10 pm MST
Midnight Meme Of The Day!
*by Noah Sunday Thoughts:* I've encountered a seemingly endless parade of jackass Republicans in my day. They profess to be fervent Christians, yet, miracle of miracles, they don't have a Christian bone in their corrupted bodies. Still, they are true believers in their particular twisted Bizarro World Republican Jesus. Most true Christians should, if they follow the doctrine of the church I was brought up in, believe that Trump is going to Hell. If that's the case, I second that emotion! Burn Baby Trump, Burn! Burn, char, and melt like some puffy marshmallow man on a stick! And... more »
Left Twitter Responds With Viral #TooFarLeft Hashtag After Obama Counsels Democrats to Tamp Down Progressive Ambitions
Sampling of tweets responding to counsel to Democrats to sideline left-leaning twitter feeds.
Australian Daily Wind Power Generation Data – Saturday 16th November 2019
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 […]
Some Inconvenient Facts For Robert Redford’s Climate Change Cry
By Christian Toto ~ Robert Redford is a world class actor, a movie star of the first order and an indie film inspiration. Redford’s Sundance Film Festival helped fuel the rise of auteurs like Steven Soderbergh, Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez. Redford, like Greta Thunberg, is not a climate scientist, though. He still shared an urgent […]
The IPCC Contradicts The Climate Emergency
By David Wojick, Ph.D. ~ Here is a recent screaming statement of the supposed climate change emergency: “Trump’s greatest dereliction of duty – – his disgraceful denial of climate change” in the Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/11/05/trumps-greatest-dereliction-duty-his-disgraceful-denial-climate-change/ This alarmist diatribe says: “At a time when the international scientific community has concluded that we have 11 years to […]
Not another one!
*Bumped, from first thing this morning, back to the top of the blog for those who like a debate (see the thread below)...* *The Mail on Sunday* reports that Maria Carroll, Labour's Corbynite candidate in Carmarthen East, ran a secret Facebook group (the 'Labour Party Compliance: Suspensions, Expulsions, Rejections Co-Op’) advising members accused of antisemitism how to escape expulsion, including members who cast doubt on the Holocaust and promoted antisemitic tropes. There's lot of damning detail in the piece. Lord John Mann, until the election MP for Bassetlaw, has tweeted, "L... more »
The Air Force's BLU-12 Bomb Is Like a Sniper in the Sky
*Kris Osborn* *Security, * The Air Force is revving up production of the air-dropped, precision-guided BLU-129 bomb increasingly in demand by warzone commanders - so accurate, lethal and precise, it is called “the world’s largest sniper accuracy." *Key point: *This weapon brings additional attack flexibility to the battlefield. The Air Force is revving up production of the air-dropped, precision-guided BLU-129 bomb increasingly in demand by warzone commanders - so accurate, lethal and precise, it is called “the world’s largest sniper accuracy.” The often-requested weapon, descri... more »
Is The U.S. Army's M-4 Carbine Good Enough? For Now It Has To Be
*Matthew Moss* *Security, * Problems with overheating and jamming in Afghanistan have raised questions. *Key point: *The M-4 is being improved to incorporate lessons learned on the battlefield. The U.S. Army’s standard infantry weapon repeatedly overheated and jammed during a bloody 2008 battle in Afghanistan. *The Washington Times* reported last week on the reported failure of the M-4 carbine during the fierce firefight in Wanat, during which the Taliban nearly overran an Army outpost. A direct descendant of the Vietnam War-era M-16, the more compact M-4 is the Army’s standard-... more »
China Wants To Have The World's Best Navy (Will It Succeed?)
*Robert Farley* *Security, * History has an answer. *Key point: *Many countries have tried and many have failed. The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is the most visible, and possibly the most consequential, manifestation of China’s emergence as a great power. In three decades, China has turned a large, but relatively minor regional force into a fleet of global consequence. But now that China has its navy, can it keep it? The historical record is mixed. Over the past 130 years several nations have embarked on radical schemes of fleet-building designed to elevate their positi... more »
Italian schools: 33 mandatory hours of climate hysteria a year
In this week, the media have announced that since September 2020, ten months from now, all Italian public schools will require the education in "climate science". It was ordered by the Italian minister of education, Lorenzo Fioramonti. I think that this idea is insane – how much insane obviously depends on what they will actually teach. The minister is a scholar in political sciences and a member of the unreadable, formally anti-establishment, Five Star Movement. The idea that a member of an "anti-establishment" party introduces something like that sounds surreal. Such an "anti-est... more »
Not yellow
I see that Andrew Neil is continuing to be 'the exception that proves the rule' as far as the claim that the BBC are almost entirely ignoring the ongoing* gilets jaunes *protests in Paris (and the accompanying French police violence) - at least according to some BBC critics on Twitter. He's tweeted about them again this weekend: For over a year now, Saturdays in Paris have been marked by demonstration, fire and violence. This from the Place D’Italie quarter this afternoon. https://t.co/pEb3q4aHQ5 — Andrew Neil (@afneil) November 16, 2019 ...except that the BBC's Paris corresponden... more »
The BBC's Scamble for Africa (and India)
According to today's *The Sunday Times*: The BBC is gearing up to extend into Africa and India as it fights against the global domination of the American streaming giants. The publicly funded broadcaster wants to start partnerships with overseas rivals on shows and audio services to expand its reach across two of the most populous and rapidly growing regions. That could push the catch-up service BBC iPlayer and the radio and podcast app BBC Sounds into new territories. And guess what? It wants the next government to support further expansion.
Noises off
It's not news these days that the BBC Natural History Unit's mighty landmark series - usually with voiceovers by Sir David Attenborough - sometimes contain little editing tricks: a bit of helpful noise added from elsewhere, borrowed footage spliced in to make the story flow better, things that are meant to be happening in the wild being filmed in studios, etc. It's not a particularly big thing and it doesn't necessarily do any harm, but it used to be surprising to hear about it. And then there are the mistakes that accompany such practises... *The Sunday Times*, prompted by two... more »
'Look at the size of these': Storm brings cricket ball-sized hail to parts of South East Queensland
Large hailstones hammered cars and homes as fierce winds whipped up debris causing chaos through suburban streets in parts of the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast yesterday as residents continue the clean up today.
'Absolutely no mercy': Documents reportedly expose Xi Jinping's push to control Uyghurs
Just In - 22 hours ago
A leaked 400-page document released by the New York Times reveals the role Beijing's officials, including the President, have played in the mass detention of China's Muslim minorities.
It's hard to breathe': Bushfires cause choking air pollution in south-east Queensland
The air quality in parts of the south-east Queensland becomes worse than in Mumbai as bushfires rage across the state.
Hastie and Paterson defiant in the face of China's calls for repentance
Liberal politicians Andrew Hastie and James Paterson refuse to adhere to Beijing's request for them to "repent" for their criticisms of the Communist Party, which led to them being banned from entering China.
'Just a horrific sound': Riverland light plane crash pilot Tim Whitrow in critical condition
Just In - 22 hours ago
A man who remains in a critical condition after a light plane crash in South Australia's Riverland is identified as South Australian winemaker and experienced pilot Tim Whitrow.
"‘No-nonsense Naga’! Go get ‘im!"
*"Why are you relatable to families up and down the country? How can they relate to you and your family?"* That's a question Naga Munchetty put to Boris Johnson on Friday's *BBC Breakfast - *and one of her BBC colleagues was very impressed: Great lesson for interviewers, this — the question so open, and so lethal pic.twitter.com/DMhT54ZlIm — Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) November 15, 2019 Boris appeared flummoxed and struggled for an answer, and this absolutely delighted his critics. They felt that he'd been exposed as the priveleged charlatan he is, and took to Twitter* en masse ... more »
Kel-Tec .22 PMR-30 Is All Fun, No Business
*Charlie Gao* *Technology, * And sometimes that's enough. *Key point: *Every gun does not need to be an expert killer. The PMR-30 is one of Kel-Tec’s newer guns. A 30-round single action only pistol chambered in .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire, the pistol is meant to shoot fast and flat. It’s an eye-catching design, with Kel-Tec’s signature molded plastic externals, high-visibility sights, and a fairly steep grip. But it begs the question…what exactly is the point of the PMR-30? Kel-Tec’s site lists “firepower” as a key selling point of the PMR-30, calling it perfect for “backpack... more »
FACT: The Last Aircraft Carrier vs. Aircraft Carrier Battle Was Decades Ago
*Warfare History Network* *Security, Asia* A World War II showdown. *Key point: *The Battle of the Philippine Sea was the last great contest between carrier strike forces ever fought. The Philippine Sea encompasses two million square miles of the western part of the Pacific Ocean. It is bounded by the Philippine Islands on the west, the Mariana Islands on the east, the Caroline Islands to the south, and the Japanese Islands to the north. In the summer of 1944 it was the battleground of two great carrier strike forces. One of these belonged to Japanese Vice Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa... more »
China Ripped Off the M16A1 Rifle. The Only Question We Have Is Why?
*Kyle Mizokami* *Security, Asia* [image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norinco_CQ#/media/File:DA_556.jpg] Meet China's Norinco CQ Rifle. *Key Point:* The gun is mysterious; why'd the Chinese manufacture it, why was it not given to their security services, and why has it been able to make its away across the world? Some weapons are so ubiquitous they are manufactured even in countries one might not associate them with. One example of this is the M16 rifle series. In service with the U.S. Military for more than fifty years, it has fallen into the hands of many groups that were no... more »
The Air Force's B-21 'Raider' Stealth Bomber: Simply Unbeatable?
*Kyle Mizokami* *Security, * But how many should be built? *Key point: *The B-21 will be the spearhead of America's next-generation aerial penetration capabilities On October 27, 2015, nearly thirty-four years to the day after Northrop Grumman was awarded the contract to develop the first stealth bomber, the U.S. Air Force awarded Northrop a contract for a new bomber: the B-21 Raider. While many of the details of the Raider are shrouded in mystery, we do know a few things about it, and can infer others. The B-21 Raider bomber takes its name from both the twenty-first century an... more »
November 17th – 2019 Presidential Politics – Trump Administration Day #1032
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 →
Sunday November 17th – Open Thread
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 →
House Releases Transcripts from Jennifer Williams and Tim Morrison Depositions….
House Democrats on Saturday released the transcripts of closed-door testimony from Jennifer Williams and Tim Morrison (both pdf’s linked below). House Link Williams – House Link Morrison The first transcript is from career foreign service officer and Vice President Pence … Continue reading →
Experts discuss food hygiene, allergens and STEC at Codex meeting
The Codex Committee on Food Hygiene met in Cleveland, Ohio earlier this month to talk about food allergen management, biological foodborne outbreaks and guidelines to control E. coli. Codex Alimentarius is a collection of standards, guidelines and codes of practice adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, which was established by the World Health Organization (WHO)... Continue Reading
A Little Look At Trump's America One Year Before The Fateful Choice
*Barr, Pompeo, Trumpanzee and Pence* *UPDATE:* With 100% of parishes reporting, Governor John Bel Edwards (D) was reelected in red, red Louisiana, despite-- or more likely because of-- a barrage of Trump's carrying on and tons and tons of Republican sewer money: *•* John Bel Edwards (D)- 763,386 (51%) *•* Eddie Rispone (R)- 731,455 (49%) If anyone wasn't already sure, this confirms that Trump has the kiss of death when it comes to endorsing candidates. America is onto this crook, even in states like Louisiana and Kentucky, and if Trump can't win in Louisiana and Kentucky, where e... more »
North Korea's 2017 Nuclear Test Was The Equivalent To '17 Times The Size' Of Hiroshima
Satellites such as Sentinel-1 (pictured) and ALOS-2 carry advanced synthetic aperture radars that can provide data that can be used to map changing land cover, ground deformation, ice shelves and glaciers. Dr Sreejith says they can also be used in detecting nuclear tests *Newsweek:* *North Korea's 2017 Nuclear Explosion Was Equivalent of 17 Hiroshima Bombs, Study Suggests* The nucler weapon detonated underground by North Korea in 2017 could have been 17 times as powerful as the "Little Boy" bomb dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima in 1945. According to research recently publ... more »
Yovanovitch says that Obama State Department was aware of the Biden problem
When testifying former Ambassador Yovanovitch testified that of the thousands of companies in Ukraine the only one she was given specific instructions on how to testify about at her confirmation hearings was Burisma; the company that paid Hunter Biden $3.1 million. Clearly back in the Obama Administration the State Department knew that Hunter's job was a big land mine that they didn't want to have anything to do with. In the secret impeachment hearings Yovanovitch said: “The way this question was phrased in this model Q&A [from the Obama administration] was ‘What can you tell us ab... more »
“You have no technology to eliminate radioactive waste once it’s made by man”
11-12-19 “You have no technology to eliminate radioactive waste once it’s made by man,” Rose Hayes, a Medical Anthropologist said. https://www.wjbf.com/csra-news/public-interest-group-opposes-srs-plutonium-bomb-plan-wants-clean-up/ ……… Dr. Hayes served on the U.S, Department of Energy Site Specific Advisory Board for the Savannah River nuclear plant,, chairing its Nuclear Materials Committee from 2009-2015. She has served on many other national boards and authored publications in nuclear waste management. https://www.diannshaddoxfoundation.org/2019-aws-authors-blog/author-rose-hayes... more »
Video Shows F-16 Jet Flying Through Another Aircraft's Contrails During Military Training Over Hawaii
*Daily Mail:* *Stunning video shows a F-16 jet flying through another aircraft's contrails during military training over Hawaii* * Video was filmed by US Air National Guard Technical Sergeant Phillip Cowen * It shows the moment when a 138th Fighter Wing Tulsa F-16 Viper clears through another aircraft's contrail * In the footage, the jet manages to fly in and out of the vapor stream * The jet was flying over the Pacific Missile Range Facility on the island of Kauai, Hawaii Wild video shows the moment a fighter jet flying over Hawaii speeds through another aircraft's contrail. V... more »
Democrats declare that presidential candidates can't be investigated for corruption
So far the Democrats haven't produced a single witness with first hand evidence about anything Trump did that was wrong much less criminal. But for a moment let's assume that their charges are correct. What is the situation then? Well Trump demanded that the Ukraine investigate possible corruption by the Biden family before he'd give Ukraine military aid. Is that bad? If so why? The evidence is pretty clear: - Joe Biden became Obama's point man for Ukraine - Hunter Biden gets paid $3.1 million dollars by a corrupt Ukraine company; Burisma - Hunter Biden admits he has... more »
James Pattinson to miss first Test after code of conduct breach
Just In - 1 day ago
James Pattinson will not contest a charge from Cricket Australia that he used abusive language during a Sheffield Shield match and will serve a one-match suspension.
Driver faces court after allegedly mowing down man on bike following fight at shopping centre
Police accuse a 49-year-old driver of chasing a cyclist through a car park in Perth's north before deliberately running over him on a verge, leaving the 18-year-old with life-threatening injuries.
Greens' Adam Bandt says a 'generation will rise up in fury' if politicians don't address climate crisis
Greens co-deputy leader Adam Bandt defends his colleague Jordon Steele-John for describing other senators as "arsonists" as bushfires rage along Australia's east coast.
Russia And Lithuania Exchange Spies At The Kaliningrad Border
Norwegian national Frode Berg was sentenced to 14 years in Russian prison for espionage. Pavel Golovkin / AP / TASS *DW:* *Russia and Lithuania swap spies at Kaliningrad border* Lithuania has handed over two convicted Russian spies to Moscow, with three spies headed in the opposite direction. Two Lithuanians were freed, along with a Norwegian border guard, as part of the Cold War-style swap. Russia and Lithuania conducted a spy swap at a border checkpoint between the Baltic state and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad on Friday. The exchange involved two Russians convicted of espi... more »
We Can't Overlook Adults In The Vaping Health Epidemic
*Roger Bate* *Society, * Unlike teens, adults have not changed buying behavior in the recent past. Following my blog from last week about teen vaping buyer habits, I now discuss adult vaping habits from the same ongoing survey. Unlike teen buyers, adults have not changed buying behavior in the recent past. They are still accessing products from legal sources, since they haven’t been driven to illicit sourcing. All adults (16 surveyed so far from the Philadelphia area) said they were vaping to wean themselves off of smoking. One said he had vaped cannabis but no longer did so bec... more »
Meet America's F-111 Aardvark: Was It Better Than the F-15 Strike Eagle?
*Charlie Gao* *Security, * It served with distinction from Vietnam onwards--with amazing range. *Key point: *The F-111 struck a weird medium between the tactical strike aircraft and the strategic bomber. The F-111 Aardvark was the U.S. Air Force’s premier strike aircraft for the majority of the Cold War. It served in practically every conflict from Vietnam forwards, until it was replaced by the F-15E Strike Eagle. It also served Strategic Air Command in a limited role as a strategic bomber. But what made the F-111 great? Did the United States truly lose any capability by retiri... more »
These Are the 5 Best Guns on the Planet (Last Year)
*Kyle Mizokami* *Security, * 2018 was a big year for firearms. Here are the best. *Key point: *The best weapons from the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s SHOT Show. Held annually in Las Vegas, the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s SHOT Show is known as the industry event where new firearms of all kinds are introduced to the public. From self-defense revolvers to precision rifles, SHOT is the place to see the latest innovations in the world of guns. Let’s take a look at five weapons introduced at SHOT 2018 that might be among the best this year. *Glock 19X* The U.S. A... more »
Are America's Aircraft Carriers Vulnerable To Enemy Torpedoes?
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, Asia* A new report raises serious concerns. Key point: A small number of torpedo hits can sink a large warship. In 2019, an annual report released by the Department of Testing & Evaluation revealed that a potentially revolutionary new torpedo-defense system installed on five American aircraft carriers had proven unsatisfactory and would be withdrawn from service. The system combined a towed Torpedo Warning System sensor array designed to detect incoming torpedoes with a quick-acting launcher called the Anti-Torpedo Device System (ATTDS) that could s... more »
Transcripts Highlight Sondland’s Role in Pressuring Ukraine
Transcripts released in the impeachment inquiry show Ambassador Gordon Sondland playing a central role in President Donald Trump’s effort to push Ukraine to conduct political investigations as a condition for receiving needed military aid.
Is This a Picture of Elise Stefanik Flipping the Bird at an Impeachment Inquiry?
Another example of an attack on a politician based on a misleading 'middle finger' photograph.
New Research Analyzes Growth of International Exchange
New research by The Institute of International Education (IIE) and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational Affairs indicates that the number of international students in the United States continues to rise.
Diversity, Ukraine, and Impeachment
There’s a diversity angle in the impeachment hearings you may have overlooked.It’s not just about Trump. It’s about a proud people who have overcome mass starvation and invasions for centuries. And they continue to struggle to be free from tyranny and corruption.
UPDATE: Louisiana Governors Race – Election Results – Open Discussion Thread – Democrat Incumbent John Bel Edwards Wins Reelection…
Tonight is the last governors race of the year. Democrat Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards is facing off against a Republican challenger Eddie Rispone, a Baton Rouge businessman who emerged as the winner in last month’s nonpartisan primary. President Trump … Continue reading →
The Hugely Important OPCW Scandal Keeps Unfolding. Here’s Why No One’s Talking About It.
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is now hemorrhaging evidence that the US and its allies deceived the world once again about yet another military intervention, which should be a front-page story all over the world. Yet if you looked at American news […]
Is Liberty a Cult?
The philosophy of liberty is fully compatible with irrationality, cultism, and utopianism. We can draw this inference from history of the philosophical movements that have been devoted to liberty in the last 2500 years. There is as much irrationally, cultism, and utopianism in the pro-liberty movements as there is any theocratic movement. In Ancient Greece, Epicurus established a movement called epicureanism which asserted the value of human freedom and individualism, but the epicureans used to worship the hero cult of Epicurus and they pined for a utopia. In the last 100 years ther... more »
President Trump Pardons 2 Army Officers Accused Of War Crimes, Restores Rank To Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher
*FOX News*: *Trump grants clemency to 2 Army officers accused of war crimes, restores rank to Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher* President Trump has granted clemency to two Army officers accused or convicted of war crimes and restored Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher to the rank of chief petty officer after he was docked a pay grade after being convicted of posing for a photo with a dead Islamic State (ISIS) fighter, the White House announced Friday. Army 1st Lt. Clint Lorance could be released from the military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, as soon as Friday evening, six years after being... more »
South Park Nails ‘Trans-Sports’
Unfazed by screaming snowflakes, the TV show “South Park” dared to mock the increasingly taboo subject of males entering women’s sports by claiming to identify as transgender. South Park casts the extremely politically correct character literally named “Strong Woman” in the position of getting victimized by a ‘roid-raged hunk entering women’s sports. Not only does trannie “Heather Swanson” defeat Strong Woman in the competition, but he/she takes every opportunity to shove it in her face, acting like a stereotypical insecure but aggressive male. Strong Woman and her partner ‘PC Princ... more »
Why Russian Fighter Jets Are Threatening NATO In The Baltics
*Mark Episkopos* *Security, Europe* A Russian Su-27 recent intercepted an American F-15C. *Key point: *Russia and NATO's military buildup in the Baltics is creating a tense situation. In the most recent illustration of ongoing Russia-NATO military tensions over Baltic airspace, recently released *footage* shows a Russian Su-27 fighter making a sharp turn into an American F-15C. It is unclear when the video was filmed, with some speculating that it occured during a prior NATO BAP (Baltic Air Policing) mission. When viewed in that light, this incident seems to fall into the trend... more »
The U.S. Marines Are Bringing Back World War II Crab Tanks
*Michael Peck* *Security, Americas* [image: Pinterest] China already has them. Why does the U.S. need them? Simple: Take out the mines. At dawn on June 6, 1944, the German troops defending the Normandy beaches glimpsed a terrifying sight. Landing craft were disgorging M-4 Sherman tanks on the beaches. But these were no ordinary tanks: on their hulls were fitted rotating drums to which chains were attached. The chains flailed the beach, detonating any mines buried in the sand. These were the legendary British “Crab” tanks of the 79th Armored Division, whose job it was to clear m... more »
Amtrak Says It Is Finally Making A Profit, But More Bad News Is Coming
*Randal O'Toole* *economy, * Amtrak has a $33 billion maintenance backlog. A press release issued by Amtrak last week would, if it were published by publicly traded firm, be a violation of securities laws and regulations. The press release claimed that Amtrak's FY 2019 annual financial report, which has yet to be published, would show that passenger revenues covered 99 percent of operating costs. Amtrak officials further projected that the company would show a profit for the first time in its history in 2020. Neither of these claims are true because they grossly misrepresent what... more »
The Way Forward for Hong Kong
*James Jay Carafano* *Security, Asia* If Beijing plays its cards correctly, then it can face the world with more confidence, less bullying, and gain the respect and trust of other nations around the world that are increasingly doubtful about the wisdom of doing business with China. How can the Hong Kong protests end in a way that serves everyone’s best interests? How can China take a black-eye and turn it into a positive? How can both sides build constructive, sustainable models for peace and prosperity? The answer is: Everybody—Beijing, the Hong Kong government, and the prot... more »
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