A lunar eclipse will coincide with a ‘super blood moon’ next week

A lunar eclipse will coincide with a ‘super blood moon’ next week (Source Business Insider) The night sky could look a bit spooky on Wednesday, depending on your vantage point. A lunar eclipse will peak at 7:14 a.m. ET that day, giving the moon a reddish hue. The event coincides with a supermoon – a full moon that happens when the moon is at the closest point in its orbit to Earth. Hence the nickname “super blood moon.” The eclipse won’t be visible everywhere: Only parts of North America, South America, Asia, and Oceania will be able to see it. The best viewing points in the US are Alaska and Hawaii, but most western states should have a decent view. Some people east of the Mississippi will be able to witness a partial lunar eclipse. But East Coasters probably won’t see much. This will be 2021’s only total lunar eclipse. The phenomenon occurs when the moon and sun are on opposite sides of the Earth, and the moon enters Earth’s shadow. During that time, the moon doesn’t get any direct sunlight, though it’s still exposed to light filtered through Earth’s atmosphere. When that light hits the moon’s surface, it’s reflected back with a red glow because air molecules in the atmosphere tend to scatter blue light. Supermoons, meanwhile, happen a few times a year at most. They’re the biggest and brightest full moons of the year: about 7% bigger and 15% brighter, on average, than a typical full moon

First of billions of cicadas emerge in US East Coast after 17 years in hibernation

First of billions of cicadas emerge in US East Coast after 17 years in hibernation(Source telegraph.co.uk)

Residents of the US East Coast have reported the much-anticipated arrival of cicadas, which have emerged in huge numbers after 17 years in hibernation and ready for a three-week mating frenzy. The flying insects have already been spotted in several states, including Virginia, Maryland and Georgia, but with warm temperatures expected over the coming days, billions more are expected later this week. With mere weeks to find a mate and lay their eggs before they die, the cicadas are in a race against time. The insects emit a noisy, high-pitched mating song that can reach up to 100 decibels, roughly equivalent to a motorcycle or jackhammer, said John Cooley, an entomologist at the University of Connecticut.

Putin to would-be aggressors: ‘Will knock their teeth out’

Putin to would-be aggressors: ‘Will knock their teeth out’ (Source Associated Press)

Russian President Vladimir Putin alleged Thursday that some of the country’s foreign foes dream about biting off pieces of the country’s vast territory, warning that Moscow would “knock their teeth out” if they ever try. In strong remarks during a conference call with officials, the Russian president noted that foreign efforts to contain Russia date from centuries ago. “In all times, the same thing happened: once Russia grew stronger, they found pretexts to hamper its development,” Putin said, alleging that some critics of Russia who he didn’t name have argued that it’s unfair for it to keep its vast natural riches all to itself.

“Everyone wants to bite us or bite something off us, but those who would like to do so should know that we would knock their teeth out so that they couldn’t bite,” the Russian leader said. “The development of our military is the guarantee of that.”

US, Russia at odds over military activity in the Arctic

US, Russia at odds over military activity in the Arctic

(Source Associated Press)

The Biden administration is leading a campaign against Russian attempts to assert authority over Arctic shipping and reintroduce a military dimension to discussions over international activity in the area.

As Russia assumed the rotating chairmanship of the Arctic Council on Thursday, the U.S. rallied other members to oppose Moscow’s plans to set maritime rules in the Northern Sea Route, which runs from Norway to Alaska, and its desire to resume high-level military talks within the eight-nation bloc. Those talks were suspended in 2014 over Russia’s actions in Ukraine. The effort reflects growing concerns in Washington and among some NATO allies about a surge in Russian military and commercial activity in the region that is rapidly opening up due to the effects of climate change. Russia has expressed similar suspicion about NATO’s motives.

At a meeting of Arctic Council foreign ministers in Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the group should maintain its focus on peaceful cooperation on environmental issues, maritime safety and the well-being of indigenous people in the region.

IF EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE JUST FINE, WHY DO THE SHORTAGES JUST KEEP GETTING WORSE?

IF EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE JUST FINE, WHY DO THE SHORTAGES JUST KEEP GETTING WORSE?

(Source blacklistednews.com)

Here we are in 2021, and we were told that things would be getting back to normal by now.

But instead, there are severe shortages everywhere around us. In fact, the shortages are far worse than anything that we experienced in 2020.

For example, did you know that dozens of important drugs are in short supply?  According to the official FDA website, there are shortages of more than 100 drugs in the United States right now.

If you found yourself in a situation like this, you can check the FDA’s drug shortage tracking system.

Right now there are currently about 120 drugs listed as having a shortage. Shortages just continue to get worse for the home building industry as well. “Builders are delaying starting new construction because of the marked increase in costs for lumber and other inputs,” said Mike Fratantoni, senior vice president and chief economist with the Mortgage Bankers Association, in a report Tuesday. He added that supply shortages for appliances are also putting a damper on new home building activity. Home builders across Canada are getting hit by a string of supply-chain disruptions, resulting in widespread product shortages and explosive costs for the industry. In some cases, home construction is months behind schedule as developers struggle to source everything from lumber to PVC pipes, insulation to windows. Builders are also holding back on presales, unable to accurately price their homes too far in advance, given that material costs can fluctuate wildly on a daily basis.

U.S. waives sanctions on Nord Stream 2 as Biden seeks to mend Europe ties

U.S. waives sanctions on Nord Stream 2 as Biden seeks to mend Europe ties (Source Reuters)

The Biden administration waived sanctions on the company behind Russia’s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Germany and its chief executive, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday, a move decried by critics of the project in Congress.

A State Department report sent to Congress concluded that Nord Stream 2 AG and its CEO, Matthias Warnig, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, engaged in sanctionable activity. But Blinken immediately waived those sanctions, saying that it was in the U.S. national interest. The decision came as the Biden administration seeks to rebuild ties with Germany, after relations deteriorated under Republican former President Donald Trump. The waivers have no specific end date, but can be rescinded by the secretary of state.  “Today’s actions demonstrate the administration’s commitment to energy security in Europe, consistent with the President’s pledge to rebuild relationships with our allies and partners in Europe,” Blinken said in a release, issued as he met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Iceland for an Arctic Council conference. Russia’s state energy company, Gazprom, and its Western partners are racing to finish the pipeline to send natural gas under the Baltic Sea.

Putin, Xi initiate projects in show of warming ties

Putin, Xi initiate projects in show of warming ties

(Source Associated Press)

Chinese leader Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin joined Wednesday in a videoconference to initiate a series of nuclear energy projects, an event intended to display warming ties between two nations that have paired up as the chief geopolitical rivals to the United States. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV showed Xi and Putin greeting each other via video link and announcing the start of construction of Russia-designed reactors at China’s Tianwan and Xudapu nuclear power plants. “Russian and Chinese professionals are setting in motion a truly signature, flagship joint project,” Putin said during the ceremony, describing the technology as “powerful state-of-the-art Russian-made nuclear reactors compliant with all the safety regulations and the highest of ecological standards.”

WHY ARE GATES AND PENTAGON RELEASING GMO MOSQUITOES IN FLORIDA KEYS?

WHY ARE GATES AND PENTAGON RELEASING GMO MOSQUITOES IN FLORIDA KEYS?

(Source blacklistednews.com)

Despite strong resident protests, the US Environmental Protection Agency and Florida agencies have approved controversial release of millions of genetically-modified or “gene edited” killer mosquitoes into the Florida Keyes. At the same time the controversial Presidential Science Adviser nominee of Biden is involved in development of the CRISPR technology being used to genetically modify everything from the mosquitoes to the Pfizer and Moderna coronavirus mRNA “vaccines” to gene-edited salmon. How Bill Gates, the Pentagon and the eugenics lobby come together now is alarming to put it mildly . On April 30 the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District and the Oxitec biotechnology company announced they will begin release of what will ultimately be some 750 million genetically manipulated or gene-edited Aedes Aegypti mosquitos using CRSPR gene editing technology. The Aedes Aegypti makes up only about 4% of the mosquito population in the Keys. The release is bitterly opposed by residents and environmental groups who demanded a referendum in last year’s election ballot, but which the Mosquito Control Board refused, curiously. Oxitec and the Board claim the release is to kill off the presence of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito which is believed to carry dengue fever, Zika and other diseases. The project, which sounds positive in the press statements, is alarming in many respects. First, the refusal to allow a citizen vote on the controversial GMO release. Second, there exists no cost-benefit analysis of the risks versus benefits of releasing millions of mosquitoes whose genetic traits are mutating in often unpredictable ways.

Charleston hotels ranked among best in the world by Tripadvisor

Charleston hotels ranked among best in the world by Tripadvisor (Source counton2.com)

Charleston hotels were named among the best in the world by Tripadvisor in the 2021 Travelers’ Choice Awards. The downtown spots placed in different categories, highlighting the uniqueness of each one:

French Quarter Inn: #4 Hotel in the United States

Emeline: #7 Hottest New Hotel in the world

The Spectator: #14 Most Romantic Hotel and #25 Top Hotel in the United States

Zero George Street: #18 Best Small Hotel in the United States

John Rutledge House Inn: #22 Best Small Hotel in the United States

Colonial Pipeline reportedly pays $5M in cryptocurrency to hackers to end ransomware cyberattack

Colonial Pipeline reportedly pays $5M in cryptocurrency to hackers to end ransomware cyberattack (Source usatoday.com)

The Colonial Pipeline Co. reportedly paid a $5 million ransom to cyberattackers, allowing the vital fuel-shipping system to restart after the hackers had seized control and triggered panic-buying of gasoline throughout the Southeastern U.S. Bloomberg News first reported Thursday that Colonial had paid the money, citing two people familiar with the exchange. CNBC also reported that the company paid the hackers, though it did not say how much.

Earlier this week, the FBI identified a criminal group known as DarkSide as being responsible for the cyberattack. “Once they received the payment, the hackers provided the operator with a decrypting tool to restore its disabled computer network,” Bloomberg reported. The system – which supplies about 45% of the Southeastern region’s fuel, including gasoline and jet fuel – was offline for several days after the attackers struck Friday.