All posts by nedhamson

Activist, writer, researcher, addicted to sharing information and facts.

Pinned to Viva on Pinterest

Just Pinned to Viva: Ramones – “I just love the Ramones. When their music starts I can’t sit still, I just have to start hopping and dancing, and I’m 71 now. We saw them live about 10 times: we would go out of our way to see them perform.” http://bitly.com/1TWeScW

Two countries had no idea they were in Saudi Arabia’s Muslim coalition to fight terrorism – Times of India

Despite being a long-term ally of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan has refrained from joining its military exploits, instead reaffirming its position of non-involvement in Middle Eastern conflicts. In November, army spokesman Lt Gen Asim Bajwa stated: “We are not looking for any involvement outside our region.”Lebanon was also equally baffled country following the announcement, according to Lebanese media outlet Naharnet. The Prime Minister Tammam Salam reportedly welcomed the news, saying: “Lebanon is at the forefront of the confrontation with terrorism.”In contrast the foreign ministry was adamant they had no “memo or phone call mentioning this coalition.” They added they had :”No knowledge whatsoever of the issue of forming an Islamic anti-terror coalition.”The office also questioned whether the move encroached on their ‘constitutional jurisdiction on foreign affairs’.Indonesia was also said to be still deciding whether to join, while Malaysia ruled out any military intervention.

Source: Two countries had no idea they were in Saudi Arabia’s Muslim coalition to fight terrorism – Times of India

Polish government policies risk ′civil war,′ former leader Walesa says | News | DW.COM | 18.12.2015

Lech Walesa said he was beginning to feel “ashamed” of Poland’s ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party’s election win and added to his previous call that the new government uphold democracy’s division of powers among the executive, legislative and judicial branches.Since winning October’s election, the PiS, led by Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who is neither president nor prime minister, has attempted to install five judges of its own choosing to Poland’s 15-member constitutional court as it prepares to implement controversial societal reforms.The court has the power to veto new legislation.Will end badly, warns WalesaWalesa, who in the 1980s headed the Solidarity movement against then-Soviet rule, told Polish public television late Thursday that while changes were needed in Poland, the way in which PiS was proceeding did not amount to an “open and democratic” reform process.”If they don’t do it like that, I am warning them, it’s going to end in a civil war,” he said.On Wednesday, he had told private Radio Zet that the PiS’s political course would “lead to a lot of misfortune. It will end badly.”Democracy’s three-way division of power and system of checks and balances was “indispensible,” Walesa said.

Source: Polish government policies risk ′civil war,′ former leader Walesa says | News | DW.COM | 18.12.2015

The Rise and Rise of Misty Copeland – The New York Times

Cherry Peace stood, feet firmly planted, at the stage door of the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center in October. She was waiting for Misty Copeland, who had just wrapped up a matinee performance of Paul Taylor’s “Company B” at the American Ballet Theater, to kick off her toe shoes and exit.

There was no sign of Ms. Copeland, but Ms. Peace, 52, a writer who had traveled from Reno, Nev., expressly to see her, stayed rooted to the spot, hoping, if not for an autograph, at least for a glimpse of her idol.“When you get older,” she said, “there are certain things you want to do. Seeing Misty Copeland was on my bucket list.”

Source: The Rise and Rise of Misty Copeland – The New York Times