10 pm MST
Sea Ice Extent (Global Antarctic and Arctic) – Day 31 – 2020
Originally posted on sunshine hours: South / North
Saturday Morning Links
Assorted content for your weekend reading. - Derek Thompson discusses how the U.S.' capitalist system has been designed to squeeze younger workers - leading to many of them being open to systemic change. And in the context of UK Labour's leadership campaign, Grace Blakeley writes about the need for socialists to talk in aspirational rather than merely incremental terms to ensure voters recognize that democratic change is possible: The idea of ‘aspirational socialism’ is Long-Bailey’s answer to this problem. It was always going to be difficult to convince an electorate beaten down b... more »
Syrian Army seizes western-made weapons left behind by jihadists in Idlib: Russia
Large arsenals of weapons and munitions, including of the Western make, were found by Syrian government troops on territories liberated from militants in the Idlib de-escalation zone, Major General Yuri Borenkov, chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria, said on Friday. “After militants retreated deeper into the Idlib de-escalation […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Syrian Army storms southwestern Aleppo sector amid continued push to secure highway
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:30 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) resumed their offensive in southwestern Aleppo on Saturday amid their ongoing attempt to secure the Aleppo-Damascus Highway (M-5). READ ALSO: Syrian Army tank in action against jihadists in Idlib Backed by Russian air support, the Syrian Army’s 4th Armored Division and their allies from Division […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Yemeni gov’t forces launched massive counter-offensive to reenter Sanaa
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:15 P.M.) – The Yemeni government forces launched a large-scale counter-offensive in northern Yemen this morning after suffering battlefield setbacks over the last week. READ ALSO: Ansarallah forces capture 800 square km of territory in northern Yemen The government forces reportedly began their offensive on Saturday by storming several areas under the control […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Syrian Army captures several towns to expand west towards Idlib city
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:00 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) scored another big advance this week after their forces made a push west towards the provincial capital of Idlib. READ ALSO: Syrian Army launches big counter-attack to retake lost areas in southeastern Idlib Led by the 25th Special Mission Forces Division (formerly Tiger Forces), the […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Several rockets reportedly hit Iraqi base housing US forces
Iraq’s al-Qayyarah Airfield, housing US troops, is located some 40 miles (64 kilometers) south of Mosul and 186 miles (299 kilometers) north of Baghdad. There have been no reports of damage or casualties. READ ALSO: Qassem Soleimani was ‘saying bad things about US’ before his assassination – Trump According to unconfirmed reports, at least five […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Turkish-backed militants launch surprise offensive in east Aleppo, several SAA killed
BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:30 P.M.) – The Turkish-backed militants from the so-called “Syrian National Army” (SNA) launched a surprise attack in the Al-Bab countryside of eastern Aleppo today, resulting in the death of several Syrian Army soldiers. READ ALSO: Designer explains how Israel managed to hit Russian Pantsir-S in Syria Led by the Ahrar Al-Sharqiyah faction, […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Who but the Times (and we the humans) would publish a column like this?
*SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2020The funding of low-income schools:* Our current surprising situation is remarkably humbling. We're being tutored by some of the most disconsolate future experts in all of human post-history. In effect, we're enrolled in one of their most depressing graduate-level courses: *Failed Mental Hygiene 401:* The Ways Homo Sapiens "Reasoned" This work is humbling, but can also be startling. These anthropologists' use of the future past tense is a highly unsettling practice. In recent weeks, these scholars have devoted the bulk of class time to the hapless thoug... more »
MSM caught lying again as usual on Bolton threat from the WH – Sickening
Who is Jim Sciutto? Anchor and Chief National Security Correspondent for CNN. His work includes foreign policy, the military, terrorism, and the intelligence community. He had worked as Chief of Staff for US Ambassador to China Gary Locke who happened to have been Secretary of Commerce prior to being appointed by Obama to the ambassadorship from 2011 to 2014. Previously, he was also a former ABC News’ Senior Foreign correspondent, based in London. So of course that Tweet certainly makes lopsided sense. Here is the letter that is supposedly being discussed. You decide — is it a threa... more »
Is the Corona Virus a Manufactured Biological Weapon?
Hat tips to our reader Dragon’s Lair, and to Hardnox his own self, for spotting this article: An epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University has studied the origins of the current outbreak of the corona virus (dubbed Corona 3.0), and found that it originated from a single point in mainland China, and jumped into the population fully realized, as it were. The implication is that this is not how viruses usually spread and mutate. Doctor Feigl-Ding goes to some lengths to say he is NOT implying that Corona 3.0 is a bioengineered virus … but he cannot positively deny that idea, … Continu... more »
The case for Israel - 'the deal of the century'
I’ve been scouring the internet in search of material with sufficient credibility to counterbalance the BBC’s default hostility to Trump’s ‘deal of the century’. If the BBC wasn’t so overtly negative about it I wouldn’t need to do that. The trouble is that the political and academic left’s distortion of the facts surrounding the establishment of Israel has infected a generation of people - from cradle to grave, as the saying goes. I’m sorry to say that it reminds me of the advice given to the fella who asked the Irishman for directions. “If I were you I wouldn’t start from here.” ... more »
The Daily "Near You?"
Sayward, British Columbia, Canada. Thanks for stopping by!
"We Don't Know..."
"Most ignorance is vincible ignorance. We don't know because we don't want to know." - Aldous Huxley • *Related:* “A Psychologist's Take on Willful Ignorance” - http://www.thomhartmann.com/
Free Download: Milton Mayer, "They Thought They Were Free"
*"They Thought They Were Free"* by Educate Yourself "It's remarkable how closely America's current decent into a police state parallels that of Germany in the 1930s. The Illuminati is following the German Nazification model here in America down to the smallest detail. It's important to note that the fascists manipulating Germany from a democracy into a dictatorship in the 1930's did so by constantly bombarding their population with a fast moving stream of "crisis'" news items and staged 'crisis' events to keep the German populace bewildered and in a state of anxiety so they would n... more »
Climate delusion: Washington Post claims more plant growth is bad
Is it better or worse to have a global climate that benefits plant growth? The post Climate delusion: Washington Post claims more plant growth is bad appeared first on CFACT.
Dear Republicans: I Am Sorry, But This is How Precedents Work
In response to Bernie Sanders promising to jam through his programs by executive fiat if necessary in a declared state of emergency, folks of the Right are rushing to distance themselves from helping to create this monster. From the National Review Trump’s emergency declaration was contained to a single issue and a single project. Declaring […]
Meet Canada's CF-105 Avro Arrow: The Super Jet You Never Heard Of
*Robert Farley* *Americas, * A big, beautiful fighter, the Arrow offered a promise to patrol Canadian airspace for decades. *Key point:* The legend of the Arrow did not die with its cancellation. In the early 1950s, the Canadian government began to solicit orders for a new high-speed interceptor. The explosion in jet technology had rendered Canada’s first- and second-generation interceptors obsolete; in order to patrol Canada’s vast airspace, the Royal Canadian Air Force would need something awesome. Avro Canada answered the call with the CF-105 Avro Arrow, a high-performance i... more »
Sorry, Trump: The Founders Would Want To Hear Impeachment Witnesses
*Clark D. Cunningham* *Security, * [image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Founding_Fathers_of_the_United_States#/media/File:Committee_of_Five,_1776.png] In my work as a law professor studying original texts about the U.S. Constitution, I’ve read statements made at the Constitutional Convention that demonstrate the Founders viewed impeachment as a regular practice, with three purposes. Senators will soon decide whether to dismiss the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump without hearing any witnesses. In making this decision, I believe they should consider words s... more »
Ethical Kangaroo Skins? Here's a Surprising Eco-Friendly Industry Saving Rural Australia
*Fabri Blacklock* *economy, Australia* [image: A wallaby is seen on in burnt bushland on Kangaroo Island, Australia January 19, 2020. REUTERS/Tracey Nearmy] Don't knock it until you try it. The Versace fashion house recently announced it had stopped using kangaroo skins in its fashion collections after coming under pressure from animal rights group LAV. Kangaroo meat and skin has an annual production value of around A$174 million, with skins used in the fashion and shoe manufacturing industries. There are legitimate questions regarding the ethical manner in which kangaroos are ... more »
Why The F-15 Must Fear Russia's Su-27 Fighter
*Robert Farley* *Security, Eurasia* [image: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2016%3Anewsml_LR1EC590MZK2E&share=true] The USSR's best plane. *Key Point:* The Su-27 was good enough to outlive the Cold War. To the West, most of the legendary Soviet aircraft of the Cold War came from the design bureau Mikoyan Gurevitch, which spawned such aircraft as the MiG-15 “Fagot,” MiG-21 “Fishbed,” MiG-25 “Foxbat” and MiG-29 “Fulcrum.” The single best Soviet fighter of the Cold War, however, was Sukhoi’s Su-27 “Flanker.” Intended both to defeat U.S. fighters over centr... more »
Conservatives Tend To Fear Debating Their Progressive Opponents
Yesterday, Marie Newman alerted the media in her district about how her opponent, Blue Dog Dan Lipinski is dodging debates again (Press release is above.) Her statement speaks for itself and will help Chicagoland voters understand what a coward-of-his-convictions Lipinski really is. I decided to ask a few of the other Blue America-endorsed candidates if they're facing the same problem with their Republican or DCCC-backed incumbents. South Texas progressive Jessica Cisneros, whose inspiring campaign has been covered nationally and locally and has been endorsed by Bernie, AOC, Ayanna... more »
Origin of the 2C temperature target
The Climategate emails revealed that the 2C global warming temperature target was entirely arbitrary — “plucked out of thin air,” as Phil Jones put it. Today we can trace this arbitrariness back one step further — to a 1975 paper by economist William Nordhaus. (Source) Please Like, Share, Subscribe, Re-Blog and Comment
Sadr Returns To Iraq’s Protests After Betraying Them For Iran
(Reuters) Moqtada al-Sadr made another dramatic swing in direction. On January 24, Sadr held a rally in Baghdad against the U.S. presence in Iraq and told his followers to withdraw from the protests sites. The next day government forces began attacks on protest camps across the country with deadly results. Sadr had been supporting the demonstrations since their start in October, but reportedly abandoned them in return for Iranian backing. That deal fell apart, and Sadr reversed himself and is now trying to rejoin the protests. This is one of the biggest and quickest flip flops in Sa... more »
This Day In Iraqi History - Feb 1
1922 UK intel report said cabinet told Def Min to count time in Arab Revolt in WWI double for pensions vs officers that joined afterward to privilege ex-Ottoman officers that originally joined King Faisal Favored Iraqi leaders like Jaafar al-Askari and Nuri al-Said 1928 UK sent note to Iraqi govt saying opposed conscription and if govt ran into problems over it UK wouldn’t help 1958 Egypt and Syria created United Arab Republic PM Said afraid pan-Arabists would overthrow his govt so Iraq could join UAR Syria suggested union with Egypt out of fear that Iraq was trying to forge cou... more »
Week in Review: Bierman out at MedMen, Arizona medical marijuana sales up, MO dispensary licenses revealed & more
MedMen CEO Adam Bierman resigns, Arizona medical marijuana sales jump by over a third in 2019, Missouri reveals MMJ shop licensees and appeals seem likely – and more of the week’s top cannabis business news. Bierman leaves MedMen Adam Bierman, co-founder of marijuana retailer MedMen Enterprises, resigned as chief executive. He also gave up his voting […] Week in Review: Bierman out at MedMen, Arizona medical marijuana sales up, MO dispensary licenses revealed & more is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs
Post Brexit, UK is ready to trade as a free nation (Video)
The Duran Quick Take: Episode 451. More The post Post Brexit, UK is ready to trade as a free nation (Video) appeared first on The Duran.
US Embassy Falsely Claims America Liberated Auschwitz
The United States Embassy in Denmark has apologized for a statement it made earlier this week that incorrectly claimed that it was American troops that liberated the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. In fact, Red Army troops reached its gates on January 27, 1945. “We acknowledge the important contributions of all Allied Forces during WWII and remember … Continue reading US Embassy Falsely Claims America Liberated Auschwitz →
Hundreds and thousands
The BBC has been widely criticised today for writing that "*Hundreds* gathered in Parliament Square to celebrate Brexit, singing patriotic songs and cheering speeches from leading Brexiteers, including Nigel Farage" in their main onloine report. Many a photo and video has been shared online showing it was thousands, not hundreds. Well, hours and hours and horus passed but Newsniffer reveals that, after passing through 14 earlier versions, the BBC two hours ago (1.02 pm, this afternoon) edited the report and changed it to "*Thousands *gathered in Parliament Square to celebrate Br... more »
Nearly 200 Citizens’ Guns Seized in NJ Under Red Flag Laws in 4 Months, Many of them PERMANENTLY
[image: red flag]In a single state, more than one person every day has had their second amendment rights stripped away by red flag gun laws.
Family Horrified to Find Cop on Nanny Cam in 3yo Daughter’s Room Sniffing Her Underwear
[image: underwear]Because he was a cop, the judge went easy on him, and this underwear sniffing child predator got off with unsupervised probation.
Outstanding Dissertation Award in Educational Policy and Politics
Purpose: The purpose of the AERA Division L Outstanding Dissertation Award is to recognize the exceptional research accomplishments of recent doctoral graduates. Dissertations employing any theoretical and methodological orientation may be nominated as long as they make an important contribution to education policy and/or politics. The award recipient will be formally recognized at the 2019 Division L Business Meeting at
How I Stopped Living While Parenting
The vital part of being a better parent is a good dose of selfishness, self-worth, and self-regard. You may not think so, but it does take a great deal of selflessness to be a parent. There’s a time in life when you should put an end to putting your children first. Most of you get caught up in the rut of focusing on your children and forget to live. When you stop living, it will impact your children’s lives, and they will think it is alright to stop living! As a parent, we want to protect and encourage our children, especially vulnerable children, yet life is not candy floss. Be fl... more »
The Military Wants to Adapt AI for Businesses Before It Goes on the Battlefield
*Jared Keller* *Technology, Americas* [image: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2020%3Anewsml_RC22OE9QNKB8&share=true] An interesting, if odd, idea? WASHINGTON – The Pentagon’s Silicon Valley outpost awarded C3.ai Inc. in Redwood City, Calif., a contract for software that predicts when military aircraft will need repairs. Defense News reports. Continue reading original article The Military & Aerospace Electronics take: 30 Jan. 2020 -- The artificial intelligence (AI) tool would make more aircraft available for missions and could potentially save billions... more »
Bernie Sanders Wants Nationwide Rent Control—And It's a Bad Idea
*James Pethokoukis* *Politics, Americas* Imagine local politics on a national scale. Sen. Bernie Sanders probably doesn’t expect there will ever be nationwide rent control. His presidential campaign proposal is more of the inspirational sort. As the Cato Institute’s Ryan Bourne writes in a new analysis, “What he is really doing here is endorsing a spate of new rent control laws across states, encouraging left‐wing activists to push for more stringent restrictions elsewhere.” The Sanders plan — limiting landlords to annual rent increases of three percent or 1.5 times inflation “... more »
Why the F-35s Crazy 'Beast Mode' Should Terrify North Korea, China (Or Anyone)
*Mark Episkopos* *Security, * It can take out multiple targets with ease. *Key point: *The F-35 is seeing more success over time. Let's see if it endures. Recently leaked video sheds light on one of the F-35’s possible weapons configurations, previously dubbed as “beast mode” in a Lockheed Martin infographic. The video, dating back to November of 2018, depicts an F-35 simultaneously firing five air-to-surface missiles against five test targets. At least one of the targets-- a light vehicle-- can be seen moving. Though it is presently unconfirmed where the trial took place and w... more »
Why Pelosi's Infrastucture Plan Would be a Total Trainwreck
*David Ditch* *Politics, Americas* [image: U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) holds her weekly news conference at the U.S Capitol during U.S. President Donald Trump's Senate impeachment trial in Washington, U.S., January 30, 2020. REUTERS/Amanda Voisard] Choo, choo. House Democrats on Wednesday revealed their framework for infrastructure legislation this year, a package titled “Moving Forward.” The same day, the powerful House Ways and Means Committee held a hearing on transportation-related revenues. This was not a coincidence. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ... more »
How Does the Coronavirus Compare With Previous Outbreaks?
*Maciej F. Boni* *Security, * As the new coronavirus continues to cross international borders, the two key questions on public health officials’ minds are: ‘How deadly is it?’ and ‘Can it be contained?’. *Key Point:* It's been worse before. As the new coronavirus continues to cross international borders, the two key questions on public health officials’ minds are: ‘How deadly is it?’ and ‘Can it be contained?’. The two outbreaks in recent memory that give the most insight into these questions are the 2002-2003 SARS outbreak, which spread from China to 26 other countries but was... more »
Musical Interlude: Alan Parsons Project, "Sirius", "Eye In The Sky"
Alan Parsons Project, "Sirius", "Eye In The Sky"
"Pandemic and Impeachment and Liquidity and Disaster"
*"Pandemic and Impeachment and Liquidity and Disaster"* by David Stockman "That’s great, it starts with an earthquake Birds and snakes, and aeroplanes And Lenny Bruce is not afraid..." – R.E.M., “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” (1987) “And, still, the entire Acela Corridor’s ruling elite – from Imperial Washington to Wall Street – seems euthanized to the developing calamity over which they preside.” That’s where I left it on Wednesday before I handed things over to Michael Coolbaugh for his regular Thursday market commentary. As Mike noted, “With equities ... more »
"I Would Love To Live..."; "Be Like A River"
"I would love to live like a river flows, carried by the surprise of its own unfolding." - John O'Donohue *"Be Like A River"* “Be like a river that flows Silent in the middle of the night, Not fearing the dark of the night, Reflecting any star that is in the sky. And if the sky fills with clouds, Clouds are water, like the river, so Reflect them too with no regret In the silent depth.” - Manuel Bandeira, Brazilian poet
3 Senators who will need to be impeached shortly
When questioned the Democrat House managers said that any act by a President that helped the President personally could be grounds for impeachment even if the act greatly benefitted the American people. Hence if Senators Klobuchar, Sanders, and Warren vote to convict Trump they must be immediately impeached. After all voting against Trump helps their own Presidential aspirations and with the Democrats standards even if convicting Trump would be great for America that wouldn't make what those 3 Senators did ok. This whole farce is more evidence of why you can't trust the #FakeNewsM... more »
Weekend reads: A Harvard prof in handcuffs; an alleged PhD for grant scheme; unethical reviewer behavior outed
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: growing concerns — and a new retraction — in a … Continue reading Weekend reads: A Harvard prof in handcuffs; an alleged PhD for grant scheme; unethical reviewer behavior outed
The next Big Democrat Lie: The Senate trial wasn't fair
In public Democrats have no choice but to lie. After all if they told we the people what they really thought they'd never get elected. Who in America wants higher taxes, to lose their healthcare plan, to bow down to Iran, to be told how much soda we can drink? Given that nothing Democrats want to do if given power will benefit the vast majority of Americans they have to lie unceasingly. The latest Big Lie is that the Senate hearing is unfair and not valid because the Senate didn't call the exact same witnesses that the Democrat run House didn't call. That's right if the Democrats ... more »
Greta™ Trademarks Her Name and Movement
Greta Thunberg has just applied to trademark her name and movement, but honestly, it’s not about the money….. “it needs to be done”. The Guardian reports: The climate activist Greta Thunberg has said she has applied to register her name and that of the Fridays For Future movement she founded in 2018, which has gone global and … The post Greta™ Trademarks Her Name and Movement appeared first on OYE Alternative News.
The Stupid Disease: More Dangerous Than the Corona Virus
Barbra “Babs” Streisand demonstrates – once again – that you cannot fix stupid, and that stupid blesses its victims for a lifetime: Barbra Streisand: Adam Schiff ‘Would Make a Great President, He Speaks The Truth’ Liberal singer praises partisan lawmaker amid impeachment By: Jack Murphy |@NeonNettle on 1st February 2020 @ 2.00pm READ MORE: https://neonnettle.com/news/10173-barbra-streisand-adam-schiff-would-make-a-great-president-he-speaks-the-truth-© Neon Nettle Liberal pop singer Barbra Streisand has claimed House Intelligence Chairman and impeachment manager Adam Schiff “would mak... more »
Alan Dershowitz: When Trump Is Acquitted He Will No Longer Be Impeached
Professor Dershowitz is on with Hannity last night. Dershowitz is pissed. Dershowitz needs to rethink who he hangs out with.
Ilhan Omar's campaign manger calls for violence; #FakeNews media ignores it
Pretty much everyone in America looks up to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr's approach to civil rights. He rejected violence and things like "Black Power" and called us all to love one another. But apparently Ilhan Omar's campaign manger, Claire Bergren, isn't a big fan of MLK: On the night of @IlhanMN’s event, I posted two of @ClaireBergren’s disturbing social media posts. This one was particularly striking: How does “less MLK” not draw attention from local media? It didn’t, and hasn’t. Her posts get far more troubling -- see below. (2/x) pic.twitter.com/EI0Xduyodd — David Stein... more »
Key Trump impeachment figure Marie Yovanovitch retires
Just In - 13 hours ago
The United States' former ambassador to Ukraine and a central figure in the impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump, Marie Yovanovitch, retires from the US State Department.
'A thousand noes': Palestinian President cuts ties with Israel, US after rejecting peace plan
Just In - 13 hours ago
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says he will cut security ties with both Israel and the US in a speech at an Arab League meeting in which he denounced the White House plan for ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Trump ditches Obama-era prohibition on use of landmines, citing 'great power competition'
Just In - 13 hours ago
US President Donald Trump cancels a ban on the use of anti-personnel landmines outside the Korean peninsula, saying the previous policy could put American troops at a "severe disadvantage".
New travel restrictions are in place to halt coronavirus. Here's how they will affect you
What effect will these new travel restrictions have, and how much will they impact your life?
Editor's Note
Blogging will return later this evening.
US Defense Department Test Launches A Gremlin Drone From A Mothership For The First Time
*Defense News:* *US Defense Department launches Gremlins drone from a mothership for the first time* WASHINGTON — The U.S. Defense Department is one step closer to having swarming drones that it can launch from military planes and recover in midair, having successfully conducted the first flight of the Gremlins aircraft in November. The test, which occurred at Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, proved that a C-130A could successfully launch an X-61A Gremlins Air Vehicle, said Tim Keeter, who manages the program for Dynetics. The company won the Gremlins contract from the Defense Advanc... more »
WW
bilaterals.org - 13 hours ago
01-Feb-2020 Why Worry is a blog channel on youtube, for information on daily new on entertainment.
The Senate does the right thing: No reason to redo the Democrats failed effort
The Democrats had complete control of the impeachment hearings in the House. They conducted secret hearings to decide which witnesses were sufficiently antiTrump to be allowed to testify in public. They denied, and continue to deny, Trump and we the people access to some of the secret testimony; the part that shows Trump was innocent. They refused to let Trump's lawyers participate. They refused to let Republicans call witnesses that they, the Democrats, didn't like. They refused to look into whether or not it was reasonable to investigate what appeared to be obvious corruption by ... more »
Why Stonewall Jackson's Death Became A Legend For The Ages
*Warfare History Network* *History, * Stonewall Jackson’s death in May 1863 is the stuff of legend, but its true cause remains a matter of medical dispute. Following his greatest victory, at the Battle of Chancellorsville on May 2, 1863, Confederate Lt. Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson was scouting ahead of the lines with members of his staff when tragedy struck. In the pitch blackness of the early-spring evening, Jackson and his men were mistaken for Union cavalry and fired upon by their own side. Jackson sustained a severe wound to his upper left arm, necessitating amputation... more »
Know This: Presidential Primaries Are Old, Complicated, And Unfair
*David Smith* *Politics, * [image: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2019%3Anewsml_RC1C68682580&share=true] So why do Americans still do them? While political parties in both Australia and Britain have recently moved towards leadership contests that give more say to ordinary party members, nothing matches the democratic scale of the American process to nominate presidential candidates. The Democratic nomination contest, which begins on Monday with the Iowa caucuses and then continues with the New Hampshire primary on February 11, looks and feels a lot li... more »
Nazi Germany's Arado Ar-234 Was The Bomber The Allies Never Saw Coming
*Warfare History Network* *History, * Germany’s Arado Ar-234 proved a great surprise for Allied airmen in the skies. When the Arado Ar-234 Blitz jet bomber first appeared in the skies of Europe, most Allied airmen did not know what it was. Many had never heard of jet engines, let alone a jet bomber. Fewer still knew that the Ar-234 was a shining star in Adolf Hitler’s constellation of wonder weapons, the super-secret and super-technology arsenal that the Führer hoped would reverse the Reich’s declining fortunes. *The Allies First Glimpse at the Arado 234 Blitz* Hitler certainly... more »
Millions Dead: Here Are the Deadliest Wars Ever Fought in Asia
*Kyle Mizokami* *History, Asia* Terrible. *Key point:* History is full of bloody wars and Asia is no exception. These are just some of the worst conflicts ever to occur. Today, Asia is in one of its most peaceful periods in modern history. All current political posturing aside, Asia today is a peaceful place where economic growth continues at a largely brisk pace. Hundreds of millions have been lifted out of poverty in the last four decades, and in China alone, the new middle class is larger than the entire population of the United States. It hasn’t always been this way. As lat... more »
Here's the Other Epidemic Coming Out of Coronavirus
*Ilan Noy* *Security, Asia* [image: Passengers wearing masks, amid the health threat of novel coronavirus, arrive on a direct flight from China at Chicago's O'Hare airport in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., January 24, 2020. REUTERS/Kamil Krzaczynski] It's all about the economy. One way to count the cost of the Wuhan coronavirus is by how many people catch it, and then how many die. Another is the direct financial costs of public health measures to treat those infected and contain its spread. Yet another is the wider economic cost. But how to calculate this? Some suggest a neglible imp... more »
Meet The Man Who Designed Germany's Unstoppable World War II Blitzkrieg
*Warfare History Network* *History, * General Heinz Guderian led German armored formations and fell in and out of favor with Hitler. Hitler was enraged as he stalked his way around the room during the waning months of World War II. Heinz Guderian, his acting chief of the general staff, was again speaking out, again opposing the Führer’s plans for dealing with the Soviet Red Army, which was steadily approaching Berlin. This man, whom Hitler had earlier promoted to inspector general of the armored troops, had advocated in early February 1945 that German troops be evacuated from th... more »
Kobe Bryant and the Legacy Question
*Nicole Kraft* *Security, * [image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobe_Bryant#/media/File:Lakers_White_House_2010.jpg] Should NBA players be made to go to college? Less than a decade after 18-year-old Kobe Bryant got drafted into the NBA in 1996, the league made all players spend at least one year in college or playing overseas before they could enter the professional basketball league. That rule may be about to be rescinded, paving the way for today’s star high school players to follow in Kobe’s footsteps. I have seen both professional and college athletics up close, first work... more »
Everything You Wanted to Know About the Role of Prince Harry as the "Spare Heir" to the Crown
*Jonathan Spangler* *Politics, Europe* [image: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2020%3Anewsml_RC2VBE98K17P&share=true] We've got a history lesson. There are a lot of remarkable comparisons to be made between the expectations and career choices of Prince Harry and those of his predecessors. The common thread is always that the second son is expected to both behave in a manner one might expect of a future ruler (the media scrutiny of Harry is no less than that his elder brother receives), but also be seen as something else, something not threatening to the... more »
Here's How Close Two Satellites Came To Crashing Last Week
*Gregory Cohen* *Security, Space* [image: A NASA satellite image, taken by one of the Expedition 25 crew members on the International Space Station, shows the lights of Cairo, Alexandria and the Nile River, Egypt October 28, 2010. Picture taken October 28, 2010. NASA/Handout via REUTERS] Can it be stopped next time? It appears we have missed another close call between two satellites – but how close did we really come to a catastrophic event in space? It all began with a series of tweets from LeoLabs, a company that uses radar to track satellites and debris in space. It predicted ... more »
How Big of a Screen? What Hard Drive Size? How to Buy a Great Laptop
*Sebastien Roblin* *Technology, United States* That will last. There’s a bewildering array of hardware specifications to evaluate whenever your browsing options for your next laptop. However, it’s possible to focus on a half-dozen key qualities to make sure you get the right combination of convenience and computing power to meet your needs. A companion article goes over how to make some basic decisions on your next laptop: are you looking for just basic use, power use, or a gaming computer, a PC or Mac, and so forth. Here, we’ll delve into greater detail on key hardware specific... more »
How Do Stealth Destroyers Sail the Seven Seas (And Not Sink?)
*Kris Osborn* *Technology, Americas* A vital function. (Washington, D.C.) When faced with high winds, up to 20-foot waves and dangerously rough seas -- which Navy ships can survive? … and continue to wage war on the open sea? Would the new stealthy USS Zumwalt destroyer capsize or suffer extreme damage if its wave-piercing Tumblehome hull were subject to massively dangerous stormy sea conditions? Such questions, often put to the test with new ships during “sea-trials,” were of particular relevance with the Zumwalt, as it is a first-in-class high-tech warship built with a sleek,... more »
Will China Produce Another Coronavirus?
*Roger Bate* *Security, Asia* The conditions for an epidemic are still there. As we settle down to the inevitable spread — but relatively minor impact — of the coronavirus, it is worth thinking about the causes of the disease’s spread and whether any of them are likely to change. Will Beijing clamp down on wet markets, where live wildlife is killed there and sold to consumers? Part of the reason these markets are popular is that the Chinese consumer is so distrustful of Chinese government-run entities (not just limited to the many state-run businesses), that they do not trust th... more »
A $5,000 Gun? Meet the Laugo Alien
*Charlie Gao* *Technology, * One of the more notable pistols to come out in recent years, the Laugo Alien incorporates a variety of rare pistol features into a single, sleek package. The Laugo Alien is one of the more notable pistols to come out in recent years. Designed to give the shooter a maximum mechanical advantage when shooting, the Alien incorporates a variety of rare pistol features into a single, sleek package. However, the cost of all of that is an extremely high price tag: the Alien is estimated to cost around $5,000. But are the mechanical features worth it? Does th... more »
See This Stealth Fighter? Iran Could Shoot It Down in a War
*TNI Staff* *Security, * But it wouldn't be easy. *Key Point:* If by some bizarre circumstance the F-22 is embroiled in a dogfight with the F-14, the chances are the Raptor will kill the Tomcat unless the American pilot suffers from extremely bad luck or makes a serious error. A full-scale military campaign against Iran would require the United States to destroy the Iranian air force—which to this day flies American-built warplanes. The best of Iran’s decrepit fighter aircraft fleet is the Grumman F-14 Tomcat. The Imperial Iranian Air Force purchased 80 of the powerful fourth g... more »
Was Famous British Leader Winston Churchill Really a Hero?
*Sam Edwards* *Politics, Europe* [image: By Unknown - This file is from the collections of The National Archives (United Kingdom), catalogued under document record INF3/3. For high quality reproductions of any item from The National Archives collection please contact the image library., Public D] We break it down. Winston Churchill is again the subject of a row over reputation: is the man once voted the greatest Briton in a BBC poll still a “hero”? Or is he, as shadow chancellor John McDonnell claimed when asked to choose recently, a “villain”? To be clear, McDonnell was referrin... more »
The Pentagon is Testing Flying Aircraft Carriers That Can Launch Swarms of Gremlins (Here’s How it Would Work)
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, * These expendable but reusable short-range drones can operate in defended airspace and possibly overwhelm enemies with swarming attacks. In November 2019, an old C-130A transport plane took to the skies near Salt Lake City, Utah bearing what appeared to be a hi-tech cruise missile slung under a pylon on one wing. The Hercules released the missile-like X-61A Gremlin Air Vehicle (GAV), which abruptly rotated stubby wings that had been tucked under its belly into lit-generating flight position. A turbojet engine came to life with a flash and began tra... more »
The Allies World War II Battle Of Savo Island Was A True Naval Disaster
*Warfare History Network* *History, * Defeat in the Battle of Savo Island was a stunning blow to Allied naval forces off Guadalcanal. Amid rain, lightning, and dark, the British admiral and American general picked their way through choppy seas to the transport USS McCawley, off the coast of Guadalcanal. Maj. Gen. Archibald Vandegrift of the U.S. Marine Corps was exhausted. Britain’s Rear Admiral Victor Alexander Crutchley, commanding the Allied Screening Force, an Australian-American mix of six heavy cruisers, two light cruisers, and eight destroyers, looked “ready to pass out.”... more »
Open Season, No Bag Limit? Cool!
*BRING IT!* The Antifa people want the police to leave the New York subways for a day. I really like that idea. Actually it's almost a wet dream. A law-free zone full of Antifa people. Open season, no bag limit, no legal repercussions. (more here) Give the mutants what they want. The police back out. Allow Arizona's armed citizens to deal with it without rules, without judgment. I know a lot of veterans who miss having live, non-human targets, to test out their new ammo loads on. The jihadis tend to avoid the Northern Arizona mountains and the Antifa goons are a lot like jihadis - c... more »
Why Would a Rational Being Say That?
A few months ago, the New Republic reported on a conference, the Third Modern Monetary Theory Conference, of which it was a sponsor (Osita Nwanevu, “Spreading the Gospel of Modern Monetary Theory,” October 3, 2019). One of the participants, affiliated with the Real Progressives website, declared: Wages are the way they are because corporations have […] The post Why Would a Rational Being Say That? appeared first on Econlib.
Give Me A Break
This morning, the divorce is official. The UK has left the European Union. And, Ian McEwan writes, it was all done with "magic dust": The only certainty is that we’ll be asking ourselves questions for a very long time. Set aside for a moment Vote Leave’s lies, dodgy funding, Russian involvement or the toothless Electoral Commission. Consider instead the magic dust. How did a matter of such momentous constitutional, economic and cultural consequence come to be settled by a first-past-the-post vote and not by a super-majority? A parliamentary paper (see Briefing 07212) at the time o... more »
FLASHBACK TO 2009 AND MY 2 HOUR INTERVIEW WITH AUSTRIA'S ANTI TERRORISM UNIT OVER WHO'S ACT OF BIOTERRORISM IN SWITZERLAND
*Anyone who thinks that the notion that WHO and others are deliberately releasing pandemic viruses is a conspiracy theory should bear in mind Austria's anti terorirism unit (BVT) called me in for a two hour interview on July 5th 2009 over the charges I filed about a bioterrorism incident in Switzerland.* *You can see a copy of the invitation with blacked out details at the link below* *http://www.mediafire.com/view/sgp67xdzd51rupe/Austrian_Anti_Terrorism_Unit_Invitation%255B1%255D.JPG/file* *At this link is an email I sent to someone about the interview in July 2009 with the above ... more »
BBC Complaints on Nish Kumar's "shovel-ready" 'joke' about Laurence Fox
So Nish Kumar's 'joke' about Laurence Fox's face being "shovel-ready"... Yes, this is a leaked report which suggests that HS2 could end up costing the government £106 billion. Work on HS2 was initially delayed when construction workers discovered that Yorkshire was actually a load-bearing county. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said that the massive decision on whether to go ahead with HS2 needs to be a fact-based, or at the very least inspired by one of the more recent episodes of Thomas the Tank Engine. *Almost £9 billion has been spent on the project so far, and the London to B... more »
Circumstantial evidence that Scott Morrison directed the $100 Sports Rorts fraud is being ignored by the media
Scott Morrison was sacked as CEO of Tourism Australia by the John Howard Liberal Party Government in 2006 for major financial fraud valued at $184 million which was almost identical to the […]
The Poet: Mary Oliver, "One"
*"One"* "The mosquito is so small it takes almost nothing to ruin it. Each leaf, the same. And the black ant, hurrying. So many lives, so many fortunes! Every morning, I walk softly and with forward glances down to the ponds and through the pinewoods. Mushrooms, even, have but a brief hour before the slug creeps to the feast, before the pine needles hustle down under the bundles of harsh, beneficent rain. How many, how many, how many make up a world! And then I think of that old idea: the singular and the eternal. One cup, in which everything is swirled back to the color of the sea and s... more »
"In A Word..."
"In a word, there are many thorns, but the roses are there too." - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky ○ *Tchaikovsky, "1812 Overture"* *The story:* "On September 7, 1812, at Borodino, 120 km (75 mi) west of Moscow, Napoleon's forces met those of General Mikhail Kutuzov in a concerted stand made by Russia against the seemingly invincible French Army. The Battle of Borodino saw casualties estimated as high as 100,000 and the French were masters of the field. It was, however, ultimately a pyrrhic victory for the French invasion. With resources depleted and supply lines overextended, Napoleon's we... more »
"Why Haters Hate: Kierkegaard Explains the Psychology of Bullying and Online Trolling in 1847"
*"Why Haters Hate: Kierkegaard Explains the * *Psychology of Bullying and Online Trolling in 1847"* by Maria Popova "Danish writer and thinker Søren Kierkegaard (May 5, 1813–November 11, 1855) may have only lived a short life, but it was a deep one and its impact radiated widely outward, far across the centuries and disciplines and schools of thought. He was also among the multitude of famous writers who benefited from keeping a diary and nowhere does his paradoxical blend of melancholy and idealism, of despair about the human condition and optimism about the purpose of life, shine ... more »
"The Limits Of The World..."
“Every man takes the limits of his own field of vision for the limits of the world.” - Arthur Schopenhauer
"Burnout"
*"Burnout"* by Charles Hugh Smith "At least once a year, I completely burn out: exhausted, I no longer have the energy or will to care about anything but the bare minimum for survival. Everything not essential for survival gets jettisoned or set aside. This goes with the territory if you're trying to accomplish a lot of things that are intrinsically complex and open-ended - for example, running a business, being a parent, juggling college, work, family, community commitments, etc. I am confident many if not most of you have experienced burnout due to being overwhelmed by open-ende... more »
The Greatest Threat To National Security Is The Vulnerability Of The World's Undersea Cables
*(Click on Image to Enlarge)* *Rep. Rob Wittman, C4ISRNet*: *The greatest risk to national security you’ve never heard of* Tensions with Russia are increasing with no end in sight. Over the course of the last year, the House discussed at length Russia’s successful attempts to meddle in our election — affecting what Americans hold most dear: our democracy. But now, Russia — through intensified submarine activity — is threatening our undersea cables. Should we be worried? Probably more than you think. In a world of wireless and cloud computing, many imagine invisible waves jumping ... more »
China’s Virus Response Has Been ‘Breathtaking’
President Xi Jinping formally told WHO head Tedros Ghebreyesus, at their meeting in Beijing earlier this week, that the coronavirus epidemic “is a devil and we cannot allow the devil to hide.” by Pepe Escobar Ghebreyesus for his part could not but praise Beijing for its extremely swift, coordinated response strategy – which includes fast identification … Continue reading China’s Virus Response Has Been ‘Breathtaking’ →
Artist Rendering Of A B-21 Raider Concept
*Artist rendering of a B-21 Raider concept* This is an artist rendering of a B-21 Raider concept in a hangar at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D. Ellsworth AFB is one of the bases expected to host the new airframe. (Courtesy graphic by Northrop Grumman) *WNU Editor:* My first impression. It looks dark and creepy.
Americans Keep Putting Up Roadblocks Against Russian Troops on Key Syrian Highway
This is now the fourth time this has happened that we know of. US troops in northeastern Syria keep blockading the M4 highway to prevent Russian troops from moving on it.
The SAS Is Advertising For Female Reservists For The First Time
The job advert says it welcomes both men and women to apply for the gruelling role *Daily Mail: **The SAS recruits women for the first time but they'll have to pass the same tough tests as men* * Job demands applicants to 'commit to intense and extended training demands' * SAS is seeking volunteers aged 18 to 42 for its 21 and 23 reserve squadrons * Both sexes must be able to pass tough tests, including an eight-mile march The SAS is advertising for female reservists for the first time. An advert on the Army's job website says applicants must be prepared 'to commit to intense ... more »
HAVE YOU PEOPLE LEARNED NOTHING?
Some Democrats are too stupid to breathe: A small group of Democratic National Committee members has privately begun gauging support for a plan to potentially weaken Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign and head off a brokered convention. In conversations on the sidelines of a DNC executive committee meeting and in telephone calls and texts in recent days, about a half-dozen members have discussed the possibility of a policy reversal to ensure that so-called superdelegates can vote on the first ballot at the party’s national convention. Such a move would increase the influence of D... more »
The Practical Politics Of Conservatives
Practical politics is not a vehicle for achieving anyone’s vision of ideal society, but rather it’s aimed at affirming and sustaining the way of life with which majority of the people are satisfied. A nation has to make progress (political and economic) at a steady pace to meet the aspirations of its population, but for the progress to be sustainable three criteria have to be met: first, the progress should not be in conflict with the nation’s cultural norms; second, the progress should happen with the agreement and participation of the people (it should never be imposed by an outsi... more »
Saturday Snippet: a fast Viking getaway
Here's another excerpt from my Viking fantasy novel, a work in progress of which I've already published two excerpts in these pages (see here and here). The background to this snippet is that Alvar, now in his mid-teens, has joined the crew of a trading ship that Olaf, his mentor, has taken to the upper reaches of the Baltic Sea to look for amber, a valuable commodity in Viking trading. Olaf has taken a party of warriors inland on his quest, while Alvar and other younger men hold the trading vessel in readiness for a quick getaway - which is about to be needed. Early in the ... more »
Another bad day at the office
February is continuing where January left off with another bad day for the BBC. *The Times *has obtained internal figures from the BBC via a FOI request. It turns out that 493 staff - many of them senior - are paid above the maximum allowed in their salary bands - "a situation that is meant to be permitted only under exceptional circumstances". The paper's Matthew Moore adds that this revelation "will increase tensions at the BBC, where 450 news staff are soon due to lose their jobs in a drive to save £80 million". Oh dear.
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