Wednesday, January 15, 2020

15 January - Blogs I'm Following - 5 of 5

10 pm MST

As Iran Missiles Were Landing At Ain al-Asad Air Base In Iraq, The U.S. Military Lost Contact With Seven Of Their Drones

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 21 hours ago
A US soldier walks past a drone at the Ain al-Asad airbase in the western Iraqi province of Anbar (AFP Photo/Ayman Henna) *AFP*: *As Iran missiles battered Iraq base, US lost eyes in sky* Ain al-Asad Air Base (Iraq) (AFP) - Moments after volleys of Iranian missiles began to batter Iraq's Ain al-Asad airbase, US soldiers at the desert facility lost contact with their ultra-powerful -- and expensive -- eyes in the sky. At the time the attack was launched at 1:35 am on January 8, the US army was flying seven unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over Iraq to monitor bases where US-led coal... more »

One Wind Farm In California

tonyheller at Real Climate Science - 21 hours ago

Winter Of Their Discontent

tonyheller at Real Climate Science - 21 hours ago

Midnight Meme Of The Day!

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 21 hours ago
*by Noah* Hey Kids, it's Snifty McGrifter! Idol of the 63 Million! The white power man with the orange powder face! The man with his all tiny fingers on all the bigly buttons! Now, don't you fret, "All is well!"

River Surfing Makes a Splash in the Midwest

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 21 hours ago
[image: Shannon Thomas surfing at the annual Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience festival in Dayton, Ohio in 2018. Photo - Dylan Isaccs] This is inspired and provides a welcome alternative genesis for all decommissioned river dams out there. All of a sudden, actual full removal is no longer necessary as such. Instead you can reshape the whole structure to provide a working spillway that provides a real surfing environment along with restored biological access as well. Thus a thriving visitor asset. This is actually going to be a big thing as all these water ways do need to st... more »

Vaccine McCarthyism is rooted in pseudoscience and false conclusions

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 21 hours ago
The fundamental problem is largely historic and that is also highly suspect as well. The original MEME was floated in a sea of medical ignorance and actual empirical successes encouraged lucrative imitation which has now become endemic in itself. All of which has taken the carrier chemicals over the safety thresholds. It turns out that we have plenty of serious negative science here. In the meantime, the industry is attempting to salvage their failing business model by lying. This is progressively becoming more and more public. The law suits are starting to fly as well.... more »

Giraffes - A tall drink of water

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 21 hours ago
The continent of Africa still retains a population of large animals. Working with those animals will become increasingly important. They all need to be integrated into agricultural modalities on every continent. That has usually meant promoting one subspecies against clear competitors. Thus we see an obvious future for moose, caribou and red deer. The rest is not so sure. Africa has the big ones and all that requires formal shepherding to work properly and all that demands successful mind to mind communication as has already been demonstrated. We now also understand mob gra... more »

Harry And Meghan Exit: The Royal Family Propaganda Machine

Binoy KAMPMARK at OrientalReview.org - 21 hours ago
Royal gossip is worth its weight in gold on the British media circuit. Buckingham Palace knows that, and seeks to control, as much as it can, the way that gold is distributed. Much of this was in evidence at the bungling, cringe-worthy performance of Prince Andrew, whose powers of recollection […]

At UC Irvine, Iranian Students Worry For Their Families

Sara Weissman at Diverse - 21 hours ago
Iranian and Iranian American students at the University of California Irvine mourn victims of the Ukrainian plane crash and wonder what's next amidst rising tensions between Iran and the United States.

Report Details Liberal Arts Education ROI

cmaadmin at Diverse - 21 hours ago
A new report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) examines how the degrees that liberal arts colleges confer have substantial returns on investment (ROI) in the long-term. According to the report, when the ROI of recent graduates are compared, those who graduated from job-specific programs outperform those who pursued courses of study at a liberal arts college. But when compared 40 years down the line, the median ROI for liberal arts colleges significantly outperforms the median ROI of all colleges.

Injured sea turtle learning to swim again after vets create prosthetic flipper

Just In - 22 hours ago
Goody, an endangered sea turtle which lost a flipper in an encounter with a fishing net, is swimming again with the help of a prosthetic limb.

Gun shop owner admits selling weapons to underworld figures

Caitlin Dugan at Just In - 22 hours ago
Wollongong gun shop owner Shane Simpson, who fraudulently on-sold hundreds of weapons over a five-year period, including one used in an alleged Sydney murder, says he "just wanted to sure my family is going to be OK".

Friend of missing prospecting couple refuses to testify, fearing trap by police

Joanna Menagh at Just In - 22 hours ago
A man named as a suspect in the disappearance of two prospectors in remote WA is compelled to answer questions at an inquest after voicing fears his evidence may "incriminate" him.

'Bad faith': Former Trump aide Michael Flynn seeks to withdraw guilty plea

Just In - 22 hours ago
Michael Flynn, US President Donald Trump's former national security adviser, is looking to take back his guilty plea in Robert Mueller's investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Farmers grateful for $75k bushfire grant, but worried it's not enough

Luisa Rubbo And Tim Fookes at Just In - 22 hours ago
Already on the back foot from the ongoing drought, bushfire-affected farmers are worried the $75,000 bushfire grant will not be enough to keep going.

Fire-ravaged environment may 'never recover', expert warns

David Claughton at Just In - 22 hours ago
As the mega-fire continues to burn in the World Heritage Blue Mountains near Sydney, some of the region's unique plants and animals may have been "completely wiped out".

Jeanswest collapses into voluntary administration, 988 jobs at risk

Stephanie Chalmers at Just In - 22 hours ago
Australian-founded, Hong Kong-owned denim label Jeanswest is the latest retailer to enter voluntary administration, with the future of its 146 stores uncertain.

'Tasmania's in a better place than it was before': Voters react to Hodgman's resignation

Emily Baker at Just In - 22 hours ago
Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman called a surprise press conference on Tuesday afternoon to announce his resignation and voters have mixed reactions.

I'm struggling to breathe with all the bushfire smoke. Could I have undiagnosed asthma?

Just In - 22 hours ago
As bushfire smoke continues to pollute the air of large parts of Australia's eastern states, some symptoms could actually be a sign of undiagnosed asthma. Here's what you need to know, writes Christine Jenkins.

Gayle Woodford's employer admits ignoring police advice for nurses not to work alone

Claire Campbell at Just In - 22 hours ago
An outback health service provider never undertook a risk assessment for its nurses before Gayle Woodford was raped and murdered, despite senior police advising against nurses working alone, an inquest is told.

Only eating 'one steamed bun per day', a Chinese student dies after suffering severe malnutrition

Samuel Yang at Just In - 22 hours ago
The sudden death of 24-year-old student Wu Huayan, who was trying to save money to help her sick brother, sparks nationwide outrage over whether more could have been done to save her.

Bridget McKenzie defends actions after audit finds 'biased' use of sports grants

Jack Snape at Just In - 22 hours ago
A contentious $100 million pre-election cash splash by the Federal Government was focused on marginal and target seats, the auditor-general says in a report raising the prospect the entire scheme was illegal.

Trump unloads on Apple for refusing to unlock phones of 'killers'

Just In - 22 hours ago
While his Democratic rivals were having a debate amongst themselves, US President Donald Trump fired up Twitter and went after tech company Apple over the inability to break the encryption of criminals' phones.

'One shot and that's it': Teen's leg amputated at accident scene after it gets stuck in winch

David Chen at Just In - 22 hours ago
Ned Desbrow was operating equipment at a property in Tara north-west of Brisbane when his leg became entwined on a winch drum. Rescuers amputated his leg at the scene and say his recovery is remarkable.

Scheduled arrival of jumbo water-bombers to fight fires hits a snag

Will Jackson And Andrew Greene at Just In - 22 hours ago
The arrival from the United States of the first two of four air tankers promised by Prime Minister Scott Morrison to help with national firefighting efforts is delayed by tornadoes in Alabama and an erupting volcano in the Philippines.

NSW police find three children mistakenly reported missing in Sydney's west

Kathleen Calderwood at Just In - 22 hours ago
Police find three children who were in a car initially believed stolen from Carramar in Sydney's west.

The U.S. Navy Wants More Money

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 22 hours ago
The fleet replenishment oiler USNS Henry J. Kaiser (T-AO-187) refuels the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) and the guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG 76) during a replenishment-at-sea. Mass Communications Specialist Seaman Chanel L. Turner *Defense One: **The US Navy Needs More Money, Its Top Admiral Bluntly Argues * The sea service is pushing for a fleet of 355 ships in the next decade, and that’s not counting unmanned vessels. The U.S. Navy needs more money for warships — perhaps tens of billions of dollars more over the next decade — if it is to keep pace... more »

Australian Daily Wind Power Generation Data – Tuesday 14th January 2020

TonyfromOz at PA Pundits – International - 22 hours ago
By Anton Lang ~ This Post details the daily wind power generation data for the AEMO coverage area in Australia. For the background information, refer to the Introductory Post at this link. Each image is shown here at a smaller size to fit on the page alongside the data for that day. If you click […]

Top Tech Journo Swisher Calls Rupert Murdoch ‘Uncle Satan’

PA Pundits - International at PA Pundits – International - 22 hours ago
By Alexander Hall ~ One of the internet’s foremost tech journalists blasted the owner of Fox News and The Wall Street Journal as the “largest menace to the modern world.” Recode co-founder and New York Times contributor Kara Swisher wrote in a tweet on Jan. 8, 2020, “If you had to pick one person who […]

The Green Assault On Home Ownership

PA Pundits - International at PA Pundits – International - 22 hours ago
By Duggan Flanakin ~ With millennials postponing or wholly ignoring marriage while dealing with heavy student loan debt and greater mobility, home ownership for many Americans under 35 may not be as important a goal as it has been for the entirety of the American experiment. Higher prices even for entry-level homes may also be a […]

3 quotes that defined the first Democratic debate of 2020

Pearl Dowe, Acting Professor of Political Science and African American Studies at Oxford College, Emory University at Politics + Society – The Conversation - 22 hours ago
At the Jan. 14 debate, held at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, six candidates clashed on jobs, Iran and more.

Tweets For Today

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 22 hours ago
Iran's propaganda depicts an IRGC officer on trial for failing to shoot down a US missile — b/c it might be a passenger jet. By implication, the strike on the Ukrainian plane was an understandable and forgivable mistake made by patriots doing their duty. pic.twitter.com/3bwVzSGHZT — Mike (@Doranimated) January 15, 2020 Person who took video showing missile hitting Ukrainian passenger jet over Tehran arrested – Fars News Agency pic.twitter.com/pTL1Y13aSZ — TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) January 15, 2020 Lebanon security forces fire tear gas, clash with protesters near central bank... more »

Craig Wright claims to have received $10 billion

LuboÅ¡ Motl at The Reference Frame - 22 hours ago
...it's more likely that he is Satoshi... The prices of cryptocurrencies have increased by something of order 10% in a recent day or two. The total capitalization is $238 billion at this moment, the BTC Bitcoin is 66.4% of it i.e. $158 billion. It's followed by Ethereum at $18 billion, Ripple at $10 billion and... BSV (Bitcoin Satoshi Vision) championed and engineered by Craig Wright has become the 4th cryptocurrency by capitalization, over $6 billion right now (since Christmas, its price has quadrupled). The fifth is the old Bitcoin Cash (it jumped above BSV some hours after this te... more »

USDA’s food safety triumvirate had a lot of visitors this past year

Dan Flynn at Food Safety News - 22 hours ago
Each member of the triumvirate responsible for food safety at USDA brings something unique to the department’s leadership. Deputy Under Secretary Mindy Brashears is a top food scientist. FSIS Administrator Carmen Rottenberg is an experienced government lawyer. And Deputy FSIS Administrator Paul Kiecker has, during the past 30 years, held almost every job in the... Continue Reading

Backer told to recall beer linked to poisoning in Brazil

News Desk at Food Safety News - 22 hours ago
Seventeen people are suspected to have been poisoned and one person has died in Brazil after drinking beer. Sixteen males and one female aged 23 to 76 years old are thought to have suffered diethylene glycol poisoning. Four cases have been confirmed and the remaining 13 are under investigation as they have showed similar symptoms,... Continue Reading

2020 Food Safety Summit aims to address emerging issues

News Desk at Food Safety News - 22 hours ago
Food safety isn’t just about rules and regs and corporate bottom lines. It’s about public trust and safety and that’s going to be a primary focus at the 22nd annual Food Safety Summit. “Every day millions of people trust food safety professionals with their health and well being at dinner tables across the country,” said Scott... Continue Reading

ANSES finds system to monitor chemicals in food largely effective

Joe Whitworth at Food Safety News - 22 hours ago
The system for monitoring chemical contamination of food in France works well most of the time but has some gaps, according to ANSES. The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) assessed the surveillance and control scheme in place between 2010 and 2014 for inorganic and organic contaminants excluding toxins, mycotoxins,... Continue Reading

Letter to the Editor: Line speeds, worker safety are real concerns

Guest Contributor at Food Safety News - 22 hours ago
Opinion Editor Dan Flynn’s Jan. 12 letter supporting the USDA’s new swine slaughter rule perpetuates so many falsehoods, it merits a lengthy response. Among other things, the new rule removes all line speed limits in pig slaughter plants. Despite Flynn’s claims, which were based on his visit to a veal plant in the Netherlands that... Continue Reading

Why Isn't the Iran-Trump Showdown Making Oil Prices Spike?

Scott L. Montgomery at The National Interest - 23 hours ago
*Scott L. Montgomery* *Security, Middle East* [image: Reuters] Spigots still open: Despite rising tensions, oil is flowing and meeting demand. Assassinations, militaries on high alert, geopolitical tensions at the boil. Any one of these in Persian Gulf countries would have roiled oil prices a few years ago. Today, even in combination, they hardly register. Is the oil market now so secure that even the prospect of war between Iran and the U.S. has little effect? More broadly, is this relatively sanguine response warranted at this time? *Reasons oil traders should be nervous* The... more »

Chairman Mao Wanted To Invade Taiwan

Ian Easton at The National Interest - 23 hours ago
*Ian Easton* *Security, Asia* [image: https://pictures.reuters.com/archive/CHINA-TIANANMEN-CENSORSHIP-RC1B4160D0F0.html] So why didn't he? *Key Point:* Sometimes events don't go the way you want. In the summer of 1949, Chiang Kai-shek and his Republic of China (ROC) government appeared doomed. Shanghai and Nanjing, then China’s capital city, had fallen to Mao Zedong's communist forces, and Chiang's units all over China were collapsing under the weight of mass attack and defections. Southeastern China's harbors were clogged with ships ferrying ROC government officials, troops an... more »

This 1 Country Makes Submarines Tough, Stealthy, and Cheap (Not America)

Sebastien Roblin at The National Interest - 23 hours ago
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, Europe* The Swedish Navy is nothing to balk at. *Key Point:* Sweden already has excellent submarines, and they're working on a new, even better design. For decades, submarines came in two discrete flavors: traditional diesel-electric submarines that need to surface every day or two to recharge their noisy, air-breathing diesel engines, and nuclear-powered submarines that could quietly hum along under the sea at relatively high speeds for months at a time thanks to their nuclear reactors. The downside to the nuclear-powered variety, of course, is tha... more »

U.S. Navy Is Fast-Tracking Its New Weapons

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 23 hours ago
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98) and USS Farragut (DDG 99) transit the Atlantic Ocean - file photo. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael H. Lehman/Released) *FOX News/Warrior Maven*: *Navy strategy fast-tracks new weapons for 'offensive' attack* Arlington, Va.- Senior Navy leaders say the service is fast-tracking a handful of key emerging weapons systems such as new destroyers, Tomahawk missiles, lasers and hypersonics as part of a new “offensive attack” maritime combat strategy. "Today we are moving to ... more »

Quote of the Day

vonMesser at 'Nox & Friends - 23 hours ago

January 15th – 2020 Presidential Politics – Trump Administration Day #1091

sundance at The Last Refuge - 23 hours ago
In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Donald Trump Administration and … Continue reading →

Wednesday January 15th – Open Thread

sundance at The Last Refuge - 23 hours ago
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those … Continue reading →

Laura Ingraham Blocks Devin Nunes from Discussing Mary McCord Working With Adam Schiff…

sundance at The Last Refuge - 23 hours ago
Do Laura Ingraham and Mary McCord have a history together in/around Washington DC schools, law firms, clerks, social circles etc? Because obviously Ingraham doesn’t want Devin Nunes to discuss the revelations about former DOJ-NSD head Mary McCord now working with … Continue reading →

Treasury Secretary Mnuchin Discusses U.S-China “Phase-One” Trade Reforms – Compliance Standards…

sundance at The Last Refuge - 23 hours ago
U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin appears on FOX Business to discuss the U.S-China ‘phase-one’ trade agreement, the benefits, enforcement mechanisms and retention of tariffs and particular sanctions until compliance can be reviewed. Phase-1 establishes the baselines; resets the ability of … Continue reading →

A Little-Noted Trump Administration Success: Food Stamps

Francis Menton at Manhattan Contrarian - 23 hours ago
* Your impressions of the successes or failures of the Trump administration very likely correlate closely with the things that have been the focus of the news cycle: Russia!, immigration, the border, the Wall, the economy, unemployment, Supreme Court justices, etc.; and lately, Ukraine and Iran. * But among the notable successes of the last few years, there are some that have been much less the focus of the news. One of those is food stamps. Of course, depending on your political views, you may not consider this a success. * The number of people enrolled in the food stamp program has... more »

Picture Of The Day

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 23 hours ago
Students walk around, instead of across, U.S. and Israeli flags at the Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran, Iran. Courtesy of @MAMLEKATE/via REUTERS *WNU Editor*: The above picture came form this photo-gallery .... *Editor's Choice Pictures *(Reuters).

Trump’s Threat to Freeze Iraq’s US Bank Account Over Request to Withdraw Troops is Pure Mobster-Style Intimidation

mosesman at Socio-Economics History Blog - 1 day ago
Trump revealing the true face of American exceptionalism, push for “Democracy” BULLSHIT!! – Trump’s Threat to Freeze Iraq’s US Bank Account Over Request to Withdraw Troops is Pure Mobster-Style Intimidation by Danielle Ryan, https://www.rt.com/ Donald Trump’s threat to cut off Iraq’s access to its account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York if Baghdad …

President Trump Accuses Apple Of Refusing To Unlock iPhones Used By 'Killers And Drug Dealers'

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 day ago
*Daily Mail:* *Trump accuses Apple of refusing to unlock iPhones used by 'killers and drug dealers' after AG Bill Barr demanded it gives access to phones of Pensacola Navy base gunman* * President Donald Trump attacked Apple on Twitter Tuesday * He said Apple officials 'refuse to unlock phones used by killers, drug dealers and other violent criminal elements' * 'They will have to step up and help our great Country, NOW!' he added * The tweet came the day after Attorney General William Barr urged Apple to help FBI investigators crack two iPhones used by gunman Mohammed Alshamrani * ... more »

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