Saturday, June 01, 2019

1 June - Blogs I'm Following - 2 of 3

10 pm MDT

A Different View on the President’s Delegation of Declassification Authority to the Attorney General

jgoldsmith at Lawfare - 9 hours ago
FBI Director Christopher Wray, Attorney General Bill Barr, and former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. (Source: Department of Justice) President Trump’s delegation of a narrowly defined declassification authority to Attorney General Bill Barr has attracted criticism, notably on this site by my colleagues David Kris and Benjamin Wittes. I think these criticisms tell only one side of the story, and that the matter is more complicated than they let on. *The Grand Bargain Under Threat* Two years ago, Wittes and I argued that the intelligence community “is on the verge of a cri... more »

Illinois to Become 11th State to Legalize Recreational Marijuana Use

Activist Post at Activist Post - 9 hours ago
By Emma Fiala Illinois is poised to become the 11th U.S. state to legalize recreational marijuana after lawmakers voted on Friday to legalize the plant.... more »

#Triclosan, a Chemical Formerly Used in Antibacterial Soaps, Was Found to Impair Muscle Function.

zedie at SOMEONE SOMEWHERE - 9 hours ago
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/triclosan-a-chemical-used-in-antibacterial-soaps-is-found-to-impair-muscle-function-22127536/?fb_ref=.UX3pIyqFhPc.send&fbclid=IwAR1BV1gNE2-BWB9rvu72WKVsk0JKIH3-9bS0yA_yM4t4Ch-hxuiFpZvtKnw&fb_action_ids=642239755805045&fb_action_types=og.likes Advertisements

Democrat HHSC — Hashtag @#BS — Shirking of Duty by Congress

Uriel at 'Nox & Friends - 9 hours ago
– House Homeland Security Committee@HomelandDems – Twitter 12:54 PM · May 31, 2019 · Earlier this month, @DHSOIG made surprise visits to a @CBP Border Patrol facility in El Paso. Here’s what they found: 750-900 migrants being held in a space meant for maximum 125. CALLING @#BS Bull Hockey Pucks and Shirking of Duty by Congress on this Chairman Thompson. Why? It is the responsibility of CONGRESS to legislate and reform immigration laws NOT DHS who is left to handle the obvious refusal of congress to do their job. WE AS CITIZENS have demanded for two plus years that a … Continue readin... more »

From Climate Change, Holy Government Deliver us!

Ron Clutz at Science Matters - 9 hours ago
The nearly religious appeal to government to fix the “climate problem” is childlike, even in the mouths of progressive politicians. James L. Payne writes at the The Foundation for Economic Education How to Talk to Children about Climate Change. Excerpts in italics with my bolds. If in coming years we hope to curb the naive […]

"The Brexit Party is offering simple solutions"

Craig at Is the BBC biased? - 9 hours ago
Chris Morris I've been lagging behind a bit blogging-wise this week, but I meant to pick up on Arne's comments about BBC Reality Checker-in-Chief Chris Morris's latest offerings. How to do it though? Well, I copied-and-pasted the first article a few days ago, and will now dump it below. I've highlighted in red the parts where I think the BBC's omniscient King of Facts becomes the BBC's Editorial Writer-in-Chief. We're at the stage where opinionated, impartial BBC reporters can write things like this with apparent total freedom: What would a Brexit Party Brexit look like? By Ch... more »

Reese plans to take election case to Court of Appeals

The Buffalo Chronicle at The Buffalo Chronicle - 10 hours ago
The industrial engineer, cancer research scientist, and pioneering election law attorney who is running for Erie County Executive — Peter A. Reese — filed his appellate brief in the case of Reese v. Board of Elections and offered oral arguments

Coolest/Wettest October-May In US History

tonyheller at The Deplorable Climate Science Blog - 10 hours ago
The last seven months was the coolest and wettest October-May on record in the US. The percent of days above 60F and 70F was the lowest, with 1933-1934 being the highest. Compare with 1934, which was the warmest and driest. … Continue reading →

Dances With Coyotes

tonyheller at The Deplorable Climate Science Blog - 10 hours ago

Jihadist rebels execute 7 civilians accused of spying for Syrian gov’t in Idlib

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 10 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (7:30 P.M.) – The jihadist rebels of Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham have executed seven civilians accused of spying on behalf of the Syrian government in the Idlib Governorate, local activists reported on Saturday. According to the reports, Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham arrested these civilians and charged them with providing the government information on their organization. […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

China’s second carrier conducts possible takeoff, landing tests: reports

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 10 hours ago
China’s second aircraft carrier returned to the shipyard on Friday after completing its sixth sea trial, which might have featured warplane takeoff and landing tests for the first time, reports said. The first domestically developed aircraft carrier Type 001A moored back to its dock at the Dalian Shipyard in Dalian, Northeast China’s Liaoning Province Friday […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

ISIS operation kills several Syrian Army soldiers in eastern Homs

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 10 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (6:15 P.M.) – The Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL/IS/Daesh) carried out a new operation in the eastern countryside of the Homs province, today, targeting the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) positions east of Al-Sukhneh city. ISIS began their operation by positioning themselves along a road leading from Al-Sukhneh to the provincial capital of Deir Ezzor. The […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Hezbollah leader warns war against Iran will ignite ‘regional conflict’

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 10 hours ago
Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah warned that any war against Iran would cause the Middle East to “ignite” on Friday. “We will be able to stand up to this deal,” Sayyed Nasrallah said in his speech at a crowded ceremony held in Ashoura Square at Beirut’s southern suburb (Dahiyeh), on the occasion of International Al-Quds […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Syrian Air Force launches nonstop airstrikes over jihadist stronghold as army prepares next assault

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 10 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (5:30 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Air Force (SyAAF) has unleashed a nonstop barrage of airstrikes over the jihadist stronghold of Kabani in northeastern Latakia this afternoon. According to a military source in Latakia, the Syrian Air Force has specifically targeted the trenches dug by the jihadist rebels of Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham and […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Iran shows off Bond-like bunker packed with weapons: video

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 10 hours ago
Amid rising tensions with the US, Iran has released a video showcasing an underground bunker packed with the weapons and parts that appear to belong to the Qiam-1 ballistic missile system. Although the footage was first reportedly shown by Iranian state television last week, it started making rounds on the Internet only on Friday, first popping up on YouTube. The video opens with the view […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Italy’s Mount Etna Volcano Spews Lava in New Active Phase

Associated Press at Snopes.com - 10 hours ago
Mount Etna, the largest of Italy’s three active volcanoes, is spewing ash and lava once again.

Alistair, thank you for that

Craig at Is the BBC biased? - 10 hours ago
Was Melanie Abbott channelling her inner Diane Abbott today? I haven't listened to *Any Answers *in a while, mainly due to Anita Anand treating it as 'The Anita Anand Show', but I tuned in today to find a debut appearance as stand-in presenter from Radio 4 journalist Melanie Abbott. As it was her debut and she's "very excited" about it, I won't rain on her parade too much. I preferred her to Anita, but some friendly advise really may be needed: (1) Don't interrupt so much (they're members of the public, not politicians); (2) Don't cut people off so abruptly as it sounds rude; and (3... more »

Recent evidence suggests that autism may be linked to gut bacteria

Erin Elizabeth at Health Nut News - 10 hours ago
A PARADIGM SHIFT occurs when old established theories collapse and new ideas and understanding take their place. Some examples that come to mind are the introduction of plate tectonics into geology, or the move from the physics of Newton to the physics of Einstein. These shifts are rare and they stay with us. Right now, […] The post Recent evidence suggests that autism may be linked to gut bacteria appeared first on Health Nut News.

Explained: Why Fewer and Fewer Americans are Getting Divorced

Tera R. Jordan at The National Interest - 10 hours ago
*Tera R. Jordan* *Society, * All of the reasons why. Fewer and fewer Americans are getting divorced, with the rates falling 18% between 2008 and 2016. Among American adults, there is support for divorce when couples do not get along. Women, people from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, and adults who have experienced divorce personally or among friends and family are especially likely to be accepting. Despite this growing acceptance, the divorce rate dipped again in 2018. The decline began in 1980 or 1990, depending on the data source and experts. According to the Cent... more »

Nuckin' Futz News: The Guy Simply Cannot DO Anything!!!

greencrow at Greencrow As The Crow Flies - 11 hours ago
*Baby Trump Blimp* It all started to unravel in the usual way...with a Tweet. All the months of intensive negotiations, all the high level meetings and "signing ceremonies". None of it meant anything. Here is a snippet of the report from the CBC: With Trump's new tariff threats, *new NAFTA once again hangs in the balance* Trudeau speaks with Trump but new tariff threat against Mexico does not come up Just as the fog of uncertainty shrouding North America's new trade deal was starting to lift, Canada found itself socked in again Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump abruptl... more »

Trump Fires the First Shot in Mexico Tariff War

Hunter DeRensis at The National Interest - 11 hours ago
*Hunter DeRensis* *Politics, United States* Whether on China, Iran, or Venezuela, the Trump administration’s consistent refrain is “maximum pressure.” Mexico is no different. Whether on China, Iran, or Venezuela, the Trump administration’s consistent refrain is “maximum pressure.” Mexico is no different. Thursday evening President Donald Trump announced a new series of tariffs on all imports from Mexico. This is in response to the ongoing migrant crisis along the southern border which has seen over a hundred thousand people enter the United States every month. “Mexico’s passive c... more »

Iran vs. America: How A Naval War Would Go Down (Who Wins?)

James Holmes at The National Interest - 11 hours ago
*James Holmes* *Security, * One of the world's best naval experts gives us his take. *Would Iran close the Strait of Hormuz, could it, and would the United States reply by force of arms if Tehran made the attempt?* Maybe, maybe, and yes. There is precedent: it assailed merchant and naval shipping during the “Tanker War” of the 1980s. Then, it was attacking the export earnings of its archfoe Iraq. The United States, the mullahs’ Great Satan, isn’t nearly so dependent as was Saddam Hussein’s Iraq on merchantmen plying the Persian Gulf. Washington nonetheless sees important interes... more »

In 1964, the U.S. Treasury Seized over 500 Guns (Some Were Very Illegal)

Matthew Moss at The National Interest - 11 hours ago
*Matthew Moss* *Security, Americas* [image: By Spec. 4 David Shad - Copied from Soldier with Carl Gustaf SMG DA-SN-83-09169, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=35340557] In June 1964, agents of the U.S. Treasury Department staged a seven-day sting targeting what news reports described as a “mysterious warehouse” in Ridgefield, New Jersey. In June 1964, agents of the U.S. Treasury Department staged a seven-day sting targeting what news reports described as a “mysterious warehouse” in Ridgefield, New Jersey. What they discovered was startling. 517 guns... more »

NH: Outsourcing and Privatizing Public Education

Peter Greene at CURMUDGUCATION - 11 hours ago
New Hampshire's education commissioner has decided to push a really terrible education idea. It's called "Learn Everywhere," and it looks like a new approach to replacing public education, a kind of true backdoor approach to vouchering. It comes dressed in pretty language, but it still smells like a recently fertilized field on a warm summer day. Frank Edelblut was a businessman, venture capitalist, and one-term NH state representative before he decided to run for the governor's seat. He was beaten in the primary by Chris Sununu, son of former NH governor and Bush I White House Chie... more »

Trump Will Be Impeached. The Stupid Party Says, ‘Bring It On!’

James George Jatras at Peace and Prosperity - 11 hours ago
[image: undefined] In the wake of Robert Mueller’s calculated handoff of the “Get Trump” portfolio to the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives, two things are evident. First, President Donald J. Trump is virtually certain to be impeached. That’s manifest despite doddering House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s playing cute for now, seeking to ensure first that “we do want to make such a compelling case, such an ironclad case that even the Republican Senate, which at the time seems to be not an objective jury, will be convinced.” Translation: We don’t have the goods yet, but we expect... more »

At This Weekend's California Democratic Party Convention, Activists Want To Know Who's For Impeachment-- And Who Isn't

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 12 hours ago
Earlier this week, L.A. City Attorney Mike Feuer, hosted a Q&A with House Intelligence Chair and L.A. area congressman, Adam Schiff, *Constitutional Clash*. An exasperated Schiff went after his Republican colleagues' moral character. He said many of them come up to him in private to "express their deep concerns and worries" about Trump and his regime and to offer encouragement to him for his work in getting to the bottom of Russian interference with our elections. "But," he told Feuer, I’m, frankly, exhausted by the private misgivings. People need to speak out... I think there’s b... more »

Barr Exclusive Interview with CBS May 31, 2019

Uriel at 'Nox & Friends - 12 hours ago
– – William Barr interview Read the transcript Last Updated May 31, 2019 1:28 PM EDT Attorney General William Barr sat down for an exclusive interview with Jan Crawford for “CBS This Morning.” He told Crawford helieves special counsel Robert Mueller could have reached a decision on whether President Trump committed obstruction of justice, regardless of long-standing Justice Department policy that prohibits the indictment of a sitting president. During a nearly hour-long interview in Anchorage, Alaska, CBS News chief legal correspondent Jan Crawford pressed the attorney general on a... more »

Pancreatic Cancer: Challenges And Treatment Advances

The Conversation at Science 2.0 blogs - 12 hours ago
With Alex Trebek’s recent announcement that his pancreatic cancer is in remission, many people have wondered if this difficult cancer is now easier to treat. Pancreatic cancer remains a major cancer killer, but advances are happening. As a medical oncologist who specializes in treating and studying pancreatic cancer, I’ll try to provide insights, including some from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting now underway. read more

The remarkable wages of true belief!

bob somerby at the daily howler - 12 hours ago
*SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 2019Mueller's top cable translator:* Robert J. Mueller—"Mueller the Royal"—made an eight-minute statement on Wednesday. We refer to him as "Mueller the Royal" because of his absurd request that he not have to testify to Congress. In this request, Mueller the Royal joins Comey the God, helping us see what tends to happen when Establishment Washington spends years insisting that some revered individual is "the most upright person now living." Luckily, no one is above the law in the United States! For that reason, we can still hope that Mueller will be required to... more »

Is China's Economy Stronger, And The U.S. Economy Is Weaker?

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 12 hours ago
Cargo containers shipped by freight trains of the China-Europe Railway Express are stacked at the Chengdu Railway Port. Photo: AFP *David P. Goldman, Asia Times:* *Washington is wrong about China’s economy* *The US economy is weaker, and China’s stronger, than analysts believe* Americans want to believe that their economy is doing well and that China’s economy is doing badly, as President Trump keeps saying. One shouldn’t blame Trump for this – underestimating competitors is America’s national pastime. A recent embarrassing example was a report by Wells Fargo analyst Roger Read fe... more »

The Non-Existant State Of Transnistria Still Exists

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 12 hours ago
*DW:* *Transnistria: Russia's satellite state an open wound in Eastern Europe* Less than 200 kilometers separate Transnistria from the European Union's eastern frontier, on the Romanian border. Yet the tiny sliver of disputed territory might as well be on another planet. "Do you want to complain about us? To whom? Are you stupid, or are you just acting like it?" the Transnistrian border guard laughs as he and his colleagues watch over a state that does not legally exist. Transnistria, a narrow stretch of land on the eastern banks of the Dniester River, split from the Republic of ... more »

Is Stalin Making A Comeback In Russia?

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 12 hours ago
*The Atlantic:* *Is Stalin Making a Comeback in Russia?* A statue of the Soviet dictator in Russia’s third-largest city says much about the country today. But it’s not necessarily a win for the Kremlin. NOVOSIBIRSK, Russia—To find Joseph Stalin here in Russia’s third-largest city, drive down the main thoroughfare, Red Аvenue, past Lenin Square. At the Ob River, turn left on Bolshevik Street until you reach a two-story wooden building with traditionally carved window trimmings. There, at the Communist Party’s local headquarters on a sunny day in May, the city’s mayor unveiled the b... more »

I've heard of spaghetti Westerns, but a spaghetti car chase???

Peter at Bayou Renaissance Man - 12 hours ago
This rather baffling car chase comes from a movie titled, in English, "Strange Shadows in an Empty Room". In Britain it was re-titled "Blazing Magnum", and in Italy, "Una magnum special per Tony Saitta". It wasn't well received. According to Wikipedia: In a retrospective review, AllMovie stated that the film has "plenty of slick visuals and action but makes little sense: The script is a chaotic jumble of half-baked mystery" and that it is "never convincing or believable for a second and is further hurt by a lack of sympathetic characters". The review concluded that "Strange Shad... more »

Australian Daily Electrical Power Generation Data – Friday 31st May 2019

TonyfromOz at PA Pundits – International - 12 hours ago
By Anton Lang ~ This Post details the daily power consumption 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 on […]

Cop Indicted After Horrifying Video Shows Him Beating Homeless Woman With a Baton

Matt Agorist at The Free Thought Project - 12 hours ago
[image: police]After the department cleared him, video surfaced of a cop savagely beating a woman with a baton and now he's been indicted.

Cops Strip Search Six Kids Because Their Mom Took Too Long to Buy Muffins

Matt Agorist at The Free Thought Project - 12 hours ago
[image: muffins]An innocent mother had her rights violated and all of her children strip searched by police because she took ten minutes to buy muffins.

Rewarding Failing Schools

Peter Greene at CURMUDGUCATION - 12 hours ago
One of the problems with the business oriented view of education reveals itself in the use of the word "reward." As long as the debate has raged, we can find commentators, thinky tanks, and policy makers arguing that giving more resources to struggling schools is "rewarding" them for failure. (Here's an example, and here's another.) For many folks, this seems simple and straightforward, but it's really not. Imagine two small children. Pat is growing up in a poor home and not receiving the kind of food necessary to thrive. Chris is growing up in a wealthy home and gets all the food a... more »

This Day In Iraqi History - Jun 1

Joel Wing at MUSINGS ON IRAQ - 12 hours ago
1932 Most Assyrian Levies resigned over treatment of their community Worried about what new Iraqi govt would do with them (Musings On Iraq book review of *The Tragedy of the Assyrian Minority in Iraq*) (Musings On Iraq book review *State and Society in Iraq*) 1941 Regent of Iraq returned to power after PM Gaylani overthrown by British 1941 497 Iraqi soldiers killed and 695 wounded British lost 150 troops during Anglo-Iraq War 1941 Regent welcomed at airport by group of Jews from Baghdad who were attacked on way home that continued into capital 1941 Farhud anti-Jewish pogrom in ... more »

Notes de lecture : Étienne Picand, La révolte des derniers hommes

Ethical Technology - 13 hours ago
*nb : Cet article ne se veut pas une analyse littéraire de l’oeuvre poétique. Il ne vise qu’à explorer l’abord du thème transhumaniste et les représentations liées.*

Cannabis Will Be Your Future Food – Not for Mood Effect But Nutrition Effect

G. Edward Griffin at Need To Know - 13 hours ago
Evan Fold is at the forefront of the movement to return Cannabis to its proper role in nutrition, medicine, and building materials.

India’s ‘Trump’ Wins Big

Eric MARGOLIS at OrientalReview.org - 13 hours ago
India is on a roll. Now, even more so thanks to a strong central government that favors commerce and big business. But it’s not all sitar music and incense. India is a modern nation of 600 million atop an ancient rural nation of 700 million. Modern India will struggle to escape ancient Mother India.

Autism Is NOT the New Normal..

Ralph Fucetola at BolenReport - 13 hours ago
I say this as a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist with a nearly half-century of clinical perspective… By Rima E. Laibow, M.D. Ralph Fucetola JD says – I’ve worked with Rima E. Laibow, M.D. for a dozen years. Dr. Rima is a brilliant psychiatrist and physician who does not prescribe pharmaceutical drugs. The book excerpt below … Continue reading Autism Is NOT the New Normal..

Fascinating news story...

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 13 hours ago
President Trump issued an executive order imposing a state of emergency in the US because of the 'threat' of Chinese digital technologies and 5G network equipment getting into America. As a result, the US Department of Commerce blacklisted the Chinese digital giant, the company Huawei, along with its 70 subsidiaries. This week, the story continued.

Connect with your local 5G community action group

TOTT News at News – TOTT News - 13 hours ago
5G technology is beginning to be introduced in Australia, despite backlash across the world against an evolving technology that remains largely untested and unregulated for safety concerns. Are you concerned about 5G? Below is a list of all existing 5G community actions groups across Australia:

How 'Fit' Does the U.S. Military Need to Be?

Task and Purpose at The National Interest - 13 hours ago
*Task and Purpose* *Security, * Depends on the job? *A burly Marine may repel the Taliban in Afghanistan or an elite Special Forces unit may engage Islamic State fighters in urban warfare, but these are just peripheral threats. * When Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower issued a letter to his troops just before the D-Day landings in Normandy in 1944, he told them, “I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle.” He was writing to American troops who had to meet these minimum physical requirements: seven pull-ups, 31 jump squats, 27 push-ups, 52 sit-ups, and... more »

Debate It: Why Sig Sauer's P226 Is One of the Best Guns Ever Made

Kyle Mizokami at The National Interest - 13 hours ago
*Kyle Mizokami* *Security, * The P226 is an evolution of an earlier design and indisputably one of the best pistols of the twentieth century. One of the most popular handguns in the world is a Swiss-German design that traces its origins back to the immediate postwar era. The Sig P226 is a full-sized weapon that while failing to capture the prize as the Pentagon’s new pistol in the 1980s went on to achieve underdog acclaim as the official handgun of the U.S. Navy SEALs. In the late 1940s Swiss gunmaker Schweizerische Industrie-Gesellschaft, known by its initials as SIG, introduc... more »

D-Day: The Legendary World War II Battle that Freed Europe from Hitler

Daniel L. Davis at The National Interest - 13 hours ago
*Daniel L. Davis* *Security, * The beginning of the end for Nazi Germany. History and many movies have lionized the American role in the military victory at Normandy over the years. The campaign resulted in the penetration of Hitler’s so-called “Fortress Europa” and eventually opened the drive to Berlin and the end of World War II. That outcome was far from certain, however, as dawn broke on June 6, 1944. Only relentless American innovation, fierce determination—and of rivers of American blood—turned the tide. The years of preparation for the battle had been meticulous, politica... more »

Could This U.S. Ally Really Build Their Own F-35?

Sebastien Roblin at The National Interest - 13 hours ago
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, * France won't go full stealth, but wants to make some big changes to its fighter jets. *The F4 generation introduces additional network-centric warfare capabilities and data-logistics similar to those on the F-35 Lightning, enabling Rafales on patrol to build a more accurate picture of the battlespace by pooling their sensors over a secure network, and even exchange data using new satellite communications antenna. The pilots also benefit from improved helmet-mounted displays.* In January 2019, French Defense Minister Florence Parly announced Franc... more »

Could Taiwan Halt an Invasion by China?

Mark Episkopos at The National Interest - 13 hours ago
*Mark Episkopos* *Security, Asia* It won't be easy. The *Taiwan question* has long been in a thorn in the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) side. In the decades following the *Shanghai communiqué*, the CCP’s core strategic approach to Taiwan was to bide their time while building up national strength. As *Deng Xiaoping famously proclaimed*, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) can wait 100 years to reunify with Taiwan (also known as Republic of China, or ROC) if necessary. Today’s CCP appears to be operating within a much shorter time frame, however. With China’s rise to great powe... more »

Walters steals victory again for Dockers, Cats continue winning streak

Just In - 13 hours ago
A Michael Walters goal inside the final minute sees the Dockers pip the Magpies, while the Cats defeat the Swans, and the Crows, Lions and Giants also post wins.

Weekend reads: “Banished” data used in a paper; cancer group’s database draws ethical scrutiny; company employees banned as peer reviewers

Ivan Oransky at Retraction Watch - 13 hours ago
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 a retraction demand from CrossFit; a “case of good science” … Continue reading Weekend reads: “Banished” data used in a paper; cancer group’s database draws ethical scrutiny; company employees banned as peer reviewers

Untitled

Jenna Orkin at From the Wilderness' Peak Oil Blog - 13 hours ago
From Jenna Orkin 'Slow-motion disaster' along Arkansas River: Every large community will see major flooding within 7-10 days Online abortion pill provider ordered to cease delivery by FDA (March) Kim Jong-Un Executes Four Officials Over Failed Trump Summit Malaysia Proposes Common Asian Gold-Backed Currency Israel has been plunged into political chaos after Netanyahu failed to form a government — and experts say this could be the end of the line for him New Satellite Imagery Reveals Chinese Navy Simulating An Invasion On Taiwan Russian Jets Unleash Hell On Idlib After Ceasefire Talks Wit... more »

President Trump's Approval Numbers Hit A Two-Year High

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 13 hours ago
*Daily Mail*: *Trump's approval hits two-year high and tops his popular vote finish in 2016 despite impeachment talk as 48 per cent of Americans say he's doing a good job* * Trump's overall approval ratings is 48 per cent in a Harvard-Harris poll * That's his best showing in 2 years and beats the 46.1 per cent he got in 2016 * President's good marks are heavily dependent on strength of U.S. economy * 71% say the economy is strong; 61% approve of Trump's performance on jobs * But just 37 per cent say they will vote for him in 2020, suggesting a tough road New poll numbers are giving... more »

Brazil’s Lower House Creates Committee to Debate Bitcoin Regulation

Arkady Petrov at The Rio Times - 13 hours ago
By Arkady Petrov RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The President of Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies, Rodrigo Maia (DEM-RJ), ordered the formation of a Special Committee to render an opinion on Bill No. 2303/2015, which would require the regulation of Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies in Brazil. Only a couple of weeks ago, Brazil ordered companies and citizens […] The post Brazil’s Lower House Creates Committee to Debate Bitcoin Regulation appeared first on The Rio Times.

GLOBAL WARMING FAIL : Record Snow When You Were Assured By Climate ‘Scientists’ That There Would Be None

Jamie Spry at Climatism - 13 hours ago
SNOWFALL will become “A very rare and exciting event… Children just aren’t going to know what snow is.” Dr David Viner – Senior scientist, climatic research unit (CRU) “Good bye winter. Never again snow?” Spiegel (2000) “Milder winter temperatures will decrease heavy snowstorms” IPCC (2001) “End of Snow?” NYTimes (2014) “Good bye winter. Never again snow?” […]

Snap elections for Austria and Greece as EU Parliament vote claims first victims (Video)

Alex Christoforou at The Duran - 13 hours ago
The Duran Quick Take: Episode 190. The post Snap elections for Austria and Greece as EU Parliament vote claims first victims (Video) appeared first on The Duran.

The First 3D-Printed House in the US was so Successful, 50 More are Being Made

WakingTimes at Waking Times - 14 hours ago
*Mandy Froelich* - One year ago, America’s first 3D-printed home was unveiled in the city of Austin, Texas.

The UN Torture Report on Assange is an Indictment of Our Entire Society

WakingTimes at Waking Times - 14 hours ago
*Caitlin Johnstone* - Don’t let his example go to waste.

LEDs Have Damaging Health Effects, French Assessment Says

WakingTimes at Waking Times - 14 hours ago
*Dr. Mercola* - If you have any fluorescent bulbs in your home you would be strongly advised to replace them.

Arkansas River North Little Rock: Containment Berm Breached At Petroleum Facility

miningawareness at Mining Awareness + - 14 hours ago
See link for interactive flood forecast map at the bottom of this blog post; read disclaimer at the link. “NWS … Continue reading →

Reading Kant in the 1790s

Unknown at The Verma Report - 14 hours ago
Jakob Friedrich FriesThe 1790s were the period when Germany witnessed the pantheism controversy, the effects of the French Revolution and the rise of Immanuel Kant’s philosophy. Jakob Friedrich Fries was introduced to Kantian philosophy by one of his teachers Karl Bernhard Garve at the Moravian seminary in Niesky where he was studying in the years 1792—1795. The brethren at the Moravian seminary considered Kant’s thought bad for religious faith and they did not take kindly to Garve’s endeavors for acquainting his students with Kantianism. Garve was relieved of his duties, but his e... more »

U.S. Democrats Move To Block The Declassification Of Intelligence Documents That Were Used To Justify Warrants To Spy On The Trump Campaign

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 14 hours ago
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) arrives for an address by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to a joint meeting of Congress in the House Chamber on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., April 3, 2019. REUTERS/Carlos Barria *Washington Examiner:* *Adam Schiff calls on Dan Coats to tell him if William Barr declassifies over intelligence community objections* House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff pressed the intelligence community to let him know if Attorney General William Barr declassifies any documents pertaining to the Russia investigation over the... more »

Signifying What?

Owen Gray at Northern Reflections - 14 hours ago
Jason Kenney is all about oil. And, given what's happening in the rest of the world, it's clear that he's living on another planet. As this one warms because of the consequences of fossil fuel extraction, he wants to speed up that extraction. Mitchell Anderson writes: As the rest of the planet strives to curb carbon dependence, Alberta is instead stepping on the gas. The industry-funded Alberta Energy Regulator has apparently promised the petroleum sector they will soon offer 15 minute automated approvals on about 90 per cent of new drilling permits. What’s next? A drive through w... more »

Untitled

jonjayray at EDUCATION WATCH INTERNATIONAL - 15 hours ago
*Sen. Ted Cruz Fights for More Flexible Education Savings Accounts* Before Congress adjourned for Memorial Day weekend, Sen. Ted Cruz objected to a new retirement saving bill passed by the House because it left out one important reform. The Texas Republican is standing up for expanded access to personal savings options for family education choice. In 2017, college savings plans, or “529s,” were modified to allow parents to use money in those accounts for K-12 expenses. Cruz’s Student Empowerment Act would build on those good reforms by allowing the money saved to go toward home sc... more »

Islamic Jihad Releases Video Showing Drones Attacking An Israeli Tank

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 15 hours ago
*Jerusalem Post*: *Islamic Jihad releases video showing drones attacking Israeli tanks- watch* "Your fortresses don't stand before us." Hamas-based terrorist organization Islamic Jihad released a video on Thursday, showing drones attacking Israeli tanks near the Gaza border. Lebanese news channel Al-Mayadeen, which publicized the video, wrote "Al-Quds Brigades reveal the use of drones to attack Israeli occupation tanks in the last round of Gaza fighting." *Read more *.... *WNU Editor*: Cannot tell much from the video. But this attack should not surprise anyone. Drones now play... more »

Ultra-Processed Foods Linked to Higher Risk of Heart Disease and Early Death

WakingTimes at Waking Times - 15 hours ago
*Olivia Rosane* - So many foods in the standard American diet are absolutely toxic.

Ben & Jerry’s to Start Selling CBD-Infused Ice Cream as Soon as Possible

WakingTimes at Waking Times - 15 hours ago
*Emma Fiala* - The company also wants you to help change current laws.

NO, PEGGY NOONAN DOES NOT HAVE A SOLUTION TO OUR TRUMP IMPASSE

Steve M. at No More Mister Nice Blog - 15 hours ago
Peggy Noonan is not a Trump fan, but she opposes impeachment. It is still a terrible idea. It is a grave matter to overturn an election result. Why more cuttingly divide an already divided country? There is no argument that impeachment would enhance America’s position in the world.... Impeachment wouldn't enhance America's position in the world? Really? ... and no reason to believe it would not have some negative impact on the economy, meaning jobs. We should just spare Trump the burden of thinking about impeachment so he can ... focus on imposing more tariffs? Yeah, that ought... more »

Untitled

JR at GREENIE WATCH - 15 hours ago
*Extinction Rebellion threatens 10-day Heathrow protest if government doesn't drop airport expansion plans* Extinction Rebellion is planning a 10-day summer holiday protest at Heathrow if the Government does not cancel all expansion plans for the airport. In a statement on its website the group, which caused major disruption in London earlier this year during a series of protests, said: "Extinction Rebellion demands the Government begins to act on its declaration of a Climate and Environment Emergency by cancelling all Heathrow expansion. "On June 18, we plan to carry out nonviol... more »

ISIS Widow Reveals Her Role In Heling The CIA In The Hunt For ISIS Leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 15 hours ago
Women who fled heavy fighting in the city of Baghuz sit in trucks taking them to a refugee camp for suspected Isis families in February. Photograph: Achilleas Zavallis/The Guardian *Guardian*:* Female Isis captive reveals role in helping CIA hunt for Baghdadi* Umm Sayyaf, sentenced to death in Iraq, tells how she exposed fugitive’s secrets The most senior female Islamic State captive has played a central role in the hunt for Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, helping identify safe houses used by the fugitive terrorist leader and in one case pinpointing his location in Mosul, the Guardian can... more »

Proud to have moved things on

Craig at Is the BBC biased? - 15 hours ago
Jonathan Munro (again) Jonathan Munro, the BBC's Head of Newsgathering, may not have completely delighted me this morning but he certainly made Big John Simpson's day yesterday: Delighted that the BBC’s Jonathan Munro has strongly defended it from querulous attacks by former BBC bosses. Failure to stand up for yourself when unfairly criticised looks like real timidity — & is just asking for more of the same. Contrary to what former BBC boss Roger Mosey seems to think, BBC TV News viewing figures have held up remarkably well, & the quality gets better & better, especially in the... more »

On crisis acting

Unknown at Accidental Deliberations - 15 hours ago
Shorter Brad Wall, Distinguished Statesman: Never mind the facts about my trumped-up grievances, I demand that we break up the country in order to burn down the world!

This Was Imperial Japan's Best World War II Fighter (America Feared It)

Warfare History Network at The National Interest - 15 hours ago
*Warfare History Network* *History, Asia* [image: By Mike1979 Russia - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=38330166] Check out the Nakajima Ki-43. At the start of World War II, Japanese airpower ruled the skies over China and the Pacific. Japan’s modern, highly maneuverable fighters, flown by well-trained and combat-tested pilots, outperformed anything the Chinese, British, or Americans could get airborne to oppose them. When the Mitsubishi A6M Type 0 naval fighter first appeared over China in 1941, Allied aviators were astonished. Not only wa... more »

Glock 42 Gun: Why the Smallest of All Glocks is Truly Special

Kyle Mizokami at The National Interest - 15 hours ago
*Kyle Mizokami* *Security, * In the right hands, the Glock 42 pistol could conceivably become as deadly as its larger caliber brethren. The smallest Glock, it is also suitable for whom concealability is a major purchase factor. A combination of the successful Glock pistol design and a caliber invented by armsman John Moses Browning, the Glock 42 is certainly worth taking a look at. The pistol combines the Austrian gun manufacturer’s gun operating system with the .380 ACP pistol cartridge. The result is both a pistol for concealed carriers who desire a low recoil pistol and the s... more »

Bad News: The Electric Car Revolution Will Come from China, Not America

Jack Barkenbus at The National Interest - 15 hours ago
*Jack Barkenbus* *Technology, * Here's why. The electric vehicle revolution is coming, but it won’t be driven by the U.S. Instead, China will be at the forefront. My research on EVs, dating back a decade, convinces me that this global transformation in mobility, from petroleum-fueled vehicles to electric ones, will come sooner than later. The shift is already happening in China, which is the world’s largest automobile market, with 23 million cars sold in 2018. As Western countries approach peak car ownership, there are still hundreds of millions of Chinese families that don’t ow... more »

Most Dangerous Job During World War II: B-17 Bombing Runs over Nazi Germany

Warfare History Network at The National Interest - 15 hours ago
*Warfare History Network* *Security, Europe* [image: By Bill Larkins - B-17F Tanker E84, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=29358016] And this mission proves it. When the call came that morning, it was not unlike the 25 times previously when they had flown, or all those other times when weather intervened and postponement was ordered. The door to the Nissen hut bangs open, the dim center-ceiling bulb winks to life, heavy footsteps, a grasp and shake of the shoulder, “OK, sir, mission today, you’re scheduled to go, breakfast at 0500, briefing at 0530.” ... more »

Raiders edge out Bulldogs 12-10 in NRL arm wrestle

Just In - 15 hours ago
The Raiders — missing their State of Origin trio Josh Papalii, Nick Cotric and Jack Wighton — produce a gutsy display to beat the Bulldogs 12-10 at Sydney's Olympic stadium.

Guess Who Passed On The Opportunity To Mingle With The Grassroots Activists Of The Biggest State in The U.S.

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 16 hours ago
Charlie Cook, an avatar of centrism, asked yesterday if Democrats can grab the center now that Trump alienated it from the Republicans. As he says, the electorate is made up of two sides and a big mushy middle. Sometimes it's a third, a third and a third. Going all the way back to the American Revolution, we found about a third of the country siding with the Patriots, a third, the conservatives, siding with the British and about a third who didn't want to be bothered. I recall that when I was in college politics, about 30% of the students wanted to see the War against Vietnam ended... more »

Climate Tipping Point Discovered

tonyheller at The Deplorable Climate Science Blog - 16 hours ago
“Scientists say” all warming over the past 120 years was caused by CO2 emissions from humans and volcanoes. Humans and volcanoes caused nearly all of global heating in past 140 years | Environment | The Guardian This corresponds with the … Continue reading →

Explaining The National Hurricane Center Cone of Uncertainty

miningawareness at Mining Awareness + - 16 hours ago
Link to 3 1/2 minute video: https://youtu.be/04QRN5gUe08

"I have enjoyed reading this thread so much"

Craig at Is the BBC biased? - 16 hours ago
Lisa and friend *bellingcat*'s Iggy Ostanin has been trawling the social media accounts of Lisa Forbes, Labour's candidate for the Peterborough by-election, and found that Ms. Forbes "liked a post saying Theresa May has a “Zionist Slave Masters agenda”" (on 5 April this year) and that she "also commented on a post claiming ISIS was created “by the CIA and Mosad [sic]" herself writing "I have enjoyed reading this thread so much" (in September 2014). Will this story hit the news bulletins? ******* On a related matter, here's a thread I enjoyed reading so much from, believe it or no... more »

Trivia: June 1st

Terry at 'Nox & Friends - 16 hours ago
These things happened on this date in history…. President Ford Trips June 1, 1975 U.S. President Gerald Ford falls down on the steps of Air Force One after arriving in Austria. Chevy Chase‘s parody of this on Saturday Night Live, along with another fall while climbing up the stairs of Air Force One the following December and other klutz moments would lead the media to characterize Ford as a klutz. Ford, however, was star college football player for University of Michigan. Passport using name of “Ricardo Klement” that Eichmann used to enter Argentina in 1950 Nazi War Criminal Eichmann... more »

Man Robs Store in Rio, Breaks Into Metrô, Takes a Hostage and Then Surrenders

Xiu Ying at The Rio Times - 16 hours ago
By Xiu Ying, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – A man who had just held up a Lojas Americanas store in Copacabana on Friday night broke into the nearby Cardeal Arcoverde metrô station, went to the platform and, armed with a revolver, took hostage a man who was waiting for the train, . […] The post Man Robs Store in Rio, Breaks Into Metrô, Takes a Hostage and Then Surrenders appeared first on The Rio Times.

Camera Captures Police Officers Planting Gun After Death of Motorcyclist

Contributing Reporter at The Rio Times - 16 hours ago
By Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Two military police officers were caught by security cameras planting a gun on BR-277, in São José dos Pinhais, in the Metropolitan Region of Curitiba, where a motorcyclist was killed. They were reported by the Public Prosecution Service of Paraná. The offense occurred on April 21st this […] The post Camera Captures Police Officers Planting Gun After Death of Motorcyclist appeared first on The Rio Times.

California renewable energy mandate is unsustainable

drinkingwateradvisor at The Drinking Water Advisor - 16 hours ago
“The Energy Information Administration (EIA) data for U.S. states total energy consumption from 1960 through year 2016 shows that California after a decade of tens of billions in government subsidies and mandates requiring use of renewables still required fossil fuels … Continue reading →

Mexico's president meets reality, and doesn't like it

Peter at Bayou Renaissance Man - 16 hours ago
Mexican President Lopez Obrador is apparently peeved with US President Trump over the latter's economic retaliation against Mexico for not stemming the tide of illegal alien border-jumpers. In a pointed letter released Thursday, López Obrador lashed out at Trump for what he described as the U.S. president's "turning the United States, overnight, from a country of brotherly love for immigrants from around the world, to a bolted space, where there's stigmatizing, mistreatment, abuse, persecution, and a denial of the right to justice to those who seek -- with sacrifice and hard work -... more »

Do one million species truly face extinction?

Gregory Wrightstone at CFACT - 16 hours ago
One million extinctions over the next several decades were predicted by a recent UN report. This video exposes the abuse and misuse of the scientific process. WATCH NOW. The post Do one million species truly face extinction? appeared first on CFACT.

Saturday Morning Links

Unknown at Accidental Deliberations - 16 hours ago
Assorted content for your weekend reading. - The NDP has released its Power to Change climate plan, including steps to create green jobs and give effect to Indigenous rights while meeting emission reduction targets needed to contribute to the international fight against climate breakdown. And Christo Aivilis offers his first impressions, while Jolson Lim focuses on the plan for fare-free, zero-emission public transit which would combine substantial environmental benefits with improvements in affordability for the people who need it most. - Meanwhile, Sean Holman implores the medi... more »

Rare Earths: Make Trade, Not War

Pierre Lemieux at Econlib - 16 hours ago
It would not be the first time in the history of mankind that an expansionary or imperial state decides to grab instead of trading or, more in tune with modernity, instead of letting its subjects free to trade. Thus far, it is only a possibility, but it does not take much imagination to see what […] The post Rare Earths: Make Trade, Not War appeared first on Econlib.