA, a team of top geneticists discovered a 22-word snippet of ancient Aramaic in which God confirms this existence and His role in creating life on Earth. “We knew the patterns weren't naturally occurring,” explains Charles Watson, the lead scientist on the project, “but we couldn't come up with any convincing explanation for them.  On a whim, we started cross-referencing the patterns with language databases,” he explains, “and we were shocked to find that the patterns corresponded to ancient Aramaic.” Stunned by its discovery, the team contacted language experts familiar with Aramaic – the language Jesus Christ spoke in daily life. Entirely decoded, the message reads: Hello my children, This is Yahweh, the One True Lord. You have found creation's secret. Now…go tell the world Who is the true God and Creator of all! Rumble Video: IS THIS Why They Want to Change our DNA?  Covid Shots Turn Humanity Into Patentable Species!! Supreme Court Ruling, And It's In The Patents!! Covid Shots Turn Humanity Into Patentable Species!! Supreme Court Ruling, And It's In The Patents!! Zombie Invasion Begins Mid-January 2022… Along With Mass Sickness And Death Especially For The Jabbed.     Zombie Invasion Begins Mid-January 2022… Along With Mass Sickness And Death Especially For The Jabbed!! Make The Omicron/Zombie/Disease X Connection Now And Then Head For The Hills!! One News - December 23, 2021   People… what we have here, is proof, that there is collusion and conspiracy for mass murder, and zombification of humanity on a scale that defies most people's awareness. For starters you must understand that new technologies especially of the electromagnetic radiation kind, tend to coincide with new illnesses. This has been going on for DECADES. Now… the latest is the 5G rollout… a major step scheduled for early January. I'd like you to simply observe the mass media…. two things are ‘scheduled: 1.  5G rollout… a new wave of 5G tech is set to become active.  https://duckduckgo.com/?q=++5g+rollout+january&atb=v255-1&iar=news&ia=news 2.  Media keeps suggesting people will get sick early January! https://duckduckgo.com/?q=+january+new+variant&atb=v255-1&iar=news&ia=news 3.  They seem to know something about ‘Disease X' aka 5G radiation sickness. https://duckduckgo.com/?q=disease+x&atb=v255-1&iar=news&ia=news Gee how do they know? They know because they know 5G is going to make people sick… and even worse. They know the graphene oxide in the vaxxed, is activated by electromagnetic radiation. This Is What Will Create Zombies!! Watch Graphene Oxide Dance To A Frequency In A Lab!! What This Means Is That Vaxx Ingredient Can Be Frequency Adjusted To Do… They know graphene oxide at the molecular level is equivalent of tiny razor blades; a leading scientist was murdered for telling the world this FACT! If you have the jab or several… you probably have lots to be concerned about with 5G. [Editor's note: Fear not… Lo, I will be with you always. From here on down he is speaking to non-believers.] If I were you… I'd pretty much be heading to the countryside. [Editor's note: Since cities are where most of the sin happens and most of the judgment comes, I always recommend people move out of the cities and away from the fault lines and sea shores.] How are you going to live, when tiny razor blades are slicing through your body… 24/7? [Editor's note: Those who believe the Word of God will live by Psalm 91, where it says, “There shall no evil befall thee." and the Passover, which is where God exercised control over the destroyer for those who lived under the blood. Jesus said in Luk 10:19  Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you.] How are you going to be healthy? How are you going to survive? [Learn from God's Vaccine Book] How will your body repair itself, as all the organs and capillaries are receiving 1000's of tiny slices… non-stop! [Remember, "nothing shall in any wise hurt you."] 5G is bad enough if you are not jabbed, but if you are, it might be a death sentence, or at the very least, the end of your body as you know it. [Gal 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:] Face it… what if graphene oxide is in the brain, and then you expose yourself to that radiation that is 100x stronger than 4G? [Pro 10:2  Treasures of wickedness profit nothing; But righteousness delivereth from death.] Now… this is also a trend in the news… the airlines are already bracing people for weirdness. Imagine a vaxxed pilot exposed constantly to 5G… to me, it's like a scenario of the rise of the zombies. Their brains will be sliced over and over by tiny razor blades one molecule thick. This will surely be the rise of the zombies. This sounds like a big joke right?  MILITARY DOES NOT THINK SO and they are also EXPERTS IN ELECTROMAGNETIC WARFARE! Hundreds of military, law enforcement and medical personnel will observe the Hollywood-style production of a zombie attack as part of their emergency response training.  We've put some links below: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=military+zombie+training&atb=v255-1&ia=web Marines, police prep for mock zombie invasion | Fox News https://www.foxnews.com › us › marines-police-prep-for-mock-zombie-invasion You need to know that they don't have a real accurate test for omicron… or the other variants, or covid. That's why they are ‘phasing out' the PCR test… they use this term ‘phase out' instead of ‘it never worked' to avoid admission of guilt for crimes against humanity… or let's be blunt, this is the greatest crime against humanity that has ever been perpetrated, and they won't stop unless humanity figures things out and stops them…  GRAPHENE OXIDE AND THE END-OF-DAYS APOCALYPSE Posted on August 12, 2021 by State of the Nation  Dr. José Luis Sevillano expresses his theory that GRAPHENE OXIDE (GO) is the Bio-Tech ingredient chosen for controlling mankind in THE NEW WORLD ORDER as defined by the DAVOS, the Bildebergs and WWII NAZI collaborator, Klaus Schwab, who founded the Word Economic Forum.  Graphene Oxide (GO) is found in the current Covid-19 vaccines.  GO is a super- conductor with unique electromagnetic properties that can facilitate the altering of human genetics.  The Covid-19 mRNA vaccines are the trial run for the “genetic Apocalypse”.  The plan is to alter the human species to install population control and coercive slavery through injection of Graphene Oxide into the blood stream where intra-cellular conductivity will allow neura-link (Elon Musk) nano technology and remote control of the human body and brain using directed electromagnetic radiation of various frequencies… https://www.orwell.city/2021/08/graphene-and-reset.html They are desperate to get this Graphene Oxide into people any way they can including, Spraying it in the Air, putting it in food and the nasal swabs for the PCR tests.   Sep 23, 2021 - RED ALERT: Aerosolized skin-penetrating nanoparticle spike protein attack vector CONFIRMED https://www.brighteon.com/358dc7fe-2580-40c6-8a90-13a13175caf5 Operation Disclosure: "Former FEMA Whistleblower Celeste Solum explains that the Corona PCR “test” is implanting a microchip  So the Nasopharyngeal Covid19 PCR “tests” were never tests at all. They are implanting chips, inserting Nanobots called Nanites with a bioweapons payload for the brain, while at the same time harvesting DNA. The PCR swab is inserted straight to the Nasopharynx behind the nose and forehead where your eyes are. It's at the blood brain barrier and next to your pineal gland. I believe they are knocking out people's senses with these Bioweapons and killing human intuition and your ability to cognitively see what they are doing to us. They're knocking out our senses and targeting the brain with Nanites that carry a payload. Decline the “tests.” Refuse the masks. Don't let them implant the microchip.”  Here are some very informative links explaining Graphene Oxide; It's history and what they plan on using it for: https://www.holistichealthonline.info/graphene-oxide-basics/ https://www.ftwproject.com/ref/6/      GRAPHENE OXIDE, 5G AND COVID PRESENTATION AND NOTES ON SGT REPORT  Here is a quote from Klaus Schwab's book, “Covid - 19: The Great Reset: “Euthanasia for the terminally ill and the aged shall be compulsory. No cities shall be larger than a predetermined number as described in the work of Kalgeri. Essential workers will be moved to other cities if the one they are in becomes overpopulated. Other non-essential workers will be chosen at random and sent to underpopulated cities to fill "quotas”. At least 4 billion “useless eaters” shall be eliminated by the year 2050 by means of limited wars, organized epidemics of fatal rapid-acting diseases and starvation. Energy, food and water shall be kept at subsistence levels for the non-elite, starting with the White populations of Western Europe and North America and then spreading to other races. The populations of Canada, Western Europe and the United States will be decimated more rapidly than on other continents, until the world's population reaches a manageable level of 1 billion, of which 500 million will consist of Chinese and Japanese races, selected because they are people who have been regimented for centuries and who are accustomed to obeying authority without question. From time to time there shall be artificially contrived food and water shortages and medical care to remind the masses that their very existence depends on the good will of the Committee of 300.”    The Culling of the Human Race Part 2  BY GERI UNGUREAN - 11/21/20 Altering DNA – Luciferase Biogel – Implantable Biochip to be Tracked by 5G Technology- It Isn't a Conspiracy Theory When They Are Openly Telling You What They Want To Do First and foremost, I encourage the reader to watch this short video  in which Dr. Carrie Madej explains the mRNA Vaccine in terms that we can understand. She is a brave woman to openly expose the dangerous, DNA-changing vaccine.   DARPA funded implantable biochip can potentially deploy Moderna's mRNA vaccine   From nanotechnology.news In a bid to try to battle the ongoing Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-10) pandemic, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is funding the development of an implantable biochip that could be deployed as soon as next year. The chip is said to be able to deploy an experimental new vaccine, developed jointly by Moderna and U.S government, that could change human DNA. The chip and the vaccine built on a breakthrough made by then-Harvard University professor and eventual Moderna co-founder Derek Rossi in 2010. In his discovery, which the now-retired scientist says came about purely by accident, Rossi claimed that he found a way to “reprogram” messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) – the molecules that carry genetic instructions for cell development in the human body. The promise provided by Rossi's breakthrough was such that it allowed him to co-found Moderna with private equity firm Flagship Pioneering. The company then attracted almost half a billion dollars from the federal government to begin developing vaccines using the new technology. In a preliminary report last July funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Moderna's mRNA-1273 vaccine was found to have “induced anti–SARS-CoV-2 immune responses in all participants and no trial-limiting safety concerns were identified.” Despite this, however, one obstacle to the deployment of Moderna's vaccine is the method of delivery. While Moderna is developing its own system, it's unlikely to get Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval any time soon. Enter Profusa, which is developing a nanoscale biochip that can detect symptoms of an infection. Profusa's biochip is made using a technology called “hydrogels” that were a product of the “In Vivo Nanoplatforms” (IVN) program that DARPA's Biological Technologies Office (BTO) launched in 2014 to develop implantable nanotechnologies. These hydrogels are soft, flexible nanomachines that are injected beneath the skin to perform monitoring. This hydrogel includes a specially engineered molecule that sends a fluorescent signal outside the body when it begins to fight infection. This signal can then be detected by a sensor attached to the skin that can then be sent to an app or even to a doctor's website. When it was first tested in 2018, this hydrogel was being used to measure glucose, oxygen and lactate levels. However, this past March, the company quietly announced that it was conducting a study to see if the technology could be used to detect respiratory diseases, including COVID-19. More importantly, Profusa's biochip is expected to receive fast-track authorization from the FDA by early 2021. With this in mind, some are speculating that the biochip will more than likely be the candidate for the mRNA vaccine's delivery. Read rest of article HERE    From mintpress.com The most significant scientific discovery since gravity has been hiding in plain sight for nearly a decade and its destructive potential to humanity is so enormous that the biggest war machine on the planet immediately deployed its vast resources to possess and control it, financing its research and development through agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and HHS' BARDA. The revolutionary breakthrough came to a Canadian scientist named Derek Rossi in 2010 purely by accident. The now-retired Harvard professor claimed in an interview with the National Post that he found a way to “reprogram” the molecules that carry the genetic instructions for cell development in the human body, not to mention all biological lifeforms. These molecules are called ‘messenger ribonucleic acid' or mRNA and the newfound ability to rewrite those instructions to produce any kind of cell within a biological organism has radically changed the course of Western medicine and science, even if no one has really noticed yet. As Rossi, himself, puts it: “The real important discovery here was you could now use mRNA, and if you got it into the cells, then you could get the mRNA to express any protein in the cells, and this was the big thing.” It was so big that by 2014, Rossi was able to retire after the company he co-founded with Flagship Pioneering private equity firm to exploit his innovation, – Moderna Inc., attracted almost a half billion dollars in federal award monies to begin developing vaccines using the technology. No longer affiliated with Moderna beyond his stock holdings, Rossi is just “watching for what happens next” and if he's anything like the doting “hockey dad” he is portrayed to be, he must be horrified. Remote control biology As early as 2006, DARPA was already researching how to identify viral, upper respiratory pathogens through its Predicting Health and Disease (PHD) program, which led to the creation of the agency's Biological Technologies Office (BTO), as reported by Whitney Webb in a May article for The Last American Vagabond. In 2014, DARPA's BTO launched its “In Vivo Nanoplatforms” (IVN) program, which researches implantable nanotechnologies, leading to the development of ‘hydrogel'. Hydrogel is a nanotechnology whose inventor early on boasted that “If [it] pans out, with approval from FDA, then consumers could get the sensors implanted in their core to measure their levels of glucose, oxygen, and lactate.” This contact lens-like material requires a special injector to be introduced under the skin where it can transmit light-based digital signals through a wireless network like 5G. Once firmly implanted inside the body, human cells are at the mercy of any mRNA program delivered via this substrate, unleashing a nightmare of possibilities. It is, perhaps, the first true step towards full-on transhumanism; a “philosophy” that is in vogue with many powerful and influential people, such as Google's Ray Kurzweil and Eric Schmidt and whose proponents see the fusion of technology and biology as an inevitable consequence of human progress. The private company created to market this technology, that allows for biological processes to be controlled remotely and opens the door to the potential manipulation of our biological responses and, ultimately, our entire existence, is called Profusa Inc and its operations are funded with millions from NIH and DARPA. In March, the company was quietly inserted into the crowded COVID-19 bazaar in March 2020, when it announced an injectable biochip for the detection of viral respiratory diseases, including COVID-19. Read rest of article HERE This next article REALLY caught my attention. These bad actors on the world stage are not even trying to hide anything from the public. I believe that this has happened because of the FEAR TACTIC. Many people who have given up their liberties and have cloistered themselves in their homes are TERRIFIED. Klaus Schwab is the head of the WEF (World Economic Forum). This man is salivating over the coming New World Order.   Klaus Schwab: Great Reset Will “Lead to a Fusion of Our Physical, Digital and Biological Identity” From summitnews.com Globalist Klaus Schwab made it clear that transhumanism is an integral part of “The Great Reset” when he said that the fourth industrial revolution would “lead to a fusion of our physical, digital and biological identity,” which in his book he clarifies is implantable microchips that can read your thoughts. As we highlighted earlier, “The Great Reset” is attracting a deluge of fresh attention in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, which Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said was an “opportunity for a reset.” The agenda is primarily based around dismantling the current capitalist system in favor of greater centralized technocrat rule which will lead to lower living standards, less fuel consumption, fewer civil liberties and the accelerated automation of jobs. However, another key aspect to “The Great Reset,” or the “fourth industrial revolution” as Schwab calls it, is merging man with machine. #TheGreatReset #4IR https://t.co/1ZjrP7F8RQ Schwab went on to explain how his book, ‘Shaping the Future of The Fourth Industrial Revolution', was particularly popular in China, South Korea and Japan, with the South Korean military alone purchasing 16,000 copies. In the book, Schwab explains with excitement how upcoming technology will allow authorities to “intrude into the hitherto private space of our minds, reading our thoughts and influencing our behavior.” He goes on to predict that this will provide an incentive for law enforcement to implement Minority Report-style pre-crime programs. “As capabilities in this area improve, the temptation for law enforcement agencies and courts to use techniques to determine the likelihood of criminal activity, assess guilt or even possibly retrieve memories directly from people's brains will increase,” writes Schwab. “Even crossing a national border might one day involve a detailed brain scan to assess an individual's security risk.” Schwab also waxes lyrical about the transhumanist utopian dream shared by all elitists which will ultimately lead to the creation of human cyborgs. “Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies will not stop at becoming part of the physical world around us—they will become part of us,” writes Schwab.  “Indeed, some of us already feel that our smartphones have become an extension of ourselves. Today's external devices—from wearable computers to virtual reality headsets—will almost certainly become implantable in our bodies and brains.” Schwab also openly endorses something the media still claims is solely a domain of discussion for conspiracy theorists, namely “active implantable microchips that break the skin barrier of our bodies.” The globalist hails the arrival of “implanted devices (that) will likely also help to communicate thoughts normally expressed verbally through a ‘built-in' smartphone, and potentially unexpressed thoughts or moods by reading brain waves and other signals.” So in other words, the “fusion of our physical, digital and biological identity” relates to the transhumanist singularity and a future where people have their every movement tracked and every thought read by an implantable microchip. It isn't a “conspiracy theory” when they're openly telling you what they want to do. source I want to say something very important to the brethren. The Cov-19 vaccine is NOT the Mark of the beast! … [Editor's note: This technology now is not the Mark of the Beast because this starts in the middle of the tribulation. So here is the mid-trib Mark of the Beast.] Rev. 13:11-18  “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.  And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.  He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.  And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.  He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.  He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666... Those on the earth during this time who come to the realization that Christ is Lord – they will refuse to take the mark. They will also be hunted down by the armies of Antichrist and will be beheaded. But their souls will be in heaven with our Precious Lord Jesus. Remember this passage of Scripture?  Rev. 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”   These were those who were slaughtered for their faith by Antichrist. They are asking the Lord “How long before He will judge and avenge their blood?” Brethren, I hope that this has helped some who worry about the vaccine being the actual mark of the beast. But I still say DO NOT GET THE VACCINE!! It changes our DNA which is God-given! Pray and share the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ with the lost. Time is short!   Conquering Your Beast Holiness or sanctification is a refuge from the Beast as a highway of holiness that leads to Zion. The unclean cannot travel this highway. “Righteousness delivereth from death.” The Beast is always given authority to crucify the flesh. If a person is dead to self, which is a gift from God, they never have to worry about the Beast. Isa 35:1-10  The wilderness (Tribulation in Revelation 12 & 17) and the dry land shall be glad; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.  2  It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing; the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon: they shall see the glory of Jehovah, the excellency of our God.  3  Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.  4  Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; he will come and save you.  5  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.  6  Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing; for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.  7  And the glowing sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water: in the habitation of jackals, where they lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.  8  And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but is shall be for the redeemed: the wayfaring men, yea fools, shall not err therein.  9  No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast go up thereon; they shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:  10  and the ransomed of Jehovah shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads: they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Luk 21:34-36  But take heed to yourselves, lest haply your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come on you suddenly as a snare:  35  for so shall it come upon all them that dwell on the face of all the earth.  36  But watch ye at every season, making supplication, that ye may prevail to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. {Rev.12:9} And the great dragon was cast down, the old serpent, he that is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world; he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him. {10} And I heard a great voice in heaven, saying, Now is come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accuseth them before our God day and night... {13} And when the dragon saw that he was cast down to the earth, he persecuted the woman that brought forth the man [child]. {14} And there were given to the woman the two wings of the great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness unto her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.  

Since the beginning of December, news outlets around the world have been covering a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine. In this episode, get the full back story on the civil war that has been raging in Ukraine since 2014, learn what role our government has played in the conflict, and hear Victoria Nuland - one of the highest ranking officials in the Biden administration's State Department - testify to the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee about the Biden administration's plans if Russia decides to use its military to invade Ukraine. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via PayPal Support Congressional Dish via Patreon (donations per episode) Send Zelle payments to: Donation@congressionaldish.com Send Venmo payments to: @Jennifer-Briney Send Cash App payments to: $CongressionalDish or Donation@congressionaldish.com Use your bank's online bill pay function to mail contributions to: 5753 Hwy 85 North, Number 4576, Crestview, FL 32536. Please make checks payable to Congressional Dish Thank you for supporting truly independent media! Background Sources Recommended Congressional Dish Episodes CD231: Lights Out: What Happened in Texas? CD229: Target Belarus CD206: Impeachment: The Evidence CD186: National Endowment for Democracy CD167: Combating Russia (NDAA 2018) LIVE CD156: Sanctions – Russia, North Korea & Iran CD068: Ukraine Aid Bill CD067: What Do We Want In Ukraine? CD024: Let's Gut the STOCK Act Articles, Documents, and Websites Conflicted Congress. Insider. TurkStream. “Project: The Turkstream Pipeline.” Western Balkans Investment Framework. “Ionian-Adriatic Pipeline (IAP) Project Financing.” Amber Infrastructure Group. “About Us: Our People.” Three Seas. “Three Seas Story.” Three Seas. “Priority Projects.” State Property Fund of Ukraine. “Large Privatization.” State Property Fund of Ukraine. “How to buy.” State Property Fund of Ukraine. “Ukrainian Government Assets for Sale.” Stephanie. December 14, 2021. “Kiev mayor Klitschko warns of Russian invasion.” News in 24. Kenny Stancil. December 13, 2021. “Groups Move to Uncover Why Biden Held Huge Drilling Sale That DOJ Said Was Not Required.” Common Dreams. The Kremlin. December 7, 2021. “Meeting with US President Joseph Biden.” Maxine Joselow and Alexandra Ellerbeck. December 6, 2021. “Biden is approving more oil and gas drilling permits on public lands than Trump, analysis finds.” The Washington Post. Medea Benjamin and Nicolas J. S. Davies. November 23, 2021. “The US-Russia Confrontation Over Ukraine.” Consortium News. International Monetary Fund (IMF). November 22, 2021. “IMF Executive Board Completes First Review Under Stand-By Arrangement for Ukraine, Approves Extension of the Arrangement, Press Release No. 21/342.” Nathan Rott. November 17, 2021. “The Biden administration sold oil and gas leases days after the climate summit.” NPR. Anatol Lieven. November 15, 2021. “Ukraine: The Most Dangerous Problem in the World.” The Nation. John Vandiver and Alison Bath. November 12, 2021. “US Actions in Ukraine Backfiring as Risk of Russian Invasion Grows, Analysts Say.” Military.com Andrew E. Kramer. November 3, 2021. “Weapons Tracing Study Implicates Russia in Ukraine Conflict.” The New York Times. Anton Troianovski and Julian E. Barnes. November 2, 2021. “U.S.-Russia Engagement Deepens as C.I.A. Head Travels to Moscow.” The New York Times. Anton Troianovski and David E. Sanger. October 31, 2021. “Rivals on World Stage, Russia and U.S. Quietly Seek Areas of Accord.” The New York Times. David E. Sanger. October 25, 2021. “Ignoring Sanctions, Russia Renews Broad Cybersurveillance Operation.” The New York Times. Artin DerSimonian. October 19, 2021. “Ice breaking? Russia waives ban on Victoria Nuland.” Responsible Statecraft. Andrew E. Kramer. October 18, 2021. “Russia Breaks Diplomatic Ties With NATO.” The New York Times. Mark Episkopos. October 16, 2021. “Victoria Nuland's Mission to Moscow.” The National Interest. Reuters. September 10, 2021. “Russia and Belarus launch 'hot phase' of huge war games.” Antony Blinken. August 20, 2021. “Imposition of Sanctions in Connection with Nord Stream 2.” U.S. Department of State.](https://www.state.gov/imposition-of-sanctions-in-connection-with-nord-stream-2/) Paul Belkin and Hibbah Kaileh. July 1, 2021. “In Focus: The European Deterrence Initiative: A Budgetary Overview, IF10946.” Congressional Research Service. Henrik B. L. Larsen. June 8, 2021. “Why NATO Should Not Offer Ukraine and Georgia Membership Action Plans. War on the Rocks. NATO. April 26, 2021. “Boosting NATO's presence in the east and southeast.” David E. Sanger and Andrew E. Kramer. April 15, 2021. “U.S. Imposes Stiff Sanctions on Russia, Blaming It for Major Hacking Operation.” The New York Times. The White House. April 15, 2021. “FACT SHEET: Imposing Costs for Harmful Foreign Activities by the Russian Government.” The White House. April 15, 2021. “Executive Order on Blocking Property with Respect to Specified Harmful Foreign Activities of the Government of the Russian Federation.” Reutuers. April 13, 2021. “NATO, not Russia, will decide if Ukraine joins, Stoltenberg says.” Vladimir Isachenkov. April 9, 2021. “Kremlin says it fears full-scale fighting in Ukraine's east.” AP News. Civil.ge. January 20, 2021. “Secretary-designate Blinken Says NATO Door Shall Remain Open to Georgia.” Hans M. Kristensen and Matt Korda. January 12, 2021. “Nuclear Notebook: United States nuclear weapons, 2021.” The Bulletin. Andrew Feinberg. January 9, 2021. “Two years after his infamous phone call with Trump, Zelensky comes to Washington.” The Independent. David E. Sanger, Nicole Perlroth and Julian E. Barnes. January 2, 2021. “As Understanding of Russian Hacking Grows, So Does Alarm.” The New York Times. David E. Sanger, Nicole Perlroth and Eric Schmitt. December 14, 2020. “Scope of Russian Hacking Becomes Clear: Multiple U.S. Agencies Were Hit”. The New York Times. Mark Episkopos. November 11, 2020. “Ukraine's Power Play on Minsk.” The National Interest. Government Accountability Office. October 21, 2020. “Crude Oil Markets: Effects of the Repeal of the Crude Oil Export Ban, GAO-21-118.” Anthony B. Cavender, Thomas A. Campbell, Dan LeFort, Paul S. Marston. December 23, 2015. “U.S. Repeals Longstanding Ban on Export of Crude Oil.” Pillsbury Law. Robert Parry. July 15, 2015. “The Ukraine Mess That Nuland Made.” Truthout. Robert Parry. March 19, 2015. “Ukraine's Poison Pill for Peace Talks.” Consortium News. “Full text of the Minsk agreement” February 12, 2015. Financial Times. NATO. May 8, 2014. “Article 23.” Bucharest Summit Declaration Seumas Milne. April 30, 2014. “It's not Russia that's pushed Ukraine to the brink of war.” The Guardian. David Morrison. Updated May 9, 2014. “How William Hague Deceived the House of Commons on Ukraine.” HuffPost. US Energy Information Administration. March 15, 2014. “16% of Natural Gas Consumed in Europe Flows Through Ukraine.” Energy Central. Robert Parry. February 27, 2014. “Cheering a ‘Democratic' Coup in Ukraine.” Common Dreams. “Ukraine crisis: Transcript of leaked Nuland-Pyatt call.” February 7, 2014. BBC News. Adam Taylor. December 16, 2013. “John McCain Went To Ukraine And Stood On Stage With A Man Accused Of Being An Anti-Semitic Neo-Nazi.” Insider. Brian Whelan. December 16, 2013. “Far-right group at heart of Ukraine protests meet US senator.” Channel 4 News. Guardian staff and agencies. December 15, 2013. “John McCain tells Ukraine protesters: 'We are here to support your just cause.'” The Guardian. International Monetary Fund (IMF). October 31, 2013. “Statement by IMF Mission to Ukraine, Press Release No. 13/419.” Carl Gershman. September 26, 2013. “Former Soviet States Stand Up to Russia. Will the U.S.?” The Washington Post. Amanda Winkler. November 14, 2011. “'60 Minutes' Exposes Congressional Insider Trading.” The Christian Post. Images USAID and Ukraine Privatization Fund Bills S.1605 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 Sponsor: Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL] Audio Sources President Biden White House Departure December 8, 2021 President Biden briefly stopped and spoke with reporters as he departed the White House for an event in Kansas City, Missouri. He began by addressing the Omicron variant, saying that the Pfizer vaccine is showing encouraging results against the COVID-19 variant. When asked about Russian President Putin and Ukraine, President Biden said if Putin were to invade Ukraine, there “will be severe consequences.” He went on to say that putting U.S. troops on the ground in Ukraine is currently “not in the cards.” close Report Video Issue Clips Biden: We hope by Friday, we're going to be able to say and announce to you that we're having meetings at a higher level, not just with us, but with at least four of our major NATO allies and Russia to discuss the future of Russia's concerns relative to NATO writ large. And whether or not we can work out any accommodations as it relates to bringing down the temperature along the eastern front. Biden: We have a moral obligation and a legal obligation to our NATO allies if they were to attack under Article Five, it's a sacred obligation. That obligation does not extend to NATO, I mean to Ukraine, but it would depend upon what the rest of the NATO countries were willing to do as well. But the idea of the United States is going to unilaterally use force to confront Russia invading Ukraine is not in the cards right now. Biden: Meeting with Putin. I was very straightforward. There were no minced words. It was polite, but I made it very clear, if in fact, he invades Ukraine, there will be severe consequences, severe consequences. Economic consequences, like none he's ever seen or ever had been seen in terms of ease and flows. He knows his immediate response was he understood that and I indicated I knew he would respond. But beyond that, if in fact, we would probably also be required to reinforce our presence in NATO countries to reassure particularly those on the Eastern Front. In addition to that, I made it clear that we would provide the defensive capability to the Ukrainians as well. Hearing on U.S. Policy Toward Russia Senate Committee on Foreign Relations December 7, 2021 Victoria Nuland, the undersecretary of state for political affairs, testified at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on U.S. policy toward Russia. She addressed President Biden's earlier call with Russian President Vladimir Putin and said that Russia would suffer severe consequences if it attacked Ukraine. Other topics included the use of sanctions if Russia invades Ukraine, the cooperation of NATO and U.S. allies, Russia's use of energy during conflict, and the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline 00:20 Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ): As we meet here today Russia is engaged in one of the most significant troop buildups that we have seen along Ukraine's border. To nyone paying attention, this looks like more than posturing, more than attention seeking. The Kremlin's actions clearly pose a real threat of war. 00:40 Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ): I want to be crystal clear to those listening to this hearing in Moscow, Kiev and other capitals around the world. A Russian invasion will trigger devastating economic sanctions the likes of which we have never seen before. 00:59 Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ): I proposed a suite of options last month in an amendment to the NDA. The Russian banking sector would be wiped out, sovereign debt would be blocked, Russia would be removed from the Swift payment system, sectoral sanctions would cripple the Russian economy. Putin himself as well as his inner circle would lose access to bank accounts in the West. Russia would effectively be cut off and isolated from the international economic system. Let me be clear, these are not run of the mill sanctions. What is being discussed is at the maximum end of the spectrum, or as I have called it the mother of all sanctions, and I hope that we can come together in a bipartisan way to find a legislative path forward soon, so that we can achieve that. 1:51 Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ): If Putin invades Ukraine the implications will be devastating for the Russian economy but also for the Russian people. 2:24 Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ): But is the Kremlin really ready to face a bloody, persistent and drawn out insurgency? How many body bags is Putin willing to accept? 6:03 Sen James Risch (R-ID): This is a clearly clearly bipartisan matter. 7:40 Victoria Nuland: First, let me review what we are seeing. Over the past six weeks, Russia has stepped up planning for potential further military action in Ukraine, positioning close to 100,000 troops around Ukraine's eastern and northern borders and from the south via the Crimean peninsula. Russian plans and positioning of assets also include the means to destabilize Ukraine from within, and an aggressive information operation and an attempt to undermine Ukrainian stability and social cohesion and to pin the blame for any potential escalation on Kiev, and on NATO nations including the United States. Russia's military and intelligence services are continuing to develop the capability to act decisively in Ukraine when ordered to do so, potentially in early 2022. The intended force, if fully mobilized, would be twice the size of what we saw last spring, including approximately 100 battalion tactical groups, or nearly all of Russia's ready ground forces based west of the Urals. We don't know whether President Putin has made a decision to attack Ukraine or to overthrow its government. But we do know he's building the capacity to do so. 10:42 Victoria Nuland: Since 2014 The United States has provided Ukraine with $2.4 billion in security assistance including $450 million this year alone 12:00 Victoria Nuland: Diplomacy remains the best route to settle the conflict in Donbas and address any other problems or grievances. The Minsk agreements offer the best basis for negotiations and the US is prepared to support a revived effort if the parties welcome that. 15:16 Victoria Nuland: You might have seen a press conference today that commission Chairwoman van der Laan gave in Brussels in which she made absolutely clear that the EU would also join in very consequential economic measures of the kind that they have not employed before. 23:26 Victoria Nuland: It's also important, I think, for President Putin to understand as the President conveyed to him today, that this will be different than it was in 2014. If he goes in you will recall then that our sanctions escalated somewhat gradually as he didn't stop moving. This time the intent is to make clear that the initial sanctions in response to any further aggressive moves in Ukraine will be extremely significant and isolating for Russia and for Russian business and for the Russian people. 24:51 Victoria Nuland: As you know, energy is the cash cow that enables these kinds of military deployments. So Putin needs the energy to flow as as much as the consumers need it. But more broadly, we have been counseling Europe for almost a decade now to reduce its dependence on Russian energy, including our opposition to Nord Stream 2 and our opposition to Nord Stream 1 and our opposition to to TurkStream and TurkStream 2 and to have come to find alternative sources of hydrocarbons but also to continue their efforts to go green and end their dependencies. 30:55 Sen. Todd Young (R-IN): President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov have repeatedly indicated that they seek to deny any potential path to NATO membership for Ukraine and other Eastern European countries. Does the administration view this demand is a valid issue for negotiation? Victoria Nuland: No we do not and President Biden made that point crystal clear to President Putin today that the issue of who joins NATO is an issue for NATO to decide it's an issue for applicant countries to decide that no other outside power will or may have a veto or a vote in those decisions. 32:22 Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH): Senator Portman and I offered an amendment to this year's NDAA in that vein to increase military assistance and raise the amount of assistance that could go to lethal weapons. 33:21 Victoria Nuland: But we will not be shy about coming to you as we as we need support and the bipartisan spirit here is really gratifying. 34:08 Victoria Nuland: At the NATO ministerial last week, there was a commitment among allies that we needed more advice and more options from our NATO military authorities with regard to the consequences of any move by Russia deeper into Ukraine and what that would mean for the eastern edge of the alliance and what it would mean about our need to be more forward deployed in the east. 34:44 Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH): Belarus now that it is seems to be totally within Russia's control also presents another front for the potential for Russia to invade Ukraine. Can you speak to whether we view what's happening in Belarus in that way? I know that Ukrainians view it that way because we heard that when we were in Halifax for the international security forum and met with some Ukrainian officials. Victoria Nuland: Well, as as you know, Senator, the situation in Belarus is just tragic and really concerning in many, many ways, which is why the administration along with the European Union in a multilateral way increased sanctions just last week, including blocking the sale to us or to Europe of one of the great sources of Lukashenko has money potash, etc, and sanction some dozens more Belarusians responsible for the violence and intimidation there and particularly now for the weaponization of migrants pushing you know, accepting them from third countries and then pushing them against the EU's border in a very cynical and dangerous way. But I think you're talking about the potential as Lukashenko becomes more and more dependent on the Kremlin and gives up more and more of Belarus is sovereignty, something that he told his people he would never do that Russia could actually use Belarusian territory to march on Ukraine and or mask, its forces as Belarusian forces. All of those -- Those are both things that that we are watching, and it was particularly concerning to see President Lukashenko would make a change in his own posture with regard to Crimea. He had long declined to recognize Russia Russia's claim on Crimea, but he changed tack a week ago which is concerning. 39:08 Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI): If there's one thing that Vladimir Putin aught to understand is how unified we are. I mean, there are many things that divide us politically in this country. But when it comes to pushing back on Russian aggression, supporting countries like Ukraine that are trying to develop their freedom, free themselves from their legacy of corruption from their former involvement with the Soviet Union, we are very strongly united. 39:56 Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI): What we impose on them and how and how harmful it would be to Russia, you know, unfortunately to Russian people. 40:36 Victoria Nuland: What we're talking about would amount to essentially isolating Russia completely from the global financial system with all of the fallout that that would entail for Russian business, for the Russian people, for their ability to, to work and travel and trade. 41:41 Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI): I can't think of a more powerful way to punish Russian aggression than by rolling back what progress has been made, and if at all possible, prevent the Nord Stream 2 from ever being completed. Is that something that is being discussed with allies is that something's being contemplated? Victoria Nuland: Absolutely. And as if, as you recall from the July U.S.-German statement that was very much in that statement that if that any moves, Russian aggression against Ukraine would have a direct impact on the pipeline, and that is our expectation and the conversation that we're having. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI): So again, direct impact is one thing, but I'm literally talking about rolling back the pipeline. Loosely define that but I mean, taking action that will prevent it from ever becoming operational. Victoria Nuland: I think if President Putin moves on Ukraine, our expectation is that the pipeline will be suspended. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI): Well, I certainly hope that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee would take up legislation to go beyond just suspending it but from ending it permanently. 44:28 Victoria Nuland: I think we can, and I know this is close to your heart as well, need to do better in our Global Engagement Center and in the way we speak to audiences around the world and particularly on these kinds of subjects. 55:04 Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT): But something different has happened in that country since what has been referred to as the Revolution of Dignity. I got the chance to be there on the Maidan during the midst of that revolution with you and Senator McCain. 58:56 Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT): The Three Seas Initiative is a really important initiative linking essentially the ring of countries that are either former republics or satellite states of the Soviet Union together. They're begging for US participation in their projects necessary to make them more energy independent of Russia. Isn't this an opportunity for the United States to step up and take some of these customers away from Russia's gas station? Victoria Nuland: Absolutely, as we have been doing with our support for more LNG terminals around Europe for many years, as we are doing now in our support for, you know, green alternatives, not just in the United States, but in Europe as well. And many, many US companies are involved with that. But that particular belt of three C's countries is absolutely crucial, as you've said. 1:11:19 Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH): I visited to Maidan in 2014. The tires were still smoldering and the Revolution of Dignity changed everything. You know, Ukraine decided to turn to us and to the West, and to freedom and democracy. And it was a momentous decision. They chose to stand with us. And now it's our turn to stand with them. And we've done that over the years. I mean, if you look at what happened with regard to the Ukraine security assistance initiative, which I co authored. Over the past six years, the United States has transferred defense articles, conducted training with Ukrainian military. We have been very engaged. 1:12:05 Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH): This week we have the NDAA likely to be voted on and likely it will include an increase in that lethal defensive funding. 1:12:14 Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH): What defensive weapons has Ukraine ask for and what is the State Department willing to provide them under an expedited process? 1:18:44 Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA): My concern is this: if the United States and the West's response to a military invasion is sanctions, but no military response, obviously, we're providing military aid to Ukraine. And we've been generous in that way. But if we are not willing to help a Ukrainian military, that's 50,000 people matched up against Russia, I would think that China would conclude, boy, the West sure, I'm going to come to the aid of Taiwan, if we were to do something on Taiwan. Because China would conclude, we're much more militarily powerful than Russia is. And the status questions about Taiwan and sovereignty are a little bit murkier than those about Ukraine. And there's no NATO in the Indo Pacific, we have allies in the Indo Pacific but we don't have a NATO with a charter, with a self defense article. I think China would determine, if the West responds to a military invasion went as far as sanctions but no further, that the United States and other nations would be extremely unlikely to use military force to counter a military invasion of Taiwan. And I think Taiwan would likely conclude the same thing. So I'm very concerned about that. And I wonder, is that a fair concern that I have about how the Chinese and the Taiwanese would view the West's unwillingness to provide more significant military support to stop an invasion by Russia? Is my concern a fair one? Or is my concern overwrought? Victoria Nuland: Senator, in this setting, I would simply say that this is a moment of testing. And I believe that both autocrats around the world and our friends around the world will watch extremely carefully what we do, and it will have implications for generations. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA): And those and those implications could go far beyond Ukraine. Victoria Nuland: They could go well beyond Europe. Yes. 1:22:00 Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL): Then I would imagine that he's already been publicly messaging what his asks are. The first is that we would pull back NATO forces from anywhere near their western border. The second is to completely rule out the admission probably not just of Ukraine, but Georgia as a member of NATO. And the third is to stop arming Ukraine. Of those three conditions that he's publicly messaged already, would the United States agreed to any of those three? Victoria Nuland: All of those would be unacceptable. 1:41:11 Victoria Nuland: And in fact you could argue that in the Donbas he did take control of some 40% of Ukraine's coal reserves which were a major energy input 1:42:04 Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ): I hope the one thing that anyone in the world who is watching this hearing today takes away is that even on some of the most contentious issues of the day, on this one, there is overwhelming, broad, bipartisan support for Ukraine there is overwhelming bipartisan support for its territorial integrity, there is overwhelming bipartisan support for swift and robust action. And after conversations with some of the members of the committee, I look to galvanize that in some tangible way legislatively as we wait for the days ahead as to what may or may not happen. Ukrainian President Zelensky Meeting with Secretary Austin at the Pentagon August 31, 2021 Secretary Lloyd Austin: As you know sir, President Biden has approved a new $60 million security assistance package including Javelin anti-armor systems and more to enable Ukraine to better defend itself against Russian aggression. Secretary Lloyd Austin: Now this department is committed to strengthening our Strategic Defense Partnership. The US Ukraine strategic defense framework that Minister Tehran and I will sign today enhances our cooperation and advances our shared priorities, such as ensuring that our bilateral security cooperation continues to help Ukraine countering Russian aggression and implementing defense and defense industry reforms in support of Ukraine's NATO membership aspirations, and deepening our cooperation in such areas as Black Sea security, cyber defense and intel sharing. Russian President Putin Annual Call-In Program June 30, 2021 Russian President Vladimir Putin held his annual call-in question and answer session with citizens from around the country. During this 70-minute portion, he answered questions on relations with Ukraine, the European Union, and the United States, reiterating that whatever sanctions are imposed against Russia, his country's economy will prevail. Clips Putin: I have already said that it is impossible and it makes no sense to try to restore the Soviet Union by a number of reasons and looking at the demographic processes in a number of former Soviet republic, so it's unreasonable effort to do because we can face a lot of social problems that will be possible to resolve and some issues like the ethnic groups, in various regions, but what should we do about Russia itself without the geopolitical realities and about our internal development? Putin: Why is Ukraine not on the list of countries who are Russia's adversaries? Another question: are you going to meet with Zelensky? Well, why Ukriane is not on the list of adversaries? That's because I do not think that the Ukrainian people are our adversaries. I said it many times and I will say it again. The Ukrainians and Russians, that's one people, one nation. Putin: What I'm worried about is a fundamental thing. They are trying to open up military bases near or inside Ukraine. Making the territory of Ukraine, the territory that's close on the border with Russia a military platform for other countries is a threat to the security of Russia. And this is what worries us. This is what we have to think about. Discussion: Foreign Affairs Issue Launch with Former Vice President Joe Biden Council on Foreign Affairs January 23, 2018 Clips 00:06:15 Joe Biden: They cannot compete against a unified West. I think that is Putin's judgment. And so everything he can do to dismantle the post-World War II liberal world order, including NATO and the EU, I think, is viewed as in their immediate self-interest. 00:24:15 Haass: In the piece, the two of you say that there's no truth that the United States—unlike what Putin seems to believe or say, that the U.S. is seeking regime change in Russia. So the question I have is, should we be? And if not, if we shouldn't be seeking regime change, what should we be seeking in the way of political change inside Russia? What's an appropriate agenda for the United States vis-à-vis Russia, internally? 00:24:30 Biden: I'll give you one concrete example. I was—not I, but it just happened to be that was the assignment I got. I got all the good ones. And so I got Ukraine. And I remember going over, convincing our team, our leaders to—convincing that we should be providing for loan guarantees. And I went over, I guess, the 12th, 13th time to Kiev. And I was supposed to announce that there was another billion-dollar loan guarantee. And I had gotten a commitment from Poroshenko and from Yatsenyuk that they would take action against the state prosecutor. And they didn't. So they said they had—they were walking out to a press conference. I said, nah, I'm not going to—or, we're not going to give you the billion dollars. They said, you have no authority. You're not the president. The president said—I said, call him. (Laughter.) I said, I'm telling you, you're not getting the billion dollars. I said, you're not getting the billion. I'm going to be leaving here in, I think it was about six hours. I looked at them and said: I'm leaving in six hours. If the prosecutor is not fired, you're not getting the money. Well, son of a bitch. (Laughter.) He got fired. And they put in place someone who was solid at the time. Confirmation Hearing: Defense Secretary Confirmation Hearing Senate Armed Services Committee January 12, 2017 00:20:15 Sen. McCain: For seven decades, the United States has played a unique role in the world. We've not only put America first, but we've done so by maintaining and advancing a world order that has expanded security, prosperity, and freedom. This has required our alliances, our trade, our diplomacy, our values, but most of all, our military for when would-be aggressors aspire to threaten world order. It's the global striking power of America's armed forces that must deter or thwart their ambitions. Too many Americans, too many Americans seem to have forgotten this in recent years. Too many have forgotten that our world order is not self-sustaining. Too many have forgotten that while the threats we face may not have purely military solutions, they all have military dimensions. In short, too many have forgotten that hard power matters—having it, threatening it, leveraging it for diplomacy, and, at times, using it. Fairly or not, there is a perception around the world that America is weak and distracted, and that has only emboldened our adversaries to challenge the current world order. Daily Briefing: Nuland Tape Press Conference February 6, 2014. Jen Psaki, State Department Spokesperson 0:19 Reporter: Can you say whether you—if this call is a recording of an authentic conversation between Assistant Secretary Nuland and Ambassador Pyatt? Jen Psaki: Well, I'm not going to confirm or outline details. I understand there are a lot of reports out there, and there's a recording out there, but I'm not going to confirm a private diplomatic conversation. Reporter: So you are not saying that you believe this is a—you think this is not authentic? You think this is a— Psaki: It's not an accusation I'm making. I'm just not going to confirm the specifics of it. Reporter: Well, you can't even say whether there was a—that this call—you believe that this call, you believe that this recording is a recording of a real telephone call? Psaki: I didn't say it was inauthentic. I think we can leave it at that. Reporter: Okay, so, you're allowing the fact that it is authentic. Psaki: Yes. Reporter: “Yes,” okay. Psaki: Do you have a question about it? Phone Conversation: Nuland-Pyatt Leaked Phone Conversation February 4, 2014 Nuland: Good. So I don't think Klitsch [Vitali Klitschko] should go into the government. I don't think it's necessary, I don't think it's a good idea. Pyatt: Yeah, I mean I guess, in terms of him not going into the government, just sort of letting him stay out and do his political homework and stuff. I'm just thinking in terms of, sort of, the process moving ahead, we want to keep the moderate Democrats together. The problem is going to be Tyahnybok and his guys and I'm sure that's part of what Yanukovych is calculating on all this. Nuland: I think Yatz [Arseniy Yatsenyuk] is the guy with the economic experience, the governing experience. He's the guy. What he needs is Klitsch [Vitali Klitschko] And Tyahnybok On the outside, he needs to be talking to them four times a week. You know, I just think Klitsch [Vitali Klitschko] Going in he's going to be at that level working for Yatsenyuk it's just not gonna work. Pyatt: We want to get someone out here with and international personality to come out here and help to midwife this thing. And then the other issue is some kind of outreach to Yanukovych. We'll probably regroup on that tomorrow as we see how things fall into place. Nuland: So on that piece, Jeff, I wrote the note, Sullivan's come back to me saying “you need Biden,” and I said probably tomorrow for an attaboy and get the deeds to stick, Biden's willing. Pyatt Great. Press Conference: Senator John McCain on Ukraine at the Atlantic Council C-SPAN December 19, 2013. 00:16:45 McCain: If Ukraine's political crisis persists or deepens, which is a real possibility, we must support creative Ukrainian efforts to resolve it. Senator Murphy and I heard a few such ideas last weekend—from holding early elections, as the opposition is now demanding, to the institution of a technocratic government with a mandate to make the difficult reforms required for Ukraine's long-term economic health and sustainable development. Decisions such as these are for Ukrainians to make—no one else—and if they request our assistance, we should provide it where possible. Finally, we must encourage the European Union and the IMF to keep their doors open to Ukraine. Ultimately, the support of both institutions is indispensable for Ukraine's future. And eventually, a Ukrainian President, either this one or a future one, will be prepared to accept the fundamental choice facing the country, which is this: While there are real short-term costs to the political and economic reforms required for IMF assistance and EU integration, and while President Putin will likely add to these costs by retaliating against Ukraine's economy, the long-term benefits for Ukraine in taking these tough steps are far greater and almost limitless. This decision cannot be borne by one person alone in Ukraine. Nor should it be. It must be shared—both the risks and the rewards—by all Ukrainians, especially the opposition and business elite. It must also be shared by the EU, the IMF and the United States. All of us in the West should be prepared to help Ukraine, financially and otherwise, to overcome the short-term pain that reforms will require and Russia may inflict. Discussion: Beyond NAFTA and GATT C-SPAN April 20, 1994 Arthur Dunkel, Director General of the UN 26:00:00 Dunkel: If I look back at the last 25 years, what did we have? We had two worlds: The so-called Market Economy world and the centrally planned world; the centrally planned world disappeared. One of the main challenges of the Uruguay round has been to create a world wide system. I think we have to think of that. Secondly, why a world wide system? Because, basically, I consider that if governments cooperate in trade policy field, you reduce the risks of tension – political tension and even worse than that.” Cover Art Design by Only Child Imaginations Music Presented in This Episode Intro & Exit: Tired of Being Lied To by David Ippolito (found on Music Alley by mevio)

Squid Game! The Netflix streaming phenomenon (that should definitely not be confused with Nintendo's Splatoon) has gripped the pop culture landscape, and with that grip follows flatterers, imitators, thieves, and...innocent bystanders. Join us as we sift the Gi-Hun's from the Sang-Woo's, all through the filter of Copyright, Trademark, intellectual property and more. Don't lose your marbles...in Virtual Legality. CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/9EAXaTFjWVo #SquidGame #Netflix #Trademarks *** SUPPORTING THE CHANNEL PATREON - https://www.patreon.com/VirtualLegality STREAMLABS - https://streamlabs.com/richardhoeg STORE - https://teespring.com/stores/hoeg-law-store *** CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 2:59 Copyright Largesse and Imitators 12:18 Stealing Your Marbles - SQUID and Cryptocurrency 17:48 Losing Your Name to Squids 29:19 Conclusion *** Discussed in this episode: "Netflix's ‘Squid Game' is reportedly worth almost $900 million" CNBC Website - October 18, 2021 https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/18/netflixs-squid-game-is-reportedly-worth-almost-900-million.html "Shocker: Netflix Likes to Get Word-of-Mouth Marketing Freebies" The Motley Fool - October 21, 2021 https://www.fool.com/investing/2021/10/21/wow-netflix-likes-free-word-of-mouth-marketiing/ "Rise of the squidlike? Investigating the proliferation of Squid Game games" PC Gamer - November 3, 2021 https://www.pcgamer.com/squid-game-games/ "Roblox Terms of Use" Updated May 18, 2021 https://en.help.roblox.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004647846-Roblox-Terms-of-Use "Squid Game cryptocurrency scammers vanish with $3.3M" PC Gamer - November 3, 2021 https://www.pcgamer.com/squid-game-cryptocurrency-scammers-vanish-with-dollar33m/ SQUID Whitepaper http://web.archive.org/web/20211028193520/https://squidgame.cash/SquidGameWhitepaper.pdf "Looks like I might have to change my handle after all. " Tweet - November 2, 2021 - Lydia https://twitter.com/SquidGaming/status/1455502240446390283 "Twitch streamer loses work because of her Squid Game name" BBC News - November 3, 2021 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-59140585 "What is a trademark?" USPTO Website https://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/basics/what-trademark "False designations of origin, false descriptions, and dilution forbidden" 15 USC 1125 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/1125#c "Dilution (Trademark)" Cornell Law School Website https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/dilution_(trademark) *** "Virtual Legality" is a continuing series discussing the law, video games, software, and everything digital, hosted by Richard Hoeg, of the Hoeg Law Business Law Firm (Hoeg Law). CHECK OUT THE REST OF VIRTUAL LEGALITY HERE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy9YAU61GoW-00K0TJOGnPCo DISCUSSION IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL ADVICE. INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN THE LEGAL TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS VIDEO SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN COUNSEL. *** Twitter: @hoeglaw Web: hoeglaw.com

He may be fictional, but that doesn't mean his words don't hurt. Or at least that's what reports surrounding Ubisoft's personalized emails from Far Cry 6 villain Anton Castillo are suggesting. Is there any there, there? And just how can Ubisoft be permitted to send such indiscriminately hateful messaging anyway... Have you or a loved one been mercilessly taunted by a fictional character? We can help...in Virtual Legality. CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/XjEyLAsw5lU #FarCry6 #Ubisoft #Emails *** SUPPORT THE CHANNEL PATREON - https://www.patreon.com/VirtualLegality STREAMLABS - https://streamlabs.com/richardhoeg STORE - https://teespring.com/stores/hoeg-law-store *** Discussed in this episode: "Far Cry 6's goading marketing email raises eyebrows among fans" Eurogamer - October 27, 2021 https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-10-27-far-cry-6s-goading-marketing-emails-raise-eyebrows-among-fans "Ubisoft Pestering Far Cry 6 Players For Not Playing Enough" Kotaku - October 26, 2021 https://kotaku.com/ubisoft-pestering-far-cry-6-players-for-not-playing-eno-1847940889 "Far Cry 6's Anton Castillo is so disappointed I haven't killed him yet he's emailing me about it" PC Gamer - October 26, 2021 https://www.pcgamer.com/far-cry-6s-anton-castillo-is-so-disappointed-i-havent-killed-him-yet-hes-emailing-me-about-it/ "A lot of games are already ruthlessly designed to maximize engagement..." Tweet - October 26, 2021 - Brendan Sinclair https://twitter.com/BrendanSinclair/status/1452986713098407945 "Far Cry 6's Messages From El Presidente Are Spurring Debate Among Fans And Critics" IGN - October 27, 2021 https://sea.ign.com/far-cry-6/178164/news/far-cry-6-players-are-receiving-emails-from-el-presidente-mocking-them-for-quitting Ubisoft Connect Website https://ubisoftconnect.com/en-US/ "UBISOFT TERMS OF USE" Updated May 12, 2020 https://legal.ubi.com/termsofuse/en-US "PRIVACY POLICY" Updated May 2020 https://legal.ubi.com/privacypolicy/en-US *** "Virtual Legality" is a continuing series discussing the law, video games, software, and everything digital, hosted by Richard Hoeg, of the Hoeg Law Business Law Firm (Hoeg Law). CHECK OUT THE REST OF VIRTUAL LEGALITY HERE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy9YAU61GoW-00K0TJOGnPCo DISCUSSION IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL ADVICE. INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN THE LEGAL TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS VIDEO SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN COUNSEL. *** Twitter: @hoeglaw Web: hoeglaw.com

Disciple Up # 232 Should Worship Make Me Comfortable? By Louie Marsh, 10-13-2021   Intro.   https://www.quora.com/Going-to-Church-makes-me-uncomfortable-but-I-want-a-good-relationship-with-God-Should-I-just-go?share=1   Going to Church makes me uncomfortable, but I want a good relationship with God. Should I just go?   Nathaniel Ziegler  Answered May 6, 2019 If I were you, I would start looking into other churches and other denominations to see if I could find one where I was more comfortable. The discomfort you feel might be God's signal that this particular church is not right or good for you.   God meets people where they are at and tries to guide them down the path toward His Kingdom. Sometimes, a congregation, pastor, or church is focused on a spot where an individual is not. In such a case, it is best to find another church.   It helps a relationship with God to attend a church. However, it is possible to have a relationship without church. If you decide not to attend church, you will need to be open to God in other ways. You will, also, need a support system outside a congregation (good to have, anyway, but vital if you are not getting any support from a congregation).   Best wishes! I hope you find what you are looking for soon. Let your sense of discomfort/comfort be your guide. And, stay open to messages from God in other areas of your life. If you want a relationship with God, you will have one. Peace!   Barrie Davis  Updated May 7 If going to church makes you uncomfortable. then stop going.   You cannot “buy” a relationship with God by enduring discomfort.. otherwise you would be able to buy a better one by scourging yourself..   … (whipping your body with a chain that's got spikes on)..   … and that idea is not on trend any more, even amongst the most devout.   My advice is, get back in your comfort zone, give the religious rituals a rest, and then see what happens to your relationship with God. It may improve, it may stay the same, it may even disappear altogether…   Whatever it is, you will not have been forced into it by the expectations of other church-goers.   You were talking about YOUR relationship with God, after all.   Shawn Murphy, Studied over 18 religions   Answered May 7, 2019 This is what Jesus tells about prayer and worship.   Matt 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.   Jesus did not say to go to church to find God, He taught that we need find God in our heart and soul, not wear our belief on our sleeve. The best way to discover God and His Laws is in nature - studying His creation. If you study His creation, you will find few churches that teach His Laws.   Religion and churches are man's creation, not God's.   There is one important thing that Jesus told us about community to remember. When two or more are gathered in my name, do this in memory of me. (Matt 18:20) So, it is good to get together with like minded people, who believe the Jesus is our King, and remember Him. You do not need a church to do this. You can remember the Last Supper every time that you sit down to eat with your family.   ***** “20For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”” (Matthew 18:20, ESV)   “13When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” 14And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” 15And the commander of the Lord's army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.” (Joshua 5:13–15, ESV)   “1Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.” (Acts 13:1–3, ESV)   “24Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,” (Acts 16:24–25, ESV)   “10I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.” 12Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. 17When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.” (Revelation 1:10–18, ESV)  

It's our annual (semi-annual?), let's respond to some...interesting claims made on YouTube episode! In this installment - Is Roblox, one of the most popular gaming platforms in the world, exploiting your child? What you don't know...probably won't change your understanding of the underlying voluntary transactions at play here. That said, there's much to discuss as Shut Up and Sit Down's Quintin Smith gets *extravagant* on behalf of People Make Games. Nobody needs to Shut Up, but we should probably have a bit of a Sit Down...in Virtual Legality. CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/pE3TjauWcow #Roblox #Exploitation #Response *** CHANNEL SUPPORT PATREON - https://www.patreon.com/VirtualLegality STREAMLABS - https://streamlabs.com/richardhoeg STORE - https://teespring.com/stores/hoeg-law-store *** CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 03:50 The Underlying Premise 05:46 Overview 06:53 Encouraging Folks to Develop 19:32 Problems of Discoverability 25:07 A Fair Share 36:47 Robux and Suspect Terms 44:57 Understanding Company Scrip 49:59 Bonus Arguments: Children and Activists 57:50 Jumping to Conclusions 1:01:59 My Conclusions (and Emil's) *** Discussed in this episode: "Been working on this for a while." Tweet - August 19, 2021 - Quinns https://twitter.com/Quinns108/status/1428341253603831812 "Investigation: How Roblox Is Exploiting Young Game Developers" YouTube Video - August 19, 2021 - People Make Games https://youtu.be/_gXlauRB1EQ "What is Roblox?" Roblox Parents Webpage https://corp.roblox.com/parents/ "An Antitrust Epic" YouTube Playlist - Hoeg Law https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy-lb7ReoUqL5_dTcM8ngmfV "Roblox bookings grow 35% to $665.5M for Q2 2021" VentureBeat - August 16, 2021 https://venturebeat.com/2021/08/16/roblox-bookings-grow-35-to-665-5m-for-q2-2021/ "Infographic: Indie game revenues on Steam" August 9, 2020 https://vginsights.com/insights/article/infographic-indie-game-revenues-on-steam Roblox Corporation FORM S-1 REGISTRATION STATEMENT https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1315098/000119312520298230/d87104ds1.htm "Roblox Terms of Use" Updated May 18, 2021 https://en.help.roblox.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004647846-Roblox-Terms-of-Use "Developer Exchange Terms of Use" Roblox Help Page - Updated October 4, 2019 https://en.help.roblox.com/hc/en-us/articles/115005718246 "American kids want to be famous on YouTube, and kids in China want to go to space: survey" Business Insider - July 17, 2019 https://www.businessinsider.com/american-kids-youtube-star-astronauts-survey-2019-7 "Scrip" Wikipedia Entry https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrip "Payment in scrip or similar medium not authorized." 29 CFR 531.34 https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/29/531.34 "Definitions" 29 USC 203 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/29/203 *** "Virtual Legality" is a continuing series discussing the law, video games, software, and everything digital, hosted by Richard Hoeg, of the Hoeg Law Business Law Firm (Hoeg Law). CHECK OUT THE REST OF VIRTUAL LEGALITY HERE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy9YAU61GoW-00K0TJOGnPCo DISCUSSION IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL ADVICE. INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN THE LEGAL TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS VIDEO SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN COUNSEL. *** Twitter: @hoeglaw Web: hoeglaw.com

In this episode, Amber covers the amazing survival story of May Vincent. In September of 1978, 15-year old Mary ran away and hitchhiked from her home in Las Vegas to California. On her return home she got into the van of 50-year old Lawrence Singelton who brutally raped her, dismembered her, and left her for dead. Mary fought hard and survived this brutal attack.Amber pulled her sources from:WikipediaTampa Bay Times “Singelton Guilty in Stabbing Murder” by Sue Carlton 9-12-05I survived Season 4, Episode 1Then Erika covers death by Excedrin.  Stella Nickell was born in Oregon, got pregnant at 16 then moved herself and her daughter to California.  She would later fall in love and marry Bruce Nickell and move to Auburn Washington.   Bruce was an excessive drinker and decided to go to rehab and get sober. Stella didn't like to new healthy lifestyle and wanted to continue to drink.  One night after work, Bruce took Excedrin from the bottle in his home and immediately collapsed.  He was pronounced dead at the hospital that night.  A week later another woman by the name of Sue Snow, took Excedrin and she collapsed and died too.  Erika pulled her sources from:www.wcjn.orgwww.history.com /Woman convicted of killing two in Excedrin Tampering Nov. 13, 2009 Updated May 6, 2020www.wikipedia.orgwww.murderpedia.org 

In the summer of 2020, amid a pandemic, historic unemployment and racial unrest, President Donald Trump developed a bizarre obsession with TikTok. In this episode, reporter Shelly Banjo and her colleagues take you aboard Air Force One and into the surreal tit-for-tat fight between TikTok and one of the most powerful men in the world. Updated May 27, 2021 to reflect ByteDance CEO Zhang Yiming's decision to step down.

Ubisoft has seen no shortage of controversy this past year, but the company had to have been hoping that the release of its most significant titles this holiday season would relieve at least some of the PR pressure. Unfortunately, with news that the company's first of these holiday releases, Watch Dogs Legion, is apparently causing Xbox One Xs to shutdown, there are significant reasons to be worried. Especially upon close examination of Ubisoft's terms of use. Bad terms may be industry standard, but that doesn't mean they can't cause trouble...in Virtual Legality. CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/VUgC8lqIXJQ #WatchDogs #Legion #Xbox *** We're coming up on the second anniversary of Virtual Legality! To help celebrate, we'd love to have more subscribers come and discover our (still relatively small) show, and we need your help! Please let folks know about the channel and check out the store for even more ways to show your support! STORE: https://teespring.com/stores/hoeg-law-store And until December 1st, get 10% off purchases with the code: VL2NDANN. Thank you so much for supporting the channel these past couple of years. We wouldn't have any success at all without you! *** Discussed in this episode: "Is Ubisoft "Exploiting" a Legion of Watch Dogs Artists with HitRecord? (VL74) (Hoeg Law)" YouTube Video - July 17, 2019 - Hoeg Law https://youtu.be/Yj086c540QY "Watch Dogs: Legion has a game-breaking bug on Xbox One X" Eurogamer - October 28, 2020 - Martin Robinson https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2020-10-28-watch-dogs-legions-has-a-game-breaking-bug-on-xbox-one-x "A Lawyer Reads Ubisoft's New Terms (No, They Don't Own Your Soul) (VL230)" YouTube Video- - May 20, 2020 - Hoeg Law https://youtu.be/OaS_XnDAPYE "UBISOFT TERMS OF USE" Updated May 12, 2020 https://legal.ubi.com/termsofuse/en-US *** "Virtual Legality" is a continuing series discussing the law, video games, software, and everything digital, hosted by Richard Hoeg, of the Hoeg Law Business Law Firm (Hoeg Law). CHECK OUT THE REST OF VIRTUAL LEGALITY HERE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy9YAU61GoW-00K0TJOGnPCo DISCUSSION IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL ADVICE. INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN THE LEGAL TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS VIDEO SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN COUNSEL. *** Twitter: @hoeglaw Web: hoeglaw.com Blog: hoeglaw.wordpress.com STORE: https://teespring.com/stores/hoeg-law-store

Find out how the most current executive orders and regional lifting of restrictions impact your township. MTA’s entire Member Information Services team—Director Michael Selden, Staff Attorney Catherine Mullhaupt and MIS Liaison Cindy Dodge—joined by Seth Koches, legal counsel from Bauckham, Sparks, Thall, Seeber & Kaufman P.C., offer insights into the evolving impact of the COVID-19 crisis on your township operations. We tackled a wide variety of topics, from meetings to campgrounds, to help you understand where we are now. Webinar Resources: UPDATED! MTA Guidance on Township Employees Working from Home (Updated May 27, 2020) UPDATED! Return to Work Planning during COVID-19 (Updated May 27, 2020) UPDATED! MTA Tips on Township Operations after EO 2020-92 (Updated May 27, 2020) UPDATED! MTA Guidelines for Conducting Meetings under Executive Order 2020-75 and the Open Meetings Act (Updated May 27, 2020) UPDATED! COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan Sample (.doc) (Updated May 27, 2020) MTA Examples of Electronic Public Meeting Notices (.doc) (May 27, 2020) Michigan Townships Association COVID-19 resources MI Safe Start Map

When a major third party video game publisher deigns to change its mandatory terms of use, the gaming community takes notice. And when your favorite YouTube legal commentator puts forth his own thoughts on the change, well...the gaming community takes notice of that as well. Join us as we dive once more into Ubisoft's new Terms of Use document to discuss, among other things, just why it's so complicated, and what areas really are worthy of concern. We lay siege to these terms, not for honor, for that is a far cry from our purpose, but for clarity. That is our creed...in Virtual Legality. CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/6S2iugZHbeI #Ubisoft #Terms #TOS *** Discussed in this episode: "A Lawyer Reads Ubisoft's New Terms (No, They Don't Own Your Soul) (VL230)" YouTube Video - May 20, 2020 - Hoeg Law https://youtu.be/OaS_XnDAPYE "Ubisoft Owns Your Soul - Terms of Service Update" YouTube Video - May 20, 2020 - Upper Echelon Gamers https://youtu.be/4MdxFitwEj4 "Mobile Gaming Consequences - A Den of Thieves - Cyberpunk 2077 Ripoff" YouTube Video - May 25, 2020 - Upper Echelon Gamers https://youtu.be/6Mwr1dj_XGA "UBISOFT TERMS OF USE" Updated May 12, 2020 https://legal.ubi.com/termsofuse/en-US "MINECRAFT END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT" https://account.mojang.com/documents/minecraft_eula "Streaming, Copyright Infringement, and Fair Use (Virtual Legality #177)" YouTube Video - February 19, 2020 - Hoeg Law https://youtu.be/vTjsKrC3tOE Twitter User Agreement To Be Effective June 18, 2020 https://cdn.cms-twdigitalassets.com/content/dam/legal-twitter/site-assets/privacy-policy-new/Twitter-User-Agreement-EN.pdf *** "Virtual Legality" is a continuing series discussing the law, video games, software, and everything digital, hosted by Richard Hoeg, of the Hoeg Law Business Law Firm (Hoeg Law). CHECK OUT THE REST OF VIRTUAL LEGALITY HERE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy9YAU61GoW-00K0TJOGnPCo DISCUSSION IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL ADVICE. INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN THE LEGAL TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS VIDEO SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN COUNSEL. *** Twitter: @hoeglaw Web: hoeglaw.com Blog: hoeglaw.wordpress.com

When a major third party video game publisher deigns to change its mandatory terms of use, the gaming community takes notice. But while dripping in legalese, and with stylistic choices I would (most definitely) not recommend, the truth of Ubisoft's new Terms of Use document is not nearly as apocalyptic as some fear. Contract interpretation is not for the faint of heart...in Virtual Legality. CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/OaS_XnDAPYE #R6Siege #AF2 #Lawsuit *** Discussed in this episode: "Ubisoft updated their terms of service..." Tweet - May 20, 2020 - Upper Echelon Gaming (@UE_UpperEchelon) https://twitter.com/UE_UpperEchelon/status/1263161053132849152 "[Hoeg Law] have you heard/talked about it?" Tweet - May 20, 2020 - Remaxter (@Remaxter1) https://twitter.com/Remaxter1/status/1263169292884992000 "[Hoeg Law] can you look at the terms of service for ubisoft's uplay?" Tweet - May 20, 2020 - Lord Farquad (@LordFar78254431) https://twitter.com/LordFar78254431/status/1263171071349579779 "[Hoeg Law], curious if you've seen or have a video planned to discuss the changes to Ubisoft's TOS agreement..." Tweet - May 20, 2020 - Zylo WolfBane (@ZyloWolfBane) https://twitter.com/ZyloWolfBane/status/1263164414942826497 "Ubisoft Owns Your Soul - Terms of Service Update" YouTube Video - May 20, 2020 - Upper Echelon Gamers https://youtu.be/4MdxFitwEj4 "UBISOFT TERMS OF USE" Updated May 12, 2020 https://legal.ubi.com/termsofuse/en-US *** "Virtual Legality" is a continuing series discussing the law, video games, software, and everything digital, hosted by Richard Hoeg, of the Hoeg Law Business Law Firm (Hoeg Law). CHECK OUT THE REST OF VIRTUAL LEGALITY HERE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy9YAU61GoW-00K0TJOGnPCo DISCUSSION IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL ADVICE. INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN THE LEGAL TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS VIDEO SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN COUNSEL. *** Twitter: @hoeglaw Web: hoeglaw.com Blog: hoeglaw.wordpress.com

Released September 2019 Updated May 2020 Golden State Killer, East Area Rapist, Original Night Stalker, Visalia Ransacker and more. The Story of The Golden State Killer's Beginnings. Who else was he as he traveled through time? Was he, is he the Zodiac Killer who terrorized us in the 1960's and is that who else sits in the Sacramento County Jail awaiting trial? Anne presents evidence of other monikers that may belong to this man. Spanning almost 6 decades the killer roamed the state of California. The career and possible monikers for the same man 1960 - 2018. This is the true story of how such a man remained free all of these years. This is the true story of the man's pattern's and attacks from the beginning until the end. The story continues. The most prolific serial criminal in California History. He could be the most prolific serial killer ever. He could not be stopped until DNA and Genetic Genealogy found him. What if this is truly how the story goes? Anne has written about the possibilities and writes about things no one else has mentioned in the Zodiac story. After much research and investigation's, the geography and timelines reveal the story about who the Zodiac Killer is. Follow the evidence with us.

Released September 2019 Updated May 2020 Golden State Killer, East Area Rapist, Original Night Stalker, Visalia Ransacker and more. The Story of The Golden State Killer's Beginnings. Who else was he as he traveled through time? Was he, is he the Zodiac Killer who terrorized us in the 1960's and is that who else sits in the Sacramento County Jail awaiting trial? Anne presents evidence of other monikers that may belong to this man. Spanning almost 6 decades the killer roamed the state of California. The career and possible monikers for the same man 1960 - 2018. This is the true story of how such a man remained free all of these years. This is the true story of the man's pattern's and attacks from the beginning until the end. The story continues. The most prolific serial criminal in California History. He could be the most prolific serial killer ever. He could not be stopped until DNA and Genetic Genealogy found him. What if this is truly how the story goes? Anne has written about the possibilities and writes about things no one else has mentioned in the Zodiac story. After much research and investigation's, the geography and timelines reveal the story about who the Zodiac Killer is. Follow the evidence with us.

Released September 2019 Updated May 2020 Golden State Killer, East Area Rapist, Original Night Stalker, Visalia Ransacker and more. The Story of The Golden State Killer's Beginnings. Who else was he as he traveled through time? Was he, is he the Zodiac Killer who terrorized us in the 1960's and is that who else sits in the Sacramento County Jail awaiting trial? Anne presents evidence of other monikers that may belong to this man. Spanning almost 6 decades the killer roamed the state of California. The career and possible monikers for the same man 1960 - 2018. This is the true story of how such a man remained free all of these years. This is the true story of the man's pattern's and attacks from the beginning until the end. The story continues. The most prolific serial criminal in California History. He could be the most prolific serial killer ever. He could not be stopped until DNA and Genetic Genealogy found him. What if this is truly how the story goes? Anne has written about the possibilities and writes about things no one else has mentioned in the Zodiac story. After much research and investigation's, the geography and timelines reveal the story about who the Zodiac Killer is. Follow the evidence with us.

Updated May 11, 2020, 5 p.m. PT: After weeks of no new cases, at least 34 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Kittitas County. That’s after county health workers tested nearly 170 employees at a food processing plant in Ellensburg to investigate a suspected outbreak. The plant, owned by Twin City Foods, will remain closed until at least May 19. The outbreak put Kittitas County’s application to reopen some businesses early on hold. The county was initially one of 10 identified as eligible to move faster to Phase 2 of the state’s four-phase reopening plan. Health officials say the outbreak is a chance for the county to test out its response to future flare-ups of cases. Original Story, May 8, 2020: Kittitas County was in line to move early into phase two of Gov. Jay Inslee’s plan to reopen Washington. But the county’s application to do so is now paused. Health officials in Kittitas County have found at least one new positive case of COVID-19: a worker at a Twin City Foods

12 Traits Of A Narcissist - Narcissistic Personality Disorder Clinical Presentation https://lauriehollmanphd.com/biography/ https://www.intrinsicmotivation.life/ Laurie Hollman, Ph.D. is a psychoanalyst with specialized clinical training in infant-parent, child, adolescent and adult psychotherapy, a unique practice that covers the life span. She is particularly adept at helping parents and children relate well together in today's complex family environment. This sensibility helps each family member understand their own emotional experiences while simultaneously being receptive to others' points of view. ============= Jan 31, 2019 - Keywords: Narcissism, narcissistic traits, positive psychotherapy ... to be linked with some variables such as self-confidence (12), anger (5,13), ... Jul 12, 2019 - Wondering if you are dealing with a narcissist? ... Here are 25 characteristic traits of a narcissist to look out for. ... 12 – Likes Annoying Others. May 26, 2017 - There's nothing wrong with having self-confidence, but how do you tell the difference between high self-esteem and a personality disorder? According to a 2009 study at least 6% of people suffer from narcissistic personality disorder. ... The stereotype of a narcissist is that they are ... What are the pathologic personality traits in patients with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD)?. Updated: May 16, 2018. Author: Sheenie Ambardar, MD; Chief ... Oct 4, 2019 - In its extreme, narcissism can become dysfunctional. This can happen when narcissistic personality traits cause problems in someone's ... Aug 22, 2016 - traits, which are narcissism, psychopathy and Machiavellianism, are ... This scale distinguishes three factors, namely centrifugal narcissism (12. January 16, 2018 12:29AM (UTC). This story was brought to ... Perhaps one of the most overlooked qualities narcissists look for is the ability to be conscientious. The various traits of narcissists as told by Paul form a comprehensive understanding of these kinds of people that will destroy your life if you let them. Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a personality disorder characterized by a long-term ... 9 Society and culture; 10 Criticism; 11 See also; 12 References; 13 Further reading; 14 External links ... Self-confidence (a strong sense of self) is a personality trait different from the traits of narcissistic personality disorder; thus, ... #narcissisticmothersymptoms #12traitsofanarcissist #definitionofanarcissistman #lovinganarcissistman #signsofanarcissistman #therapistspecializinginnarcissism #definitionofanarcissisticperson #vulnerablenarcissismsymptoms #covertnarcissistsymptoms --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/intrinsic-motivation/support

How do benzodiazepines work? What do they do in the body? Why do they initially calm us, but then stop working? And why are they so incredibly hard to stop? When we take a look at the neurotransmitters GABA and glutamate, we find a few answers.In today's episode, we examine two key chemicals in the brain and discover a few insights into why withdrawal is so difficult for so many. We also answer a couple questions about support groups, spotlight two regional organizations, and hear a story from Nova Scotia, Canada. Welcome to Episode #18 Today we focus on the science behind benzos. In particular, the role GABA and glutamate play in the body in response to the drugs. While there are other chemicals and mechanisms affected by these drugs, for this episode we are going to focus on these two keys. We also answer questions about starting support groups and finding one for caregivers, tell a story from Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, and spotlight two support organizations in the U.K. But first, let's list the resources used in this episode, and then we'll dive deeper into the content of episode 18. Episode Resources The following resource links are provided as a courtesy to our listeners. They do not constitute an endorsement by Benzo Free of the resource or any recommendations or advice provided therein. MAILBAGBENZO FREE: Resources / Regional OrganizationsBenzo BuddiesBenzodiazepine Recovery Facebook Page BENZO NEWSINVERSE.COM: "Who's Avoiding Sex? Psychiatrist Cites 3 Reasons" by Shervin AssariBIC: Thank You, Patrick!MENAFN: "Bisnar Chase Secures $11-Million Jury Verdict for Wife and Children of Man Who Died by Suicide While in Rehab"BENZO FREE PODCAST: Episode #17 — Benzo Brain: Cognitive Dysfunction and Memory Loss in WithdrawalMPR: "Fluoroquinolone Use Linked to Increased Peripheral Neuropathy Risk" by Cassandra Pardini, PharmDBIG ISSUE NORTH: "Why don't we just… stop pretending that pills are the answer to young people's problems?" by Mike Shooter SPOTLIGHTBristol & District Tranquilliser Project (BTP)Bristol and District Tranquilliser Project AGM — Prof. Ashton's LectureBattle Against Tranquillisers (BAT) FEATURE: The Science of Benzos: GABA and GlutamateAshton, C. Heather. Benzodiazepines: How They Work and How to Withdraw (aka The Ashton Manual). 2002. Accessed April 13, 2016. http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual.Bachhuber, Marcus A., Sean Hennessy, Chinazo O. Cunningham, and Joanna L. Starrels. "Increasing Benzodiazepine Prescriptions and Overdose Mortality in the United States, 1996-2013." American Journal of Public Health (AJPH) (April 2016). Accessed April 7, 2018. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2016.303061.Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Prescribing Guidelines for Pennsylvania: Safe Prescribing Benzodiazepines for Acute Treatment of Anxiety & Insomnia. Updated May 15, 2017. Accessed April 7, 2018. https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/Documents/Opioids/PA%20Guidelines%20on%20Benzo%20Prescribing.pdf.Edwards, Elaine, "Bad Side-Effects of Drugs Such as Valium A 'Medical Disaster'," Irish Times, October 10, 2016, Accessed October 10, 2016, https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/bad-side-effects-of-drugs-such-as-valium-a-medical-disaster-1.2824495.Foster, D E. Benzo Free: The World of Anti-Anxiety Drugs and the Reality of Withdrawal. Erie, Colorado: Denim Mountain Press, 2018. http://www.benzofree.org/book.Goddard AW. “Cortical and subcortical gamma amino acid butyric acid deficits in anxiety and stress disorders: clinical implications.” World J Psychiatry 6(1)(2016):43-53. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v6.i1.43.IMS Health. Vector One: National (VONA) and Total Patient Tracker (TPT) Database (2013). Extracted April 2014. Quoted in CCHR International. "Total Number of People Taking Psychiatric Drugs in the United States." Accessed April 3, 2018. https://www.cchrint.org/psychiatric-drugs/people-taking-psychiatric-drugs/.Leigh, Jennifer, "Five (5) Facts About Benzodiazepine Withdrawal (You Need to Know)," Additionblog.org,

It's a new world as Microsoft and Xbox have reinterpreted their existing Services Agreement (binding all Xbox Live account holders) under new "Community Standards" in some...interesting...ways. Who determines what is "a little bit" of trash talk, and whether or not it is "clean"? When are prizes and giveaways "frequent", "regular", or "repetitive"? Is music in voice chat really "inappropriate"? What makes a political position "controversial"? Is requesting redress for damages or losses in the form of compensation from Xbox now tantamount to fraud? What about playing a game before its release date, or disclosing its "surprise ending" (and what makes it a surprise)? And...who watches the watchmen, anyway? All this, plus EA's reactions to Anthem and its own new world in the age of the influencer, in today's Virtual Legality. CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/z9khLd4hlKQ For more on the issues presented by guidelines instead of rules: "Virtual Legality #50 - On the Tyranny of "Guidelines": A PlayStation Story (Hoeg Law)" (https://youtu.be/-ZPlpI1WeTQ) #XboxLive #Anthem #VirtualLegality *** Discussed in this episode: "Electronic Arts says the old way of releasing games doesn't work anymore" PCGamer - May 7, 2019 - Andy Chalk (https://www.pcgamer.com/electronic-arts-says-the-old-way-of-releasing-games-doesnt-work-anymore/) "Xbox Live’s new standards try to define acceptable trash talk" Polygon - May 2, 2019 - Owen Good (https://www.polygon.com/2019/5/2/18527220/xbox-live-community-standards-update-toxic-behavior-harassment) "Community Standards for Xbox" (https://www.xbox.com/en-US/Legal/Community-Standards) "Microsoft Services Agreement" Updated May 1, 2018 (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/servicesagreement) Electronic Arts "Legal" Terms (https://www.ea.com/legal#1) *** FOR MORE CHECK US OUT: On Twitter @hoeglaw At our website: https://hoeglaw.com/ On our Blog, "Rules of the Game", at https://hoeglaw.wordpress.com/ On "Help Us Out Hoeg!" a regular segment on the Easy Allies Podcast (formerly GameTrailers) (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZrxXp1reP8E353rZsB3jaA) Biweekly on "Inside the Huddle with Michael Spath" on WTKA 1050

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Play and all other outlets. **Updated May 9th 2019 at 21:00 GMT, the volume was clipping in places so I fixed it. Apologies if you downloaded already, if you're listening after that point then it's all good.** Here's my sixth Summer sunshine sounds selection. 60 sunny sizzlers to brighten up your day. You can find the other 5 editions here: Volume 5: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/tantricdex/episodes/2018-05-17T14_12_31-07_00 Volume 4: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/tantricdex/episodes/2017-05-06T18_12_04-07_00 Volume 3: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/tantricdex/episodes/2016-05-13T04_04_30-07_00 Volume 2: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/tantricdex/episodes/2015-05-09T07_44_53-07_00 Volume 1: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/tantricdex/episodes/2014-06-21T08_50_02-07_00 00:00 Harry Nilsson- gotta get up 02:12 Electric Light Orchestra (ELO)- Mr. blue sky 07:11 Take That- shine 11:11 Josefin Öhrn + The Liberation- feel the sun 15:20 Weezer- high as a kite 18:50 Len- steal my sunshine 22:55 Canned Heat- going up the country 28:42 Candy Flip- strawberry fields forever 32:40 Groove Armada- at the river 38:46 Fleetwood Mac- albatross (Chris Coco remix) 43:43 Enya- Caribbean blue 47:38 Mic Christopher- heyday 51:15 The Divine Comedy- gin soaked boy 56:12 Nuyorican Soul- I am the black gold of the sun 01:01:11 Sounds of Blackness- optimistic 01:06:28 Talk Talk- life's what you make it (extended mix) 01:13:03 The Christians- ideal world 01:16:40 Lee Dorsey- yes, we can 01:20:00 Vampire Weekend/Steve Lacy- sunflower 01:22:11 Earth, Wind & Fire- shining star 01:24:52 Stevie Wonder- I wish 01:29:15 Bernard Wright- spinnin' 01:32:05 Skee-Lo- I wish (Neil Corcoran edit) 01:37:40 Shade Sheist/ Nate Dogg/ Kurupt- where I wanna be 01:41:48 DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince- summertime 01:47:05 Sly5thAve/Jimetta Rose- let me ride 01:50:50 Warren G- This D.J. 01:55:44 Roots Manuva- Witness (1 Hope)(Neil Corcoran edit) 02:02:20 Altın Gün- Süpürgesi Yoncadan 02:06:54 Stakka Bo- here we go 02:10:40 Madonna- who's that girl 02:14:22 Shirley Finney- lovely day 02:18:12 Redbone- come and get your love 02:22:20 Sly & The Family Stone- hot fun in the summertime 02:24:48 Jackson Sisters- I believe in miracles 02:29:29 Shirley Bassey- Jezahel 02:33:24 Chaka Khan- hello happiness 02:37:17 Confidence Man- out the window (Greg & Ché Wilson mix) 02:42:43 Happy Mondays- step on (Neil Corcoran edit) 02:50:45 William Onyeabor- fantastic man 02:57:34 Harry Belafonte- jump in the line 03:01:10 Vanessa Paradis- Joe le taxi 03:06:06 Paul Simon- late in the evening 03:09:49 De Gama- tropical boogie 03:17:47 Saint Etienne- dive (Greg Wilson & Derek Kaye remix) 03:25:15 Spiller- groovejet 03:31:00 Jon Cutler/Kemdi- you groove me 03:37:07 a-ha- the sun always shines on t.v. (extended version) 03:45:24 Booker T & The MG's- soul limbo 03:47:35 The Wiseguys- start the commotion 03:52:50 Brian Coll and The Plattermen- Ireland swings 03:54:36 Lenny Kravitz- fly away 03:58:11 The Comet Is Coming- summon the fire 04:02:06 Blur- girls & boys (Neil Corcoran edit) 04:07:42 George Ezra- shotgun (Neil Corcoran edit) 04:12:10 Eddie Cochran- c'mon everybody 04:14:10 Lesley Gore- sunshine, lollipops and rainbows 04:15:44 Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames- let the sunshine in 04:18:18 Katrina and the Waves- walking on sunshine See you at Christmas for the end of year specials. Have a super Summer.

How do smokers make it through long flights? Fadi Francis, Engineer. Traveler. Polyglot. Updated May 16 My father’s friend has been smoking 2 packs a day for 35 years. In 2005, halfway through his flight from Paris to Los Angeles, he couldn't take it anymore and went to the bathroom to light one up. Now of course he knew it was illegal but his urges were too strong, so he lit the cigarette, brought it up to his nose while taking a deep inhale without actually sucking on it, and then put it out. The silent smoke alarm went off, and the co-pilot came to speak with him. He told him: “ Do you know that the fine is $10,000 for smoking ? ” He showed him the cigarette, apologize and said: “I am sorry, I know, I just lit it, smelled it but didn't smoke it.” He smiled, pulled out a pack of nicotine gum and gave him a piece. They shared a laugh and he hasn’t flown without the gum since. EDIT: Many people have b...

How did you become disciplined? What was the reason that killed your laziness? Michael Hannon, Author, "7 Simple Habits of Extraordinary Salespeople". michael2020.com Updated May 23 At 22 years of age I lacked discipline, direction, had no plan and didn’t care. I received a draft notice and was inducted into the US Army. Discipline is not an option in Army basic training. Showing any lack of discipline after basic training is swiftly dealt with—not a good idea. They’ve been at this for a couple hundred years. They’ve seen every kind of challenge lack of discipline can through. They’ve handled many in the past. Call it breaking wild horses—they’re good at it. In the middle of my time of service the President of the United States decided to send US Army troops (I was swept into the deployment) to South Vietnam. Off we went; innocent, cocky, ready for some grand adventure. It took a very short perio...

https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-best-financial-advice-someone-has-ever-given-you/answer/Asim-Qureshi-17?srid=4qnf Asim Qureshi, CEO LaunchPad, 5 $1m+ startups (asim@launchpadstartups.com) Updated May 16 ¡¤ Upvoted by Nimesh Jivani, PGDM Finance, Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (2018) The wealthiest person I know well, who is possibly a billionaire, gave me some advice about a decade ago. He said, ¡°Asim beta [which means son in Urdu], it doesn¡¯t matter what you do, you just have to do it very well.¡± A decade on, I couldn¡¯t agree with him more. Whether you are in a job, go into a startup, develop properties, sing, you just have to do it damn well, and the money will come.

What are some psychological hacks that have helped you? Nicolae Dumitrescu, IT Manager (2012-present) Updated May 15 Well, let me tell you about my hack. This is 100% true, believe it or not. It’s actually not “my” hack, but I found that it works in other situations just as well. I have been a smoker for about 15 years, passionate about the damn thing - /sɪɡə'rets/, pipe, cigars, you name it. At some point, without a real reason - sickness, lack of money, etc. the usual motives that one uses to try and quit smoking - I began reading a famous book about quitting smoking. There, the author said something like “you are born non-smoker, smoking is something that you impose on yourself. Just wake up one day with your mind set that you are a non-smoker”. And I did. And it worked! I have tried quitting in the past, each attempt did not last longer than 6–7 hours. But this time, when I “programmed” myself that I am a non-smoker, I have...

What are things to do or avoid doing in your 20s/30s in order to avoid regrets further down the line? John Buginas, I grow older every day (and have for years) Updated May 15 Take care of your body, mind, and wallet. Don't smoke or vape Don't become addicted to drugs or alcohol Brush and floss your teeth Wear sunscreen and or hats Walk 10k steps daily. (Park in the farthest parking spot, take the stairs, don't be lazy. You don't need special shoes or clothing, just get off your buttocks) Regularly do some exercises to maintain your strength. This could mean going to a gym or participating in other strenuous activities. Just get off those buttocks! Maintain a healthy weight. Don't lie to yourself about your muffin top. And, no, Costco muffins aren't health food. Learn how to converse in person. Put down your smartphone at least an hour a day when you are in the company of others ...

What are some interesting psychological tips, hacks or facts? Natalie Engelbrecht, Psychotherapist 20+ yr; trained and well studied in positive psychology Updated May 6 What are some interesting psychological tips, hacks or facts? Here are three facts are based on scientific research: If you announce your goals to others, you are less likely to make them happen because you lose your motivation because announcing your goals to others satisfies you self-identify enough such that you are less motivated to do the hard work that is required. 162 subjects were given a difficult project and 45 minutes to work on it. Each person was told to write down their personal goal to the project. Half the students announced their commitment to the goal to the group while the others were told to keep their goals to themselves. The people who announced their goals to the room before starting the project, only worked for 33 minute...

What would you say to people cutting in line? Jack Fraser, Master's Physics, University of Oxford (2018) Updated May 3 I'm British. You don't say anything. Let me explain: Cutting in front of someone is one of the rudest, most impetuous thing you can do in public — a queue was formed because a lot of people want to do the same thing — who the hell do you think you are to cut in front of that? You will goddamn wait your turn! However. If someone does breach this etiquette, then you cannot speak out about it. Can't cause a fuss — wot wot, stiff upper lip old boy… Thus, since causing a fuss would be equally rude, the appropriate course of action when someone cuts in front of you is to: Tut Roll your eyes Shake your head Mutter “unbelievable” to the person next to you Do sod all about it Rule...

Why do some people succeed in life and others don't? Shams ur Rahman, Artificial Intelligence Researcher (2016-present) Updated May 2 This is Bruce Lee. He died at 32. The year before he became wildly successful, he wrote this to himself: My Definite Chief Aim I, Bruce Lee, will be the first highest paid Oriental super star in the United States. In return I will give the most exciting performances and render the best of quality in the capacity of an actor. Starting 1970 I will achieve world fame and from then onward till the end of 1980 I will have in my possession $10,000,000. I will live the way I please and achieve inner harmony and happiness. Bruce Lee Jan. 1969 ONLY 4 YEARS LATER, HE WAS DEAD! But in those four years he became the rock star martial artist, famous actor and a s...

Welcome to LPLE, "Let's Practice Listening in English!" Jesse does a solo reading of Seattle local news. Follow the below link to read the full story, as well as learn new words and vocabulary, and improve your pronunciation and listening comprehension. The Seattle Times Wal-Mart sharpens Amazon attack with 2-day delivery service Originally published May 12, 2016 at 6:49 am Updated May 12, 2016 at 3:29 pm By Anne D'Innocenzio The Associated Press Join in the conversation! Follow us on Twitter and Facebook to ask us questions about English conversation and meet other English language learners all over the world. Website: dialog.fm/LPLE iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/lple/id1098735563 Facebook: facebook.com/LPLEDialogFM Twitter: twitter.com/LPLEDialogFM Patreon: patreon.com/LPLE

Check out http://www.lynda.com/minuteearth for 10 days of free online courses - http://www.lynda.com/ Illustrations by: Jesse Agar - https://www.youtube.com/user/ThisPlac... Thanks also to our Patreon patrons: - Jeff Straathof - Mark - Maarten Bremer - Today I Found Out - Alberto Bortoni - Avi Yashchin - Valentin - Nicholas Buckendorf - Antoine Coeur Please support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/minuteearth And subscribe on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/minuteear... ___________________________________________ Want to learn more about the topic in this week’s video? Here are some key words/phrases to get your googling started: - extreme weather – Conditions and events that occur with low frequency, but which often have significant impact on people and nature; e.g., heat waves, droughts, heavy downpours, floods, blizzards, windstorms, hurricanes - ocean heat content – the energy stored as heat in the ocean - evapotranspiration – the movement of water vapor from land, water, plant, or animal surface into the atmosphere, driven by the drying power of the air ________________________ MinuteEarth provides an energetic and entertaining view of trends in earth’s environment – in just a few minutes! Created by Henry Reich With the MinuteEarth team: Alex Reich, Peter Reich, Emily Elert, Ever Salazar, Kate Yoshida, and Henry Reich. Music by Nathaniel Schroeder: http://www.soundcloud.com/drschroeder ________________________ Follow us on Vessel: https://www.vessel.com/shows/68917745... And find us on itunes: https://goo.gl/sfwS6n And Facebook: http://facebook.com/minuteearth And Twitter: http://twitter.com/MinuteEarth ________________________ References: Church, J. A., N. J. White, L. F. Konikow, C. M. Domingues, J. G. Cogley, E. Rignot, J. M. Gregory, M. R. van den Broeke, A. J. Monaghan, and I. Velicogna (2011), Revisiting the Earth's sea-level and energy budgets from 1961 to 2008, Geophys. Res. Lett., 38, L18601, doi:10.1029/2011GL048794. Diffenbaugh, N. S., Swain D. L. & Touma, D. Anthropogenic warming has increased drought risk in California. PNAS, doi 10.1073/pnas.1422385112 (2015). Published online. EPA. Climate Change Indicators in the United States: Sea Surface Temperature www.epa.gov/climatechange/indicators - Updated May 2014 Gouretski, V., J. Kennedy, T. Boyer, and A. Köhl (2012), Consistent near-surface ocean warming since 1900 in two largely independent observing networks, Geophys. Res. Lett., 39, L19606, doi:10.1029/2012GL052975. IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change): Climate change 2013: The Physical science basis. Fifth Assessment report of the IPCC [Stocker, T. F. et al. eds)]. Cambridge Univ. Press. 1535 pp. (2013). NOAA (NCEI). Global Ocean Heat and Salt Content. https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/OC5/3M_HEAT... Trenberth, K. E. Framing the way to relate climate extremes to climate change. Climatic Change, 115, 283-290, doi: 10.1007/s10584-012-0441-5 (2012). Trenberth, K. E., Dai, A., van der Schrier, G., Jones, P. D., Barichivich, J., Briffa, K. R. & Sheffield, J. Global warming and changes in drought. Nature Climate Change, 4, 17-22, doi:10.1038/NCLIMATE2067 (2014). Trenberth, K. E., JTFasullo, TG Shepherd. Attribution of climate extreme events. Nature Climate Change (in review). Trenberth, K.E. (personal communication). U.S. Global Change Research Program. 2014 National Climate Assessment. http://nca2014.globalchange.gov/highl...

Updated May 2, 2018. As an entrepreneur looking to successfully build a product-based business through crowdfunding, you may be wondering: if Kickstarter has X number of backers and Indiegogo has Y number of users, why not run a campaign simultaneously on both - more backers, more exposure, more overall funding, right? This is a common misconception, something founders frequently find themselves asking, and is worth looking into. Thinking about running a crowdfunding campaign? Here's what you need to know! 11 Reasons Simultaneous Kickstarter and Indiegogo Projects are an Awful Idea 1. Multiple campaigns splits your network Some of your friends and family will back one campaign, while others will back the second campaign. 2. Smaller network means less initial funding from friends and family With fewer people visiting each campaign page, you'll have less funding on each page as well. 3. Less early funding = less virality Without going at least semi-viral and expanding beyond just friends and family contributions, your company can never succeed. For entrepreneurs, crowdfunding provides not only the funding to bring the project to live, but more importantly market validation, a dedicated audience, and product ideas and suggestions, which will ultimately help your company grow and evolve over time. 4. Poor rankings mean less organic backers In general, the majority of crowdfunding backers browse the most popular pages. These are usually the vetted products with social proof, the coolest projects, and the campaigns most likely to succeed. To get in on these opportunities and really kickstart your business, you need to be on the popular pages and dominate - which means you need as many backers as possible. 5. Mismatched marketing isn't effective Kickstarter success almost always comes down to marketing success, which is largely determined by effort. You'll be pitching publications until your fingers tire, your mind fades and you fall asleep at the computer - anything to make it happen. One big blog post, one exclusive or product review, this can make a massive difference in funding and getting that kind of exposure takes effort, brute force effort. Well, what happens when you split this time and energy between campaigns? You won't be able to easily pitch both projects to journalists and bloggers, and anyone who finds your story will likely be a bit confused and put off by your disjointed goals. 6. More options makes things confusing Most of your network wants to help. Ask nicely and a nice portion will do anything within reason to help support your success. Keeping it simple with one campaign makes it easy. 7. Backer bias against being the "other woman" Crowdfunding gives a typical product launch a more personal touch. Your story and mission are as much a part of your success as your product. The trust and loyalty a crowdfunding project cultivates with backers can be easily damaged by a multiple-campaign approach. With two options, suddenly backers become just a source of money, rather than a meaningful part of the story and business. 8. More work, less results Launching campaigns on Kickstarter and Indiegogo at once requires significantly more work than a single platform launch, with a minimal return on the investment of your time. 9. Fulfillment will be a nightmare One of the biggest and most unexpected hurdles crowdfunders face following a successful Kickstarter or Indiegogo campaign is fulfillment. Between manufacturing mishaps, actually communicating with backers and getting shipments, labels and packaging perfect - fulfillment isn't easy With multiple campaigns, fulfillment becomes even more difficult. Suddenly you're dealing with two different platforms and two different sets of backers. 10. Extra rules and regulations Indiegogo and Kickstarter are the undisputed champions of crowdfunding. Despite their success though, they are inherently different and competitive. For you,

In tonight's show, I discuss True Religion (TRLG) the jeans stock and some thoughts on starting out in investing in stocks. (The original mP3 file was not functional and I revisited this stock with an update.