Speed Limiters Now Mandatory in All New EU Cars
July 9th, 2024Via: Autoweek:
Cars have been able to figure out when they’re speeding for a while, thanks to GPS as well as traffic sign recognition, and they’ve also been able to pump the brakes automatically when needed.
Having a computer automatically slow down a car in response to posted speed limits, therefore, was not really a question of technical feasibility for some time—but mandating it has been a question of political will.
That political will has materialized in the European Union, and starting July 7 all new cars sold in the EU will feature intelligent speed assistance (ISA) systems.
The systems themselves have been working their way into newly introduced models of cars starting in 2022, so quite a few new cars on the road already feature them. The July 2024 regulation extends that mandate to all new vehicles being manufactured for sale in the EU.
Newsom’s California: Delivery Drivers Now Being Accompanied By Armed Guards Due To “Crime Concerns”
July 8th, 2024Via: ZeroHedge:
Things have gotten so utopian in the state of California, delivery drivers are being accompanied by armed guards due to “crime concerns” while out making deliveries.
One company, Core Mart, has started hiring the guards to escort its drivers. Which means that somewhere, in a board room, it likely made more financial sense to pay for all new security staff than it did to continue to allow drivers to get robbed (and inventory lost) as was happening prior.
Israel Activated Hannibal Directive on October 7
July 8th, 2024Via: Independent:
The Israeli army invoked its controversial “Hannibal Directive” during the 7 October Hamas attack, according to a report, a measure that has the potential to increase risks to civilian lives.
The directive was created by the Israeli military in the 1980s as an operating procedure designed to prevent the kidnap of soldiers by whatever means necessary, even if that comes at the expense of the lives of civilian hostages.
It has previously been blamed for possible war crimes, encouraging excessive or indiscriminate fire, and was formally discontinued in 2016.
But the protocol was invoked at three military facilities attacked by Hamas last year, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported, citing testimonies of army officers and soldiers.
“Hunter Biden’s the Real Point Person in Joe’s White House”
July 8th, 2024Via: New York Post:
Democrats trying to dislodge Joe Biden will first have to combat the proxy commander-in-chief, Hunter Biden — and that’s more easily said than done.
With the Biden family digging in behind Joe staying put, any staffers or party grandees deputized to strong-arm Joe Biden out of being their candidate in November had better not underestimate the first son.
While the focus has been on four-time Vogue cover girl Jill Biden and her screeching assurances that Joe is hale and hearty and fit for another four years, the first son has flown under the radar.
But Hunter is glued to his father’s side for a reason. He was with him at Camp David to help prepare for the disastrous debate; was there for the vainglorious Annie Leibovitz family photo shoot post-debate; then flew back with the president to the White House, where he has been ensconced ever since.
Biden Says He’ll Drop Bid for Re-Election if “The Lord Almighty” Tells Him To
July 7th, 2024
Crooked Joe Biden says everyone is telling him to "stay in the race" and that he's in it until the end: "If the Lord Almighty came down and said, 'Joe, get out of the race,' I'd get out of the race, but the Lord Almighty's not comin' down." pic.twitter.com/qMaMrovVcB
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 6, 2024
Via: ZeroHedge:
On one hand, the Bidens now say it will take an ‘act of God’ (so, the CIA) to remove him from the race.
On the other hand, seven major news organizations have staged a mockingbirdian PR coup against the man for whom they’ve spent five years running cover.
Ukraine: German Volunteer Medic Claims Ukrainian, American and Other Foreign Fighters Committed Potential War Crimes
July 7th, 2024Not surprising, if true. The source is The New York Times…
Via: ZeroHedge:
A military correspondent with The New York Times has issued the newest bombshell report this weekend which shines a spotlight on not just Ukrainian troops but American and foreign fighters who’ve volunteered with pro-Kyiv forces and have committed potential war crimes. The report, titled Killings of Surrendering Russians Divide an American-Led Unit, reveals how US troops are participating in units which conduct extra-judicial killings of Russians who have legitimately surrendered.
Much of the eyewitness accounts come from a German volunteer identified as Caspar Grosse, a medic in an all-foreign unit led by an American who says he witnessed clear war crimes and that his conscience has forced him to speak out.
Other Atrocities: Russian Attack Destroyed Children’s Hospital in Kiev, Killed 36 Civilians
Quilts and Cats of Calico
July 6th, 2024This is very far off topic.
My wife and daughter, Niamh, love the Calico board game. Besides the cats in the game, our actual cats love to “help” with the gameplay.
I won’t play Calico and neither will my boys. Although my youngest daughter is fascinated with Calico, she is too young to play. She helps with distribution of the game tiles and prevents our cats from “helping” too much with the layout.
Earlier this year, a beautiful and faithful representation of the Calico board game was released on Steam: Quilts and Cats of Calico.
I bought the game (it’s on sale right now) because Niamh was hoping to be able to play more Calico when my wife wasn’t able to play.
One problem: Hardly anyone is playing Quilts and Cats of Calico in multiplayer. Niamh is playing against the highest tier AI and she thinks actual people would be more challenging.
So, if you like cats and puzzles, please check out Quilts and Cats of Calico and consider playing in multiplayer mode.
Thank you!
UChicago: World’s First Anode-Free Sodium Solid-State Battery
July 6th, 2024This is definitely interesting. In terms of years we would have to wait for this, I wonder what, “Closer than ever,” means?
Via: University of Chicago:
UChicago Pritzker Molecular Engineering Prof. Y. Shirley Meng’s Laboratory for Energy Storage and Conversion has created the world’s first anode-free sodium solid-state battery.
With this research, the LESC – a collaboration between the UChicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering and the University of California San Diego’s Aiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering – has brought the reality of inexpensive, fast-charging, high-capacity batteries for electric vehicles and grid storage closer than ever.
Retired Marine 2-Star General Found Dead at Sprawling California Base
July 6th, 2024Via: Marine Times:
The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is looking into the circumstances surrounding the death of a retired major general whose body was discovered at a Marine base on Saturday.
Maj. Gen. William Mullen, age 59, was found deceased at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, the San Bernardino County coroner’s office confirmed.
His body was found in Building 1651, according to coroner records, Military.com reported. The building is home to the Marine Corps Communication–Electronics School, according to an online base directory.
The Marine Corps provided a statement to Marine Corps Times stating that Mullen was at the base attending the Marine Corps Tactics and Operations Group change of command ceremony.
The retired major general was once the commanding general of the Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Center in Twentynine Palms, California, and retired from the Corps in 2020, according to the Los Angeles Times.
…
As a commanding officer of the Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team Company, Mullen deployed to Operation Desert Shield and took part in counter-narcotics missions along with Joint Task Force-6, according to his official biography. He later deployed with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit as a commanding officer of Fox Company and joined Operation Sea Signal, a 1994 military response to Cuban and Haitian refugees seeking asylum.
He deployed to Fallujah, Iraq, in 2005 as operations officer for Regimental Combat Team – 8. In 2007, he commanded 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines, also in Fallujah.
At the time of his death, Mullen was serving as the commanding general of Training and Education Command, based in Quantico, Virginia, according to the Corps.
Never Forget: Colonel James Sabow
Happy 4th of July
July 4th, 2024— cryptogon (@cryptogon) July 4, 2024
This video about Independence Day should be viral… pic.twitter.com/C6j6PNNHmT
— Nashville Angela (@angelanashtn) July 4, 2024
