President Barack Obama works on his statement on the compromise reached to reduce the deficit and avert a default, in the Outer Oval Office, Aug. 2, 2011. Standing in the background are, from left: Director of Communications Dan Pfeiffer; Press Secretary Jay Carney; Jon Lovett, Associate Director of Speechwriting; and Senior Advisor David Plouffe. Photo by Pete Souza
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BREAKING: On Monday, @POTUS will release his #CleanPowerPlan—the biggest step we've ever taken to #ActOnClimate.
amp.twimg.com/v/48ecc1f6-1ec…
—
The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 02, 2015****
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William Saletan: Not Fit To Lead
If Republicans win the White House next year, they’ll almost certainly control the entire federal government. Many of them, running for president or aspiring to leadership roles in Congress, are trying to block the nuclear deal with Iran. This would be a good time for these leaders to show that they’re ready for the responsibilities of national security and foreign policy. Instead, they’re showing the opposite. Over the past several days, congressional hearings on the deal have become a spectacle of dishonesty, incomprehension, and inability to cope with the challenges of a multilateral world.
When the hearings began more than a week ago, I was planning to write about the testimony of Secretary of State John Kerry and Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz. But the more I watched, the more I saw that the danger in the room wasn’t coming from the deal or its administration proponents. It was coming from the interrogators. In challenging Kerry and Moniz, Republican senators and representatives offered no serious alternative. They misrepresented testimony, dismissed contrary evidence, and substituted vitriol for analysis. They seemed baffled by the idea of having to work and negotiate with other countries. I came away from the hearings dismayed by what the GOP has become in the Obama era. It seems utterly unprepared to govern.
More here
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Calif. women's prison once praised for mental health care has four women commit suicide in 18 months: apne.ws/1gyC3N9
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The Associated Press (@AP) August 01, 2015****
Don Thompson: Suicide Spike Boosts Oversight Of California Women’s Prison
A spike in suicides and attempted suicides has prompted corrections officials to step up oversight at a California women’s prison as inspectors try to pinpoint the cause of the troubling increase. Four women have killed themselves at California Institution for Women in San Bernardino County in the last 18 months, according to state records. The suicide rate at the facility is more than eight times the national rate for female inmates and more than five times the rate for the entire California prison system.
In California, the Institution for Women is the only women’s prison in the state to have had any suicides in the last five years, and another 20 of the prison’s 2,000 inmates have attempted suicide during the last year and a half. It is a shocking turnaround at a facility that last year was cited as a rare example of California providing proper mental health treatment for inmates. All four women who died were receiving mental health treatment in the days before their deaths.
More here
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March to Washington begins with civil rights rally in Selma reut.rs/1Dh7YMg
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Reuters U.S. News (@ReutersUS) August 01, 2015****
Letitia Stein: March To Washington Begins With Civil Rights Rally In Selma
NAACP leaders launched a 40-day march across the U.S. South on Saturday with a rally in Selma, Alabama, drawing on that city’s significance in the 1960s civil rights movement to call attention to the issue of racial injustice in modern America. Organizers of “America’s Journey for Justice” want to build momentum behind a renewed national dialogue over race relations prompted by the killing of a number of unarmed black men by police officers over the past year.
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People leaders at the rally urged marchers to honor the memories of New York’s Eric Garner and Cincinnati’s Samuel DuBose, two of the unarmed black men killed in the police confrontations. The march, which would cover nearly 900 miles, began on Selma’s historic Edmund Pettus Bridge, where police beat peaceful marchers with clubs and doused them with tear gas in 1965. The infamous confrontation was a catalyst for the passage of the landmark Voting Rights Act, signed into law 50 years ago this week.
More here
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National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice helps Vice President Joe Biden with a spot on his suit jacket, in a hall outside the Oval Office, Aug. 2, 2013. Robert Cardillo, Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Intelligence Integration, watches at right. Photo by Pete Souza
President Barack Obama talks with diners at Lechonera El Barrio restaurant while waiting for his lunch order during a stop in Orlando, Fla., Aug. 2, 2012. Photo by Pete Souza
The Obama Diary 
Good morning…….again. 🙂 Thanks, NW for keeping us moving along. You’re the BEST!
Looks who’s first.
WOOOOT….Congratulations, tnmtngirl!
Congrats tnmtngirl 🙂
Thank you, NW, for bringing us yet another informative R&S coupled with fun pics we remember so well!!!
🙂
Are we playing musical chairs with the threads now, cuz if so I’m getting dizzy.
G’morning Nerdy, TOD, even amk, everyone, and congrat tnmtngirl on #1! Happy Sunday everyone. 🙂
G’morning, Mate.
We’re going Australian this morning, eh, HF? 🙂
Happy Sunday to you too.
Good morning TODers: This is an update on my family. Several mentioned us on a previous thread, because there are two Steves we are concerned about. So glad the other Steve is making progress. That gladdens a mother’s heart.
We are surviving okay. My sister has been here since Tuesday, and will leave Wednesday. Then, Saturday night, one of my former students, who graduated in 1983, and is my other daughter, is coming to stay with me a few days. We will drive to Dallas to see Steve and his family. Steve is doing okay. His wife told him going through this experience with him has brought her even closer to him. Next Saturday they are attending a large family reunion with her family. That will be good.
The last thing my husband watched on TV was Senator Pinckney’s funeral. He listened to every word the President said, and said he was so glad Barack Obama was president. He left this world secure in the knowledge that PBO was still President of the United States. He also chose the song for his service, “It is Well” which the choir sang.
People have been so kind and thoughtful. Whenever I talk with people, they tell me how much they admired him, how he brought joy into their lives, and how much he loved his family, and we were the center of his life.
So wonderful to hear all these comforting words.
Thank you for your care and concern. I will make it.
Carolyn, thank you so much for this update. You’ve been in my thoughts for this last week and I’ve been praying that you would have the strength to get through this painful time of loss. It’s so good that you have family and friends to help you and wonderful that your son has a supportive and loving wife. Rely on us when you need to, Carolyn. We’re all here for you.
Dear Carolyn,
You will make it. I’m glad for you and your family that your husband passed with peace in his heart and mind. I am glad that even through tragedy, your family is closer than ever before, and I am glad that you have such a phenomenal support system.
It speaks highly of you that a former student is as close to you as a daughter and has come to be by your side and provide comfort. It speaks highly of your lovely husband that people continue to remember him well.
You will make it Carolyn. TOD is always here for you.
Thanks carolyn for this update. Glad to hear that you and your family are holding up and have been comforted through the support of friends and others. It says a lot that your husband left this world with so much admiration from people far and wide! 🙂 Wishing you a peaceful Sunday & week.
Blessings to you Carolyn. You WILL make it although there will be pain and longing for many years to come. But I am happy you are taking joy in memories. So glad you are surrounded by love. Thank you for the update.
{{{{{ Carolyn }}}}}
{{{{ ❤ Carolyn ❤ }}}}
“I will make”
With God’s grace Indeed yu will!!
ContInued Blessings to yu and your family!
{{{{{{Carolyn}}}}}}}}}}}}
Good morning Carolyn. Thanks so peeping in and bringing us an update. Yes, you and your family will make it and as time goes on, you will have memories to sustain you. I’m happy that family and friends are there for you to lean on and know this – we will be here for you too.
Good morning Carolyn, you are surrounded by love-filled family and friends, as it should be given your goodness and that of your husband’s. Will continue to keep you and your family in my thoughts. Peace.
Good morning Carolyn. So glad to have you back with us. Take the best care of yourself possible.
{{Carolyn & family}}, I will continue to keep you in my thoughts and prayers. I’m so glad that you are surrounded by family and friends to be there for you.
my thoughts are with you Carolyn.
❤
Good morning everyone…{{{carolyn}}} what a wonderful support system you have:) Yes, you will make it. One day at a time. It gets better. Promise.
Was this posted yesterday?? 🙂 🙂
http://www.abc15.com/news/national/vice-president-joe-biden-not-say-no-to-potential-presidential-run
Vice President Joe Biden’s political operation has entered a more active phase in recent days, with several moves being contemplated to clear the way for him to run for president should he choose to do so, two longtime Biden advisers tell ABC News.
The vice president himself has not authorized any specific moves, but nor has he objected, a signal Biden confidantes take as suggesting he’s serious about potentially challenging Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination.
And there is this:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/joe-biden-presidential-run-why-now_55bd554de4b0b23e3ce30903?
WASHINGTON — Days after Joe Biden buried his son Beau in early June, the 72-year-old vice president was saying privately that he had concluded that he “didn’t have the heart” or the drive to run for president in 2016.
At the time, Biden made no mention of what, in recent weeks, has come to be described as Beau’s deathbed plea to his father to seek the Democratic nomination.
“I’ve had enough,” he told one friend in early June. Long before that, in fact, longtime high-level aides, such as Ron Klain, had concluded that Biden was a “no.”
So what happened to change Biden’s mind? Based on several sources close to him, who declined to be named out of fear of angering their boss, here are the reasons:
Fingers and toes crossed:)
To all who are watching the Biden Will he or Won’t he story:
A word of caution when you listen to the media pundits.
Remember when first, they said that candidate Obama would pick HRC as his VP? ?!?
Then, later on they said that PBO was considering replacing VPB with HRC. ?!?
Now I see that AB Stoddard, liar at The Hill says that PBO has chosen HRC to succeed him. ?!?
I am more interested in what TOD commentors think and so far we are on both sides of the question. Nena and Foxfire say No and I say Yes, Biden will run.
And the bottom line is no one knows at this point, not sure if even Joe knows. I suspect it will depend on he feels at the end of this month and how he thinks Beau’s family is doing. If he decides to run, it will mean much time away from those kids. I still think no, but sure hope I’m wrong!
I’m not sure at this point in time, either, Vicki. I know that I’m leery of the reports coming from The Times, who has their own agenda. I do hope Joe decides to run. I do keep getting updates from the DraftBiden people. They did say that there will be a big announcement sometime next week, but I think that they are going to announce someone else that is joining the campaign.
Good Monday to you, SJT.
This is probably the “big announcement,” which indeed is big because of the enduring bond between @VP and his beloved son Beau:
NW and Amk, you are doing a wonderful job while Chipsticks is off.
Thank you so much.
Thanks to TOD Twitter Brigades, Contributors and yes, to Lurkers as well.
Hello TOD. Morning from 15 plus Lakes. Sunny, Humid and Hot.
Congrats to all the Au ⭐ winners, starting with this post and several posts back.
I see that VP Biden is on the lips of every Pundit……..they have ignored the despicable part MoDo played and are sheepishly diving on the NYT so called report? Hmm?
OTOH, Trump continues to TRUMP the GOPers and also Troll the GOPer Bribery schemes with the KOCHroaches.
I hope Joe Biden decides to run, just the thought of having to listen to Hillary and Bernie Sanders with his constantly wet lips for the next year and a half will drive me f’ing crazy.
thank you Don! OMG I thought I was the only one that noticed that – it drives me nuts! 🙂
That’s why I had to stop watching Chris Matthews, f’ing guy looks like he just got out of a pool or something.
And Bernie’s finger pointing! He’s always shoving his finger in the camera’s face. I find it aggressive and not welcoming or warm at all.
Good Morning TOD. Enlightening article by Saleten thanks for the group of posts NW – I don’t know how you do it! But you are good at it! 🙂
Thanks, a4alice.
Wishing you a great Sunday. 🙂
Well Trump ain’t lying about his fellow rethugs being puppets for the Koch bros…how pathetic the party of Lincoln has become.
America is in GREAT DANGER if we elect anyone of those rethugs whom is running for president…folks need to pay attention!!!
THIS IS VERY SERIOUS!!!
My version……Go Directly to a fiery Blaze…..
I could not have worded any better, BWD…… 🙂
It shows just how little they (including Michael E Dyson) know about how politics and smart political leaders really work.
MED’s first sentence turned me off.
I Had the President I thought I elected every single minute of the past 61/2 years.
Good Monday morning, Vicki.
Won’t read the article, based on the haughty, condescending headline. I know MED is Black himself, but JHC hasn’t PBO dealt with ENOUGH condescension since ACA became law to last several lifetimes?
GOP/MSM/emoprogs (looking at YOU #FeelTheBern and Snowdenistas) constantly speak about PBO as if he has the comprehension level of a two-year old (except when they’re warning us that PBO is the worst tyrant ever).
Bless her heart, @andie_walsh explained it to me yesterday so that now I understand:
Michael E Dyson is one of those who “can’t” so he just talks and talks and talks
But you never heard a single peep out of these guys when we had white Presidents. Ninety-nine percent of them sat up in their ivory towers and lectured or wrote some nonsense about race. I remember Jesse and Al being on the front lines fighting, you could put a gun to my head and ask me who other than those two fought for black people in the 70’s 80’s and 90’s and are still fighting today, and I wouldn’t be able to tell you. Now they have diarrhea of the mouth, they’re falling over each other trying to get to a microphone.
They were not speaking then for they Had ACCESS………the political games as played by WJC was to make sure, folks like MED had OPEN Communication……ACCESS……..and that in their minds yielded POWER……….perfect example was Maxine Waters for CA.
President Obama neither needed his Ego polished nor did he seek that type of pampering…….hence, No Drama Obama……..Knock on Wood, No Political Scandal………6 and Half years into his Presidency and Counting!
Yep, spot on about Maxine Waters.
The Corruption of the Olympics……..Shame!
Good West Coast morning NW & TOD family.
Thanks NW for being here to open up the door for us 🙂
MOOOOOorning, GGail.
Wishing you a fabulous, Sunday. 🙂
Wishing you a GOOOOOOOOOOAL Sunday NW 🙂
This cartoon is The Truth. AMK featured it earlier and it cannot be seen enough, in my humble opinion.
When science and facts don’t matter Republicans can then talk out their asses about things they know nothing about…but they will gladly accept the benefits of said science!
http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/17/health/fetal-tissue-explainer/
Despite the long history of using fetal tissue in medicine and research, the practice could be on the way out. Even though it has led to important medical advances in the last several decades, “in the future, the need for fetal tissue will go down because of advances in stem cell [technology] that will take over,” Hyun said.
One of the earliest advances with fetal tissue was to use fetal kidney cells to create the first poliovirus vaccines, which are now estimated to save 550,000 lives worldwide every year.
In the early days of making the vaccine, researchers infected fetal kidney cells in Petri dishes to produce a large amount of virus that they could then harvest, purify and use to vaccinate people. (The virus evolves to become less deadly when it infects cells out of the body, and thus could safely be given to people to prime their immune system for the real thing.)
Today manufacturers of the polio vaccine use other types of human cells, which weren’t available in the mid-1900s. They also use monkey cells, which they originally avoided for fear that making the vaccine in animal cells could put people at risk of diseases from other species.
Many of our other common vaccines, such as chicken pox, rubella and shingles, have been produced in tissue derived from fetuses, particularly two electively terminated pregnancies from the 1960s. Advances in how researchers work with cells have allowed them to grow fetal cells indefinitely in Petri dishes, thus not requiring samples from any newly aborted fetuses.
Note that stem cell research is a no no for them, as well….
A little more.. http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/08/02/here-are-just-a-few-of-the-medical-advances-made-possible-by-fetal-tissue-donation/
Likely one of the most significant advances provided to us through the use of fetal tissue is the polio vaccine. CNN points out that scientists used fetal kidney cells to create the vaccine, which saves an estimated 550,000 lives globally each year. As noted by the Associated Press, Dr. Frederick C. Robbins, Dr. John Enders, and Dr. Thomas Weller received the 1954 Nobel Prize in medicine for their work which lead to the development of the polio vaccine by Dr. Jonas Salk.
Other vaccines created through the use of tissues obtained in abortions are the Chicken Pox, Rubella and Shingles vaccines. The tissues used in these developments were acquired from two elective abortions performed in the 1960s.
While these two advances may provide a false sense of validity to the arguments by those opposed to vaccinations, the worth of something like a Polio vaccine, which has saved millions of children from the crippling and often fatal disease, certainly shouldn’t go unnoticed.
In addition to vaccines, research using fetal tissue has advanced science for diseases like Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, AIDS, muscular dystrophy, herpes, blindness and even some pre-natal testing.
Medical discoveries have also been facilitated through the use of fetal tissue obtained from abortions and miscarriages. Some of that research has provided insight in gestational development and congenital abnormalities.
Maybe if we could somehow attach a Stem Cell research bill to say, making Cialis or Viagra stronger then maybe these f’ing guys would get out the way of important research that benefits mankind.
Happy Sunday morning, TOD. Hugs to the hurting, kudos to AMK, NW, LL, and everyone keeping the village going while Chips and Danny are on vacation. Eager to hear the President speak at AU tomorrow on the EPA Clean Power Plan. We really need to have his back on this issue and the Iran Deal.
Happy Sunday to you Judith. And you’re correct – we really do need to have PBO’s back on these important issues.
I Love the Elephant with Atomic Bomb Toon stuck on it’s Trunk.
So Trump goes insane 🙂 🙄 🙂
Keep Talking buster!
Let me see if I can remember all Trump has done for Black people. After calling Mexicans rapists and killers , Trump said that he would get their vote, they love him.
So as Trump rises, JEB declines and the Media ignores This Fact?
In 2012…….Willard Mitterrand Romney stayed relatively the same……no matter what poll.
Jebbie rose and fell and the Media shrugs? Hmm?
yea ok
As I’ve noted many times here at TOD and on Twitter ….
“Israel, not Iran, started Middle East nuclear arms race
The debate about the P5+1 agreement with Iran on its nuclear program has already produced a storm of angry rhetoric and a tsunami of opinion pieces. But one issue is notably absent from the debate: the fact that Israel has a nuclear weapons arsenal and sophisticated delivery systems that are decades ahead of anything Iran could develop in the foreseeable future. Iran should be constrained by a global regime from getting the bomb, but the notion that Israel is a weak powerless state like Czechoslovakia in 1938 is ludicrous.”
Hi NW – please rescue me 🙂
While awaiting freedom …. 🙂
bbl ……..
You’re free, Sir Bob.
Thank you, NW 🙂
In_Deed.
These Warmongers and their DC/NY Pundits are always ignoring the HUGE Stockpiles of Atomic Weapons by the Israeli Gov’t.
Maybe it has something to do with the Republican Senators being nihilistic pseudo religious freaks hell bent on bringing about the end times, baby!
Thanks Bob!
This is a tweet that TOD tweeters should make sure gets to every Congress critter.
The Reason……….I have stated here many Times…..that DNC needs a Chairperson who is Competent. Neither DW-S nor then Gov Tim Kaine was up to the Job……..Dr Dean was……so was the late Brown from the 1990s.
Debbie Wasserman Schultz is against the Iran Deal. She need to go.
There was talk a while ago about POTUS getting rid of Wasserman Schultz, he should have done so.
She threatened to call PBO anti-Semitic if he fired her. She is a pathetic piece of shit and should run for office in Israel because that is where her loyalty lies.
Let her move to Israel. As an American Jew, I am appalled at these congresscritters who are more loyal to Israel than the U.S. Actually it’s worse than that: they are loyal to Bibi, whose own actions are destroying Israel.
Hmm?
It takes a Cable Host to school DW-S?
Seriously?
Many TODers are not consumption of the Sunday Talker-a-tons.
FYI
so, fewer people talking about my lack of political experience = lotsa peeps voting for me.
logic hung itself.
Yep……For a Neurosurgeon, obviously a well educated man, he is what my late Mom would have termed as an Educated Illiterate.
Dude, really! you’re the useful black man that the Republicans trot out when they get into racial trouble, sort of like a Michael Steele.
here is another slogan for the dems.
voter fraud = the one gop commits on the voters
GE, amk 🙂
Hope it’s a bit warmer and your nearing a win with your client.
GE Bob. It’s slightly warm during the day and back to brrr in the night. The other one is a long drawn issue and we are only at stage 2.
Hope stage 2 leads to stage 3, amk 🙂
Good Morning/Day/Evening/Night /Vacation, TODobots (wherever you are)! May you all be surrounded with love, and loving memories, as this week unfolds!
Thank you, VC. Wishing the same for you.
Thanks! 🙂
GWCM vc 🙂
GECA to you, Gx2! What’s cooking? 😀
Sorry kiddo, breakfast time already over 🙂
I had breakfast hours ago! Was fishing – 😉 😉 for a dinner invitation.
Actually, think I need to head out to the meat department of my local Asian store {& there goes my plan not to leave home this weekend}!
Wow!!!
settler citizens of Israel attacking an Israeli policewoman and her ONLY protection from the violence of her people are Palestinians!!
this is so unsettling and heartwarming at the same time – one never knows who will recognize one’s humanity and intervene to see that what is right prevails ;
{{{{{{{{{Carolyn, healing hugs and lots of prayers for you and your family.}}}}}}}}}. “I will make it.” Yes, you will because God has a lot of loving grace right at your door. Love you dear Carolyn.HZ
HZ, it’s good to see you this Sunday morning. I hope you are doing well. Love & hugs to you dear HZ ❤
EVIL PEOPLE ……….
From the latter Tweet:
“There are so many demolition orders, in fact, that Israel has sought more efficient ways to get all the work done. So it often recommends that Palestinians knock down their own homes at their own expense, freeing Israel of the hassle and risk. Some do. It seems this isn’t enough for Israel, though, because authorities continue to experiment with new and creative ways of dispossessing Palestinians. My own home seems to have been demolished using a municipal ordinance related to cleanliness of public areas in order to avoid judicial scrutiny, according to a Palestinian legal clinic that is challenging the operation. Indeed, in the three months before the demolition, I received two orders to clear away broken and old objects outside my house; I did as they asked. Demolition is not listed as a punishment for violating these orders, but human rights lawyers told me they have identified other recent cases in which Israeli municipal authorities cited the ordinance as a pretext for flattening homes.
Living under the threat of demolition is nerve-racking, as the residents of Susiya know, and it seems impossible to win against the legal and physical force Israel commands. My family is unsure about what to do next. Still, we do not intend to give up. If they completely demolish our homes, we will rebuild.”
Regret the duplicate ….
“I was born in Jerusalem. My parents were born in Jerusalem. Their parents were born in Jerusalem. Their parents were born in Jerusalem. Our modest house is approximately 70 years old — older than the state of Israel. I have lived here in al-Sawana, a neighborhood between the Old City and the Mount of Olives, not far from the Gethsemane Valley (where the Romans caught Jesus), for more than 40 years. It is near a commercial area, hospitals, Muslim and Jewish cemeteries and precious religious sites for the three big monotheistic faiths. In other words, I live on strategic land.”
ibid.
Despicable.
How is this a democratic and Judicious thing a State should be doing in 2015?
Israel is neither democratic nor is it judicious. Instead it is an example of the evil man is capable of when free from concerns about human decency. I am stumped as to what purpose Israel serves in the middle east other than stirring hatred. What does the U.S. get for all the billions wasted on Israel? Germany did horrible things to Jews during WWII. Why do the Palestinian people have to pay the price?
This kind of pre-mediated destruction just breaks my heart and leaves me helpless to find a solution.
How can humans be so cruel to other humans?
Good Morning Everyone 🙂
tod canoooks, are ya ready?
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-33753061
‘sup?
‘sup?
UGH! Creeeeeeeeepy as hell….
Where O where is my cute dog ‘sup? Like the one you gave me last week?
I am sure a majority of Americans don’t like seeing the amount of influence Israel has over our government. With the exception of the Zionist (for obvious reasons) and the Evangelicals (who want to jews in place to bring about the Second Coming), who would support the behavior of the Israeli government? They are literally doing the devil’s work on this Earth (killing and persecuting their neighbors, openly opposing peace, quickly becoming an apartheid state).
Is our President returning from Camp David this evening – or tomorrow morning?
Bride and Prejudice is now available on Netflix streaming!!
I love this movie..one of my guilty pleasures.
New post.
http://theobamadiary.com/2015/08/02/west-wing-week-11/
Simple fact ….
bbl ….