Wednesday, January 22, 2020

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

10 pm MST

Midnight Meme Of The Day!

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 21 hours ago
*by Noah* Moscow's Mayor Rudy Giuliani is one of those knuckle-dragging goons that craves being the center of attention. He can't live without it. So much so he's practically demanding now to be a witness at the impeachment trial of his even more bonkers buddy. Rudy just has to get out there and be in front of the cameras. I mean, can you imagine what he must be like at home, away from public view? This guy is literally bouncing off the walls and probably the ceiling too, all hand gestures, screaming and spraying rivers of saliva all over the floor. His couch is probably a reeking... more »

University forced to dump coal conference over planned climate blockade

Timothy Fernandez at Just In - 21 hours ago
The University of Wollongong will no longer host a controversial coal conference following threats of mass climate protests.

PM seeks probe into Bridget McKenzie's handling of sports grants program

Jack Snape at Just In - 21 hours ago
Scott Morrison asks the head of his department to investigate whether Bridget McKenzie's handling of a contentious sports grant program breached ministerial standards.

NSW Minister tears into Red Cross for sitting on bushfire donations while victims suffer

Paige Cockburn at Just In - 21 hours ago
An emotional Andrew Constance attacks charities who have received millions in donations for not handing out relief money fast enough while traumatised bushfire victims are "on their knees" and living in tents.

Jacqui Lambie finalises 'fact-finding mission' into cashless debit card in trial regions

Isabel Moussalli And Rhiannon Stevens at Just In - 21 hours ago
Senate crossbenchers will soon decide if cashless welfare card trial payments will be extended beyond June 30 this year.

Transport solution or character-killer? Gold Coast weighs up light rail as council elections loom

Dominic Cansdale at Just In - 21 hours ago
Gold Coast residents attack the extension of light rail to Palm Beach and Burleigh during a heated public meeting, but Council is pushing ahead, saying the silent majority want the public transport project.

'Great save': Authorities praise firefighters as blaze south of Canberra brought under control

Just In - 21 hours ago
The alert level for a fire burning on the border between Canberra and Queanbeyan is downgraded after earlier threatening properties, and a police investigation into the cause of the fire is underway.

'We had to just pull off the road': Sky turns orange as massive dust storm blankets southern states

Camron Slessor at Just In - 21 hours ago
The Bureau of Meteorology says an intense dust storm sweeping across parts of SA, Victoria and NSW is now covering an estimated area of more than 275,000 square kilometres.

Lab tests show Brisbane man does not have coronavirus, Queensland Health says

Just In - 21 hours ago
A Brisbane man who was being tested for a deadly new strain of coronavirus after returning from Wuhan in central China with flu-like symptoms is cleared of having the illness, a Queensland Health spokesman says.

Rogue wombat 'Mr Bat' removed from town after multiple home invasions

Georgie Burgess at Just In - 21 hours ago
For the past 12 months the residents of a town in northern Tasmania have been hassled by a brazen night-time visitor who showed little respect for their homes, gardens, or pets.

Threat of pension poverty forcing more pensioners into part-time work to make ends meet

Carrington Clarke at Just In - 21 hours ago
More pensioners than ever are having to work part-time just to get by according to new research, with nearly 5 per cent of people on the pension now doing paid work.

Djokovic in ominous form in Australian Open second-round win, as first top-10 seed falls

Just In - 21 hours ago
The reigning men's champion overpowers Japanese wildcard Tatsuma Ito in their second-round clash, while sixth-seeded Greek and last year's surprise packet Stefanos Tsitsipas benefits from an injury withdrawal.

Mother to stand trial for attempting to pervert the course of justice over fugitive son

Melissa Maddison at Just In - 21 hours ago
The mother of one of Australia's most wanted fugitives is committed to stand trial on charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice and providing false information about her son's disappearance.

Controversial Old Mate tourism ad was deemed 'not child friendly' before release

Leah MacLennan at Just In - 21 hours ago
Market research conducted before the release of the now infamous SA tourism ad showing an old man in tears warned the campaign lacked diversity and would mostly appeal to grey nomads.

What is Davos and why are so many important people talking about it?

Just In - 21 hours ago
The Davos summit is a chance for the world's richest and most influential people to get together, but it can be an enigma to the uninitiated.

Harry lost his dog Lucia three weeks ago. This is his message for pet owners ahead of Australia Day

Yasmin Jeffery at Just In - 21 hours ago
With days to go until Australia Day, owner Harry Verveniotis is urging people with pets to make sure their animals are their main priority — as he grapples with the effects losing his dog Lucia has had on his mental health.

After Hitle… oh, I mean Trump incited a riot where he told the Neo-Brownshirts to kill Americans in America…

Brother Jonah at Not My Tribe - 21 hours ago
in short, Trump is claiming Imperial Privilege and his Fascist Goons aka RepubliKlan Cartel. The ‘president’ incited a riot in Virginia this past weekend, telling them to kill Americans in America. That’s Treason and Sedition and if McConnell and Trump wish to contest that the traitors can post a warrant.

For Too Long - A Quotation by M.N. Hopkins

Stranger in a Strange Land at Stranger in a Strange Land - 21 hours ago
*For too long a few have convinced so many that life is hard and unsatisfying and that joy can only be obtained after death or upon leaving one's physical body to a place called, Heaven. We say that, yes, heaven exists, but not only as a place, but as a state of being. For, when one opens oneself to Heaven and it's Divine energies, then one opens oneself also to the Earth and it's beauty. * *© ** M.N. Hopkins* *To read more of my poems & quotations, please click on the link below:* *Poems & Quotations by M.N. Hopkins* *or visit:* *Pinterest*

See With Eyes Of Beauty & Light - A Poem by M.N. Hopkins

Stranger in a Strange Land at Stranger in a Strange Land - 21 hours ago
*To read more of my poems, please click on the link below:* *Poems by M.N. Hopkins*

The U.K. Does Not Have Enough Ships To Escort Its Aircraft Carriers

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 21 hours ago
*David Axe, National Interest:* *The Royal Navy’s New Aircraft Carriers Are Eating the Fleet* The Royal Navy in late 2019 announced the composition of its first-ever aircraft carrier battle group. And it’s both good and bad news for the storied fleet. Good news because the Royal Navy just barely should be able to generate all the ships and planes it need to deploy an entirely British battle group. Bad news because frequent deployments with the same mix of ships clearly is unsustainable as the Royal Navy shrinks, the inevitable result of decades of declining budgets. HMS Queen El... more »

Onward Over Yonder Cliff.....

Diogenes Sarcastica™ at Diogenes' Middle Finger - 22 hours ago
Julius Caesar is purported to have said "*alea iacta est" *(translation: *The die is cast*.) when his armies crossed the Rubicon river. (The only living witness to this is Brian Williams, so we have to take his word for it.) Caesar, who at the time was in the midst of fighting the Roman Civil War, had taken his armies beyond what was then the northern boundary of Italy in defiance of the Roman Senate Guys. At that point, he knew he’d reached the point of no return. This is where “*crossing the Rubicon*” comes from, as well, but there’s no better way to wax pseudo-intellectually ... more »

Tweets For Today

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 22 hours ago
New China virus 'could mutate and spread further' https://t.co/tXttzVDe5C — Mike Walker (@New_Narrative) January 22, 2020 Factbox: Major severe coronavirus outbreaks in the past 20 years https://t.co/lca1UUUYBz pic.twitter.com/JZz8Ayrvee — Reuters (@Reuters) January 22, 2020 AP PHOTOS: Auschwitz survivors will return to the former German Nazi death camp next week to mark the 75th anniversary of its liberation by Soviet troops. @AP photographer Markus Schreiber recently visited the site with a panoramic film camera. Full story: https://t.co/skx2zV01BO pic.twitter.com/FWzea9s5my... more »

America Versus China in the South China Sea: An Unwinnable Game

Hu Bo at The National Interest - 22 hours ago
*Hu Bo* *Security, Asia* [image: Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s guided-missile frigate Yueyang takes part in a China-Thailand joint naval exercise in waters off the southern port city of Shanwei, Guangdong province, China May 6, 2019.] No one can win, but no one can lose. *Key Point:* Even now, the United States has not recognized the strategic significance of the changing balance of power in China’s favor. As long as China maintains its current momentum, no matter what the United States does, China will form a relatively balanced strategic posture with the United... more »

China's First Nuclear Submarine Was a Flawed Creature

Kyle Mizokami at The National Interest - 22 hours ago
*Kyle Mizokami* *Security, Asia* [image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_091_submarine#/media/File:Han_class.jpg] Bejing's non-stealthy submarine. *Key Point:* The Chinese Navy's new submarines will be much better than its first. In 1974, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) accepted delivery of the country’s first nuclear-powered submarine. Long a cherished goal of Chairman Mao himself, the design was initially a disappointment. Despite their less than ideal performance, the Type 091 Han-class submarines will ultimately be remembered as Asia’s first indigenously produce... more »

Here's the Secret Backstory of the Famous U.S. Navy SEALS

Warfare History Network at The National Interest - 22 hours ago
*Warfare History Network* *History, Americas* [image: Fleet Master Chief Derrick Walters, the fleet master chief of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa and Allied Joint Force Command Naples (center), and U.S. Navy SEALs assigned to Special Warfare Unit 2 re-enact the D-Day mission Navy Combat Demolition Unit] They started earlier than you think. *Key Point:* When WWII ended, many of the S&Rs who remained in the Navy were transferred back into the fleet. As the first Naval Special Warfare commandos, they had pioneered a wide range of tactics and techniques of amphibious reconnaissance... more »

The United States Is Ready To Win the Landwars Of the Future With A New Super Missile

Kris Osborn at The National Interest - 22 hours ago
*Kris Osborn* *Security, * [image: https://pictures.reuters.com/archive/USA-TRUMP--RC1C57519ED0.html] 2027 will come with a big upgrade. *Key Point:* The Long Range Precision Fires will be able to target enemies at 500 kilometers. The Army is working to engineer a sleek, high-speed, first-of-its-kind long-range ground launched attack missile able to pinpoint and destroy enemy bunkers, helicopter staging areas, troop concentrations and other fixed-location targets from as much as three times the range of existing weapons, service officials said. The emerging Long Range Precision... more »

January 22nd – 2020 Presidential Politics – Trump Administration Day #1098

sundance at The Last Refuge - 22 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 22nd – Open Thread

sundance at The Last Refuge - 22 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 →

Wigner wasn't wrong

Luboš Motl at The Reference Frame - 22 hours ago
When you don't see patterns or elegant solutions, it doesn't mean that they don't exist The featured Quanta Magazine article right now is about the connection between the colliding blocks and quantum search. If you have never watched the "surprising appearance of \(\pi\) in a counting problem", you should watch these three videos by 3Blue1Brown: * Pi: how it appears in colliding blocks (5 minutes) * Why it's so (15 minutes) * Add a beam of light (14 minutes) A small block is moving back and forth between a wall and another rectangular block where the mass ratio is a power of 100. The... more »

Musical Interlude: Deuter, "Uno"

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 22 hours ago
Deuter, "Uno"

Obama’s Plan Vs Trump’s Plan

tonyheller at Real Climate Science - 22 hours ago

This Is What Being Stuck On A Mountain For 12 Days In A NATO Radar Station Is Like

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 22 hours ago
*Reykjavik Grapevine:* *Stuck On A Mountain For 12 Days In A NATO Radar Station* Working at one of Iceland’s four radar stations, which play a key role in NATO’s airspace defense of the country, can certainly be a lonely job. But when foul weather last month trapped one worker all by himself in the radar station on top of Gunnólfsvíkurfjall mountain for 12 days, he took a decidedly nonchalant outlook on the situation. Gunnólfsvíkurfjall has an elevation of about 600 metres, and is located on the edge of northeast Iceland. As can be seen from these photos from the Icelandic Coast ... more »

"The Only Way To Know..."

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 22 hours ago
"There's a truth deeper than experience. It's beyond what we see, or even what we feel. It's an order of truth that separates the profound from the merely clever, and the reality from the perception. We're helpless, usually, in the face of it; and the cost of knowing it, like the cost of knowing love, is sometimes greater than any heart would willingly pay. It doesn't always help us to love the world, but it does prevent us from hating the world. And the only way to know that truth is to share it, from heart to heart, just as Prabhakar told it to me, just as I'm telling it to you n... more »

Precarity: A Political Problem

Yves Smith at naked capitalism - 23 hours ago
'Free market' advocates claim that the rise of precarity was inevitable, as opposed to the result of political decisions.

The Boshnjaks And The Bosnian Language (II)

Vladislav B. SOTIROVIĆ at OrientalReview.org - 23 hours ago
Part I Boshnjak, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bosnian One of the main problematic issues concerning the ethnolinguistic-statehood reality of the Boshnjaks is the fact that their ethnic, language and state’s names are not having the same terminology as it is championed by the majority of the European nations (ex. Polish nation; Polish state; […]

Picture Of The Day

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 23 hours ago
People wearing masks walk through an underground passage to the subway in Beijing, China January 21, 2020. REUTERS/Jason Lee *WNU Editor:* The above picture came from this photo-gallery .... *Coronavirus outbreak spreads in China* (Reuters).

Hope To See You! NYC Meetup Tomorrow, Thursday January 23 With Michael Hudson

Yves Smith at naked capitalism - 23 hours ago
Meetup reminder! Hope you can join us!

Quote of tghe Day

vonMesser at 'Nox & Friends - 23 hours ago

Australian Daily Wind Power Generation Data – Tuesday 21st January 2020

TonyfromOz at PA Pundits – International - 23 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 […]

Senate Liberals Are Trying To Rig Impeachment Trial

TonyfromOz at PA Pundits – International - 23 hours ago
By Thomas Jipping ~ In a column published at Law.com in December, one commentator argued that senators who refuse to be impartial should be disqualified from participating in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. A few days ago, an ethics lawyer from the George W. Bush administration called Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., a “perjurer” for taking […]

Jo Nova’s Amazing Australian Fire Coverage

PA Pundits - International at PA Pundits – International - 23 hours ago
By David Wojick, Ph.D. ~ Many skeptics have written about the Australian bush fires, but science writer and blogger Jo Nova (pictured) has done something truly remarkable. She has done a running in-depth analysis of both fires and the absurd climate claims made by the alarmists. With 15 fact filled blog posts to date and […]

"If the Martians Teleported the Davos Crowd to a Distant Moon, Who Would Mourn and Who Would Cheer?"

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 23 hours ago
*"If the Martians Teleported the Davos Crowd to a Distant Moon, * *Who Would Mourn and Who Would Cheer?"* "Thought experiment: If the Martians teleported the entire Davos Crowd to a distant moon, who would mourn and who would cheer? Friends and family of the disappeared elites would of course mourn their teleportation to a Martian facility on a distant moon, but who else would mourn, other than the flunkies and apparatchiks in the corporate media? Who would cheer? Everybody who is tired of the dominance of an elite who skims trillions from the rest of us "for our own good." The Davo... more »

Study finds 9 of 13 beef plants sampled in Brazil were contaminated with Listeria

News Desk at Food Safety News - 23 hours ago
Researchers have estimated the prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in beef from the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, which is the largest producer and exporter of beef in the country. From 50 samples analyzed, Listeria spp. was isolated in 18 and Listeria monocytogenes was confirmed in six of them, according to the study published in the... Continue Reading

Researchers find spread of bacteria in seafood likely impacted by trade

News Desk at Food Safety News - 23 hours ago
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study has found that international trade of shellfish might be involved in the dispersal of Vibrio parahaemolyticus populations into the United States and Spain. The study found that severe weather, such as El Niño conditions in Peru, provide ideal conditions for the proliferation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio alginolyticus... Continue Reading

Dirty Dog in Seattle is latest mobile food vendor shut down by Public Health

News Desk at Food Safety News - 23 hours ago
The Dirty Dog, a mobile food vendor in Seattle, was closed by a Public Health food inspector on Jan. 18, because of several violations. The establishment will be reopened once an inspector confirms that these issues have been resolved: Lack of hot water at handwash sink Lack of handwashing Expired food worker card Inadequate equipment... Continue Reading

Five Star Food brand Sham Gardens Tahina recalled for salmonella contamination

News Desk at Food Safety News - 23 hours ago
Michigan’s Northern Fish Five Star Food Inc., located in Garden City, has recalled 100 cases of Excellent Tahina 800 g and 100 cases of Excellent Tahina 400 g in containers because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. No illnesses are yet associated with the Sham Gardens Tahini recall. The Michigan Department of... Continue Reading

North Korea Walks Away From Nuclear Talks With United States

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 23 hours ago
*ABC News Online:* *North Korea walks away from nuclear talks with United States, blaming 'brutal and inhumane' sanctions* North Korea has walked away from nuclear talks with the United States, saying a 2019 year-end deadline for the talks had been ignored so it no longer felt bound by commitments, which included a halt to its nuclear testing and the firing of inter-continental ballistic missiles. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had earlier set a December 31 deadline for denuclearisation talks with the US and White House national security adviser Robert O'Brien said at the time ... more »

Chinese authorities name and shame people wearing pyjamas in public

Christina Zhou And Bang Xiao at Just In - 1 day ago
Chinese authorities apologise for naming and shaming people for wearing pyjamas after publishing their photos along with their surnames, partially-redacted IDs and headshots.

Should drivers who park in disability spots lose their licences?

Jessica Hinchliffe at Just In - 1 day ago
The Queensland Government is weighing up changes to its disability parking scheme, which could see a significant increase in fines. But a Brisbane woman says rule-breakers should cop demerit points.

Wiggles' star Greg Page released from hospital following heart attack on stage

Just In - 1 day ago
The yellow Wiggle will now "begin a journey of rest and recovery at home" after suffering a heart attack and going into cardiac arrest at a concert for bushfire aid last week.

Anti-nuclear campaigners sceptical of plan to reopen mothballed uranium mine

Declan Gooch And Sara Tomevska at Just In - 1 day ago
The company behind a proposal to restart uranium mining in north-east South Australia says it will be ready to begin production within a year if prices improve, but conservationists aren't so sure.

Cancer fraudster Belle Gibson's home raided over $500,000 in unpaid fines

Just In - 1 day ago
Belle Gibson, who made hundreds of thousands claiming alternative therapies cured her brain cancer which later proved to be fake, has her home raided by sheriffs seeking to recoup more than $500,000 in outstanding fines.

Frustration over face masks as coronavirus cases in China climb to 440, nine dead as virus adapts and mutates

Just In - 1 day ago
China's National Health Commission says 440 people in 13 Chinese provinces are now infected with the new strain of coronavirus, with nine people dying — and there is evidence of respiratory transmission from patient to patient.

Ashleigh Barty keeps Australian Open hopes on track with second-round win

Luke Pentony at Just In - 1 day ago
After a brief scare in the opening round, the world number one produces a solid display to secure a berth in the third round at Melbourne Park, as she looks to become the first Australian in 42 years to lift the women's trophy.

LNP 'stunt' spreading misinformation, says Health Minister after Maleny Dairies tender criticism

Jennifer Nichols at Just In - 1 day ago
Family-owned Maleny Dairies' milk flies off the shelves in an outpouring of community support after the company accused the Queensland Government of hypocrisy for overlooking them in a tender decision.

Why are people so angry? The whole sports grants saga explained

Jack Snape at Just In - 1 day ago
Claims of sports rorts are all over the news. Get up to speed quickly with the year's biggest political scandal — who did what, when, and why people are angry.

Council probed over claims staff used beer-funded bank account to buy shares in racehorse

Danielle Grindlay at Just In - 1 day ago
A Victorian council is under investigation over allegations staff used money from doing private jobs and selling drinks to start a bank account that funded a staff fishing charter, race days and shares in a racehorse.

Bushfires are the latest worry for retailers as consumer confidence wilts

Stephen Letts at Just In - 1 day ago
Given the devastation caused by months of fire, it is hardly surprising consumer confidence has wilted again, and that means there is likely to be little respite for struggling retailers.

'I want to apologise to the Queen': Meghan Markle's father Thomas to defend reputation in documentary

Just In - 1 day ago
The estranged father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is seeking to defend his reputation in a new documentary but says he fears he will never speak to his daughter or her husband, Prince Harry, again.

Great Australian Bight oil drilling approval to be challenged in Federal Court

Stacey Lee, Patrick Martin And Eugene Boisvert at Just In - 1 day ago
The Wilderness Society claims oil company Equinor failed to adequately consult environmental groups and Indigenous people before NOPSEMA granted it approval to drill off coastal SA.

Brisbane AFLW player Jess Wuetschner struck by lightning

Just In - 1 day ago
Just weeks out from the start of a new AFLW season, Brisbane's Jessica Wuetschner is recovering after being struck by lightning while working on a crane at the Port of Brisbane.

The Empire’s War On Oppositional Journalism Continues To Escalate

Caitlin Johnstone at Caitlin Johnstone - 1 day ago
Journalist Glenn Greenwald has been charged by the Bolsonaro government in Brazil with the same prosecutorial angle used by the US to target WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Per The New York Times: Citing intercepted messages between Mr. Greenwald and the hackers, prosecutors say the journalist […]

The Onion... But: Swing Voter Really Relates To Buttigieg’s Complete Lack Of Conviction

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 1 day ago
Writing for *Politico* Magazine over the weekend, John Harris noted that Mayo Pete's "teacher’s-pet glibness and implacable careerism" may be desirable traits for many voters. Other voters can't get beyond the big Mayo Pete problem, that no amount of slick p.r. will ever alter: his obvious lack of a soul. Mayo turned 38 yesterday. Mayo goes bad. Some professionalisms advice: "Once you open the jar, keep it tightly sealed in the fridge when not in use. Unlike ketchup or BBQ sauce, open mayo shouldn’t be stored at room temperature. Once you open the jar, keep it tightly sealed in th... more »

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