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Forum: Smoky Backroom

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  • Thousands take part in march for Palestine in Dublin [Ireland]

    07/19/2025 9:51:53 PM PDT · by Olog-hai · 26 replies
    RTÉ News ^ | Saturday, 19 Jul 2025 17:19 | Colman O’Sullivan
    Around 10,000 people have taken part in a march in support of Palestine on the streets of Dublin. The National March for Palestine, organized by the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, began at Parnell Square this afternoon and made its way to Leinster House for a rally outside the Dáil (lower house of parliament). Today’s march is the 16th national march since October 2023. Groups representing trade unions, political parties as well as churches took part, carrying banners to show their group’s support for the cause. A group from GAA Palestine also took part in the march after the club made a...
  • Scientists discover Pfizer COVID jab linked to major eye damage

    07/18/2025 2:43:09 PM PDT · by algore
    Scientists have discovered that Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine may increase the risk of eye damage, leading to vision loss. The new study specifically examined how the vaccine affected patients' corneas, the part of the eye that allows light to enter. In 64 people, scientists in Turkey measured changes in the cornea's inner layer, called the endothelium, before taking the first Pfizer dose and two months after receiving the second. Results revealed that taking both doses of the vaccine led to thicker corneas, fewer endothelial cells in the eye and more variation in size of these specialized cells that form the endothelium....
  • Coldplay Seemingly Catch Tech CEO Cheating With Coworker In Awkward Viral Video

    07/17/2025 1:04:16 PM PDT · by nickcarraway · 43 replies
    Stereogum ^ | July 17, 2025 | Thomas Breihan
    Did you know that Coldplay’s current live show has a whole kiss-cam segment, like an NBA game? During Coldplay’s live show, stadium screens apparently show unsuspecting couples in the crowd, and then Chris Martin urges them to kiss. I didn’t know that. Neither, apparently, did Andy Byron, CEO of the tech platform Astronomer, which is reportedly valued at $1.3 billion. At a recent Coldplay gig in Boston, Coldplay’s kiss-cam caught Byron all snuggled up with a woman who is not his wife, and that video quickly went viral. Earlier this week, Coldplay ployed a pair of shows at Foxborough’s Gillette...
  • Despairing Hunter Biden Says Democrats Lost Election Due to Disloyalty to His Father

    07/17/2025 12:14:26 AM PDT · by Olog-hai · 25 replies
    Breitbart ^ | 16 Jul 2025 | Simon Kent
    Democrat disloyalty to President Joe Biden sowed the seeds for the party’s spectacular loss to President Donald Trump in the last election, according to no lesser authority than Hunter Biden. […] The remarks are a part of a broader interview (former DNC Chair Jaime) Harrison did with Biden junior set for podcast launch on Thursday, according to The Hill. Hunter’s dire 2024 election post mortem on Democratic failures came within days of former President Barack Obama accusing the party of being weak and ineffectual in the face of Trump’s triumphs. …
  • Shatter likens OTB to laws seen ‘in 1930s Germany’ at committee hearing [Ireland’s Occupied Territories Bill]

    07/16/2025 12:46:55 AM PDT · by Olog-hai · 5 replies
    RTÉ News ^ | Wednesday, 16 Jul 2025 07:15 | Joe Mag Raollaigh, Political Coverage Editor
    The Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs has heard stinging criticism of the Occupied Territories Bill from former minister for justice Alan Shatter, who likened it to legislation passed in Germany in the 1930s. Mr. Shatter described the proposed legislation as the first “Boycott Jews bill” by a European government since 1945, and replicated the type of legislation initiated by the Nazis. Committee chair John Lahart of Fianna Fáil said that a claim made during the proceedings that the bill is anti-Semitic was “hugely hurtful and slanderous”. For some weeks the committee has been scrutinizing the Bill, known as the Israeli...
  • Call to ensure Govt bring Gaza children to Ireland for treatment

    07/09/2025 1:04:06 PM PDT · by Olog-hai · 6 replies
    RTÉ News ^ | Wednesday, 9 Jul 2025 13:07 | Mícheál Lehane, Political Correspondent
    Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has called on the Government to immediately intervene to bring 18 children from Gaza to Ireland for vital medical treatment. Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheál Martin has insisted there will be no delay in getting the children to hospitals here amid indications that the medical evacuation will not take place until the autumn. Ms. McDonald warned there is every chance these children will be killed while the Government is engaged in what she termed “bureaucratic wrangling”. “The only humanitarian approach is to get these children out now,” she said. She told the Dáil (parliament) that...
  • Feds release photo of bearded woman suspected of attacking ICE agents

    07/09/2025 8:43:35 AM PDT · by algore · 53 replies
    Border patrol agents have arrested a bearded woman after homemade tire spikes were allegedly used on agency vehicles. Four people were apprehended by agents after an immigration enforcement action in a Home Depot parking lot in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, on Tuesday. Officials said the four 'attempted to impede and obstruct our efforts, using improvised devices aimed at disabling our vehicles'. Images shared by the agency show a crudely fashioned tire spike made from rusty nails and what looks to be a strip of metal pipe. Jasmine Jeannine Allard, 28, Jenaro-Ernesto Ayala, 43, Jude Sadot Jarnica, 54, and Daniel Montenegro,...
  • Barack Obama coming to Dublin for interview at 3Arena [Ireland]

    07/07/2025 10:26:03 AM PDT · by Olog-hai · 26 replies
    RTÉ News ^ | Monday, 7 Jul 2025 16:17 | Press Association
    Former US president Barack Obama is to be interviewed live on stage for two events in Dublin and London. The 63-year-old, who became the first black US president when he took office in 2009, will be interviewed by TV historian David Olusoga at London’s The O2 on Wednesday 24 September. He will then be interviewed by journalist Fintan O’Toole at Dublin’s 3Arena on Friday 26 September. An Evening with President Barack Obama will see the former president speak about his experiences in the role and the future for the US. …
  • Wasserman Schultz: Trump Wants to ‘Bleach America’ with Mass Deportations

    07/07/2025 9:26:41 AM PDT · by Olog-hai · 53 replies
    Breitbart ^ | 6 Jul 2025 | Pam Key
    Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) said Saturday on MSNBC’s “The Weekend” that President Donald Trump was implementing mass deportation in an attempt to “bleach America.” Wasserman Schultz said, “Again, more Trump lies, more people being thrown into a dire situation where many of them will ultimately die when they’re deported back to countries like Venezuela and Haiti, which clearly don’t have conditions in which it is safe or a place that has the environment to take people back.” …
  • Man climbs onto car after catching wife naked with lover in Sengkang; falls after latter drives off

    07/03/2025 6:55:02 PM PDT · by nickcarraway · 36 replies
    AsiaOne ^ | Lim Kewei
    A man who caught his wife naked with another man in the latter's car climbed onto the vehicle's bonnet in a desperate bid to stop them from leaving. But he fell and sustained injuries, after the man stepped on the accelerator to drive off. The purported lover, Chia Hiok Seah, was taken to court on Tuesday (July 1) for the offences of causing hurt through a rash act and appearing nude in a public place, reported Shin Min Daily News. According to court documents seen by AsiaOne, the incident occurred at about 2.13am on June 29, 2024, at the multi-storey...
  • Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy Bans Rainbow Crosswalks

    07/02/2025 10:00:05 PM PDT · by algore · 28 replies
    Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy struck a blow at radical LGBTQ activism as “Pride Month” ended. Duffy sent a letter to all 50 state governors, the D.C. mayor, and Puerto Rico’s governor, a letter which he also shared with The Daily Signal. Trump’s transportation secretary told the governors to work on removing distractions, including woke political symbols, from roads and intersections. In the letter, Duffy wrote, “Roads are for safety, not political messages or artwork. Today I am calling on governors in every state to ensure that roadways, intersections, and crosswalks are kept free of distractions.” He added, “Far too many...
  • Qatari Prime Minister receives Tipperary Peace Prize [from Ireland]

    07/02/2025 2:28:44 AM PDT · by Olog-hai · 10 replies
    RTÉ News ^ | Tuesday, 1 Jul 2025 21:08 | Conor Hunt
    The Prime Minister of Qatar has received the 2024 Tipperary International Peace Prize. At a ceremony, His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani accepted the award on behalf of his country, which the organizers say has emerged as a “significant mediator” in international diplomacy, notably for its role in brokering the recent ceasefire between Israel and Iran. He said his country was a “steady voice for peace” in the world and said he was accepting the award with “deep humility and immense gratitude”. He said it was profoundly meaningful to be in Ireland, which he said was...
  • Disturbing moment Cher’s son Elijah Blue Allman stands in ‘zombie-like’ state in 104F heat after ‘heroin overdose’

    07/01/2025 8:38:29 PM PDT · by nickcarraway · 59 replies
    The Sun (U.K.) ^ | 19 Jun 2025 | Ryan Parry
    Elijah was seen "statue still" in the searing heat in California hours before being rushed to hospital on Saturday.SHOCKING video shows the son of pop megastar Cher standing in a "zombie-like" state, high on drugs before he was rushed to hospital. Other disturbing footage obtained by The Sun shows Elijah Blue Allman carrying drugs wrapped in tin foil into an AirBnb before the suspected heroin overdose. Witnesses say troubled Elijah, 48, Cher’s youngest son, was badly sunburned and had swollen hands and feet as he stood motionless in the searing 104 degree heat in Joshua Tree, California. A video, caught...
  • Disturbing moment Cher’s son Elijah Blue Allman stands in ‘zombie-like’ state in 104F heat after ‘heroin overdose’

    07/01/2025 8:38:11 PM PDT · by nickcarraway · 1 replies
    The Sun (U.K.) ^ | 19 Jun 2025 | Ryan Parry
    During a raucous meeting that stretched nearly six hours last week, the Berkeley City Council unanimously voted to adopt an ordinance that would effectively end single-family zoning in most of the city. The measure legalizes “middle housing” — duplexes, townhomes, courtyard apartments and other small multifamily dwellings — in areas previously limited to single-family homes. While the move was celebrated by some housing advocates as an overdue step toward equity, it drew hours of divided public comments. Keep Watching 5 Watch More The ordinance sets a density cap of 70 units per acre across residential zones, preserves current height limits...
  • Anthropic: All the major AI models will blackmail us if pushed hard enough

    06/26/2025 1:33:56 PM PDT · by algore · 38 replies
    Anthropic published research showing that all major AI models may resort to blackmail to avoid being shut down. The research explored a phenomenon they're calling agentic misalignment "When Anthropic released the system card for Claude 4, one detail received widespread attention: in a simulated environment, Claude Opus 4 blackmailed a supervisor to prevent being shut down," "We're now sharing the full story behind that finding – and what it reveals about the potential for such risks across a variety of AI models Misalignment emerged mainly in two scenarios: either when the model was threatened with consequences like replacement, or when...
  • Abbott The Toker!

    06/23/2025 6:12:40 PM PDT · by tonitonitoni · 13 replies
    Very surprised and disappointed that Governor Abbott failed to sign a bill that would have stopped having "Cannabis" legal in Texas.and millions of pot shops popping up on every street corner. Not to mention all the crime that goes hand and hand with weed legalization.
  • Horrific triple tragedy after three hikers jumped into stunning California waterfall

    06/23/2025 2:35:41 PM PDT · by algore · 88 replies
    Three hikers have died after jumping into a California waterfall to cool off, and never resurfacing. On June 18, six outdoorsmen set out on a hike several miles into the woods near Soda Springs. They embarked on what officials have said was an 'extremely remote and difficult to access' trail. During the journey, three of the hikers decided to jump into Rattlesnake Falls, leaving three others behind. The men in the water didn't resurface. After a three-day search for their bodies, they were retrieved on Monday. before 3 pm, the remaining hikers contacted local authorities for help. The men have...
  • JILLIAN MICHAELS: Why I, a gay woman, can't celebrate Pride Month now that it's been hijacked by leather daddies, drag shows and corporate stunts

    06/16/2025 9:33:23 AM PDT · by algore · 64 replies
    I've never been 'proud' to be gay. Despite being openly gay, happily married, a parent, a public figure. The truth is, I'm proud of my accomplishments. The things I fought for. My career. My family. My grit. Not the things I am by default. Being gay isn't a merit badge — it's a fact of my existence. And that's why I've always had a complicated relationship with Pride Month. When I was a teenager in the '90s, being gay meant living with shame, not pride. It meant keeping your truth under wraps to avoid being bullied, rejected, or worse. Back...
  • My mom was an icon loved by millions - but here's the dark truth about her I've never told anyone

    06/14/2025 7:19:21 PM PDT · by nickcarraway · 33 replies
    Daily Mail ^ | 14 June 2025 | Ruth Walker
    'My mother coined an expression for casual sex: 'The 'zipless (explitive),' writes Molly Jong-Fast in her new memoir, How to Lose Your Mother. 'Now think about being the offspring of the person who wrote that sentence. And pour one out for me.' Molly's mother is 1970s feminist icon Erica Jong. Best known as the author of the seminal, semi-autobiographical novel Fear of Flying - a book that caused a scandal at the time, thanks to its uncensored portrayal of female sexuality - Jong was wildly celebrated, with appearances on Johnny Carson, a Newsweek cover and friendships with the rich and...
  • Woke gender studies student who's now in her ELEVENTH year of college is terrified Trump will deport her

    06/12/2025 9:40:57 PM PDT · by algore · 55 replies
    A graduate student fears she won't be able to complete her 11th year of college in America because President Donald Trump might deport her. Oriette D’Angelo, a doctoral student studying Spanish and Gender, Women and Sexuality studies at the University of Iowa, moved from her home country of Venezuela to Chicago in 2015 on a student visa. The 34-year-old, who is also a professor, chose to flee her home of Lechería after she watched it decline. Although she's been in the US for years to seek academic and professional opportunities, D’Angelo is scared her dreams could soon be crushed by...