History for March 5

History for March 5 - On-This-Day.com

Birth anniversary of cartographer-geographer Gerhardus Mercator (1512-94).

On Mar 5, 1940, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin ordered the killings of more than 21,000 Polish prisoners of war. In early April, the killings began at sites across Russia, with the largest mass graves in Katyn Forest. The USSR denied the massacre until 1990.

In 1946, at Westminster College, Fulton, MO, Winston Churchill gave his famous “Iron Curtain” speech that defined Cold War boundaries.

Happy Birthday! Samantha Eggar, Penn Jillette, Dean Stockwell

1623 - The first alcohol temperance law in the colonies was enacted in Virginia. 



1624 - In the American colony of Virginia, the upper class was exempted from whipping by legislation. 


1770 - "The Boston Massacre" took place when British troops fired on a crowd in Boston killing five people. Two British troops were later convicted of manslaughter. 



1845 - The U.S. Congress appropriated $30,000 to ship camels to the western U.S. 



1922 - "Annie Oakley" (Phoebe Ann Moses) broke all existing records for women's trap shooting. She hit 98 out of 100 targets. 


1933 - The Nazi Party won 44 percent of the vote in German parliamentary elections. 


1940 - Soviet leader Joseph Stalin ordered the killings of more than 21,000 Polish prisoners of war. In early April, the killings began at sites across Russia, with the largest mass graves in Katyn Forest. The USSR denied the massacre until 1990.


1984 - The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that cities had the right to display the Nativity scene as part of their Christmas display. 


1993 - Cuban President Fidel Castro said that Hillary Clinton was "a beautiful woman." 

Facebook Wants to Build 11,000 Drones to Bring Internet to Africa | Betabeat

Facebook Wants to Build 11,000 Drones to Bring Internet to Africa | Betabeat:

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! Nope — it’s a Facebook drone.

The social media site reportedly wants to use drones to bring Internet connection to the two thirds of the world that still lack connectivity, starting with parts of Africa. The initiative is part of the internet.org project, which Facebook backs.

To do so, Facebook could have bought some individual drones. Instead, overachievers that they are, they bought a drone company. According to TechCrunch, Facebook is shelling out $60 million to acquire Titan Aerospace, a company that makes “atmospheric satellites” — basically, solar-powered drones capable of staying in the sky for up to five years.

Iranian general: Obama's threats are 'the joke of the year' | The Times of Israel

Iranian general: Obama's threats are 'the joke of the year' | The Times of Israel:’Masoud Jazayeri says the ‘low-IQ’ president’s ‘all options are on the table’ remarks are a farce; warns against US strike"

RELATED TOPICS

• MASOUD JAZAYERI
• MOHAMMAD JAVAD ZARIF
• IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL

President Barack Obama is a “low-IQ US president,” whose threat to launch a military offensive should nuclear talks fail is an oft-cited punchline in the Islamic Republic, particularly among children, an Iranian general said on Tuesday

Texans vote in primaries shaken by Tea Party influence - Yahoo News

Texans vote in primaries shaken by Tea Party influence - Yahoo News:

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - Texans went to the polls on Tuesday in primary elections where the top candidates for governor were expected to post easy wins and favorites of the conservative Tea Party movement are trying to topple established Republicans in several races.

U.S. Senator John Cornyn, a Republican, will win his race easily, opinion polls show. Attorney General Greg Abbott, the leading Republican candidate for governor, and state Senator Wendy Davis, the top Democratic Party candidate, were also expected to win by wide margins.

DRUDGE REPORT 2014®

DRUDGE REPORT 2014®: "PUTIN FIRES WARNING SHOTS AT WEST"

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia said it had successfully test-fired an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) on Tuesday, with tensions running high over its military intervention in Ukraine's Crimea region.

A U.S. official said the United States had received proper notification from Russia ahead of the test and that the initial notification pre-dated the crisis in Crimea. The Russian Defence Ministry could not be reached for comment

All 50 governors battle proposed National Guard cuts, ahead of budget release | Fox News

All 50 governors battle proposed National Guard cuts, ahead of budget release | Fox News:

"The concerns about National Guard cuts come on top of widespread concerns about the Pentagon's controversial plan to shrink the active-duty Army. As Republican and Democratic lawmakers prepare to challenge these and other cuts on Capitol Hill, the governors are taking an early stand over the National Guard.
They argued the cuts will reduce the Guard's ranks to pre-2001 levels -- reducing its capacity as an active combat force and ability to respond to natural disasters and emergencies, while acknowledging the country's "economic realities." "

One in Three Say They've Been Personally Hurt by Obamacare | National Review Online

One in Three Say They've Been Personally Hurt by Obamacare | National Review Online:

"One-third of Americans say the Affordable Care Act has had a negative impact on them personally, while 14 percent say the law has helped them, according to a new Rasmussen survey. The poll finds that public dissatisfaction with Obamcare remains nearly as high as it was during the height of the website’s problems last year."

Supreme Court sends homeschoolers packing

Supreme Court sends homeschoolers packing:

"The penalties are based on a Hitler-era law that the German government still enforces against homeschooling. The Romeikes said they chose homeschooling because of anti-Christian and cult beliefs being taught in the public schools.

The Obama administration successfully fought to overturn the federal judge’s decision that would have given the family permission to remain in the U.S.

According to the Home School Legal Defense Association, the Romeike family was granted asylum in 2010 by a federal immigration judge who found that “Germany’s treatment of the family amounted to persecution.”

“As evidence he cited state officials’ threats against homeschoolers in general to levy crushing fines, file criminal charges and take away children, and against the Romeikes in particular for their sincere religious beliefs.”

But on the request of the Obama administration, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided against the family, saying Germany was just enforcing its law."

Democratic National Committee Makes Glaring Historical Error While Invoking Reagan | TheBlaze.com

Democratic National Committee Makes Glaring Historical Error While Invoking Reagan | TheBlaze.com:

"The Democratic National Committee apparently thinks former President Ronald Reagan once served in Congress.

In a tweet sent out by the group’s official Twitter account Friday evening, the committee said, “‘It’s time to raise a minimum wage that’s worth less than it was when Ronald Reagan was in Congress.’”

"It's time to raise a minimum wage that's worth less than it was when Ronald Reagan was in Congress"

Only problem? Reagan never served in Congress."

History for March 4

History for March 4 - On-This-Day.com 

Birth anniversary of Revolutionary War hero Casimir Pulaski (1747-79).

Birth anniversary of Knute Rockne (1888-1931).

Happy Birthday! Chaz Bono, Rick Perry, Mary Wilson

1766 - The British Parliament repealed the Stamp Act, which had caused bitter and violent opposition in the U.S. colonies. 


1789 - The first Congress of the United States met in New York and declared that the U.S. Constitution was in effect. 


1794 - The 11th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was passed by the U.S. Congress. The Amendment limited the jurisdiction of the federal courts to automatically hear cases brought against a state by the citizens of another state. Later interpretations expanded this to include citizens of the state being sued, as well. 












1908 - The New York board of education banned the act of whipping students in school. 


1930 - Emma Fahning became the first woman bowler to bowl a perfect game in competition run by the Women’s International Bowling Congress in Buffalo, NY. 


1933 - U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt gave his inauguration speech in which he said "We have nothing to fear, but fear itself." 


1974 -  the first issue of People magazine was officially launched. It featured a cover photo of Mia Farrow.


1997 - U.S. President Clinton barred federal spending on human cloning. 


1998 - The U.S. Supreme Court said that federal law banned on-the-job sexual harassment even when both parties are the same sex. 

The real problem with a woman president - The Week

 "The real problem with a woman president Hillary Clinton is tough enough. But could she overdo it?"



B

ill O'Reilly's segment from last Wednesday — the one in which he asks Kirsten Powers and Kate Obenshain to expound on some mysterious quality that makes women somehow less qualified than men to be president — has to be the most awkward moment of television since…oh I don't know, a few months ago on another Fox News show.

I sympathize with the urge to respond to the clip with mockery. But sometimes a glimmer of truth can be found even in the tawdriest of settings — and it's Powers who deserves credit for uttering it here. Wracking her brain for something to say in response to O'Reilly's flippantly sexist provocation, Powers volunteers that a female president might be more easily goaded than a male president into military muscle-flexing as a way of demonstrating her toughness. Her example is support for the Iraq War, which is an obvious dig at Hillary Clinton

Will Hillary Clinton be damaged by the fallout from Ukraine? - The Week

Will Hillary Clinton be damaged by the fallout from Ukraine? - The Week:



Here's Hillary Clinton happily offering Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov a symbolic "reset button" for American-Russian relations:

The event was viewed as bungled at the time because the Russian word imprinted on the button meant "overcharge" instead of "reset." But the longer-term implications of the "reset button," particularly in the wake of the Russian invasion of Crimea, may be far more damaging for Clinton than a translation gaffe.

Gay and lesbian troops perform in drag on American military base - The Week

Gay and lesbian troops perform in drag on American military base - The Week:

Troops based at the Kadena Air Base in Japan know how to party. On Saturday, six gay and straight service members applied some of their finest makeup and lip synced to "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" in what is believed to be first drag queen and king show on an American military base. The show was thrown in support for the base's recently formed OutServe-SLDN chapter, a nonprofit advocacy group for the army's LGBT community.

Navy Lt. Marissa Greene told Stars and Stripes she only expected to sell 75 tickets for the variety show, but ended up selling more than 400 in ten days. The event went through the same approval process as other on-base fundraisers go through, with the only caveat being that it was not allowed to be labeled a "drag show" in its publicity materials. The show was warmly received by spectators, who rocked out to performances by the likes of Manny Nuff and Chocolate Sunrise ("a crowd favorite," the website notes.)

Just a few years ago, performances like these would have been grounds for a possible discharge. The repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell has made it possible for events like this to occur. --Jordan Valinsky

Gay and lesbian troops perform in drag on American military base - The Week

 "Michelle Obama and her daughters are visiting China later this month"

The White House announced today that Michelle Obama will travel to two cities in China (Beijing and Chengdu) in late March. The first lady will visit cultural and historical landmarks and promote her education initiatives by visiting high schools and universities in the cities.

The first lady's daughters, Sasha and Malia, as well as Mrs. Obama's mother, Marian Robinson, will join her on the trip. This is the third time in recent years that Mrs. Obama has traveled without her husband. In 2010, she went to Haiti to survey damage following a devastating earthquake, and in 2011, Mrs. Obama visited Botswana and South Africa to promote youth leadership.

Crimean authorities to cut power, water to Ukrainian troops: Russian ex-lawmaker - Yahoo News

Crimean authorities to cut power, water to Ukrainian troops: Russian ex-lawmaker - Yahoo News:



SIMFEROPOL, Ukraine (Reuters) - Pro-Russian authorities in Crimea will cut off water and electricity to Ukrainian soldiers in bases surrounded by Russian forces on Monday night, a Russian former lawmaker loyal to President Vladimir Putin said.

Putin Playing Chess, Obama Playing Marbles: Rep. Mike Rogers on U.S.-Russian Diplomacy | Video | TheBlaze.com

Putin Playing Chess, Obama Playing Marbles: Rep. Mike Rogers on U.S.-Russian Diplomacy | Video | TheBlaze.com:

 "U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) said Sunday that Russian President Vladimir Putin has been emboldened by the Obama administration’s diplomatic strategy of containment, which has given room to Putin’s push for geopolitical dominance.

Rep. Mike Rogers, “I think Putin is playing chess and I think we’re playing marbles,” the House Intelligence Committee Chairman told Fox News Sunday’s Chris Wallace. “And I don’t think it’s even close.”"

Kerry Grilled On ABC: ‘Any Indication At All That President Putin Is Taking Heed of What President Obama Is Saying?’ | Video | TheBlaze.com

Kerry Grilled On ABC: ‘Any Indication At All That President Putin Is Taking Heed of What President Obama Is Saying?’ | Video | TheBlaze.com:

"Secretary of State John Kerry said repeatedly Sunday morning that “all options are on the table” as the U.S. determines how to respond to Russia’s decision to invade Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula.

“The United States is currently considering all options,” Kerry told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos while appearing on “This Week.”"

G-7 Nations Suspend Planning for Russia Summit, Condemn Russia’s Military Action in Ukraine | TheBlaze.com

G-7 Nations Suspend Planning for Russia Summit, Condemn Russia’s Military Action in Ukraine | TheBlaze.com:

"The U.S. and six other nations — condemning Russia’s “clear violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine” — say they are suspending participation in the planning for an international summit in Russia this summer."

History for March 3

History for March 3 - On-This-Day.com 

Birth anniversary of the “Platinum Blonde” Jean Harlow (1911-37).

 

Birth anniversary of Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922).

 

Happy Birthday! Herschel Walker

1812 - The U.S. Congress passed the first foreign aid bill. 

1820 - The US House passed the Missouri Compromise.

1903 - In St. Louis, MO, Barney Gilmore was arrested for spitting. 

1910 - In New York, Robert Forest founded the National Housing Association to fight deteriorating urban living conditions. 

1931 - The "Star Spangled Banner," written by Francis Scott Key, was adopted as the American national anthem. The song was originally a poem known as "Defense of Fort McHenry." 


1938 - A world record for the indoor mile run was set by Glenn Cunningham. He ran the distance in 4 minutes, 4.4 seconds. 


1952 - The U.S. Supreme Court upheld New York's Feinberg Law that banned Communist teachers in the U.S. 


1969 - Sirhan Sirhan testified in a Los Angeles court that he killed Robert Kennedy. 


1978 - The remains of Charles Chaplin were stolen from his grave in Cosier-sur-Vevey, Switzerland. The body was recovered 11 weeks later near Lake Geneva. 


1991 - Rodney King was severely beaten by Los Angeles police officers. The scene was captured on amateur video. (California) 


1995 - A U.N. peacekeeping mission in Somalia ended. Several gunmen were killed by U.S. Marines in Mogadishu while overseeing the pull out of peacekeepers. 

Putin cooks up Obama’s chicken Kiev moment - FT.com

Putin cooks up Obama’s chicken Kiev moment - FT.com:



Diplomacy is the US president’s preferred weapon. Now he must prove he can wield it

High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. See our Ts&Cs and Copyright Policy for more detail. Email ftsales.support@ft.com to buy additional rights. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ca3e8250-a067-11e3-8557-00144feab7de.html#ixzz2urT0QQxO
In the dying days of the Soviet Union, President George H W Bush gave a speech in Kiev urging Ukrainian nationalists not to provoke Moscow. US conservatives dubbed it his “chicken Kiev” speech. Having long since been branded America’s appeaser-in-chief, President Barack Obama now confronts his own chicken Kiev moment. Can Mr Obama stand up to Vladimir Putin, the Russian fox circling the chicken coop? It is unclear whether he has the will and the skill – let alone the means – to do so. Yet the future of his presidency depends on it. There can be little doubt that Mr Putin wants to restore the boundaries of the Russian empire. Mr Obama must somehow find a way to frustrate him.

Top 10 Abusive Executive Actions by the Obama Administration

Top 10 Abusive Executive Actions by the Obama Administration:

 "A Hallmark of the Obama Administration
Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution requires the President to “take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed.”
The President enjoys wide discretion in how to carry out the laws, but it is not within the President’s power to create the laws. 

Time and again, President Barack Obama has signaled his willingness to “go it alone,” acting without congressional approval.

When Congress refuses to accede to the Obama Administration’s liberal policies, the Administration imposes “laws” by executive fiat.
When the Administration disagrees with duly enacted laws or finds it politically expedient not to enforce them, it ignores or skirts the law or claims to have “prosecutorial discretion” not to enforce the law."



'via Blog this'

LeBron James swaps black mask for clear one at request of NBA - latimes.com

LeBron James swaps black mask for clear one at request of NBA - latimes.com:

LeBron James knows that what's in the best interest of the NBA is usually in his best interest, which probably is why he complied with the league's request to wear a clear mask to protect his broken nose Saturday night rather than the cooler-looking black one he wore Thursday.

No need for the Miami Heat forward to thumb his nose at the NBA, which prefers that players wear clear masks and goggles when protecting their faces and eyes.

"It's not a league rule, but it's the league's request that you don't wear the black one," James told reporters before a 112-98 victory over the Orlando Magic in Miami on Saturday. "The reasons they told me didn't make sense to me, but I'm just a player. I will abide by the request.

DRUDGE REPORT 2014®

DRUDGE REPORT 2014®: "PUTIN CALLS BLUFF: MILITARY MOVES IN!"

For much of his time in office, President Obama has been accused by a mix of conservative hawks and liberal interventionists of overseeing a dangerous retreat from the world at a time when American influence is needed most.

The once-hopeful Arab Spring has staggered into civil war and military coup. China is stepping up territorial claims in the waters off East Asia. Longtime allies in Europe and in the Persian Gulf are worried by the inconsistency of a president who came to office promising the end of the United States’ post-Sept. 11 wars.

Mass. Agency Breaks Silence in Pelletier Case, But Dad Tells Us He’s Not Fully Buying It | TheBlaze.com

                                         

...Time will tell.

Mass. Agency Breaks Silence in Pelletier Case, But Dad Tells Us He’s Not Fully Buying It | TheBlaze.com:

"The agency is withdrawing its motion, issued last week, to have Lou Pelletier, Justina’s father, held in contempt of court for breaking a gag order, an official said."

Damming News From Washington State

Damming News From Washington State - Slashdot:

Trax3001BBS writes"A 65-foot (20-meter) crack has been found in Wanapum Dam, one of the major dams along the Columbia River in southern Washington. Water levels are being lowered to both reduce water pressure and give the inspectors access to the area. 'Earlier this week, an engineer noticed a slight irregular "bowing" above the spillway gates near where cars can drive across the dam. When divers finally took a look under water they found a 2-inch-wide crack that stretched for 65 feet along the base of one of the dam's spillway piers.' The article goes on to say, 'Even if the dam doesn't fail, the significance of the damage is likely to require extensive repairs and that, too, could impact the entire Columbia River system. "All these dams coordinate to generate energy on a regional scope," Stedwick said. "If Wanapum is impacted, that has impacts on dams upstream as well as below." Upstream dams would be required to handle more water; there's only one lower dam (Priest Rapids). After that is the last free flowing section of the Columbia river. I've taken walks along that section, and I've seen it deviate (higher or lower) by amazing amount of water, so it can handle the changing flow rate. Making this situation more complex, a large group of people would like that particular dam removed, as well as the one above and below it (think of the fish!). On top of that, after the Priest Rapids dam (downstream from Wanapum Dam) is the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, once a site for Plutonium production. Either of these issues could generate a ton of attention. Personally, I'd like to give the engineer that noticed a slight irregular 'bowing' my congratulations."

War!

Lucianne.com News Forum - HomePage:"Late Breaking News!

 The interim prime minister of Ukraine today called the move by Russian forces to surround military bases in Crimea "a declaration of war." 

(CNN)
Speaking in a televised address from the Parliament building in Kiev, Arseniy Yatsenyuk called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to "pull back the military and stick to international obligations."

How can our "american" media give this moron a pass on this????------------------Obama Skips National Security Team Meeting on Russia, Ukraine

Obama Skips National Security Team Meeting on Russia, Ukraine | The Weekly Standard