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BeyondGeography
BeyondGeography's Journal
BeyondGeography's Journal
May 31, 2022
Germany Slashes Summer Train Fares More Than 90 Percent to Curb Driving, Save Fuel
https://twitter.com/YaleE360/status/1531684444507103234 Germanys parliament has set summer train fares at 9 euros per month in a bid to slash pollution and curb imports of Russian oil by spurring drivers to take public transit.
The initiative takes effect on June 1, with 9 euros covering the cost of all buses, trams, subways, and regional trains, effectively cutting fares by more than 90 percent in some cities. Berlin commuters will save 98 euros on their monthly travel pass, while commuters in Hamburg will save more than 105 euros, Bloomberg reported. Deutsche Bahn is adding 50 additional trains to absorb the expected increase in users.
The reduced fares come with an estimated price tag of 2.5 billions euros, the cost to the German government of reimbursing transit companies for lost revenue. Critics have said the plan is too expensive and warned that a surge in travelers could overwhelm mass transit and rail lines. Some, however, have suggested that the initiative should go further.
By making public transit cheaper, German leaders hope to limit car travel and help phase out Russian oil imports. Last year, Germany was the largest buyer of Russian oil in Europe, and it is now looking to make drastic reductions.
https://e360.yale.edu/digest/germany-slashes-summer-train-fares-more-than-90-percent-to-curb-driving-save-fuel
The initiative takes effect on June 1, with 9 euros covering the cost of all buses, trams, subways, and regional trains, effectively cutting fares by more than 90 percent in some cities. Berlin commuters will save 98 euros on their monthly travel pass, while commuters in Hamburg will save more than 105 euros, Bloomberg reported. Deutsche Bahn is adding 50 additional trains to absorb the expected increase in users.
The reduced fares come with an estimated price tag of 2.5 billions euros, the cost to the German government of reimbursing transit companies for lost revenue. Critics have said the plan is too expensive and warned that a surge in travelers could overwhelm mass transit and rail lines. Some, however, have suggested that the initiative should go further.
By making public transit cheaper, German leaders hope to limit car travel and help phase out Russian oil imports. Last year, Germany was the largest buyer of Russian oil in Europe, and it is now looking to make drastic reductions.
https://e360.yale.edu/digest/germany-slashes-summer-train-fares-more-than-90-percent-to-curb-driving-save-fuel
May 26, 2022
This quote appears towards the end of Red Famine, by Anne Applebaum, a definitive treatment of the Holodomor.
To Henry Kissinger from Ivan Drach, founder, the People's Movement of Ukraine (1936-2018)
The first lesson which is becoming an integral part of Ukrainian consciousness is that Russia has never had and never will have any other interest in Ukraine beyond the total destruction of the Ukrainian nation.
This quote appears towards the end of Red Famine, by Anne Applebaum, a definitive treatment of the Holodomor.
May 24, 2022
Ted Cruz "is fervently lifting up in prayer" today's victims in Uvalde
Shannon Watts of Moms Demand Action responds:
https://twitter.com/shannonrwatts/status/1529197482701230080
May 23, 2022
https://twitter.com/thedailybeast/status/1528720664185692163
https://twitter.com/TgLa7/status/1528730768033230849
"Boris Bondarev is a hero."
https://twitter.com/UNWatch/status/1528704990637867008https://twitter.com/thedailybeast/status/1528720664185692163
https://twitter.com/TgLa7/status/1528730768033230849
May 20, 2022
Struggling in Ukraine, Russia paves way to sign up over-40s for army
https://twitter.com/EdTowers2022/status/1527706758566711296 LONDON, May 20 (Reuters) - In a sign of Russia's urgent need to bolster its war effort in Ukraine, parliament said on Friday it would consider a bill to allow Russians over 40 and foreigners over 30 to sign up for the military.
The website of the State Duma, parliament's lower house, said the move would enable the military to utilise the skills of older professionals.
"For the use of high-precision weapons, the operation of weapons and military equipment, highly professional specialists are needed. Experience shows that they become such by the age of 4045," it said.
Clearly, the Russians are in trouble. This is the latest attempt to address manpower shortages without alarming their own population. But it is growing increasingly difficult for the Kremlin to disguise their failures in Ukraine," said retired U.S. General Ben Hodges, a former commander of U.S. Army forces in Europe.
The website of the State Duma, parliament's lower house, said the move would enable the military to utilise the skills of older professionals.
"For the use of high-precision weapons, the operation of weapons and military equipment, highly professional specialists are needed. Experience shows that they become such by the age of 4045," it said.
Clearly, the Russians are in trouble. This is the latest attempt to address manpower shortages without alarming their own population. But it is growing increasingly difficult for the Kremlin to disguise their failures in Ukraine," said retired U.S. General Ben Hodges, a former commander of U.S. Army forces in Europe.
May 20, 2022
More Secret Service dipshittery ahead of Biden's South Korea trip
https://twitter.com/CurtisHouck/status/1527629899825041411
May 15, 2022
Shades of Oxford High More quality gunner parenting.
Official: Buffalo gunman had threatened school shooting
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) The 18-year-old gunman who authorities say killed 10 people at a Buffalo supermarket had previously threatened a shooting at his high school and was sent for mental health treatment, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press.
Payton Gendron had appeared on the radar of police last year after he threatened to carry out a shooting at Susquehanna High School around the time of graduation, the official said. New York State Police said troopers were called to the Conklin school on June 8, 2021, for a report that a 17-year-old student had made threatening statements.
Police said the student was taken into custody under a state mental health law and taken to a hospital for an evaluation. The police statement did not give the students name.
The law enforcement official was not authorized to speak publicly on the investigation and did so on the condition of anonymity.
https://apnews.com/article/0475a5bd971d23a4e0a13ef840650bb1
Payton Gendron had appeared on the radar of police last year after he threatened to carry out a shooting at Susquehanna High School around the time of graduation, the official said. New York State Police said troopers were called to the Conklin school on June 8, 2021, for a report that a 17-year-old student had made threatening statements.
Police said the student was taken into custody under a state mental health law and taken to a hospital for an evaluation. The police statement did not give the students name.
The law enforcement official was not authorized to speak publicly on the investigation and did so on the condition of anonymity.
https://apnews.com/article/0475a5bd971d23a4e0a13ef840650bb1
Shades of Oxford High More quality gunner parenting.
May 14, 2022
Developing. Lots of chatter that the shooter was a white supremacist but no confirmation yet.
On edit, NBC now reporting the shooter is in custody.
At least 7 killed in Buffalo mass shooting, law enforcement sources say
Source: NBC News
At least 7 people were killed during a mass shooting in a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, Saturday afternoon, law enforcement sources told NBC News.
The shooter was also killed and another victim is in critical condition, the sources said.
A man wearing military-style gear entered a Tops Friendly Market on Jefferson Avenue shortly after 2:30 p.m. and began firing a rifle, according to law enforcement.
Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/buffalo-supermarket-mass-shooting-leaves-7-dead-law-enforcement-source-rcna28883
Developing. Lots of chatter that the shooter was a white supremacist but no confirmation yet.
On edit, NBC now reporting the shooter is in custody.
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