10:33 pm MST
Furman Reviews Banerjee & Duflo
Here. His bottom line: Great book but... when it came to the biggest contemporary hot button issues they left all nuance and care behind to present selective evidence for an overly simplistic narrative that would be comforting to typical progressive reader without challenging any of their preconceptions.
The business cycle is dying
I was almost going to write “dead”, but then thought that this would give readers the erroneous impression that I don’t expect any more recessions. Rather I believe the term ‘cycle’ is no longer descriptive. In November 1982, the unemployment rate hit 10.8%, the highest rate since WWII. The US had experienced 8 recessions over […] The post The business cycle is dying appeared first on Econlib.
Diversity is code for chaos...
*it's a benevolent sounding word steeped in virtue signaling which actually causes social strife rather than getting along.* What happens when cultures blend and adapt is that commie/libtards begin screaming "cultural appropriation" to maintain racism and conflict. The next time someone spouts off about "diversity", ask them what diversity means to them. I guarantee you that everyone you ask will have a different opinion on what it means. How's that for diversity? Or Google "diversity." I did. Guess what happened? I made it up to page 20, which equals two hundred articles, and ... more »
China and Iran’s Newest Weapon: Vertical Launch Systems
*Michael Peck* *Security, * Sounds wonky, but this is truly a big deal. We explain why. China and Iran are deploying more warships with Vertical Launching Systems to fire missiles. The VLS is the closet organizer of warship design, a way to pack more missiles launchers on a vessel. Instead of the Cold War rotating-arm launchers that fired one or two missiles at a time, VLS comprises dozens of launch tubes – or “cells” -- that pockmark a ship’s deck. They are found on many U.S., Russian, European and Japanese ships, as well as newer Chinese warships such as the Type 055-class ... more »
How America Got Revenge for Pearl Harbor (In 30 Seconds)
*Michael Peck* *History, * America wanted revenge. And It got it. *Key point: *The real recompense for the Doolittle flyers and the murdered Chinese civilians came on September 2, 1945, when Japan formally surrendered. At noon on April 18, 1942, the citizens of Tokyo looked up into the sky and saw the impossible. Zooming low over the imperial capital was a flight of twin-engined bombers. Nothing surprising about that in wartime Japan. Except that these aircraft were painted olive-drab, with red-white-and-blue stars on their wings and fuselage. They were American planes droppin... more »
GAU-5A: You Can Now Own a Clone of the Air Force’s Micro-AR Style Rifle
*Charlie Gao* *Technology, * But is it worth your time and money? While most pilots like to think of themselves as fairly detached from the brutality of warfare on the ground, they all face the very real possibility of being shot down and forced to defend themselves on the ground. For most of the twentieth century, shot down pilots could be expected to be captured and interned as POWs, so were generally armed with lightweight survival rifles or pistols. But more recently when combating extremist or terrorist groups, pilots who are shot down face being burned alive, or worse As ... more »
Good News for Trump: Democrats Keep Changing Their Impeachment Accusations
*Thomas Jipping* *Politics, Americas* Actions, meet consequences. As House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., passed the impeachment inquiry baton to the Judiciary Committee this week, he said the central allegation against President Donald Trump is that the president “solicited foreign interference in the 2020 presidential election.” This accusation will likely be the heart of any articles of impeachment the Judiciary Committee produces against the president. If that’s the Democrats’ choice, so be it. But choices have consequences. If the Democrats go with solicitati... more »
Why Patients in Pain Shouldn't Be Blamed for the Opioid Crisis
*Jeffrey A. Singer* *Public Health, America* [image: Reuters] Facts, not panic, should guide policy. Last week the Washington Post featured an article in the "Outlook" section by Dr. James D. Hudson, a pain management specialist, lamenting Americans’ “Dangerous Fear of Pain,” arguing that the efforts by doctors to make their patients “pain free” has largely contributed to the overdose crisis. Public policy towards the overdose crisis is panic-driven., Often lacking a strong basis in evidence and fueled by the media, it marks a return to the opiophobia of the 1950s and 1960s. This... more »
The Next Pearl Harbour? China’s Gold-backed Crypto Currency Will Blindside US Dollar
*21WIRE* | This will be a game changer, creating a “catastrophic trapdoor opening underneath the US economy.”
Can a modern-day nation survive this decline?
*SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2019The New York Times ponders The Karens:* We'll postpone our review of Professor Silverman's Turkey Day takedown until Monday next. On Tuesday, we'll turn to the most recent data from the PISA—more specifically, to the various things you weren't told about those international test scores. For today, we'll direct your attention to a lengthy piece which appeared today, on line, at the New York Times. The piece appears under this dispiriting heading: *Editors' Picks* In fairness, the essay in question comes from the paper's Style desk, arguably the dumbes... more »
Red Skelton and the Pledge of Allegiance
I watched an episode of Red Skelton in which he recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Ole Red NAILED it. SO, I had to find it on YouTube. See Attached. I am posting this on this Day December 7 “A day that will live in INFAMY!” in remembrance of Pearl Harbor, and all military personnel and warriors whom have died and/or served this great country. This is one of several days that remind us that Freedom isn’t Free. Enjoy. ~Ragnar (RFXtFR)
Bingo!
There's a UK-politics-related headline about antisemitism on the BBC News website's home page this afternoon. Given the study yesterday which found that 30 Labour election candidates are presently mired in allegations related to antisemitism, which party do you suspect it relates to? Yes, the Conservative Party of course. The BBC's headline is: Tories probe candidates over anti-Semitism claims *"Boris Johnson "must answer" for anti-Semitism, Labour says"* is the caption under the photo of Boris Johnson at the top of the BBC article. (The word 'chutzpah' springs to mind). He... more »
Saturday Morning Links
Assorted content for your weekend reading. - Abby Innes writes that the UK's general election reflects a decision point as to whether to discard neoliberalism to serve the public, or democracy for the benefit of plutocrats. And Trish Hennessy looks at Cleveland's move to ensure a democratic economic system, including by ensuring that the provision of services to institutions like universities and hospitals is designed to benefit local workers. - Erika Shaker and Simon Enoch examine the oil industry's control over what's taught to Saskatchewan children. And Stephen Maher writes abou... more »
Gender bias and discrimination persist at Canadian colleges
BY ELIZABETH PRICE The first steps towards gender equality were made in the late-19th century. It all began with the suffrage movement – women insisted that they should have the right to vote just like men. Since that time, the
It's Grimshaw up north
Tree Shadows on the Park Wall, Roundhay Park, Leeds #johngrimshaw #englishart pic.twitter.com/52CUUzNQeh — John Atkinson Grimshaw (@artistgrimshaw) December 4, 2019
School Cop Gets 10 Years in Prison for Violently Raping 12yo Girl, Filming It
[image: school]A Texas school police officer, who was tasked with protecting students, has been sentenced to prison for 10 years for unspeakable crimes against a 12-year-old girl.
Emily Maitlis enters into a terf war
In other news, Wednesday's *Newsnight *featured former Conservative MP turned-Lib Dem Dr Sarah Wollaston talking about the Lib Dems' plans to reform the Gender Recognition Act, including adding a 'X' gender option to passports. “The idea these people *[transgender people] *are a threat to other women is an assumption we should challenge", said not-now-Conservative Dr Sarah along the way. *Newsnight*'s main presenter Emily Mailtis had a view on this, and (naturally) tweeted it: We discussed gender self identification last night on *Newsnight*. It’s not “ these people “. It’s the ... more »
Pro-Iran Hashd Carry Out Another More Deadly Attack Upon Baghdad Protesters
Gunmen left behind ammo boxes with Ministry of Sepah on them an Iranian govt agency from the Iran-Iraq War pointing to pro-Iran Hashd being behind the shootings at Khalani Sq, Baghdad (IraqiRevolution) After the December 5 stabbing of 20 protesters in Baghdad’s Tahrir Square protest site, pro-Iran Hashd showed up at neighboring Khalani Square on December 6 and shot into the crowd. 19 people were killed and more than 70 wounded. A garage in the square was also set on fire, and the power was cutduring the attack. Ammunition boxes left behind by the attackers had “Ministry of Sepah” on... more »
UK Media investigates Clintons & Epstein. Virginia Giuffre exposes Andrew & Maxwell (Video)
The Duran Quick Take: Episode 396. More The post UK Media investigates Clintons & Epstein. Virginia Giuffre exposes Andrew & Maxwell (Video) appeared first on The Duran.
Target…Iran!
The protests in Iran – based on Iran’s ‘own goal’ in raising petrol and fuel prices - also lend credence to the theory that Israel and Elites believe now is the time to strike Iran. More The post Target…Iran! appeared first on The Duran.
This Day In Iraqi History - Dec 7
1915 Ottomans attacked British forces in Kut 1980 Saddam announced that Iraq was going on the defensive in the Iran-Iraq War Saddam thought he could seize Khuzistan province leading to revolt against Khomeini govt but didn’t happen Thought Iran would negotiate new border agreement Failure to take Dezful or Abadan meant Iranian supply lines intact and could regroup (Musings On Iraq interview with author Anthony Tucker-Jones on Iran-Iraq War) (Musings On Iraq interview with author Tom Cooper on Iran-Iraq War) (Musings On Iraq book review *The Iran-Iraq War 1980-1988*) (Musings On Ira... more »
I Am Hoping That Jefferson Van Drew Leaves The Democratic Party-- It's Very Important That He Does
Last month we asked when Jeff Van Drew would leave the Democratic Party and join the GOP. Looks like that idea is spreading in New Jersey. Keep in mind that of the 234 Democrats in the House, there can only be one "worst" and ProgressivePunch rates that one Jefferson Van Drew, South Jersey Blue Dog who was aggressively recruited by the Einsteins at the DCCC, even though *because* he was the worst member of the New Jersey state Senate. Van Drew's lifetime crucial vote score is 20.00%. By way of comparison, Michigan Republican-turned-Independent Justin Amash's score is 32.89%. Brian... more »
African Politicians Asked to Develop Legal Instruments to Fight Climate Change
Global Issues News Headlines - 12 hours ago
MADRID, Dec 06 (IPS) - African legislators have been challenged to come up with legal frameworks for climate change to enable countries avoid catastrophes and reactionary emergencies that eat up their budgets. Read the full story, “African Politicians Asked to Develop Legal Instruments to Fight Climate Change”, on globalissues.org →
India’s Electric Mobility Needs Enabling Infrastructure to Pick up Speed
Global Issues News Headlines - 12 hours ago
NEW DELHI, Dec 06 (IPS) - Dogged by intractable air pollution debilitating large northern swathes from mainly urban vehicle emissions, India earlier this year announced targets for a 40 percent non-fossil component in its fuel-mix by 2030 as part of its Nationally Determined Commitments (NDC) to the Paris accord on climate change. It aims for full electrification of public transit systems and of one-third private vehicles by 2030. Read the full story, “India’s Electric Mobility Needs Enabling Infrastructure to Pick up Speed”, on globalissues.org →
Chileans Take to the Streets on Day 50 of the Mobilizations
A jubilant crowd as red flares, fires and lasers light up Plaza Dignidad, formerly known as Plaza Italia. Photo by Orin Langelle/GJEP Photo by Orin Langelle/GJEP The climate block began at the metro stop La Moneda in front of the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores (CUT). Photo by Orin Langelle/GJEP Mapuche flag. Photo by Orin Langelle/GJEP The climate block of the 6
How marijuana firms can adopt environmentally friendly practices and avoid the greenwashing trap
At a time society is crying out for businesses to show an environmental conscience, marijuana companies nationwide are searching for ways to do their part and keep their ecological footprints as small as possible. How marijuana firms can adopt environmentally friendly practices and avoid the greenwashing trap is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs
Spin-room drama
I knew it! I knew it all along! Back in January 2018 while reviewing Sunday Morning T.V., I wrote: “My attention wandered till Barry Gardiner came on. Garry Bardiner. Barry Gardiner painstakingly explained, as if to a class of severely mentally disadvantaged infants, the Labour Party’s policy on the single market and the Customs Union. I think he’s saying *we want the best possible deal. We will be leaving the EU by the way. Let me be clear. What we want, what people voted for, what we’re trying to do*, each “what” enunciated with a kindly but slightly patronising Barry Gardiner who... more »
Alternative to COP 25 in Chile: People's Summit Exposes Root Causes and Rises in Defense of Environmental Protectors
PHOTOS: CUMBRE DE LOS PUEBLOS–PEOPLE’S SUMMIT AGAINST NEOLIBERALISM AND FOR A PLURINATIONAL CHILE Posted on December 6, 2019 by Anne Petermann All photographs by Orin Langelle Peoples Summit 2019 Monday 2 to Saturday 7 December, University of Santiago de Chile https://globaljusticeecology.org/
Why U.S. Businesses Totally Hate Elizabeth Warren's Healthcare Plan
*Alan Reynolds* *Politics, * The Warren plan would also raise taxes on corporations and their investors by some $6.3 trillion. An advisor to the Warren campaign, Simon Johnson of MIT, has written an impressively fact-free *Wall Street Journal *article claiming Senator Warren's "remedy for health care costs" would be a wonderful gift to American businesses. "Americans currently spend nearly 18% of gross domestic product on health care. . . and a great deal of this burden falls directly on companies." He claims "this dead weight gets heavier each year" and "companies cannot by th... more »
Revisiting the Douma False Flag & Subsequent Attacks- Plus Corbett's Report
*Took the time to travel down memory lane... to the coverage HERE at the blog, when the alleged attacks took place. This was an obvious false flag and it was called just that at the time it occurred.* - Saturday, April 7, 2018: Rebels/ Terrorists Claim Syrian Forces Drop Chemicals on Douma *Syrian rebel group Jaish al-Islam accused government forces on Saturday of dropping a barrel bomb containing poisonous chemicals on civilians in eastern Ghouta, injuring more than 500 **Neither the rebel group nor the Observatory mentioned any deaths.* *At the time of this alleged incident... more »
Ocasio-Cortez lies about food stamps
She said that her family might have starved if the Trump administrations revised standards for food stamps were in place when she was young. She says that her family needed food stamps after her father died. The problem of course is that the new regulations are only for single able bodied adults without children so they wouldn't have impacted her family at all. The fact that her family relied on food stamps when her dad died is interesting too. No wonder that she's such a big fan of taking other people's money; that's how she was raised. I don't know the circumstances of her famil... more »
IN WHICH STEVE BECOMES IRRATIONALLY ANGRY ABOUT A TWO-WORD PHRASE
So I'm at the *New York Times* site and I'm reading "G.O.P. Tactic on Impeachment: Turn Ukraine Allegations Against Biden" by Katie Glueck and Maggie Haberman, and it's all pretty much what I expect from the headline: The president wants Joe Biden to be the one in the dock rather than himself, some Democrats are worried about this prospect because it reminds them of what happened to Hillary Clinton in 2016, blah blah blah. I'm quietly reading along and then I come to this: The [Trump] campaign believes its message about Ukrainian corruption will help them even if Mr. Biden is not t... more »
The Truth About Ukraine’s Civil War: Interview with filmmaker Maxim Fadeev in Donbass
*Eva Bartlett* | A harrowing and detailed on the ground depiction of Ukraine's civil war - from a perspective which has been censored by western media.
Iran FM Zarif: Israel Tested Nuclear Missile Aimed at Iran
Iran FM Zarif: Israel Tested Nuclear Missile Aimed at Iran by Yaniv Kubovich, https://www.haaretz.com/ Iran’s foreign minister accuses the United States, Germany, France and the United Kingdom of not condemning ‘the only nuclear arsenal in West Asia.’ Israel earlier said it tested a rocket propulsion system – Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif said Friday …
‘Nuke Aimed at Iran’? Tehran Raises Alarm after Israel Test-Fires Mystery Rocket in Broad Daylight
‘Nuke Aimed at Iran’? Tehran Raises Alarm after Israel Test-Fires Mystery Rocket in Broad Daylight by https://www.rt.com/ As the world is abuzz with speculation over Israel’s shadowy “rocket propulsion system” test, Tehran bluntly claimed that the projectile it fired from a base south of Tel Aviv was actually a nuclear-capable missile aimed at Iran. – …
Fake News By Omission — The Mass Media’s Cowardly Distortion Tool
Fake News By Omission — The Mass Media’s Cowardly Distortion Tool by Caitlin Johnstone, https://medium.com/@caityjohnstone Western mass media have continued their conspiracy of silence on the OPCW scandal, making no significant mention yet this month of the leaks which have been emerging from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons indicating that the US, …
Epstein Was a Mossad Agent Used to Blackmail American Politicians, Says Former Israeli Spy
Epstein Was a Mossad Agent Used to Blackmail American Politicians, Says Former Israeli Spy by Paul Joseph Watson, https://summit.news/ “They were agents of the Israeli Intelligence Services.” Jeffrey Epstein was a Mossad asset who was used by Israeli intelligence to blackmail American politicians, according to a former Israeli spy. – Ari Ben-Menashe, a former Israeli …
Democrats love illegal immigrants and hate you: Biden promises Obamacare for illegal immigrants
Joe Biden is now on record as saying that if he's President the 11 to 22 million illegal immigrants in America would be able to get Obamacare. So American citizens who pay taxes will subsidize medical care for illegal immigrants who drive down wages, since they can work for less because they're paid under the table, and steal jobs from poor, often Black, Americans. Yep one more clear and unequivocal proof that Democrats hate you and love illegal immigrants.
Republican bills in House and Senate on State vs Federal Education
Education funding and requirements had long been left up to municipalities and states. But starting in the 1960s, the federal government really began to expand its role. In the 21st century, the federal government now plays a larger role in education than ever before. Parents in the last ten years have become increasing aware and uneasy about the subjects being taught and the traditional ones no longer receiving the priority attention of classrooms. The federal government has intruded and required through their mandates to teach sex education and selective religion while eliminating ... more »
Trump vs Clinton: The Rematch
I have written about this scenario before. It’s going to happen. Look at the cast of characters on the Left: Former VP Joe Biden – corrupt and senile Sen. Bernie Sanders – communist Sen. Elizabeth Warren – communist Mayor Pete Buttplug – homo Michael Bloomberg – fascist that wants to confiscate everyone’s firearms. The rest of the so-called candidates are just noise angling for a book deal or a slot as a talking head on TV. President Trump would mop the floor with any of them. The Left is desperate to field a viable candidate. Further, Hildabeast needs to run … Continue reading →
Washington Post calls for the press to ignore facts and go all out on propaganda
The job of a reporter is to provide people with the facts. The job of a propagandist is to get people to think a certain way. In the Washington Post Margret Sullivan, the WaPo's "media columnist", has called for the press to go all propaganda on impeachment because the American people aren't buying the Democrats Big Lie. Oddly for a leftist she declares that there are facts but in a comforting counterpoint what she defines as facts are in fact opinions. In talking about how it's ok for the media to be partisan she makes her case by saying that expressing opinions about Trump isn't ... more »
Democrats hate you and love power: Economy and impeachment edition
The average American is doing great after 8 years of Obama induced economic misery. Yet Democrats tell us that what matters is Trump daring to look into the obvious corruption of Joe Biden. That's because from the perspective of Democrats and the #FakeNews media all that matter is Democrats getting more power over we the people. Democrats could care less if we're living in poverty and can't find a job so long as they can tell us that we can't use plastic straws and how much soda we can drink. For months now prominent leftists have been hoping, they don't really like the whole pr... more »
Pelosi shows she's a tyrant at heart
In tyrannies reporters who dare ask embarrassing questions are attacked by the government. Given the sort of things that Pelosi has been saying about Trump for years most people who aren't brainwashed by the #FakeNews media are pretty sure that she hates Trump. But when she was asked if she hated Trump, not why she hated Trump, she exploded and attacked the reporter who dared ask her an embarrassing question. She invoked her Catholicism, something that she keeps in a box when abortion is being discussed, and claimed that Catholics never hate. As a Catholic I can say that historic... more »
They Don't Even Pretend To Care Anymore - NANOS Survey on Pipeline Doesn't Give BC Stats
*Workers unload pipe to start of right-of-way construction for* * the Trans Mountain Expansion Project, in Acheson, Alta.* *, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS**/Jason Franson* Canadians checking their daily newz on CTV as they have their morning coffee this morning were pleased to see that *a majority of them support the TMX pipeline**,* which will be transporting Bitumen from Alberta, across the Rockies, down through BC through metro Vancouver to the port on tiny Burrard Inlet. From there, it will be shipped down to *Texas refineries where the real jobs are.* Please read t... more »
RED ALERT! CHINA'S LICENSED EBOLA VACCINE HAS TINY DATA SET, NO EVIDENCE OF SAFETY OR EFFECTIVENESS, 70 MILLION DOSE CAPACITY MANUFACTURING SITE
* China s licensed vaccine Ad5-EBOV has a miniscule data set, the same risks as theother adenovirus vector-based vaccines like Merck.* *Merck s adenovirus based HIV vaccine was found to give people HIV in a regular clinical trial, leading to the trial to be halted.* http://www.treatmentactiongroup.org/publications/2007/step-vaccine-trial-halted *Looks very risky. But it has a licence already, could be more dangerous even than Merck's vaccine. A 70 million dose manufacturing capacity could wipe out the Chinese very quickly...* *https://www.who.int/immunization/sage/meetings/2019/oc... more »
U.S. Army Tanks Will Test a German Active Protection System (Or, a Tank Shield?)
*Michael Peck* *Security, * It could act that way. The U.S. Army will test a German active protection system to defend its armored vehicles from anti-tank rockets. This marks a European entrant into a U.S. market that has been dominated by Israeli companies who have pioneered active protection system, or APS, technology. In particular, Rafael’s Trophy APS has been chosen by the U.S. Army to equip four brigades’ worth of M1 Abrams tanks, while IMI’s Iron Fist is being integrated into the M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles. Under the $11 million contract with Germany’s Rhei... more »
Dec. 7: We have met the enemy...and he is us... (thanks to Pogo for those wise words.)
The last time I was in China, I saw lots of high rise buildings in Hong Kong. But not in mainland China cities like Beijing. Traffic in Hong Kong? You bet. It was constant. Not so in mainland China where traffic was largely of buses and trucks. Housing in mainland China was pretty primitive as a few of these pictures still show. But, oh, there have been huge changes. And the car traffic now looks like any North American city. https://www.pexels.com/search/china/ The next pictures are of Beijing. https://www.google.com/search?q=beijing+photos&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj_... more »
Isolated Incident? 4 Cops in 1 Dept Arrested in 6 Months for Beating Women, Even Pregnant Ones
[image: domestic]Illustrating just how prevalent domestic violence is among police officers, four cops in a single department have been arrested for it in just six months.
China Is Building Its Very Own Stealth Bombers: Meet the H-20 and JH-XX
*David Axe* *Security, * Meet the H-20 and JH-XX *Key Problem:* China remains reliant on foreign-sourced components for high-performance aircraft engines. China is developing not one but two new stealth bombers, the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency claimed in a January 2019 report. While the People's Liberation Army has not been shy about discussing the H-20 strategic bomber that the Xian Aircraft Industrial Corporation is developing for the PLA Air Force, there are many fewer public references to the other stealth bomber, which apparently carries the designation JH-XX. If the ... more »
Air Force F-22 Raptor Is Now Being Armed with New 'Long-Range Precision Attack Technology'
*Kris Osborn* *Security, * The aircraft was first introduced in December of 2005; the F-22 Raptor fighter jet delivered some of the first strikes in the U.S.-led attacks on the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, when aerial bombing began in 2014. (Washington, D.C.) The Air Force and Lockheed Martin are now arming the F-22 stealth fighter with more long-range precision attack technology, a wider targeting envelope or “field of regard” and new networking technology enabling improved, real-time “collaborative targeting” between aircraft. The new weapons not only increase F-22 lethalit... more »
Meet the Army's Rugged Off-Road Robot Vehicles
*Military and Aerospace Electronics* *Technology, Americas* [image: Reuters] An impressive goal. WARREN, Mich. – While the private sector struggles to perfect self-driving cars for well-mapped and maintained roads, the U.S. Army Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC) in Warren, Mich., has developed a standard set of software and sensors that can turn wheeled and tracked vehicles into off-road unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs). Breaking Defense reports. Continue reading original article The Military & Aerospace Electronics take: 2 Dec. 2019 -- Self-driving civilian vehicles can rely ... more »
This Is Why Japan Targeted 'Battleship Row' In The Attack On Pearl Harbor
*Warfare History Network* *Security, Americas* Where were the carriers? *Key point: *These capital ships had to suffice since the American carriers were away. During the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 the primary target was Battleship Row. These capital ships had to suffice since the American carriers were away. Among the battleships lined up alongside Ford Island was the USS West Virginia, a twenty-year-old warship with a crew of over a thousand. During the battle the ship took seven torpedo hits along the port side along with two bomb strikes around its su... more »
Could China and America Fight a War in the South China Sea? Here's Three Ways How
*Robert Farley* *Security, Asia* [image: An F/A-18E Super Hornet is seen making its way to runway for landing on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in the Gulf, November 23, 2019. REUTERS/ Hamad I Mohammed] It's not as far-fetched as you think. *Key Point:* Neither side wants war, but China's behavior—and America's response—makes it possible to fight on accident. It’s easy to imagine an even more serious confrontation in the SCS. Another accidental collision would be bad enough, but if a scenario developed similar to that of the downing of KAL ... more »
Trump Administration to Close Food Stamp Loopholes for Able-Bodied Adults
*Fred Lucas* *Politics, Americas* [image: Cans of Campbell's Soup are displayed in a supermarket in New York City, U.S. February 15, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid] Able-bodied adults will have to look for jobs. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue is expected to announce a finalized rule Wednesday to promote self-sufficiency for able-bodied adults without children who receive food stamps. The rule aims to close loopholes used by states that frequently grant broad exemptions for recipients to remain on food stamps longer without actively seeking a job or work training. The Depa... more »
Is Capitalism To Blame For The U.S. Opioid Crisis?
*James Pethokoukis* *Society, Americas* It's a problem of supply. For capitalism’s critics, the opioid crisis is a powerful witness for the prosecution. They charge that inequality, stagnant wages, immobility, job loss — the four horsemen of the neoliberalism endgame — have generated a massive surge in “deaths of despair,” especially from overdoses of opioid drugs. Case closed. But a new NBER working paper “Origins of the Opioid Crisis and Its Enduring Impacts” suggests a different theory of the case, one that focuses on a supply rather than demand explanation. From the paper ... more »
There Were Many Heroes At Pearl Harbor, But This One Legend Stands Out
*Warfare History Network* *Security, Asia* His sacrifice lives on. *Key point: *The burly, humble Navy Cross winner who had led the way for American blacks to take their place in the Allied struggle against tyranny was remembered. His name was Doris, but he was a powerfully built football fullback, a heavyweight boxer, and the first black American hero of World War II. He distinguished himself during the Japanese sneak attack against Hawaii on Sunday, December 7, 1941, and gave his life for his country two years later. Poems and songs were written about him, a Navy ship was name... more »
Israel's F-35 Adir Stealth Fighters Just Practiced Going to War
*Seth J. Frantzman* *Security, * Against advanced air-defenses, to be specific. Israeli F-15s, F-16Is and F-35s flew alongside U.S. F-16s as well as Italian F-35s among more than seventy warplanes that participated in the Blue Flag exercise in November. At Israel’s Uvda Air Base airmen from five air forces flew together and practiced flying at low altitude to suppress simulated air defense and practice interoperability with NATO’s Link 16 communications system. The exercise, from November 3 to 14, came amid rising tensions with Iran and forty-hours of conflict between Israel an... more »
What Does The Constitution Really Mean By 'High Crimes And Misdemeanors'?
*Peter J. Wallison* *Politics, Americas* What does this mean for President Trump? Since scholarly debate is encouraged on AEI’s website, I’d like to suggest an alternative view for interpreting “high crimes and misdemeanors” that was not mentioned in the excellent and scholarly piece by Joseph Bessette and Gary Schmitt last week. Most of the Constitution’s drafters were lawyers, and they would have been familiar with the canon of statutory construction known as “ejusdem generis.” The canon means that when a number of items are mentioned together in a list, some of which have a c... more »
How World War III Begins in 2029 (A U.S.-China Battle Over Taiwan?)
*Kyle Mizokami* *Security, Asia* That's what one fictional article that went viral last week suggests. Could it come true? This week, The Critic published *Looking Back: World War III Remembered*, a piece reflecting back on the great war of 2029. The fictitious article tries to grapple with how a nuclear war between the United States and China took place, examining discussions at the very top in both governments shortly before it took place. The article suggests the trigger was a near-replay of a similar crisis in 1996--but one that had a much more devastating outcome. The ori... more »
The Secret History of Israel's Nuclear Weapons Program
*Zachary Keck* *History, Middle East* Thanks to an American? *Key point: *Israel needed funds and diplomatic cover. The American people provided the first, and the government the second. Although Israel doesn’t officially acknowledge it, it is well understood that the country possesses a nuclear weapon arsenal (although the exact number of warheads are in dispute). It is similarly well understood that the United States opposed Israel’s nuclear weapons program during the John F. Kennedy and, to a lesser extent, Lyndon B. Johnson administrations. One part of the history that is l... more »
How Star Wars Explains Why Battleships Are Dead
*Robert Farley* *History, Asia Pacific* [image: A battleship fires during an exercise on the East China Sea February 2, 2007. Picture taken February 2, 2007. CHINA OUT REUTERS/China Daily] It's not just science fiction. It's also a lesson in World War II history. *Key Point:* The battles in *Star Wars: The Last Jedi* demonstrate the same problems that World War II planners had to deal with. 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 betwe... more »
Awe
Treated to some stunning conditions at the ruined remains of Kilchurn Castle on Loch Awe, #scotland pic.twitter.com/a7UW1PPvap — Paul Bullen (@PaulBullen1) November 30, 2019
Weekend reads: Leading stem cell researcher’s work under scrutiny; faked drug trial data; troubling China practice snares publisher
Before we present this week’s Weekend Reads, a question: Do you enjoy our weekly roundup? If so, we could really use your help. Would you consider a tax-deductible donation to support Weekend Reads, and our daily work? Thanks in advance. The week at Retraction Watch featured: Researchers suing a journal over a retraction; A publisher retracting … Continue reading Weekend reads: Leading stem cell researcher’s work under scrutiny; faked drug trial data; troubling China practice snares publisher
Johnny Foreigner
Alex Stewart of Tifo Football wasn't impressed with today's *Football Focus* on BBC One: Discussion of racism on the BBC football prog on now, followed by Lawrenson lamenting club owners getting “just another Johnny Foreigner” in as a manager. But yeh that’s fine. Literally a minute later. I mean... Mark Lawrenson was talking about an Italian newspaper (*Corriere dello Sport*) which used the headline “Black Friday” to preview Romelu Lukaku playing against Chris Smalling when Inter Milan meet Roma this week: The fact that got published just amazes me, the fact that whoever is the e... more »
Matt & Nick
My latest cartoon for tomorrow's @Telegraph Subscribe to my weekly newsletter to receive my unseen cartoons: https://t.co/0z3pWiuZ0f pic.twitter.com/7xp7Qtigi7 — Matt Cartoons (@MattCartoonist) December 6, 2019 Having congratulated him for his fine, fair performance handling the Boris-Jeremy debate last night, I suppose we can't begrudge Nick Robinson for being insufferably smug about it on Twitter this afternoon: Over 4 million people watched the BBC Prime Ministerial Debate reaching the parts other shows simply cannot reach & helping the undecided & the unengaged make their cho... more »
Small wonder people are calling...
I did enjoy Beltane's comment here: popeye December 6, 2019 at 10:46 pm The BBC bias is just everywhere and brought into everything, it’s not even subtle anymore. 6.00pm news about the serial rapist and how he managed to get out of prison and rape multiple victims. An “expert” went on and on about austerity and cutbacks in police numbers before letting slip that he was released early from prison due to “an administrative error”. So nothing to do with Government policies after all but the Labour campaign message once again getting delivered to the gullible public. Beltane December 6,... more »
Princeton scholar and Iranian scientist released in Iran-US prisoner exchange
Just In - 15 hours ago
Iran and the US conduct a prisoner exchange, releasing a detained Princeton scholar for an Iranian scientist held by America, marking a rare diplomatic breakthrough between Tehran and Washington after months of tensions.
Waging War On Education
The Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation has declared another one day strike for next week. Martin Regg Cohn writes: A one-day strike in public high schools is a declaration of warning. A second day is a declaration of war. With this week’s province-wide warning shot, and next week’s targeted strike planned for Toronto schools, it’s tempting to conclude that Ontario’s Tories and teachers are fighting to the finish. Right down to the last student and parent in the province. We've been here before. Back in the Mike Harris years, the premier -- a failed elementary teacher, ... more »
Everything Looks Like A Nail
“To a man with a hammer, everything looks like a nail.” – Mark Twain Experts say that birds are shrinking and disappearing in North America, and that it is due to climate change – which is what they expected to … Continue reading →
NATO at 70: The Time Has Come to Retire This Alliance
*Sheila Coombes* | NATO has celebrated its 70th Birthday in London this week - an anniversary which should've have been reached.
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