The Aftermath of Winter Storm Fern

 

A combination of snow and ice hit the United States at the end of January. Many cities were not prepared to handle Winter Storm Fern. Large amounts of  ice continue to block roads and sidewalks. The storm also brought concerns about the safety of the homeless and those who were travelling. Inadequate infrastructure resulted in power outages. Aging poles and wires that transport electricity did not have the strength to withstand the storm. Power lines are going to vulnerable to extreme weather events. Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee experienced toppled power lines, which becomes a public hazard. Loss of heating and electricity can be lethal in a winter storm. Power grids need to be more durable. The problem related to infrastructure improvement comes from cost. Projects would possibly require millions of dollars. Certain states may not be able to generate that revenue. The federal government does seem to provided assistance. Even if infrastructure is improved, few are addressing the connection between climate change and extreme weather events. Americans are going to be dealing with more power outages, limited snow or ice removal, and unsafe conditions in upcoming winter seasons.   

Saif al-Islam Qaddafi Assassinated

 

Saif al-Islam Qaddafi was assassinated by unidentified  gunmen in his residence. After being released, Saif was planning a return to politics. Libya was going to have presidential elections. Attempts were made to prevent him from running for office or getting involved in politics. These could be the motivations for the assassination. When the Libyan Civil War broke out and rebels advanced Saif was detained. The Abu Bakr Sadik Brigade militia  imprisoned him in Zintan. He remained a prisoner in his own country for six years. A court in Tripoli sentenced him to death and the ICC charged him with war crimes. The contradiction was that NATO was not charged with civilian deaths during the 2011 Libyan Civil War. Saif  was released in 2017. Armed groups thrive on division of Libya and wanted to stop anyone who desired an end to disorder. Libya gradually is splitting into two countries. The failed state is closer to Somalia and faces foreign interference. The assassination of Saif proves that the terrorist organizations and armed groups are not popular enough to win elections. Killing a potential political challenger ensures that the People's Socialist Arab Jamahiriya will not return. The UN supported government in Tripoli is more of a puppet state of European interests. Another war could break out as Khalifa Haftar and Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh fight for control of the North African country. Most of Qaddafi's family remains in Algeria, but their safety is not guaranteed.   

 

President Barack Obama Discusses Immigration (2009)

 

The United States has a long history of immigration. By the 2000s it became one of the major wedge issues in American politics. President Barack Obama came to office with the intent of immigration reform. When speaking at a rally in 2009, President Obama's positions seemed less liberal. He stated "no one gets a free ride." Then asserts amnesty would not be an option. He talks about earning citizenship, but does not acknowledge that the process is slow and inefficient. The biggest distortion is that President Obama claimed "American appreciate immigration." American xenophobia and racism makes becoming a citizen difficult. Then President Barack Obama did not mention that US military intervention created large numbers of refugees. The Vietnam War, CIA operations in Central America, the 2003 Iraq War, and  the invasion  Afghanistan  displaced many people. The Barack Obama administration ended up deporting more immigrants than the Bush administration. Race relations continued to be tense even with the election of the first African American president. 

Tesla's Shift To Robotics And AI

 

Tesla is making a transformation of its business model. The company is moving away from the production of electric vehicles to AI and robotics. The tech industry has seen a major concentration in the application of AI. The motivation could relate to Tesla's fall in revenue. The fall in sales has a direct link to the political activities of Elon Musk. The CEO of Tesla worked for the Trump administration in the Department of Government Efficiency. The purchase of Twitter and then its rebrand to X.com generated controversy. Seeing as Musk damaged the public image of the company, sales of Tesla vehicles declined. The manufacturing plants are being converted into Optimus robot production centers. The new AI venture has been revealed to be called xAI. The motivation to do the shift is to replace workers with robots. The Optimus is not advanced enough to do certain tasks. The technology at this stage is more so an amusing product of entertainment. Over the next few decades, the Optimus robots could be able to perform more functions. Jobs in manufacturing, tech, and the service sector could vanish due to the Optimus robot. Tesla is using X.com as a testing ground for AI. The rise of AI seems similar to the .com bubble of the late 1990s to early 2000s. Limited regulation and unpredictable technology could have dire consequences. Tesla faces competition from other companies, that focus on AI solely. Tesla transformation from car production to robotics and AI will take a number of years.  

Michael Parenti Explains Imperialism

 

Michael Parenti ( 1933-2026) was a figure of the American left. A scholar, historian, and activist Parenti examined political and social problems through a Marxist perspective. Michael Parenti explains imperialism in the context of economic exploitation. European colonial imperialism was driven by the need to steal wealth. African, Asian, and South American countries were not poor. Their natural resources were taken by the French, Spanish, Portuguese, Germans, Dutch, and English. The former Third World was a place to be used for mother countries. European colonial imperialism dominated the globe for close to 400 years. Only after World War II was this oppressive system challenged. Global South nations continue to resist their former colonizers. When the Soviet Union collapsed, the United States of  America was the sole superpower. Interference from the most powerful nation into Africa, Asia, and South America  destabilized entire regions. The citizens of the mother country did not benefit. As Parenti explains many were drafted into wars to fight for the interests of the upper class elite. Michael Parenti's lectures and writings provide a clear explanation on the connection between capitalism, imperialism, and the exploitation of workers.  

Mexico Will Retain Relations With Cuba

 

Mexico will continue to hold its commitments to Cuba. Mexico and Cuba enjoy strong relations. The diplomatic cooperation is going to become stronger. The military strikes on Venezuela and the kidnapping of President Nicolas Maduro generated a new spirit of solidarity. President Claudia Sheinbaum has been pressured by the Trump administration on immigration and relations with other South American countries. Mexico is not going to stop selling oil to Cuba. President Claudia Sheinbaum refuses to allow the US to enter Mexico to fight drug cartels.  First Secretary of the Cuban Communist Party Miguel Diaz-Canel condemned  US aggression against Venezuela. Both Venezuela and Cuba had mutual interests in promoting socialism and protection of South American sovereignty. Cuba for 65 years has resisted US efforts to depose its legitimate government and undermine the country's independence. Anti-immigrant sentiment and US hostility are driving the push for closer bilateral relations. Further military action could create more unity among Latin American nations. Assertion and resistance are going to be a part of Cuba and Mexico's foreign policy efforts.  

Violence At The African Cup of Nations Final

 

The African Cup of Nations experienced an incident of violence. Anger over penalty stoppage saw Senegalese and Moroccan fans fight. Senegal's win of the African Cup of Nations is being overshadowed by football hooliganism. Thoughts by fans also expose another concern. Racism directed at Sub-Saharan Africans is part of North African nations. Morocco appears to identify more with West Asia, rather than the African continent. Violence, riots, and football hooliganism tend to be associated with European countries. African could be importing the negative attributes of football culture. International sports competition is to a degree promoting antagonism among nations. Sports can act as a means of nations fighting one another without going to war. National resentments are projected in the games. Fans are either aware or subconsciously detect particular sentiments. King Mohammed VI tried to explain that Morocco desires African unity. Violence and discrimination against Sub-Saharan Africans disputes this claim. The host nation of an international sporting event should ensure public safety. The African Cup of Nations should be used as a platform to enhance African solidarity and be an example of the continent's contribution to professional sports. Violence and fan misconduct does not help the African Cup of Nations. Organizers and host nations must take into consideration possible problems in the future.