Another day of deceit & political games in America. AG Merrick Garland Classifies Embarrassing Audio Recordings of Joe Biden’s Interview with Special Counsel Hur as ‘TOP SECRET’ and Locks Away in High-Security Facility: Report | The Gateway Pundit | https://t.co/GUShnq0xx3 — Lara Logan (@laralogan) June 3, 2024

by Mike Adams, Natural News: It is no coincidence that the Alex Jones / InfoWars studios are threatened with imminent takedown and liquidation just days after Donald J. Trump was “convicted” in a sham show trial. Expect another major hit against pro-America conservatives in the coming days. These hits are all engineered to achieve the […]

by Paul Craig Roberts, Paul Craig Roberts: “For two years Biden was absolutely adamant that no US weapons could be used to strike Russia. Now he reverses the policy — aka, he lied. So where’s the pushback? Congress, media? What could be of greater consequence than lying the country into war with a nuclear superpower?” […]

from Viva Frei: TRUTH LIVES on at https://sgtreport.tv/

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  Big guns thinking dominated the 1930s U.S. Navy. The era of the battleship carried on as it had since before the Great War, with even aircraft carriers being second fiddle. The might of the battleship still meant power projection and prestige. Submarines played the role of scout and ambush – not a role an aspiring naval officer sought out. No change would happen until America’s violent introduction into World War II. In 1939, the U.S. Navy had less than 50 submarines, many built in the mid-1920s. Commissioning of the first American submarines started in 1900. One of the first examples was the U.S.S. Octopus.   An Enforced Revision USS E-1 (SS-24) Submarine. Source: Naval History and Heritage Command   Japan’s December 7th bombing of Battleship Row at Pearl Harbor with airstrikes signaled the end of battleship dominance. It also changed the scouting and ambush role of American submarines. Now, the submarine force began to pivot, concentrating resources on Japan’s merchant marine. But, problems with equipment soon appeared.   Creaks, Groans, and Duds U.S.S. Octopus 1906 Source: Thomas Crane Library   The 1920s submarines, the S-class, went to war first in 1942. Few American submarines stayed in the Atlantic-Germany was a land-based threat. The creaky S-class operated from Hawaii, Midway, the Aleutian Islands, and Australia. Their goal: strangle Japan by preventing ships from reaching the Home Islands. U.S. submarines had a tough 1942. The lost forward bases impacted patrols, as the S-class had short ranges. Bigger submarines came online, slowly replacing the older boats. The submarines patrolled the Western Pacific, looking for targets, but few ships were torpedoed successfully. Frustrations with equipment, captains, and purpose bubbled up even through 1943.   I.J.N. Ship Source: National Archives and Records   A focus problem showed itself that diluted the Silent Service’s purpose: the submarines had too many roles. Mission roles included weather, supply, attacking enemy warships, and scouting. With only fifty submarines in operation, few could be used to attack Imperial Japan’s merchant marine. Dud torpedoes often angered many crews. The submarines lined up, shot, and waited, usually slower than their targets. Often, torpedoes hit but never detonated, sometimes six times! The torpedoes, the Mark XIV, turned out to be very unreliable, having detonator issues. Higher U.S. Navy Command denied this, stating no problem existed and just use them.   1943 became the year of significant change. Bigger, improved submarines, like the Gato and Balao class, entered service with better speed, detection equipment, and weaponry. They even came with water distilling plants, allowing crew showers! Better-trained crews used these improvements, becoming more aggressive. The pace of sinkings quickly began to climb.   Decimation and Blockade A photograph of a World War II-era US Navy ship. Source: The US Naval Institute   1944 became the year the Silent Service cemented its reputation in U.S. Navy history. Submarines came online facing inadequate Japanese antisubmarine tactics as eighty submarines alone were built in 1944. More Japanese ships went to the bottom in this unequal duel than in any other year. American submarines prowled the waters around the Philippines and off southern China, hitting without warning. Japan’s merchant fleet traveled through here, supplying the war effort. The submariners adopted wolfpacks, a tactic created by the Kriegsmarine, groups of submarines operating together. Their goal was to starve Japan of fuel, food, and supplies.   Despite the Imperial Navy’s best efforts, one and a half of the ships went to the bottom daily. Total tonnage sunk rose to nearly three million tons, translating to six hundred merchant ships. The Japanese nicknamed the sea northeast of the Philippines “the Sea of the Devil.” And rightly so. Thousands of Imperial Army soldiers drowned, close to or over 100,00, depending on the source.   The Silent Service’s success meant less for Japan’s Home Islands. This was compounded by American aircraft flying from captured Philippines airfields. Total imports plummeted from 1941’s twenty million tons to ten million tons by 1944. That slide stalled by August 1945 with zero imports. By 1945, Japan rationed food, cutting caloric intake to less than 2,000 calories. Mines laid by submarines and planes increased the risk to ships, too.   The Cost Mt. Fuji-U.S. Submarine Periscope Source: U.S. National Park Service   The Silent Service started World War II with fifty boats, most a decade old. As America’s economy ramped up, it added two hundred more submarines. At points during 1944, the western Pacific was almost inundated with American submarines. Fifty-two American submarines were sunk, or one in five men died, for a total of 3,506. Surprised in 1941, the Silent Service bounced back, its tactics equaling Germany’s U-boat success. Without such methods, the war would have dragged on.

  The orishas (also known as orixás) are nature gods and goddesses worshiped by followers of Candomblé, Umbanda, and various Yoruba religions. This pantheon of divinities originates in Western Africa and was brought to South American countries like Brazil during the Transatlantic Slave Trade. There are over 400 orishas, each of whom represents a force of nature and different human characteristics. However, some orishas are more widely worshiped than others.   1. Yemaja: Goddess of the Sea and Mother of All Orishas  First Sculpture of Yemaja in Rio Vermelho (Bahia, Brazil), photographed by Cristian Carvalo, 2023, Source: UOL.com   Followers of Candomblé and Umbanda believe that each person has a guardian-orisha who is said to mirror their qualities. So, if one of the orishas in this list reminds you a little bit of yourself, there is a chance you may have found your patron orisha. Yemaya (also known as Iemanjá or Janaína) is probably the most well-known of the Afrobrazilian pantheon of goddesses and gods.   Yemaya is known as the goddess of the sea, protector of seamen, and mother of all humans and orishas. In the Yoruba language, her name can be translated as a mother whose children are like fish. As she represents the power of the ocean, she is often portrayed as a mermaid. There are several myths surrounding this goddess and divine mother. She is said to be as unpredictable and powerful as the ocean. She is also associated with maternal love and nurturing. She was married several times and had no problem leaving her divine husbands when they displeased her. Like water, she is a powerful force to be reckoned with.   2. Oshala: The Creator(ix) of Humanity  Oshala, Marisilda Brochado, 2020, Source: Guia Da Alma   While Iemanjá is considered to be the divine mother of everything, the androgynous divinity Oshala (or Oxalá) is said to be the creator(ix) of the entire universe. Being the creator(ix) of the universe does not make him the creator of everything, however. Oshala is believed to have been created by a greater God called Olodorúm, who gave him the mission of creating the universe, the other orishas, and humanity.   Oshala is said to represent the sky and according to the myths surrounding him, he was married to Iemanjá. Their union is said to have given birth not only to the other orishas but also to the horizon, which separates the sky and the ocean. He is considered the divine father of humanity, which is why his worshipers often refer to him as the father Oshala.   3. Ogum: The Warrior god  Ogum, Unknown Author, 2023 Source: Original Botanica   Ogum, also known as Ogun, is the orisha associated with war, iron, and fighting. He is regarded as a warrior god who also represents human activity on earth, which is why he is usually portrayed with a weapon or iron tool in his hand. According to Yoruba mythology, he was the first god to descend to earth. Due to his equally hot-tempered and warm-hearted attitude, this vivacious god is considered to be particularly close to the human world.   4. Oya: Goddess of the Winds  Oya (Iansã), Gil Santos, 2023, Source: Culturebay   The goddess Oya (also known as Iansã) is worshiped as a strong-spirited divine being who has come to represent the winds, lightning, and air. This fast-moving goddess is said to have traveled the entire world, and learned many different skills in the process, making her a versatile and powerful ally. The myths around this independent and fierce goddess show her as a force to be reckoned with.   She was married to Ogum but decided to leave him for the fire-god Shango, once the latter beat her first husband in battle. Shango´s victory was not enough to capture her heart, however. Oya only agreed to marry him once he proved his devotion by teaching her the skill of creating thunder and lightning.  Their story of fire and air serves as a great metaphor for divine union: Instead of diminishing or battling against each other, divine masculine and divine feminine energies can work together to lift each other even higher.   5. Shango: God of Fire and Justice  Shango, Unknown Author, 2023, Source: Original Botanica   Shango (also known as Xangô) is the god of fire, lightning, and thunder. Even more importantly, he is associated with power and justice. His name can be roughly translated as lord of the hidden fire, and he is usually portrayed holding an ax.  There are several legends surrounding Shango. Being incredibly virile, he is said to have been married to the goddesses Oxum, Obá, and Oya. The latter is said to have been his greatest love, and her conquest required a fight with her first husband Ogum. As the goddess Oya is a representative of the winds, their union represents the life-giving and uncontrollable relationship between the powerful forces of fire and air.   6. Oshun: Goddess of Love Oshun, Goddess of Rivers, Photographer Unknown, 2023, Image Source: Karma Decor Brazil   Oshun (also known as Oxum) is the goddess of beauty, magic, and love. She reigns over rivers and sweet waters and is associated with fertility, sweetness, and the soft power of the divine feminine. This beautiful and seductive goddess is normally portrayed wearing yellow clothing with a mirror in her hand. However, you should not underestimate this female divinity. In her quest to learn all she could about love and relationships, Oshum spent some time alongside most of the other orishas.   While some of her partners did not take her very seriously, and mistook her empathic nature as a weakness, this lover goddess ended up coming out on top. As anyone who has loved unconditionally knows, love is never wrong. Love is the source of everything. Therefore, one could say that Oshum´s deep capacity to love has made her the most powerful goddess of all.   7. Oshosi: God of Hunting and Forests  Oshosi, Unknown Artist, 2023. Source: Umbanda EAD   Oshosi (also known as Oxóssi) is a hunter-god who is usually portrayed with a bow and arrow in his hand. He is known to hold the wisdom of the forests and is worshiped as the protector of hunters. As the god of abundance in all its forms, Oshosi serves to remind us of the wealth surrounding us on all levels. Nature is incredibly abundant, but if we lack the necessary understanding and respect, we will go hungry despite the resources we have been gifted with.   8. Obá: Goddess of Turbulence and Battle A woman dressed as Obá, 2008. Source: Wikipedia   The warrior-goddess Obá is said to have been the only divinity able to challenge Ogum, the god of battle. According to legend, he only managed to defeat her once he threw a slippery paste on the ground, causing her to fall. But this isn’t the end of the story. Once their battle was over, they fell in love and decided to get married. Given her passionate nature, Obá was not happy with the fact that Shango already had two other wives. Having grown particularly jealous of the attention Shango was giving to the lover-goddess Oshun, Obá asked Oshun about her secret recipe.   This ended up being a bad idea: Oshun decided to trick her rival by pretending that she had cut off her ear and added it to the soup she was preparing for Shango. Fuelled by her wish to get Shango´s undivided attention, Obá cut off her ear. But the passionate fire-god Shango was not amused. In order to escape his wrath, both Oshun and Obá are said to have turned into two rivers, whose turbulent meeting point serves as a reminder of their rivalry. And yet, reducing the story of Obá to a fight over a man does not do justice to this fierce, powerful goddess. It may be more useful to think of her as a powerful woman who would go to any lengths to achieve her goal.   9. Eshu: The Most Human of the Orishas  Wooden Figure representing the god Eshu, 1880-1920, by The Yoruba People, Source: Wikimedia   Depending on the religion, there is some disagreement on whether the messenger-spirit Eshu (Exú) counts as an orisha or not. Be that as it may, this divinity is considered to serve an important purpose as a messenger between the human world and the divine sphere. It is why followers of Candomblé start their ceremonies with an offering to Eshu. He is closer to humans than the other goddesses and gods. Eshu also represents the complexities of human nature. While he is said to step in and save humans in moments of trouble, he is also known to cause mischief.   10. Oshumare Orisha: God(dess) of the Cycle of Life  A Practitioner dressed as the Orisha Oshumare during a Candomblé Ceremony, 2008. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Oshunmare (Oxumaré) is an orisha associated with death and rebirth. This divinity does not have a gender, as it represents the union of the masculine and the feminine, the earth and the sky, and any other seemingly opposing elements. Practitioners looking for support when making life changes or leaving behind unhealthy cycles are known to call on Oshumare to help them through the process.   The Orishas, Unknown Artist, 2023. Source: Original Botanica   This article mainly draws on the Afrobrazilian belief systems of Umbanda and Candomblé. However, the pantheon of orishas is also worshiped across various religious groupings in Africa and extends into different South American nations and spiritual groupings. As there are so many different and overlapping belief systems and myths tied to each orisha, the list above only serves as a starting point when delving into the endless universe they represent.