Thomas Jefferson said in 1802: "I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies."

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."-- Thomas Jefferson

"When in danger or in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout." .... jbd

"When once a job you have begun, do no stop till it is done. Whether the task be great or small, do it well, or not at all." .... Anon

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. - Albert Einstein

Television is one daylong commercial interrupted periodically by inept attempts to fill the airspace in between them.

If you can't start a fire, perhaps your wood is wet ....

When you elect clowns, expect a circus ..............




Saturday, June 21, 2014

Russia Puts Its Troops On 'Full Combat Alert'

Russian President Vladimir Putin has placed his armed forces on "full combat alert," the state-run news agency ITAR-Tass reports.

According to the news agency that means the country will assess the "... troops' time standards and ability to fulfill combat readiness posture tasks. Later on, the troops will be taken to training ranges for exercises."

All of the troops are expected to be back at their bases by July 1.

"While Russia's Central Military District does not border Ukraine, the move will be seen as another show of force as tensions between Moscow and Kiev continue to mount.

"The move comes a day after Petro Poroshenko, the Ukrainian president, announced a seven-day unilateral ceasefire in eastern Ukraine in a bid to implement a peace plan he unveiled earlier this week.

"Mr Poroshenko's peace plan would see early elections, greater autonomy for the east of the country, and an amnesty for rebels 'who have not committed serious crimes'.

"But separatists had no part in formulating the plan, and both the Kremlin and rebel leaders have rejected the deal as an 'ultimatum' rather than a true effort to find dialogue."

The move also comes on the first day after a delcared ceasefire. Nonetheless, there were reports of violence along the Russia-Ukraine border.

Reporting from the Izvarino checkpoint, NPR's Corey Flintoff said that check point was desolate, but it was obviously the site of heavy fighting. There were broken windows and one of the buildings had a roof blown off.