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A new ISIS video was released today featuring British cameraman and hostage John Cantlie. He criticizes the bombing of Mosul University by the U.S. which he says happened about 3 months ago. The video was released by Amaq News Agency which while not an official ISIS news agency like al Hayat, is ISIS affiliated. [More...]

The Washington Post lists four reasons Bernie Sanders waited so long to endorse Hillary.

I don't know how others feel, but for me, his refusal to endorse Hillary and get out of the race when she became the presumptive nominee will always leave me with a negative feeling about him.

I think he let his ego get the best of him and he wanted to secure his seat in the front row of history. In other words, it was all about Bernie.

As we get closer to November, I hope he becomes more of a footnote than a lead player.

I'm offline today. Here's a new open thread, all topics welcome.

El Chapo has not escaped from prison in Mexico. The Government posted a photo of him in jail to refute a rumor on Twitter that spread quickly.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

The New York Times has the most bizarre Trump speculation I've read to date. He may not want to be President, he may just want to win. And if he does, he may just decline to take the office, and go back to running his businesses, happy with all the media coverage he got, which he thinks would be good for business.

As I was reading it, the soundtrack to Walk Away Renee kept running through my head. [More...]

In the "you can't make this stuff up" department: By agency fiat (not even legislation)Texas plans on enacting requirements for mandatory cremation or burial of aborted fetuses.

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state health officials to propose the changes, his office said Thursday, which were quietly put out for public comment this month.

...Texas, however, isn't waiting for lawmakers to pass a bill regarding fetal remains....State agencies in Texas are allowed to adopt some rules on its own without legislative approval.

..."Governor Abbott believes human and fetal remains should not be treated like medical waste, and the proposed rule changes affirms the value and dignity of all life," [Abbott spokeswoman] Matthews said.

How about Texas just secedes from the nation and takes its contradictory death penalty and right to life policies with it?

Well Hell's bells, or in Steven Tyler's words (on another topic), “Sh*t fire and save matches, f*ck a duck and see what hatches.” Bernie Sanders is going to endorse Hillary on Tuesday.

Nap time. No profanity in comments please. Asterisks are okay.

Our last open thread is full. Here's a new one, all topics welcome.

ISIS has released a 15 minute English video outlining the structure of the Kalifah, from al-Baghdadi at the top, on down. It explains the hierarchy. I was going to link to it but the last minute or so is very graphically violent (things like beheadings with blood spurting from necks) so I won't.

Analyst and collector of ISIS official documents Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi has this analysis.

This video tells the viewer ISIS as a governing state continues to exist and is expanding. There's a central committee under al Baghdadi. The central committee is in charge of the Wilayats (provinces.) There are presently 35 Wilayats, 19 in Iraq and Syria and 16 elsewhere. [More...]

Here's a new open thread, all topics welcome. Keep it civil and free of potentially libelous comments please.

Bob Corker has withdrawn his name from consideration as Donald Trump's running mate. Newt Gingrich is up next, appearing with Thump in Ohio today.

Newt: The man who wanted to put a contract on America as speaker of the House in 1995:

The Republican version of a crime bill in 1995 was even worse. It was called the "Take Back Our Streets Act" which was part of Newt Gingrich's Contract on America (he called it "Contract With America.")

[More...]

Oscar Pistorius is back in jail today, sentenced to 6 years following last month's re-sentencing hearing which was the result of the state winning an appeal over the judge's decision to toss the murder charge.

The judge said there were mitigating factors and rejected a prosecution request for a 15 year sentence. He will be eligible for parole in 3 years.

One mitigating factor:

Mr. Pistorius, the judge said, had shown genuine remorse in trying, repeatedly and unsuccessfully, to apologize in person to the victim’s parents.

There were others, and the Judge recognized that a long term of imprisonment would not be in the best interests of justice. [More...]