10:10 pm MST
"Our Hope, Our Illusion..."
"One day everything will be well, that is our hope; Everything’s fine today, that is our illusion." – Voltaire, “Poem on the Lisbon Disaster” (1756)
December Arctic Ice Returning to Mean
Originally posted on Science Matters: The image is an animation of MASIE ice charts over the last 16 days from Nov. 21 to yesterday, Dec. 7, 2019. At the top is Kara Sea icing, along with Barents, both higher than the 12 year average at this time. On the left Laptev and East Siberian have…
7th Lowest Arctic – Sea Ice Extent (Global Antarctic and Arctic) – Day 341 – 2019
Originally posted on sunshine hours: 7th lowest Arctic – 2016 2017 2010 2006 2018 2007 are lower than 2019 South / North
Middle Finger Symphony Theater
~ NO TUXEDOS REQUIRED ~ Brought to You By *BLUESJUNKY:* Chair of Music - Middle Finger Symphony Music Director
WOW – OAN Stunning Lutsenko Interview – Outlines: Marie Yovanovitch Perjury, George Kent Impeachment Motive, Lindsey Graham Motive to Bury Investigation…
In a fantastic display of true investigative journalism, One America News journalist Chanel Rion tracked down Ukrainian witnesses as part of an exclusive OAN investigative series. The evidence being discovered dismantles the baseless Adam Schiff impeachment hoax and highlights many … Continue reading →
Can the Police Be Trusted to Apply This Arrest Tactic?
*Henry F. Fradella* *Security, Americas* [image: Reuters] ‘Stop-and-frisk’ can work, under careful supervision. In mid-November, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg apologized publicly for his backing of a practice intended to reduce violent crime that had for years been criticized as racially biased. “I realize back then I was wrong, and I’m sorry,” he said. But his apology, made at a predominantly black church in Brooklyn, puzzled many observers. That included scholars of criminal justice like ourselves. Bloomberg has long been a vocal supporter of a policy the city po... more »
Think America Is Safe? A Nuclear ICBM Could Destroy Us In Half An Hour
*Michaela Dodge* *Security, Americas* A movie tells us what we can do about it. *Key point:* The threat of nuclear annihilation is ever-present. The Heritage Foundation’s documentary “33 Minutes” may not be the most cheerful holiday season film, but its warning to the American public about the risk of nuclear attack could not be more timely. In recent years, North Korea’s missiles have grown in range and capability. The most recent missile it tested, the Hwasong-15, can reach anywhere in the continental United States. This is a deeply alarming development. When the documentary w... more »
American 5G: Why Public-Private Partnerships Are the Secret Sauce to Beat China
*Military and Aerospace Electronics* *Technology, Americas* [image: Reuters] The race is on. WASHINGTON – As the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) scrambles to keep ahead of China, it’s relying more and more on public-private partnerships called consortia to connect it to innovative high-tech firms. Breaking Defense reports. Continue reading original article The Military & Aerospace Electronics take: 5 Dec. 2019 -- The latest example comes in an announcement Monday that only members of the National Spectrum Consortium can bid on pilot projects to install prototype 5G networks to ... more »
Bloggers on Bloging: Part 7
Well, I finally got around to making my own contribution to DJ!'s birthday blog-fest. First I want to thank all the bloggers who responded to the call-out for blog posts: Part 1 by Catelli. Part 2 by TrappedInAWhirlpool. Part 3 by deBeauxOs. Part 4 by Mandos. Part 5 by Alison. And Part 6 by pale. Among them, they hit all the points that I would make about blogging. The people, fun, camaraderie, feminism, politics, dissent, and breaking stories. Mandos, an internet senior citizen compared to the rest of us, takes us back to the dark days of the internet as a boyo-only space.... more »
"There are no more markets really, or investors, because central banks have killed off the markets... You can see this every time a Fed chief opens their mouth and every single person involved in the fake markets hangs on their lips." #QotD
*"I’ve said multiple times before that there are no more markets really, or investors, because central banks have killed off the markets. There are still 'contraptions' that look like them, like the real thing, but they’re fake. You can see this every time a Federal Reserve Bank* chief opens their mouth and every single person involved in the fake markets hangs on their lips."* ~ Raúl Ilargi Meijer, from his post 'The Fed Detests Free Markets (Part 2)' * "And when I say the Federal Reserve Bank, that also means the European Central Bank and the Bank of Japan, and all the wester... more »
Nadler calls Obama a traitor
Nadler is accusing Trump of betraying America for investigations the obvious corruption of the Biden family. He's redefining treason so that Trump asking Ukraine to investigate the corruption of the Biden clan is a betrayal of America and American security. Now that's completely dishonest since as the Democrats own witch-hunt has shown no one in Ukraine was bothered by anything Trump did, hence not negative impact on national security, and clearly there's nothing in the Constitution that says that because Joe Biden is running for President he can't be investigated for corruption so ... more »
CLIMATEGATE: Untangling Myth and Reality Ten Years Later
Ross McKitrick and Steve McIntyre have written up reflections on Climategate 10 years later, focusing on the myths promulgated by the climate academic community. It was McKitrick and McIntyre that exposed Michael Mann climate change “Hockey Stick” as bad science,… Continue reading →
Lawyer client privilege is condemned by Adam Schiff
What the Democrats and the #FakeNews media are desperately trying to hide from you is that when Adam Schiff got Rudy Guliani's phone records he got the phone records of Trump's personal attorney. Historically in America it was considered poor form for the government to spy on people's lawyers but apparently that is just one of the many historical rules that Democrats are willing to toss aside in their Captain Ahabian quest to deny we the people the President we elected. Can you imagine how Democrats and the #FakeNews media would have reacted if during the impeachment of Bill Clinton... more »
"Love Life..."
"In 1999, Steve lost his son to suicide. A few years later he lost his daughter to a drug overdose. At sixty-four years old, he has walked across the United States seven times to raise awareness for depression and suicide and to inspire people he meets to “love life.” Prior to his departure, Steve ran a couple of successful car detailing businesses in Vero Beach, Florida. After fourteen years and 34,000 miles of walking, Steve continues his quest to heal his heart and the hearts of those in need. “When love fills your life all limitations are gone. The medicine this sick world need... more »
Musical Interlude: Gov't Mule, "Soulshine"; "Forevermore"
Gov't Mule, "Soulshine" Gov't Mule, "Forevermore" This song, and story, will touch your soul... "And I believe that love is stronger than death..." - Robert Fulghum "93-Year Old Man Eats Lunch With Late Wife Everyday"
"A Look to the Heavens"
"Grand tidal streams of stars seem to surround galaxy NGC 5907. The arcing structures form tenuous loops extending more than 150,000 light-years from the narrow, edge-on spiral, also known as the Splinter or Knife Edge Galaxy. Recorded only in very deep exposures, the streams likely represent the ghostly trail of a dwarf galaxy - debris left along the orbit of a smaller satellite galaxy that was gradually torn apart and merged with NGC 5907 over four billion years ago. *Click image for larger size.* Ultimately this remarkable discovery image, from a small robotic observatory in New ... more »
“New ATF Study: 423 MILLION Guns In Hands Of Americans”
*“New ATF Study: 423 MILLION Guns In Hands Of Americans” * Violent crime rate has decreased by 48.6 percent in tandem with ownership rise. by Steve Watson "Newly released figures from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives shows that there are now a whopping 422.9 million guns in the hands of Americans. The number equates to 1.2 guns for every person in the country. The figures also show that in 2018, 8.1 billion rounds of ammunition were produced by the gun industry. The figures also reveal that the most popular firearm in the country is the much maligned sp... more »
"Two Ways To Be Fooled..."
”There are two ways to be fooled: one is to believe what isn’t so; the other is to refuse to believe what is so." - Soren Kierkegaard
"Frenchmen! To Arms!"
*"Frenchmen! To Arms!" * by Eric S. Margolis "Citizens of France! To arms! Man the ramparts! The American barbarians are coming! They shall not pass! Le Trump’s threat to France’s splendid wines and Roquefort cheese are the gravest menace France has faced since the Germans invaded this fair land in 1914. Burgundy wines and France’s 300 fromages form the very soul of la Belle France. Trump does not know or care that France saved America from British mis-rule. He wants revenge because France – which taxes nearly everything – seeks to tax US IT firms like Google and Amazon. Trump co... more »
"A Fraught Moment"
*"A Fraught Moment"* by James Howard Kunstler "The last time the Democratic Party blew up in a presidential election year was 1860. It had evolved from Jefferson’s 1800 bloc of yeoman farmers to Andrew Jackson’s rowdy caucus of frontier populists in the 1830s, and settled into a slough of pro-slavery apologists by the 1850s, including two do-nothing Democratic presidents, Pierce and Buchanan. The party held a nominating convention in the spring of 1860 and couldn’t come up with a candidate when a claque of southern “fire-eaters” walked out. They tried again a few months later and c... more »
"All We Have To Decide..."
"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo. "So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us." - J.R.R. Tolkien, "Lord of the Rings"
Sesame Street ‘Big Bird’ Puppeteer Caroll Spinney Dies at Age 85
Caroll Spinney, who gave Big Bird his warmth and Oscar the Grouch his growl for nearly 50 years on “Sesame Street,” died at the age of 85 at his home in Connecticut.
Oh Snap – Senator Lindsey Graham Pledges to Block Testimony of U.S. Politicians Coordinating With Ukraine…
Senator Lindsey Graham appears on Fox News with Maria Bartiromo and announces he will take all appropriate efforts to stop the truth about Ukraine from being exposed in the Senate. This interview is a critical first step to understanding motives. … Continue reading →
'Losing a breed a month': Extinction of farm animals could have grave consequences
Australian agriculture is rapidly breeding out diversity within farmed animals, the genetics of which could be the key to stopping diseases and adapting to a changing environment.
Crowd left stunned as 'performance artist' eats $175,000 banana
Just In - 7 hours ago
An artist causes a ruckus in the art world after he grabs a prized banana that had been taped to a wall and sold for $US120,000 and eats it in what he declares his own performance art.
When police hunting a serial killer sought 'living witnesses', they found an alleged Telstra link
Seven women have given evidence at the Claremont serial killings trial saying they were offered lifts by a man in a Telstra car around the time of the alleged murders. They are the Telstra Living Witnesses.
Call for compulsory photographs when livestock condemned by quarantine service
A sheep farmer has called for more transparency from the quarantine regulator saying that more evidence — such as photographs — should be used when condemning livestock.
'Beggars belief': Three wall collapses and 17 complaints made before a mine worker was buried alive
Workplace safety inspectors didn't attend the mine site where a worker was buried alive, despite multiple complaints and wall collapses over 12 months.
'It's happened again': Hundreds join march after attacks in Melbourne
Just In - 7 hours ago
Residents march through Melbourne's inner north after a woman is raped, choked and nearly drowned in Coburg — the second violent attack on a woman in a public park in as many months.
High rate of chronic cough among Kimberley kids, but study offers chance to tell a new story
Just In - 7 hours ago
Researchers say they were surprised by the rate of wet cough, which can lead to chronic lung conditions, in WA's Kimberley. But locals say the way the study was carried out will leave a lasting, positive legacy.
Police issue Christmas warning about the lethal-looking toys banned in most states
They look so much like actual weapons that heavy penalties, including jail terms, can await those who break the rules surrounding gel blasters. With sales doubling as Christmas looms, police are urging users to be cautious.
Mining town locals reject environment department's 'wood fire' theory for dangerous dust levels
The environment department suggests wood smoke might have caused a spike in airborne pollution in Moranbah in central Queensland in August, but locals say nearby coal mines are the more likely culprit, prompting the State Opposition to back a call for chemical testing.
In this street, four homes are becoming 34, and it's part of a growing trend
With many investors making the most of big blocks in Adelaide, the city is undergoing a subdivision revolution. Those living in areas of increasing development say it's changing the nature of the place they call home.
Live: NSW Now: Firefighting gear stolen, father of ex-police minister arrested
Just In - 7 hours ago
*MORNING BRIEFING:* Firefighters are left unable to tackle raging blazes on the Central Coast after equipment is stolen overnight, while Troy Grant's father is arrested over a fatal hit-and-run accident last month.
Researchers hope clinical trial will change future treatment of spinal cord injuries
Neil Sachse was left a quadriplegic after an on-field football accident in 1975. Decades later, the VFL veteran hopes his foundation is set to change the way spinal injuries are treated.
Finding your feet after failing to land a job after hundreds of attempts
Just a year ago Jeremy Sumner was struggling to find a job, through no want of trying. Now as an Indigenous ranger he's helping others realise their potential.
Teenage boy catches more than 100 fish by hand to save them from drought
A teenage boy from drought-ravaged Tenterfield is so worried about the health of the fish in his farm's river he's started saving them one at a time.
How audience testing made Jojo Rabbit's 'comical Hitler' possible
Just In - 7 hours ago
The new WWII satire Jojo Rabbit includes a comic version of Hitler who hams it up on screen. So how do you go about playing the Nazis for laughs?
Disturbing pictures show fate of Australian cattle sold to Indonesian Government
Hundreds of Australian cattle sold to the Indonesian Government in 2018 for breeding are malnourished or dead. Images obtained by the ABC show the rotting corpses of animals that could have bred for several years.
Aged care facilities are becoming more like hospitals but the services aren't keeping up, doctors say
Just In - 7 hours ago
The royal commission into aged care will this week turn its focus to health care, including how older patients can suffer due to inadequate GP visits and a lack of access to mental health services.
A man didn't lodge a tax return for 31 years — but someone had to after his death
When someone dies, their tax bills do not disappear. A review is now looking at how the tax system can be made easier to deal with after a loved one dies owing money to the ATO.
'Get it off me': Shark attack survivor recounts near-fatal Whitsundays attack
Justine Barwick was the first victim in a cluster of shark attacks in the Whitsundays. This is the dramatic story of how she survived and faced her fears to eventually return to the ocean.
The comedy night that disproves the claim 'you can't say anything anymore'
At Sticks and Stones, comedians can say anything, even if it is highly offensive. The catch is that the hosts and audience can say anything back to the comedians.
Q&A host Tony Jones and EP Peter McEvoy sign off after 12 years
As he prepares for his final episode, the Q&A creator says the show has pushed new grassroots issues onto the national agenda and tested politicians by confronting them with questions from citizens and voters they can't dismiss or evade as easily as press gallery journalists.
The Leaders Of Russia And Ukraine To Meet In France To Discuss Peace
*DW:* *Putin, Zelenskiy set to face off in Paris* Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is under immense pressure ahead of Monday's summit with Vladimir Putin in Paris. Zelenskiy wants peace — but any concessions could spark an outcry at home. Expectations are enormously high for the first face-to-face meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Paris on Monday. Observers in the media and politics agree: the talks between the heads of state and government from Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France could mark a turning point. *Re... more »
Study Says BPA is Causing Severe Hormone Imbalances in 80% of Teens
*John Vibes* - According to new research, four out of five teenagers in the UK are having their hormones disrupted by chemicals found in plastics.
Top Court Rules Cops Can No Longer Stop People After Claiming to Smell Marijuana
*Matt Agorist* - In a major win for freedom, Maryland's top court ruled this month that police can no longer stop people based on the smell of marijuana.
Trump Admin Guts Endangered Species Act in the Midst of Climate Crisis and Biodiversity Loss
*Olivia Rosane* - The Trump administration announced sweeping changes that could make it harder to protect plants and animals from the climate crisis.
This Woman Invented A Tent For Refugees That Collects Rainwater And Stores Solar Energy
*Mayukh Saha* - When an architect realized the long-lasting effects of this apparently never-ending problem, she came up with a unique idea.
Arizona Lawmaker Pushes Law to Force All Students to Recite Pledge of Allegiance
*Elias Marat* - Forcing students to participate in the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional.
Heidi Sloan's Plan for Political Revolution
Heidi Sloan, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, is running for Congress in Texas' gerrymandered 25th district, which stretches from Burleson, split between Tarrant and Johnson counties, just south of Ft. Worth, through Gatesville, Ft. Hood/Killeen and Texas Hill Country and into the heart of Austin (including the UT campus). The incumbent is a super-rich, super-corrupt used car salesman named Roger Williams. The district gave Trump a 55.1% to 40.2% win over Hillary and the PVI is R+11. Most of the district's votes come out of Travis County, which is overwhelmingly ... more »
Turkish Expansion
*Balkan Chessboard (Part 2)* On November 29, we took a look at the situation in Greece and the Balkans (link). Since that time, the situation has become more complicated largely because of the Turkish position is changing. Let's take a look at how this is happening and at the strategic implications. Greece ordered the expulsion of the Libyan ambassador Friday in the latest escalation of a dispute over a controversial deal signed between Libya’s U.N.-supported government and Turkey on maritime boundaries in the Mediterranean. Turkey and Libya objected but there's not much that the L... more »
Sunday Talks: Ted Cruz -vs- Chuck Todd…
Senator Ted Cruz appears on Meet The Press to discuss the fiasco of the impeachment effort…. and things immediately go south. Chuck Todd flips though page of Share Blue and Media Matters talking points while attempting to interrupt and knock … Continue reading →
Russian TV Shows The Russian President's Nuclear Foortball
The inside of Russia's nuclear briefcase has been displayed on television in a rare glimpse *Daily Mail:* *Inside Putin's nuclear briefcase: Russian TV shows rare glimpse of one of three attache cases Moscow could use to unleash World War III* * Briefcase said to contain codes to Russia's nuclear arsenal shown on television * Inside of cheget displayed on Zvezda, a channel run by the Ministry of Defence * Controller has distinctly unmodern-looking number pad and four large buttons A Russian television network has given a rare glimpse into one of three carefully guarded briefcas... more »
"How’s That Alternative Reality Working Out For You?"
*"How’s That Alternative Reality Working Out For You?"* by Robert Gore "Two plus two equals four. Epstein didn’t kill himself. At the end of "1984", Slavery is Freedom, two plus two equals five, and Winston Smith loves Big Brother. The Party has destroyed Smith’s mind, he embraces whatever narratives it promulgates. The fictive Party has solved the conundrum that bedevils any individual or organization seeking to exercise power: coercion can exact physical compliance and the desired verbalizations, but how do you compel the subjugated to think and believe as you want them to think... more »
The Daily "Near You?"
Columbia, Tennessee, USA. Thanks for stopping by!
Chet Raymo, “Asperges Me, Domine”
*“Asperges Me, Domine” ** by Chet Raymo “Greystone Books publishes a series of "Literary Companions" to natural environments- mountains, rivers and lakes, deserts, gardens, and the sea, so far. Now they come to my environment - night - and have been kind enough to include a chapter from “The Soul of the Night”, the chapter called "The Shape of Night." I am in lovely company, admired companions of several generations - Diane Ackerman, Timothy Ferris, Annie Dillard, Henry Beston, Loren Eiseley, Louise Erdrich, Pico Iyer, and Gretel Ehrlich, to name but a few- all connoisseurs of dark... more »
The Poet: Mary Oliver, "What Is There Beyond Knowing?"
*"What Is There Beyond Knowing?"* "What is there beyond knowing that keeps calling to me? I can't turn in any direction but it's there. I don't mean the leaves' grip and shine or even the thrush's silk song, but the far-off fires, for example, of the stars, heaven's slowly turning theater of light, or the wind playful with its breath; or time that's always rushing forward, or standing still in the same - what shall I say - moment. What I know I could put into a pack as if it were bread and cheese, and carry it on one shoulder, important and honorable, but so small! While everything ... more »
"Our True Friends..."
"Our true friends are those who are with us when the good things happen. They cheer us on and are pleased by our triumphs. False friends only appear at difficult times, with their sad, supportive faces, when, in fact, our suffering is serving to console them for their miserable lives." - Paulo Coelho
"Self-respect, Opinions..."
“If someone in your life talked to you the way you talk to yourself, you would have left them long ago.” - Carla Gordon “The opinion which other people have of you is their problem, not yours.” - Elisabeth Kubler-Ross “We only feel dehumanized when we get trapped in the derogatory images of other people or thoughts of wrongness about ourselves.” - Marshall Rosenberg “My great mistake, the fault for which I can't forgive myself, is that one day I ceased my obstinate pursuit of my own individuality.” - Oscar Wilde
More...
Following though, as a blog like this must do, I think that Andrew Bomford's *The World This Weekend *report on Labour's nationalisation plans was well-balanced, with plenty to annoy both sides and plenty to think about. Then, at the programme's climax, came a discussion involving *Nicola Adam *of the fabulous* Lancashire Evening Post...* *... *(I never myself read it these days, but it's a local paper for local people up 'ere, and the BBC usually ignores it, so go local girl! Me and Tubbs are rooting for you!)... ...pro-Brexit *Iain Martin* of The Times, and *Professor David Ege... more »
The Trump Administration's Food Stamp Changes: Great Idea or Picking on the Poor?
*Matt Weidinger, Angela Rachidi* *Society, * These rules are consistent with longstanding federal policy of expecting work-capable adults to work instead of depending solely on government assistance. Recently the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) released final rules that strengthen work requirements for non-disabled people without dependents who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, formerly known as food stamps. These rules are consistent with longstanding federal policy — in both SNAP and the cash welfare Temporary Assistance for Needy Families... more »
Estuaries, Climate Change, and “Blue Carbon”
Estuaries defined, whether they are carbon sources or carbon sinks, and an excursion into the world of climate NGOs through "blue carbon."
Next Saturday: Dem Education Forum in Pittsburgh (Yes, I'll Be There)
Next Saturday, December 24, some assortment of Democratic Presidential hopefuls will offer their two cents about education. The crowd will be an invitation-only group of about a thousand public education stakeholders, including yours truly. The Network for Public Education kindly gave me the chance to attend this event, and I am looking forward to it. If you are not among the thousand invitees, you can still catch the evens as they unfold on several streaming options. NBC News Now, MSNBC.com and NBC News Learn are all supposed to be carrying it, with MSNBC doing some coverage of i... more »
Senile, Demented and Incontinent: NATO at 70
[image: undefined] “Old Age,” the great French President Charles De Gaulle famously said, “is a shipwreck.” We should certainly feel that way about the 70th birthday celebrations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization – the most venerable security alliance and organization in the world. The London Summit made it clear to the whole world: NATO at 70 has become a global joke. NATO does not strengthen the defensive capabilities of its members against real threats such as illegal immigration, pandemic diseases, transnational crime, drugs and human trafficking and the destabilization... more »
George Bush's Wars Set the Stage for 25 Years of Endless War
[image: undefined] By 1989, it had become apparent to all — everyone except the CIA, of course — that the Soviet economy, and thus the Soviet state was in very deep trouble. In November 1989, the Berlin Wall came down in the face of Soviet impotence. And, with the Cold-War corpse not even cold yet, president George Bush used the newly apparent Soviet weakness as an opportunity to expand US foreign interventionism beyond the limits that had been imposed on it by a competing Soviet Union. Over the next decade, Bush and his successor Bill Clinton — who very much carried on Bush's ide... more »
December Arctic Ice Returning to Mean
The image is an animation of MASIE ice charts over the last 16 days from Nov. 21 to yesterday, Dec. 7, 2019. At the top is Kara Sea icing, along with Barents, both higher than the 12 year average at this time. On the left Laptev and East Siberian have filled with ice. Chukchi on […]
On the Doors in Stoke-on-Trent South
The last time Labour had knocked on this address, the occupants were recorded as Tory and Against. Sucking up our courage we gently rapped on the door and a middle aged bloke came bounding from around the corner. We said we were from the Labour Party and started asking about the election coming this week. "I'll tell you who I definitely won't be voting for", he bellowed. We had but a moment to prep for an anti-Corbyn rant. "Boris Johnson!" came the reply. He hated how Johnson is a buffoon, how he lies, and how unfit he is to hold Prime Ministerial office. We got talking a bit more ... more »
7 Supplements That Help Fight Holiday Stress
Holiday season is officially here. Along with the festive music, lights and décor, often comes a full calendar and a month’s worth of hustle and bustle, which can end up putting stress levels into overdrive. Remembering the reason for the season and being grateful for time spent with your loved ones can help combat stress […] The post 7 Supplements That Help Fight Holiday Stress appeared first on Health Nut News.
Greek PM Chides Turkey for Genocide Against Assyrians, Greeks, Armenians
Assyrian International News Agency - 9 hours ago
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced Friday the need for international recognition of the Ottoman-era genocide of Greek Christians in Asia Minor, and slammed Turkey for its bellicosity in its maritime foreign policy in Mediterranean.
No F-35 In Your Future? Why the Affordable F-5E "Tiger" Fighter Jet Is so Popular
*Charlie Gao* *Technology, Americas* [image: https://pictures.reuters.com/archive/GERMANY--BM2EA5K1CUL01.html] Cheap and effective. *Key point: *It is one of Boeing's most successful exports. The F-5E “Tiger” is one of U.S. aerospace industry’s largest export successes. Designed as a budget lightweight fighter, the F-5E is still operated by many nations around the world despite the availability of more modern fighters. Its continued service is enabled by miniaturization of electronics, which allows for more powerful radars and more systems to be integrated into the same spaces ... more »
Imperial Japan Wanted Battleships With 20-Inch Guns To Destroy America
*Robert Farley* *Security, Asia* But it didn't happen. Why? *Key point:* For Imperial Japan, size mattered. In January 1936 Japan announced its intention to withdraw from the London Naval Treaty, accusing both the United States and the United Kingdom of negotiating in bad faith. The Japanese sought formal equality in naval construction limits, something that the Western powers would not give. In the wake of this withdrawal, Japanese battleship architects threw themselves into the design of new vessels. The first class to emerge were the 18.1-inch-gun-carrying Yamatos, the larges... more »
Russia Could Create Problems In this Important Eastern European Country
*Dan Goure* *Security, Eurasia* [image: Reuters] Put will Putin pull the trigger? For almost two decades, Russia has been interfering in the domestic politics of other nations. According to one report, Russia has interfered in the political processes of at least 27 North American and European countries since 2004. The Kremlin has several goals for this assault: first, to undermine the legitimacy of Western governments and principles such as the rule of law and human rights; second, to weaken major institutions such as the European Union and NATO; and third, encourage the forma... more »
DOJ Catches DEMOCRAT PARTY in Multi-Million Dollar Illegal Foreign Campaign Donations Scheme…
From the GatewayPundit: Article 1 and Article 2 – UPDATE: Bill Barr Indicts 8 Excerpts: Bill Barr on Friday indicted eight individuals for illegally funneling millions of dollars in foreign money to Adam Schiff, Hillary Clinton and several Democratic senators. That’s about all you need to know. Enjoy the read. I’ll be waiting, waiting, waiting for all of these congresscritters and sellators to be arrested and charged. ~Ragnar (RFXtFR)
How To Launder State Department Money
This is what the impeachment is all about! From 90MilesfromTyranny: Billions in aid went to the Ukraine. Much of it was laundered back to the dumocratic party and/or Hillary for her campaign against Trump. ~Ragnar (RFXtFR)
Kataib Hezbollah With Help From Security Forces Blamed For Friday’s Massacre Of Baghdad Protesters
Protester holds blood stained shirt as a flag after massacre in Khalani Sq Dec 6 (AP) An Interior Ministry source told Al Hurra that Kataib Hezbollah was behind the massacre of protesters in Baghdad’s Khalani Square on December 6. A group of fighters gathered at a mosque and then drove towards Khalani Square. Their Hashd ID’s helped them get through government checkpoints. They were also facilitated by the Iraqi Security Forces withdrawing from areas surrounding the square. In total 25 people were killed and around 130 were wounded in the assault. This comes as Iranian Revolution... more »
This Day In Iraqi History - Dec 8
1985 Saudis announced attempt to end the Iran-Iraq War through dialogue with Tehran (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 Iraq book review *Iran-Iraq War, The Lion of Babylon, 1980-1988*) (Musings On Iraq book review *The Iran-Iraq War*) 2002 Iraq admitted that it was close to building a nuclear bomb but was abandoned a long time ago (Musings On Iraq article on how poor US intel work led to claim Iraq re... more »
'The roads are empty': Tourists cancel holiday plans amid NSW's bushfires
Tourism authorities urge holidaymakers to think before pulling the pin on summer getaways after reports many people have already cancelled their vacations to the NSW South Coast.
Why staying indoors won't protect you from Sydney's hazardous smoke
It is easy to think that when you walk in the door at home you are no longer exposed to the dangerous smoke choking Sydney, the Hunter and South Coast, but experts warn you may have a false sense of security.
Tassal told to 'put their money where their mouth is' and fund pipeline shortfall
The mayor of Glamorgan Spring Bay Council reveals it is considering borrowing $600k to complete the pipeline contract with Tassal after it ran out of money.
Prepare for a decade of ultra-low interest rates
Once upon a time, financial markets reflected or tried to anticipate what was happening in the real economy. Now, they are leading it.
How a past tragedy saw anti-vaxxers help unleash a measles epidemic on Samoa
Sixty-two children in Samoa have died from measles. After a mass-vaccination campaign, authorities are hopeful the spread of the highly contagious virus has been contained, but remain on edge. How did it come to this?
Don’t worry – The UN will make sure everything is handed out fair and square
Danish Academic: U.N. Might Use Military to Enforce Climate Agenda The United Nations may resort to military action against states that defy its mandates on global climate action, according to Ole Wæver, a prominent international relations professor at the University of Copenhagen. Professor Wæver cautions that what he sees as “climate inaction” might draw the ... Read moreDon’t worry – The UN will make sure everything is handed out fair and square The post Don’t worry – The UN will make sure everything is handed out fair and square appeared first on Ice Age Now.
Serious Concerns Raised Over Inadequate Icebreaking Capabilities on Great Lakes
“The nation’s economy depends on reliable and predictable icebreaking on the Great Lakes,” writes Mike Schuler. Compounding the problem of recurring severe ice conditions and record high water levels (emphasis added) across the Great Lakes and connecting channels is that “the number of U.S. and Canadian Coast Guard icebreakers today is just 60 percent of ... Read moreSerious Concerns Raised Over Inadequate Icebreaking Capabilities on Great Lakes The post Serious Concerns Raised Over Inadequate Icebreaking Capabilities on Great Lakes appeared first on Ice Age Now.
Syrian Army takes control of new points in northeastern Syria
BEIRUT, LEBANON (7:40 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) took hold of several new points in the northwestern countryside of the Al-Hasakah Governorate on Sunday. According to reports from northeastern Syria, the Syrian Army deployed to several points near the Mabroukah Power Plant, giving them control of a large area near the Hasakah-Aleppo Highway. […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Netanyahu demands US backing of Jordan Valley ‘annexation plan’
The embattled Prime Minister wants Washington to approve of Israel’s further expansion into the Jordan Valley, just days after he urged Donald Trump not to miss a rare chance to back Tel Aviv’s territorial appetites. Benjamin Netanyahu, who fiercely fights for re-election, believes that “the time has come to extend Israeli sovereignty over the Jordan […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Sudan reduces military presence in Yemen by 10,000: report
BEIRUT, LEBANON (7:10 P.M.) – The Sudanese Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdouk said that Sudan has approximately 5,000 soldiers in Yemen, noting that their number in the past was around 15,000. This statement came during a press conference upon his return from Washington on Sunday, the Sudanese News Agency reported. “There was no discussion about withdrawing […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Large number of Iraqi military reinforcements sent to Syrian border
BEIRUT, LEBANON (7:00 P.M.) – A large number of reinforcements from Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (Hashd Al-Sha’abi) were deployed to the country’s western border with Syria, a military report read on Sunday. According to the report, the 8th Brigade of the Population Mobilization Units were deployed to the Jazira Al-Hadr area south of Mosul to […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
280-year-old Armenian Cathedral reopens in Aleppo after suffering damage due to war
BEIRUT, LEBANON (5:30 P.M.) – The Armenian Catholic Cathedral of Our Mother of Reliefs was reopened on Saturday in the Al-Talal neighborhood in the Old City of Aleppo. The opening ceremony was attended by Syria’s Grand Mufti Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun, the Papal Ambassador to Syria Mario Zenari, Aleppo Mufti Mahmoud Akkam in addition to a […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Newsweek reporter resigns after accusing outlet of suppressing story about OPCW leak
A reporter for Newsweek says he has quit his job after his editor allegedly refused to publish an article about an internal email that raises serious questions about the OPCW’s findings on an alleged gas attack in Douma, Syria. “Yesterday I resigned from Newsweek after my attempts to publish newsworthy revelations about the leaked OPCW […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Afrin Liberation Forces blow up FSA base in rural Aleppo: video
BEIRUT, LEBANON (5:00 P.M.) – The Afrin Liberation Forces released footage from one of their recent attacks on a base belonging to the Turkish-backed militants in rural Aleppo. In the video, the Afrin Liberation Forces show the destruction of what they claim is a base belonging to the Turkish-backed Al-Hamza Division of the Free Syrian […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Russian forces conduct first patrol in city with large Iranian military presence
BEIRUT, LEBANON (5:00 P.M.) – For the first time during this war, the Russian military has conducted a patrol in the Deir Ezzor Governorate city of Al-Mayadeen. According to local reports, the Russian military conducted a long patrol inside of Al-Mayadeen this weekend, as their personnel traveled throughout the city to ensure its safety. The […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Khatib withdraws name from Lebanese premiership in favor of Hariri
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:45 P.M.) – One of the leading candidates for the premiership of the Lebanese government, Samir Al-Khatib, announced his reluctance to accept the mission after meeting the Lebanese Grand Mufti. The most likely candidate to head the next Lebanese government, Samir Al-Khatib, announced his withdrawal from the efforts to form the new government […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Syrian Army, jihadists engaged in fierce battle along southeast Idlib front
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:00 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army and jihadist rebels are currently engaged in a fierce battle along the southeastern Idlib front, as both parties continue to trade attacks. According to a military source in northwestern Syria, the Syrian Arab Army and jihadist rebels are trading heavy machine gun and artillery fire near […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Damascus delegation holds meeting with SDC in Qamishli
BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:30 P.M.) – A Syrian government delegation from Damascus comprising of several political parties traveled to the city of Qamishli in northeastern Syria this past weekend to meet with a large group from the Syrian Democratic Council. According to local reports, the Damascus delegation was made up of leaders from the Arab Socialist […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Pro-Houthi Yemeni DM says ‘revenge is forthcoming’ against Israel
BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:00 P.M.) – The pro-Houthi (Ansarallah) Minister of Defense, Major General Mohamed El ‘Atifi, announced on Sunday that the Yemeni Army is ready to fight much more than before, pointing out that his country’s forces are prepared to target anyone who threatens Yemen. “Our forces are still keeping their promise regarding the Emirati […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
COP 25: Narcissistic bullies on the climate march
When his book The Culture of Narcissism: American Life in an Age of Diminishing Expectations was published in 1979, Christopher Lasch was hailed by Time Magazine as a “biblical prophet.” The post COP 25: Narcissistic bullies on the climate march appeared first on CFACT.
There’s not a good financial case for a publicly funded stadium
On Tuesday, Halifax Council will debate a staff report that recommends, among other things, contributing $20 million to Stadium Co (part of the Schooners Sports Entertainment – SSE – corporate structure) to help build a stadium for an as-of-yet announced CFL franchise on staff-hope-not-Shannon-Park lands. I have read the HRM staff report on the financial […]
Deciding Northern Pulp’s future
Nova Scotia’s business minister Geoff MacLellan says it’s not the time to talk about all the money that Northern Pulp owes the province, and it won’t be until after environment minister Gordon Wilson makes his decision on the mill’s new effluent treatment facility on or before December 17. CBC reporter Michael Gorman notes that MacLellan […]
TMX Opposed by BC Cities of Vancouver, Burnaby and Victoria - So What!?
*TMX on Burnaby Mountain - This is the same mountain* *that is a home to Simon Fraser University. * *When I moved to BC **back in the late 1960's* * the BC government was saying that* *Burnaby Mountain was the "lungs"* * of the Lower Mainland* *and would never* * be de-forested. Just another lie.* My blood pressure went off the charts yesterday. Not only has my *Google gmail* gone down mysteriously, but I read and posted about a CTV report on a* NANOS poll that said that three out of five Canadians supported the TMX. * I felt like I received a slap across the face when I read in the C... more »
Questions of Character
*The World This Weekend*'s final leader profile focused on Jo Swinson today. On impartiality grounds, I prefer Jonny Dymond to Mark Mardell, and, to do him credit, this profile struck me as being much fairer than anything Mark Mardell would have produced. Yes, we heard from an impressed former teacher of Jo, her still-friendly former colleague David Laws, and her supportive present advisor Olly Grender, but we also heard kindly criticism from the *Economist*'s Anne McElvoy and somewhat sharper criticism of her tactics from Professor Andrew Russell of Liverpool University - and Jo... more »
Small things add up
On the theme of today's *The World This Weekend, *Jonny Dymond (standing in for Mark Mardell) went to Milton Keynes for the election. He talked to some of the candidates. I'll quote his questions to each of them: 1. *Charlynne Pullen**, Labour candidate for Milton Keynes North*: *- In your manifesto you have some really serious commitments to housing in general and social housing in particular. The government, it seems to be saying, will be back and will be back big time when it comes to accommodation for citizens, both in both Milton Keynes and the rest of the country.* 2. *Cathe... more »
Insistence
The headlines midway through today's *The World This Weekend *ran as follows: The party leaders are pushing their key general election pledges with the Conservatives focusing on plans to reduce low skilled migration. Boris Johnson has once again insisted there won't be checks for goods travelling between Northern Ireland and Great Britain under his Brexit deal. Labour is highlighting its promise of free personal social care in people's homes, while the Liberal Democrats are concentrating on their plan to spend £50 billion on infrastructure projects outside London. My ears always ... more »
FBI Says It Presumes Base Shooting Was Act of Terrorism
The FBI is working under the presumption that a fatal shooting at a Florida naval base carried out by an aviation student from Saudi Arabia was an act of terrorism.
Sesame Street ‘Big Bird’ Puppeteer Carroll Spinney Dies at Age 85
Carroll Spinney, who gave Big Bird his warmth and Oscar the Grouch his growl for nearly 50 years on “Sesame Street,” died at the age of 85 at his home in Connecticut.
Free Download: Niccolò Machiavelli, "The Prince"
"But it is necessary to know well how to disguise this characteristic, and to be a great pretender and dissembler; and men are so simple, and so subject to present necessities, that he who seeks to deceive will always find someone who will allow himself to be deceived." – Niccolò Machiavelli, "The Prince" (1532) Freely download "The Prince", by Niccolò Machiavelli, here: - https://www.planetebook.com/free-ebooks/the-prince.pdf
The Battle of the Impeachment Reports: Do the Parties Disagree About the Facts?
Reflection of the Capitol Building (Source: Flickr/Victoria Pickering) To listen to the noise, rancor and confusion between the parties on display in the impeachment hearings, you might think there is a great deal of dispute about what happened in *L’Affaire Ukrainienne*. The president's allies complain of unfair process and foregone conclusions. Democrats accuse their colleagues of pedaling conspiracy theories and ignore Republican complaints altogether. Most of the yelling, however, has relatively little to do with disputes about the factual record—that is, the record of what th... more »
How the Schiff Report Deals with Disinformation
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (Source: Flickr/Gage Skidmore) Over the past several years, journalists and researchers have struggled with the question of how to respond to disinformation without amplifying the very falsehoods they’re seeking to disprove. In his committee’s report on the impeachment investigation into President Trump, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff appears to have adopted one common strategy for dealing with disinformation: Deny it the attention it needs to grow. The report released by the House Intelligence Committee on Dec. ... more »
You Bet Taiwan Wished It Had Nuclear Weapons
*Kyle Mizokami* *Security, Asia* And it nearly happened. *Key point: *A Taiwanese-Chinese nuclear standoff would have destabilized the entire region. It would have been one of the greatest crises of postwar Asia: the revelation of a Taiwanese atomic bomb. For Taiwan, the bomb would have evened the odds against a numerically superior foe. For China, a bomb would have been casus belli, justification for an attack on the island country it considered a rogue province. Active from the 1960s to the 1980s, Taipei’s efforts to develop nuclear weapons were finally abandoned due to diplo... more »
North Korea Is Afraid Of America, But Should It Also Fear A Chinese Invasion?
*Kyle Mizokami* *Security, Asia* It could happen. *Key Point:* China only has so much patience, and won't let the entire peninsula fall into American hands. North Korea is both a blessing and a curse for China. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is an independent state that is openly hostile to the United States and other regional powers. Pyongyang’s military is a deterrent to attack without posing a direct threat to China. As a result, nearly a thousand miles of China’s borders are occupied by a regime that finances its own defense and will never fall willingly within th... more »
Quantum Computers Are the Ultimate Paper Tiger
*Subhash Kak* *Security, Americas* [image: Reuters] A quantum computing future is unlikely, due to random hardware errors. Google announced this fall to much fanfare that it had demonstrated “quantum supremacy” – that is, it performed a specific quantum computation far faster than the best classical computers could achieve. IBM promptly critiqued the claim, saying that its own classical supercomputer could perform the computation at nearly the same speed with far greater fidelity and, therefore, the Google announcement should be taken “with a large dose of skepticism.” This was... more »
Why Rich People Mask Their Questionable Ethics With Money
*Patricia Illingworth* *History, Americas* [image: Reuters] Jeffrey Epstein faced sex trafficking and conspiracy charges when he died in July 2019. I teach a course on ethics and philanthropy and have written about how to donate to charities ethically. Recent news about people who make big charitable gifts acting badly is making me wonder whether philanthropy really does make the world better. Think about it: Members of the Sackler family, who have given millions to arts institutions, also own Purdue Pharma. That’s the company that patented and aggressively marketed Oxycontin, ... more »
Is Antitrust Law The Best Way To Keep American Media Free and Fair?
*Walter Olson* *Politics, * Ohio offers an example of a bad outcome. This is just absurd: to comply with federal regulations barring owners of daily newspapers from also owning local broadcast stations, the owner of the venerable Dayton Daily News in Ohio may knock it down to three-times-a-week publication so that it won't count as a daily anymore. Keith J. Kelly of the New York Post spotted the story, Cox Media Group outlined the plan in a press release a few weeks ago, and Joshua Benton at Nieman Lab has more: To increase the quality of local journalism in Ohio, the Federal C... more »
Why The Salvation Army Is Simply Amazing
*Diane Winston* *History, Americas* Salvation Army Captain Joseph McFee’s legacy lives on – providing inspiration to millions of Americans, whether they care about religion or not. Tinseled trees and snowy landscapes are not the only signs of the upcoming holiday season. Red kettles, staffed by men and women in street clothes, Santa suits and Salvation Army uniforms, also telegraph Christmastime. The Salvation Army is among America’s top-grossing charities. In 2018, its 25,000 bell-ringers helped raise US$142.7 million. That was part of the charity’s $3.8 billion year-end revenu... more »
The Deadly Revolver-Shotgun: Worth Your Time Or Belong In The Trash?
*Kyle Mizokami* *Security, * You decide. *Key point: *For those that want a slightly unconventional handgun, revolvers such as the Smith & Wesson Governor are an equally conventional, though entirely practical, solution. One of the most interesting trends in the world of handguns is the revolver than first not only handgun ammunition but also shotgun shells. The ability to shoot both high-powered handgun ammo above .40 caliber and small caliber shotgun shells makes these revolvers far more versatile than most. Although seemingly a new phenomenon, the development of handheld shot... more »
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