Wednesday, December 11, 2019

11 December - Blogs I'm Following - 2 of 5

10 pm MST

What’s for dinner?

Norma at Collecting My Thoughts - 6 hours ago
You can be married almost 60 years and still be surprised. I offered 2 leftover choices--chili or pork roast with gravy and biscuits. I thought sure I'd get the chili, but I was wrong. . .

All The Media Lying to Manufacture Hate for DJT, He's Still More Popular Than Barky

Diogenes Sarcastica™ at Diogenes' Middle Finger - 6 hours ago
Renowned Leftist Pillow Bitter and ABC Daytime Media Hate Spewing Bozo-Sapien *Breitbart* - Real Clear Politics, a non-partisan (and indispensable) site that tracks countless polls and averages them, also tracks the job approval numbers for President Trump and former President Obama in a way that allows us to see how the two presidents compare on this same day during their respective presidencies. On the very same day the deranged media and demented Democrats announced two articles of impeachment against Trump, his average job approval rating is higher than Obama’s was on this sam... more »

The Apostates- Don't Believe Them

jurassicpork at Welcome Back to Gotham City - 6 hours ago
Right wing journalist Jennifer Rubin's been on the warpath lately, writing several articles a day slamming her fellow Republicans left and right. But I'll always view her Never Trumper stance with a lot more than mere suspicion. In fact, I still look at her and her fellow apostates such as George Will, William Kristol and Rick Wilson as useful idiots for the moment. (*The National Respew* took her to task for her "Trump obsession" two years ago.) But these people helped bring the Republican Party we see today into being and helped give them cachet and gravitas when in real... more »

Was Trump Impeachment Witness ‘Melanie Honcharenko’ Found Dead?

Dan Evon at Snopes.com - 6 hours ago
It is a bit difficult for an imaginary person to be found dead.

"'Outside Germany, many still think the Nazis’ strength depended on illiterate mobs. In fact, the highest proportion of Nazi Party members came from the educated classes.' And note that in our generation, the thug types from far left/right are coming out of universities ready to rumble." #QotD

Peter Cresswell at Not PC - 6 hours ago
*"A reminder: to defeat alt-rightists, neo-fascists, and neo-Nazis we need to get our philosophical game on. That’s the implication of my 2010 book 'Nietzsche and the Nazis.' Support for that thesis from a new book by philosopher Susan Neiman: 'Outside Germany, many still think the Nazis’ strength depended on illiterate mobs, a view unfortunately reinforced by the dreadful book and subsequent movie 'The Reader.' In fact, the highest proportion of Nazi Party members came from the educated classes.' "And note that in our generation, the thug types from far left/right are co... more »

Ash Barty named WTA's player of the year to cap remarkable 12 months of tennis

Just In - 6 hours ago
The Women's Tennis Association crowns the Queenslander, who won four titles in 2019, including her first grand slam at the French Open.

Weather forecasters say days of storms ahead for South East Queensland after overnight deluge

Melanie Vujkovic at Just In - 6 hours ago
Brisbane's overnight rainfall equals what it's received in the last six months with a major thunderstorm bringing more than 100 millimetres to some parts of the city.

From law to yoga to politics — and now medicine? Shirin's quest for a job with meaning

Sarah Scopelianos And Cathy Pryor at Just In - 6 hours ago
In her search for a job with meaning, Shirin Sethna swapped her briefcase for a yoga mat — only to discover you can have too much of a good thing. So what's the best way to find purpose at work?

Australian shares fall while Fed keeps interest rates on hold

David Chau at Just In - 6 hours ago
The local share market experiences a sharp fall, but the Australian dollar jumps after the US Federal Reserve keeps interest rates steady.

Farmers encouraged to lease their land for renewable energy farms

Patrick Bell at Just In - 6 hours ago
A pilot program for renewable energy in the NSW central west could provide a boost to farmer income and productivity.

Live: NSW Now: Thousands vent fury at Sydney rally, state government fined for pollution

Just In - 6 hours ago
*MORNING BRIEFING: *A climate change rally in Sydney's CBD swells to more than 20,000 protesters, shutting down streets during afternoon peak hour to protest government inaction.

New police station opened by federal Indigenous Minister left vacant and padlocked for over a month

Matt Garrick at Just In - 6 hours ago
A brand-new $6.1 million police station on a remote Northern Territory island has been standing empty since the day it was officially opened.

With an impending water crisis, Armidale looks to Sydney pool water

Harriet Tatham at Just In - 6 hours ago
Water used to test whether a new pool has leaks will not go to waste, instead being trucked to Armidale where there's only one year's water supply left.

Anger and fear as outback town faces youth crime problem no-one wants to own

Kelly Butterworth And Zara Margolis at Just In - 6 hours ago
In Mount Isa, the town debate is whether it is better to leave your car unlocked so you don't get a smashed window, or lock it up and risk the insurance excess.

'Absolutely heartbroken': Sydney brothers confirmed dead in NZ eruption, parents still unaccounted for

Paige Cockburn at Just In - 6 hours ago
Sydney's Knox Grammar School pays tribute to brothers Matthew and Berend Hollander, who died from injuries sustained in the White Island volcano eruption.

Dumplings, Christmas ham costs rise as deadly disease spreads

Caitlyn Gribbin at Just In - 6 hours ago
Stuffing the humble Chinese dumpling — or buying this year's Christmas ham — is becoming very expensive, with pork costs almost doubling as swine fever devastates the world's pig population.

Donna spends three hours a day commuting to and from work, and she doesn't live in Sydney

Casey Briggs at Just In - 6 hours ago
It was once known as the 20-minute city, but Adelaide is now having growing pains, as suburban sprawl and road bottlenecks cause increasing headaches on the morning commute.

Freeways galore, new rail lines were planned for Melbourne 50 years ago — how did that work out?

Kristian Silva at Just In - 6 hours ago
Melbourne was facing an 'urban population explosion' in 1969, so the state's transport minister developed a plan to fix congestion and public transport capacity.

We shall override delusion.

Bob Dinn at balance10 - 6 hours ago
* The* soft petals of God’s love surround the fabric of the mind and the fragrance is ensouled by the beauty of the divine heart. We bring you greetings from Shamballa and the Spirit of the Prince of Peace. Ours is awareness of his mission, of the eternal vigil for the earth; for the heart of the enlightened ones solemnly gathers together in that holy conclave that, bestowing budding divinity upon a child, gives to him the mantle-flame of a future regeneration. The hand of God is the hand of peace, and the hand of His peace provides celestial security to terrestrial natives who ... more »

Islamist Militants Massacre 71 Soldiers In An Attack On A Remote Military Camp In Niger

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 6 hours ago
*Reuters:* *Jihadists kill 71 soldiers in mass attack: Niger military* Islamist militants killed 71 soldiers in an attack on a remote military camp in Niger near the border with Mali, an army spokesman said on Wednesday, in the deadliest raid against the Nigerien military in living memory. Jihadists with links to Islamic State and al Qaeda have mounted increasingly lethal attacks across West Africa’s Sahel region this year despite the commitment of thousands of regional and foreign troops to counter them. The violence has hit Mali and Burkina Faso the hardest, rendering large swa... more »

Ep. 1132 The Media Missed this Hidden Bombshell in the IG Report. The Dan Bongino Show 12/11/2019

Hadenoughalready at 'Nox & Friends - 6 hours ago
Hang onto your shorts, Folks! ~Let the Round-Up BEGIN!

Protests violence in Iraq and Iran as more than 40 people are killed for demanding Democracy

Uriel at 'Nox & Friends - 6 hours ago
November 28, 2019 , violence surged higher in Iraq, with security forces killing at least 40 people in a day. Crowds joined funeral processions as protesters denounced government corruption and economic mismanagement. –##– Michael Pregent: Iraq Protestors “Willing to Die for Change,” Deserve Full-Throttled U.S. Support Middle East Forum Marilyn Stern December 11, 2019 Michael Pregent, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, spoke to Middle East Forum Radio host Gregg Roman on December 4th about the mass protests that have taken place against Iraq’s Iranian-backed regime since the l... more »

What do the parties’ election pledges mean financially?

Phil McDuff at The Overtake [beta] - 6 hours ago
[image: What do the parties’ election pledges mean financially?] How do the parties' election promises stack up? Phil McDuff crunches the numbers Read full article →

Turley Testimony on Trump: Obstacle for Pro-impeachment Democrats

John F. McManus at rss - 6 hours ago
[image: turley-testimony-on-trump-obstacle-for-pro-impeachment-democrats] Law School Professor Jonathan Turley is no fan of President Trump. Yet in his appearance before the House Judiciary Committee, he testified he could find no justifiable reason for impeachment.

Would Biden Seek a Second Term as President? Depends on Whom He’s Talking To

Michael Tennant at rss - 6 hours ago
[image: would-biden-seek-a-second-term-as-president-depends-on-whom-he-s-talking-to] Joe Biden, age 77, is privately telling advisors he plans not to seek reelection if he becomes president, but publicly he is being more ambiguous.

Not Okay: Law School Expels Student for Posting “IT’S OKAY TO BE WHITE” Flyers

Selwyn Duke at rss - 6 hours ago
[image: not-okay-law-school-expels-student-for-posting-it-s-okay-to-be-white-flyers] An Oklahoma City University School of Law student has just been expelled for posting flyers stating “IT’S OKAY TO BE WHITE.”

Missouri Fights for Right to Defund Abortion Facilities Before State Supreme Court

Raven Clabough at rss - 6 hours ago
[image: missouri-fights-for-right-to-defund-abortion-facilities-before-the-state-s-supreme-court] The state of Missouri is fighting for the right to defund Planned Parenthood after the abortion provider filed suit against the state’s budget language, which prohibits the use of state Medicaid dollars to fund abortion facilities and their affiliates.

Morality of Free Markets

Walter E. Williams at rss - 6 hours ago
[image: morality-of-free-markets] Free markets are morally superior to other economic systems.

Biden: I Don’t Have to Obey a Subpoena to Testify at Trump’s Impeachment Because I’m Honest, and Everyone Says So

R. Cort Kirkwood at rss - 6 hours ago
[image: biden-i-don-t-have-to-obey-a-subpoena-to-testify-at-trump-s-impeachment-because-i-m-honest-and-everyone-says-so] Biden flatly stated that he won’t obey a subpoena from the U.S. Senate to testify during an impeachment trial of President Trump.

Is France's Pension Revolt Legitimate?

Leo Kolivakis at Pension Pulse - 6 hours ago
France24 and AFP report the French government has just unveiled a new pension plan but crippling strikes are set to continue: The legal retirement age in France will remain 62 with the new French retirement plan, but workers will need to work until 64 to get a full pension, French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe announced on Wednesday. *“We’ll maintain the legal retirement age of 62,” Philippe said, adding, “but we’ll encourage [the French] to work longer. The government intends to adopt the proposal of the high commissioner Jean-Paul Delevoye to introduce, above the legal age, an... more »

#38: George Stark of Cabot Oil and Gas on the natural gas industry

IER at IER - 7 hours ago
George Stark, the director of external affairs at Cabot Oil & Gas, joined the show to discuss how American natural… The post #38: George Stark of Cabot Oil and Gas on the natural gas industry appeared first on IER.

New Jersey Doubles Its Offshore Wind Commitment

IER at IER - 7 hours ago
New Jersey has joined other Atlantic Coast states in increasing its commitment to construct offshore wind power. Governor Murphy signed… The post New Jersey Doubles Its Offshore Wind Commitment appeared first on IER.

Lindsey Graham: 'I Hope Carter Page...Sues the Hell out of the Department of Justice and the FBI'

Chuck Ross at The National Interest - 7 hours ago
*Chuck Ross* *Politics, Americas* [image: U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) speaks prior to hearing testimony from Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing] Christopher Steele had called Page part of a 'well-developed conspiracy of cooperation' involving the Trump campaign and Russia. Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham said Wednesday he hopes that Carter Page “sues the hell” out of the FBI and Justice Department for relying on the unverified Steele dossier to obtain surveillan... more »

CNN Airs Airplane Segment Instead of Lindsey Graham's Opening Statement on the IG Report

Shelby Talcott at The National Interest - 7 hours ago
*Shelby Talcott* *Politics, Americas* [image: U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) holds a copy of an intelligence report on the Steele dossier as he delivers an opening statement prior to hearing testimony from Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz] 'A perfect example of how bias works,' said former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer. CNN failed to air Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham’s opening statement live ahead of an inspector general’s testimony Wednesday, instead informing viewers about airplanes. Justi... more »

America Cannot Stop North Korea's Ballistic Missiles

Robert Beckhusen at The National Interest - 7 hours ago
*Robert Beckhusen* *Security, Asia* It's difficult enough to locate them on the ground, let alone destroy them in the air. *Key point (This is from our archive and appeared several years ago): *Only an invasion of North Korea would likely stop the regime’s missiles for good — but that would entail a horrendous war. Both of these following statements are true. (1) Attempts to encourage North Korea to abandon its nuclear program through diplomacy have failed and, chances are, will continue to fail. (2) Were the United States to strike North Korea, the reclusive regime has ways to... more »

Don Lemon Triggered by Trump Meme on CNN: 'This Is Literally Crazy'

Shelby Talcott at The National Interest - 7 hours ago
*Shelby Talcott* *Politics, Americas* [image: Moderator Don Lemon of CNN speaks to the audience before the start of the second night of the second 2020 Democratic U.S. presidential debate in Detroit, Michigan, July 31, 2019. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson] He didn't like President Thanos. CNN’s Don Lemon reacted in disbelief on “Don Lemon Tonight” over a meme President Donald Trump’s campaign posted Tuesday. The meme shows the president superimposed as Thanos, a fictional character from the “Avengers” movies. Trump is “snapping” a number of Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi... more »

N.J. Mass Shooter Had Anti-Police and Antisemitic Social Media Page

Shelby Talcott at The National Interest - 7 hours ago
*Shelby Talcott* *Politics, Americas* [image: Emergency personnel and investigators work at the scene the day after an hours-long gun battle with two men around a kosher market in Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S., December 11, 2019. REUTERS/Lloyd Mitchell TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY] 'We now know that this disgusting act of violence was a deliberate attack on the Jewish community in Jersey City,' said New York's governor. One of the New Jersey gunmen who caused a shootout Friday resulting in six deaths had a social media page with anti-Jewish and anti-police rhetoric, according to offici... more »

No Nation Owns The Ocean, But These 5 Navies Control It

Kyle Mizokami at The National Interest - 7 hours ago
*Kyle Mizokami* *Security, World* The world's most powerful fleets. *Key point: *Navies' responsibilities have increased over time. It’s a universal truth handed down since antiquity: a country with a coastline has a navy. Big or small, navies worldwide have the same basic mission—to project military might into neighboring waters and beyond. The peacetime role of navies has been more or less the same for thousands of years. Navies protect the homeland, keep shipping routes and lines of communication open, show the flag and deter adversaries. In wartime, a navy projects naval pow... more »

China's J-20 Stealth Fighter Is Capable, But Has Some Big Flaws

Michael Brady at The National Interest - 7 hours ago
*Michael Brady* *Security, Asia* The J-20 is an important step for the Chinese military. *Key point: *China’s new stealth aircraft will allow it to enjoy military superiority over its rivals in the region. Reports say China put its stealth fighter — the J-20 — into service last month. The aircraft, built by the Chengdu Aerospace Corporation, is a twin-engine multi-role fighter that can reach speeds of 2,100 kilometers per hour. It’s believed the J-20 will have two primary missions. First, it could be deployed as a long range air-to-air fighter capable of engaging aircraft such a... more »

Picture the Future 6th Generation Fighter In Your Mind

Sebastien Roblin at The National Interest - 7 hours ago
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, * [image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sixth-generation_jet_fighter#/media/File:FCAS_NGF_mock-up_at_Paris_Air_Show_2019_(1).jpg] What do you think it'll look like? *Key Point:* 6th Generation Fighters could come equipped with lasers, AI, and sensor fusion. The American development and deployment of Fifth-Generation stealth aircraft like the F-35 Lightning is one of the central stories of today’s security zeitgeist. But behind the scenes, several countries are already looking ahead to the design of a Sixth-Generation jet. The relentless pace of re... more »

"Economic Market Snapshot PM 12/11/19"

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 7 hours ago
*Updated frequently as available.* ◆ PM 12/11/19: Gregory Mannerino, "Dollar Slammed As the Fed. Promises Massive Debt Expansion" - https://www.traderschoice.net/ ◆ *MarketWatch Market Summary, Live Updates* - https://www.marketwatch.com/tools/marketsummary *Alert: Watch the % change!* A study, long lost, determined that a 3% drop in the daily % change would be the trigger for an irrecoverable free fall for not only the American economy but the entire global economy as well. The resulting mega-hurricane of margin calls, derivative claims, defaults and bankruptcies would finally and ab... more »

The Daily "Near You?"

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 7 hours ago
Pawley's Island, S. C., USA. Thanks for stopping by!

"Legend Has It: "Winston Churchill vs. Nancy Astor"

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 7 hours ago
*"Winston Churchill vs. Nancy Astor"* by Madame dePique "Once upon a time in the British Parliament, more precisely in the House of Commons, the juiciest gossip topic apart the outbreak of a new World War and the perpetual conflicts with Berlin was the enmity between prominent politician Sir Winston Churchill (1874–1965), then occupying the privileged position of Prime Minister, and the audacious Viscountess Nancy Astor (1879–1964), known to be the first woman sitting as a Member of the Parliament, who, from some reason or another, could not at all live in mutual tolerance. The tw... more »

Aurora details why it temporarily halted German medical cannabis sales

Alfredo Pascual at Marijuana Business Daily - 7 hours ago
Aurora Cannabis was forced to stop sales of medical marijuana in Germany over “a form of treatment that we use to maintain the product without microbial contamination,” Cam Battley, the Alberta, Canada, company’s chief corporate officer, said at Marijuana Business Daily‘s Investor Intelligence Conference. MJBizDaily first reported at the end of November that Aurora products had become […] Aurora details why it temporarily halted German medical cannabis sales is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

CIBC: ‘Indiscriminate’ cannabis selloff should start to shift in 2020

Matt Lamers at Marijuana Business Daily - 7 hours ago
The cannabis stock meltdown that erased $49 billion in enterprise value this year should begin to shift in 2020 as the industry leaders separate themselves, one of Canada’s largest investment banks forecasts. A new CIBC World Markets report by John Zamparo, director of institutional equity research, called this year’s “rationalization” of marijuana stock prices inevitable. “Even […] CIBC: ‘Indiscriminate’ cannabis selloff should start to shift in 2020 is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Marking Up the Articles of Impeachment

sanderson at Lawfare - 7 hours ago
U.S. Capitol at Sunset [Source: Flickr/Victoria Pickering/ (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)] On Tuesday, Dec. 10, the House of Representatives released two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump. Article I charges that the president abused his power by engaging in a wide-ranging scheme to solicit foreign interference from the Ukrainian government in the form of politically motivated and advantageous investigations. It further charges that Trump conditioned official acts—specifically, the release of military aid and a White House meeting—on Ukraine publicly announcing those inves... more »

"We're All Waiting..."

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 7 hours ago
"We're all sinking in the same boat here. We're all bored and desperate and waiting for something to happen. Waiting for life to get better. Waiting for things to change. Waiting for that one person to finally notice us. We're all waiting. But we also need to realize that we all have the power to make those changes for ourselves." - Susane Colasanti

"A Dog’s Prayer"

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 7 hours ago
*"A Dog’s Prayer"* By Paul Morris "Dogs are perfect angels who have been put on Earth in order to show us that there really is such a thing as goodness in this beautiful world. With all of the wars, and hatred, it’s our lovable best friends who will always be around to kiss us and love us whenever we’re feeling down. A dog doesn’t judge you based on how much money you have, or what kind of car you drive, or what clothes you wear; a dog loves you unconditionally. The only thing that’s bad about dogs is that for us, they’re there for a small portion of our own lives, but for them, w... more »

The Poet: John O'Donohue, "For a New Beginning"

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 7 hours ago
*"For a New Beginning"* "In out-of-the-way places of the heart, Where your thoughts never think to wander, This beginning has been quietly forming, Waiting until you were ready to emerge. For a long time it has watched your desire, Feeling the emptiness growing inside you, Noticing how you willed yourself on, Still unable to leave what you had outgrown. It watched you play with the seduction of safety And the gray promises that sameness whispered, Heard the waves of turmoil rise and relent, Wondered would you always live like this. Then the delight, when your courage kindled, And out y... more »

"The Single Inescapable Truth..."

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 7 hours ago
"Compassion begins with the acknowledgment of the single inescapable truth that is the foundation for the possibility of love between human beings - an awareness of the tragic sense of life." - Sam Keen

U.S. Congress Will Authorize The Creation Of Space Force

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 7 hours ago
Vice President Mike Pence visits the US Air Force's 50th Space Wing at Schriever Air Force Base in Colorado in 2017. This is a unit that would end up part of the new Space Force under the latest plan in Congress. USAF Popular Mechanics: *The Space Force Will Become the Sixth Branch of the U.S. Military* * After more than 60 years, the U.S. military adds another member to the family. * A bipartisan defense budget agreement will authorize the creation of the Space Force. * The Space Force will be, like the Army or Air Force, a distinct military service under the Pentagon. * T... more »

Forget Impeachment! Washington Unites Behind Massive Military Bill!

Daniel McAdams at 7 hours ago
As usual, when it comes to the warfare/welfare state there is no rancor in Washington. All the pretend acrimony between Republicans and Democrats is thrown out and consensus is magically reached. This week another massive military spending bill was approved by both parties - even as we learn about a trillion dollars being wasted in Afghanistan. The empire chugs along. Watch today's Liberty Report:

U.S. Army Is Investing In A Rare Earths Production Plant

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 7 hours ago
In a photo taken on June 29, 2015, a piece of ore containing rare earths is shown during a tour of a California mine.PHOTO: REUTERS *Reuters*: *Exclusive: U.S. Army will fund rare earths plant for weapons development* (Reuters) - The U.S. Army plans to fund construction of rare earths processing facilities, part of an urgent push by Washington to secure domestic supply of the minerals used to make military weapons and electronics, according to a government document seen by Reuters. The move would mark the first financial investment by the U.S. military into commercial-scale rare ... more »

How Anti-Semitic Is Trump?

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 8 hours ago
Trump isn't the most self-aware narcissists on the planet. I don't think he even realizes he's an anti-Semite. He has Jewish friends. He even "let" Ivanka marry a Jew and change her religion. But, given the chance to talk without notes, the anti-semitism has a way of just seeping through anyway. He spoke to several thousand members of Sheldon Adelson's Israeli American Council at the Diplomat in Hollywood, Florida on Saturday night, whining that some American Jews don’t love Israel enough. "You have people-- Jewish people-- and they are great people and they don’t love Israel eno... more »

The 2019 Atlantic Hurricane Season

Paul Homewood at NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT - 8 hours ago
By Paul Homewood The Atlantic hurricane season has now officially ended, so let’s check the numbers. https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/E11.html http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/products/tc_realtime/season.asp?storm_season=2019 There have been six hurricanes in total, including three major ones, Dorian, Humberto and Lorenzo. Coincidentally both numbers are the same as the average since 1950. According to NOAA’s Hurricane Research Division, many hurricanes were missed in […]

Philip McKeon, ‘Tommy’ on ’80s sitcom ‘Alice,’ Dies at 55

AP News at Snopes.com - 8 hours ago
A spokesman said the former actor died December 10 after a long illness.

The Humble Origins of ‘Silent Night

David Mikkelson at Snopes.com - 8 hours ago
Over the centuries, hundreds of Christmas carols have been composed. Many fall quickly into obscurity. Not “Silent Night.”

Are Roses on Cars Part of a Kentucky Sex Trafficking Plot?

Dan MacGuill at Snopes.com - 8 hours ago
A bogus Facebook post in late 2019 was just the latest sex trafficking scare to emerge from Kentucky in recent years.

Jersey City’s Mayor Says Gunmen Targeted Jewish Market

AP News at Snopes.com - 8 hours ago
A police officer, three bystanders and the killers all died in the attack.

Invasion of the mental capability snatchers!

bob somerby at the daily howler - 8 hours ago
*WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2019Science fiction, and the Inka, again:* It's been quite a while since observations of cable news made us think of the science fiction film, Invasion of the Body Snatchers. The leading authority on the famous film describes the film as follows: *The film's storyline concerns an extraterrestrial invasion that begins in the fictional California town of Santa Mira.* Alien plant spores have fallen from space and grown into large seed pods, each one capable of reproducing a duplicate replacement copy of each human. As each pod reaches full development, it ass... more »

Criminalizing Yellow Vests in France: State Terrorism on the Move?

Penny at Penny for your thoughts - 8 hours ago
*With much thanks to Gallier the Elder, who sent this via email to me :) * *Along with well wishes for the holidays and the New Year. I wish you and yours the same as well and thank you for stopping by here these many years. * *Gallier the Elder also provided a translation to english via Yandex. The link: (in french)* *As Gallier the Elder wrote in his email:* *"I am enclosing a translation (yandex.ru) from an international network article published on December 2, which clearly demonstrates what I predicted a few months ago. France is now a model totalitarian country (a respectab... more »

The U.S. Isn't Sure What To Do With Turkey's F-35s

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 8 hours ago
A US Air Force F-35A over Germany, July 23, 2019. US Air Force/Tech. Sgt. Emerson Nuñez *Business Insider/Military.com: **The US isn't sure what to do with Turkey's F-35s, and Congress is giving the Pentagon 90 days to figure it out* * Congress could give the Pentagon up to $30 million to buy and store F-35s meant for Turkey. * The stealth jets, which were to be sent to Turkey before the end of the year, can't be sold to the NATO ally unless it gets rid of the Russian-made S-400 air-defense system, according to requirements in the final version of the National Defense Authorizatio... more »

Turkey Hints That They May Bar The U.S. From Using Key Air Bases Over Sanctions

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 8 hours ago
First parts of a Russian S-400 missile defense system are unloaded from a Russian plane near Ankara, Turkey, July 12, 2019. *Reuters:* *Turkey says will retaliate against any sanctions ahead of U.S. vote* ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey said on Wednesday it would retaliate against any U.S. sanctions over its purchase of Russian defense systems, adding that with Britain it had agreed to speed up a joint fighter jet program to meet Turkish defense needs. U.S. lawmakers will vote - and likely pass - a defense bill later on Wednesday that calls for sanctions against Turkey over Ankara’s d... more »

The Reg Flag Exercise Showed That The F-35 Stealth Fighter Is Even Better Than You Think

Kris Osborn at The National Interest - 8 hours ago
*Kris Osborn* *Security, Americas* Truly impressive. *Key Point:* "The F-35 ‘redefines’ how you go to war with a platform." As 60 enemy fighters closed in on a US Air Force 4th Generation fighter aircraft, blinding the jet with electronic warfare attacks, an experienced pilot faced unseen life-threatening attackers closing in -- during an air-combat Red Flag exercise closely replicating actual warfare scenarios. Yet, in a life-saving flash, the endangered 4th pilot was told to “turn around” by an F-35 operating in the vicinity who radioed an instant warning. The 5th-Gen, multi-r... more »

Nepal the Negotiator: Kathmandu Has a Key Role to Play in the Indo-Pacific Region

Sumesh Shiwakoty at The National Interest - 8 hours ago
*Sumesh Shiwakoty* *Security, Asia* [image: Reuters] The Trump administration’s Indo-Pacific Strategy is problematic because it seeks to balance the rise of China by asking countries that are within China’s orbit to rally behind Washington. Recently, Chinese president Xi Jinping made his state visit to Nepal. During the visit, China and Nepal signed twenty agreements from connectivity to security and Beijing promised around $500 million in economic grants to Nepal. Further, China reinstated its commitment to build the Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network, which ... more »

Courting Disaster: How Not to Manage Existential Threats to National Security

Robert Gallucci at The National Interest - 8 hours ago
*Robert Gallucci* *Security, Americas* [image: Reuters] Washington’s pursuit of national ballistic missile defense for the last twenty years has, as much as anything else, driven Russian and Chinese strategic nuclear weapons acquisition decisions. There are a small number of threats to our nation’s security, involving truly catastrophic consequences, which may be managed by good public policy. Some of these involve uncertainties over scientific or technological developments that could lead to good, as well as very bad outcomes. Think designer biology, quantum computing and artifi... more »

Why Amazon's Allegations of Wrongdoing are Wrong

Thomas Spoehr at The National Interest - 8 hours ago
*Thomas Spoehr* *Security, Americas* [image: Reuters] The notion that presidential suggestions or guidance can influence a Pentagon procurement decision betrays a fundamental lack of understanding of how the acquisition processes work within the Defense Department. The news that Amazon file*d* an appeal with the Court of Federal Appeals contesting the Pentagon’s award of the JEDI cloud computing contract to Microsoft came as no surprise. After all, today there is almost no downside, other than the legal fees, to a company appealing such a large decision that does not go in their... more »

Hypothetical: Could the Navy's Last Battleship Sink the Navy's Newest Destroyer?

Robert Farley at The National Interest - 8 hours ago
*Robert Farley* *Security, * A battle on the highseas pinning the USS Wisconsin (BB-64) against the USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000). *Key Point:* It'd be a hopelessly one-sided battle that the USS Zumwalt would win. What would happen if the US Navy’s latest destroyer, the USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000) fought against the Navy’s last battleship, the USS Wisconsin (BB-64)? Fireworks. Let us not tarry on the question of how the 2020 edition of USS Zumwalt would encounter and engage the 1991 version of USS Wisconsin. We will assume that neither ship is receiving external support; although both wer... more »

Poland Will Soon Be Flying F-35s Meant To Fight Off Russia

Sebastien Roblin at The National Interest - 8 hours ago
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, Europe* And Moscow isn't pleased. *Key point: *NATO comes with more than political commitments. In February 2019, the Polish ministry of defense issued plans to procure thirty-two “fifth-generation [stealth] jets” for its Harpia fighter program to replace the Polish Air Force’s aging Soviet-era MiG-29 and Su-22 jets. As the F-35 Lightning II is currently the only fifth-generation stealth fighter on the market—unless you count the Su-57 sold by Russia, Poland’s chief potential adversary—there’s little doubt as to which aircraft is being referred to. ... more »

Visuals: How Chile Dealt with International Human Rights Day

Unknown at CENSORED NEWS - 8 hours ago
Visuals: How Chile Dealt with International Human Rights Day By photolangelle on December 11, 2019 Man injured by the police close to Plaza de la Dignidad in Santiago,Chile during International Humans Rights Day. photo: Langelle/GJEP Cruz Roja Chilena (Red Cross) about to be sprayed with water cannon. photo: Langelle/GJEP. Santiago, Chile – On the international day of human

Puyallup Tribal Council declares climate emergency

Unknown at CENSORED NEWS - 8 hours ago
Photo Power Paddle to Pyallup Puyallup Tribal Council declares climate emergency Last Real Indians Puyallup Nation - Surrounded by hundreds of students at Chief Leschi Schools, the Puyallup Tribal Council declared a climate emergency on Tuesday. Tribal officials say the setting wasn’t just a symbolic gesture: It was a chance for tribal youth to witness an important moment in history. “

"The First Casualty..."

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 8 hours ago

Q.E.D.

Craig at Is the BBC biased? - 8 hours ago
Regarding today’s Politics Live programme, the BBC does not believe it, or its political editor, has breached electoral law. — BBC News Press Team (@BBCNewsPR) December 11, 2019 Well, that's that settled then!

Election 2019: De Cordova pledges Labour will hold inquiry into DWP deaths

John Pring at Disability News Service - 9 hours ago
The shadow minister for disabled people has pledged at a public rally that a Labour government would hold an inquiry into the deaths of disabled people that have been linked to Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) failings. It is the first […]

Election 2019: Shadow chancellor says disabled voters ‘will make Tories pay for austerity’

John Pring at Disability News Service - 9 hours ago
Disabled voters will tomorrow make the Conservatives pay for what they have done to them over the last decade of austerity, Labour’s shadow chancellor has told a rally of party activists. John McDonnell told the pre-election rally of disabled Labour supporters in […]

Election 2019: Five parties make final pitches to disabled voters

John Pring at Disability News Service - 9 hours ago
Five political parties have made their final pitches to potential disabled voters on the eve of tomorrow’s general election. Disability News Service (DNS) asked the Conservatives, the Green party, Labour, the Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and the SNP to explain in just […]

Election 2019: Tories ‘will abandon disabled people to dog-eat-dog culture’

John Pring at Disability News Service - 9 hours ago
The Conservative party wants the UK to follow America into becoming a “dog-eat-dog culture” where there is no support for disabled people, a comedian and activist has told a pre-election rally. Francesca Martinez, who was speaking at a rally of disabled Labour […]

Election 2019: Labour promises move towards inclusive education system

John Pring at Disability News Service - 9 hours ago
Labour has committed itself to moving back towards an inclusive education system if it wins power in tomorrow’s general election (Thursday). The pledge was made by Marsha de Cordova, the party’s shadow minister for disabled people, at a pre-election rally of disabled […]

Election 2019: Minister thinks social care green paper does not exist

John Pring at Disability News Service - 9 hours ago
A senior Tory minister has admitted she believes that the government’s long-awaited green paper on adult social care does not actually exist. The government has been promising to publish the green paper, which would lay out plans for addressing the adult social […]

Lewisham commission hopes to put disabled people at heart of decision-making

John Pring at Disability News Service - 9 hours ago
A local authority has become the second in London to set up an independent, user-led commission to investigate the barriers faced by disabled residents. Lewisham Disabled People’s Commission (LDPC) will be led by disabled people and will examine organisational, attitudinal and physical […]

Navy christens new ships and submarine…

Uriel at 'Nox & Friends - 9 hours ago
…Donald Trump delivers a promise to the citizens of the U.S. to rebuild our defense system and MSM is silent. Seven new vessels were christened since June 2019. This year as of November 21st, the Navy has commissioned six LCS, bringing the total to 19 LCS in the fleet. There are plans on the drawing board for even more sophisticated naval vessels. As part of his campaign promise, president-elect Trump stated that more Naval vessels were needed. He even went so far as to state 350 vessels by 2019. Lots of media and Democrats immediately flew out in space. For … Continue reading →

Totalitarians Working to Crush Homeschooling in America

Alex Newman at rss - 9 hours ago
[image: totalitarians-working-to-crush-homeschooling-in-america] American totalitarians are quietly working to subvert homeschooling and educational liberty in the United States.

Schools “Torture” Thousands in “Solitary Confinement”

Alex Newman at rss - 9 hours ago
[image: schools-torture-thousands-in-solitary-confinement] Outraged parents and children are accusing government schools in Chicago of “torturing” thousands of children in so-called “seclusion rooms,” according to an investigation by local media outlets.

ExxonMobil Wins Climate-change Accounting Case Against the State of New York

James Murphy at rss - 9 hours ago
[image: exxonmobil-wins-climate-change-accounting-case-against-the-state-of-new-york] On Tuesday, the ExxonMobil Corporation came out victorious in a high-profile climate-change accounting case brought by the New York attorney general. But how big a victory was it in reality?

Brazil’s President Dares to Call Greta Thunberg a Brat

Warren Mass at rss - 9 hours ago
[image: brazil-s-president-dares-to-call-greta-thunberg-a-brat] Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro, responding to tweets from climate activist Greta Thunberg, said: “It’s impressive that the press is giving space to a brat like that.”

Trump’s Reelection Prospects Continue to Brighten

Bob Adelmann at rss - 9 hours ago
[image: trump-s-reelection-prospects-continue-to-brighten] Betting sites are giving Trump even money to win next November. by Bob Adelmann

Border Agents Collar Nearly 90,000 Illegals in First Two Months of Fiscal 2020

R. Cort Kirkwood at rss - 9 hours ago
[image: border-agents-collar-nearly-90-000-illegals-in-first-two-months-of-fiscal-2020] U.S. Border Patrol agents at the Southwest frontier with Mexico caught fewer illegal aliens in November, but the monthly flow is still overwhelming and brought the total caught in fiscal 2020 to nearly 90,000.

LaRouchePAC's Daniel Burke Challenges Trump Supporters to Support Positive US/China Relations

Alicia at LaRouchePAC Feed - 9 hours ago
New International Economic Order LaRouchePAC's Daniel Burke Challenges Trump Supporters Video of LaRouchePAC's Daniel Burke Challenges Trump Supporters Daniel Burke, the LaRouchePAC endorsed Independent candidate for U.S. Senate in NJ, brought the message of positive relations between the U.S. and China to supporters of the President outside Trump's Hersey, PA rally, December 10, 2019. Burke and his team were getting out EIR's latest report, "End the McCarthyite Witch Hunt Against China and President Trump". The *Executive Intelligence Review's* 24-page pamphlet, "End the McCa... more »

Watch This: Never Thought We’d Say This, Lindsey Graham Is Hot, (and You Should Be Too)

adam at LaRouchePAC Feed - 9 hours ago
This is Senator Lindsey Graham’s opening statement from this mornings Senate Judiciary hearing on the Horowitz Report concerning FBI misconduct from 2016 forward. We continue to disagree with Senator Graham, Inspector Horowitz, and the Democratic Party and their intelligence community friends that the Russians hacked the DNC and produced the WikiLeaks documents. This myth, traced to British intelligence networks in London, Europe and the United States, is part of a drive to war by the treason and sedition faction here. Nonetheless, Senator Graham provides a succinct and comprehens... more »

Are Praying Mantis Eggs Commonly Found on Christmas Trees?

Dan Evon at Snopes.com - 9 hours ago
We'll say this: The praying mantis is not preying on humans in any way.

Firm Hands Out $10M in Holiday Bonuses to 198 Employees

AP News at Snopes.com - 9 hours ago
The bonuses celebrate the company’s achievement of developing 20 million square feet of office space, retail and warehouses across eight states.

Thunberg Accuses Leaders of ‘Creative PR’ at Climate Talks

AP News at Snopes.com - 9 hours ago
“This is not leading, this is misleading,” activist Greta Thunberg told told negotiators at the U.N.’s climate talks in Madrid, adding that “every fraction of a degree matters.”

Now That We Have Ended The “Impeachment Hoax” Let’s Get Back to Destroying Big Pharma…

Tim Bolen at BolenReport - 9 hours ago
Yes, The Democrats Were Doing EXACTLY What Big Pharma Told Them To Do – But NONE Of It Worked… By “Deplorable, Smelly, Walmart Shopper” Consumer Advocate Tim Bolen In 1843 Author Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote in his journal “Never strike a king unless you are sure you shall kill him.” The Democrats tried, with a … Continue reading Now That We Have Ended The “Impeachment Hoax” Let’s Get Back to Destroying Big Pharma…

Privatization Is Their North Star

Peter Greene at CURMUDGUCATION - 9 hours ago
Remember when ed reform was complicated, when it felt as if the whole business was a perfect storm of hydra heads, and it was all a public school supporter could do to try to track all the heads, let alone the body of the beast to which they were all attached? Things have changed. And the change tells us a lot about the body of the beast, as the many heads of the hydra have become neglected or even abandoned. Oh, Common Core. Once upon a time it looked like some folks really, truly wanted to lash all of US education to a single set of standards. But one of the first signs of Maybe ... more »

Canada Pretends to Vote Against Israel at UN - so it can support USrael later in UNSC

greencrow at Greencrow As The Crow Flies - 9 hours ago
*Canadian Stamp* Good morning readers. This is going to be a short post as I am up to my @$$ in alligators in terms of a Christmas craft I'm working on that needs to be ready by Friday. First of all, I was able to recover my greencrowcreativeresources@gmail.com. It still seems to be glitchy but at least I can receive mail [certain mail but not all mail and not all notices]. I have cut back my posting but it's not for a lack of subject material. There are issues galore that needs truthful commenting on but I cannot be like the little dutch boy and put my fingers in all the leak... more »

How Trump’s New Anti-Semitism Order Effectively Criminalizes Dissent

Alan Macleod at MintPress News - 9 hours ago
Trump's anti-Semitism bill is unlikely to dampen the flames of hatred towards Jewish Americans or make them feel safer; indeed, outlawing criticism of Israel may have the opposite effect. The post How Trump’s New Anti-Semitism Order Effectively Criminalizes Dissent appeared first on MintPress News.

"On Rogues and Rogue States"

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 9 hours ago
*"On Rogues and Rogue States"* by Fred Reed "I have just finished reading William Shirer’s "Berlin Diary." (This may not fascinate you, but I am coming to something.) I first encountered it in high school. It is of course Shirer’s account as a correspondent in Germany of the rise of the Nazis. Most of it is well known to the educated. The Nazis, who had control over the domestic press, convinced the German population that the Poles were threatening Germany, as plausible as Guatemala threatening the United States. The Poles were said to be committing atrocities against Germans. The... more »

FDA Cracks Down on CBD Oil

Erin Elizabeth at Health Nut News - 9 hours ago
(Note from Erin: We are proud to have our own raw, organic“Seed to Shelf” CBD line – all the way from the seed to your store front or door. Find it here and help support our mission!) Written by Joseph Mercola, D.O., Ph.D. Story at-a-glance – While the widespread availability of CBD oil across […] The post FDA Cracks Down on CBD Oil appeared first on Health Nut News.

Drum Circles Put Pharmaceutical Antidepressants TO SHAME

Michelle Edwards at Health Nut News - 9 hours ago
Written By: Sayer Ji A new study published in PLoS scientifically validates what so many drum circle participants have already experienced first hand: group drumming produces significant changes in well-being, including improvements in depression, anxiety and social resilience. With the World Health Organization identifying depression as the #1 leading cause of disability, globally, and psychiatric […] The post Drum Circles Put Pharmaceutical Antidepressants TO SHAME appeared first on Health Nut News.

In memoriam: Marie Fredriksson of Roxette

Peter at Bayou Renaissance Man - 9 hours ago
I was saddened to read of the death of Marie Fredriksson, one of the duo who formed the Swedish pop/rock group Roxette in the 1980's. I enjoyed their music at the time, finding it a welcome distraction from some of the nastier events taking place in South Africa back then. Britain's Daily Express reports: Roxette singer Marie Fredriksson has died at the age of 61. The Swedish popstar co-created Roxette with Per Gessle in 1986 and was best known for her hits It Must Have Been Love, Joyride, Listen To Your Heart and The Look. Marie died on Monday morning after suffering from a long... more »

Preskill actually abandoned "quantum supremacy" because of the nut jobs from Nature

Luboš Motl at The Reference Frame - 9 hours ago
Cowardliness and opportunism may be limitless In the morning, Peter told us about an incredible piece of "correspondence" published by Nature yesterday: Supremacy is for racists — use ‘quantum advantage’ Three inkspillers plus 13 co-signatories have exclaimed that "quantum supremacy" (the ability of quantum computers to solve tasks unsolvable by "contemporary" classical computers in realistic time frames, or the period when this ability exists; and "approximately now", that epoch is getting started) – a scientific phrase that has appeared in 1590 papers so far – should be left to vi... more »

'Sending you sunshine': Christmas care parcel deliveries for women in drought

Angelique Lu at Just In - 9 hours ago
Meet the women trying to deliver 16,000 care packages of "little luxieries" to women in drought-affected areas of NSW — before Christmas.

Aung San Suu Kyi says the world has it wrong on the Rohingya

Amy Bainbridge at Just In - 9 hours ago
Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi launches a staunch defence of her country's military, denying accusations of genocide against its minority Muslim Rohingya community at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

'A social contract': In New Zealand, you can be compensated for disasters even if you're not a citizen

Alan Weedon at Just In - 9 hours ago
In New Zealand, people injured in anything from workplace accidents to terrorist incidents and natural disasters can apply for compensation from a government body. But is the no-fault scheme exposing people to greater levels of risk?

Victoria Police hoped a George Pell story would knock the Lawyer X scandal 'off the front page', emails show

Sarah Farnsworth at Just In - 9 hours ago
Emails between Graham Ashton and his media advisors in 2014 show how they discussed delaying the release of information about Lawyer X in the hopes a story about George Pell appearing at the child abuse royal commission would "knock [it] way off the front page".

Recycling plant that turns bottles into building materials will close after council vote

Rachel Clayton at Just In - 9 hours ago
Industry leaders are warning the closure of a recycling facility in Melbourne's south-east could have disastrous consequences for infrastructure projects and see household glass sent to landfill.

Dire warning for NSW after Amazon fires

Kevin Nguyen at Just In - 9 hours ago
Bushfires are normally considered "carbon neutral" but leading climate scientists say the intensity and frequency of the blazes could add millions of tonnes to Australia's carbon footprint.

Treasurer willing to take NSW into debt to fund ambitious infrastructure projects

Ashleigh Raper at Just In - 9 hours ago
Sydney's slowly recovering property market helps ensure the Berejiklian Government ends this year with a forecast surplus of $700 million, despite the mounting cost of the drought.

Australia's new energy roadmap calls for dozens of new renewable energy projects

Richard Willingham at Just In - 9 hours ago
To offset the decline of coal-powered energy, Australia will need to build dozens of new energy projects and upgrade the electricity transmission network, with solar power meeting nearly a quarter of all energy generation to homes and businesses, the energy market operator says.

Aerial firefighting centre given $11m funding boost after calls for more water-bombers

Eliza Laschon at Just In - 9 hours ago
Scott Morrison announces a funding boost to Australia's National Aerial Firefighting Centre after former fire and emergency leaders said they had tried for months to warn him more water-bombers would be needed to tackle bushfires this season.

The UK's toxic choice: a leader who won't show up or one who can't decide

Just In - 9 hours ago
With the task of negotiating the Brexit labyrinth barely having begun, I fear this election will be the end of little and only the start of a further incoherent, toxic and unedifying period in British politics and history, writes Nick Rowley.

'That island, it's like a human': The little town living in the shadow of a deadly volcano

Norman Hermant And Brendan Esposito at Just In - 9 hours ago
Whakatane describes itself as the "gateway to White Island" but tour operators, motel owners and even fruit sellers are debating what happens to their town if the volcano is deemed too dangerous to visit.

Tourism Australia splashes cash on social media stars, led by one linked to Hong Kong protests

Jack Snape at Just In - 9 hours ago
Tourism Australia splashed more than half a million dollars on social media influencers in 2018-19, including a top Indian cricketer and a man described by a Chinese military newspaper as a "secessionist mouse dropping"

When will we know the UK election result and what does it mean for Brexit?

Lucia Stein at Just In - 9 hours ago
Here are the key times you need to know as we await an outcome from the UK election.

U.K. Election News Updates -- December 11, 2019

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 9 hours ago
*Daily Mail: Will Boris Johnson get his Brexmas wish? Labour makes MORE gains in latest poll but the Tories are still on course to win a majority with just HOURS to go until general election voting begins* * The final Opinium survey puts the Conservative Party on 45 per cent and the Labour Party on 33 per cent * The Tories are down one per cent when compared to company's previous poll but Labour is up two points * Poll suggests that one in ten voters are yet to make up their mind on who to back at the ballot box tomorrow * Opinium poll comes after a massive YouGov survey sho... more »

Choose Life over Climate Despair

Ron Clutz at Science Matters - 9 hours ago
I have often written that prudent policymakers recognize that the future will include periods both warmer and cooler than the present, and cold is the greater threat to human life and prosperity. Thus, government priorities should be to invest in affordable reliable energy and robust infrastructure. A recent article gets the importance of […]

Oxymoron: Democratic Democrats

Ron Clutz at Science Matters - 9 hours ago
Rich Lowry explains at NY Post Dems’ impeachment absurdities are making them look like the threat to democracy. Excerpts in italics with my bolds. Summary: The bottom line is that after tsk-tsking Trump for refusing to say in advance that he’d accept the outcome of the 2016 election, Democrats have steadfastly refused to truly accept […]

Greta Thunberg Is Named Time's 2019 Person Of The Year

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 9 hours ago
⚡️ “TIME's 2019 Person of the Year: Greta Thunberg”https://t.co/dGF2XK1RhR — TIME (@TIME) December 11, 2019 *Daily Mail: **Greta Thunberg, 16, is named Time's 2019 Person of the Year becoming the youngest ever recipient of the title* * The activist, 16, inspired the school strikes for the climate movement * She has become the face of the youth climate movement, drawing large crowds with her appearances at protests and conferences over the past year and a half * Time editor-in-chief Edward Felsenthal said she 'came from essentially nowhere to lead a worldwide movement', confirmin... more »

Julian Assange News Links 11 December 2019

barovsky at The New Dark Age - 9 hours ago
11 December 2019 — The New Dark Age For the sake of press freedom, Julian Assange must be defended We wrote President Barack Obama and his attorney general, Eric Holder, urging them not to prosecute Julian Assange. The Australian hacker and … Julian Assange: A Court of Star Chamber — cruelty beyond belief Publisher, whistleblower, journalist Julian Assange has been … Continue reading Julian Assange News Links 11 December 2019

BIDEN JUST ADDED A FIVE-MINUTE RIFF TO TRUMP'S STUMP SPEECH

Steve M. at No More Mister Nice Blog - 9 hours ago
Displaying a keen grasp of the obvious, someone at Team Biden realized that this was a bad story for the candidate: Joe Biden's campaign denied Wednesday that the 77-year-old Democrat is considering a pledge to serve only one term if elected president, rejecting a published report that it remained a consideration. "Lots of chatter out there on this so just want to be crystal clear: this is not a conversation our campaign is having and not something VP Biden is thinking about,” deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield tweeted. A Politico story by Ryan Lizza said that "it is virtually... more »

2:00PM Water Cooler 12/11/2019

Lambert Strether at naked capitalism - 10 hours ago
By Lambert Strether of Corrente. Patient readers, my brunch ran later than usual so this is light. I will add more in a bit. –lambert Politics “But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature?” –James Madison, Federalist 51 “They had one weapon left and both knew it: treachery.” –Frank […]

Myanmar Leader Aung San Suu Kyi Says Accusations Of Genocide Against The Rohingya Muslim Minority Are 'Misleading

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 10 hours ago
*ABC News Online*: *Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi says genocide case brought against Myanmar 'misleading'* Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi has said the case brought against her country at the World Court was "incomplete and misleading" as she began her defence to accusations of genocide against the Rohingya Muslim minority. The Republic of The Gambia, a small West African country, launched the case against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice, the UN's highest court, alleging it has violated the 1948 Genocide Convention. Leading Myanmar's defence herself at the court in... more »

Glyphosate and Roundup Proven to Disrupt Gut Microbiome by Inhibiting Shikimate Pathway

Sustainable Pulse at Sustainable Pulse - 10 hours ago
The primary mechanism of how glyphosate herbicides kill plants is by inhibiting an enzyme called EPSPS, which is part of a biochemical pathway known as the shikimate pathway. The shikimate pathway is responsible for the synthesis of certain aromatic amino acids that are vital for the production of proteins, the building blocks of life. Thus […] The post Glyphosate and Roundup Proven to Disrupt Gut Microbiome by Inhibiting Shikimate Pathway appeared first on Sustainable Pulse.

French Health Agency ANSES Announces Withdrawal of 36 Glyphosate Products

Sustainable Pulse at Sustainable Pulse - 10 hours ago
Following the five-year re-approval of the active substance glyphosate by the European Union in 2017, the French health and safety agency ANSES is reviewing the market authorisations for glyphosate products sold in France and has launched a comparative assessment of the available alternatives. Source: ANSES and GM Watch Without waiting for the end of the […] The post French Health Agency ANSES Announces Withdrawal of 36 Glyphosate Products appeared first on Sustainable Pulse.

BOM Hiding The Heat In Australia

tonyheller at Real Climate Science - 10 hours ago
Experts predict 50C temperatures in Australia, due to increased levels of CO2 in the atmosphere. Australia reached 51C in 1906. Not surprisingly, BOM hides all of the hot weather before 1910. Climate change and variability: Tracker: Australian timeseries graphs … Continue reading →

Benghazi-based gov’t slams Erdogan’s threats to send Turkish troops to Libya

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 10 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (7:20 P.M.) – The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Libyan House of Representatives condemned the statements from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan regarding the deployment of Turkish troops to Libya. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the committee called on the Security Council and the Arab League to take a decisive stance so […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Houthi forces shoot down 2nd enemy aircraft in 24 hours

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 10 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (7:00 P.M.) – The Ansarallah Movement (Houthis) announced on Wednesday the downing of another reconnaissance plane belonging to the Arab coalition forces in the Sa’ada Governorate near the Saudi border. “The Yemeni air defenses managed this afternoon to shoot down a spy plane in the Al-Suh Square of the Al-Qatf District,” Brigadier Yahya […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Breaking: Syrian Army launches counter-offensive to retake base in east Idlib

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 10 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (7:00 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) has launched a counter-offensive in the eastern countryside of the Idlib Governorate this evening, as they attempt to retake the abandoned battalion base from the jihadist rebels. According to a military source, the Syrian Arab Army is storming the abandoned battalion base’s eastern perimeter, while […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Syrian Army shoots down jihadist attack drones in northwest Hama

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 10 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (6:30 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) shot down a drone laden with bombs that were targeting the town of al-Frika in the northwestern countryside of Hama. According to a report from the Al-Ghaab Plain, the Syrian Army shot down the jihadist drone before it could hit their positions in northwestern Hama. […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Jihadist rebels capture base in east Idlib after launching surprise operation

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 10 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (5:45 P.M.) – The jihadist rebels managed to score a new advance in the eastern countryside of the Idlib Governorate this week after launching a surprise operation against the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) troops at the abandoned battalion base. According to reports from this front, Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham managed to retake this base […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Syria’s Assad unwilling to meet with Turkey’s Erdogan unless it serves Syria’s interests

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 10 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (5:30 P.M.) – Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad told Italy’s Rai News 24 that he is not interested in meeting with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan unless it serves the “interests of Syria.” In his long interview with the Italian news broadcaster, the Syrian President was asked if he would be willing to […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Securing Syrian border is done in coordination with Hashd Al-Shaabi: Iraqi MoD

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 10 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (5:00 P.M.) – Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (Hashd Al-Sha’abi) are playing an imperative role in securing the country’s vast border with Syria, the Iraqi Ministry of Defense said in a statement on Wednesday. “Securing Syria’s border is being done in coordination with the Popular Mobilization Units,” the Ministry of Defense stated. The Popular […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Syrian Army eliminates several ISIS terrorists during attempted infiltration

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 10 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:45 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) spotted on Wednesday an Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL/IS/Daesh) force attempting to infiltrate into the government-held areas in the Badiya Al-Sukhnah area of Homs. According to a military report, the Syrian Arab Army, alongside the National Defense Forces (NDF), attacked this Islamic State contingent near the Arwad […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Watch: Russian Kalibr cruise missiles hit enemy targets

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 10 hours ago
The Russian naval vessel “Admiral Essen” successfully launched a “Kalibr” cruise missile during military drills held in the Black sea on Wednesday. The rocket struck a target situated 250 kilometers (155 miles) away from the vessel onshore, and was recorded by special cameras. Construction on the “Admiral Essen” began in 2011 and it was launched […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Iran accuses US of pocketing Syria’s oil revenues

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 10 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:20 P.M.) – On Wednesday, Iran’s Assistant Foreign Minister, Ali Asghar Khaji, expressed his country’s opposition to the U.S. presence in Syria, indicating that the United States was profiting off of the Syrian oil they control. Khaji said in an interview with Sputnik Arabic on Wednesday, “Tehran opposes the American presence in Syria, […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Turkey may expel US troops from Incirlik Airbase over sanctions

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 10 hours ago
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in a statement that Ankara may insist that the US leave Incirlik air base if Washington goes ahead with the sanctions it has threatened in response to Turkey’s purchase of S-400 missiles. “We will assess the worst-case scenario and make a decision. If the US imposes sanctions against Turkey, […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Syrian Army establishes full control over most important highway in northern Syria

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 10 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:00 P.M.) – For the first time since the start of the Syrian conflict, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) is in full control of the strategic Aleppo-Hasakah Highway (M-4 Highway). According to a report from the military, their troops have deployed across this strategic highway and setup several checkpoints to ensure the safety […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Syria’s Idlib must be freed from terrorists: Russian FM

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 10 hours ago
Syria’s Idlib has been taken over by the Jabhat al-Nusra but eventually has to be liberated and returned under the country’s government control, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters. “Unlike Daesh, Jabhat al-Nusra took control of the Idlib de-escalation zone,” Lavrov said during the press conference in Washington. “The final result of the development […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

The Daily Brief 2019-12-09

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 10 hours ago
This is a summary of 23 AMN articles on the following subjects: Russia, Syria, Latakia, Hmeimim, US, Hasakah, Hezbollah, Lebanon, Israel, Iran, Cyprus, Greece, Turkey, Erdogan, Palestine, FF, Libya, Anbar, Iraq, China, Daraa, Idlib, Raqqa, Baghdad. Categories covered in this brief: Syria, Lebanon, Middleeast, Iran, World-News, Turkey, Palestine, North-Africa, Iraq Let us know how you […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Next India-EU summit expected in first half of 2020: EU envoy

bilaterals.org - 10 hours ago
11-Dec-2019 The European Union said it was hopeful of forward movement in negotiations with India on the long-pending free trade agreement, and favoured opening separate talks for an investment protection treaty.

Redo of USMCA better than original NAFTA after yearlong effort to improve Trump's 2018 deal

bilaterals.org - 10 hours ago
11-Dec-2019 The new NAFTA is not the template for future agreements, but establishes the floor from which we will continue to advocate for a new model of trade and globalization that puts people and the planet first.

How the ‘New NAFTA' will affect Canadians

bilaterals.org - 10 hours ago
11-Dec-2019 Small gains for workers, but the environment gets a shoddy deal.

US to drop item on tax-free threshold from North American trade pact: sources

bilaterals.org - 10 hours ago
11-Dec-2019 The Trump administration has agreed to drop a footnote from the US-Mexico-Canada trade deal that would have let it lower the $800 tax-free threshold for imported goods.

US, Canada and Mexico sign agreement - again - to replace NAFTA

bilaterals.org - 10 hours ago
11-Dec-2019 Top officials from Canada, Mexico and the United States signed a fresh overhaul of a quarter-century-old trade pact.

United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement text (2019)

bilaterals.org - 10 hours ago
11-Dec-2019 As published by the Office of the US Trade Representative

RCEP did not adequately address India's concerns, will review trade deal with ASEAN: Govt in Rajya Sabha

bilaterals.org - 10 hours ago
11-Dec-2019 The RCEP did not "adequately" address India's concerns over issues like non-tariff barriers to trade and opaqueness in subsidy regime in some countries, which forced it to back out from the trade deal, the Indian government informed.

‘Proposed India-EU FTA has to address labour, government procurement, sustainability issues'

bilaterals.org - 10 hours ago
11-Dec-2019 India and the EU need to sort out complex issues such as government procurement, labour standards and sustainability as part of the bilateral free trade talks that have been stuck for more than half a decade.

How India-Korea CEPA impacted domestic markets

bilaterals.org - 10 hours ago
11-Dec-2019 Among the FTAs which have affected Indian domestic industry adversely, the India-Korea CEPA, signed in 2009, has been significant.

Jamming 'Health' Food Stores Into So-Called Food Deserts Doesn't Change Buying Habits

Hank Campbell at Science 2.0 blogs - 10 hours ago
A joke in nutrition circles is that while you once needed to be rich to be fat, now you need to be rich to be thin. Scientific progress has given us cheap food, anyone can afford to eat well, and after an existence of worrying about food availability it takes generations for culture to change to not eating as much as we can. Rich people, though, have gym memberships. read more

World News Briefs -- December 11, 2019

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 10 hours ago
*NBC News:* *DOJ watchdog tells Senate he has deep concerns about FBI errors in Russia probe* "We are deeply concerned that so many basic and fundamental errors were made by three separate [teams]," DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz said. WASHINGTON — The Justice Department should require high-level approval before the FBI opens an investigation into a major political campaign, the department's inspector general testified Wednesday as he briefed senators on his report into the probe of the 2016 Trump campaign. In his opening statement to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Inspe... more »

Climate Hypocrite of the Year Awards

Paul Homewood at NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT - 10 hours ago
By Paul Homewood The GWPF have just launched their new Climate Hypocrites of the Year awards: There’s no hypocrite quite like a green hypocrite is there? Whenever you get some eco-zealot is lecturing you about impending climate doom and the need for “us” to go vegan, you can be pretty sure that you […]

There was no bias.

Norma at Collecting My Thoughts - 10 hours ago
The IG report says there was no bias in the FBI's methods and behavior. Whatever. But it also says the Obama administration was spying on the Trump campaign and using a fake dossier pushed by the Clinton/DNC operatives to get a FISA warrant which was then used improperly. Seventeen major mistakes (and many more smaller ones), and all made by Democrats. But there was no bias. Now maybe that's no bias, but someone owes Trump an apology for the grotesque lies they told. Someone needs to apologize for deceiving the entire country with the media's help. Someone needs to apologize for... more »

Nazi Germany Should Have Never Built The Type XXI-Class "Wonder" Submarines

Robert Beckhusen at The National Interest - 10 hours ago
*Robert Beckhusen* *History, Europe* Here's why. *Key point: *The Type XXI provides several lessons in how technology—while important—doesn’t alone win wars. On May 4, 1945 one of the most advanced submarines in the world crept up to a British Royal Navy cruiser. U-2511 was one of Germany’s new Type XXI-class “wonder” submarines, and she was hunting for Allied ships. She also represented one of the Third Reich’s biggest failures. More than 250 feet long and displacing 1,620 tons, the Type XXI packed six hydraulically-reloaded torpedo tubes capable of firing more than 23 stored ... more »

Why the Navy Misses Their Dear Old F-14 Tomcats

TNI Staff at The National Interest - 10 hours ago
*TNI Staff* *Security, * [image: https://pictures.reuters.com/archive/USA--TM3E8BS1AQQ01.html] It's more than just nostalgia. *Key Point:* No plane in the Navy's current force can fly as fast as the Tomcat. The United States Navy retired the venerable Grumman F-14 Tomcat in 2006 after more than three decades in service. However, the Tomcat’s demise has left gaps in the carrier air wing that are only now being felt. With the end of the Cold War and declining budgets, the Navy simply could not afford to keep the incredibly maintenance intensive and unreliable Tomcat on the carrie... more »

The Portrayal of the CIA in ‘The Report’: Separating Truth From Fiction

bgreer at Lawfare - 10 hours ago
A woman walks across a floor emblazoned with the CIA seal, pushing a pile of papers. (CIA) In the movie “The Report,” Adam Driver portrays Senate investigator Daniel Jones in his endeavor to document and expose the history of the CIA’s use of enhanced interrogation techniques (EITs) in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks. The efforts of Jones and his colleagues resulted in the so-called “Torture Report,” which was released by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) in December 2014. “The Report” is garnering positive reviews and Oscar buzz for Driver, and it is receiving w... more »

Trump Litigation Round Up

sfry at Lawfare - 10 hours ago
President Trump Travels to PA (Source: Flickr/Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian) As the country’s attention has turned to the ongoing impeachment proceedings, a series of lawsuits in which President Trump and his administration assert broad claims of executive privilege have continued to progress through the court system. Some of these cases could have immediate consequences for the records and witnesses available to Congress for impeachment, while others could reveal financial information on Trump in the lead-up to the 2020 election. But keeping track of all of the... more »

The Five Best Introductory Books in Austrian Economics

Steven Horwitz at Econlib - 10 hours ago
The genre of introductions to Austrian economics has always been a troublesome one. Leaping right into the core books of the school has frequently been a problem for non-specialists. Thankfully, the last decade or so has seen several attempts to fill this gap, and all five of the books I’ll discuss below are worth your […] The post The Five Best Introductory Books in Austrian Economics appeared first on Econlib.

Has Laura K broken electoral law today?

Craig at Is the BBC biased? - 10 hours ago
Still talking of Twitter but getting back to BBC-related matters... I see that #SackKuenssberg is trending on Twitter. (Isn't it always?). Corbynistas are going absolutely mad and accusing her of breaking electoral law by revealing how postal votes are trending. Why? Because she said* this *on today's *Politics Live*?: The postal votes, of course, have already arrived. The parties, they're not meant to look at it but they do kind of get a hint, and on both sides people are telling me that the postal votes that are in are looking pretty grim for Labour in lots of parts of the countr... more »

NY Bill Would Require Universities to Provide Free “Medication” Abortions to Students

Dave Bohon at rss - 10 hours ago
[image: ny-bill-would-require-universities-to-provide-free-medication-abortions-to-students] New York is considering a bill which would require state universities to provide free “medication” abortions to students.

U.S., Mexico, and Canada Sign “Progressive” USMCA Regional Government Scheme

Christian Gomez at rss - 10 hours ago
[image: u-s-mexico-and-canada-sign-progressive-usmca-regional-government-scheme] Once a USMCA Implementation Act is formally introduced in Congress, those concerned about the prospect of an EU-style North American Union will have no time to waste.

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