11:31 pm MST
White House senior policy adviser Stephen Miller goes on CNN to defend Trump against allegations in Wolff book, gets combative, and then shut down by Jake Tapper.
Trump Senior Policy Adviser Stephen Miller on Wolff book: "The book is best
understood as a work of very poorly written fiction...The author is a
garbage author of a garbage book" #CNNSOTU https://t.co/Uh8YHTxyYV
https://t.co/8zEk9Myt8y
— CNN (@CNN) January 7, 2018
The author is a "garbage author of a garbage book."
Ten bucks says Trump wrote that talking point himself.
And what is with the bizarre, jerky tics that this Miller guy keeps
demonstrating? Is that what he does when he lies?
"His role has been greatly exaggerated," White House senior policy adviser
Stephen Miller says... more »
Will Lawyers Destroy Science?
Several posts on this blog report on legal maneuvers as anti-fossil fuel
activists turn to the courts to advance their agenda. Now we have an
article questioning whether legal thinking is relevant to scientific
issues. From Alex Berezow, editor of RealClearScience: (Full text below in
italics with my bolds) Will Lawyers Destroy Science? Scientists and […]
Trump blasts liberal media haters, “I think that would qualify as…a very stable genius” (Video)
Trump responds to the latest liberal media attack on his intelligence. More
The post Trump blasts liberal media haters, “I think that would qualify
as…a very stable genius” (Video) appeared first on The Duran.
UN Security Council meeting: Iran claims direct CIA involvement in protests (Video)
Iran claims it has "hard evidence" of foreign powers meddling in recent
protests. More
The post UN Security Council meeting: Iran claims direct CIA involvement in
protests (Video) appeared first on The Duran.
There Are Now 76 Countries Involved In America’s War on Terror
*(Click on Image to Enlarge)*
*Tom Engelhardt, Tom Dispatch*: *Mapping a World From Hell*
*76 Countries Are Now Involved in Washington’s War on Terror *
He left Air Force Two behind and, unannounced, “shrouded in secrecy,” flew
on an unmarked C-17 transport plane into Bagram Air Base, the largest
American garrison in Afghanistan. All news of his visit was embargoed until
an hour before he was to depart the country.
More than 16 years after an American invasion “liberated” Afghanistan, he
was there to offer some good news to a U.S. troop contingent once again on
the rise. Before a ... more »
The HPV Vaccine Debate: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
Katie Couric opened up a Pandora’s box of sorts simply by airing testimony
about the HPV vaccine’s lack of effectiveness and safety, but shouldn’t she
be commended for asking questions the mainstream media is afraid to touch?
We live in … Continue reading →
Natural Herbal HPV “Cure” Discovered
Despite the widespread belief that HPV infection is a singularly lethal
force against which we only have vaccination defend ourselves, both ancient
herbal medicine and our body’s inherent immune defenses have newly been
confirmed to have significant power against it. … Continue reading →
AI is like having a treasure map to find disease-preventing molecules – Dr Nora Khaldi
Dr Nora Khladi hopes that by using peptide molecules we will be able to
prevent future chronic disease. A cereal bar that keeps diabetes at bay is
one example of how we could prevent disease by adding short molecules known
… Continue reading →
Science fiction and folk medicine inspire novel wound dressings
Similar in size to an A4 page, the cold plasma dressing is intended to
accelerate healing and kill bacteria in wounds. A relatively inexpensive
egg-based formula and a Star Trek-like plasma patch can accelerate healing
of serious and chronic … Continue reading →
Sleep-deprived brains may be asleep and awake at the same time
Sleep quality as well as duration is the key to beneficial sleep. For
something that can occupy such a significant chunk of time, sleep still
remains a mysterious part of our lives. Although it is known to play a role
… Continue reading →
Blood Markers Point to Maladaptive LV Remodeling
Metabolites left from certain cellular processes may be markers of left
ventricular (LV) remodeling and myocardial distress, as shown in patients
undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for severe aortic
stenosis. Blood samples taken immediately before and 24 hours after … Continue
reading →
Endothelial Activation Linked to Increased Risk of Severe Neurotoxicity
Biomarkers may help identify patients at increased risk of neurotoxicity
from chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy. New potential
biomarkers and a novel algorithm could help identify patients at increased
risk of developing severe neurotoxicity after receiving CD19 CAR T-cell … Continue
reading →
Tobacco Giant’s New Year’s Resolution: ‘Give Up Cigarettes’
“Incredulous” may best describe reactions from anti-smoking groups to an
advertising campaign launched this week by tobacco giant Philip Morris
International (PMI) vowing to stop selling cigarettes. The full page ads,
which first ran Tuesday in several British newspapers, included the tag … Continue
reading →
What You Need to Know About The Intel Flaw Everyone’s Freaking Out About
Practically every PC, laptop, tablet, and smartphone is affected. Silicon
Valley is abuzz about ‘Meltdown’ and ‘Spectre’ – new ways for hackers to
attack Intel, AMD, and ARM processors that were first discovered by
Google last year, and publicly disclosed Wednesday. Meltdown and Spectre, … Continue
reading →
China Will Be Carrying Insects And Plants to The Surface of The Moon This Year
It would be no exaggeration to say that we live in an age of renewed space
exploration. In particular, the Moon has become the focal point of
increasing attention in recent years. In addition to President Trump’s
recent directive to … Continue reading →
Man Alleges Bobcat Attack; Condo Owner Says It Was Housecat
In a lawsuit, a contractor alleges that he was attacked by a bobcat while
working in a condominium.
Did a Muslim Waitress Refuse to Seat a Church Group Because of ‘Religious Freedom’?
Reports that a Waffle House waitress told church choir members she “was
forbidden by her holy book to feed ‘infidels’" are fake news.
The Aircraft Carrier: The Weapon that Refuses to 'Sink'
*Richard A. Bitzinger*
*Security, *
They won't disappear like the battleship anytime soon.
The aircraft carrier is the weapon whose obituary is constantly being
written, but which also refuses to die. Twenty years ago, during the height
of the “revolution in military affairs” craze, the aircraft carrier was
written off as a dinosaur.
In a projected future where warfare was all about being small, stealthy,
and fast, an 80,000-ton carrier was seen as too big and too cumbersome,
while its function could be replaced by missiles and precision-guided
weapons. Moreover, aircraft carri... more »
How World War III Could Start: Cut the 'Cable"
*Doug Tsuruoka*
*Security, *
The fiber optic cable, that is.
It’s a little-known twist in the cyber-warfare between nations that carries
potentially devastating consequences. At a time when more than 95% of
everything that moves on the global Internet passes through just 200
undersea fiber-optic cables, potential adversaries such as the US, Russia,
China and Iran are focusing on these deep-sea information pipes as rich
sources of intelligence as well as targets in war.
The weapons earmarked for the struggle include submarines, underwater
drones, robots and specialized ships and... more »
How Russia, China or Even North Korea Hopes to Crush America's Military
*Kris Osborn*
*Security, *
Take out the GPS. The good news: Washington is working to fix it.
Since the days of the Gulf War debut of a host of new precision weaponry
and communications technology, the US military has increasing developed
GPS-dependent drones, satellites, force tracking systems and a wide range
of weapons.
While such things, such as Air Force Joint Direct Attack Munitions for the
Air Force, or the Army’s GPS-enabled Blue Force Tracking succeeded in
ushering in a new generation of advanced combat operations – in more recent
years potential adversaries have become ... more »
German Chancellor Angela Merkel Meets With Social Democrats To Form A Coalition
*DW:* *Merkel meets with Social Democrats as preliminary 'grand coalition'
talks begin*
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has returned to the negotiating table, this
time with SPD leader Martin Schulz. She expressed optimism about the
outcome, but admitted the parties were facing "a huge piece of work."
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday met with the chairman of her
Bavarian sister party, Horst Seehofer, and Social Democratic (SPD) leader
Martin Schulz at the start of preliminary coalition talks in Berlin.
As the negotiations got underway, Merkel acknowledged there was a lot ... more »
#MeMeMeMeToo Hits the Red Carpet
I must have been asleep at the switch, because until last night I hadn't
even noticed that the *New York Times *now has an actual Gender Desk. It
must be the replacement for the defunct and less click-worthy Environment
Desk that they got rid of a couple of years ago.
No possible way would they dub it the "Woman's Page" of newspapers of
yore, seeing as how that section was rightly derided as sexist for the
plethora of recipes, fashions, mothering tips and how-to-please-your hubby
guilt trips. So now it's morphed to the anodyne and politically correct
"Gender" moniker.
As far as th... more »
Benjamin Zander on how to give an A (video)
David F. Noble has a friend. Here is Benjamin Zander explaining his
student-grading method, and harmful effects of rank ordering.
Untitled
From Jenna Orkin
Bloomberg's Guide To The World'
Iran's Former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Arrested For Inciting Unrest:
Report
North Sea Wind Power Hub to supply renewable energy to 80 million
The FBI quietly released documents from the 2016 Orlando nightclub massacre
— and the shooter's wife made a stunning admission
China Is Building Its Second Foreign Military Base In Pakistan Amid US
Diplomatic Scandal
I know why Steve Bannon let Michael Wolff into the White House
Americans Are Ditching These Five States In Record Numbers
"Record Lows From Bangor to Charleston": Bomb Cyclo... more »
US Plans to Recognize Annexed Syrian Territory as Kurdish
*Sputnik:*
*Washington is planning 'concrete steps' toward providing a Syrian
Democratic Forces-controlled area in northern Syria's eastern Euphrates
area three times the size of Lebanon with diplomatic recognition, a leading
Arabic international newspaper has reported.*
*The 28,000 square km territory, controlled by the Syrian Democratic
Forces, a collection of predominantly Kurdish militias including the YPG
(PKK) People's Protection Units, took its first step toward US recognition
after US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis promised to send US diplomats
to SDF-controlled areas to work... more »
Department Finds Powerful Way to Thwart Police Brutality by Teaching Cops Yoga
[image: yoga]To train their officers on how to be less aggressive and more
mindful, a police department has begun teaching cops yoga—and it is working.
US East Coast Nuclear Bomb Cyclone? Pilgrim & Oyster Creek Nuclear Power Scrams-Power Reduction-Loss of Cooling Water Point To The Risks
Not only dangerous, nuclear power stations are unreliable electicity
sources in extreme weather. So much for the “baseload power” lies. …
Continue reading →
Breaking: Houthi air defenses shoot down Saudi Tornado warplane over north Yemen
BEIRUT, LEBANON (5:27 P.M.) – Houthi rebels have shot down a Saudi warplane
whilst it was conducting an attack over northern Yemen. The downed aircraft
is of a Western European Cold War-era design. Reports are emerging that a
Panavia Tornado of the Saudi Royal Air Force has been shot down by Houthi
air defenses whilst […]
Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
VIDEO: Dozens of Golan-300 rockets obliterate militant defenses as veteran brigade arrives in east Damascus
BEIRUT, LEBANON (5:00 P.M.) – A veteran battle-group of the Syrian Arab
Army has officially joined the powerful counter-offensive by government
forces in the east Damascus district of Harasta. The formation announced
its arrival via a crescendo of rocket fire delivered onto jihadist
positions. The elite Al-Ghaith Group of the Syrian Arab Army’s 4th
Mechanized […]
Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Breaking: Civilians from scores of militant-occupied towns in Idlib raise Syrian flag, president Assad pictures in protest
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:42 P.M.) – Amid sweeping gains by the Syrian Arab Army
against jihadist-led armed groups throughout the province of Idlib,
civilians from scores of rebel-occupied towns in the region’s southeast
have revolted against their militant warlord overseers, protesting openly
by raising Syrian flags and pictures of the nation’s legitimate leader,
President Bashar al-Assad. […]
Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
VIDEO: A typical day of clashes between Kurdish forces and Turkey-led militias
BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:55 P.M.) – Footage has been released by Kurdish media
authorities showing exchanges of fire between Syrian Coalition-led forces
(of which Kurdish units form a key component) and Turkey-backed militias in
the northern countryside of Aleppo province. Just over a week ago, the YPG
Press Center (the official media arm of the Kurdish […]
Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Surrendering jihadists turn over tanks, armed pickups to Syrian Army in rural west Damascus
BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:15 P.M.) – Surrendered jihadist militants have turned
over tanks, armed pickups and other weapons to the Syrian Arab Army as part
of a greater reconciliation deal made almost two weeks ago in western
Damascus province’s Beit Jinn valley region. On Sunday, surrendered gunmen
of the Ha’yat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, the […]
Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Breaking: Elite Syrian troops take 9 more towns following liberation of Sinjar in southeast Idlib
BEIRUT, LEBANON (2:46 P.M.) – Following the capture of a major jihadist
stronghold earlier on Sunday, elite forces of the Syrian Arab Army have
swept through nine more towns throughout the southeastern countryside of
Idlib province. According to military-affiliated sources, following the
Syrian Arab Army’s liberation of Sinjar on Sunday morning, elite assault
units of […]
Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Breaking: Elite Syrian Army force leaves Deir Ezzor for east Damascus offensive
BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:15 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army’s elite 104th Airborne
Brigade of the Republican Guard has left the Deir Ezzor Governorate after a
long deployment, the military reported this afternoon. According to the
report, the 104th Brigade will move from the Deir Ezzor Governorate to the
eastern part of Damascus, where they will […]
Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Trump Wishes for Better Libel Laws After Book Slams Him
Plainly agitated by a new book portraying him as dysfunctional, President
Donald Trump is bemoaning his country's "very weak" libel laws.
Sunday Morning Links
This and that for your Sunday reading.
- Wanda Wyporska highlights the UK's corporate executive fat cats, and
argues that it's long past time for the public to stop rewarding them:
So let’s put fat cat pay in context. Yes it has come down slightly, as Sir
Martin Sorrell has seen his pay cut from £70 million to a mere £40 million
and organisations such as The Equality Trust have campaigned for pay
transparency. But excessive CEO pay is also a hygiene issue for business
and has been highly criticised throughout 2017. However, as we have
calculated, the average CEO earned 242 times the... more »
Despite Trump campaign promises, US jobs are shipping overseas even faster than before.
I can't believe they're buying this. Courtesy of Quartz:
*“We’re just shipping company after company after company is leaving this
country and leaving jobs behind,” president Donald Trump said on the
campaign trail last year. “And I’m going to get it stopped.” *
*So far, not so good. A group that advocates for federal workers says
government records show (pdf) more than 10,000 jobs at federal contractors
have been sent over overseas since Trump was elected. That’s more than
double the average annual amount during Barack Obama’s presidency. The
organization, Good Jobs Nation, fund... more »
In Full Panic
Kevin Drum writes that, earlier in the year, he worried that the United
States was slipping into autocratic hands. Now, he's more sanguine:
Republicans are in panic mode over the possibility that Robert Mueller is
about to start plowing relentlessly through the White House like a
bulldozer leveling an old shack. By the time he’s through, they’re
understandably afraid there might not be much left standing.
At the risk of being too Pollyannaish, it’s almost good news that
Republicans are acting this way. It means they realize their party is in
existential trouble.
The Republicans ... more »
Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- January 7, 2017
Norman Hermant, ABC News Online*: **The harsh reality for Palestinians: The
rules of the game in the Middle East are changing*
Six Arab foreign ministers met in Jordan's capital on Saturday to discuss
the response to the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
They had little new to say.
The head of the Arab League told a media conference there would be a
renewed effort to have East Jerusalem recognised as the capital of a
Palestinian state.
But that approach has been tried already, and gained little traction.
Washington's announcement a month ago that it would re... more »
World News Briefs -- January 7, 2018
A Syria Civil Defence member carries a wounded child in the besieged town
of Hamoria, Eastern Ghouta, in Damascus, Syria Janauary 6, 2018. REUTERS/
Bassam Khabieh
*Reuters*: *Syrian army presses offensive in last rebel stronghold of Idlib*
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syria’s army and its allies pressed further into the
country’s largest remaining rebel stronghold on Sunday, capturing a town
and several villages as they approached a military airport, a pro-Damascus
media unit and a war monitor reported.
Forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad have stepped up the offensive in the
southern province ... more »
The Type 81: China Has Its Very Own AK-47?
*Charlie Gao*
*Security, Asia*
Beijing made this weapon with a bigger purpose in mind.
In the 1980s, China’s small arms were largely inferior to the United States
and Russia. The PLA was mostly armed with the Type 56 assault rifle, a
clone of the original AK-47, and the Type 56 carbine, a clone of the Soviet
SKS. There was an abortive attempt to combine the characteristics of these
rifles in the 1960s which culminated in the Type 63, an SKS-looking
select-fire rifle that used elements of the AK operating mechanism such as
a rotating bolt and fed from AK magazines. The Type 63 wa... more »
The U.S. Military Could Soon Have the Ultimate Weapon: 'Iron Man' Suits
*Michael Peck*
*Security, *
Yes, this is true.
The Pentagon's notorious "Iron Man" suit is beginning to take shape.
U.S. Special Operations Command, the umbrella organization for America's
commandos, is soliciting proposals for the Tactical Assault Light Operator
Suit (TALOS) an exoskeleton that will give American soldiers superhuman
abilities.
The SOCOM broad agency announcement lists multiple capabilities desired for
TALOS, including:
- An exoskeleton that can be either powered or unpowered. An unpowered
version should be able to carry a seventy-five-pound load, while a powe... more »
Have You Had Enough Of Fire And Fury Yet? Trump's Mental Health
Rick Wilson is a Republican strategist and Never-Trumper who has become
something of a celebrity on MSNBC for his pithy denunciations of the Orange
Orangutan and his supporters, once referring to Trump “alt-right”
supporters as "childless single men who masturbate to anime.” His *Daily
Beast* column Friday, Bannon Banished for Telling Truths About Trump as
MAGA Monsters Turn on Each Other is the kind of *schadenfreude* that
millions of Trump haters will enjoy. “Watching Bannon fall victim to the
claws of the monster he helped create mostly invokes the response of
‘Alexa, order all... more »
Sunday morning music
For my first Sunday Morning Music post of 2018, I thought it was time to
pay tribute to someone with whom I'm sure most of my readers are familiar.
He's had a more dramatic impact on folk, folk-rock and some styles of
country music than almost anyone else in the past century. I refer, of
course, to Canadian singer and songwriter Gordon Lightfoot.
Gordon Meredith Lightfoot Jr. (born November 17, 1938) is a Canadian
singer-songwriter who achieved international success in folk, folk-rock,
and country music, and has been credited for helping define the folk-pop
sound of the 1960s and... more »
The European response to Michael Wolff's book has been outright shock.
Tomorrow's front page: Trump’s mental health questioned by top aide
#tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/mE0d6NkM0S
— The Times of London (@thetimes) January 4, 2018
Courtesy of WaPo:
*European commentary on President Trump is rarely flattering, but the
cascading revelations alleged in Michael Wolff’s tell-all book “Fire and
Fury,” drew an especially fierce response from a horrified continent. *
*“Is Trump still sane?” asked the Friday lead headline on the site of
Germany’s most respected conservative paper, Frankfurter Allgemeine
Zeitung. The piece was published under the topic... more »
Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- January 7, 2018
U.S. President Donald Trump exits the Pentagon talking to Defense Secretary
Jim Mattis on Jan. 27, 2017, in Washington, D.C. (Staff Sgt. Jette
Carr/U.S. Air Force)
*Defense News:* *Major US defense strategy review coming Jan. 19*
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon will unveil its National Defense Strategy on Jan.
19, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis announced Friday.
Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon, Mattis said a significant part of
the strategy will remain classified, but promised to make at least part of
the document open to the public.
“There will be a classified one that is relati... more »
Health Benefits & Uses Of Colloidal Silver
*Click on the two links below to learn more about Collodal Siver and how to
use it: *
*http://www.thesilveredge.com/how-much-colloidal-silver-can-you-take-safely-each-day.shtml#.WlIXGiOZPX8*
*http://www.colloidalworld.com*
Tea Drinking a Substantial Source of Fluoride Exposure, Ireland
Waugh DT, Potter W, Limeback H, Godfrey M. Risk Assessment
of Fluoride Intake from Tea in the Republic of Ireland and its Implications
for Public Health and Water Fluoridation. International journal of
environmental research and public health. 2016 Feb 26;13(3). pii: E259.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph13030259. The Republic … Continue reading →
Untitled
*LePage Spending Welfare Dollars on After-School Programs*
Maine Republican Gov. Paul LePage is spending $1.7 million of federal
welfare dollars on after-school programs.
The Bangor Daily News reports over a dozen nonprofit organizations received
funding this year from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families grant.
Since 2015, Maine's asked such after-school programs to show how they help
prevent out-of-wedlock pregnancies and encourage two-parent families. Such
goals are outlined under federal law, which lets states use welfare grants
with few restrictions.
More than 80 perc... more »
Untitled
*Men Resist Green Behavior as Unmanly*
*Probably because it is. It is emotional rather than logical.Feminists
routinely claim that the environment is a feminist issue. There's a whole
Wikipedia article on it. So for the authors below to have shown anything
new, they would have to have established that there was no prior
polarization between the sexes on environmental issues. They did not do
that, probably because they could not.So their research was just more of
the superficial and biased rubbish that we routinely get from Leftist
psychologists. I have commented on a ... more »
10 MOTIVATING QUOTES FOR WHEN YOU DON’T FEEL LIKE WORKING OUT
Raise your hand if “get in shape” (or something along those lines) is one
of your new year’s resolutions. This year, after being completely inspired
by Jenn’s health kick, I decided not to wait until January 1st to start
kickstart my 2018 … Continue reading →
5 MISTAKES YOU MAY BE MAKING ON YOUR RUN
I’ve finally gotten back in to a nice, healthy habit with my workout
schedule which {as many of you know} involves running. I love running {if
you hate running, read this} and had to have a hard look as to … Continue
reading →
What the Hell Is Light Therapy and Does It Really Work?
In high school, Kristen Inman, now 23, started noticing patterns in her
mood. Struggling with undiagnosed depression, anxiety and self-harm, she
became more conscious of how the seasons affected her. “I noticed that
things typically got worse as the weather … Continue reading →
18 WAYS TO BE A BETTER PERSON IN 2018
At the end of each year, I like to take some extra time to reflect – I feel
like it really helps me with resetting my goals, and it gets me refocused
and ready to tackle the new year. In … Continue reading →
Malignancies of Gastroesophageal Junction (Adenocarcinoma GE Junction)-Standard Treatment Guidelines
https://speciality.medicaldialogues.in/malignancies-of-gastroesophageal-junction-adenocarcinoma-ge-junction-standard-treatment-guidelines/
Multiple sclerosis: Cholesterol crystals prevent regeneration in central nervous system
https://speciality.medicaldialogues.in/multiple-sclerosis-cholesterol-crystals-prevent-regeneration-in-central-nervous-system/
Eating more foods with choline during pregnancy could boost baby’s brain
https://speciality.medicaldialogues.in/eating-more-foods-with-choline-during-pregnancy-could-boost-babys-brain/
When being fat is beneficial
https://speciality.medicaldialogues.in/when-being-fat-is-beneficial/
Radiation therapy algorithm could reduce side effects, maintain effect against tumors
https://speciality.medicaldialogues.in/radiation-therapy-algorithm-could-reduce-side-effects-maintain-effect-against-tumors/
Taking paracetamol during pregnancy may reduce fertility of daughters
https://speciality.medicaldialogues.in/taking-paracetamol-during-pregnancy-may-reduce-fertility-of-daughters/
Russia's Air Base In Syria Now Appears To Be Under Regular Attack
Russia air base south of Latakia is surrounded by fields, structures, and
urban areas, making its defense somewhat complex. Google Earth
*The Warzone/The Drive*:* Russia's Air Base In Syria Seems To Be Under
Regular Attack Now*
*The attacks could be troublesome for Moscow's narrative and are likely an
indication of how the conflict in Syria will morph in the coming months.*
Following a deadly attack on Russia's Khmeimim Air Base in Syria on
December 31st, which killed at least two servicemen and damaged or
destroyed aircraft based there, it now seems as if the base is coming under ... more »
Gender truth gap?
You may have noticed this story yesterday as it was a lead story on the BBC
News website for much of the day:
The Comments thread below it is chock-a-block with people slamming the
BBC's reporting. The highest-rated comment, for example, says, "This has
been debunked time and time again. When variables such as the actual job
done, the hours worked, experience, qualifications and age are taken into
account the mythical gender pay gap suddenly disappears. Stop peddling this
nonsense, BBC." The reporter's Twitter feed has also been filling up with
similar complaints.
All I'd add ... more »
Will Pakistan Close NATO’s Supply Routes into Afghanistan?
Pakistan Supply Routes To Afghanistan. Source: US TRANSCOM. Credit: Alyson
Hurt/NPR
*Marcus Weisgerber. Defense One*: *Will Pakistan Close NATO’s Supply Routes
into Afghanistan? Mattis Plays Down Possibility*
‘I’m not concerned,’ the defense secretary tells reporters after the White
House announced an intention to suspend military aid to Islamabad.
U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis played down the prospect that Pakistan
might close NATO’s supply routes into Afghanistan after the Trump
administration said it would suspend military aid to Islamabad.
Alliance forces rely on Pakistani... more »
Special Needs Advocacy Ideas to Kickstart the New Year
By Cathy Jameson Parents of special needs children play many roles. Some
roles come naturally to them while others take time to learn. One role is
being an advocate. The more involved a parent becomes in their child’s
education, in...
King Herod and the True Meaning of Christmas
Christmas was more than a celebration; it was God’s trumpet, announcing to
Herod the beginning of the end. It was a banner of war, unfurled to declare
that a divine revolution had begun.
The post King Herod and the True Meaning of Christmas appeared first on
OrientalReview.org.
Arab newspapers: Saddam Hussein loyalists trying to return to power with Israeli-Saudi support
DAMASCUS, SYRIA (01:05 PM) – According to several Arab news sources,
meetings have been held between exiled members of the banned Iraqi Ba’ath
Party and officials from the Israeli and Saudi regimes. This is reported by
Fars News. London-based Pan-Arab newspaper Al-Quds al-Arabi reported that
members of the Sunni Tahalof al-Qowa coalition have been meeting […]
Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Patriarch of Jerusalem comes under attack from Palestinian Christians
Christian Palestinians were chanting “traitor, traitor!” as they cast
stones and water bottles at the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem’s car
during his visit to the occupied West Bank on Saturday. Hundreds of
Palestinians blocked Patriarch Theophilos III’s convoy as he headed for a
church in Bethlehem to attend an Orthodox Christmas mass. Palestinian
police […]
Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Russia helped to protect Christians in Syria, Patriarch Kirill says
Operation of Russia’s Aerospace Forces in Syria helped to protect the
Christian minority from persecution and killings, Patriarch Kirill of
Moscow and All Russia said in his Christmas interview with the Rossiya-1 TV
channel. “Besides solving some issues… linked to stabilizing the situation,
preventing military threats and preventing the takeover of power by
terrorists… there […]
Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Russian jets swarm jihadist base as Syrian troops advance in southern Idlib
BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:25 P.M.) – The Russian Aerospace Forces are working
overtime, today, targeting the jihadist-held areas inside the Idlib
Governorate. According to a military source in Hama, the Russian Aerospace
Forces have already launched over 30 airstrikes on Sunday, with their
primary target being the Abu Dhuhour Military Airport. The Abu Dhuhour
Military Airport […]
Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Iraq to export Kirkuk oil to Iran by end of the month
DAMASCUS, SYRIA (12:20 PM) – Iraqi Minister of Oil Jabar al-Luaibi told
reporters on Sunday that Iraq will start exporting petroleum from the
Kirkuk oil fields to the Islamic Republic of Iran by the end of January.
Around 30,000 barrels of crude oil will be delivered to Kermanshah
refineries in the first delivery, Luaibi added. […]
Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Turkish Army preparing to launch offensive in northern Syria – report
BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:00 P.M.) – The Turkish Army and their allies from the
Euphrates Shield are preparing to launch a military operation in Syria’s
Afrin Canton, Russia’s Sputnik News Agency reported on Sunday. Citing a
security source in Ankara, Sputnik claimed that the Turkish Armed Forces
have already setup a field hospital in the Qomlo […]
Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
No permanent Iranian base inside Syria: official
BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:50 A.M.) – The senior adviser to the Speaker of the
Iranian Parliament, Hussein Amir Abdollahian, stated on Sunday that Iran
does not have a permanent military base inside Syria. “We don’t have any
military base in Syria,” Amir Abdollahian was quoted as saying by the
Iranian media on Sunday. Furthermore, Abdollahian added […]
Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Jihadist corridor to Idlib breaks wide open as Syrian troops press forward to strategic airbase
BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:40 A.M.) – This morning, the jihadist rebels of Hay’at
Tahrir Al-Sham and Jaysh Al-‘Izza suffered their biggest setback of the
weekend, following the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) capture of the strategic
town of Sinjar in southern Idlib. According to a military source in Hama,
the Syrian Army broke-through the jihadist lines in […]
Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Breaking: Syrian Army reportedly captures strategic town in southern Idlib
BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:00 A.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) has captured the
strategic town of Sinjar in the southern countryside of the Idlib
Governorate, the pro-government National Defense Forces (NDF) reported this
morning. According to the NDF’s official media wing, the Syrian Army also
captured the towns of Khyarah, Al-Matoustah, and Kafraya Al-Ma’arat. If […]
Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
We broke down unrest ‘created by US, UK, Israel’ – Iran’s Revolutionary Guard
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) has reportedly announced that the
foreign-fueled unrest has been thwarted, and listed the alleged
orchestrators of the protests. “Iran’s revolutionary people along with tens
of thousands of Basij forces, police and the Intelligence Ministry have
broken down the chain [of unrest] created… by the United States, Britain,
the Zionist regime [Israel], […]
Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Syrian Army keeps rolling in southern Idlib, new territories captured
BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:25 A.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) resumed their
offensive in the southern countryside of Idlib this morning, targeting the
remaining towns located near Sinjar. Backed by heavy artillery and
airstrikes, the Syrian Arab Army’s Tiger Forces led the attack on several
towns, resulting in a new series of advances in southern […]
Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Syrian Army scores big advance in east Damascus amid new attempt to lift siege on vehicle base
BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:55 A.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) scored a big
advance in east Damascus, Sunday, following a fierce battle with the
Islamist rebels of Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham and Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham inside
Harasta. According to a military report, the Syrian Arab Army’s Republican
Guard and 4th Division captured several buildings inside the […]
Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Arab ministers push for international retaliation to Trump’s Jerusalem announcement (video)
Foreign ministers of six Arab nations held a meeting in Amman on Saturday
to discuss the Arab League’s response to the United States’ recognition of
Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. In his opening remarks, Jordan’s
Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said, “Our position as the Arab League is
clear – we have rejected and condemned […]
Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
"Empire of the Sunset"
"Empire of the Sunset"
by Randall Amster
"Sometimes, I really miss America - or at least the idea of it. You know:
that can-do spirit, streets paved with gold, champion of the tired and
poor, purple mountains majesty, that sort of thing. Say what you will, and
call it naïve, but the storybook values at the heart of America’s erstwhile
image are inspiring.
Like most who grew up here, I was steeped in the lore and legend of this
place. Despite obvious flaws in the narrative (how exactly does one
‘discover’ land upon which others are living, anyway?) there existed a
strong sense that... more »
Lesser spotted right-wing comedian sighted on BBC
Rod Liddle has a piece in *The Spectator *registering his surprise and
pleasure at the appearance of a right-wing comedian - yes, a right-wing
comedian! - on Radio Four’s *The News Quiz*.
And is if that wasn't unprecedented enough, the aforesaid comedian (Simon
Evans) went on to defend Donald Trump and criticise the NHS.
The audience wasn’t sure what it should do, and Evans was of course ribbed
for his opinions by the other three panellists and indeed the compere.
Which is when I thought: hang on, why should I be grateful to the BBC for
allowing one single representative of majori... more »
I bet his lawyers will be arguing against it.
"Come on, you've read his tweets, do you really think my client is a fully
functioning adult?"
An Amazing MiG-29K Take-Off From A Carrier (Video)
#Navy #aircraftcarrier Amazing take-off MiG-29K pic.twitter.com/2xI2ehJeYM
— Capt(N) (@Capt_Navy) January 6, 2018
Sunday Sermonette
*FRANTIC* (definition)
A Democrat in a whorehouse with somebody else's credit card (that expires
tomorrow).
Expect the attacks on the Trump Administration to reach to a more shrill
and strident level of hysteria.
The soaring stock market and investor confidence under President Trump has
created $6 TRILLION in value. The Democrat Party is up against a wall and
they are desperate to find a way to blunt this success. If the sly,
corrupt, nasty, elite media reported this fairly, it would be the end of
everything for the Party of Barack and Hillary.
There are sour and cautious people w... more »
The Main Stream Media Is Feeling Very Smug About Themselves
Photograph of the briefing room on Feb. 7, 2017 by Doug Mills/The New York
Times
*Will Rahn, CBS:* *The unbearable smugness of the press*
*The mood in the Washington press corps is bleak, and deservedly so.*
It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that, with a few exceptions, we
were all tacitly or explicitly #WithHer, which has led to a certain anguish
in the face of Donald Trump’s victory. More than that and more importantly,
we also missed the story, after having spent months mocking the people who
had a better sense of what was going on.
This is all symptomatic of modern jou... more »
The Return Of 'Duck and Cover'
*Glenn Harlan Reynolds, The Atlantic:** The Unexpected Return of 'Duck and
Cover'*
Sixty years ago, in 1951, Ray Maurer and Anthony Rizzo produced a film for
the federal government's Civil Defense agency in response to Soviet nuclear
tests. Featuring an animated turtle named Bert and real-life schoolchildren
from New York, the film, Duck and Cover, became an icon of the Cold War,
seen by many as evidence of the absurdity of the government's response to
the nuclear threat. Against the threat of a nuclear attack, how much good
would diving under a desk really do? Originally aimed at... more »
Germany coalition per BBC News
This whole BBC report http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42594246
including analysis by Damien McGuinness, BBC Berlin correspondent, and not
even a single use of the word weak.
'More than three months have passed since the elections - the longest
period of coalition-building Germany has ever known.It's not a crisis. And
there is a caretaker government. But it does mean that important decisions
about the future of Germany, and the EU, are on hold.'
The British Prime Minister, Theresa May, is weak because she needs the
support of the DUP but Mrs Merkel isn't, even though she's o... more »
SOULS; Brian Weiss; Michael Newton
...
According to Brian Weiss, in 1980 one of his patients, "Catherine", began
discussing past-life experiences under hypnosis.
Weiss did not believe in reincarnation at the time but, after confirming
elements of Catherine's stories through public records, came to be
convinced of the survival of an element of the human personality after
death.[5]
Weiss claims he has regressed more than 4,000 patients since 1980.[6]
*https://www.henrymakow.com*.
...
Newton was a hypnotherapist who claimed to have developed his own age
regression technique.
...
*https://www.henrymakow.com*.
Midnight Meme, Special Edition: The 12 Days Of Christimemes #12
*-by Noah*
And so concludes our special edition of the Midnight Memes. Tomorrow will
mark the return of the Midnight Meme Of The Day. There were over a hundred
Chris Christie memes that were triggered by his 4th of July beach closing
fiasco, probably more than enough to fill Señor Trumpanzee with jealous
rage that New Jersey's loud mouth lard boy was getting so much attention.
Never mind, Donnie. We'll take care of you but good tomorrow.
Meanwhile, what better way to end this series than with Chris Christie
being carted off one of the beaches he closed by some heavy duty equipment... more »
NASA’s Breakthrough Discovery of the First Truly “Earth-Like” Planet
NASA’s
Breakthrough Discovery of the First Truly “Earth-Like” Planet
https://futurism.com/breaking-news-nasa-just-announced-the-discovery-of-a-second-earth/?utm_content=bufferd206c&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Advertisements
Nissan’s Brain-To-Vehicle Interface Could Make Driving Safer by Scanning Your Brain
Nissan’s Brain-To-Vehicle Interface Could Make Driving Safer by Scanning
Your Brain
https://futurism.com/nissans-brain-vehicle-interface-make-driving-safer-scanning-our-brains/
Eating Cheese Could Help You Live Longer.
Eating Cheese Could Help You Live Longer – Geek.com
https://www.geek.com/culture/eating-cheese-could-help-you-live-longer-1680609/
10 Facts About Brain Work Which Prove We’re Capable of Anything.
10 Facts About Brain Work Which Prove We’re Capable of Anything.
https://www.truthinsideofyou.org/10-facts-about-brain-work/
Here’s the secret to unlocking your creativity, according to science
Here’s the secret to unlocking your creativity, according to science
http://www.sciencealert.com/secret-to-creativity-imagination-according-to-science
Omeprazole: the Gastric Protector That Is Killing More People Than Drugs
Omeprazole: the Gastric Protector That Is Killing More People Than Drugs
https://www.barenaturalhealth.com/omeprazole-med-killing-people-drugs/
Most Men Can’t Handle A Deep Woman – Here’s why
Most Men Can’t Handle A Deep Woman – Here’s why
http://www.thinkinghumanity.com/2016/07/most-men-cant-handle-a-deep-woman-heres-why.html?m=1
This FDA Approved Drug Could Permanently Repair Brain Damage in Stroke Victims
This FDA Approved Drug Could Permanently Repair Brain Damage in Stroke
Victims
https://futurism.com/this-fda-approved-drug-could-permanently-repair-brain-damage-in-stroke-victims/
Toxic relationship habits most people think are normal
Toxic relationship habits most people think are normal
http://themindunleashed.com/2018/01/your-toxic-relationship-habits-are-normal-right.html
Sex Robots – The Evolution of the Objectification of Women
Sex Robots – The Evolution of the Objectification of Women
http://www.wakingtimes.com/2017/08/15/sex-robots-evolution-objectification-women/
Ayn Rand, the Hedgehog; Aristotle, the Fox
Peter Saint-Andre has done an analysis of Ayn Rand’s sayings on Aristotle
in his article, “Our Man in Greece: On the Use and Abuse of Aristotle in
the Works of Ayn Rand.”
He claims that even though Ayn Rand has stated that the only philosophical
debt that she can acknowledge is to Aristotle, she has consistently
misinterpreted Aristotle's philosophy in her articles. Taking a leaf out of
Isaiah Berlin’s *The Hedgehog and the Fox*, Saint-Andre claims that there
is a fundamental difference between Rand’s approach to philosophy and that
of Aristotle. Rand, he says, is like the hedgehog... more »
German censorship: social networks delete almost everything now
*Humor, satire, and rational analyses are the first victims of the
anti-hate-speech law*
A cruel non-democratic regime was defeated by the Allies in 1945 and West
Germany has enjoyed more than half a century of freedom. In 1990, the
post-Soviet East Germany joined that free world, too. That epoch is
officially over – Germany has entered a new stage of absolute non-freedom,
a new reincarnation of fascism. But Germans probably can't point even this
basic fact out because literally everything is banned in Germany now.
*Germans have been burning politically incorrect texts for quite s... more »
No US money needed: Syrian government allocates money to reconstruct Aleppo
BEIRUT, LEBANON (7:45 A.M.) – The government has allocated 60 million
Syrian pounds to begin the reconstruction of Aleppo’s provincial capital,
the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported on Saturday. According to the
SANA report, the allocated money will focus on the reconstruction of
Aleppo’s public service sector and the implementation of development
projects in […]
Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Syrian Army captures over 50km2 in southern Idlib this weekend
BEIRUT, LEBANON (7:20 A.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) had a big weekend
in the southern countryside of Idlib, capturing over ten towns in a matter
of 48 hours. Led by their elite Tiger Forces, the Syrian Arab Army kicked
off the weekend by capturing six towns from the jihadist rebels of Hay’at
Tahrir […]
Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Jihadist drone attacks Russian airbase in southwest Latakia
BEIRUT, LEBANON (6:20 A.M.) – A jihadist attack drone reportedly targeted
the Hmaymim Military Airbase in southwest Latakia last night, marking the
second time in two weeks that the rebel forces have attempted to assault
this installation. According to local reports, the jihadist rebels were
unable to hit the Hmaymim Airbase because the Russian Air […]
Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Turkish security forces detain dozens of undocumented migrants – reports
According to the Anadolu news agency, 33 Syrian nationals and three
Cameroonians were held on Saturday, while trying to get in Greece by sea.
In total, the Turkish security forces have detained 36 undocumented
migrants, who attempted to illegally cross into Greece, local media
reported. Migrants are escorted by Turkish police officers as they arrive
[…]
Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Russians respond to jihadist missile attack by launching first airstrikes along the Turkish border this year
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:00 A.M.) – For the first time in months, the Russian
Aerospace Forces have carried out airstrikes along the Turkish-Syrian
border in the Latakia Governorate. According to a military source in
Latakia, the Russian Aerospace Forces targeted Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham’s
movements at the Al-Tuffahiyah Mountains, destroying several jihadist
mechanisms in the process. The […]
Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Is The Greatest Threat To Democracy Coming From The Elites Who Refuse To Accept 'Accountability And Responsibility'?
Former FBI Director James Comey testifies before a Senate Intelligence
Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, June 8, 2017. Reuters/Jim
Bourg
*Nils Gilman, American Interest: **Wanted: A Self-Draining Swamp*
Perhaps the most insidious threat facing Western democracies has been the
progressive decline of elite accountability and responsibility.
When Christine Keeler died this past December 5 at age 75, a predictable
welter of obituaries poured forth, most no doubt having been drafted in
readiness decades ago when her fame was established. Central to that
dubious fame was ... more »
Neuroscientist Alexandra Elbakyan designed SCI-HUB to free science from parasitic capitalism, by outsmarting it.
A US judge has ordered that scientific document aggregator SCI-HUB be shut
down. The site’s creator, Alexandra Elbakyan, has been fined $15 million.
Except the long arm of US copyright greed can’t reach her in Russia, and
Elbakyan, a 29-yr-old Kazakh neuroscientist, doubts capitalism’s goons can
outsmart the scientific community on her side. For starters, […]
Tweets For Today
Merkel's last chance? https://t.co/JEtNSxcdYs
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) January 7, 2018
The Pentagon is preparing to spend millions of dollars to fix up a Cold
War-era air base. https://t.co/SNbgvHcu6u
— Foreign Policy (@ForeignPolicy) January 7, 2018
Map of Iran with diplomatic and economic data pic.twitter.com/dgi5UjDOOx
— AFP news agency (@AFP) January 5, 2018
WATCH: The latest @ReutersTV tech playlist - Chip flaws send Apple and
other companies scrambling while Uber’s former CEO is set to become a
billionaire https://t.co/iRjnSGC21F pic.twitter.com/FrmIPWZEfp
— Reuters T... more »
President Trump Camp David Press Conference 1/6/18...
"Michael Wolff is a fraud"
"Sloppy Steve"
*I have two things to say:*
It's sad to see Steve Scalise on crutches, but I guess it's better than the
alternative.
and
I think Donald needs to join me at Weight Watchers. We need to keep him
healthy.
MAGA
A Look At How The U.S., U.K., And South Korea Camouflage Soldiers' Faces
*Popular Mechanics*: *How Militaries Around the World Camouflage Soldiers'
Faces*
America, South Korea and England all have different styles of face painting.
Face=painting is usually pretty low stakes, but the militaries of the world
approach it as an important challenge. How best to make a face look like
anything but? As Dr. Christopher Larsen of the One Shepherd Leadership
Institute demonstrates, thousands of years of evolution has trained
humanity to recognize the structure of our faces, so the best bet is to try
to exaggerate those features to the point where they're no longe... more »
Picture Of The Day
BMPT Terminator 3 armored fighting vehicle demonstrates its capabilities
during the Army 2017 international military expo. © Sputnik/ Mikhail
Voskresenskiy
*WNU Editor: *The above picture is from this photo-gallery .... *New
Weapons to Be Adopted by Russian Armed Forces in 2018* (Sputnik).
The Best Things to Do in Taiwan in 2018
*Lanhou Bed and Breakfast in Laiji below Alishan*
Taiwan News lists The best things to do in Taiwan in 2018: 7 standout
events to look forward to in Taiwan in 2018. These include watching the
ship burning in Donggang, swimming Sun Moon Lake, getting bombarded by
fireworks in Yenshui, and similar. So I thought I'd compile a list of my
own.
1. *Stay in a bed and breakfast in an aboriginal village.* There are many
such wonderful places to stay in the hills and mountains around Taiwan,
including Smangus, Chimei, Laiji (pic above), and Mudan. Most of them offer
hikes and other get back... more »
"3 Simple Questions That Will Change Your Life"
*"3 Simple Questions That Will Change Your Life"*
by Jonathan
"I love simple solutions to seemingly complex issues, don’t you? So often
we seem to complicate the daylights out of things by over-analyzing,
dissecting and brainstorming. I gravitate toward simple solutions whenever
possible. Asking yourself the right question is one of the simplest ways to
direct your thoughts in a positive direction without jumping through a
bunch of mental or emotional hoops. What are the right questions? In
particular, those that stimulate your mind to consider new possibilities or
interrupt old es... more »
"Destiny..."
"You are what your deep driving desire is;
As your deep driving desire is, so is your will;
As your will is so is your deed;
As your deed is so is your destiny."
- Maitri Upanishads
Was President Trump's Twitter-Fueled Foreign Policy Not As Bad As Some Might Think?
*David Gordon and Michael O'Hanlon, USA Today:* *President Trump's
Twitter-fueled foreign policy: Not as bad as you might think.*
*Yes, Trump is a maverick and populist. But thanks to him, 2017 witnessed
less of a dramatic departure from the norm in foreign policy than has been
alleged.*
With each new barrage of foreign policy tweets — most recently targeting
Iran and North Korea and the Palestinians and Pakistan, President Trump
cements the idea that he is turning American foreign policy on its head,
shattering 70 years of tradition and consensus. But that analysis is more
wrong... more »
“Lies We Tell Ourselves”
*“Lies We Tell Ourselves”*
by Major Danny Sjursen
Life, to be sure, is nothing much to lose,
But young men think it is, and we were young.
- A. E. Housman, 1859-1936
"Seven of my soldiers are dead. Two committed suicide. Bombs got the others
in Iraq and Afghanistan. One young man lost three limbs. Another is
paralyzed. I entered West Point a couple of months before 9/11. Eight of my
classmates died “over there.”
Military service, war, sacrifice - when I was 17, I felt sure this would
bring me meaning, adulation, even glory. It went another way. Sixteen years
later, my generation of... more »
Leave It To The DC Establishment To Screw Up Democratic Races Across The Country: Hawaii And Orange County
*No reason to settle for crooked GOP-lite candidates in primaries when you
have solid progressives like Laura Oatman and Kaniela Ing running*
Many of the people who have ever even heard of Doug Chin just know him from
the Rachel Maddow show where she celebrates anyone who hates Trump without
ever giving any context. In Chin’s case she could have mentioned he was a
conservative corporate lobbyist who was *appointed*-- not even properly
vetted for or elected as-- Attorney General. That was common knowledge and
Maddow’s researchers should have caught it. What was less easy to find was
... more »
British Homeschool Population Doubles in Six Years
[image: british-homeschool-population-doubles-in-six-years]
The number of British children being educated at home has doubled in a mere
six-year period, according to government data cited in U.K. media reports.
Ocean temperature study assumptions requires great faith
Bernhard Bereiter, Sarah Shackleton, Daniel Baggenstos, Kenji Kawamura,
Jeff Severinghaus. Mean global ocean temperatures during the last glacial
transition Nature 553, 39–44 (04 January 2018) doi: 10.1038/nature25152
Little is known about the ocean temperature’s long-term response to climate
perturbations owing to limited observations … Continue reading →
Michael Wolff, Author Of 'Fire and Fury: Inside The Trump White House', Says His Revelations Will Bring Down The Trump Presidency
*Reuters*: *Trump book author says his revelations will bring down U.S.
president*
LONDON (Reuters) - The author of a book that is highly critical of Donald
Trump’s first year as U.S. president said his revelations were likely to
bring an end to Trump’s time in the White House.
Michael Wolff told BBC radio that his conclusion in “Fire and Fury: Inside
the Trump White House”-- that Trump is not fit to do the job -- was
becoming a widespread view.
“I think one of the interesting effects of the book so far is a very clear
emperor-has-no-clothes effect,” Wolff said in an interview b... more »
A Former Soviet Dissident's Take On The Unrest In Iran
Ronald Reagan with Natan Sharansky. Wikipedia
*Eli Lake, Bloomberg:* *What a Soviet Dissident Sees in Iran's Unrest*
*A reminder of what happened when the West supported the Soviet regime
rather than the Soviet resistance. *
French President Emmanuel Macron is deeply concerned. His government has
expressed tempered support for the demonstrations in Iran, but for now he
is more worried about the reaction of America, Israel and Saudi Arabia.
This week he warned that the full-throated endorsement for the unrest in
Iran by these governments "is almost one that would lead us to war." It... more »
Second Felony Conviction from Man Camp Action: 'Rape of Mother Earth, Rape of Our Women'
Water Protector Erica Gonzalez during her trial in Mandan, ND. Second
Felony Conviction From Man Camp Action Posted on January 5, 2018 By Water
Protector Legal Collective Censored News “When they’re raping our mother
earth, they are also raping our women.” MANDAN, North Dakota -- The second
group of trials from the Standing Rock action in commemoration of missing
and murdered
Syrian Army cuts important jihadist supply line in southern Idlib
BEIRUT, LEBANON (2:30 A.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) resumed their
advance in the southern countryside of Idlib, tonight, after capturing
several sites from the jihadist rebels during the day. Backed by Russian
airstrikes and heavy artillery, the Syrian Arab Army’s Tiger Forces were
able to capture the town of Kafraya after a short […]
Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Iraqi forces continue clearing strategic Huwaijah area of ISIS sleeper cells
The Iraqi Army and Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) continued their
operation to establish security inside Huwaijah, which was recently
liberated by the allied forces. Karim Al-Khafeqi, commander of the Iraqi
Army’s Second Brigade, announced earlier on Friday that the allied forces
had finalized the inspection of sixteen towns near Huwaijah, noting that
the operation to […]
Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
“The Dumbing Down of Scholastic Achievement”
*“The Dumbing Down of Scholastic Achievement”*
by Sheriff David Clark
"When all 164 of Washington D.C. Frank W. Ballou Senior High School’s
graduating seniors last year applied for and were accepted to college, the
whole community - students, teachers, administrators, parents, and
education reformers - had reason to celebrate the achievements of these
obviously hard-working graduates. With a graduating class the school system
considered “academically disadvantaged,” someone in the school district
should have smelled a rat.
After all, 98 percent of Ballou’s 930 students were Africa... more »
The Winners and Losers of Trump's Tax Act
*Samuel Rines*
*Economics, Americas*
[image: White House Chief of Staff John Kelly stands over U.S. President
Donald Trump's desk as reporters exit after he signed sweeping tax overhaul
legislation into law in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington,
U.S. December 22, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst] There is simply no escaping
the wrath of Donald Trump's tax plan—if you are a member of the
upper-middle class.
The *Tax Cuts and Jobs Act* is not for everyone—both literally and
figuratively. On the corporate side, it will be a boon to U.S. businesses.
It is difficult to see ... more »
How to Give Up the Electronic Ghost and Get Back to Shabbat
*Amitai Etzioni*
*Society, Americas*
[image: A Microsoft delegate checks applications on a smartphone during the
launch of the Windows 10 operating system in Kenya's capital Nairobi, July
29, 2015. Microsoft Corp's launch of its first new operating system in
almost three years, designed to work across laptops, desktop and
smartphones, won mostly positive reviews for its user-friendly and
feature-packed interface. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya] For decades now the
“secular” world of weekdays has invaded the world of holidays and weekends.
Today many of us are addicted to our inboxes.
Onc... more »
M26 Pershing: The U.S. Military's Nazi Tank Killer?
*Warfare History Network*
*History, Europe*
It arrived too late to dramatically impact the course of World War II.
“We had been assured by our officers before we invaded France in 1944,”
recorded Bill Harris, “that our Sherman tanks could take care of any Nazi
armor we met there.”
Harris, a tank gunner in the U.S. 2nd Armored Division, had been told over
and over again that the American M4 Sherman Medium Tank (the Allies’ main
battle tank) was as good, if not superior, to any armored fighting vehicle
in the Wehrmacht’s arsenal. Unfortunately for hundreds of U.S. and Allied
tanke... more »
The M27: The Automatic Rifle That Will Make the U.S. Marines Even Deadlier
*Task and Purpose, Jared Keller*
*Security, North America*
The beloved M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle may be in more hands sooner than
later.
The 5.56mm M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle has remained a favorite rifle of
the Marine Corps for the better part of this decade. Based on the Heckler &
Koch HK416 assault rifle and adopted in 2011 to replace the M249 Squad
Automatic Weapon, it’s widely considered more versatile and accurate over a
longer range than the average weapon — so much so that the Corps has even
discussed replacing every infantry Marine’s M4 carbine with an IAR variant
... more »
The Battle of Chosin Reservoir: How China Saved North Korea from Extinction
*Daniel L. Davis*
*History, Asia*
If only U.S. military planners had thought a little differently.
On June 25, 1950, the North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) under Marshal Kim
Il-sung launched a no-notice invasion of South Korea. Many are familiar
with the failings of “Task Force Smith” in the first week of the war and
MacArthur’s brilliant landings at Inchon that September. Few, however,
realize the decisive moment of the war came three months after Inchon,
amidst the most brutal cold wave imaginable, at a place called the Chosin
Reservoir. American arrogance and bigotry forfeited... more »
South Korea Has Its Own Massive Artillery That NATO Loves (and North Korea Hates)
*Sebastien Roblin*
*Security, Asia*
The K-9 Thunder is a beast of a "big" gun.
In December 2017, Norway announced it would purchase twenty-four K9 Thunder
self-propelled howitzers from South Korean firm Hanhwa for $215 million,
with an option for up to twenty-four more in the future. The K9 edged out
an upgraded M109 howitzer offered by the Swiss firm RUAG and the German
Panzerhaubitze 2000, which has a similar main gun and performance profile,
but a slightly faster rapid-fire rate compared to the K9. However, the PzH
2000 is considerably more expensive.
This marks just the lat... more »
Russia Has a Plan to Dominate the Arctic
*Michael Peck*
*Security, Europe*
More icebreakers, more power?
In a move with chilling implications for the international competition for
Arctic sea routes and minerals, Russia is building more nuclear-powered
icebreakers.
Three more next-generation Lider-class vessels will be constructed in 2023
to 2025, vice-premier Dmitry Rogozin told Russian media. Three more
nuclear-powered icebreakers are already under construction.
"Rosatom [state civilian nuclear power corporation] has now been instructed
as part of private and state partnership to think over the algorithm of
financin... more »
FBI Investigating Clinton Foundation "Pay-for-Play" Scheme
[image: fbi-investigating-clinton-foundation-pay-for-play-scheme]
Hillary Clinton is in the middle of yet another investigation. Although she
is already being investigated by numerous agencies in connection to a
litany of crimes, Clinton can add to that list a new investigation by the
Department of Justice (DOJ) into whether the Clinton Foundation engaged in
criminal activity including “pay-for-play” when she was secretary of state,
according to a report by *The Hill*.
War on Facts and Reason... and vs Iran...
The predicted run-up to a U.S. Iran War is experiencing a hiccup, as
massive street demonstrations in two dozen cities raise a slim possibility
that theocracy might give way to a modern, moderate and reasonable-modern
state. Slim, because the Iranian Revolutionary Guard is large, rich, and
highly motivated to keep their gravy train in motion. So what would be the
best approach for a sensible, grownup and pragmatically enlightened U.S.
policy?
Tweet-storms. From a 'genius,' no less.
*"In an interview, Abolhassan Bani-Sadr, the first president of the Islamic
Republic who now lives i... more »
Ex-Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Arrested For Inciting Unrest Against The Government
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad looks on as he attends the 25th
International Islamic Unity Conference in Tehran February 8, 2012.
REUTERS/Morteza Nikoubazl
*Times of Israel:* *Report: Ex-Iranian president Ahmadinejad arrested for
inciting unrest*
According to Arab paper, former leader's comments against Rouhani
government amid rallies have led authorities to seek to place him under
house arrest.
Former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been arrested by
authorities for allegedly inciting unrest against the government, the
London-based daily Al-Quds Al-Arabi reported... more »
Young Evangelicals Aren’t Stupid— It’s Just That Their Parents Abhor Education And, Tragically, Instill Ignorance Into Their Worldview
I come from a secular Jewish home. My parents and grandparents taught me
about *latkes* and gefilte fish, a sense of social justice and the
importance of education. My school report cards were always very weighty
moments in our household. "College" was the most crucial of goals on the
horizon even when I was in elementary school. A "B" was a *shonda*, even
worse than being a bigot and not treating everyone with respect... or not
saving money.
Recently the author and filmmaker Frank Schaeffer, who grew up in a very
different-- evangelical-- household, told me that it’s “no coincide... more »
Fake Diamond News
It must be a slow news month (it’s the Christmas holiday period after all)
and the Geology website reports Unique Diamonds Discovered in frozen lava
sample from Kamchatka. Except that the largest diamond found was 700
microns or 0.007 mm and … Continue reading →
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment