Friday, December 27, 2019

27 December - Blogs I'm Following - 4 of 5

10 pm MST

Cuomo vetoes bill to regulate pharmacy benefit managers

The Buffalo Chronicle at The Buffalo Chronicle - 15 hours ago
Bill would have added accountability, increased fiscal disclosure, and addressed deceptive and anti-competitive practices Governor Andrew Cuomo this evening vetoed legislation to increase oversight, transparency, and accountability of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). PBMs are companies that manage prescription drug benefits for

Will 2020 Be The Medicare-For-All Election?

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 16 hours ago
There are some undeniably good things Obamacare accomplished-- top-most, prohibiting predatory insurance companies from ripping off the general public by denying reasonably-priced health insurance based on preexisting conditions. But as a way to cover costs for medical treatment, Obamacare was always sorely lacking, especially as the GOP increasingly whittled away at it. It was never much more than better-than-nothing and a work-on-progress. Unfortunately, the Democrats failed at making it better when they could have-- and then along came Trump. So… now that Trump and the GOP have... more »

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jonjayray at EDUCATION WATCH INTERNATIONAL - 16 hours ago
*Our Hopes for Higher Ed Reform in 2020* As priorities shift in the minds of higher education leaders and students, it’s important to take stock of recent changes on the local and national levels. At the Martin Center, we have our eyes on some reforms at the top of our list for 2020: Jenna A. Robinson, President More Colleges Experimenting with Income Share Agreements Student debt poses a problem for many young people, especially those who are underemployed or unemployed after leaving college. A better alternative is Income Share Agreements (ISA). ISAs are contracts between studen... more »

Tribal Hypocrisy and Slavery, the Abrahamic Tradition?

Serban V.C. Enache at The Duran - 16 hours ago
Reading the following texts from Leviticus, the third book of the Torah and the Old Testament, we shall see a very strange mixture of progressive economics and tribal-based hypocrisy and slavery. We will logically conclude [in line with historical facts as well] that “Do onto others as you’d have them do onto you” referred strictly […] More The post Tribal Hypocrisy and Slavery, the Abrahamic Tradition? appeared first on The Duran.

Funny Friday

Terry at 'Nox & Friends - 16 hours ago
This was the best piece of advice my Ol’ Daddy ever gave me….. I shoulda listened ! From Terry : ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From vonMeßer : Carnation Milk…..A True Story When opening a can of carnation evaporated milk for your recipes, just smile and think of this tale….. A little old lady from North Carolina had worked in and around her family’s dairy farm since she was old enough to walk, with hours of hard work and little compensation… So when canned Carnation Milk became available in grocery stores, she read an advertisement offering $5000 for the best slogan/rhyme beginning wit... more »

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JR at GREENIE WATCH - 16 hours ago
*Climate Crisis? Four Major Metrics That Say Otherwise* By meteorologist Joe Bastardi I have long advocated that climatologists take a course on long-range forecasting so they can better understand the inherent errors in trying to predict the weather or climate. In the debate over the fate of the planet, where one side is always pushing hysteria, the weather is plainly not cooperating with the missive. Forecasters take climatology classes and are now being taught the one-sided climate narrative, but in general, climatologists do not have to learn how to forecast. If they did, they... more »

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JR at GREENIE WATCH - 16 hours ago
*How Binge-Watching On Streaming Services Is Hurting The Environment (?)* *EVERYTHING is bad for the planet* Movie nights once required driving to the local video store to rent, rewind and return the latest blockbuster. Now on-demand video content providers offer countless binge-worthy options at the touch of a finger. But experts say the ease of streaming services comes with a hefty environmental price tag. Watching a half-hour show would lead to emissions of 1.6 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent, said Maxime Efoui-Hess of French think tank the Shift Project. That's equival... more »

The U.S. Navy Will Have Major Problems In a War If 1 Thing Is Not Fixed

David Axe at The National Interest - 16 hours ago
*David Axe* *Security, * One thing is clear. If the Navy doesn’t do something, its sealift capacity soon will shrink as five-decades-old vessels become unsupportable. The White House cast doubt on the U.S. Navy’s plan finally to modernize its aging fleet of sealift ships. The Office of Management and Budget, the executive branch’s spending agency, in a Dec. 16, 2019 memo directed the Department of Defense to draw up a cheaper plan for new vessels. The Navy planned to replace many of its roughly 120 sealift vessels, which Military Sealift Command operates on behalf of the wider f... more »

Putin Makes a Startling Claim: Russia Is the World's Leader in Hypersonic Weapons

Mark Episkopos at The National Interest - 16 hours ago
*Mark Episkopos* *Security, Europe* U.S. Air Force General: “We don’t have any defense that could deny the employment of such a weapon against us.” Russian President Vladimir Putin stated at a Defense Ministry meeting held earlier this week that Russia leads the world in hypersonic weapons technology. What are these new Russian weapons, and precisely what type of threat do they pose to the U.S.? In his March 1, 2018 annual state-of-the-nation address, President Putin unveiled a slew of hypersonic nuclear-capable weapons: the Kinzhal missile system, Sarmat ICBM, and the Avangard ... more »

America Has A New Way To Kill Terrorists From Drones—With The Precision Of A Knife

Caleb Larson at The National Interest - 16 hours ago
*Caleb Larson* *Security, Americas* Don't take this on. *Key point: *Due to the reduction in civilian casualties and collateral damage, the R9X offers greater flexibility to commanders and drone operators. U.S. forces reportedly killed a senior jihadist leader in Syria. While such strikes are typically carried out by drones and not so unusual, this particular strike used a new type of "ninja" missile. These missiles have been reportedly been used only a few times. Designed to minimize civilian casualties, the ninja missile is a specially modified Hellfire—without a warhead. In ... more »

You Sunk My Battleship: 5 Worst Battleship Disasters (We Have Questions)

Robert Farley at The National Interest - 16 hours ago
*Robert Farley* *Security, Asia* One Japanese battleship actually split in half after it exploded. *Key Point:* These are some of the worst naval disasters ever. Battleships were enormous investments of national treasure. They did not merely represent national power; they were the physical manifestations of that power. They embodied the prestige of the nation, with all of the emotional commitment that implies. This made it especially heart-breaking when battleships were sunk in action. But it was perhaps worse when battleships were lost to no fault of the enemy at all. No enemy ... more »

Pope Francis Unveils Globalist New World Religion at Summit with United Nations Leader

mosesman at Socio-Economics History Blog - 16 hours ago
Pope Francis Unveils Globalist New World Religion at Summit with United Nations Leader by Shane Trejo, https://bigleaguepolitics.com/ The Pope wants globalism to replace traditional religion. Pope Francis’ war on traditional Catholicism has been ramping up recently, and he castigated Catholics who believe in tradition and refuse to warp Biblical scripture to appease a godless world …

Week in Review: Aurora Cannabis execs depart, Curaleaf raises $275M in debt, IL readies for adult-use MJ sales & more

Laura Hamilton at Marijuana Business Daily - 16 hours ago
Aurora Cannabis loses two of its most important executives at a crucial time as the company continues to struggle, Curaleaf secures $275 million in debt from a group of lenders, Illinois recreational marijuana retailers get ready for large customer turnout and high demand for New Year’s Day launch – and more of the week’s top MJ business news. […] Week in Review: Aurora Cannabis execs depart, Curaleaf raises $275M in debt, IL readies for adult-use MJ sales & more is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Christmas Holiday Records 50 Fatalities, Close to 1,000 Injured on Brazil’s Highways

Xiu Ying at The Rio Times - 16 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The Federal Highway Police (PRF) began to release the results of the traditional Christmas Operation. In order to avoid accidents, fight traffic excesses and irregularities, the special inspection protocol always occurs during long holidays and breaks. The PRF action also aims to reduce the number of accidents and raise awareness […] The post Christmas Holiday Records 50 Fatalities, Close to 1,000 Injured on Brazil’s Highways appeared first on The Rio Times.

DiCaprio Criticizes Mining on Brazilian Indigenous Territory

Dorah Feliciano at The Rio Times - 16 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Actor Leonardo DiCaprio used his social media to criticize the potential of opening the Brazilian Indigenous Lands to mining. DiCaprio said that "despite Brazilian laws that make mining illegal in the Ianomâmi Indigenous Territory", miners have invaded the protected areas, brought malaria and contaminated the rivers with mercury. The actor's […] The post DiCaprio Criticizes Mining on Brazilian Indigenous Territory appeared first on The Rio Times.

Some Added Notes On Grains

E.M.Smith at Musings from the Chiefio - 16 hours ago
A few notes on things like Wheat, Barley, Rye, and such. Continue reading →

Indonesia to revive truth and reconciliation commission into state-led massacres

Just In - 16 hours ago
Indonesia plans to revive a 'truth and reconciliation' commission to bring closure over past human rights violations, including the killing of hundreds of thousands of people in 1965, a senior minister says.

Two men winched to safety in ocean rescue off Perth after boat sinks

Benjamin Gubana at Just In - 16 hours ago
Two men are rescued by an emergency services helicopter off Jindalee Beach in Perth's north after their five-metre-long boat sinks and a distress beacon helps authorities locate them.

Cricket hardly matters on a Melbourne day close enough to perfect

Geoff Lemon at Just In - 16 hours ago
Australia makes the most of almost-perfect weather at the MCG on the second day of the Boxing Day Test — the kind of Melbourne day you only get a handful of in any given year.

Japanese broadcaster apologises for North Korea missile false alarm

Just In - 16 hours ago
Public broadcaster NHK News says a news bulletin sent to people's mobile phones which incorrectly reported that North Korea launched a missile that fell into waters east of Hokkaido was a media training alert.

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Jenna Orkin at From the Wilderness' Peak Oil Blog - 16 hours ago
From Jenna Orkin United States Spend Ten Times More On Fossil Fuel Subsidies Than EducationSwitzerland switches off nuclear plant as it begins exit from atomic power House passes bill to lower prescription drug costs They’re Killing Us Like Dogs: A Massacre in Bolivia and a Plea for HelpChristopher Steele Used John McCain To Funnel Claims To James Comey, Says Report Norway Author, Once Married To Princess, Kills Himself After Book On Mental Heath "He accused Spacey of sexual misconduct at a Nobel Peace Prize event in 2007." Catastrophic Ohio Methane Leak Stayed Hidden Until a Satelli... more »

Grandma and Santa Claus, a story (anonymous)

Norma at Collecting My Thoughts - 16 hours ago
I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma. I was just a kid. I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big sister dropped the bomb: "There is no Santa Claus," she jeered. "Even dummies know that!" My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her "world-famous" cinnamon buns. I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma said so. It had to be tr... more »

Links 12/27/19

Yves Smith at naked capitalism - 17 hours ago

"I Pity You, Too..."

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 17 hours ago
"Said a philosopher to a street sweeper, “I pity you. Yours is a hard and dirty task.” And the street sweeper said, “Thank you, sir. But tell me, what is your task?” And the philosopher answered saying, “I study man's mind, his deeds and his desires.” Then the street sweeper went on with his sweeping and said with a smile, “I pity you too.” - Kahlil Gibran

"Economic Market Snapshot AM 12/27/19"

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 17 hours ago
*Updated frequently as available.* ◆ AM 12/27/19: “'Euphoric Bubble' To Push Stocks Even Higher" Gregory Mannarino YouTube Channel Website: - https://www.traderschoice.net/ ◆ *MarketWatch Market Summary, Live Updates* - https://www.marketwatch.com/tools/marketsummary *CNN Market Data:* - http://money.cnn.com/data/markets/ *CNN Fear And Greed Index:* - http://money.cnn.com/data/fear-and-greed/ ◆ *Buffett Indicator: Where Are We with Market Valuations?* "As of 12/27/19 (updates daily): The Stock Market is Significantly Overvalued. Based on historical ratio of total market cap over GDP (c... more »

Kel-Tec's SU-16 Fails To Impress. This Is Why.

Charlie Gao at The National Interest - 17 hours ago
*Charlie Gao* *Technology, * But it was a good attempt. *Key point: *Reloads and recoil are also worse on the SU-16 compared to a standard AR. Kel-tec’s Sport Utility 16 (SU-16) rifle is an odd compromise. Designed to compete with budget AR-15, the rifle features a highly similar layout to the AR, but an AK-like operating system that uses a long-stroke gas piston and a charging handle integrated on the bolt carrier group. The recoil spring is placed in front of the bolt carrier group on the gas piston itself, which allows the rifle to fold to be more compact. But are these des... more »

Does Russia Finally Have An Answer For America's M1 Abrams Tank?

Sebastien Roblin at The National Interest - 17 hours ago
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, Europe* Some problems need to be worked out first. *Key point:* Russia is at a bit of a deficit against Western armor in head-to-head combat. The Soviet Union’s huge tank fleet was a cornerstone of its power during the Cold War. However, events in the 1991 Gulf War called its superiority into question. On February 26, 1991, a cavalry troop of nine M1 Abrams tanks and twelve Bradley fighting vehicles bumped into an armored brigade of Iraqi T-72 tanks of the elite Tawakalna Republican Guard division. Within twenty-three minutes of frenzied firing, th... more »

America's Storied F-117 Nighthawk Stealth Fighter Is Flying Again (As An Enemy Jet)

David Axe at The National Interest - 17 hours ago
*David Axe* *Security, * The Lockheed-made stealth fighters apparently were acting as radar-evading adversaries in a mock battle with other plane types. Eleven years after the U.S. Air Force officially retired the type, an F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter has made yet another public appearance. Plane-spotter Kris Tanjano was posted up outside the Nellis Test and Training Range in Nevada on Dec. 3, 2019 when he witnessed an aerial exercise play out overhead. F-117s apparently flying from Tonopah Test Range were in the mix along with F-16s, F-15s, F-22s and possibly B-1 bombers com... more »

The SIG 516 Rifle: Where Does It Rank? How Good Is It?

Charlie Gao at The National Interest - 17 hours ago
*Charlie Gao* *Security, * In the basic layout, the SIG 516 also heavily resembles the HK416. *Key Point:* Sig Sauer appears to be letting the rifle fall into obscurity, favoring the newer SIG MCX in marketing and promotion. When the HK released the HK416 in the early 2000s, it rapidly became a hit with elite military and police forces worldwide. Driven by a slick marketing campaign and favorable (albeit disputed) test results from the U.S. military, the HK416 represented a “better mousetrap” version of the AR-family of rifles for many users. Though the advantages of the HK416 ha... more »

Israel's Latest MAGNI Drone Is A Total Game Changer

Seth J. Frantzman at The National Interest - 17 hours ago
*Seth J. Frantzman* *Security, Middle East* It can be launched from a vehicle and give platoons or squads situational awareness. *Key point: *Israel has been integrating drones, which it pioneered, for decades. Elbit Systems in Israel unveiled its MAGNI, a micro unmanned aerial system, that weighs 2.5 kg and is a multi-rotor VTOL so it can be launched from a vehicle and give platoons or squads situational awareness. “We wanted to give infantry a tactical eye-in-the-sky,” says Erez Meir of Elbit’s Multi-Rotor business unit. It is a “revolution” for armed soldiers and their vehic... more »

The Desert Eagle: The Super Gun That Was a Complete Flop

Kyle Mizokami at The National Interest - 17 hours ago
*Kyle Mizokami* *Security, * It's not a very practical weapon. *Key point: *The Desert Eagle was never officially picked up by any major military or police force and is primarily the realm of gun enthusiasts and hunters looking for a show-stopping sidearm. In the mid-1980s, a powerful new handgun quickly achieved gun celebrity status. The Desert Eagle was an innovative design that ported over heavy revolver rounds to the semiautomatic pistol platform. The pistol was featured in dozens of action films, and although expensive and not widely adopted by military services the Desert ... more »

Glock 43 Subcompact Gun Might Be the Best Self-Defense Gun Around

Kyle Mizokami at The National Interest - 17 hours ago
*Kyle Mizokami* *Security, * Subcompact handguns are built for carrying. *Key Point: *Concealed-carry handguns are highly specialized handguns with one mission: actively defend the user until the user is clear of the threat or the threat is eliminated. Subcompact guns, like subcompact automobiles, are designed to fulfill a very narrow mission set. Neither are for everybody, and feature significant trade-offs to appeal to a specific type of customer. You won’t find a small pistol shorter than the length of your hand in the arsenals of most world armies, but they are ideal for eve... more »

3 Sheets of Advil Cold Drug Facts

Age of Autism at AGE OF AUTISM - 17 hours ago
When you walk into our Stop & Shop in town, you're greeted by a life-sized stand up display of a smiling, good looking pharmacist, just old enough to trust but not so old you pass him by, touting the bevy... more »

We’re All Going To Die In Four Days Time!

Paul Homewood at NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT - 17 hours ago
By Paul Homewood The usual excellent stuff from Tony Heller:

Police Wasted £1.5 Million on Electric Cars That Can’t Chase Criminals

Paul Homewood at NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT - 17 hours ago
By Paul Homewood I don’t whether to laugh or cry! Police forces in the United Kingdom have squandered over a million pounds on electric cars that are incapable of chasing criminals or performing emergency services because the eco-friendly vehicles are too slow and take too long to charge. A freedom of information request found […]

"The Great Consolidation"

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 17 hours ago
*"The Great Consolidation"* by The Zman "One of the more important trends in post-Cold War America is the great consolidation that is going on all areas of life. This past Christmas shopping season, for example, was great for a small number of giant retailers. Amazon certainly had a good shopping season, as well as some giant operators like Walmart. For the small local retailers, Black Friday was not the start of their boom time, but a continuation of a decline that started in the 1990’s and continues unabated. An adult in 1985 would probably have done business with a dozen differe... more »

Biden to blue-collar workers – let ‘em eat cake!

CFACT at CFACT - 17 hours ago
Give Joe Biden and others credit for being truthful about massive job losses in America’s energy sector if they implement their climate policies. The post Biden to blue-collar workers – let ‘em eat cake! appeared first on CFACT.

Punctilio, today’s new word

Norma at Collecting My Thoughts - 17 hours ago
Usually, the M-W Word of the day is familiar to me, so I don’t spend a lot of time on it, but this one I don’t recall using or even seeing. Punctilious, yes, and according to the explanation, they come from the same Latin root,* pungere.* *Definition*: 1. a minute detail of conduct in a ceremony or in observance of a code; 2. careful observance of forms (as in social conduct) “We'll get straight to the point: there are a number of English words that come from Latin *pungere*, meaning "to prick" or "to sting." *Punctilio* is one of these words. It traces back to *pungere* by way of It... more »

Denver: Illegal Alien Arrested In Deadly Hit-And-Run Crash Had Been Deported Six Times

Daily Caller at Need To Know - 18 hours ago
Juan Sanchez has been deported six different times in the last two decades. The 42-year-old suspect was also arrested three times for driving under the influence of alcohol between 2000 to 2002. His bail has been set at $500,000.

Seattle Forces Public School Students To Get Vaccinated During Winter Break

NewsWars at Need To Know - 18 hours ago
Seattle Public Schools sent out a warning to parents that thousands of students could be banned from returning to school after Christmas break if they are not up to date on their vaccinations. “Personal” or “philosophical” exemptions for the MMR vaccine were eliminated by Washington state lawmakers in May of 2019.

Vikings Of The North - A Poem by M.N. Hopkins

Stranger in a Strange Land at Stranger in a Strange Land - 18 hours ago
*Vikings of the North* *Warriors, Merchants, Builders, Strong* *Loyal to their own* *© ** 2019 M.N. Hopkins* *Note: I wrote this poem a few days ago inspired by a show about Vikings. The Vikings and their culture was so much more than what is usually portrayed on television or in movies. They were probably the height of Northern development and it has been all down hill since then. A strong, innovation people who took care of their own and had freedoms no longer experienced in the North.* *I published it for the first time today, the 27th of December, 2019 in the haik... more »

"Bubbling Into the New Year"

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 18 hours ago
- http://money.cnn.com/data/fear-and-greed/ *"Bubbling Into the New Year"* by Jesse "Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction." - Erich Fromm "Over the last thirty years, the United States has been taken over by an amoral financial oligarchy, and the American dream of opportunity, education, and upward mobility is now largely confined to the top few percent of the population. Federal policy is increasingly dictated by the wealthy, by the financial sector, and by powerful (though sometimes badly ... more »

"A 'Market' Crash Is Baked In - Here's Why"

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 18 hours ago
*"A 'Market' Crash Is Baked In - Here's Why"* by Charles Hugh Smith "The last thing punters and pundits expect is a stock "market" crash, yet a "market" crash is already baked in and here's why: real markets have internal resilience (they're anti-fragile, to use Nassim Taleb's phrase), and central-planning manipulated "markets" don't. Few look at markets as obeying systems-level dynamics that have little to do with "news" or conventional metrics. The media makes money by reporting every tiny change in mood, metrics, rumors, etc., as if these drive markets. But we all know that the ... more »

Bolsonaro Says Country Will Be in Good Hands if Moro Becomes Candidate

Adele Cardin at The Rio Times - 18 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - While questioning his willingness to seek re-election, President Jair Bolsonaro said on Thursday, December 26th, that Brazil will be in good hands should former Judge Sérgio Moro be a candidate for his succession in 2022. According to the president, the current Minister of Justice "is adored in Brazil" and "has […] The post Bolsonaro Says Country Will Be in Good Hands if Moro Becomes Candidate appeared first on The Rio Times.

Brazil’s Grupo Globo Transferred R$450,000 to Lula’s Company, Says PF

Iolanda Fonseca at The Rio Times - 18 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The report by the Federal Police (PF) that charged former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva with collecting kickbacks masked as donations to the Lula Institute, suggests that the company 'Lils Lectures and Events', owned by the leftist, received R$450,132.41 from Infoglobo Communication and Shareholdings in October 2013. According to […] The post Brazil’s Grupo Globo Transferred R$450,000 to Lula’s Company, Says PF appeared first on The Rio Times.

New Ebola Vaccine to be Tested on 500,000 Congolese

Ceribalius at OYE Alternative News - 18 hours ago
The race for an Ebola Vaccine begun several years ago when Ebola was allegedly spreading through parts of the World like wildfire. Since this scare the media panic of Ebola has subsided, but the race for a vaccine continued. Well now a new vaccine will be injected into half a million Congolese despite scientists concern … The post New Ebola Vaccine to be Tested on 500,000 Congolese appeared first on OYE Alternative News.

Kevin Spacey’s Accusers Just Keep on Dying

Ceribalius at OYE Alternative News - 18 hours ago
The first accusation of sexual misconduct against Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey landed on Oct. 29 2017, just a week later there were a total of 15 men all with sexual abuse allegations against Spacey. Five of which claim they were just teenagers at the time of the abuse. It’s now coming to the end of … The post Kevin Spacey’s Accusers Just Keep on Dying appeared first on OYE Alternative News.

Some Added Notes On Stoves

E.M.Smith at Musings from the Chiefio - 18 hours ago
I got a couple of stove bits for Christmas and here's a comment or two about it all. Continue reading →

The rise of a global political consensus.

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 18 hours ago
What is happening is the rise of what can be described as a naturally conforming political MEME that addresses local cultural insecurity first and foremost. This is clearly blow back against an increasingly apparent effort to draw together a global authoritarian political regime that can suppress at will any such local construct. The resolution of the first issue of local insecurity can be local citizenship tied to local City States that act as the nucleus of the 'National' community. This should encompasses all who self identify with such a National community. This nicely re... more »

World's first monkey-pig hybrids are born in Chinese lab

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 18 hours ago
This is a beginning though we need to use Chimpanzees. There is really good reason to conjecture that humanity is already a Boar Chimp Chimera that then successfully bred back to preserve the additional DNA. So obviously such a hybrid can be used to produce usable organs. What ever you think of the overall ethical model, until we can produce organs directly, these strategies must be explored. The science generated will also be important.. *World's first monkey-pig hybrids are born in Chinese lab as part of ground-breaking bid to grow human organs inside animals for transp... more »

MIT Researchers Believe They‘ve Developed a New Treatment for Easing the Passage of Kidney Stones

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 18 hours ago
It is a drug combo delivered directly to the urethra avoiding systemic dosing. It is very promising and will likely become standard practice quickly. We need to see the same methodology extended to the gall bladder as well. That would likely require an endoscope to access the point of entry, but the benefit is obvious as it can avoid actual removal. This tech can be with us rather quickly as the drugs themselves are straight off the shelf and systemic use is avoided.. *MIT Researchers Believe They‘ve Developed a New Treatment for Easing the Passage of Kidney Stones * *By G... more »

The Extremely Fast Peopling of the Americas

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 18 hours ago
Of course it was. Every natural community will calve when it passes 150 or so members to make way for the incoming generation. Inside two generations the calved community will do the same. The average distance apart is not small either to avoid conflict, but still allow occasional contact and exchange. That average has to be around fifty miles or so. It is around 8,000 miles from Alaska to Chile along the west coast. That indicates around 160 cycles of calving to do this. That would be the almost necessary calving to avoid conflict and is really an upper bound of the time f... more »

A Clean Communist Paradise

tonyheller at Real Climate Science - 18 hours ago

Gotham City Digest

jurassicpork at Welcome Back to Gotham City - 19 hours ago
(We cover more news by noon than the MSM ignores in a whole week.) ------------------------------ I wrote a long blog post many years ago about this famous truce in 1914 and reproduced it for a few years thereafter. It remains one of the most fascinating stories I've ever heard. Peace is a chorus poorly heard in the much louder refrain of war. ------------------------------ Another shockingly brilliant win for private industry. ------------------------------ This is a Goddamn shame. It's bad enough just six corporations own virtually 100% of our mainstream media. Now the... more »

IBOVESPA Closes Above 117,000 Points for First Time

Richard Mann at The Rio Times - 19 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The main index in the Brazilian stock market, the IBOVESPA closed at its highest level in history. The indicator closed at 117,203 points, up 1.17 percent, on Thursday, December 26th. This was the index's second consecutive record session. In December alone, the IBOVESPA has accumulated rise of 8.29 percent. In […] The post IBOVESPA Closes Above 117,000 Points for First Time appeared first on The Rio Times.

Baited drum lines trial labelled 'inefficient' after only two great white sharks snared

Jacob Kagi at Just In - 19 hours ago
Data reveals just two white sharks have been caught 10 months into the $3.8 million trial of SMART drum lines off WA's South West coast, prompting calls for a rethink of the multi-million-dollar program aimed at reducing shark attacks.

'Everything was like a movie': Passenger plane crashes in Kazakhstan, killing at least 15

Just In - 19 hours ago
Several people are killed and many more hospitalised after a plane with almost 100 people on board crashes in Kazakhstan shortly after take-off.

New Zealand reeling at stumps after Travis Head century at MCG

Dan Colasimone And James Maasdorp at Just In - 19 hours ago
Travis Head falls for 114 after claiming his second Test century as Australia is dismissed for 467 on day two of the second Test at the MCG, leaving New Zealand a mammoth task.

This Is What Star Wars Can Teach Us About Fighting a Real War

Robert Farley at The National Interest - 19 hours ago
*Robert Farley* *History, Asia Pacific* More than science fiction. *Key Point:* It is not surprising that the debates that animated military thinking in World War II, from bombers to fighters to battleships, should also appear in the military milieu that Star Wars is built upon. The first twenty minutes of *Star Wars: The Last Jedi* might have warmed the heart of Billy Mitchell’s Force ghost. The opening scenes effectively replayed the American interwar debates between advocates of air and naval power, with fighters and bombers attacking huge capital ships. These debates revolve... more »

The Battle of Leyte Gulf Made the U.S. Navy the Superpower It is Today

Warfare History Network at The National Interest - 19 hours ago
*Warfare History Network* *History, Asia* A battle that should not have been overlooked. *Key point: *Morison wrote fittingly of Taffy 3’s fight: “In no engagement of its entire history has the United States Navy shown more gallantry, guts and gumption than in those two morning hours between 0730 and 0930 off Samar.” At exactly 6:45 on the morning of October 25, 1944, Rear Admiral Clifton A.F. Sprague received a message from one of his pilots on antisubmarine patrol. The admiral recalled that the message went something like this: “Enemy surface force of 4 battleships, 7 cruisers... more »

The Air Force Should Think Twice Before Quickly Retiring These 5 Military Aircraft

Sebastien Roblin at The National Interest - 19 hours ago
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, * It may be premature. *Key Point:* Cutting legacy aircraft involves pawning off capabilities that could still be useful in the short term to invest in making the Air Force more robust in a future conflict. In a speech on November 6, 2019 General David Goldfein, Chief of Staff the Air Force outlined a four-point plan to spend $30 billion over the next five years reforming the air warfare branch to make it more capable of tackling emerging hi-tech threats from China and Russia in the 2030s. Given that the defense budget has likely peaked for the fore... more »

Federal Police File Charges against Lula on Alleged R$4 Million Bribe from Odebrecht

Lachlan Williams at The Rio Times - 20 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The Federal Police in Paraná formally charged former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva with passive corruption and money laundering related to Odebrecht's transfers of R$4 million (US$1 million) to the Lula Institute. The Federal Police's final report was signed last Monday, December 23rd, by delegate Dante Pegoraro Lemos and […] The post Federal Police File Charges against Lula on Alleged R$4 Million Bribe from Odebrecht appeared first on The Rio Times.

New Sanitation Landmark is Test for Private Sector to Take Sewage With Fair Price to Half of Brazil

Iolanda Fonseca at The Rio Times - 20 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Earlier this month, the Chamber passed the basic text of the project that establishes a new legal framework for basic sanitation in Brazil, one of the greatest challenges in the country. To date, nearly half of the Brazilian population has no access to the sewage network. One of the project's […] The post New Sanitation Landmark is Test for Private Sector to Take Sewage With Fair Price to Half of Brazil appeared first on The Rio Times.

Brazil’s Economy Closes 2019 with Strongest Growth Since Crisis Began

Richard Mann at The Rio Times - 20 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - With the help of the release of resources from the Severance Premium Reserve Fund (FGTS), the Brazilian economy should record its best year-end since the recession began in 2014 and should start 2020 strong. According to banks and consulting firms heard by the newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo, the […] The post Brazil’s Economy Closes 2019 with Strongest Growth Since Crisis Began appeared first on The Rio Times.

Nestlé Creates Jobs for People Over 60 Across Brazil

Adele Cardin at The Rio Times - 20 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Excellent opportunities for people of higher age. Nestlé announced that it will open no less than 60 temporary positions for professionals over 60 in January. According to information from the company, the professionals will act as promoters. They will advertise products in a new company promotional action. According to information […] The post Nestlé Creates Jobs for People Over 60 Across Brazil appeared first on The Rio Times.

New Skyscrapers Take Over São Paulo’s Real Estate Boom

Arkady Petrov at The Rio Times - 20 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The real estate market in São Paulo has never been stronger. Walking through the wealthiest city in Brazil, one cannot avoid construction sites that gave life to previously empty properties. Five skyscrapers are being built on a single street in the Itaim Bibi, the city's financial district. Newspapers are filled […] The post New Skyscrapers Take Over São Paulo’s Real Estate Boom appeared first on The Rio Times.

MIT Develops ‘Tattoo ID’ to Track Who Has Been Vaccinated. MIT Powered by Gates Foundation Cash

Sputnik at Need To Know - 20 hours ago
MIT researchers created an ink that can be embedded in the skin alongside the vaccine, and is only visible using a special infra-red application. The research was funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, as Bill Gates made a direct request for the biological technology.

Australian Daily Wind Power Generation Data – Thursday 26th December 2019

TonyfromOz at PA Pundits – International - 20 hours ago
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 […]

Vox Admits Trump’s Judicial Appointments More Qualified Than Obama’s

PA Pundits - International at PA Pundits – International - 20 hours ago
By P.J. Gladnick ~ Although Vox senior correspondent Ian Millhiser spent much of his December 19 article (“What Trump has done to the courts, explained”) worrying that “No president in recent memory has done more to change the judiciary than Donald Trump,” he also granted the surprising concession that the judicial appointments have been highly qualified. […]

A Year Of Ineffective Climate Madness Looms

PA Pundits - International at PA Pundits – International - 20 hours ago
By David Wojick, Ph.D. ~ The year 2019 saw the rapid rise of climate hysteria, but as the saying goes: “You ain’t seen nuthin’ yet.” Now that the hysteria is firmly established and well organized, it is sure to get bigger and louder. But I see very little coming from it except the noise, as […]

Recently Revealed Jewish Prayer on Temple Mount: First Stage in Third Temple Construction

mosesman at Socio-Economics History Blog - 20 hours ago
Recently Revealed Jewish Prayer on Temple Mount: First Stage in Third Temple Construction by Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz, https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/ … On Thursday morning, for the first time since the Temple stood in Jerusalem, a minyan (quorum) of ten Jews stood and prayed on the Temple Mount. – Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount was legally mandated …

Chris Powell: The Signs Swirl All Around Us, So Is the Revaluation of Gold at Hand?

mosesman at Socio-Economics History Blog - 20 hours ago
Chris Powell: The Signs Swirl All Around Us, So Is the Revaluation of Gold at Hand? by https://www.silverdoctors.com/ “…they will be immunized by a declaration of force majeure, cash settlement, an official revaluation of gold, and even…” – by Chris Powell of the Gold Anti-Trust Action Committee (GATA) Dear Friend of GATA and Gold: – For most of this …

Gold May Be On The Cusp Of A Big Upward Price Reset

mosesman at Socio-Economics History Blog - 20 hours ago
Gold May Be On The Cusp Of A Big Upward Price Reset by Dave Kranzler, https://investmentresearchdynamics.com/ Precious metals investors may be getting an unexpected Christmas present this year, beginning with the sudden $25 jump in gold on Tuesday and Wednesday. From what I’m hearing, a shortage of physically deliverable gold is developing in London. In …

The Loss of Fair Play

Yves Smith at naked capitalism - 20 hours ago
How the importance of at least pretending to be fair has eroded, and why that matters.

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