Trump Pays Troops, Democrats Pay Themselves

This is exactly what the Podesta plan war game promised to do!

Police in Vic, Catalonia, dismantled schemes involving falsified documents and marriages of convenience that helped illegal migrants obtain residency papers.

In the twilight of Infowars Alex Jones says he will stand against evil and fight to the death which is a small price to pay to achieve total victory against the Satanic forces.

An Oregon federal judge has blocked a move by President Trump to deploy members of the National Guard from other states, including California, to Portland

by Mac Slavo, SHTF Plan: If you ever needed any more evidence that the ruling class, no matter who sits on the throne, is not on your side, look no further. Donald Trump just gave a speech to military generals that was an incitement of violence against us, those whom they claim the right to […]

by Alana Mastrangelo, Breitbart: The Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA), actress Emily Blunt, The View co-host Whoopi Goldberg, and other Hollywood stars have erupted over AI-generated “actress” Tilly Norwood. “That is really, really scary,” Blunt said. “SAG-AFTRA believes creativity is, and should remain, human-centered. The union is opposed to the replacement of human performers by synthetics,” the Screen […]

from The Jimmy Dore Show: TRUTH LIVES on at https://sgtreport.tv/

  The Muslim Berbers and Arabs established their emirate just before the Islamic Golden Age. Besides conquering and reshaping Iberia, the Moors brought ancient Greek and Roman knowledge, as well as Islam’s own advancements. Over time, they would fuse Muslim and European knowledge plus innovate on their own. The Moors proved to be unusually tolerant, allowing non-Muslims to interact with Muslims, helping to spread knowledge further into Europe. The result? A renaissance occurred centuries later, not before the real event.   Centers of knowledge and great architecture emerged in cities such as Granada, Cordoba, and Toledo. Muslim, Christian, and Jewish scholars lived here. These scholars drew upon preserved knowledge. In turn, Muslim scholars made significant advances in astronomy, medicine, engineering, and mathematics. And of course, architecture.   The Scientific Exchange 14th-century copy of “Al-Jabr” with quadratic equations. Source: Arab America   With the majority of Europe still in turmoil, travelers to Al-Andalus (Moorish Spain) felt as though they had landed on a foreign shore. In their public libraries, such as those in Cairo and Baghdad, Moorish scholars expanded upon existing ancient knowledge while developing innovative ideas. Perhaps the most critical introduction came from the use of the Arabic numeral system. This introduced the concept of zero and positional value (ones, tens, hundreds, etc.).    As with an intellectual revolution, the Moorish scholars delved into various fields. Nothing seemed out of reach. In mathematics, they introduced algebra, derived from al-jabr, which allowed solving equations far beyond what Roman numerals could do. Algebra and the Arabic numerals proved to be a game-changer. For example, by the 13th century, European merchants could now calculate interest, exchange rates, and double-entry bookkeeping. The knowledge exchange between East and West had started, though, in the Moors’ early days.   Mathematics is maybe the most well-known subject exchanged with fellow Christian or Jewish scholars. The list of scientific knowledge passed along to catalyze Europe also included trigonometry, astronomy, chemistry, agricultural sciences, and much more. As this scientific knowledge spread, scholars came to learn.   Not Always a Peaceful Exchange The Great Mosque of Toledo/Church of Cristo de la Luz Source: Wikimedia   Although Moor, Christian, and Jewish scholars met peacefully, strife never ceased to exist. The Moor’s swift campaign took much of Iberia within fifty years. But the Christian campaigns,  labeled The Reconquista, churned forward, especially after the 11th century. Toledo fell to Christian armies in 1085, the first major Moorish city to do so. Often, the takeovers became brutal, killing Muslim civilians and razing mosques and libraries.    Vast texts from Roman, Greek, and Arabic cultures held in Toledo’s libraries also fell. Scholars flocked to Toledo, eager to learn. A flood of knowledge left the conquered cities, spreading across Europe.    While the Moorish kingdoms boasted dozens of libraries, Europe had few. Now, however, universities sprang up across Europe, offering degrees.    Not all the transmitted Arabic knowledge was theoretical in nature. Star charts and planetary models created by Islamic scholars helped European expansion. Better navigation during the Age of Exploration, in the 15th and 17th centuries, came from their star charts and planetary models. Astrolabes, improved by the Moors, became a critical tool for European explorers.   Influences Shaped in Stone Cadiz’s Moorish Revival Gran Teatro Falla (Raul Jimenez) Source: Wikimedia   Like the sciences, Moorish architecture influenced Europe’s use of stone and mortar. Additionally, the Moors introduced a new architectural vocabulary. With a history of Arab, Roman, Greek, and Byzantine styles behind them, they reimagined styles. In turn, these styles would imbue European designers.    Among the features in Moorish designs were horseshoe arches (more round than Roman) for windows or doorways. Zellij tilework consisted of geometric tiles in bright colors. No imagery appeared, only patterns and symmetry.    Teruel Cathedral Source: UNESCO   Central gardens, known as Riad courtyards, featured fountains and were typically divided into four quarters, reflecting a Quranic paradise. Perhaps the most famous are the ribbed domes and interwoven arches found in mosques.   One direct influence was Christians reusing mosques as churches. The Great Mosque of Toledo had Christian parts added. This style became known as the Mudejar style. Muslim craftsmen at Christians’ behest constructed palaces, churches, and public buildings in this new style. Many would be completed or ordered well after the Reconquista ended in 1492. The Mudejar style flourished between the 13th and 16th centuries.   A magnificent example of the Mudejar style is found in the Cathedral of Teruel. Built in 1157 in the Romanesque style, the Cathedral’s ceiling was painted by Muslim artists. The tower, though outwardly Islamic (with an octagonal base) and featuring geometric patterns, also incorporates Gothic elements in its raised naves.    The Moors profoundly shaped Europe far past their own demise. Whether in math equations or viewing historical buildings, Europe benefited as the Renaissance began.

  On September 7, 1822, Prince Pedro declared Brazil’s independence from Portugal in a dramatic break with both his homeland and his family. Prince Pedro was subsequently proclaimed Emperor Pedro I of Brazil and led Brazil to victory in the Brazilian War of Independence. Brazil’s independence was the culmination of the development of Brazilian nationhood in the preceding centuries, combined with political instability in Portugal.   Brazil as a Portuguese Colony Independence or Death, Pedro Américo, 1888, depicting Prince Pedro’s declaration of Brazilian independence on September 7, 1822. Source: Google Arts and Culture   The Portuguese colonization of Brazil commenced in April 1500 with the arrival of the Portuguese explorer Pedro Álvares Cabral. Over the next few centuries, the Portuguese expanded their colonial possession, including through brutal wars with the Indigenous peoples. By 1800, the Portuguese colony had grown from its initial settlements on the coast to include most of modern-day Brazil and Uruguay.   As with most European colonies at the time, colonial Brazil’s purpose was to generate wealth for the mother country: Portugal. This was accomplished through colonial Brazil supplying Portugal with vital resources including sugar and gold. The Portuguese imported hundreds of thousands of African slaves to Brazil to support the extraction of resources.   A chart of gold yield in the Royal Foundries in Minas Gerais Colonial Brazil, between July and September 1767. Source: Brazilian National Archives   Colonial Brazil also served as a market for Portuguese manufactured goods and was prohibited by the Portuguese from trading with other European powers or from developing its own manufacturing industries. These monopolistic restrictions on colonial Brazil’s economy, combined with taxes imposed by Portugal, were a point of friction between colonial Brazilians and the Portuguese government throughout the 18th and early 19th centuries.   Over time, a distinctly Brazilian identity emerged as an ever-increasing portion of the population of the colony was born in Brazil instead of Portugal. Intermarriage between Portuguese and Indigenous peoples furthered the concept of Brazilian cultural identity.   By the start of the 19th century, tensions between Portugal and its colony were growing as Brazilians increasingly objected to Portuguese economic domination and developed a greater sense of nationhood.   Napoleon’s Invasion of Portugal: A Royal Family Flees to Brazil Embarkation of the Royal Family to Brazil, by Nicolas-Louis-Albert Delerive, 19th century. Source: Museo Nacional dos Coches, Portugal   In November 1807 a dramatic change took place in the relationship between Portugal and colonial Brazil when Napoleon’s forces invaded Portugal. Faced with the imminent occupation of his country, the Prince Regent of Portugal, Dom John, made the bold decision to evacuate the Portuguese government to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Perhaps as many as 10,000 people, including much of the nobility, military officers, government officials, and their families, accompanied the Prince Regent to Brazil.   The arrival of the Portuguese royal family in Brazil transformed the colony. The royal family’s journey to Brazil had been organized by the British Royal Navy. In return, the Prince Regent was compelled to pass a decree ending the Portuguese monopoly on trade with Brazil and opening Brazil’s ports to all friendly nations. The Prince Regent also rescinded the colonial restrictions on the development of manufacturing industries. A major economic boom resulted from the repeal of these restrictions and the influx of thousands of educated Portuguese fleeing the French invasion. Moreover, the Prince Regent founded several important cultural and educational institutions during his stay in Rio de Janeiro.   A map of Rio de Janeiro in 1820 when it served as the capital of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves, by Jacques Arago, 1820. Source: Brazilian National Archives   While there had been growing tensions between colonial Brazil and Portugal prior to 1807, the arrival of the Portuguese royal family and the benefits this brought to the colony led to a surge in popularity for the monarchy. The feeling was mutual, and the Prince Regent had great affection for Brazil. In fact, even though Napoleon had been defeated at Waterloo in 1815, the Prince Regent resisted returning to Portugal and maintained his government in Rio de Janeiro.   In December 1815, the Prince Regent sought to recognize Brazil’s newfound importance as the seat of the Portuguese government and to justify his refusal to return to Lisbon. He elevated Brazil to the status of a kingdom within the newly created United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves. This decision meant that Brazil was no longer a colony but a kingdom equal in status to Portugal, albeit under the rule of the Portuguese monarch.   The Portuguese Liberal Revolution and the Cry of Ipiranga The Acclamation of King Dom João VI of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves, by Jean Baptiste Debret, 1834. Source: Biblioteca Mario de Andrade, Sao Paulo, Brazil   In December 1816 the Prince Regent’s mother, in whose name he had ruled for many years, died and he ascended the throne of the new United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves as King John VI—and was determined to rule his empire from Rio de Janeiro. Meanwhile, Portugal was in chaos following the Napoleonic Wars. Much of Portugal was in ruins and the economy was reeling from years of occupation and the exodus of the nobility to Brazil. In the absence of the king, various factions jockeyed for control.   In this chaotic situation, the Portuguese government increasingly sought the return of King John VI and the court to Lisbon to provide effective government. The king, who had by this point fully embraced life in Brazil and feared returning to a country that appeared on the brink of civil war, obstinately refused. Matters came to a head in August 1820 when the Liberal Revolution, so-called because the revolutionaries sought the replacement of absolutism with constitutional monarchy, commenced in the Portuguese city of Porto. The revolutionaries quickly gained control of Portugal and summoned a Cortes, a legislative assembly, to draft a new constitution.   Session of the Cortes of Lisbon, by Oscar Pereira da Silva, 1922. Source: Museu Paulista   A principal demand of the assembly was the return of King John VI to Portugal. Once Portuguese military units stationed in Brazil began to swear allegiance to the Cortes, King John VI recognized he must return to Portugal or risk being deposed. On April 25, 1821, he reluctantly boarded a ship for Lisbon. However, King John VI declared his son and heir, Prince Dom Pedro, as his regent in the Kingdom of Brazil. Allegedly, before leaving for Lisbon, the king advised Dom Pedro that Brazilian independence was inevitable and that when the moment came, Dom Pedro should seize the crown of Brazil.   The Cortes was comparatively liberal in some respects, but it was determined to restore Portugal to the stature it enjoyed prior to the Napoleonic Wars. To accomplish this objective, the Cortes believed it was necessary to restore Portugal’s domination over Brazil and in September 1821 stripped Brazil of its status as an independent kingdom. The Cortes further indicated its intention to restore Portugal’s monopoly over trade with Brazil and demanded Dom Pedro’s return to Portugal.   The proclamation of the independence of Brazil, by François-René Moreaux, 1844. Source: Imperial Museum of Brazil   Brazilians reacted with outrage at what was viewed as a betrayal by Portugal and urged Dom Pedro to defy the Cortes and stay in Brazil, which is what Dom Pedro proceeded to do. The Cortes sent soldiers to Brazil to try to restore order. In response, throughout 1821 and 1822, Brazilian militias organized and a tense standoff developed.   On September 7, 1822, Dom Pedro received news that the Cortes had deprived him of his powers as regent and issued a final order for him to return to Portugal. Dom Pedro and the supporters of Brazilian independence recognized that the moment had come. In what became known as the Cry of Ipiranga, because it took place on the banks of Ipiranga brook, Dom Pedro, surrounded by his personal guard, proclaimed Brazil’s independence from Portugal.   The Brazilian War of Independence Pedro I, by Edoardo De Martino, early 20th century. Source: Naval Museum of Brazil   Dom Pedro was declared Pedro I, Emperor of Brazil, on October 12, 1822, by Brazil’s constituent assembly. However, Pedro I was not able to claim control over the entirety of the former colony. At the time of independence, his control of Brazil was limited to Rio de Janeiro and a few other population centers. Many of the coastal cities remained garrisoned by Portuguese military forces and the Cortes was determined to reassert Portuguese control over Brazil. The stage was set for the Brazilian War of Independence.   Pedro I’s first task was to force the surrender of the Portuguese garrisons still in Brazil. While Pedro I possessed a significant number of enthusiastic militiamen, these soldiers were poorly armed and lacked the training necessary to conduct siege operations against Portuguese fortresses. Time was of the essence because if the cities under Portuguese control were not swiftly captured, they could serve as a base of operations for reinforcements sent from Portugal.   Battle of 4 May 1823, by Trajano Augusto de Carvalho, 1938. Source: Navy of Brazil   The Brazilians had managed to capture a significant number of Portuguese naval vessels upon the declaration of independence, including a 74-gun ship of the line swiftly renamed Pedro I. In addition, the Brazilians recruited the legendary British sailor Lord Thomas Cochrane to serve as the commander of their fledgling navy. On May 4, 1823, Lord Cochrane achieved a strategic victory over the Portuguese fleet off the coast of Salvador, thus compelling the Portuguese forces in that city to surrender to the besieging Brazilian army. The Portuguese fleet was scattered, and Lord Cochrane chased it back across the Atlantic, capturing several ships in the process.   Lord Cochrane proceeded to use his fleet to blockade the remaining Portuguese garrisons until they were compelled to surrender. In Mach 1824, the last significant Portuguese force surrendered after being besieged in Montevideo for over a year, which marked the end of Portuguese efforts to resist Brazilian independence by force.   Brazilian Independence Secured: The Treaty of Rio de Janeiro The First Page of the 1824 Constitution of the Empire of Brazil, March 25, 1824. Source: National Archives of Brazil   In March 1824, the same month that the Portuguese army at Montevideo surrendered to the Brazilians, the constituent assembly called by Pedro I enacted the new constitution of the Empire of Brazil. The Brazilian constitution granted significant, but not absolute, powers to the emperor. The emperor’s powers were limited by a robust legislative assembly and the granting of certain powers to regional assemblies. The constitution of 1824 was generally supported by Brazilians at the time and would remain intact, with few modifications, until Pedro I’s son, Pedro II, was overthrown in the coup d’etat of 1889.   Meanwhile, the surrender of its army at Montevideo forced Portugal to accept that it would never recover Brazil by military force. Portugal was still recovering from the Napoleonic Wars, King John VI was not enthusiastic about waging war on his son and Brazil, and Portuguese liberals and conservatives were on the brink of civil war.   Pedro I, Emperor of Brazil by HenriGrevedon, 1830. Source: Brasiliana Iconográfica   In this climate, Portugal agreed to recognize Brazilian independence in August 1825 through the Treaty of Rio de Janeiro.   The Treaty of Rio de Janeiro was a curious document. For example, even though Brazil had won a decisive military victory over Portugal, the treaty stipulated that Brazil would pay reparations to Portugal for losses suffered by Portuguese citizens. This clause was viewed as humiliating by many Brazilians and led to allegations that Pedro I remained too close to Portugal. In reality, Pedro I had been compelled to accept this clause to achieve Portuguese recognition of Brazilian independence, which was itself necessary before other European powers would recognize Brazil.   The perception that Pedro I remained too close to Portugal was aided by the fact that the treaty did not resolve the odd situation that while Pedro I was recognized as Emperor of Brazil, he remained King John VI’s heir. It was therefore reasonably possible that Portugal and Brazil would be unified again under a single monarch, which did in fact happen, albeit briefly, in 1826.   Nonetheless, while the Treaty of Rio de Janeiro presaged future problems for Pedro I and the Empire of Brazil, it secured Brazilian independence by formally ending hostilities with Portugal and leading to international recognition of Brazil as an independent state.