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Showing posts with label Politic/News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Politic/News. Show all posts

Oldest Man On Earth Dies In Indonesia, Allegedly At Age 146

7:05 AM
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A man who claimed to be the oldest human in the world has died in an Indonesian village, allegedly at the ripe age of 146.
Sodimedjo, aka Mbah Gotho (which translates to Grandpa Gotho) was born, according to papers in his possession, sometime in 1870, the BBC reports.
But the news organization says since Indonesia did not begin recording births until 1900, there’s no definitive way to substantiate the claims made by Sodimedjo’s family.
He was able to produce papers ― including a residency card that indicated he was born on Dec. 31, 1870 ― which local officials told the BBC were valid.
Old. Very old, yes, but was he the oldest person on Earth? That’s still not known for sure.
Sodimedjo, who had a healthy appetite and was a heavy smoker, outlived four wives and 10 siblings, and had five children, 12 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren before he passed away on April 30.
When the BBC asked Sodimedjo in 2016 what his secret was for longevity, he said patience and “a long life because I have people that love me looking after me.”
THE GUARDIAN / YOUTUBE
Longtime Indonesian resident Sodimedjo, aka Mbah Gotho — a former heavy smoker — has died at the alleged age of 146.
Last year, from his Central Java home, Sodimedjo, a former fisherman and farmer, told The Jakarta Post he felt blessed.
“Life is only a matter of accepting your destiny wholeheartedly,” he said. “I have wanted to die for a long time. My wives, children and siblings all have passed away but Gusti Allah [God] has blessed me with a long life. I have to live my life patiently.”
The last person known born during the 1800s, Emma Morano, died on April 15 at the age of 117. In May 2016, Morano was named the world’s oldest person. If research eventually confirms Sodimedjo’s claim of being born in 1870, that would mean he was already 145 when Morano died this year.
In the past 15 years, nobody has come close to the longevity of Sarah Knauss and Jeanne Calment, according to fivethirtyeight.com:
Knauss lived to be 119 years old, while Calment, a chain-smoking Frenchwoman and our modern Methuselah, was 122 years old when she passed away in 1997. (She was the oldest living person in the world for more than nine years.) They are the only two people known to have lived past 118.
The Gerontology Research Group, which keeps an ongoing list of living supercentenarians― those individuals who have reached at least 110 years of age ― never acknowledged Sodimedjo’s claims. 
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Donald Trump Had A No Good and Very Sad Homecoming

6:53 AM
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NEW YORK ― Donald Trump used to love this city, but apart from a minority of voters and (possibly) the wife he left in Manhattan, the city just doesn’t love him back.
The president was late to his own homecoming ceremony Thursday ― he had to make a quick detour to D.C. to celebrate the successful House passage of the American Health Care Act ― which would be his first official visit home since his inauguration. 
But the only constant in New York is change, and if Trump were to walk through the streets he once knew, he’d find a city that had both moved on without him and loathed his return. While hundreds of protesters met him during his visit to an Intrepid museum event, a smattering of a hundred more held court at Trump Tower to boo his return.
BRYAN R. SMITH VIA GETTY IMAGES
President Donald Trump (L) dines with Mitt Romney (R) at Jean-Georges restaurant at Trump International Hotel on Nov. 29, 2016, in New York.
Over at the swanky Jean-Georges restaurant inside Trump International Hotel, he would find no warm welcome. The meal of frog legs and garlic soup he so fondly shared with Mitt Romney last year was no longer on the menu. Did it signal standard menu turnover at a Michelin-starred restaurant, or was it a sign that the president had finally lost all grip on his city? We may never know.
But in all fairness, Trump would be delighted to learn that two of his supporters dined there for lunch, though his glee might be short-lived. Those supporters seemed to worry only for Melania Trump, who, despite braving a transition from private to public life, apparently would not be sharing the night with her husband. After a short visit at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, Trump whisked himself away to New Jersey. 
“Oh, that poor woman!” said Debbie Duggan, 60, of California, fresh off a plate of poached eggs and mushrooms. “We have to give her a break, and God bless her for trying to stay in that marriage ... Why would he do that [become president]? They had such a beautiful life, they had everything.”
To the west, Trump would surely be disgusted to find that the well-done, ketchup-bastardized meat he orders at one of his other highfalutin haunts, 21 Club, was back to its marbled blue glory. An Australian couple vacationing from Melbourne noted ― after dining on “very good, very red lamb chops” ― that Trump’s arrival on Thursday did have at least some impact: His impending speech on the dock-bound aircraft carrier, the Intrepid, would undoubtedly delay their cruise on the Hudson River.
Bartenders, meanwhile, said the restaurant still enjoyed its crowds and celebrities despite Trump’s exodus. 
SEBASTIAN MURDOCK / HUFFPOST
A protester holds a sign outside of Trump Tower on Thursday.
Walking home, the president would have seen his worst nightmare: Trump Tower, his gigantic erection standing in the face of every architect and business owner on Fifth Avenue, was attracting only a smattering of photo-taking tourists and even more protesters three blocks away chanting for his removal from office. Police lined the streets with barricades, and a dozen massive dump trucks filled with sand to act as a barrier in front of the building. 
Oh, and the lying mainstream media was also there, covering the crowd of people expressing their disdain for the “dealmaker.” 
The only welcoming party Trump may have actually seen Thursday was the crowd of protesters across the street from the Intrepid, where he was scheduled to speak after 7 p.m.
“No, he’s not welcome in New York City,” said one of those protesters, Renee Leehim, 31, of Harlem. “We’ve been gentrified, our schools don’t have libraries, and he’s just not here. We feel like this isn’t our president — and he should probably stop going to Florida and, back in New York, stop charging us while we pay already high rent.”
Trump was once hailed as a savior of old New York. But this is New York now. And he’ll never be our savior.
Suggest a correction
Andy CampbellReporter, HuffPost
Sebastian MurdockReporter, HuffPost
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Echoes Of World War II — And A Loud Explosion Or Two — On A Southern Road Trip

3:48 AM
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There’s a moment in an historical re-enactment when you start to question reality.
For me, it came as I stood on the deck of the USS Alabama on a recent Sunday afternoon, watching two vintage Russian Yak aircraft barreling toward us low and menacing over Mobile Bay.
On the deck of the meticulously restored battleship that served during World War II, pandemonium reigned. Sailors dressed in authentic era uniforms scrambled to load their weapons with blanks, tend to the pretend wounded and extinguish simulated fires. They’re part of the USS Alabama Living History Crew, who take this kind of thing pretty seriously.
How seriously? Well, for just a second, I believed the warplanes were going to take the re-enactors and their audience out in a burst of simulated cannon fire. I saw my 12-year-old son flinch. Then the warbirds pulled up and and soared south toward the ocean. The onlookers let out a collective gasp of relief.


There’s no better place to learn about WWII history than a road trip to Alabama and Louisiana. It’s not just Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile, Ala., that will let you experience the war in a visceral way, the way the American South demands to be experienced. A short two-hour drive away in New Orleans, you’ll also find the finest museum of WWII history, The National World War II Memorial Museum. You wouldn’t expect to find two such opportunities so close together outside perhaps a major world capital, yet here they are.
By itself, Battleship Memorial Park is worth the visit even without its history buffs and re-enactors. (They do their thing every other month, so you have to plan it right.) The USS Alabama, or the Mighty A as they call it here, looks as good as she did the day she was commissioned and is filled with “wow” moments — and plenty of opportunities to lose your kids.
I misplaced mine a time or two.
While the little ones will be fascinated by the weapons, of which there are plenty, there’s also enough to keep the adults occupied. Thoughtful exhibits and displays mark the walking tour of the USS Alabama. You could spend an entire day exploring the ship. The Mighty A has earned its place in history as the vessel that led the American fleet into Tokyo Bay on Sept. 5, 1945.
Most tourists come to this area to experience Alabama’s famous Gulf Coast, but the battleship is a worthy day trip and a sobering reminder of the sacrifices America and its allies made during World War II — explosions and all. For a more immersive experience, though, you have to drive west and visit the World War II museum.


Why would perhaps the world’s finest World War II museum be in New Orleans, of all places? It all started as the D-Day Museum, which wouldn’t have been possible without the amphibious landing vehicles built here and tested on Lake Pontchartrain by Higgins Industries. President Eisenhower credited Higgins and his boats for our winning the war in Europe. From there, the project expanded and was supported by Stephen Ambrose, a New Orleans resident and historian. Ambrose, then a professor at University of New Orleans, and Gordon “Nick” Mueller, the current museum CEO, were looking for a place to house the stories of veterans Ambrose was collecting and the memorabilia the veterans were giving to him.
So it didn’t surprise us when Tom Hanks — the executive producer of the adaptation of Ambrose’s book, Band of Brothers — showed up to narrate the spectacular Beyond All Boundaries, a “4-D” multimedia explanation of the war. This is easily one of the most compelling presentations about war I’ve ever seen. If you’re traveling with kids, you’ll want to take them here first. The fog effects, pyrotechnics and moving seats really convey the drama of the conflict and set the stage for the exhibits that follow.
My middle son, Iden, saw the medical warning that preceded the show, about the possibility of it aggravating “certain medical conditions” and asked me if we were going on a rollercoaster. But after sitting through Beyond All Boundaries he sat in stunned silence as the credits displayed. This was a rollercoaster of the mind.


It’s absolutely worth checking out the signature Campaigns of Courage after you watch the presentation. The Road to Berlin follows the conflict in Germany from the Normandy invasion to Germany’s surrender. A second exhibit, The Road to Tokyo, charts the same course for Japan. The exhibits are highly interactive and deeply compelling. Visitors use special “dog tags” (they’re actually plastic cards) to activate displays, which tell a personal story of someone who lived through the war.


For us, one of the most sobering exhibits was on the power of propaganda, Winning Over Hearts and Minds, a short display of wartime propaganda posters. It prompted a frank discussion with my children about the subtle effectiveness of propaganda and some of its modern-day uses. You can’t walk though these displays without seeing echoes of the current rhetoric used by politicians both in America and abroad.
On a southern road trip, the last thing you would expect is a reminder of the greatest human conflict. But, thanks to a restored ship, a museum built in one of the unlikeliest places, and several loud explosions, you can find one that will stay with you for a lifetime.
If you go …
Where to stayThe International House is a boutique property located a few blocks away from the WWII museum, but also close to New Orleans’ famous French Quarter. The hotel, located in a former world trade center, has been carefully restored with lots of attention to detail.
What to do Check out the Hurricane Katrina exhibit at The Presbytère, the Louisiana State Museum. It’s a moving exhibit that follows this devastating hurricane and its aftermath and a testament to the city’s resilience.
What to eat You mean, what not to eat? With only two days in town, we never got past breakfast. That’s Cafe Du Monde for beignets and coffee and Brennan’s for one of their famous breakfasts. Try the turtle soup — but don’t forget the Sherry. I’ll discuss the differences between Creole and Cajun in a future story.

Christopher Elliott specializes in solving seemingly unsolvable consumer problems. Contact him with your questions on his advocacy website. You can also follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Google or sign up for his newsletter.
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Funeral Home Sued Refusing To Cremate Gay Man’s Body

3:34 AM
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A gay man is suing a funeral home in Mississippi, alleging that the business refused to transport and cremate the body of his 86-year-old husband after learning about his sexuality.
John “Jack” Zawadski, 82, and his nephew launched the lawsuit with the help of Lambda Legal following the death of Zawadski’s husband Robert Huskey in May 2016 due to a heart condition.
The lawsuit alleges that as Huskey’s condition worsened, Zawadski’s nephew, John Gaspari, made arrangements for transportation and cremation of his body through Picayune Funeral Home. Huskey had lived the final part of his life in a nursing home and, according to the lawsuit, following Huskey’s death “the Nursing Home relayed to John that once PFH received the paperwork indicating that Bob’s spouse was male, PFH refused service because it did not ‘deal with their kind.’”
Huskey and Zawadski had been together 52 years at the time of his death.
“When you’re finally told that a loved one is on the end of their life, you don’t want to have to be rushed into making a decision,” Gaspari says in the above Lambda Legal video. “You want to make sure that it’s carried out to their wish and it’s done properly, with dignity... Discrimination in death is unacceptable. I’m hoping that laws are changed prohibiting this from happening anywhere in the United States.”
There are currently no laws protecting LGBTQ people from discrimination based on sexual orientation by businesses in Mississippi.
Lambda Legal attorney Beth Littrell told HuffPost that this case serves as an example of what can happen when these protections don’t exist.
“This case is a stark example of the harmful consequences of living in state without anti-discrimination laws that protect LGBT people and where the state government instead passes laws like Mississippi’s HB 1523 that privilege those who discriminate instead of protecting the victims of discrimination,” she said. “It shows that even though same-sex couples can marry throughout the country, they remain vulnerable to discrimination from cradle to grave.”
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This Wild Deer Visits 81-Year-Old Woman Twice A Day For A Snack

11:16 AM
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Having a friend who mooches off you twice a day is usually annoying, but 81-year-old Mette Kvam doesn’t seem to mind.
Kvam lives alone in Aurland, Norway, and her friend is a wild deer named “Flippen.” He shows up at her doorstep twice a day looking for some grub, according to Inside Edition.
Flippen has been a daily visitor for the past three years and it’s not a one-sided friendship. In return for the goodies, he lets Kvam rub his head a little.
The friendship began in 2014, when Kvam saw the stag in her yard and offered him a cookie, according to the Good News Network. To her surprise, he cautiously accepted the snack.
Now he shows up for more food each day and family friend Britt Haugsevje Vangen couldn’t be happier.
“She says that they are so lucky for having each other,” Vangen told Caters News. “Mette has no kids and since her husband passed away she has no one ― she only has Flippen in her life now.”
Typically, wildlife experts advise people not to feed wild deer. Some human foods, like corn, can be disastrous for deer, with the wrong foods leading to serious disease and even death. It can also lead to them becoming dependent on humans for food.
However, in this case, the friendship appears to have paid off for Flippen. Local hunters who are aware of the friendship have made a point not to shoot the stag, according to Vangen.
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Did Donald Trump Became A Buffoon

10:59 AM
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The definition of “buffoon” from Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
1: a ludicrous figure: clown
2: a gross and usually ill-educated or stupid person acting like a ridiculous buffoon
The ultimate dividing line of our generation was the Vietnam War. We grew up inspired by the greatest generation. John F. Kennedy’s famous statement, “Ask not what your country can do for you... ask what you can do for your country,” rang loud in our ears. The war forced a decision upon our youth and their families. The choice was to serve, to oppose, or to evade wartime service.
Many, originally myself included, saw our duty as answering the nation’s call to arms. Others, immediately seeing that war as an act of murky imperialism and stumbling politics, opposed the war. Many were afraid to take a stand. Interestingly, today those who are the loudest proponents of violence and war ― conservative leaders like Ted Nugent, Rush Limbaugh, and Donald J. Trump ― chose fear over service. For at the end of the day, those who went to or supported the war, and those who opposed the war, did so understanding service to the nation was important, a citizen’s duty. The timid, frightened people who evaded service or who, with deferments in their pockets, actively supported the Vietnam War saw no duty greater than to personal needs.
Privileged from birth, it was during the Vietnam War period, Trump discovered he could avoid difficult times and hard work. His cocoon of wealth lacked checks and balances and enabled Donald Trump to believe himself both smarter and better looking than anyone else. At first making pronouncements based upon excellent education, and then as school grew more distant and Trump more coddled, Donald Trump realized that, almost universally, his pronouncements on any subject was met with instant approval and praise. Donald J. Trump was always right. Ask his friends.
Trump acquired an army of sycophants and grew powerful in his world. When you surround yourself with an army of sycophants, you can only grow into a buffoon and bully. Any echo of dissent was a minority to be punished, then ignored. The result for poor Donald Trump was a false reality where he is always correct and his tough decisions always right. If failure reared its ugly head, it was not Donald’s decision that was wrong but the information or actions of others.
When you surround yourself with an army of sycophants, you can only grow into a buffoon and bully.
Trump became a celebrity based as much upon his confidence and wealth than any real accomplishment. A master salesman, Trump could sell anything and walk away better off. The problem with Donald is that he did not age well. He joined his fellow aging males that make up a majority of the FOX News audience where the sound bite matters and the accuracy is not treasured. Poor Donald could well have gone to his grave believing that the rest of the world acknowledged he was the smartest man in the world. But the fatal flaw in the Donald tragedy appeared. This pitiful person actually believed his own propaganda. Pronouncements grew and support for him gained as well. Before long this person found himself president of the United States.
Donald Trump’s wild pronouncements now meet harsh reality. His “health care is more complicated than he thought” comment was the first of what will be many a rude awakening for Donald and America. He deftly blamed the military for the failed attack in Yemen and his lost armada. His cabinet is designed to destroy federal competency in every area including the military. Charlatans such as Sessions know how to feed Trump’s ego and prejudices while executing their own agenda, for Trump is an easy mark.
Sadly, the generals and admirals have yet to tell him just how complicated it is to maintain global military superiority. It has little to do with the number of ships and troops. National strength is a complex and nuanced mixture of education, health, science and economics developed into the correct matrix of soft and hard power.
The Trump budget jeopardizes national security. More proof Trump and his gang lack all knowledge of the elements of national power. An unhealthy nation is a weak nation. An uneducated nation is a weak nation. A weak economy means a weak nation. A nation lacking reliable allies is a weak nation. A nation that does not fund science and all types of research is a weak nation. The demise of both the Soviet Union and the Ottoman Empire demonstrate clearly that military size does not matter.
The Trump budget is a rehash of the old Soviet Union budget where the vast economy was directed toward the military. The Trump budget weakens America and places her at risk. Donald Trump and his advisors are ignorant, incompetent or both. Serious damage is being done. Buffoons are seldom aware of their gullibility or ignorance.
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Trump Red Desk Button, But Doesn’t Do What You’d Expect

6:30 AM
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ILLUSTRATION: HUFFPOST PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
President Trump reportedly has a red button on his desk in the Oval Office that will send in a sugary beverage
Since President Donald Trump’s election, one question on many people’s mind has been on whether he’s provided a red button that’s capable of launching nuclear arms.
Well, according to one report, he indeed has one ― but it reportedly brings him Coke, as in Coca-Cola.
The unusual beverage service was revealed in an interview with The Associated Press on Sunday during a tour of the Oval Office. 


JONATHAN ERNST / REUTERS
Trump sits at his desk in the White House’s Oval Office during an interview in February. An iced beverage can be seen to his left.

As AP reporter Julie Pace observed:
“With the push of a red button placed on the Resolute Desk that presidents have used for decades, a White House butler soon arrived with a Coke for the president.”
News of that Coca-Cola power spread on social media, sparking mixed reactions, which included concern over whether he might confuse that red button with any other red ones.
Though the button’s function understandably came as a surprise to many, his love of junk food shouldn’t.
Over the years, Trump has appeared in TV ads for Pizza Hut, McDonald’s and Oreo cookies. Photos of him during his latest presidential campaign have also shown him feasting on KFC (with a knife and fork) and a taco bowl.
As for soda, he appears to have a love-hate relationship, with him having been seen both drinking it and making fun of those who do.
“I have never seen a thin person drinking Diet Coke,” he tweeted in 2012.
In another tweet that same year, he called Coke products “garbage.”
Likely keeping Coke advertisers on their toes, last year he shared a photo of himself dining on a McDonald’s meal that included a bottle of Coke. It was diet.

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