Humorous News

Humor like beauty probably lies in the eye of the beholder. Sometimes it is perhaps what we call black humor, or perhaps it is an appreciation of irony.
In any case, this week I decide in the light of all the speedily happening events, to try to find the humor in them.

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The US Army is canceling its ten billion over the next five years order of Chinese drones. Things have apparently come to this funny state because of current statements by Donald Trump regarding the Chinese and that some feel the drones may have some cyber-warfare vulnerabilities. The Chinese have been the largest supplier to the US Army. "An Aug. 2 Army memo posted online and verified by Reuters applies to all DJI drones and systems that use DJI components or software. It requires service members to “cease all use, uninstall all DJI applications, remove all batteries/storage media and secure equipment for follow-on direction.”
Don't you somehow find it humorous that the largest supplier of drones to the US Army is China? Shades of Wal-Mart!

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Unrelated, but Donald Trump, in order to save money, has ordered as replacements for Air Force One and Air Force Two, two planes originally built for Russia. This must be one of those Trump/Russia stories again.(Smile)

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(What a relief!) "The New York Times reports that Trump may have found a reason to prolong the nearly 16-year-old war: Afghanistan's untapped mineral deposits, which could be worth nearly $1 trillion. Trump reportedly discussed Afghanistan's vast deposits of minerals with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and is considering sending an envoy to Afghanistan to meet with mining officials." Yep! Follow the money. Some think that is the explanation of all wars.
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Spanish and Finnish fighter jets were sent to intercept three Russian planes flying near Estonian air space on Tuesday (August 1st), the NATO military alliance said in a statement.
This story gets funnier / stranger / more ironic? as it goes along. You have to follow it down to the end - to get the punch line.

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Visiting Finland on July 27, President Putin said Russia was "keeping an eye on certain intensification in the movement of military aircraft, ships and troops. In order for us to avoid negative consequences, situations that no one wants, we need to maintain dialogue." He also stressed readiness for dialogue with neutral countries that border the Baltic Sea like Finland which is not part of the NATO military alliance. (The story continues - keep going)

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the Swedish military announced plans to conduct its largest joint military exercise with NATO in 20 years. Called Aurora 17, the training event is scheduled for September. (Yes, yes, yes, those agressive old Russians. And September! Sweet September. Hey! That is less than a month away! The punch line to this can be something! Keep reading.)

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Russian President Putin warned:
"If Sweden joins NATO this will affect our relations in a negative way because we will consider that the infrastructure of the military bloc now approaches us from the Swedish side". Keep reading. (We aren't there yet).

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Putin: It is time for Russia to fight back against American unlawful acts:
Published on Jul 31, 2017 You really need to listen all the way through to this 6 minute speech by Putin. And if you don't find THAT funny in the face of Special Counsel in the US Congress working to show that Trump is in collusion with the Russians - then you are a hard one with which to get a giggle going.

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Now then, to continue our happy face three ring circus approach, let us look at the other ring over on the far side. These are actually the guys who wear the sad clown faces. I know - some people don't find clowns funny, but you can't please everyone. BIG Decision Time
"The situation is bad now, and it's going to get worse in August ... it's going to get much more dangerous in August," Joel Wit, a senior fellow at US-Korea Institute who previously worked on North Korea policy at the State Department, said on a call with reporters organized by 38 North, a website for informed analysis of the Korean defense situation.
August is when the American and South Korean militaries hold Ulchi- Freedom Guardian, one of the world's largest annual military exercises and the target of harsh rebukes from North Korea.
"That could create even more tension," Wit said. "I think we need to be to be very careful about aggravating the situation."
"But there's a bargain here," Wit added, "a quid pro quo here." North Korea has previously offered to suspend its nuclear development if the US and South Korea suspend their annual war games. In the past, the US has rejected this offer because the drills are legal and North Korea's nuclear development is not.
But with North Korea pushing closer to a nuclear-capable missile designed to accurately reach major US cities, Witt said it may be time to revisit that position.
"It's really the best point in time for a US president to do it," Witt said of peace talks with North Korea.
"Trump is insulated from any Republican criticism, which has stopped Democrats before," Witt said. "He thinks outside of the box. He might be the right person to do it."

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Okay - so on that happy note about the right person at the right time - let is pass on to some one-liners. Steve Quayle Amerigeddon Economic collapse will be on August 21, 2017
A total solar eclipse is happening Aug. 21
On September 30, there ends the United States federal budget for fiscal year 2017, which lasts from October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017
Ahh yes, once again - Sweet September - although I am an October man - myself.
So there! You see I CAN keep it all sweet and light! Not one world about all the massive parades, war games, weapons displays, announcements of new weapon capabilities that took place this week, (I think perhaps the most I have ever seen). Nope - as some have asked, I have kept it on the bright side. Enj
Ark Two
Still waiting for Michael, (our coordinator here) to recover.
He thinks Monday.
If this appears to be a repeat of last week -
it does seem to me to be that way also.
Actually, some big tasks completed this last week -
and some others for the coming week.
I hope there will start coming in critiques on what has been done on the LERN Learning Program.
Programmer reports 61 enrolled.
BUT, not one critique.
Someone please at least say -
you like it, or you don't like it.
The learning program will consist of SIX COURSES.
Course I The Nature and Purpose of LERNs
Course II The LERN Economic System
Course III The LERN Monetary System
Course IV The LERN Governance System
Course V The LERN Mission
Course VI The LERN Value System
Only the first course is in any way ready to critique,
but the editors are working on Courses II and III
and I am writing Course III.
If you haven't done so already -
get yourself a free gmail email address -
and enroll in the free course at:
https://tinag-course.appspot.com/
We have only 40 active workers
who have come out in the last month.
I finished the process of writing to the rest of the 160
on the work list
and telling them to set a date to come
or that we are taking them off the list.
It looks like we have a bit over 50 helpers.
Hearing from more and more new people.
As the world situation continues in the direction it is going
then if there is time
we may start hearing from a lot more.
We really do need the help -
although there is no other place -
that gets as much as we do already.
I really do need to be grateful -
and stop looking at the hole in this donut.
So - put on a happy face!
And I hope that you have enjoyed
a happy / humorous newsletter
for a change!
Unity and Love,
Dawnsayer@webpal.org