10 pm MST
Foreign Correspondent-- A Xmas Tale: Death of a Suitcase
*-by Reese Erlich* Ralph died on an escalator in a foreign airport on Christmas Eve. I called my black, carry-on suitcase "Ralph" because he was almost like family. Ralph was 30 years old in suitcase years. His zipper had broken, and I managed to fall onto his pull-up handle and break it. Rather than leave him in an unmarked, third world landfill, I brought his remains back to Oakland. The other luggage in my closet and I held a quiet memorial around what remained of our Christmas tree. Almost all the soft sides were there. Even a few hard siders I hadn't seen in decades showed up... more »
Antibiotics offered to early learning centre staff, children after meningococcal diagnosis
Just In - 41 minutes ago
Children and staff at an early learning centre in Perth's east are being offered "clearance" antibiotics after a child, who is recovering from the illness, was diagnosed with meningococcal disease.
Preparing for English Channel swim helps grazier cope better with drought
Brendan Cullen from drought-ravaged NSW is preparing to swim the English Channel by training in one of the last bodies of water in the far west of the state.
P-plater badly hurt after 'parasite' allegedly runs her off the road
A Sunshine Coast father is pleading for public help to track down the driver of a stolen car who allegedly ran his 18-year-old daughter off the road on Christmas Day, leaving her with serious injuries and staples on her scalp.
'Severe to extreme' heatwave conditions to test firefighters in South Australia and NSW
Just In - 41 minutes ago
A "severe to extreme" heatwave will grip large parts of the country across the weekend, making conditions difficult for firefighters working to control catastrophic blazes in several states.
'Biggest single fall of rain in two years': Some Queenslanders celebrate Christmas present
Just In - 41 minutes ago
Queenslanders in the state's south-east rejoice after Christmas Day brings much-needed rain, but inhabitants of outback towns like Birdsville in the far south-west swelter through lunch.
'Call the cops!': Man clings to bull bar of moving ute for 3km
A row between two men involved in a minor collision in Western Sydney descends into a bizarre road-rage incident in which one man drives off with the other clinging to the bull bar of his vehicle.
'The results are amazing': How new tool helps calm down cranky shoppers
As shoppers flock to the Boxing Day sales, retail assistants have a new tool for dealing with angry or abusive customers, thanks to a training course on how to calm angry customers.
Live: Wild Oats XI faces stiff battle to retain Sydney to Hobart
Nine-time line honours winners Wild Oats XI will have to overcome urgent repairs and stiff competition to claim the 75th Sydney to Hobart yacht race. Follow our live blog.
Israeli PM Netanyahu: Putin Said That Israel And Russia Would Be At War If It Was Not For The Close Relationship Between The Leaders
Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) speaks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow on April 4, 2019. (Alexander Zemlianichenko/POOL/AFP) *Times Of Israel:* *Netanyahu: Putin said that if I were not PM, Israel and Russia would be at war* In interview ahead of Likud primary, PM refuses to answer questions on whether he will seek immunity from prosecution or what he’ll do if High Court rules he can’t form government Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin told him the two countries could ... more »
Total Holiday Sales +3.4% Year-Over-Year, Biggest Holiday Sales in U.S. Retail History…
Whooo-doggies, middle-class Americans spent more this holiday shopping season than any year before it. Despite losing a week due to the late Thanksgiving holiday, total Christmas sales growth was +3.4 percent year-over-year. (Reuters) […] The holiday shopping season is a … Continue reading →
For Iraq's Assyrians, This Year Might Be Their Last
Assyrian International News Agency - 1 hour ago
Iraqi Christians pray in Kurdish-run Iraq after fleeing ISIS. Many have not returned. ( Matt Cardy/Getty Images)The British Government's Christmas message of solidarity with persecuted Christians is a welcome gesture, but for many communities around the world time is quickly running out.
Sunni Islamists butcher mainly women in a fresh massacre in Burkina Faso
Sunni Islamists butcher mainly women in a fresh massacre in Burkina Faso Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The nation of Burkina Faso needs international support to contain the ravages of Sunni Islamic terrorism. In the latest massacre, a staggering 35 civilians were butchered – nearly all of them were women. It […]
Israeli PM Netanyahu Rushed Off Stage To Bomb Shelter After Gaza Rocket Attack On Southern Israel
*Haaretz:* *Israel Strikes in Gaza After Rocket Launched at South, Forcing Netanyahu Off Stage at Mid-campaign Event* *'Whoever fired rockets now, better pack his belongings,' Netanyahu threatened as he returned to finish address at southern Israeli port city of Ashkelon * The Israeli military said it struck Hamas targets early Thursday morning after rocket sirens had blared in several communities, forcing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to rush off the stage at an election campaign event in the southern port city of Ashkelon. One rocket fired from Gaza was intercepted by th... more »
Watch Russia's Su-34 Fighter Complete Its Mission In Extreme Weather
*Mark Episkopos* *Security, * One of Russia's most impressive jets. *Key point: *Except for a brief, limited Su-57 test run in the latter stages of the Syrian Civil War, the Su-34 is widely regarded as the *most technologically advanced* aircraft to be deployed by the Russian Air Force (VKS) in Syria. Russia's Su-34 fighter-bomber aircraft is again in the headlines after successfully completing an aerial refueling exercise under “extreme” conditions. *Zvezda*, the official television channel of Russia's Defense Ministry, has published video footage of the exercise. The clip, th... more »
This Is What Disagreements Do to The Human Brain
*Andreas Kappes* *Environment, Americas* [image: Reuters] We suspect that when disagreements are about heated topics such as politics, people will be even less likely to take note of the strength of contradictory opinions. We’ve all been there. You are in the middle of a heated disagreement when you lose respect for the opposing party. Whether it is about the latest election or childcare, you feel like your considered arguments are not appreciated – perhaps even ignored. But did you ever wonder what exactly is happening in the mind of the person on the other side? In a recent st... more »
Throughout History U.S. Leaders Have Lied
*Gordon Adams* *Security, Americas* [image: Reuters] Lies are an integral part of national security operations. They seek credibility for government policy. They mislead adversaries, cover up mistakes and failures. The Washington Post has, after more than two years of investigation, revealed that senior foreign policy officials in the White House, State and Defense departments have known for some time that the U.S. intervention in Afghanistan was failing. Interview transcripts from the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, obtained by the Post after many lawsuits, s... more »
America's World War II Internment of Japanese Americans Was Cruel
*Warfare History Network* *History, Americas* This is what life was like for Japanese-American citizens on the inside of American concentration camps. “We were stunned when we entered the camp,” Yoshio “Yosh” Nakamura said, remembering the day when he and his family, from El Monte, California, were herded through the main gate at the Gila River Relocation Center—a Japanese American internment camp 30 miles southeast of Phoenix, Arizona—carrying only suitcases into which their worldly possessions had been crammed. [text_ad] “There was a wire perimeter, searchlights, armed sentries... more »
Why the Battle of Shanghai Foreshadowed the Grim Urban Combat
*Warfare History Network* *Security, Americas* This was only a preview of how deadly World War II would be. *Key Point:* A battle that should never be forgotten. The 1930s was a decade full of World War II’s antecedents. Fighting broke out at various points around the globe during this decade, and many consider the period to be a training ground for 1939-1945. In particular, fighting broke out between several nations in Asia; among these the fighting between Japan and China was no doubt the largest. It was a bloody and vicious series of conflicts that essentially bled into World... more »
Tank Battle: How Did America's M-26 Pershing Fare Against North Korea's T-34 Tank?
*Warfare History Network* *History, Asia* One of the more famous Korean War battles occurred at Obong-Ni, and resulted in a major encounter between the NKPA's T-34 and USMC M-26 Pershing. *Key Point:* It was a legendary tank contest. The North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) had almost everything going its way during the earliest Korean War battles. The opposing South Korean and American forces, weak and unprepared, were pushed into a shrinking perimeter around the small port city of Pusan. That perimeter was steadily being reinforced, with an eye toward an eventual breakout and c... more »
These Are The 5 Best Handguns For New Gun Owners and Home Defense
*Gun News Daily* *Technology, * Protect you and your's without worry. *Key Point: *It all depends on your needs. You want to protect your home and be able to defend you and your’s, but you don’t have much experience with firearms? Maybe you don’t know where to start when buying your first gun? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. As a (decently) skilled marksman and lifelong gun aficionado, I can readily recall how vulnerable I felt when I was getting my first gun and learning how to shoot. Here I’ll cover the *important factors* that should be considered before deciding on a ha... more »
Postwar Delusions: Why America Keeps Making Mistakes Abroad
*Derek Leebaert* *History, North Atlantic* Voters are blaming the twenty-first century’s forever wars on the foreign policy establishment, just as Washington’s best and brightest were blamed for Vietnam half a century ago. The culpability of today’s prominent mainstream historians, however, has gone unnoticed. PAYING MINIMAL attention to the ironies of history is a key reason why America has failed at four wars: Afghanistan, Iraq, Vietnam and, as is often forgotten, Korea, with its doomed counter-invasion to “liberate” the north in 1950–1951. Each ended up unrecognizably and disa... more »
Fire the Rockets: Watch Russia's MiG-29 Destroy This Armored Vehicle With Ease
*Mark Episkopos* *Security, * The MiG-29’s new purpose was on full display at a recent combat exercise at the Ashuluk training grounds near the Astrakhan region in southwestern Russia. *Key point: *For a major military power like the Soviet Union and its Russian successor, there is always going to be a glut of aircraft roles to fill at various intensity levels and operational uses. As with many of Russia’s most prolific aircraft, the MiG-29 has spawned numerous variants four decades of service. Originally intended as an superiority fighter, and particularly as the Soviet answer ... more »
US Considers Plan To Reduce Or Withdraw Troops Completely From West Africa
*Daily Mail:* *Defense secretary draws up plans to pull troops out of anti-terror operations in West Africa in first move by Pentagon to meet Donald Trump's promise to end the 'endless wars'* The Pentagon is mulling a plan to reduce or withdraw troops completely from West Africa, The New York Times reported Tuesday President Trump has long promised to end the 'endless wars,' though this move would reposition troops, not shrink U.S. forces There are between 6,000 and 7,000 American troops in African, who are mainly in West Africa, but also Somalia The Pentagon is looking into red... more »
Israel Army Admits ‘Mistakes’ Over Attack that Killed Gaza Family
Israel Army Admits ‘Mistakes’ Over Attack that Killed Gaza Family by https://www.aljazeera.com/ Nine members of Sawarka family, including five children, were killed in November along with dozens more Palestinians. – An attack in Gaza that killed nine members of the same family was due to faulty assessment of the risk to civilians, the Israeli army …
Israeli Airstrikes in Iraq Target Iranian Weapons: IDF Military Chief
Zionist war propaganda to lay the foundation for Albert Pike’s Satanic WW3. Israeli Airstrikes in Iraq Target Iranian Weapons: IDF Military Chief by http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/index.htm JERUSALEM, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) — Israeli military’s chief said Wednesday that Israel “has carried out actions” in Iraq to foil convoys of weapons that could be used against Israel. Aviv Kohavi …
IDF Preparing for Confrontation with Iran – Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi
Zionist war propaganda to lay the foundation for Albert Pike’s Satanic WW3. IDF Preparing for Confrontation with Iran – Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi by ANNA AHRONHEIM, https://www.jpost.com/ Lt.-Gen. Kochavi acknowledges in public for the first time that Israel has struck Iranian targets in Iraq. – The IDF is preparing for a limited confrontation with …
Fitton Calls On Senate to Probe ‘Deep State’ Attack on Trump
Fox Business Judicial Watch president and author Tom Fitton discusses how he would approach President Trump’s impeachment if he was ‘the Senate.’ end
Seventy Years of U.S. Destabilisation in China. U.S. Sponsored Uyghur Insurgency in XinJiang
Seventy Years of U.S. Destabilisation in China. U.S. Sponsored Uyghur Insurgency in XinJiang by Shane Quinn, https://www.globalresearch.ca/ China’s exit in October 1949, from the sphere of US control, was perhaps the heaviest blow to strike American post-World War II global hegemony. China’s successful drive for independence had been anticipated in Washington for many months. – …
Sanctions on Nord Stream 2, Last Ditch Effort to Stop Russian-German Energy Checkmate
The Duran The Duran Quick Take: Episode 413. The Duran’s Alex Christoforou and Editor-in-Chief Alexander Mercouris discuss a massive defense bill signed by U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday, that includes legislation imposing sanctions on firms laying pipe for Nord Stream 2…a natural gas pipeline which will double gas capacity along the northern Nord Stream …
Get Ready for Central Bank Bail-Ins And a Bitter Taste of Economic REALITY! Lynette Zang Interview
Crush The Street Lynette Zang is back to share her latest news and updates on the latest developments within the global economy and geo-political landscape. With 2019 being an incredible year for Gold we gain fresh insights on what lies ahead in 2020, the stock market is also rallying more than ever but could this …
A New Era of Digital Gold Payments Systems?
A New Era of Digital Gold Payments Systems? by JP Koning, https://www.bullionstar.com/ Back in the days when we had metallic monetary standards, people often used gold & silver coins for payments. Not these days. Many people still like to hold precious metals. But few use them to make payments or transfers. – Since the rise …
Betting on $4000 Gold
Betting on $4000 Gold by Stacy Herbert, Max Keiser, https://sputniknews.com/ On today’s Christmas Eve episode of Double Down, Max Keiser and Stacy Herbert talk to Craig Hemke of TFMetalsReport.com about his 2020 gold outlook. – As 2019 ends with nations stockpiling and repatriating gold, DOUBLE DOWN asks Craig Hemke if this is the sign of things to …
Guess Who’s Stockpiling Gold Now? +2020 Preview | David Morgan
Reluctant Preppers Revealing data is coming out about which major players are accumulating gold at the end of 2019, ahead of what the new year may bring. David Morgan, known as The Silver Guru, and founder of The Morgan Report, returns to Finance and Liberty / Reluctant Preppers to give us insight into who is …
ALERT!! Silver Derivatives Hit All Time HIGH’s at JP (RICO) Morgan!! (Bix Weir)
RoadtoRoota 8 gold/silver traders from JP Morgan are either indicted or about to be indicted on charges of manipulating the gold and silver markets and YET JP Morgan is STILL ALLOWED to increase their silver derivative position by $3B in the 3rd Quarter?! What’s wrong with our regulators? end
Gold Into 2020 with Andrew Maguire
Gold Into 2020 with Andrew Maguire by https://www.tfmetalsreport.com/ It has been a crazy year but, with things finally slowing down a bit with the holidays, we finally had a chance to get caught up with our old friend, Andrew Maguire. – Wow! As you might imagine, Andy and I had a lot to discuss. The …
Fed Quietly Masking Extent of Efforts to Calm Repo Market! Watch Out for Foreign Repo Pool
The Money GPS The real economy is still weak. That hasn’t changed. What has changed is the Fed has been actively pumping up the markets again. The financial analysts have been salivating at this since the Fed shut down QE3. Now investors see this is a free pass until at least April while the Fed …
Is Pelosi Admitting Dems Didn’t Have Enough on Trump to Impeach?
Fox News Rep. Andy Biggs and House Minority Whip Steve Scalise react to Pelosi withholding articles of impeachment. #Hannity #FoxNews end
Trump’s Impeachment Trial is Still Pending
RT America The end of 2019 is rapidly approaching and the Democratic Party succeed on impeaching the president. Yet, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is holding off to send the articles to the Senate for a trial. According to our 360 view panelist, former Georgia State Rep. Ladawn B Jones, Democrats had to set the standard …
Understanding Why There’s No FBI Whistleblowers Outlining Institutional Corruption….
To understand why there’s no-one in the administrative mid-tier of the FBI acting in a whistle-blowing capacity requires a background perspective looking at the totality of corruption. The institutions are protecting themselves; and yes, that protection applies to the internal … Continue reading →
U.S. Flies Four Spy Planes Fly Near North Korea At The Same Time
*Yonhap News:* *U.S. flies 4 spy planes at same time amid concern about N.K. 'Christmas gift'* The United States has flown four surveillance planes over the Korean Peninsula at the same time, according to an aviation tracker Wednesday, amid heightened concern that North Korea could test-fire a long-range missile as a "Christmas gift" to Washington. According to Aircraft Spots, the four aircraft -- RC-135W Rivet Joint, E-8C, RQ-4 Global Hawk and RC-135S Cobra Ball -- were believed to have carried out missions over and around the Korean Peninsula between Tuesday and early Wednesday... more »
Pentagon Warns Its Military Personnel Against Mail-In DNA Tests
*NBC*: *Pentagon tells military personnel not to use at-home DNA kits* The Pentagon said that potential inaccuracies in at-home DNA kits pose more risk to military members than regular consumers. Senior Pentagon officials have told members of the Armed Forces to skip what may seem like the perfect holiday gift — an at-home DNA test. In a Dec. 20 memo obtained by NBC News, Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Joseph Kernan and James Stewart, acting Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, said that DNA testing companies were targeting military members with dis... more »
Police looking for second driver after pedestrian killed in Adelaide's north
Just In - 3 hours ago
A young man dies after being struck by two cars, with only one vehicle stopping at the scene.
Boxing Day sales draw crowds for predicted day of record-breaking spending
Just In - 3 hours ago
Thousands of Boxing Day bargain hunters rush into stores across the country for what's expected to be a record-breaking day of spending, following flagging sales in the lead-up to Christmas.
College student who died tackling shooter made honorary Jedi by Star Wars franchise
Just In - 3 hours ago
A North Carolina college student who lost his life after tackling a gunman who opened fire in his classroom is immortalised by the production company for the Star Wars franchise, which wrote him into a book that accompanies The Rise of Skywalker film release.
Three people killed, two injured in Christmas Day crash in Alice Springs
Just In - 3 hours ago
Three people are killed when a driver tries to evade a police traffic stop and crashes into another car in Alice Springs on Christmas Day.
Kylie Minogue is the face of a new tourism ad for Australia. Here's what you might've missed
It's part of a new campaign aimed at getting British tourists to pack their bags and travel to Australia.
How conservation led to healing bonds between Solomon Islands' Kwaio people and Australia
A 1927 massacre of 60 Kwaio people left a deep sense of mistrust and trauma, but a research partnership with Australia leads to reconciliation.
Live: Smith and Labuschagne face short-pitched assault from NZ seamers
Just In - 3 hours ago
Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith resist huge pressure to build a partnership and frustrate New Zealand's bowlers after a difficult morning for the hosts. Follow all the action in our live blog.
A brief, but profound sermon from a surprising movie
In the early evening of Christmas Eve, my wife and I watched for the second time. the movie “Chocolat” starring Juliette Binoche, Johnny Depp, Judi Dench, Alfred Molina, Lena Olin, Hugh O’Conor among others. While it seemed a strange choice … Continue reading →
Can We All Agree On One Thing-- The Democratic Party Does Not Need More Jeff Van Drews, Hand Picked By The DCCC
In a new note to her supporters, Will County board member, *Rachel Ventura*, the progressive running for Congress in IL-11, articulated something that most of the primary candidates we’ve been talking with have been saying. They find themselves, not just fighting incumbents to the right of them on the political spectrum, they find themselves-- like Rachel-- fighting the DCCC as well. Rachel makes the point that since Trump’s term began, “there is a huge number of underrepresented people that are stepping up to run for office.” However, a far more conservative IIllinoian than Rache... more »
Russia Cuts Off Its Internet In A Country Wide Test
*BBC: **Russia 'successfully tests' its unplugged internet* Russia has successfully tested a country-wide alternative to the global internet, its government has announced. Details of what the test involved were vague but, according to the Ministry of Communications, ordinary users did not notice any changes. The results will now be presented to President Putin. Experts remain concerned about the trend for some countries to dismantle the internet. "Sadly, the Russian direction of travel is just another step in the increasing breaking-up of the internet," said Prof Alan Woodward, a... more »
Video: Russia Is Showing Off An Impressive Su-57 Stealth Capability
*Mark Episkopos* *Security, * Russia wants to sell the jet. *Key point:* Russia has remained committed to addressing the Su-57's technical problems. Footage recently released by the Russian Ministry of Defense shows Russia's flagship fifth-generation stealth fighter, the Su-57, being aerially refueled by an Il-78 tanker. Before this, the Su-57 can be seen imitating a refueling formation behind an An-12 transport aircraft. Aerial refueling is a common feature of fifth-generation fighters, employed—though not without recurring issues—on America’s F-35 and now recently confirmed o... more »
How Well Do You Know The AK-47? Here's 5 Little Known Facts
*Mark Episkopos* *Security, * How many countries bear it on their flags? *Key point:* The rifle became popular among insurgents around the same time it began being exported. 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 withou... more »
From Our Home to Yours
I hope you and yours had a safe and joyous holiday season. As for us, we had a pretty traditional (for us) bill of fare: Pork loin with cherry preserves, mashed potatoes, Charlene's Cheesy Potatoes, corn, spinach, stuffing, gravy, butternut squash and a great bottle of Riesling white wine. A lot of hard work but leftovers for at least 4-5 nights!
Israeli PM Evacuated From Rally After Rocket Fired From Gaza
A video shows Benjamin Netanyahu being taken to a shelter as he was campaigning hours before the primaries of his Likud party.
Munich Climate Conference 2019
Originally posted on Science Matters: ? Antifa thugs outside Munich Conference Center. Thanks to Andreas Müller for writing at his blog hintermbusch on four key presentations at the EIKE Climate Conference on Nov. 23, 2019. As many have read, eco-terrorists forced the sessions out of the scheduled venue, but the gatherings went on elsewhere. So…
Musical Interlude: Mike Oldfield, “Tubular Bells Finale”
Mike Oldfield, “Tubular Bells Finale”
"A Look to the Heavens"
“The dark Horsehead Nebula and the glowing Orion Nebula are contrasting cosmic vistas. Adrift 1,500 light-years away in one of the night sky's most recognizable constellations, they appear in opposite corners of the above stunning mosaic. * Click image for larger size.* The familiar Horsehead nebula appears as a dark cloud, a small silhouette notched against the long red glow at the lower left. Alnitak is the easternmost star in Orion's belt and is seen as the brightest star to the left of the Horsehead. Below Alnitak is the Flame Nebula, with clouds of bright emission and dramatic ... more »
Star Wars and The Meaning of Life
Tom Luongo has written a really interesting review of the latest Star Wars movie, The Rise of Luke Skywalker, and I agree with his review, though I have yet to watch it; I am also a bit of a Star … Continue reading →
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment