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Merkel: ‘Germany Will Not Back Down’ on Nord Stream 2 Despite US Threats
*21WIRE* | New US Senate bill will sanctions German firms for working on joint venture with Russia to deliver natural gas to the continent.
EU Empire: Guy Verhofstadt Threatens to Block Britain’s ‘Not Very Intelligent’ Brexit
*21WIRE* | The radical Belgian federalist wired a warning shot to London, before denigrating British citizens who voted Leave.
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Russia's AK-74 Rifle
*Mark Episkopos* *Security, World* [image: Reuters] One of the finest weapons ever made. *Key point:* This rifle would fight in many wars all across the globe. Born into a poor peasant family amid the Bolshevik seizure of power, young Mikhail Kalashnikov aspired to become a poet. Instead, he fought as a tank commander in the Second World War and went on to design one of the most iconic firearms of the modern world: the AK-47. The first Kalashnikov rifle left a gargantuan legacy that is still unfolding to this day, but its many successors and variants are not without a footprint o... more »
Matcha: The Superfood in Powder Form
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - It is already widely used for weight loss, but it has many other benefits. Matcha refers to green tea powder. It comes from Japan and is part of the country's many ceremonial traditions and practices. It started out as one of the most popular drinks consumed by the Japanese, but […] The post Matcha: The Superfood in Powder Form appeared first on The Rio Times.
Both Revered and Hated, Cristina Kirchner Once Again at the Center of Argentinean Politics
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The Argentinians have always been deeply divided about Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. Approximately one-third of citizens are regarded as convinced supporters of the former president, but for a similarly large proportion of the population, she is a red rag. The fact that she has been back in the Government's Rosada […] The post Both Revered and Hated, Cristina Kirchner Once Again at the Center of Argentinean Politics appeared first on The Rio Times.
Evangelical Churches to Help Collect Signatures for Bolsonaro’s New Political Party
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - With just under four months to be launched in time for the 2020 municipal elections, the Alliance for Brazil, the future party of President Jair Bolsonaro, has garnered substantial support from evangelical leaders in the task of collecting the 491,000 signatures required to launch the party. From the president of […] The post Evangelical Churches to Help Collect Signatures for Bolsonaro’s New Political Party appeared first on The Rio Times.
Flávio Bolsonaro’s Former Advisor Targeted by Operation in Rio de Janeiro
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Former advisors to today's Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (without a party in Rio de Janeiro), President Jair Bolsonaro's eldest son, were the targets of a search and seizure operation on Wednesday morning. According to O Globo, the action carried out by Rio de Janeiro's Prosecutor's Office took place at the addresses […] The post Flávio Bolsonaro’s Former Advisor Targeted by Operation in Rio de Janeiro appeared first on The Rio Times.
Netflix Grows and Reaches 29.4 Million Subscribers in Latin America
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - It is not Netflix's style to openly disclose their numbers, but this week the company made an exception in a document sent to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Through the report, the number of subscribers to the service in Latin America is now known: 29.4 million. The […] The post Netflix Grows and Reaches 29.4 Million Subscribers in Latin America appeared first on The Rio Times.
Roads melt as temperature hits 49.9C in remote SA ahead of catastrophic fire conditions
Just In - 21 hours ago
Catastrophic fire conditions are forecast in parts of SA on Friday as the current heatwave reaches its peak — after temperatures hit almost 50 degrees Celsius in some areas today.
'Maguindanao massacre' masterminds found guilty of 58 murders
Just In - 21 hours ago
A Philippine court finds key members of a powerful political clan guilty of a 2009 massacre that left 58 people, including 32 journalists, dead in a brazen act that horrified the world.
Fears Stawell Gift will 'be gone forever' after funding deal rejected
The future of Australia's richest and most prestigious footrace, the Stawell Gift, is in jeopardy after a "gold-plated" funding offer from the Victorian Government is rejected by the athletic club in charge of the event.
It was a 'complicated' and 'difficult' project, but the new $396m WA Museum building is finally finished
The WA Government says it will scrap the $15 entry fee for the new state-of-the-art WA Museum for 18 months as the building reaches a key construction milestone ahead of its opening next November.
'Did you watch the nightly news?': Ex-police chief accused of ignoring Lawyer X legal concerns
Simon Overland denies he blatantly ignored concerns about Nicola Gobbo snitching on her clients, as he is accused at the Lawyer X royal commission of not wanting to get legal advice because it would have put an end to the practice.
Impeachment Semi-Open Thread
The historic House vote means impeachment is on. Or is it?
Midnight Meme Of The Day!
*by Noah* Here ya go Whiney Little Donnie. Here's your damn *Time* Magazine cover! Happy now? Stop bellowing. May I suggest that you start selling MAGA propellor beanies like yours to all of your brainwashed followers?
Boris Johnson’s Britain
Britain is looking drenched at the moment; colours blue and yellow seem to be streaking through the country. The Scottish Nationalists have re-asserted control lost to the Conservatives in 2016. In the rest of the country, seats never touched by Tory Blue have are now occupied by the party of […]
Calculated Risk: This Is How China Will Use Its Aircraft Carriers Against America
*Bryan McGrath, Mackenzie Eaglen* *Security, Asia* China is committed to dominating the Western Pacific. *Key Point:* China understands that its carrier force would be a pivotal and influential capability, essential to its quest for regional dominance. China’s recent release of its first strategic white paper signals its official emergence as a maritime—and therefore global—power. Little in the document should surprise those who have monitored China’s rise, though it remains to be seen whether China watchers will discern nuance and inscrutability instead of taking Beijing at its ... more »
The FTA between Peru and Australia will enter into force in February 2020
bilaterals.org - 22 hours ago
19-Dec-2019 FTA between Peru and Australia will enter into force in February 2020, stated the head of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur), Edgar Vasquez.
Trade, not aid, is the way to persuade Pakistan to buck China's influence
bilaterals.org - 22 hours ago
19-Dec-2019 As with many other countries, Pakistan's FTA with China has had a devastating impact on its domestic SMEs. Beijing and Islamabad have a strategic partnership, but the Chinese remain cutthroat competitors in trade.
Officials look to jump-start EFTA talks
bilaterals.org - 22 hours ago
19-Dec-2019 The European Free Trade Association (Efta), a regional trade bloc and free trade area consisting of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, is keen to revive free trade agreement (FTA) talks with Thailand.
Death At 1,600 Meters? Why Iran's Alleged Super Sniper Rifle Is a Total Lie
*Robert Beckhusen* *Security, Middle East* [image: Reuters] Just not true. *Key point:* Tehran hurts its own reputation by constantly showing off fake weapons. Iran regularly over-hypes its military technology, and in some cases, shows off bogus equipment for propaganda purposes. Iran’s military industry is also resourceful and produces interesting weapons which the Islamic republic then proliferates into very real conflicts. As a latter example, Iran in April 2017 revealed the .50-caliber, semi-automatic Heidar sniper rifle to coincide with the annual Iran Army Day, an event f... more »
The Reasons American Commandos Used AK-47s in Vietnam
*WarIsBoring* *History, Asia* [image: Reuters] It was a useful gun. *Key point:* The AK-47 was very reliable and Americans appreciated their construction. While the Soviet *Avtomat Kalashnikova* has become the iconic weapon of bad guys in Hollywood blockbusters and big-budget video games, U.S. commandos made good use of the rugged rifles in Vietnam. By the end of the conflict, the American military had reissued captured Ak-47s, made new ammunition for them and came up with a few other surprises. It’s often because the commandos *hated* their own U.S.-made guns. “Initially, the ... more »
Could This Gun Be the Best For Defending Your Own or Business?
*Gun News Daily* *Technology, Americas* The top 10 best guns for home defense are right here. *Our main factors were the overall quality, reliability, accuracy, capacity and ease of use for each gun.* If you’re looking for an *effective home-defense weapon*, handguns are one of the most popular choices. *Why do so many people go with the handgun, especially when there are far more powerful guns available?* Their compact size makes it easy to store a handgun right next to your bed in a handgun safe specifically designed for getting your gun quickly in life or death situations. ... more »
Why The Russian FSB Loves Moscow's New ShAK-12 Assault Rifle
*Mark Episkopos* *Security, * Specific export plans have not yet been announced, but KPB’s parent company Rostec is optimistic:. *Key point: *The assault rifle will be limited to close-quarters FSB use and is expected to see action in future Russian counter-terrorist operations. Russian Special Forces are getting the latest variant of the ASh-12,7x55 mm heavy assault rifle. The weapon, ShAK-12, was commissioned by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) and is being manufactured by a branch of the KBP Instrument Design Bureau. On this year’s “Gunsmith Day,” a Russian holiday ho... more »
Reclusion Perpetua Rendered vs Primary Accused in Maguindanao Massacre
A guilty verdict has been handed down against the perpetrators of the biggest single attack on journalists in the Philippines. The primary accused were all sentenced to reclusion perpetua, or life imprisonment without parole, since death penalty constitutional provision has been repealed during the unfettered rule of the Oligarchy [post Marcos, pre-Duterte]. The Maguindanao Massacre … Continue reading Reclusion Perpetua Rendered vs Primary Accused in Maguindanao Massacre →
"How did we all get it so wrong?"
*The Daily Telegraph* won't be flavour of the month at the BBC this week. Allison Pearson has gone on the attack too, writing of the corporation's election coverage, "At a crucial crossroads in Britain’s history, our national broadcaster revealed that it barely knew the nation at all." Her starting point is this: "How did we all get it so wrong?" a mournful Andrew Marr asked Huw Edwards on the morning of Friday 13th. Hang on a minute, who did Marr mean by “we”?
A helpful tip
Tech tip for people who aren't as tech-savvy as me: When you press the h button on your keyboard, you get a lower-case h. But what if you want an upper-case h? Easy! Just go to the wikipedia page on horses, copy the upper-case h and paste it into your document. Problem solved 👍 pic.twitter.com/5oMQNXngS0 — Sir Michael (@Michael1979) December 18, 2019
Democratic Presidential Candidate Tulsi Gabbard Votes 'PRESENT' On Impeachment Articles Against Donald Trump
*Daily Mail:* *2020 Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard votes 'PRESENT' on impeachment articles against Donald Trump, then issues statement warning of 'tribal animosities'* * Gabbard voted present on both articles, abuse of power and obstruction of Congress * She did not qualify for Wednesday's debate in Los Angeles, having failed to meet a polling threshold * She had called for censuring Trump * House leaders pushed through a closed rule that didn't allow it * Gabbard has clashed with Hillary Clinton and angered some party faithful * There also were efforts to push ce... more »
Canberra's had weird weather lately — now a creek is bright green
Just In - 23 hours ago
From thick smoke blanketing the city to stifling weather that is breaking records, Canberrans have seen their share of unusual environmental phenomena this week — then the water turned bright green.
'Absolutely stunning': Remote Australian Christmas lights lift spirits amid extreme heat
Santa Teresa is a former Catholic mission is 85 kilometres south-west of Alice Springs along a rough, corrugated and dusty dirt road and has been running a Christmas lights' competition for almost two decades.
GM crop ban to be controversially lifted as SA Government bypasses Parliament
SA farmers will be able to grow genetically modified crops from the start of 2020 after the State Government announced it would overturn the ban, despite Parliament twice blocking the move.
Assange is in court twice this week. This is what's at stake
Just In - 23 hours ago
Love him or loathe him, the case against Julian Assange has the potential to set a larger precedent about the extraterritorial reach of the United States, writes Tony Walker.
Trump is officially impeached. American democracy will go on, but not as we know it
The impeachment of US President Donald Trump surprised exactly no-one. The bigger question is whether democracy in the United States, as we know it, can survive in the wake of it, writes David Lipson.
'They've cut too many trees down': Urban heat islands compounding the effect of heatwave conditions
Research shows some of Adelaide's most vulnerable residents are living in the city's hottest areas — but experts say there are simple solutions to reducing urban heat.
Another temperature record has been smashed, but there is an end in sight
The record books just can't stand the heat this week, as the Nullarbor sets a new December record and the national average maximum temperature hits an all-time high for the second time in as many days.
'They can get just about anywhere': Baby bitten on face by snake while sleeping
When Julia McLennan heard her baby cry out in the middle of the night, she thought he was probably just hungry. The last thing she expected to find was a baby python in her eight-week-old-son Hamish's bassinet.
Republican says Trump had it worse than Jesus
Just In - 23 hours ago
Georgia Representative Barry Loudermilk creates a Twitter storm after declaring Jesus Christ was given a fairer trial than US President Donald Trump has been given by the House of Representatives.
'I strangled him. It feels so good': Woman who killed man she met through dating app guilty of manslaughter
Just In - 23 hours ago
Jamie Lee Dolheguy, who met a man using the online dating app Plenty of Fish, invited him over for sex and then strangled him in bed, is found guilty of manslaughter.
Judge ponders sentence for man who molested elderly blind woman, three dogs
No single description fits the range of deviance displayed by a man who pleaded guilty to more than 80 sex-related charges, including bestiality and the assault of an elderly blind woman, a court hears.
We now know an MP can't spend their $78,000 allowance on strippers. So what can you use it for?
This week we got a clear indication that strippers, flying interstate for sex and yachts are not appropriate uses of an MP expenses allowance. But there are remarkably few rules around the process.
Farmers have mixed views about the nation's new drought boss
He has been described as a bulldog, political animal and a 'tsar', but farmers have mixed views about the man now co-ordinating the nation's drought response.
'She told me they were yummy': Toddler swallows 20 button batteries
A quick-thinking mother calls triple-0 after realising her two-year-old daughter Saphira had opened a packet of button batteries and swallowed 20 of them, thinking they were lollies.
Public executive behind alleged $22m corruption remains behind bars after failing to post $1.5m bail
Paul Whyte, who is accused of swindling up to $22 million from the WA Department of Communities, is unable to find somebody to post the bail required to release him from Hakea Prison.
'House could've burnt down': Lighter left on dash explodes in extreme Queensland heat
A Queensland woman who left a lighter on the dashboard of her car on a 40-degree day says she counts herself lucky to have gotten away with just a shredded purse and a "huge crack" in her dashboard.
U.S. House Speaker Pelosi Threatens To Delay Senate Impeachment Trial
*Politico:* *Pelosi threatens to delay Senate impeachment trial* Some legal scholars have suggested she could consider refusing to transmit articles of impeachment to the Senate. Speaker Nancy Pelosi refused to commit Wednesday to delivering articles of impeachment to the Senate, citing concerns about an unfair trial on removing President Donald Trump from office. Senior Democratic aides said the House was “very unlikely” to take the steps necessary to send the articles to the Senate until at least early January, a delay of at least two weeks and perhaps longer. *Read more* ...... more »
President Trump's Reaction To Being Impeached
*Daily Mail:* *'Crazy Nancy Pelosi's House Democrats have branded themselves with an eternal mark of shame.' Donald Trump unleashes at rally as he is impeached calling his trial a 'perversion' and telling his supporters to vote her 'the hell out of office'* * President Trump strutted onstage a Michigan rally minutes before the House of Representatives started the impeachment vote * Trump told the crowd 'it doesn't really feel like we're being impeached' as he listed his administration's wins * Both articles of impeachment easily passed the House, with minimal Democratic defection... more »
President Trump Impeached Along Party Lines -- News Roundup
*Daily Mail:* *Donald Trump is IMPEACHED on TWO charges. House votes 230 to 197 to charge him with 'abuse of power' and 229 to 198 with 'obstructing Congress' - making him only the third president ever to be put on trial in the Senate* * Donald Trump became the third American president to be impeached * House approved two articles of impeachment on a largely party-line vote * The vote on the first article of impeachment - abuse of power - was 230 to 197 * The vote on the second article - obstruction of Congress - was 229 to 198 * Nancy Pelosi said Donald Trump gave them no choice b... more »
Will Gompertz gets his claws out
Oh dear. The makers of the new film of *Cats *will be most disappointed that the BBC's Arts Editor Will Gompertz only gives it 2 stars. It's not as good as the original, says Will. Still they can console themselves that BBC Will's PC antennae* aren't* quivering uncontrollably over it: That the cats are still gendered and sexualised is not such a big deal. Phew, we can all breathe easily again then.
Thursday Thoughts
"Eeyore, what ARE you doing there?" said Rabbit. "I'll give you three guesses, Rabbit." "But, Eeyore," said Pooh in distress, "what can we - I mean, how shall we - do you think if we -" "Yes," said Eeyore. "One of those would be just the thing." ~A.A.Milne #ThursdayThoughts pic.twitter.com/uc5ZHRTZY8 — A.A.Milne (@A_AMilne) December 19, 2019
Quote of the Day
There ought to be one day — just one — when there is open season on senators. ~Will Rogers~
Stringy canonical forms
There are two new hep-th papers co-authored by Nima Arkani-Hamed today, a long one and a short one: Stringy Canonical Forms by Nima+He+Lam, 59 pages, Non-perturbative geometries for planar \(\NNN=4\) SYM amplitudes by Nima+Lam+Spradlin, 8 pages They continue to elaborate upon deep links between the post-twistor ways to rewrite the scattering amplitudes in the maximally supersymmetric gauge theory in \(d=4\) using the amplituhedrons and similar polytopes and similar geometric notions; and the deep mathematics, especially one found in string theory. The short paper is an application o... more »
Australian Daily Wind Power Generation Data – Wednesday 18th December 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 […]
A Harsh Critique Of Media Ethics
By Brent Bozell and Tim Graham ~ The Pew Research Center, firmly ensconced inside the liberal establishment, has a new poll that worries them sick. (Perhaps not as much as the new USA Today survey that shows Trump now defeating every single Democrat opponent.) They’re concerned and confused about a dramatic difference in skepticism about […]
No End In Sight For The Biofuel Wars
By Paul Driessen ~ The Big Oil-Big Biofuel wars rage on. From my perch, ethanol, biodiesel and “advanced biofuels” make about zero energy, economic or environmental sense. They make little political sense either, until you recognize that politics is largely driven by crony-capitalism, campaign contributions and vote hustling. Even now, once again, as you read […]
3 Democrats Defect As House Votes To Impeach Trump
By Fred Lucas ~ The Democrat-controlled House voted Wednesday night to approve two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump after about 10 hours of debate. In two historic votes largely along party lines, the House charged Trump with abusing his power by a vote of 229 to 197 and obstructing Congress by a vote […]
From 'The Other Place'
And now I think we can cross over to our Radio 5 Live correspondent.... pugnazious December 18, 2019 at 11:37 pm Chiles once again proving he’s worth every penny of the licence fee and upholding the values and respect that embodies the BBC…I’d swear he broadcasts from down the pub with his BBC mates as he spouts sh*te that you’d only say to those who you knew had the same mindset….surely he’s not under any editorial control or supervision? All we get is a stream of cheap, low-rent comment and ‘analysis’ that are mostly anti-Tory smears and sneers. Today he targeted Dominic Cummings…... more »
Over time
MEDIA: Change in Queen Elizabeth's appearance on currency pic.twitter.com/fSVPLW16h4 — The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) December 19, 2019
Musical Interlude: Pentatonix, “Hallelujah” (Leonard Cohen)
Pentatonix, “Hallelujah” (Leonard Cohen)
Canadians renew warning about Salmonella outbreak and raw poultry
Officials continue to warn people to properly handle and cook poultry amidst an ongoing three-year Salmonella Reading outbreak that has sickened more than 120 people in Canada with the same strain of the bacterium that hit people in 43 U.S. states. At least 16 more people in Canada were confirmed as patients in the outbreak... Continue Reading
Thousands poisoned by mushrooms in France in recent years
More than 10,600 people were poisoned by mushrooms and 22 deaths were reported from 2010 to 2017 in France. A total of 10,625 cases of unintentional poisoning because of ingestion of mushrooms were recorded by French poison control centers (PCCs), according to a study published this month. The poisonings involved two or more people during... Continue Reading
Survey finds 4 in 10 wash turkey before cooking despite danger
Almost half of people surveyed still wash their turkeys before cooking despite this practice being against food safety advice. Based on research in Ireland commissioned by the safefood organization, 43 percent of people wash turkey before cooking, which can spread food poisoning germs around kitchen surfaces, utensils, hands, and ready-to-eat foods. Even the smallest drop... Continue Reading
Import alert changes include catfish, French cheese, papayas
The Food and Drug Administration uses import alerts to enforce U.S. food safety regulations for food from foreign countries. The agency updates and modifies the alerts as needed. Recent modifications to FDA’s import alerts, as posted by the agency, are listed below. Click on the links to view the full alerts. Import Alert Description URL... Continue Reading
Iain Dale on the BBC's coverage of the 'People's Vote' campaign
Thirdly: The sycophantic coverage given to “People’s Vote” campaigners (even the use of that absurd moniker to describe people who want to reverse the original people’s vote) when compared to the “look down your nose and sniff” tone the BBC adopts when questioning Brexiteers has been readily apparent to anyone who isn’t aligned to the Remain cause. One of the big stories of the last week is that the campaign for a second referendum is effectively dead. Have you heard that reflected on the BBC in the last week? Me neither.
Iain Dale on the election and the BBC's own echo chamber
Fourthly: Then there is the election. From my experience, about 85 per cent of the BBC news department voted Remain and they’ve created an echo chamber for themselves. Why else did they appear so shocked at Labour Leave seats voting Tory in such numbers last week? Had they made even a cursory effort to talk to these voters instead of subliminally ridiculing them or assuming they had all given up on Brexit, perhaps that air of surprise would not have been so stark.
Iain Dale on 'Question Time' (again)
Fifthly: And why did the post-election *Question Time* take place in a London borough which saw the only Labour gain in the country? The story of this election wasn’t in liberal Wandsworth – it was in Workington and Wakefield. The audience was probably the most anti-Tory they’ve had this year on a day when the Conservatives had won an emphatic victory. The BBC is broadcasting a view of the country that most of us do not recognise.
Iain Dale on the BBC's middle-class liberal assumptions
Sixthly: The dominant mentality in the BBC is not necessarily pro-Labour, but its assumptions are those of middle-class liberals. Look at its coverage of poverty. Judging by its output, anyone would think that Britain is a country solely of billionaires and the very poor: the interests of the majority in the middle are rarely taken into account. On food banks, the BBC makes out as if they are a peculiarly British phenomenon, forced on people by a wicked Tory Government. There are food banks in virtually every country in Europe, but you won’t see that pointed out by BBC producers ... more »
Iain's concluding paragraph
Finally: The BBC cannot afford to continue the way it is. The media landscape is shifting beneath its feet, and viewers and listeners will not put up with this behaviour indefinitely. Will it adapt to the times and realise the scale of its failures? Might it even be proactive and put forward its own proposals to replace the outdated licence fee, before the Government gets there first? I won’t hold my breath. There's much more in the article too, so please read it in full.
Iain Dale on 'Question Time'
Secondly: But implicit bias is everywhere. When the BBC puts together panels for its shows, for example, it is rare they contain a majority of Brexiteers. Many is the time I have been outnumbered two or even three to one. And on the one occasion there was a 3-3 balance on *Question Time*, the Remainers were allowed to dominate the discussion to such an extent that in an hour-long programme, the three Leavers, including your humble servant, got all of 15 minutes between us.
Iain Dale on the BBC's reaction to Brexit - and its Reality Check
Firstly: The problem reached its zenith after Brexit. Like most London middle-class liberals, the BBC couldn’t understand why 17.4 million had voted to leave the EU. But then it has never seemed to make any attempt to do so. After the referendum, it panicked, apparently believing that the Leave vote was a consequence of its failure to dispel politicians’ “lies” or “populism”. Thus for the last three years, it has gladly wheeled out its “Reality Check” fact-checkers to pick holes in the case for Brexit, deploying them only occasionally to question the case for Remain. Its ostensibl... more »
Other reading
Rob probably *won't* be recommending Iain Dale's piece about the BBC in the *Daily Telegraph *but I think it's pretty much spot on, so much so that I'm going to quote it over a few posts - so that each telling point rings louder.
December 19th – 2019 Presidential Politics – Trump Administration Day #1064
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 →
Thursday December 19th – 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 →
For their own dignity if nothing else
Philosopher and author Dr Ben Irvine was taken aback last night: Did you hear, just now, how the BBC news reporter read out the tweet Donald Trump sent about his impeachment? The reporter read it in a deliberately mocking voice - as though impersonating a petulant child. This is just unbelievable, unacceptable, from an "impartial" broadcaster. That was one of the most bizarre things I've ever seen from the BBC. I don't even think a broadcaster in a fully communist country would ever be that brazen in its sheer spitefulness; they'd at least attempt to present a mask of objectivity,... more »
Rob's recommended reading
Well, blow me down with a very small feather!: The FT comes out in support of the BBC. (The Archbishop of Canterbury will come out as an Anglican next): Demonising the BBC serves no public good https://t.co/mdjOf11was via @financialtimes — Rob Burley (@RobBurl) December 18, 2019 The liberal, pro-EU paper writes: Britain has thus far avoided US-style hyper-partisanship. This is in large part thanks to the BBC, which still dominates UK political coverage, while arguing it is possible to provide a forum for non-partisan news, in which all sides are given a fair hearing. This idea... more »
Could Nazi Germany Have Conquered Russia? Maybe—But Not After This
*Warfare History Network* *History, Europe* [image: Soldiers of the 20th army fighting on the Dnieper bank to the west of Dorogobuzh. The Western Front. 1 September 1941] It was the turning point of World War II. *Key Point:* The victory at Yelnya was a small battle, but a huge symbolic victory that rallied the Soviet people. The smell of victory was in the air as the forces of Field Marshal Fedor von Bock’s Army Group Center continued to drive deep into the Ukraine during the final week of June 1941. To most of the young soldiers of the army group it seemed that this would be a... more »
BANG: Meet History's 5 Best .357 Magnum Caliber Weapons
*Kyle Mizokami* *Security, * A persistent handgun caliber. *Key point: *Use of the .357 has become widespread since it was introduced in 1934. One of the most persistent handgun calibers of the past one hundred years, the .357 Magnum (9x33mmR) cartridge was for decades the most powerful commercially available round. Invented in 1934, the cartridge was developed by leading firearm authorities and quickly became the round of choice for revolver enthusiasts, law enforcement and military forces worldwide. The .357 Magnum was originally developed from the .38 Special round and was t... more »
What Plane Will The Indian Airforce Buy, the F-35 or the F/A-18?
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, Asia* [image: https://pictures.reuters.com/archive/DASSAULT-INDIA--RC1C7A2DBAD0.html] It makes a big difference. *Key Point:* The F-35 seems to be the most likely purchase by the Indians. When the *Times of India *revealed that the Indian air force was revising its single-engine fighter competition to encompass twin-engine jet designs, a collective groan likely rang from New Delhi to Washington—and even Stockholm. The competition was meant to acquire a new generation of short-range jets suitable for defending India’s borders. The Indian air force ... more »
Why Russia's Tu-22M3 Bomber Terrifies the World
*Charlie Gao* *Security, Europe* [image: Tupolev Tu-22M3 at Ryazan Dyagilevo. 2015. Alexander Beltyukov.] And it's everywhere. *Key Point:* The bomber's true role has always been a mystery to the outside world. Recently, the Tu-22M3 bomber has been the face of the Russian air force all over the world. Between dropping bombs over Syria to patrolling airspace over Japan, the Tu-22M3 has also been receiving a series of upgrades. These upgrades allow for greater bombing accuracy with conventional weapons, as well as the capability to fire new Air-Launched Cruise Missiles (ALCM). One... more »
1.2 Million Dead: What Would Happen If North Korea Nuked Los Angeles?
*Daniel R. DePetris* *Security, Asia* [image: People watch a TV broadcast showing a file footage for a news report on North Korea firing two projectiles, possibly missiles, into the sea between the Korean peninsula and Japan, in Seoul, South Korea, October 31, 2019. REUTERS/Heo Ran] A limited nuclear exchange. *Key Point:* Nuclear war with North Korea would be a horror greater than any American could bear. What would an actual nuclear exchange between the United States and North Korea look like? How many civilians would be killed? How much of Pyongyang or Los Angeles would be pu... more »
"The Richest Country’s Empty Plates: 50 Million Hungry Americans"
*"The Richest Country’s Empty Plates:* * 50 Million Hungry Americans"* By Larry Romanoff "In July of 2013, Rose Aguilar wrote a wonderful article for al-Jazeera, in which she discussed the dire hunger crisis that envelops the US today. In her article, she brought back a memory of something I had long forgotten, an event that so outraged the American public that the government was temporarily forced to respond with more humane policies. That event was a 1968 CBS special hour-long documentary called "Hunger in America"*, in which viewers literally watched a hospitalized child die of s... more »
Another Gay Hater Caught With The Meat-- Almost-- In His Mouth
Evangelicals must believe that Satan sent Grindr to test them-- and what a test it is! I remember the first time I ever experienced it. I was driving through Hollywood and my friend was in the passenger seat. His cell phone kept going off every 30-40 seconds. What the hell is that, I asked. "Oh, it's Grindr," he said. "It buzzes whenever we pass a gay guy." For a typical evangelical pastor that must be like the *First Temptation of Christ* writ large. Barry Poyner is an elder at the Kirksville Church of Christ, an anti-LGBTQ hate group, where Poyner gives rapidly anti-gay sermon... more »
Impeach the Motherfucker?
We just did. Rashida Tlaib made good on her promise. OK, some thumbtack observations before I turn the reins over to Mikey Flannigan tomorrow for a more thorough, detailed analysis. Yet, while the Congressional janitorial staff begins scraping the Republican fecal matter off the walls, allow me to make some thumbtack observations. First off, July 4th 1776 is the day we'd declared our independence from the British. December 18th 2019 is the day we declared our independence from Russia, a fact that gave Louis Gomer the sads when reminded of this by Jerry Nadler... more »
“Clean-Up On Aisle 3″….
…..and many others. Ahh, San Francisco, (aka Pelosiville). Seems the crazy socialist Democrats aren’t just pooping in the streets anymore. Now, they are pooping in the aisles of grocery stores like this Safeway in San Francisco, even though the unlocked customer restrooms are nearby. This dude even helps himself to a roll of TP from the store’s shelf (Xtra-soft 2 ply AND quilted, I’m sure). Nancy Pelosi and all the Democrats who run San Francisco should be so proud. This is what liberalism and “progressivism” does to cities. Throughout the city, the 311 “Poop Patrol” number has rec... more »
Hubris – Nancy Pelosi Declares: “the senate rules are unfair” – “when rules become fair we will send articles”…
The entire House effort to impeach President Donald Trump has been a one-sided partisan effort; built upon a foundation of manipulation of process and dismissal of the minority rights throughout. After the House voted along party lines, and in an … Continue reading →
The USSA Is Going To Go Down Very Hard
For years I have been trying to describe for my readers the dire events that lie in store for the USSA and the people who live there, and the unpleasant concatenation of events that will follow on the collapse of the USSA's globally dominant (for only a little bit longer) system. Many writers have remarked on the baffling, projected, year 2025 economic and population data that the alphabet-soup-connected, Deagel.com website has published to the web, which can be viewed here: http://www.deagel.com/country/forecast.aspx Deagel.com has projected that a whole slew of countries will suff... more »
CDC reveals deadly outbreak traced to hard-boiled egg production plant
Eleven months after the FDA found Listeria contamination at an Almark Foods hard-boiled egg production plant, the CDC is announcing an ongoing outbreak linked to the eggs. Illnesses began in 2017. As of today, seven people in five states have been confirmed infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes, according to the announcement from... Continue Reading
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker review — the final chapter has a whole lot of explaining to do
The ninth instalment of the central Star Wars saga — started by George Lucas a long time ago, in a Disney-free galaxy far, far away — has arrived.
Pineapple production slashed as dry weather hits farmers
Pineapple prices have soared and packing sheds are struggling to keep up with Christmas supply as dry weather impacts the summer crop.
No 'lesbian mafia' in Matildas, independent review says
An independent review recommends giving more power to players by establishing an athlete-centric, rather than coach-centric, approach to managing the national teams.
Equinor defends Great Australian Bight drilling plans as oil spill fears continue
A Norwegian oil company granted environmental approval to drill in some of Australia's roughest seas tries to ease fears about any oil leaks as it continues to clean up a spill about 17,000 kilometres away in the Bahamas.
Alex Rance leaves the AFL a champion, a revolutionary, and one of a kind
Alex Rance was a generational defender who embodied the best of a bygone era and ushered in a new one, but even in his shock retirement, he was always uniquely himself.
Attorney-General says Witness J secret trial 'unique in my experience'
A new statement from the Government reveals more details about the trial made secret due to national security concerns.
Sprinklers on the roof, kangaroos in the pub — how outback Queenslanders survive the heat
Queensland towns are sweating through the hottest days ever recorded and finding innovative ways to stay cool with forecasts showing more hot weather is on the way.
Westpac slugged $9 million after employee gives superannuation advice that benefits him
Westpac is fined $9 million after corporate watchdog ASIC took it to court accusing a former bank employee of not acting in his clients' best interests.
Widow of cyclist killed in hit-and-run 'devastated' by 10-month sentence for driver
A driver who fell asleep at the wheel moments before he struck and killed a cyclist in Melbourne's north-west in July is ordered to serve 10 months' jail in a youth facility.
Chinese ambassador calls mass detention of Uyghurs 'fake news', plays propaganda video
In a rare public appearance, China's ambassador to Australia fields questions for an hour and plays a propaganda video as he dismisses the mass detention of Muslims as "fake news" and promises to do more to ease tensions with Australia.
Chinese students protest as Beijing moves to 'weaponise the minds of teachers and students'
Just In - 1 day ago
Students at one of China's most prestigious universities hold a rare protest after authorities drop the phrase "freedom of thought" from the school's official rules, replacing it with a pledge to follow the Communist Party's leadership.
Monsanto Roundup class action underway in Federal Court
The first proceedings are underway in a class action against Monsanto, over claims commonly used herbicide Roundup causes cancer.
Smoke is affecting workers, even in air-conditioned offices. So what can we do?
Just In - 1 day ago
The brutal realities of the climate crisis have arrived — you can see it, smell it and feel it in your lungs. And as Sydney faces record-breaking hazardous air pollution levels, there's one group most at risk, writes Elizabeth Humphrys, Freya Newman, and Natasha Heenan.
Donald Trump condemns impeachment vote by US House of Representatives
Just In - 1 day ago
Donald Trump becomes just the third US president in history to be impeached, as the House of Representatives formally charges him with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
Trio jailed for running SA's biggest-ever meth lab worth $20 million
One of the men jailed over what was described as the largest methamphetamine lab in SA history was intending to use the money he made to pay for IVF for his partner, an Adelaide judge says.
Medevac refugee detained at Melbourne hotel says he still hasn't had appropriate medical treatment
Just In - 1 day ago
Refugees and asylum seekers brought to Melbourne from offshore detention for medical treatment say they have been denied proper medical treatment, cannot go outside, and are under constant guard by Serco officers.
'Not in the interests of justice' to move Yuendumu murder-accused case to Darwin
An application to have Constable Zachary Rolfe's murder case moved from Alice Springs to Darwin is refused by a local court.
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