Snipers on roofs and US election staff in bulletproof vests, says official
Philadelphia's top prosecutor warns anyone who stirs up trouble will be dealt with swiftly and severely - amid fears Trump supporters could cause unrest if he loses or try to "bully" people.
Tuesday 5 November 2024
Snipers on rooftops and officials wearing bulletproof vests are among extreme measures at some US voting locations, according to a senior election official.
Barbed-wire fencing has also been put up at several places that saw trouble in the wake of the 2020 presidential vote, Tammy Patrick told Sky News.
It comes as Philadelphia's district attorney, Larry Krasner, told troublemakers to stay away, warning: "We're not playing. F around and find out."
Ms Patrick, chief programme officer at the National Association of Election Officials, said 40% of workers had already experienced threats or abuse.
There are fears officials could be at risk as votes are cast and counted, or that violence could break out if Donald Trump loses and disputes the result.
"Election officials have had to take some extreme measures to make sure they have protected not only themselves and their staff, but the literal ballots that contain the voices of their voters," said Ms Patrick.
She said some staff had resorted "to implementing bulletproof vests" while counting centres in places such as Maricopa County, Arizona, and Las Vegas, Nevada, had put up barbed wire.
"There are snipers on top of buildings around some of this country's election offices. These are extraordinary times," Ms Patrick told Sky News.
Metal fences were also being put up on Monday near the White House in Washington DC, not far from the infamous storming of the Capitol building after the last election.
The Maricopa County tabulation centre - in downtown Phoenix - was a flashpoint for rigged election conspiracy theorists four years ago and security has now been beefed up.
'Drones around polling stations'
County Sheriff Russ Skinner said his department was on "high alert" with drones monitoring activity around polling stations and snipers and other assets ready if needed.
"There will be zero tolerance on anything related to criminal activity," added Mr Skinner.
Arizona and Nevada are two of the seven key swing states expected to tip the balance and decide who becomes president.
Concerns of unrest have ratcheted up due to the extremely close nature of the contest and Donald Trump's claims - without evidence - that election cheating is already taking place.
He's also repeatedly told supporters he can only lose if Democrats cheat and has refused to say whether he will accept the results.
Pennsylvania is another swing state - and carries more weight than the others due to its 19 electoral college votes. On Monday officials there gave a blunt warning to would-be troublemakers.
"Anybody who thinks its time to play militia, F around and find out," warned Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner.
"Anybody who thinks it's time to insult, to deride, to mistreat, to threaten people, F around and find out," he added.
"We do have the cuffs, we do have the jail cells, we do have the Philly juries and we have the state prisons.
"So if you're going to try to turn an election into some form of coercion, if you're going to try to bully people, bully votes or voters, you're going to try to erase votes, you're going to try any of that nonsense, we're not playing. F around and find out. That's what we're going to do."
The worst scenario and the one most likely to spark trouble is Trump losing and refusing to concede defeat, according to Peter Simi, a sociology professor who has researched threats against public officials.
He told Reuters unrest could be "dispersed, diffuse events across multiple locations" rather than a repeat of the mass storming of the US Capitol building.
davidif: Wait, i thought David Lammy was a Tory (Conservative)? How is a cabinet minister for the opposition party? Please someone familiar with UK politics should school me on this.
People often mix up David Lammy and Kwasi Kwarteng. Kwasi is a tory (he was the chancellor of the exchequer in Liz Truss' government), while Lammy is labour.
Lagos Area Metropolitan Transport Authority LAMATA @Lamataonline
LAMATA kicks off groundwork on Quality Bus Corridors
As part of efforts to improve on the state’s transportation systems, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) has taken contractors who submitted bids for the construction of the quality bus corridors to familiarize them with project corridors and alignments.
During the two-day site visits, the team visited quality bus corridor (QBC) package 1, 2, 3 project with the contractors.
The visits were carried out in line with Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Standard Procurement Document (SPD) and Lagos State public procurement agency (PPA) guidelines of procurement.
The entire project seeks to revamp three bus corridors, remodel and introduce walkways, laybys, construct new depots and terminals along the bus routes.
A total of 89 bus stops along the entire stretch which spans about 33,307 meters will be worked on, five new terminals will be built, and 13 existing terminals will be revamped.
The project will support the bus network in the highlighted corridors below; (QBC) Package 1- Yaba, Lawanson to Cele and Ketu, Alapere to Akanimodo. (QBC) Package 2 , Iju-ishaga, Abule Egba to Agege, and (QBC) Package 3 Iyana Iba – Igando.
The project also accommodates the provision of drivers’ lounge, wash bay, security houses, and Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS).
Lagos Area Metropolitan Transport Authority LAMATA @Lamataonline
LAMATA Compensates Property Owners and Tenants for Quality Bus Corridor Project
The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) has commenced payment of compensation to property owners affected by the Quality Bus Corridor project in Ojuelegba and tenants in Lawanson.
Tenants in Ojuelegba began receiving compensation cheques on October 10, 2024.
As part of this initiative, LAMATA’s Managing Director, Engr. Mrs. Abimbola Akinajo presented cheques to some of the affected individuals today.
Engr. Akinajo expressed gratitude to the affected persons for their cooperation and understanding, emphasizing the importance of their sacrifices for the future of Lagos State.
She highlighted the Government’s commitment to recognizing and rewarding those contributing to such significant projects.
The presentation of cheques to property owners began on the 1st of November 2024 at the Surulere Local Government.
Those with complete documentation verified by the Lagos State Lands Bureau received their cheques, while others were instructed to visit the LAMATA’s head office today.
During the cheque presentation, representatives from the Ojuelegba CDA, including its Assistant Secretary, Olusegun Bamiduro, who represented the Chairman Mr. Saheed Bakare and Chairman of the Landlord and Tenants Association Alhaji Hakeem Bolaji thanked LAMATA and the Lagos State Government for bringing development to the area. They acknowledged the long engagement process, dating back to 2022, and expressed appreciation to all parties involved.
Additionally, they requested LAMATA to consider employing local youths during the project's construction and post-construction phases.
The Quality Bus Corridor Package 1 - Ojuelegba-Yaba-Lawanson-Cele is funded by Agence Francaise de développement and the Lagos State Government. It aims to modernize bus shelters and introduce intelligent transport systems to prioritize regulated public transport buses along three corridors identified for implementation.
Key LAMATA officials, including Technical Adviser, Corporate and Investment Planning, Engr. Osa Konyeha, Technical Adviser, Roads and Infrastructure, Engr. Adeyemi Adeniji, Mrs. Ibironke Omorhirhi and Engr. Babatunde Osho from Global Impact Environmental Services, who is a consultant to LAMATA on the project, were present at the cheques presentation ceremony.
The British High Commission Nigeria and High Commissioner @RMontgomeryUK are very pleased to welcome UK Foreign Secretary Rt. Hon @DavidLammy to Nigeria! We look forward to a productive and successful Visit. @FCDOGovUK 🇬🇧🤝🇳🇬
Richard Montgomery @RMontgomeryUK
Delighted to welcome @DavidLammy to Nigeria, in his first visit to Africa as Foreign Secretary. A visit focused on strengthening the 🇬🇧🇳🇬 partnership for the benefit of both our countries.
Today marks a significant step forward in Nigeria-UK relations as we concluded an impactful meeting with the @DavidLammy, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom, on his first official visit to Nigeria and Africa.
The meeting elevated our bilateral relations to a strategic partnership and established a Bi-National Commission, which will be implemented through six key pillars: fostering growth and job creation, enhancing national security, prioritising the safety and dignity of our citizens, deepening international cooperation, modernising our development approach, and fostering closer people-to-people ties.
In line with the Tinubu Doctrine of 4-D Diplomacy and the Renewed Hope 8-point Agenda, Nigeria and the UK affirmed their commitment to working together on job creation, local value addition, renewable energy, tackling illicit financial flows, multilateral reform and resolving international crises, alongside other areas mutual interest.
Today, Nigeria welcomes the UK Foreign Secretary on his first official visit to Africa in his current role. This visit marks a significant step forward in the relations between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, setting the stage for a strategic partnership that will benefit both nations.
During the visit, Nigeria's Foreign Minister, Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar (OON) met with the UK Foreign Secretary to discuss areas of mutual interests, including economic growth, security, and sustainable development.
In a landmark moment, the two Ministers will also sign Terms of Reference (ToR) to establish a Nigeria-UK Binational Commission, creating a structured framework for deeper and more consistent cooperation.
naptu2: Images of starving Ethiopian kids, some of them too weak swat away flies from their face, circulated widely in 1984. The BBC was very instrumental in spreading these images. They produced several news clips about the civil war, separatist movement, drought, famine and devastation in Ethiopia. Those clips left me with the impression that Ethiopia was a desert country that was perpetually at war.
These news items about poverty, starvation and suffering moved an Irish musician named Bob Geldoff to want to do something about it. He mobilised the most famous British and Irish musicians to record an album to raise funds to provide food, drugs and other aid to suffering people in Ethiopia.
This led to the creation of the super group called Band Aid and a humongously popular song that was number 1 at Christmas in 1984. The song was produced by Midge Ure and Band Aid were:
•Robert "Kool" Bell (Kool & the Gang) •Bono (U2) •Pete Briquette (The Boomtown Rats) •Adam Clayton (U2) •Phil Collins (Genesis and solo artist) •Chris Cross (Ultravox) •Simon Crowe (The Boomtown Rats) •Sarah Dallin (Bananarama) •Siobhan Fahey (Bananarama) •Johnny Fingers (The Boomtown Rats) •Bob Geldof (The Boomtown Rats) •Boy George (Culture Club) •Glenn Gregory (Heaven 17) •Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet) •John Keeble (Spandau Ballet) •Gary Kemp (Spandau Ballet) •Martin Kemp (Spandau Ballet) •Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran) •Marilyn •George Michael (Wham!) •Jon Moss (Culture Club) •Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet) •Rick Parfitt (Status Quo) •Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran) •Francis Rossi (Status Quo) •Sting (The Police) •Andy Taylor (Duran Duran) •James "J.T." Taylor (Kool & the Gang) •John Taylor (Duran Duran) •Roger Taylor (Duran Duran) •Dennis Thomas (Kool & the Gang) •Midge Ure (Ultravox) •Martyn Ware (Heaven 17) •Jody Watley •Paul Weller (The Style Council) •Keren Woodward (Bananarama) •Paul Young
And shoutouts from •Stuart Adamson, Mark Brzezicki, Tony Butler, Bruce Watson (Big Country) •David Bowie •Holly Johnson (Frankie Goes to Hollywood) •Paul McCartney
Many other famous artistes contributed other songs to the album.
Band Aid inspired the American singer, Harry Belafonte to do something similar in the US. Belafonte has always been involved in African-American civil rights issues in America and in the fight against apartheid and poverty in Africa (Belafonte is of Jamaican descent).
Belafonte was able to get many famous American singers to form the super group United Support Artistes For Africa (USA For Africa). They got Quincy Jones to produce the song and Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie to write it.
(Many other famous artistes, e.g. Prince, contributed songs to the album).
USA For Africa were:
• Lionel Richie • Stevie Wonder • Paul Simon • Kenny Rogers • James Ingram • Tina Turner • Billy Joel • Michael Jackson • Diana Ross • Dionne Warwick • Willie Nelson • Al Jarreau • Bruce Springsteen • Kenny Loggins • Steve Perry • Daryl Hall • Huey Lewis • Cyndi Lauper • Kim Carnes • Bob Dylan • Ray Charles
• Dan Aykroyd • Harry Belafonte • Lindsey Buckingham • Mario Cipollina • Johnny Colla • Sheila E. • Bob Geldof • Bill Gibson • Chris Hayes • Sean Hopper • Jackie Jackson • La Toya Jackson • Marlon Jackson • Randy Jackson • Tito Jackson • Waylon Jennings • Bette Midler • John Oates • Jeffrey Osborne • The Pointer Sisters • Smokey Robinson
The Canadians (Bryan Adams, etc.) also got together and produced this wonderful song (Gosh! I LOVE the chorus of this song).
Northern Lights are:
•Bryan Adams •John Candy •Joni Mitchell •Burton Cummings •Anne Murray •Gordon Lightfoot •Mike Reno (Loverboy) with Liberty Silver •Carroll Baker, Ronnie Hawkins and Murray McLauchlan •Véronique Béliveau, Robert Charlebois and Claude Dubois (in French) •Bryan Adams with Donny Gerrard (Skylark) •Alfie Zappacosta with Lisa Dal Bello •Carole Pope (Rough Trade) and Paul Hyde (The Payola$) •Salome Bey, Mark Holmes (Platinum Blonde) and Lorraine Segato (The Parachute Club) •Tom Cochrane (Red Rider) •Tommy Hunter •Martha Johnson •Eugene Levy •Frank Mills •Kim Mitchell •Paul Shaffer •Graham Shaw •Jane Siberry •Sylvia Tyson •Barry Harris •Catherine O'Hara •Wayne St. John
If you didn't hear me before, I said, THIS IS PERFECTION!
This was my introduction to Michael Jackson (the solo artiste) and it left me wowed. The video was perfect (to my 1980 mind), the tuxedo was perfect, the dance steps were perfect, then just listen to the music!
I play music and I have noticed something that happens in my head. I separate songs into each musical instrument and I study what each instrument does line by line. I once made money off a friend of mine because I told him that a certain song contains a certain line (on the keyboard) and he didn't believe me so we had a bet. That line was quite obscure, but he heard it when I played the song to him and I won my money.
The arrangement of this song is excellent. Every instrument is excellent. The percussion is unbelievable.
This (and the video in the last post) is how videos were before Thriller.
Do you know that there is a Nigerian version of this song? I'll post a video of the Nigerian version one day.
Michael Jackson - Don't Stop Till You Get Enough (1979)
naptu2: This song is absolutely perfect. The video is perfect, the arrangement is perfect, the dancing is perfect and the singing is perfect. Everything is just perfect.
This was my inteoduction to Michael Jackson (as a solo artiste). The Nigerian version of this song will be in my next post.
Michael Jackson - Don't Stop Till You Get Enough (1979).
Back, on the block, so we can rock With the soul, rhythm, blues, be bop and hip hop Back on the block Back on the block
Ice-T
Ice-T, let me kick my credentials A young player, bred in South Central L.A., home of the body bag You wanna die, wear the wrong color rag
I used to walk in stores and yell, "Lay down" You flinch an inch AK spray down But I was lucky 'cause I never caught the hard time I was blessed with the skill to bust a dope rhyme
All my homies died or caught the penzo Lost their diamonds, cops towed their Benzos Livin' that life that we thought was it Fast lanin', but the car flipped
I'm not gonna lie to ya, 'cause I don't lie I just kick thick game, some people say why? 'Cause I'm back on the block, I got my life back So I school the fools about the fast track
I get static from the style of my technique Profanity, the blatant way in which I speak But the Dude knows the streets ain't no kiddie game You don't know the Dude? Quincy's his first name
He told me, Ice, keep doin' what you're doin', man Don't give a damn if the squares don't understand You let 'em tell you what to say and what to write Your whole career'll be over by tomorrow night
Rap from your heart, and your heart's with the street Rap on my record, man, Kimiko, send Ice the beat The Dude is def no doubt, what can I say? The man can roll with Ice-T or Michael J
Chorus
Back Back on the block Back Back on the block
Back, on the block, so we can rock With the soul, rhythm, blues, be bop and hip hop Back on the block Back on the block
Melle Mel
I'm back, on the block, on the screen I'm on the wax, I'm on the stage, I'm on the scene I'm on the case, just like an attorney The Dude took me on a magic journey
To dance in France, alone in Rome On the farmlands of Nebraska, the cold of Alaska The heat of the motherland to be with my brother man On top of a snowcapped mountain I'm scoutin'
What another man saw in a race of people To see him give his life for the price of equal The highest wisdoms, the richest kingdoms The song of songs we heard David sing them
He showed me me when I was young and hung out He showed me makin' love, even showed me strung out He showed me poppin' nines, standin' on a rock But tears came to my eyes when he showed me my block
Chorus
Ba-ba-back on the Ba-back on Ba-ba-back on the block Ba-ba-back on Ba-ba-back on the block
Tevin Campbell (and the Andrea Crouch Choir)
Stokie's just Stokie, mama (Stokie's Stokie) And one by one each woman he kiss (He kiss her and she gon' fall in love) Stokie's just Stokie, you know? (Stokie's Stokie) Till someone shows that they care enough (Ain't nothin' gonna bother Stokie much)
Some say they can't take it no more (Comin' here, comin' here startin' stuff) But Dude is back on duty fo' sho' (Back on the block to stay) They say he ain't gonna be with it (Comin' back, comin' back to the street) But Dude he know you'll never forget it (Back on the block to stay)
Big Daddy Kane
Back up and give the brother room To let poetry bloom to whom it may concern or consume As I reminisce before this the bliss that exist But now we brought about a twist
'Cause I remember reading of my people bleedin' Put through slavery and killed for bravery We shoulda got our freedom much sooner You never seen a Blackman on The Honeymooners
But now somehow we've learned to earn, to grow, to show The elevation of a people built is so
Jesse Jackson, Miss America a black one No more livin' for just a small fraction
I was once told by the Dude that knowledge is a food To nourish, so to conclude This from an Asiatic descendant, Big Daddy is shocked Yo Q, we back on the block
Chorus
Back Back on the block Back Back on the block
Back, on the block, so we can rock With the soul, rhythm, blues, be bop and hip hop Back on the block Back on the block
Kool Moe Dee
An everlasting omnipresence is my present State of being, seeing the unpleasant Sight of righteous souls live like peasants The mind stunts growth in adolescence
My insight enables me to enlight The weakest of minds, and I put 'em in flight As I transcend, a-scend or de-scend Re-create, re-incarnate and re-send
The powerful spirits of our ancestors For those that don't know how God blessed us Because man messed up, the media dressed up Lies perpetrated as truth, and it left us
Confused, but I've seen it all before From Babylon to the Third World War I'm more than a man, I'm more like an entity Back on the block, and this time my identity is the Dude
Chorus
Ba-ba-back on the Ba-back on Ba-ba-back on the block Ba-ba-back on Ba-ba-back on the block
M'yeke, yeke, yeke, wena (Kha'mye, kha'myeke wena) Yo khala, khala, khala, u mama (Yo khal'u mama khe)
M'yeke, yeke, yeke, wena (Kha'mye, kha'myeke, wena) Yo khala, kha, 'yok 'shaya u baba (Yok shaya u baba khe)
(Ooh wow ooh wow ah, ooh yeah e yeah e ah)
Back on the block Ba-ba-back on the Ba-ba-back on the block Ba-ba-back on Ba-ba-back on the block Ba-ba-back on the Ba-ba-back on the block Ba-ba-back on the block
Quincy Jones
Now I would, I would contend that ah The rappers rap is here to stay♫
Quincy Jones ft Ice T, Big Daddy Kane, Kool Moe Dee and Melle Mel - Back on The Block (1989).
naptu2: I've got a confession to make. I didn't know the lyrics of this wonderful song when it was released in 1980, so what I used to sing was
I know Farridah.
Then I graduated to "I know Korea", before I eventually got the lyrics.
This was one of those watch night songs.
You see, although there were power cuts back then, it was quite rare for them to last more than 5 hours. The power was usually back after one or two hours. So, if there's a power cut that has gone on for more than 5 hours (especially if they don't bring back the electricity before nightfall) then we'll know that there's a major fault.
Old Man would bring out his battery powered radio and you'll hear this kind of songs. Then they'll announce that there's a fault and tell us exactly when electricity would be restored. And they always restored it when they said that they would.
I can't find the album version, but this is the closest to it.
daveP: I still insist she's using it to take a jab and even the hyping of Bankole shows she doesn't know what she's saying too. The conclusion of what she meant you just said it now in your post. And that's why i maintain my pov on how she reasons. What is the % of FBs in the last decade that warrants such a stance from her? Are they up to 50% that can make us to now try agree with her?
She's just fanning embers for what is not under threat. In Falcons currently, fBs no even reach 7. In a few years, the ones in the team would be gone. And homebased will take over. FBs are the exceptions right now. If they're getting raves, it is because they're good. For now, foolish move by her.
naptu2: No, I'm not arguing about all that. I believe that Nigerians that are born abroad are Nigerians and have every right to play for Nigeria, just like other Nigerians and I believe that this does not stop the football authorities from having developmental programmes here in Nigeria. Everybody should compete for positions and the best person should be selected, no matter where he or she was born.
I'm just pointing out that she was referring to the U-17 coach, not the Super Falcons coach.
In this case, I am clarifying that she is talking about home based players being developed from U-17 and U-20 into the Super Falcons vs foreign born players being called up to the Super Falcons.
daveP: Naaah. It doesn't stick. Our u17 has been almost 100% homebased. Infact I can't remember a foreign born at u17 level. For u20, na Dike i remember and like other Nigerians that love talents, we still can't forget Courtney till date. She came, saw and showed us her worth. Just 1. Atterval in 2022 didn't even get minutes. Just 1 spot for her. That's why Simeone's treatment didn't make sense. She was eager to rep. She was demoted to u17 and still didn't get picked.
And then Ngozi sat, looked and thought this was sensible to drop a poll for when FBs are just getting binary numbers slots on the cadet teams? 😂
She's actually dumber than i thought and that's why I don't think it is about Flamingos. And if it is indeed about the flamingos, then she needs to goan learn statistics all over again cos it is not making sense. But one conclusion, dumb!!!
Kai!
Calm down, click on the link, read and understand. Don't be in a rush to react.
She posted a video reel of the U-17 team. She said that they were good and well coached. She said that she and many others came up from the U-17 and U-20. She was calling on the NFF to groom home based players from the U-17 and U-20 into the Super Falcons, rather than bringing in foreign born players into the Super Falcons.
Click on the link, watch the video, read the post, calm down and understand.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, this morning, received the United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary, Mr. David Lammy (@DavidLammy), in courtesy call to the State House in Marina. Mr. Lammy arrived Nigeria on Sunday in his first trip to Africa to discuss UK’s new approach to the continent.
Foreign Affairs › Re: Snipers On Roofs And US Election Staff In Bulletproof Vests by naptu2(op): 1:48pm On Nov 05, 2024*. Modified: 2:08pm On Nov 05, 2024
