Saturday, December 28, 2019

28 December - Blogs I'm Following - 4 of 5

10 pm MST

You're Delusional If You Think Trump Has A Patriotic Bone In His Body

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 16 hours ago
One of the things the newest survey by YouGov for *The Economist* looked at is how American voters perceive Trump personally. Most of it made sense. Just 33%-- his base basically-- see him as either outstanding or above average. 49% see him as poor (40%) or below average (9%). A majority of voters say his regime isn’t transparent and that Trump himself does not set a high moral standard. A large plurality say he uses his office to enrich family and friends and 53% view him unfavorably while just 40% have a favorable opinion of him. Most of his allies are mostly viewed negatively o... more »

Don Imus Passes Away at 79

Age of Autism at AGE OF AUTISM - 16 hours ago
Join us in sending condolences to Deirdre Imus and her son on the passing of Don Imus. Imus in the Morning was one of the only mainstream programs that gave many of us a platform. Dan Olmsted and Mark Blaxill... more »

Lyons-Weiler's Reponse to Skeptical Raptor on Aluminum Dosing in Pediatric Vaccines

Age of Autism at AGE OF AUTISM - 16 hours ago
Below is an excerpt from Dr. James Lyons-Weiler's response to a vaccine injury denials acolyte blogger who calls himself "Skeptical Raptor. " One might accurately call this an exquisite dissection. If one were so inclined. Aluminum Pediatric Dosing in Vaccines:... more »

Grossman & Gagnon discuss colonizing Mars & Space Force

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 16 hours ago
Listen to "Saying NO to the militarization of space" on Spreaker. See Karl Grossman's latest article on Space Force in Common Dreams *here *

Best wishes in the New Year!

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 16 hours ago

Complex Global Smuggling Networks Underpin Heroin and Cocaine Markets

miningawareness at Mining Awareness + - 16 hours ago
Excerpt from UN “World Drug Report 2019“: “Complex global smuggling networks underpin heroin and cocaine markets The Balkan route remains … Continue reading →

The 5 Best Guns and Rifles for Target Shooting on the Planet

Kyle Mizokami at The National Interest - 16 hours ago
*Kyle Mizokami* *Security, * Let the debate begin. If the old phrase “only accurate guns are interesting” is true, then target pistols are the most interesting guns of all. Target pistols are highly specialized guns that have only one overriding requirement: accuracy. Weight, concealability, energy on target, and other factors useful in judging most guns go out the window. Unlike other guns, for example, it can be very useful for a target gun to be very heavy, resulting in a weapon that is impractical for everyday use but a rock-solid shooting platform. Here are five typical tar... more »

The Repair Bill for Russia's Aircraft Carrier: $1.5 Billion?

Michael Peck at The National Interest - 16 hours ago
*Michael Peck* *Security, Europe* It is even worth fixing at this point? The price tag for repairing Russia’s only aircraft carrier keep growing. The cost to repair damage from the December 12, 2019, fire may be 95 billion rubles (US$1.5 billion), according to Russian business newspaper Kommersant, citing an unnamed source in the Northern Fleet. “This is not only about damage to the structures of the aircraft carrier, but also about damaged repair equipment and failed military and civilian specialists due to injuries,” the source said. The fire occurred when a cable was set abla... more »

5 Reasons No One Can Beat the U.S. Army in a War

Michael Peck at The National Interest - 16 hours ago
*Michael Peck* *Security, * And put fear into its enemies. *Key point: *Today's U.S. Army can generate an astonishing amount of firepower When it comes to lethal weapons, the U.S. Army has no shortage. Some may be too expensive, some too complex and others may be desired by politicians and defense contractors, but not the troops on the field. Nonetheless, today's U.S. Army can generate an astonishing amount of firepower and deliver it in a variety of settings from small-war counterinsurgency to big-war mechanized combat. With that in mind, here are five of the best U.S. Army we... more »

Sig Sauer P320: The Only Gun Better Than a Glock?

Charlie Gao at The National Interest - 16 hours ago
*Charlie Gao* *Security, * Sig Sauer’s P320 is perhaps Glock’s most successful competitor in the world of striker-fired polymer-framed handguns. It might also represent the first truly successful clean-slate design by Sig Sauer, Inc. But what makes the P320 the most successful competitor? Sig Sauer’s P320 is perhaps Glock’s most successful competitor in the world of striker-fired polymer-framed handguns. It might also represent the first truly successful clean-slate design by Sig Sauer, Inc. But what makes the P320 the most successful competitor? It likely comes down to the P320... more »

Like .45 Caliber Handguns? These Are The Best Of The Best

Kyle Mizokami at The National Interest - 16 hours ago
*Kyle Mizokami* *Security, * The list you need. *Key point: *Today, advances in bullet technology means a 9mm round can deliver as much energy as the .45 ACP. The .45 Automatic Colt Pistol round, or .45 ACP as it is commonly known, is fairly controversial. Invented in 1905 by prolific firearms designer John Moses Browning, the .45 ACP was the standard caliber of the Colt M1911 pistol, and remains so to this day. A heavy, subsonic bullet, a typical .45 ACP weighs twice as much as the 9mm Luger round and delivers a third more energy. Today, advances in bullet technology means a 9... more »

Back in 2017, Did A Russian-Made Missile Hit An Israeli F-35?

Michael Peck at The National Interest - 16 hours ago
*Michael Peck* *Security, * What would that mean for America? *Key point: *Given that the U.S. and Israeli air forces are among the most active in the world, sooner or later the F-35 will really, truly see combat. Did a Russian anti-aircraft missile hit one of Israel’s new F-35 stealth fighters a few years ago? Pro-Russian media claimed that an Israeli F-35I was hit and damaged by a Russian-made S-200 surface-to-air missile during an Israeli air strike in Syria earlier this month. Israel says one of its F-35s was damaged—after colliding with a bird. The story begins on October... more »

Untitled

jonjayray at EDUCATION WATCH INTERNATIONAL - 16 hours ago
*At Some Colleges, It’s OK to Be White Again* Inside Higher Ed reports that “It’s OK to Be White” posters have appeared on more campuses: The posters, which also appeared a year ago at this time, are put up without permission [from college officials]. Posters have been seen this year at Christopher Newport University, East Tennessee State University, Oklahoma City University’s law school, Susquehanna University, and Western Connecticut State University. The sentiment that “it’s OK to be white” is obviously protected by the First Amendment. But at Western Connecticut State Univer... more »

Untitled

JR at GREENIE WATCH - 16 hours ago
*Record hit for most ice to melt in Antarctica in one day* *The "data" comes from a model (which starts in 1979 only) so is not data at all, just guesswork. And generalizing from one instance is in any case close to brain-deadWhat seems to be happening is that the Antarctic ice sheet is the big frustration for Warmists -- as it is if anything gaining mass -- so this one little glimmer of melting is seized on eagerly, making a mountain out of a pimple* The record in recent decades for the highest level of ice to melt in Antarctica in one day was reached on Christmas Eve, data s... more »

Ian Lavery Should Not Stand

Phil at All That Is Solid ... - 16 hours ago
There's a petition doing the rounds asking Ian Lavery, chair of the Labour Party, to put his name forward to succeed Jeremy Corbyn. Politically speaking, you might ask, why not? Unlike some would-be contenders, Ian stood by Corbyn when the parliamentary party came for him and, crucially, he rebelled against the whip imposed by Harriet Harman to abstain on Tory welfare cuts back in 2015. Adding to his appeal, for some, is his sounding of the warning against the party adopting the second referendum as its Brexit position. Though, as we have seen, sticking with the 2017 position would... more »

Truck bomb hits security checkpoint in Somalia's capital, killing more than 70

Just In - 16 hours ago
Somali officials expect the death toll to rise after a truck bomb targets a busy security checkpoint at a tax collection centre during morning rush hour in Mogadishu.

UN condemns human rights abuses of Myanmar's Rohingya

Just In - 16 hours ago
The United Nations General Assembly has approved a resolution strongly condemning human rights abuses against Myanmar's Rohingya Muslims and other minorities, including arbitrary arrests, torture, rape and deaths in detention.

Will the climate cultists act on CO2 emissions from 139,096 undersea volcanoes

Editor, cairnsnews at Cairns News - 17 hours ago
Letter to the Editor Super volcanoes Campi Flegrei (Italy 36,000 year ago, now active again) devastate much of Europe and Yellowstone (swelling up again) produced the two biggest eruptions equal to Krakatoa; Yellowstone 640,000 years ago ejected 8,000 times more ash and lava than Mount St. Helens. Iceland volcano eruption (2012) caused havoc over […]

Links 12/28/19

Yves Smith at naked capitalism - 17 hours ago

São Paulo State’s GDP Rises One Percent from September to October, Says SEADE

Arkady Petrov at The Rio Times - 17 hours ago
SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL - São Paulo's economy is moving fast towards detaching itself from the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). From September to October alone, São Paulo State's GDP grew one percent in a free comparison of seasonal effects, according to data from the SEADE Foundation, which also recorded a 5.2 percent increase over October […] The post São Paulo State’s GDP Rises One Percent from September to October, Says SEADE appeared first on The Rio Times.

Chilean President Accuses Foreign Governments, Institutions of Influencing Protests

Juan Martinez at The Rio Times - 17 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Chilean President Sebastian Piñera insists that foreign intervention has influenced the Chilean social explosion, which erupted on October 18th calling for better social services, such as health and education. In an interview with CNN in Spanish, the president said that "the misinformation campaign, the . . . To read the […] The post Chilean President Accuses Foreign Governments, Institutions of Influencing Protests appeared first on The Rio Times.

Why Mexico Stands Out Among Latin American Markets in 2019

Juan Martinez at The Rio Times - 17 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The trade war between the United States and China, which reached the first stage of an agreement this month, and the tensions that erupted unexpectedly in Latin America, particularly in Chile, have left the environment for investment in the region rather turbulent in recent months, with repercussions on the currency […] The post Why Mexico Stands Out Among Latin American Markets in 2019 appeared first on The Rio Times.

Copacabana Hosts Monument in Honor of Ayrton Senna

Iolanda Fonseca at The Rio Times - 17 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The bronze work is the product of artist Mario Pitanguy, and will be on an 80cm podium-shaped stand, designed by engineer Anderson Pereira, for an Urban Hotel campaign. Pitanguy, who was out of the country when he was invited to sculpt the Brazilian pilot who made history in Formula 1, […] The post Copacabana Hosts Monument in Honor of Ayrton Senna appeared first on The Rio Times.

Bolsonaro in 2019: A Year of False Hope and Failures for Brazil

InfoBrics at The Duran - 17 hours ago
Promised Changes with No Achievements More The post Bolsonaro in 2019: A Year of False Hope and Failures for Brazil appeared first on The Duran.

The Republic of Ireland: a model for the world

George Callaghan at The Duran - 17 hours ago
The Irish political system often produces coalition governments. But we do not lack for stability and continuity despite that. More The post The Republic of Ireland: a model for the world appeared first on The Duran.

US president spent 2019 exploiting weaknesses of his political rivals

InfoBrics at The Duran - 17 hours ago
Mexico, China, Europe and the Democrats are the frontlines of Trump’s tussle More The post US president spent 2019 exploiting weaknesses of his political rivals appeared first on The Duran.

Are cats and dogs climate traitors?

Duggan Flanakin at CFACT - 17 hours ago
And then they came for our pets... The post Are cats and dogs climate traitors? appeared first on CFACT.

Jamaica’s Organized Crime Environment: Political Power-Patronage-Organized Crime; Drug Trafficking

miningawareness at Mining Awareness + - 18 hours ago
Cocaine trafficking 2013-17 https://wdr.unodc.org/wdr2019/prelaunch/pre-launchpresentation_WDR_2019.pdf “World Drug Report 2019 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.19.XI.8 ” https://wdr.unodc.org/wdr2019/prelaunch/WDR19_Booklet_1_EXECUTIVE_SUMMARY.pdf See map from 2011-15 … Continue reading →

South Texas Father & Son Used Racehorses to Facilitate Drug Trafficking

miningawareness at Mining Awareness + - 18 hours ago
“FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, February 25, 2019 South Texas Father and Son Admit to Using Racehorses to Facilitate Drug Trafficking … Continue reading →

Yet Another Belarusian Sent to Prison for Participating in Rally Against “Deeper Integration” with Russia

miningawareness at Mining Awareness + - 18 hours ago
From Charter’97 Press Center: “Leanid Kulakou Arrested For 10 Days 27.12.2019, 12:15 LEANID KULAKOU The European Belarus activist will celebrate … Continue reading →

2019 Patient of the Year: Brown Pelican Y41 With Severe Pouch Laceration

Russ Curtis at International Bird Rescue – Every Bird Matters - 18 hours ago
The results are in. It was a tight race, but a victor has emerged! The 2019 Patient of the Year is the Brown Pelican with the severe pouch laceration. It clearly made the biggest impact on our Bird Rescue family this year, winning 30% of the overall public vote. “…The bird’s pouch was laid open […]

North Korean Fighter Pilots Battled American Jets Over Vietnam

Sebastien Roblin at The National Interest - 18 hours ago
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, * In the year 2000, a visit by North Korea’s foreign minister to a cemetery in Bac Giang, Vietnam confirmed a long-rumored fact: dozens of North Korean pilots had dueled American Navy and Air Force pilots over the skies of Vietnam during the 1960s. And fourteen North Korean Air Force did not return alive. In the year 2000, a visit by North Korea’s foreign minister to a cemetery in Bac Giang, Vietnam confirmed a long-rumored fact: dozens of North Korean pilots had dueled American Navy and Air Force pilots over the skies of Vietnam during the 1960s. A... more »

The U.S. Military Nearly Had A Machine Gun That Could Fire 12,000 Rounds Per Minute

Joseph Trevithick at The National Interest - 18 hours ago
*Joseph Trevithick* *Technology, * Meet the Microgun. *Key point: *In 2011, General Dynamics finally stopped pitching the gun on its Website. After four decades, no one had purchased any significant number of Microguns. General Electric’s armament division struck it big when it brought Gatling guns back in the late 1950s. The company hoped it could sell different models for almost every conceivable mission. So less than a decade after introducing the iconic Minigun, the Vermont-based defense contractor developed yet another multiple-barrel light machine gun. The designers expec... more »

Video: See Russia's MiG-31 Supersonic Assassin Do What It Does Best

Mark Episkopos at The National Interest - 18 hours ago
*Mark Episkopos* *Security, * Home defense and interception. *Key point: *From its inception in the early 1980’s through to the present day, the MiG-31 has been the fastest aircraft to serve in the formerly Soviet and now Russian Air Force. From mounting hypersonic Kinzhal missiles to deploying anti-satellite technology, the Russian Air Force has big plans for their MiG-31 fighter. Recently released exercise footage of MiG-31’s intercepting an “intruder” in the stratosphere sheds further light on the capabilities and intended role of its latest incarnation, the MiG-31BM. The cl... more »

Protect The Wee Ones - A Poem by M.N. Hopkins

Stranger in a Strange Land at Stranger in a Strange Land - 18 hours ago
*Bear Woman - Blackfoot Tribe Protector of Children * *To abuse children* *Shows emotional weakness* *Protect the wee ones* *© ** 2019 M.N. Hopkins* *Note: Every form of weakness and degenerative behavior is now being encouraged and normalized by the powers that be. This poem was inspired by thoughts of this and written in the haiku form of poetry yesterday and published for the first time today , the 28th of December, 2019.* *If you were touched by this poem and would like to read more of my poetry, please click upon the link provided below:* *Poetry by M.N. Hopkins*

Nasa building supersonic plane that goes as fast as Concorde – without the sound

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 18 hours ago
Interesting. This could well make Concorde like trips feasible and even commonplace. It does matter to be able to land in as many airports as possible. This should have been addressed a long time ago. I reasonably had assumed that such efforts must have long since failed, but it looks like all assumed it was impossible. Now we have a quiet bird that is plausibly a couple years away from been commercial. Throw in Elon Musk's giant stainless steel rocket and the future of point to point transportation becomes bright indeed. All good. *Nasa building supersonic plane that g... more »

How to Prepare for Jail

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 18 hours ago
*[image: Image titled Prepare for Jail Step 1]* Most folks never think that this can happen, yet it is a real risk in a world of doubtful justice and inadvertent missteps long before you engage in a premeditated crime. For all that it is well to know this advice exists. This advice at least allows you to suck it up and to confront the various aspects of the situation. You want to be able to do just that. With all that you can put it behind you and again shape your future which is all that it needs to be about. In the end, it all happened to that other guy. *How to Prepare fo... more »

Could DNA-based dating rewrite the laws of attraction?

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 18 hours ago
Good luck on all this. We naturally want to hybridize by matching up with dissimilar genetics. The real question is whether or not we can produce mutually superior children and that may well be enhanced with fairly similar genetic histories, such as Irish marrying Irish. The real problem is that cultures do need to generally match up. Throw in the problem of psycho development issues and you get to the nub of the general problem. Psycho development needs to be formerly addressed, plausibly in our school system and early adult. Way too many damaged individuals out there and ... more »

11 Things Everybody Should Let Go of Before 2020 – Easier Said Than Done Of Course

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 18 hours ago
all of it is pretty tame of course and great practice. sit down and go for it. Otherwise take something on that you want to do and perhaps you will get there. I am going to continue training for the Camino del Santiago. At least it makes me do an extended weekly tramp with my daughter. Doing the Camino would also allow me to meditate at Lourdes at the very beginning, perhaps to pray for a safe pilgrimage. These are all worthy ambitions that i recommend to all. We are all on a path we chose before we were born. Take advantage of it. . *11 Things Everybody Should Let Go of ... more »

Charles Moore "guest edits" 'Today'

Craig at Is the BBC biased? - 19 hours ago
Going back to a post from 23 November, here are our comments reacting to the news that Charles Moore was going to be one of the five guest editors on *Today* this Christmas alongside Lady Hale, Greta Thunberg, George the Poet and Grayson Perry: *Anonymous*: I also thought it was a joke when I read it on Guido. I am forced to think the BBC is deliberately taking the mickey and has done this just to hear all the complaints and generally wind up the "normal people" out here. Charles Moore should say "thanks, but no thanks" and not dignify this charade with his presence. *Craig*: To... more »

7 Science-Based Strategies To Boost Your Willpower and Succeed with Your New Year’s Resolutions

Yves Smith at naked capitalism - 19 hours ago
New Year's self-improvement! Tips on how to organize your life to as to improve your willpower.

Information Clearing House Headlines 27-28 December 2019

barovsky at The New Dark Age - 19 hours ago
28 December 2019 — Information Clearing House Turkey to send Syrian rebel mercenary fighters to battle Haftar in Libya By Ragip Soylu in Ankara Libyan “forces previously sent weapons and ammunition to help Syrian rebels in 2011. They even sent some commanders to help them,” – Continue ====== Turkey’s Military Intervention In Libya Might Help Syria By Moon Of … Continue reading Information Clearing House Headlines 27-28 December 2019

Study Profiles Tourists Visiting Rio de Janeiro in High Season

Iolanda Fonseca at The Rio Times - 19 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The Institute for Research and Tourism Studies of Rio de Janeiro, the Association of Tourism Ambassadors of Rio de Janeiro and the CIETH Technical School of Tourism conducted a survey of 1080 foreign tourists visiting Rio de Janeiro from December 1st to 26th. Coordinated by professors Bayard Boiteux and Marcos […] The post Study Profiles Tourists Visiting Rio de Janeiro in High Season appeared first on The Rio Times.

Dollar Drops to R$4.05 and Closes at Lowest in Over 50 Days

Lachlan Williams at The Rio Times - 19 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - On a day of financial market optimism, the US currency closed at its lowest level in 52 days. The US dollar closed at R$4.05 on Friday, December 27th, down R$0.017 (-0.42 percent). The currency is at its lowest level since November 5th, when it was sold at R$3.993. The currency […] The post Dollar Drops to R$4.05 and Closes at Lowest in Over 50 Days appeared first on The Rio Times.

Rio de Janeiro’s Docks Break Turnover Record

Xiu Ying at The Rio Times - 19 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The turnover of over R$500 million (US$125 million) is a historical record for the CDRJ, which reached this figure only in the company's current management. According to figures released by the Company's Market Intelligence and Statistics Management, revenues were R$64 million higher than in 2018. The data also includes projections […] The post Rio de Janeiro’s Docks Break Turnover Record appeared first on The Rio Times.

Family Minister Wants to Stop Intimate Visits in Brazil’s Prisons

Adele Cardin at The Rio Times - 19 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The minister further said that she will encourage denunciations of wage inequality. The Minister of Women, Family and Human Rights, Damares Alves, states that the goal of the next three years is to redesign the rehabilitation process of juvenile offenders in the country and says she will end the option […] The post Family Minister Wants to Stop Intimate Visits in Brazil’s Prisons appeared first on The Rio Times.

Rio’s City Hall Expects 2.8 Million People in Copacabana on New Year’s Eve

Xiu Ying at The Rio Times - 19 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - On the eve of the turn of the year from 2019 to 2020 at Copacabana Beach a celebration will be held including 16.9 tons of fireworks, spread over ten rafts, in a 14-minute burst synchronized to an exclusive soundtrack, the so-called pyro-musical show. The operational plan for the New Year's […] The post Rio’s City Hall Expects 2.8 Million People in Copacabana on New Year’s Eve appeared first on The Rio Times.

Under Attack, Brazilian Culture Positively Impacts Economy with R$170 Billion in Revenue

Richard Mann at The Rio Times - 19 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - "This movie generated 800 direct and indirect jobs." With this sentence in the final credits, 'Bacurau', one of the most celebrated national films of the year, winner of the Jury Prize in Cannes, left a clear message to the government of Jair Bolsonaro, who during the first year of his […] The post Under Attack, Brazilian Culture Positively Impacts Economy with R$170 Billion in Revenue appeared first on The Rio Times.

Brazil’s Federal Investment Spending Accumulated a 16.3 Percent Drop This Year

Lachlan Williams at The Rio Times - 19 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Amid the growth in compulsory spending, investments - construction and equipment purchases - accumulated a drop in 2019. According to figures released yesterday, December 27th, by the National Treasury, investments totaled R$35.2 billion from January to November, down 16.3 percent in relation to the same period last year, discounting official […] The post Brazil’s Federal Investment Spending Accumulated a 16.3 Percent Drop This Year appeared first on The Rio Times.

Brazilian Companies’ Initial Public Offerings’ Shares Rise by up to 185 Percent

Richard Mann at The Rio Times - 19 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Record after record, the IBOVESPA exceeded 117,000 points this week, accumulating a return of over 33 percent for the year. But those who invested in companies that went public in 2019 had, in most cases, a return above the main stock index. Of the seven Brazilian companies that went public […] The post Brazilian Companies’ Initial Public Offerings’ Shares Rise by up to 185 Percent appeared first on The Rio Times.

What’s Really Behind Estonia’s ‘Border Dispute’ With Russia?

Andrew KORYBKO at OrientalReview.org - 19 hours ago
The tiny Baltic nation of Estonia is attempting to revive a so-called “border dispute” with Russia in order to position itself as one of NATO’s “frontline states” against the Eurasian Great Power, which Tallinn expects will result in more military support from the bloc that its ruling party could then […]

Cummins's brilliance brutally exposes New Zealand's failings

Simon Smale at Just In - 19 hours ago
Pat Cummins' five-wicket haul puts Australia into an insurmountable position at the MCG, continuing New Zealand's failings with the bat amid another DRS controversy.

Olivia Newton-John, Sir Elton John make Queen's New Year honours list

Just In - 19 hours ago
More than 1,000 people were honoured in this year's New Year honours list, with the majority being recognised for outstanding work in their communities. Here are some of the more famous names to have made the list.

Cummins masterclass sets Australia up for big win at MCG

James Maasdorp And Dan Colasimone at Just In - 19 hours ago
Australia is primed for a big, series-clinching win in the second Test against New Zealand after skittling the tourists for just 148 at the MCG.

My grandma is... an old environmental pig?

Luboš Motl at The Reference Frame - 19 hours ago
Just like in the 1930s when the German Nazis were getting increasingly self-confident and brutal in their behavior, many of us in Czechia are increasingly worried about the evolution of the public mood in West Germany and other countries in the geographic West. We are watching these developments from the perspective of our relative – perhaps temporary – safety. The Czech President Mr Miloš Zeman dedicated most of his traditional annual Christmas speech to the climate hysteria. He labeled himself a climate heretic, mentioned the climate change in recent billions of years, and recomme... more »

Reports Of Patients’ Deaths Linked To Heart Devices Lurk Below Radar

Yves Smith at naked capitalism - 20 hours ago
Another KHN scoop on how the FDA has been hiding reports of bad outcomes with medical devices, in this case, ones for heart disease.

The F-8 Crusader Almost Became The Navy's Top Cold War Fighter (Here's Why It Didn't)

Michael Peck at The National Interest - 20 hours ago
*Michael Peck* *Security, * The Navy ultimately chose the F-4 Phantom as its carrier-based fighter. Why? *Key point: *The F-4 was so remarkably adaptable and tough that the last U.S. military Phantom wasn't retired until December 2016. Had things gone differently, the U.S. Navy's top Cold War fighter jet could have been the F-8 Crusader instead of the F-4 Phantom. But not the legendary Crusader that bested MiGs over North Vietnam. Instead, it would have been the XF8U-3, dubbed the Crusader III or the “Super Crusader,” a bigger, badder version of the F8U Crusader that the Navy fl... more »

This Is How America's F-22 Raptors Would Take On China's Air Force

David Axe at The National Interest - 20 hours ago
*David Axe* *Security, Asia* Who would win? *Key point:* It's an innovation born of necessity. The U.S. Air Force is rewriting its war plan for the Pacific, the flying branch's new commander for the region told reporters at the Pentagon in late November. Gen. Charles Brown, commander of Pacific Air Forces, said he wants smaller groups of U.S. warplanes to rapidly move between bases in order to frustrate an adversary, and to do so while the enemy -- that is, China -- is jamming American communications. "How do we move small packages around pretty quickly to complicate things fo... more »

The Essex-Class Aircraft Carrier May Be Retired, But It Was The Best Of Its Generation

Sebastien Roblin at The National Interest - 20 hours ago
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, * A true champion of U.S. naval power. *Key point: *The decades of operational service provided by the venerable carriers testified both to the robustness of their design, and their effectiveness as platforms of the U.S. naval power. Perhaps no vessel embodies the U.S. Navy’s embrace of the aircraft carrier as the centerpiece of its strategy as the *Essex*-class carrier. Between 1943 and 1950, twenty-four of the thirty-thousand-ton carriers were built at shipyards in Newport News, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Norfolk and Braintree—some completed in as fe... more »

Want To Pilot America's F-35 Stealth Fighter?

Mark Episkopos at The National Interest - 20 hours ago
*Mark Episkopos* *Security, * This video gives a hint. *Key point: *F-35 instructors don’t see prior piloting experience as an advantage. America’s fifth-generation F-35 fighter has occupied the headlines largely for its technical progress, and rightly so; from *weapons systems *to *radar technology*, there’s a lot to write about. Particularly popular-- and not always *positive*-- are cost analyses, but these often gloss over a different kind of human cost: the grueling years of study and training required to pilot an advanced modern fighter like the F-35. Putting a human face ... more »

Report: See The Results Of The Air Force's F-35 vs. F-16 Dogfight

David Axe at The National Interest - 20 hours ago
*David Axe* *Security, * This is why the military trains. *Key point: *The F-35 can be sluggish compared to the F-16. Its pilots primarily train to fight long-range air battles using beyond-visual-range missiles. The same week that U.S. Air Force F-35A stealth fighters *dropped their first bombs in combat*, F-35s from the same Utah base took part in a sprawling aerial war game involving dozens of warplanes flying more than 100 missions. The exercise over Hill Air Force Base underscored the growing role of the F-35 in USAF training and operations. Despite the new fighter’s low ... more »

Militants attempt to bomb Hama Airport in northwest Syria

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 20 hours ago
Militants tried to attack a military airfield in the Syrian city of Hama with unmanned aerial vehicles, media reported. According to the Sham FM radio broadcaster, the Syrian government troops’ air defence systems repelled the attack that took place on late Friday. Terrorists are boosting drone attacks on the Syrian government troops amid the army’s […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Libyan Army is on the verge of entering Tripoli after major advance

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 20 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (6:45 A.M.) – The spokesperson for the Libyan National Army (LNA), Major General Ahmed Al-Mismari, said on Friday December 27, that the LNA is only a few hundred meters away from the main neighborhoods of Tripoli. Al-Mismari’s statements came during an interview with RT Arabic, in which he said: “The Libyan Army is […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Several unknown rockets hit Iraqi base that houses US forces

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 20 hours ago
Several rockets have hit Iraq’s K1 military base near the city of Kirkuk on Friday, Reuters has reported, citing a statement by the Iraqi military. The base, which lies 15 km northwest of Kirkuk, houses US military forces as well as Iraqi forces from the Federal Police and Counter-Terrorism Service, the agency says, citing security […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

The Daily Brief 2019-12-26

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 20 hours ago
This is a summary of 10 AMN articles on the following subjects: Aleppo, Idlib, Syria, Erdogan, Libya, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Latakia, Assad, Palestine, Mediterranean, Russia, Raqqa, LNA. Categories covered in this brief: Syria, North-Africa, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine Let us know how you like this brief in the comments below. — The AMN […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Musical Interlude: Leonard Cohen, “Everybody Knows”

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 20 hours ago
Leonard Cohen, “Everybody Knows”

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