James L. Paris's Blog, page 111
January 18, 2017
After Three Years and No Answers, Search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 is Suspended
After three long years, the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 has ended, but not because the missing aircraft was found; rather, because it was not.
After searching the 46,000-square mile search area in the massive Indian Ocean and finding no trace of the plane, the Joint Agency Coordination Center (JACC) in Australia has decided that it is time to suspend the search, according to a variety of news outlets, including USA Today.
In a statement, the Center said, ���The decision to suspend the underwater search has not been taken lightly nor without sadness.���
���Whilst combined scientific studies have continued to refine areas of probability, to date no new information has been discovered to determine the specific location of the aircraft.���
The search has been a joint effort of Australia, Malaysia, and China.
Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappeared on March 8, 2014, while en route from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Beijing, China. The aircraft, a Boeing 777, made what turned out to be its final contact ��� a standard transmission - with air traffic control roughly 40 minutes after takeoff over the South China Sea. Shortly thereafter, the plane���s transponder stops communicating, and that was followed by spotty appearances of the plane on various radar systems, and, eventually, no sign of the aircraft at all. Flight 370 was carrying 12 Malaysian crew members and 227 passengers.
While acknowledging the ���tremendous effort of the nations involved thus far,��� Voice370, a support group for the relatives of those on the flight, expressed disappointment over the decision to suspend the search, as well as at the refusal of the JACC to broaden the search zone as recommended by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau last month.
���In our view, extending the search to the new area defined by the experts is an inescapable duty owed to the flying public in the interest of aviation safety. Commercial Planes cannot just be allowed to disappear without a trace," Voice370 said in a statement.
By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large
January 17, 2017
���Bikers for Trump��� Vows to Form a ���Wall of Meat��� to Protect Inauguration Proceedings
Well, THIS sounds like it could be interesting.
As protesters far and wide are readying themselves for a grand effort at disrupting the inauguration of Donald Trump on Friday, more than a few ���civilians��� who actually see eye-to-eye with the incoming President of the United States are themselves preparing to be in Washington, D.C. that day to do what they can to help ensure the occasion remains as safe as possible for Trump and others in attendance.
���Bikers for Trump,��� a group founded in 2015 by Chris Cox, a 48-year-old chainsaw artist, plans to be in the nation���s capital in full force this Friday for a rally in support of Trump. Cox expects over 5,000 bikers to attend the event, and says that while he expects the day to remain peaceful, should anti-Trump protesters become particularly threatening, his group is prepared to help keep the peace.
���The bikers are certainly used to being outnumbered and we are prepared to form a wall of meat,��� Cox said in speaking with Fox Business about the group���s plans for inauguration day. ���We're anticipating a celebration here. We don't anticipate any problems. We have a strict code of conduct where we don't condone violence. But again in the event that we're needed, you can certainly count on the Bikers for Trump.���
���The backbone of the biker community is the veteran," Cox continued. ���So these are guys that aren't really used to backing down. You certainly won't see bikers out there screaming, calling for destruction of private property or the death of police officers.���
Cox told Fox Business that Trump���s stances on issues like illegal immigration and radical Islam are particularly resonant with his group of bikers.
���[The bikers looked for] someone who was going to stand up and call it what it is,��� he said. ���Radical Islam is one of the biggest talking points of Bikers for Trump. Illegal immigration and one of our sweet spots is getting behind the American veteran. We believe it's incumbent upon all who understand the value and the sacrifice of our servicemen and women that we are there for them. And we've got to change these policies now.���
By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large
Report: Eight Men Own the Same Amount of Wealth as the Poorest Half of the World���s Population
Oxfam, the popular confederation of global charities that has as its central mission the alleviation of poverty around the world, issued a report on Monday that identifies eight individuals, all men, who together own as much wealth as that owned by the poorest half of the world���s population.
The eight named by the group are: Microsoft���s Bill Gates; Amancio Ortega, founder of Spanish multinational clothing giant Inditex; legendary investor Warren Buffett; Mexican telecom tycoon Carlos Slim; Amazon head Jeff Bezos; Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook; Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle; and Michael Bloomberg, founder of the global financial services and mass media company that bears his name, as well as the former Mayor of New York City.
Economic inequality has become a more concerning topic in recent years, as the distance between the ���haves��� and the have-nots��� continues to grow ever-wider. The increasing means of so-called elites���such as the eight men identified by Oxfam as owning so much of the world���s wealth���has brought the issue of globalism front and center. Moreover, it has helped to energize what has become an outright populist revolt in many nations of the developed world, nations long considered to be in the camp of those supportive of something that resembles a one-world government.
���We see a lot of hand-wringing - and clearly Trump's victory and Brexit gives that new impetus this year - but there is a lack of concrete alternatives to business as usual,��� said Max Lawson, Oxfam's head of policy, commenting about the existing challenges to changing the trend.
���There are different ways of running capitalism that could be much, much more beneficial to the majority of people,��� Lawson said.
By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large
January 16, 2017
Future War: Lieutenant Colonel Robert L. Maginnis (retired) Joins Jim Paris Live
In addition to his book, Future War, Lieutenant Colonel Robert L. Maginnis (USA, Ret.) discussed the Russian hacking of the DNC, national security threats that may be ongoing due to Hillary Clinton's private server, life extension technology, and BItcoin.
In Future War, Lieutenant Colonel Robert L. Maginnis (USA, Ret.) whose ongoing work with the Pentagon affords a rare glimpse into our security community portrays a frightening, new glimpse into a future world that previous generations could only have dared imagine: cyborgized super soldiers, cyber threats beyond our wildest imagination, sobering outer space developments, and the most horrendous weapons of mass destruction in the hands of troublesome actors who see themselves playing a role in the prophetic end times. Despite the risks associated with a terminator-like tomorrow clearly defined, Future War turns to offer a glimmer of hope for our troubled and lost world. It provides a detailed plan of action to guide America's churches, government, and Congress from a biblical-worldview foundation, tackling five of the most daunting macro challenges facing America today.
New Evidence In DB Cooper Case?
New evidence in the D.B. Cooper case may narrow down the identity of the hijacker 46 years later. The media elite are outraged that Trump may move press briefings to a location that would accommodate hundreds of reporters. Is famed actor, Johnny Depp, going broke? Chicago schools about to go bankrupt, and the death of controversial mega pastor Eddie Long.
Actor Morgan Freeman Claims Christianity, Judaism, and Islam Are Rooted in Zoroastrianism
According to The Christian Post, the host of The Story of God with Morgan Freeman, a National Geographic Channel documentary series heading into its second season, says that three of the world���s most significant religions claimed as their own belief principles those that are originally found in the ancient religion of Zoroastrianism.
In an interview with the Post, Freeman said, ���I'll give you this, Zoroastrianism. It's one of the ancient religions and apparently the big three (religions) took their tenets from that,��� referring to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
���The three tenets of Zoroastrianism [are] good thoughts, good words, and good deeds, which I think the preponderance of us strive for. So we are almost all believers of Zoroastrianism. I've learned that about myself,��� Freeman said.
Zoroastrianism was founded roughly 3500 years ago in ancient Iran by the Prophet Zoroaster. Zoroastrians believe that there is one deity, or Supreme Being, known as Ahura Mazda (Wise Lord), and that it is this deity who is responsible for the creation of the world.
While there is some disparity in estimates as to the number of adherent Zoroastrians in the world today, the religion maintains a presence in some parts of Iran, and is actually more prominent in India.
While it is not true that Zoroastrians worship fire, the religion does assign purity to the elements, and so followers of the faith do pray in the presence of fire, which they consider to be a source of Ahura Mazda���s wisdom.
The Story of God with Morgan Freeman begins its second season on Monday, January 16.
By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large
Nicole Kidman Clarifies Trump Support Comments After Predictably Catching Grief
So a few days ago, actress Nicole Kidman made the following remarks during an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation:
���He [Donald Trump] is now elected and we, as a country, need to support whoever is the president, because that's what the country is based on.���
���However that happened, he's there and let's go.���
To many, that seemed a simple, straightforward, common sense appraisal of where the nation is at right now in terms of the transition of power from Barack Obama to Donald Trump.
Not to everyone, however.
As has become fashionable, any statements that can be even vaguely construed as pro-Trump, even if they are merely pro-the process of American government, made by anyone with even the most modest celebrity status, will cause that celebrity to be vilified by the fascist progressives, and such was the case with Kidman���s remarks.
As reported by a variety of news outlets, including Fox News, Kidman gave a subsequent interview to Access Hollywood in which she said that her original comments were not meant to be an expression of support for Trump, but, rather, support for the American democratic system of government.
���I was trying to stress that I believe in democracy and the American Constitution, and it was that simple,��� she said.
Although an interviewer kept at her for more details, Kidman decided she���d had enough.
���I'm out of it now. That's what I said and it's that simple,��� she said.
Although Kidman is known to many as Australian, she was actually born in Hawaii to Australian parents. She holds dual citizenship in Australia and the U.S.
By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large
January 15, 2017
Actor Johnny Depp Files $25 Million Fraud Lawsuit Against Former Business Managers
According to several news outlets, including SFGate.com, popular actor Johnny Depp has filed a $25 million fraud lawsuit against his former business managers, alleging misconduct in various forms.
The complaint, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, reads in part:
���Mr. Depp is one of the most sought after and highly paid actors in the world. He is also the victim of the gross misconduct of his business managers ��� The Management Group and attorney Joel and Robert Mandel ��� who collected tens of millions of dollars in contingency fees, purportedly based on an oral contract, all at Mr. Depp���s expense. Like many successful artists who depend upon financial professionals to advise them, Mr. Depp trusted and reasonably relied on TMG to handle his financial and certain legal affairs and to ensure that he and his family would have a financially secure future, built on the foundation of substantial monies Mr. Depp earned through years of hard work.���
���But instead, Mr. Depp lost tens of millions of dollars and has been forced to dispose of significant assets to pay for TMG���s self-dealing and gross misconduct.���
Among other allegations, Depp���s lawsuit says that while the management company collected more than $28 million in contingency fees, it ���ignored its most basic duties to Mr. Depp by consistently failing to pay his taxes on time causing him to lose over $5,600,000 in penalties and interest in his federal returns alone, failing to properly keep books and records, ���loaning��� nearly $10 million to third parties without Mr. Depp���s required prior authorization and without proper documentation or requiring repayment, using inflated and obviously incorrect figures as ���loan��� offsets, falsely ascribing third parties��� taxable income to Mr. Depp so that he, rather than they, paid the tax, and failing to reduce Mr. Depp���s expenditure or avoid profound financial waste.���
Responding to the suit, Michael J. Kump, attorney for The Management Group, called Depp���s claims a ���complete fabrication,��� and provided some details of his own as to why, he says, it his clients, not Depp, who are the real victims here:
���In December 2012, Depp faced financial ruin with the impending default on a $5 million bank loan. The Mandels bailed him out by loaning him $5 million, which he promised to repay by January 2014. Although Depp later changed managers, he never alleged any wrong doing. In October 2016, with Depp still owing $4.2 million, the Mandels started non judicial foreclosure proceedings against certain of Depp���s properties. Depp���s lawsuit, filed on the eve of the sale of those properties, is a transparent attempt to derail the foreclosure by concocting and spreading malicious lies about the Mandels. His tactics and lawsuit will fail, and he will be forced to pay back the loan as promised.���
By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large
Steve Harvey Meets with Donald Trump About Fixing the Plight of Inner Cities
It remains the case that President-elect Donald Trump is tapping a wide variety of resources in his effort to ���make America great again.���
His latest selection of non-politician ���go-to��� people is none other than very-popular and multi-faceted entertainer Steve Harvey. As reported by a number of media outlets, including USA Today, Harvey met with Trump on Friday at Trump Tower in New York City, and it appears he will be one of the folks relied upon by the new administration to oversee the effort at making life better for the people who reside in America���s inner cities.
Last month, retired NFL legends Jim Brown and Ray Rice met with Trump to discuss ways in which the gang violence that has become such an unfortunate accompaniment to life in many of the nation���s urban communities could be curbed. Just as Brown and Rice emerged enthusiastic and optimistic from their meeting with Trump, Harvey exuded the same feelings when he met with reporters after exiting his meeting with Trump and members of the transition team.
���Trump wants to help with the situations in the inner cities so he immediately got Dr. Ben Carson on the phone to put us together to begin dialog in looking at programs and housing to help our inner cities and he���s very open to my mentoring efforts across the country,��� Harvey said.
Harvey continued, ���I walked away feeling like I had just talked with a man who genuinely wants to make a difference in this area. I feel that something really great could come out of this��� I would sit with him anytime.���
Referring to Trump as ���congenial and sincere,��� Harvey said, ���I stepped from behind my microphone and I came and talked to the guy who is going to be the 45th president,��� suggesting an attitude of reconciliation and hope on the part of one who did not support Trump���s candidacy���that differs markedly from other celebrities who have assumed a purely obstructionist posture in the wake of Hillary Clinton���s November defeat.
���It���s an honor to be invited to talk, and I think that���s the only way that we���re going to unify our country,��� Harvey said. ���We���ve got to talk.���
By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large
January 14, 2017
Iconic Rock Group U2 Delays Release of New Album���Because Trump
Evidently, the influence of Donald Trump knows no bounds.
As reported by several news outlets, including CBS News, the election of Trump as the 45th President of the United States has prompted the band U2 to delay releasing their latest album, ���Songs of Experience.���
Although the album is fully completed and ready for release, the oft-political quartet is concerned that it may no longer say what the band would really like to express.
Guitarist Dave Edmunds, known popularly as ���The Edge,��� spoke with Rolling Stone���s Andy Greene about the decision to wait, saying, ���The election [happened] and suddenly the world changed. We just went, ���Hold on a second, we���ve got to give ourselves a moment to think about this record and about how it relates to what���s going on in the world.������
���Eighty percent of it was started before 2016, but most of it was written in the early part of 2016, and now, as I think you���d agree, the world is a different place,��� he continued. ���It���s like a pendulum has suddenly just taken a huge swing in the other direction.���
Edmunds/The Edge said that the band ���needed to put the album on ice for a minute just to really think about it one more time before putting it out.���
Because Trump.
By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large
