Liberty Ship

The origins of the Liberty Ship can be traced to a design proposed by the British in 1940. Seeking to replace wartime losses, the British placed contracts with US shipyards for 60 steamers of the Ocean class. These steamers were of simple design and featured a single coal-fired 2,500 horsepower reciprocating steam engine. While the coal-fired reciprocating steam engine was obsolete, it was reliable and Britain possessed a large supply of coal. While the British ships were being constructed, the US Maritime Commission examined the design and made alterations to lessen coast and speed construction.

 water dragon 

games

US President Joe Biden has used a first official phone call with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to offer staunch support in Ukraine’s standoff over Russian troops near its border.

yourdemocracy

Michelle Obama tells schoolgirls to view pandemic as a ‘great blessing’

veil nebula

Understanding the universe is an adventure in exploration and observations, not in mythical assumptions. 

Using new techniques, scientists have released a breathtaking updated image of the Veil Nebula, the beautiful remains of a supernova which took place 10,000 years ago.

mask

assange...

WikiLeaks shared an image of the 20-meter-high Berlin mural 

surveillance

The panopticon is a disciplinary concept brought to life in the form of a central observation tower placed within a circle of prison cells.

From the tower, a guard can see every cell and inmate but the inmates can’t see into the tower. Prisoners will never know whether or not they are being watched.

This was introduced by English philosopher Jeremy Bentham. It was a manifestation of his belief that power should be visible and unverifiable. Through this seemingly constant surveillance, Bentham believed all groups of society could be altered. Morals would be reformed, health preserved, industry invigorated, and so on – they were all subject to observation.

faith

Today (1/4/2021), the Pearls And Irritations website, the John Menadue Public Policy Journal, enters the world of mysticism, and one wonders why? WHY? 

henry

Philippe Mesnard analyses for RT France the "new university's attacks" targeting the West: it is no longer enough for the "new university" to repent, it has to go so far as to destroy the past by no longer teaching it… 

bench

WATCH: Biden adds fodder to dementia speculation as spirited response on filibuster reform degenerates into word salad

President Joe Biden apparently had some crucial things to say about reforming the Senate filibuster, the legislative speed bump against ruling-party dominance, but his descent into unintelligibility left his plans a mystery.

tomcats

Christian Porter has been made industry minister while Peter Dutton will replace Linda Reynolds in the defence portfolio.

Senator Michaelia Cash has been promoted to attorney-general and industrial relations minister to replace Mr Porter, who lost his job as the nation’s first law officer after launching defamation action against the ABC.

Mr Porter released a statement on Monday afternoon, congratulating Senator Cash on her new portfolios, and pledging to give his new appointments “all the energy and commitment I have”.

robert

The federal court ruled in May 2020 that Jane was entitled to use NDIS funds on sex worker services if it was deemed “reasonable and necessary” because the NDIS Act “does not expressly exclude such activities from being funded supports”.

Robert immediately responded that the government would seek to change the law, and in recent weeks he has embarked on a series of interviews highlighting the issue.

pox

The Cow-Pock—or—the Wonderful Effects of the New Inoculation!—vide. the Publications of ye Anti-Vaccine Society

Print (color engraving) published June 12, 1802 by H. Humphrey, St. James's Street.

water

Water fight: Israel turns off Jordan’s water supply amid drought and ‘personal frictions’

Already in trouble with Jordan, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu escalated tensions with his country’s closest Arab ally on Friday by unilaterally rejecting its request to increase water supply to the drought-hit kingdom.

Netanyahu’s decision – reportedly influenced by a souring of his personal relationship with Jordanian King Abdullah II – went against the security services recommendation to avoid risking historic water-sharing agreements critical to peace in the region.

According to the Haaretz newspaper, Netanyahu did not “respond positively even though professionals in water matters and defense establishment officials recommended acceding to the request.”