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Zak Attack
Soon-to-be *Newsnight* policy editor Lewis Goodall isn't happy about Zak Goldsmith being given a lift into the Lords in order to remain a government environment minister: - "Only in Britain could you be denied your place in the legislature for a fixed term by the electorate only to be put back in it only days later by the government for life." - "Three cheers (two? One?) for democracy." - "This appointment is darkly ironic given Zac Goldsmith was the man who campaigned endlessly for recall for MPs. He’s now just been given a place in the legislature for the res... more »
Falling Walrus: Attenborough Tacitly Admits Netflix Deception
By Paul Homewood An exclusive new video for the GWPF exposes Attenborough’s contradicting explanations of the bizarre and tragic phenomenon of falling walruses
"A Look to the Heavens"
“Namibia has some of the darkest nights visible from any continent. It is therefore home to some of the more spectacular skyscapes, a few of which have been captured in the below time-lapse video. We recommend watching this video at FULL SCREEN (1080p), with audio on. The night sky of Namibia is one of the best in the world, about the same quality of the deserts of Chile and Australia. Visible at the movie start are unusual quiver trees perched before a deep starfield highlighted by the central band of our Milky Way Galaxy. This bright band of stars and gas appears to pivot around t... more »
Chet Raymo, “Telling Stories”
*“Telling Stories”* by Chet Raymo "When the pulse of the first day carried it to the rim of night, First Woman said to First Man, "The people need to know the laws. To help them we must write the laws for all to see"...And so she began, slowly, first one and then the next, placing her jewels across the dome of night, carefully designing her pattern so all could read it. But Coyote grew bored watching First Woman carefully arranging the stars in the sky: Impatiently he gathered two corners of First Woman's blanket, and before she could stop him he flung the remaining stars out into ... more »
"The Glitter Of The Sun..."
“I am part of the sun as my eye is part of me. That I am part of the earth my feet know perfectly, and my blood is part of the sea. There is not any part of me that is alone and absolute except my mind, and we shall find that the mind has no existence by itself, it is only the glitter of the sun on the surfaces of the water.” - D. H. Lawrence
"Chaos Theory: The Real Butterfly Effect"
*"Chaos Theory: The Real Butterfly Effect"* By youngneill "What exactly is chaos? The name "chaos theory" comes from the fact that the systems that the theory describes are apparently disordered, but chaos theory is really about finding the underlying order in apparently random data. When was chaos first discovered? The first true experimenter in chaos was a meteorologist, named Edward Lorenz. In 1960, he was working on the problem of weather prediction. He had a computer set up, with a set of twelve equations to model the weather. It didn't predict the weather itself. However thi... more »
The Poet: Paul Fisher, "The Boat"
*"The Boat"* "Maybe the eyes of a dragon or goddess glare from its prow. More likely it leaks, loses an oar, and reeks of rainbows awash on a sheen of gutted salmon and gasoline. If it’s a liner, we lash ourselves to whatever will float or sell. No matter which. We choose. We’re aboard, icebergs or no, as we plow through the songs of the siren stars- one boat, black water, dark whispering below." - Paul Fisher, "Rumors of Shore"
The Daily "Near You?"
Turtle Lake, Wisconsin, USA. Thanks for stopping by!
Stocking stuffers from friends
Several friends have published new books in recent weeks. Here they are, in no particular order. First, J. L. Curtis (more widely known as blogger Old NFO, among other things) has published the fifth and last volume about his protagonist, John Cronin, in the "Grey Man" series. (It was originally planned as a trilogy, until he got carried away!) This one's titled "The Grey Man - Twilight". The blurb reads: Never count an old man out, even when he's hanging up his hat! Deputy Sheriff John Cronin is looking forward to a quiet retirement, working on the ranch, and handing it off... more »
Hallmark CSI: The Formula Works For Anything. I Made My Own And So Can You
Two years ago we were helping my mother-in-law get settled into her new place and, with the manual labor done and my usefulness diminished, she and her daughters talked details and I sat in a chair. A Hallmark movie was on. I had never seen it before but I was convinced I had. After about 10 minutes, when a seemingly avoidable misunderstanding occurred onscreen, I began taking notes on my phone and talking about the action. My family asked what I was doing and I declared that this was brilliant storytelling. This formula could work with anything, it was that rock solid. read more
A TERRIBLE POLL FOR TRUMP
The impeachment numbers in the NBC/*Wall Street Journal* poll that was released yesterday aren't unusual: Forty-eight percent of Americans believe that Trump should be impeached and removed from office, while an equal 48 percent say they disagree. And Trump's job approval rating is roughly on par with his numbers in other polls: ... 44 percent of all respondents in the poll say they approve of Trump's job performance, including 33 percent who strongly approve. But that's compared with 54 percent who disapprove, including 44 percent who do so strongly. But here's a number that's re... more »
How An Ammunition Problem Almost Destroyed Pearl Harbor A Second Time
*Sebastien Roblin* *History, * There were hundreds of casualties. *Key point: *The accident was deemed was so shocking the Navy instituted a press blackout. Flames roiled into sky from dozens of burning ships, creating a wall of smoke that crept out into the Pacific Ocean. The thunder of multiple explosions succession shook the Navy Headquarters on Pearl Harbor. Had Japan somehow pulled off a second, stunning raid on Pearl Harbor in 1944? In truth the ships and men burning were victims of a horrifying accident born of inadequate safety measures—an incident the Navy kept under w... more »
Let's Talk About Russia's Secret Special Forces Unit
*Charlie Gao* *Security, Europe* [image: https://pictures.reuters.com/archive/RUSSIA-SECURITY-DRILLS-RC21LD9YZWSD.html] The SOBR isn't so secret anymore. *Key Point:* SOBR specializes in hostage negotiations and rescue. If asked to name a counterterrorism unit in Russia, most people would probably think of the FSB’s elite “Alpha” unit. Alpha participated in the 1993 constitutional crisis, the Nord-Ost theatre siege and the Beslan hostage crisis, and are called out on the biggest and most sensitive incidents. However, they don’t deal with the majority of terrorism incidents in R... more »
Adolf Hitler Hoped His "People's Militia" Would Save Him From A Coup
*Warfare History Network* *History, Europe* Hitler's paranoia was not helpful to Nazi Germany. *Key point:* Hitler had run out of options and feared a coup. On October 18, 1944—the 131st anniversary of the Battle of the Nations’ victory over Napoleon in 1813—Reichsführer-SS (National Leader) Heinrich Himmler stepped up to a microphone to make a national radio address announcing the formation of the Nazi Party-controlled Volkssturm, or People’s Militia. Standing with him was the new Chief of the General Staff, General Heinz Guderian; Dr. Hans Heinrich Lammers, head of the Reich C... more »
Aircraft Theft: Why China's J-11 Fighter Looks Like Russia's Su-27 'Flanker'
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, Asia* China continues to reverse-engineer foreign military hardware. *Key Point:* Beijing is determined to develop an aeronautics industry that won’t rely on foreign nations in the future. The Shenyang J-11 is a Chinese copy of the excellent Russian Sukhoi Su-27 “Flanker” multirole fighter. In fact, it was at first an *authorized *copy—but Chinese ambitions to adapt it with locally produced technology transformed it into a reverse-engineered headache for Russian industry. In successive variants, the J-11 and the Flanker-derived J-15 and J-16 have bee... more »
Gabbard: Here's Why I Punted the Impeachment Question
*Shelby Talcott* *Politics, Americas* [image: Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Tulsi Gabbard speaks during the fifth 2020 campaign debate at the Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., November 20, 2019. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid] She still thinks Trump has done wrong... Democratic Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard explained Thursday how a “deep love of country” motivated her to vote “present” on Wednesday’s impeachment ballot. Gabbard was the sole Democrat to vote “present” on impeaching President Donald Trump, causing a stir among media and fellow lawmakers. She explained ... more »
Is Biden's Health Falling Apart?
*Mary Margaret Olohan* *Politics, Americas* [image: Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential candidate and former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden reacts to a girl during his] One former Obama doctor speaks out. Former President Barack Obama’s previous doctor said that 2020 presidential candidate Joe Biden is “not a healthy guy.” Dr. David Scheiner spoke out regarding the former vice president’s health to the Washington Examiner following the release of Biden’s health records Dec. 15. Scheiner served as Obama’s personal physician for 22 years before Obama became president of the U.S. “[B... more »
These Are The 5 Best Battleships To Ever Sail The 7 Seas
*Robert Farley* *Security, * Products of a bygone era. *Key Point:* Only eight dreadnoughts remain, all in the United States. The age of the steel line-of-battleship really began in the 1880s, with the construction of a series of warships that could carry and independently aim heavy guns external to the hull. In 1905, HMS Dreadnought brought together an array of innovations in shipbuilding, propulsion, and gunnery to create a new kind of warship, one that could dominate all existing battleships. Although eventually supplanted by the submarine and the aircraft carrier, the batt... more »
Bill Barr: FISA Probe Is Moving Beyond FBI to 'Private Actors'
*Chuck Ross* *Politics, Americas* [image: FILE PHOTO: U.S. Attorney General William Barr speaks during the Wall Street Journal CEO Council, in Washington, U.S., December 10, 2019. REUTERS/Al Drago/File Photo] He's taking no prisoners. Attorney General William Barr provided new details Wednesday of U.S. Attorney John Durham’s investigation of the origins of the Trump-Russia probe and said in an interview on Fox News that the federal prosecutor is looking into the activities of federal agencies outside the FBI, as well as those of “private actors.” “He’s not just looking at the FB... more »
Trump Raises $5 Million on Impeachment Day
*Chris White* *Politics, Americas* [image: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally in Battle Creek, Michigan, U.S., December 18, 2019. REUTERS/Leah Millis?] Womp, womp... President Donald Trump’s presidential campaign said Wednesday night that it raised over $5 million on the day House Democrats voted to impeach the president. The president “has raised over 5M dollars (still growing) today as Americans use their wallet to show support against @SpeakerPelosi’s impeachment hoax!” Brad Parscale, Trump’s campaign manager, wrote in a tweet following the vote. “In... more »
Warren Uses Trump Impeachment for Fundraising
*Shelby Talcott* *Politics, Americas* [image: Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential candidate and U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) delivers a campaign economic speech at Saint Anselm College’s Institue of Politics in Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S., December 12, 2019. REUTERS/Brian Snyder] 'Come the new year, I will be a juror in Donald Trump’s Senate trial, and I’ll uphold my oath,' she said. 2020 presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren fundraised off impeachment shortly after the House voted Wednesday. The House voted Wednesday to pass both articles of impeachment — abuse ... more »
What’s in a Name? Quite a Bit, If You’re Talking About Section 230
Sen. Ron Wyden, a Main Architect of Seciton 230 (Source: Flickr/Oregon State University) Twenty-six words in the U.S. Code created the legal framework for the internet that we know today. Until a few years ago, few people outside of tech policy circles knew much about those 26 words, which are better known as the key part of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. The law provides online platforms such as websites and social media services with broad protection from liability arising from many types of user-generated content. But amid high-profile failures of companies to... more »
2019 – The Year of Manufactured Hysteria
Well, it looks like we’ve somehow managed to survive another year of diabolical Putin-Nazi attacks on democracy. It was touch-and-go there for a while, especially coming down the home stretch, what with Jeremy Corbyn’s desperate attempt to overthrow the UK government, construct a British version of Auschwitz, and start rounding up and mass-murdering the Jews.
Fearing Defeat in the Senate, Pelosi Says She Might Withhold Impeachment Charges
[image: fearing-defeat-in-the-senate-pelosi-says-she-might-withhold-impeachment-charges] House Speaker Nancy Pelosi might not send the articles of impeachment passed yesterday to the Senate for one reason, and one reason only. And it isn’t because she’s worried the process won’t be “fair.”
Lyrics to Christian Christmas Song Changed to be More Inclusive
[image: lyrics-to-christian-christmas-song-changed-to-be-more-inclusive] A school in London has taken to changing the lyrics to the Christian Christmas song *Away in a Manger* to secularize the song and increase its inclusivity.
Video of Epstein’s Cell on Day of Attempted Suicide Missing, Attorney Says
[image: video-of-epstein-s-cell-on-day-of-attempted-suicide-missing-attorney-says] Officials at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York cannot produce video surveillance of the day Jeffrey Epstein supposedly tried to commit suicide.
Google Billionaire Larry Page has been Quietly Funnelling Money into Flu Vaccination Initiatives
Google cofounder and billionaire Larry Page has been quietly pursuing a campaign against the flu. Both Page and Google cofounder Sergey Brin stepped back from Google’s parent company earlier this month, driving speculation about what he might be up to next. Page is one of the richest people in the world, with a net worth […] The post Google Billionaire Larry Page has been Quietly Funnelling Money into Flu Vaccination Initiatives appeared first on Health Nut News.
Could sidewalks and buildings combat air pollution?
This compound, when spread on buildings and sidewalks, absorbs pollution out of the air over time. The post Could sidewalks and buildings combat air pollution? appeared first on CFACT.
COP 25: Paris Accord destroyed
If the Action Now! radicals continue their intransigence then the Paris Accord is essentially dead. The post COP 25: Paris Accord destroyed appeared first on CFACT.
New video shows Attenborough & Netflix falling walrus deception as revealed by BBC
Originally posted on polarbearscience: A new video with clips of critical footage not available outside the UK shows that Sir David Attenborough and Netflix producers (who insisted earlier this year that climate change – not polar bears – were to blame for Russian walrus falling to their deaths) had deceived audiences around the world. Falling…
Cuomo leads lurid segment on crime!
*THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2019Hysterical rants never sleep:* All killings are horrible. A recent killing in New York City was perhaps especially horrible because the victim, and the three apparent perpetrators, were all very young. The victim was just 18. Based on current reporting, it seems that the perpetrators were all 13 or 14. This report in this morning's New York Times seems to represent the current state of the press corps' knowledge about this horrible killing. The killing of Tessa Majors, age 18, has received a great deal of attention, as is perfectly appropriate. Unfortu... more »
FPL MOVING DUMPING MILLIONS OF TONS OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE INTO MIAMI AQUIFER
Brooksville, FL – Yes, you read tht right, and worse yet a Florida Judge is allowing it to happen. The …
HERNANDO COUNTY COMMISSION LOSES $11.4 MILLION DOLLARS… PLANS TO HIKE UP TAXES
Brooksville, FL – Times like these is when we need Bob Haa on the air. So far Mike Reeves has …
FALSE FLAG IN CHRISTCHURCH?
Brooksville, FL – Now we are not saying the shooting did not happen, but we are begining to question if …
See how the White Island volcano disaster unfolded
Thanks to Rose at thecontrail.com for sending this brilliant link that examines and graphically illustrates aerially & on the ground, the recent Whakaari/White Island eruption. EWR From abc.net.au When tourists entered White Island, they walked into a crater that could erupt at any time. Here is a 360-degree look at the volatile volcano… READ MORE … Continue reading See how the White Island volcano disaster unfolded →
We're finally reaching Brexit's endgame. Here's what happens next
After a landslide election victory, Boris Johnson is making good on his campaign promise to take the UK out of Europe. But while Britain will avoid a no-deal Brexit, something known as the "cliff edge" still looms.
A pinch of SALT
News 1. In Nova Scotia, pulp rules Linda Pannozzo’s latest is a commentary on the ongoing Northern Pulp story. While we wait for the premier’s announcement tomorrow, Pannozzo gives us some background on how we got here, and thoughts on how the process has created an unnecessary “environmentalists vs forestry and mill workers” dichotomy: By […]
Plutocratic Panic Is Palpable
They're triple-peeing themselves, and I don't mean in the way that neoliberals have been selling the odious acronym *PPP *for the past 40 years. Since the "public- private partnerships" which socialize all the costs and privatize all the profits have been duly exposed as scams literally condemning Americans to premature deaths, the plutocratic perps are now resorting to bald-faced lies. The Paper of Record is only too happy to help. With only seven Democrats on the latest debate stage, Bernie Sanders actually threatened to get noticed and take away precious speaking time from low-po... more »
Impeachment Comes to the Senate – 5 Questions Answered
The Constitution does not give any details about exactly how an impeachment trial should proceed.
Putin Says Trump Was Impeached for ‘Far-Fetched’ Reasons
“The party that lost the (2016) election, the Democratic Party, is trying to achieve results by other means,” Putin said at his annual news conference in Moscow.
Is Greta Thunberg Going on Hunger Strike Until Trump is Removed From Office?
A routine review of content labeled satire.
Editor's Note
Giving a speech followed with a Q&A to a Montreal Business council this afternoon on China - Canada and Russia - Canada relations this afternoon. Blogging will return later today.
Movie: Phil Valentine’s An Inconsistant Truth
An effective movie presenting the sceptics case. Show it to the propaganda afflicted that you know. "An Inconsistant Truth" Continue reading →
"Two Tough Questions: A Lesson in Perspective"
*"Two Tough Questions: A Lesson in Perspective"* by Living Life Fully "*Question 1:* If you knew a woman who was pregnant, who had 8 kids already (three deaf, two blind, one mentally retarded) and she had syphilis, would you recommend that she have an abortion? Read the next question before moving down to the answer of this one. *Question 2:* It is time to elect a new world leader, and your vote counts. Here are the facts about the three leading candidates: •Candidate A: Associates with crooked politicians, and consults with astrologists. He's had two mistresses. He also chain smok... more »
“Why There’s Never Enough Time”
*“Why There’s Never Enough Time”* by David Cain “I have this dream, and maybe you do too, of one day having enough time. It always feels like I’m in a particularly time-squeezed period of the year, or of my life. The state of having enough time seems like a real place but we but never seem to be there. Once I finish this project, once Christmas is over, once the move is done, I’ll have time. But right now, there’s not enough time to do everything. Quite a bit gets done, but something is always falling behind: emails, bookkeeping, self-improvement promises, things I said I’d do. Am ... more »
"It's Just... Life"
"Bad things don't happen to people because they deserve for them to happen. It just doesn't work that way. It's just… life. And no matter who we are, we have to take the hand we're dealt, crappy though it may be, and try our very best to move forward anyway, to love anyway, to have hope anyway, to have faith that there's a purpose to the journey we're on." - Mia Sheridan
"Global Cooling Warning to the President"
*"Global Cooling Warning to the President"* by Martin Armstrong "On December 3, 1972, Brown University wrote to the president concerning the climate changing back to a potential Ice Age. Because our models have been divided by time, it is much easier to distinguish short-term changes in trend from the long-term. What is fascinating is that even a decade of rising temperatures leads people to proclaim global warming. When you have five years of declining temperatures, they live in denial and proclaim the rising volatility is indicative of global warming. They offer no evidence of th... more »
"Life Is Messy..."
"Life is messy. It's not easy and it's definitely not for the timid. Everyone has a past. Things that stab them right between the eyes. Old grudges. Old shame. Regrets that steal your sleep and leave you awake until you fear for your own sanity. Betrayals that make your soul scream so loud you wonder why no one else hears it. In the end, we are all alone in that private hell. But life isn't about learning to forgive those who have hurt you or forgetting the past. It's about learning to forgive yourself for being human and making mistakes. Yes, people disappoint us all the time. But... more »
"Skyrocketing Costs Will Pop All the Bubbles"
*"Skyrocketing Costs Will Pop All the Bubbles"* by Charles Hugh-Smith "We’ve used a simple trick to keep the status quo from imploding for the past 11 years: borrow whatever it takes to keep paying the skyrocketing costs for housing, healthcare, college, childcare, government, permanent wars and so on. The trick has worked because central banks pushed interest rates to zero, lowering the costs of borrowing more as costs continued spiraling higher. But that trick has been used up. The next step–negative interest rates–has failed to spark the “growth” required to pay for insanely ove... more »
When the state university invests
I don't know exactly how venture capital works, but when I read that Ohio State University is involved in the Rev1 Ventures which is a few miles from here on Kinnear Rd. that it's my tax money going to work to produce millions for investors and to do good for people. How can I know? OSU only gets money to invest or give away from the federal government or the state government--my taxes. From that it takes about 60% to run the university and passes the rest along. So how do I get a return on my investment? At some point, it trickles down, I suppose, with money for jobs, infrastruct... more »
Californian freelancers reaping the rewards of EB-5 Newsom signed
This then is the true result of a communist state. Those that voted FOR Governor Newsom who signed this into law in September deserve to enjoy the result of their socialist vote. The purpose given: California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law gig worker protections bill AB-5. AB-5 will help to ensure gig economy workers are entitled to minimum wage, workers’ compensation and other benefits by requiring employers to apply the ABC test. The bill, first introduced in December 2018, codifies the ruling established in Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v Superior Court of Los Angeles. In ... more »
The End of the Middle of the Democratic Primary — It Looks Like a Two-Person Race
Brutal for Tier 2: "Sanders supporters are the most set: 71% saying they will definitely vote for him...57% of Biden voters definitely will vote for Biden...29% of Buttigieg and 28% of Warren voters indicated they plan to stick with their candidate."https://t.co/LZD7tvzZGC — Zaid Jilani (@ZaidJilani) December 18, 2019 *by Thomas Neuburger* As we approach the end of the middle of the current primary season — and the end of the pre-primary year — the Democratic candidates for president seem to have separated themselves once more. Note the graph in Zaid Jilani's tweet above: Warren ... more »
The Greta Thunberg Juggernaut Attempts to Steam Roll Deuthsche Bahn- Ridiculous!
*hattip anonymous:* AnonymousDecember 18, 2019 at 7:24 PM https://sputniknews.com/europe/201912181077614402-deutsche-bahn-berlin-authorities-greta-thunberg-train-bluff/ Just can't make this stuff up! **Deutsche Bahn in Trouble With Berlin Authorities After Exposing Greta Thunberg ‘Train Bluff‘* *"After the teen climate activist tweeted a picture of herself sitting on the floor of an “overcrowded train” *in Germany, *the transportation giant reprimanded her for holding back that she had a first-class ticket.* As it turned out, Deutsche Bahn *might have revealed a bit too much inform... more »
By impeaching Trump, Democrats have made him more powerful than they could ever imagine
[image: undefined] From coast to coast, the Resistance is cheering the impeachment of President Donald Trump in the House. They shouldn’t be. For in seeking to destroy him, they have only made him more powerful, and undercut themselves. Let’s not mince words: Wednesday’s vote was the culmination of efforts that began on November 8, 2016, with Trump’s shocking triumph over Hillary Clinton – or maybe even before, on whatever date the FBI actually began investigating the Trump campaign for “Russian collusion” per accusations coming from Democrats. All those paths, from “emoluments” a... more »
The Afghanistan Fiasco and the Decline and Fall of the American Military
[image: undefined] A devastating investigative report was published in the Washington Post on December 9th. Dubbed the “Afghanistan Papers” in a nod to the Vietnam War’s famous “Pentagon Papers,” the report relied on thousands of documents to similarly expose how the US government at the presidential level across three administrations, acting in collaboration with the military brass and civilian bureaucracy, deliberately and systematically lied repeatedly to the public and media about the situation in Afghanistan. Officials from the Bush, Obama and Trump administrations have all sur... more »
Russian President Putin Comments On President Trump's Impeachment
*TASS*: *Trump impeachment crusade continuation of domestic political strife in US, says Putin * MOSCOW, December 19. /TASS/. The impeachment crusade against US President Donald Trump stems from the ongoing domestic political strife triggered by the Democratic Party, Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters at his annual year-end news conference on Thursday. "As for continuing our dialogue until the end of Trump’s presidency, it looks like you are raising the issue that it is about to end. As for me, I am not sure of that. The Senate vote, where, as far as I know, the Repu... more »
Review Islamic State The Digital Caliphate
*Review Atwan, Abdel Bari, **Islamic State The Digital Caliphate**, Oakland: University of California Press,2015* *Islamic State The Digital Caliphate* is a short introduction to the Islamic State. It covers its history, its leadership, its form of governance, its recruiting, its relationship with Al Qaeda and foreign affiliates, etc. It’s problems are twofold. First, author Abdel Bari Atwan constantly goes off on tangents. Second, he has a meandering style going back and forth between topics, which makes for a poor narrative. While there are some interesting parts to *Islamic Stat... more »
This Day In Iraqi History - Dec 19
1983 Reagan Special Envoy to Middle East Rumsfeld arrived in Baghdad to try to improve US-Iraq relations (Musings On Iraq book review *The Saddam Tapes*) 1998 Op Desert Fox by Pres Clinton to punish Iraq for ending cooperation with UN weapons inspectors ended Iraq gave up rebuilding its WMD programs as a result (Musings On Iraq article on Op Desert Fox) 2001 Gen Franks made 3rd presentation to Rumsfeld of revised Iraq war plan (Musings On Iraq book review of *Shaping the Plan for Operation Iraqi Freedom, The Role of Military Intelligence Assessment*) (Musings On Iraq book review ... more »
FedEx Driver Uses Gun to Kill Armed Robber and Prevents Another UPS-Like Hijacking
[image: fedex]A potentially tragic situation, like what happened with the UPS driver in Florida, was thwarted this week because a FedEx driver was carrying a gun.
WATCH: Cop Passes Out Drunk, While Driving On Duty—Not Fired or Charged
[image: drunk cop]Aurora Police Department Chief Nick Metz defends his officer’s actions being found unresponsive behind the wheel of his cop car drunk and completely unresponsive.
Rising Authoritarianism - Everywhere....
I've been so busy and also discouraged that I've found it difficult to blog. There is a cultural contagion of resentment and authoritarianism that is circulating ever more forcefully around the globe. Today (12/19) I read in the Wall Street Journal that amendments to the charters of three Chinese universities prioritize "absolute adherence" to party rule over academic independence. (Wen, P. China Draws Fire over Academic Controls, p. A18). China is hardly alone in tightening controls over free thought and speech. In 2014, Japan passed the Act on the Protection of Specially Design... more »
Deadly Shooting Reported Near Russian Intelligence (FSB) Building In Moscow
*RT*: *Man opens fire in central Moscow near FSB building, 3 killed – reports * Gunfire is being reported in central Moscow's Lubyanka Square in the immediate vicinity of the Federal Security Service building. Three people have been killed, according to unconfirmed media reports. The shooting occurred right at the heart of Russia’s capital – it’s merely some 10 minutes on foot from the FSB building to the Kremlin. Footage from the scene, circulating on social media, shows multiple law enforcement officers, gunfire can also be heard in the background. *Read more* .... *WNU Editor... more »
The 12 Strongest Arguments That Douma Was A False Flag
There have been many US military interventions that were based on lies. This is not a conspiracy theory. It is not some kooky blogger’s opinion. It is an extensively documented and indisputable fact. Nothing has ever been done to address this extensively documented and indisputable […]
MISSISSIPPI MUDDLE: What explains Mississippi's score gains?
*THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2019Scribe's answer should break all our hearts:* In the immortal words of the New York Times, the "perpetual laggards" in Mississippi have recorded large score gains in recent years in Grade 4 reading and math. The gains in question have been recorded on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (the Naep), the widely-praised "gold standard" of domestic educational testing. On December 6, this information was reported—where else?—in a New York Times opinion column. In print editions, the column appeared beneath a snide headline which bore the immor... more »
Holiday Reading Roundup
I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to some long winter days of snuggling up with my cats and some tea and catching up on some reading. I shared some of my own holiday reading with our friends at Law Liberty. Then I asked some of Econlib’s fab contributors what they were looking forward […] The post Holiday Reading Roundup appeared first on Econlib.
The Death of a Courageous Journalist Reveals Malta as a ”Mafia Island”
Global Issues News Headlines - 13 hours ago
STOCKHOLM / ROME, Dec 19 (IPS) - Around 3 pm on 16 October 2017, Daphne Caruana Aruna Galizia was returning home when her Peugeot suddenly exploded 80 metres from her house outside of Bidnjia, a small town 15 km from Malta´s capital Valletta. Her son Matthew heard the violent blast and rushed out to find the smoldering wreck of the car on a field by the road: "I looked down and there were my mother's body parts all around me". Her scattered body had hit the ground 10 metres from the demolished vehicle.*1* Read the full story, “The Death of a Courageous Journalist Reveals Malta as ... more »
UN Chief Warns of Rising Misogyny, Xenophobia, Discrimination, Racism & Hate Speech
Global Issues News Headlines - 13 hours ago
ROME, Dec 19 (IPS) - Antonio Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General, in an address to the Italian SenateAs we prepare to bid farewell to 2019, we must take a clearsighted look at the global situation and the new challenges we face. Our world is undergoing a shift. It is no longer bipolar or unipolar. But it is not yet truly multipolar. Balances of power are changing, creating new and dangerous risks. Read the full story, “UN Chief Warns of Rising Misogyny, Xenophobia, Discrimination, Racism & Hate Speech”, on globalissues.org →
Food Security Is Priority of Russian Sustainable Development Assistance
Global Issues News Headlines - 13 hours ago
NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 19 (IPS) - Food security holds a special place among Russia's priorities in its efforts to achieve sustainable development globally. We believe that this task, which is reflected in Sustainable Development Goal 1, requires a comprehensive and multidimensional approach. Read the full story, “Food Security Is Priority of Russian Sustainable Development Assistance”, on globalissues.org →
Q&A: Initiative Starts Mental Health Sessions for Bangladeshi Garment Workers
Global Issues News Headlines - 13 hours ago
UNITED NATIONS, Dec 19 (IPS) - Nearly seven years ago, garment workers in Bangladesh were victims of one of the gravest man-made disasters in history -- a factory collapse that left more than 1,100 workers dead, and rendered thousands with injuries -- in many cases lifelong ones. For many of the workers of Rana Plaza, the trauma remains real even to this day. Read the full story, “Q&A: Initiative Starts Mental Health Sessions for Bangladeshi Garment Workers”, on globalissues.org →
“I’m Having a Good Time”: Trump Doubles Down After Impeachment
[image: i-m-having-a-good-time-trump-doubles-down-after-impeachment] President Trump took a defiant approach to being impeached, rallying supporters and hitting back at Democrats with his trademark humor.
U.S. Navy’s Newest Aircraft John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) Is Launched For The First Time
*Defence-Blog: **Huntington Ingalls launches U.S. Navy’s newest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier* The U.S. Navy’s largest shipbuilder, Huntington Ingalls, launched the newest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier nine days after the christening. Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding division launched John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) into the James River for the first time, on Monday. With the aid of six tugboats, Kennedy was guided down the river about a mile from Newport News Shipbuilding’s Dry Dock 12, where it has been under construction, to the shipyard’s Pier 3. There, ... more »
Hard Facts 2019
Energy has been the driving force behind the massive improvements in human living standards that began nearly 200 years ago.… The post Hard Facts 2019 appeared first on IER.
Coalition from NE and Mid-Atlantic Opposes Regional Gasoline Tax Masking as a Transportation Climate Initiative
The effort aims to discourage consumers from purchasing transportation fuel by making it ‘painfully expensive’ WASHINGTON DC (December 19, 2019)… The post Coalition from NE and Mid-Atlantic Opposes Regional Gasoline Tax Masking as a Transportation Climate Initiative appeared first on IER.
Can Congress Hold Trump Accountable? America Has a History of Power Struggles.
*Naomi Schalit* *Politics, Americas* [image: Reuters] The U.S. Capitol, where the vote to impeach President Trump is expected to take place. The vote to impeach President Donald Trump will be held soon in the House of Representatives. It brings to a head the battle that has raged for months between the president and Democratic members of the House. Democrats and Trump have fought over everything from the meaning of the words in his July 25 phone call with Ukraine President Zelinsky to the president’s refusal to allow administration officials to testify. Trump has also refused to... more »
The Navy Is Getting Railguns, And Not Even Mountains Will Stand In Their Way
*TNI Staff* *Security, * The future of warfare is now. *Key point: *Eventually, the Navy will have to test a full-up railgun. While the U.S. Navy had announced last year that it would take a prototype railgun to sea onboard the expeditionary fast transport USNS *Trenton* (JHSV-5) in 2016, the service may have to scupper those plans. If the Navy does take the railgun out to sea on a fast transport, it will be in 2017 at the earliest. In lieu of testing the prototype rail gun in an at-sea environment, the Navy might instead proceed directly to developing an operational weapon syst... more »
Footage of Epstein's First Suicide Attempt Missing: Prosecutors
*Shelby Talcott* *Politics, Americas* [image: U.S. financier Jeffrey Epstein appears in a photograph taken for the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services' sex offender registry March 28, 2017 and obtained by Reuters July 10, 2019. New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services] Oops... -Surveillance footage showing the outside of alleged child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein’s jail cell the night he first tried to commit suicide is missing, prosecutors said Wednesday. Epstein was arrested in July and died in an apparent suicide while awaiting trial in a Manhat... more »
AOC vs. Tulsi: Should Trump Have Been Impeached?
*Mary Margaret Olohan* *Politics, Americas* [image: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announces introduction of public housing legislation as part of the Green New Deal in Washington, U.S. November 14, 2019. REUTERS/Erin Scott] What a fight! Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez attacked Democratic Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard on Wednesday night over Gabbard’s impeachment vote. Ocasio-Cortez spoke out after Gabbard, a 2020 presidential candidate, voted “present” on impeachment articles against President Donald Trump. Gabbard also did not give a 30-second to one-minute speec... more »
Obamacare Showdown? Appeals Court Strikes Down Health Insurance Mandate
*Kevin Daley* *Politics, Americas* [image: Former U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during an Obama Foundation event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, December 13, 2019. REUTERS/Lim Huey Teng] What year is this, again? A federal appeals court ruled Wednesday that the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate is unconstitutional, calling the future of the landmark health care law into question ahead of the 2020 election. The 2-1 ruling from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the mandate is unconstitutional because the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act set the mandate penalty at zero. S... more »
Russian .50 Caliber Bullpup Rifles Are Staging A Comeback
*Caleb Larson* *Security, * Here's why. *Key point: *These are seemingly the perfect small arms platforms for effective urban combat. Russia has a rich history designing exotic bullpups in variety configurations and calibers. While most of those Soviet designs are forty or more years old (and were never standard issue), Russia does have several bullpups in their armories that fill very specific niche roles. These two platforms are optimized for urban and close-quarters combat— and fire enormous .50 caliber rounds to boot. Here are two highly-specialized Russian bullpup platform... more »
Those Who Search for Dawn Don’t Fear the Night; Nor the Hand that Holds the Dagger: The Fifty-First Newsletter (2019)
19 December 2019 — Tri-Continental Those Who Search for Dawn Don’t Fear the Night; Nor the Hand that Holds the Dagger: The Fifty-First Newsletter (2019). Dear Friends, Greetings from the Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research. Jeanine Áñez, the ‘president’ of Bolivia, walked into the Burned Palace (Palacio Quemado) with an enormous Bible in her hand. ‘The … Continue reading Those Who Search for Dawn Don’t Fear the Night; Nor the Hand that Holds the Dagger: The Fifty-First Newsletter (2019)
The Arrogance Of BBC News
When we started Media Lens in 2001, we had a rather naïve expectation that journalists might: a) want to respond rationally to reasoned criticism; and b) have privileged access to unparalleled journalistic resources, experts and arguments that would enable journalists to respond with serious points to our challenges. In particular, we imagined that BBC journalists and editors – being funded from the public licence fee – might actually feel obliged to respond.
Poland’s National Sovereignty Challenged by EU
[image: poland-s-national-sovereignty-challenged-by-eu] Poland may soon face a decision whether to obey the dictates of the European Union and cease to function as a truly independent nation, or follow the example of the United Kingdom and exit the European super-state.
Are the U.S. Marines Losing Their Amphibious Edge?
*Michael Peck* *Security, Americas* [image: Marines with the Maritime Raid Force, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) climb a ladder to board the amphibious transport dock ship USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26) during a visit, board, search and seizure training exercise in the Gulf, in this undated] They're the best in the world. *Key Point:* Overseas commitments may be wearing out the Marines faster than they can train. The U.S. Marine Corps is arguably the best amphibious-warfare force in the world. But a new Government Accountability Office report suggests that lack of training ma... more »
Russia's New Su-57 Stealth Fighter Is Back in Action in Syria
*David Axe* *Security, * But don't get too excited just yet. The Russian air force deployed Su-57 stealth fighters to Syria a second time since first deploying them to the war-torn country in February 2018. But that doesn’t mean the twin-engine Su-57 is any closer to being ready for mass production, to say nothing of its readiness for full-scale warfare against a high-tech foe. The Russian military’s chief of the general staff Valery Gerasimov announced the deployment in mid-December 2019, according to TASS. "The fifth-generation Su-57 aircraft is being tested,” Gerasimov said.... more »
2020 DEBT CRISIS REVEALED: And Central Banks Using Up Their Ammo
ITM TRADING, INC. Slides and Links: https://www.itmtrading.com/blog/2020-… Another important video: When Will The Jenga Economy Fall?, https://youtu.be/uCWFtvMYcv4 The Federal Reserve has now injected over $4 trillion into the repo markets and $326 billion in buying up short term treasuries to undo the yield curve inversion and prevent money markets from freezing up and becoming visible …
Kremlin Backs Top General’s Assessment that NATO is Drilling for Large-Scale War
Kremlin Backs Top General’s Assessment that NATO is Drilling for Large-Scale War by https://www.rt.com/ The Kremlin has said that it trusts the opinion of a senior Russian general, who has said that NATO’s intensified drills this year are an indication that the military bloc is preparing for a major conflict. Valery Gerasimov, the chair of …
BREAKING: FISA Court Slams FBI
RT America A FISA court has publicly excoriated the FBI for “mistakes” in their application for a warrant to surveil Trump 2016 campaign adviser Carter Page. Investigative journalist Ben Swann joins News.Views.Hughes to weigh in. He argues that the stakes are much bigger than the Trump presidency and that the whole FISA system is being …
US Denies Reports on ‘New Palestine’ Under Trump Peace Plan
US Denies Reports on ‘New Palestine’ Under Trump Peace Plan by https://www.i24news.tv/en US official cited as saying Lebanese news outlet’s source ‘has not seen the plan’ The US denied the reports that a three-way deal between Israel, the PLO and the Hamas establishing a ‘New Palestine’ was to be signed under the Trump administration’s peace …
Politically Motivated Impeachment a ‘Joke’ – Steve Malzberg
RT America Twenty years to the day since the US House of Representatives last debated impeaching a president, it did so again Wednesday. RT America’s Faran Fronczak reports from Capitol Hill. Then conservative commentator Steve Malzberg shares his perspective. end
FULL SHOW: Court Rebukes FBI for Wiretapping Trump Aide
RT America The Justice Department’s Inspector General testified Wednesday before Congress for the second time, following the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) court’s release of a bombshell letter calling out the FBI on its Russia probe failures. RT America’s Rachel Blevins reports. (4:57) Then legal and media analyst Lionel dives in. (8:37) Twenty years to …
WikiLeaks vs OPCW Douma Report: 3 Things That Were Deleted
RT A new cache of internal documents reveal that members of the OPCW team tasked with probing the Douma “chemical attack” protested the organization’s final report on the incident, which they said misrepresented their conclusions. In a memo addressed to OPCW Director General Fernando Arias, one scientist who participated in the OPCW’s fact finding mission …
Are Israel and Iran Preparing for War?
Are Israel and Iran Preparing for War? by Darius Shahtahmasebi, https://www.rt.com/ While much of the international and domestic US media focuses on the Trump impeachment scandal, there are many signs that a major conflict could break out in the Middle East. Will Christmas go off with a monumental bang? – Iran can move in and …
Ron Paul: Afghanistan War – The Crime of the Century
Afghanistan War – The Crime of the Century by Ron Paul, http://www.ronpaulinstitute.org/ “We were devoid of a fundamental understanding of Afghanistan. We didn’t know what we were doing.” So said Gen. Douglas Lute, who oversaw the US war on Afghanistan under Presidents Bush and Obama. Eighteen years into the longest war in US history, we …
Germany ‘Won’t Back Down’ Under Threat of US Sanctions Over Nord Stream 2 Pipeline with Russia – Merkel
Germany ‘Won’t Back Down’ Under Threat of US Sanctions Over Nord Stream 2 Pipeline with Russia – Merkel by https://www.rt.com/ Chancellor Angela Merkel has insisted that Berlin will not give into pressure from Washington after the US Senate approved a bill sanctioning German companies working on a pipeline that will deliver natural gas from Russia. …
Latest Leak of Trump’s ‘Deal of the Century’ Annexes Settlements to Israel, Establishes ‘New Palestine’, Al Aqsa Mosque to be Controlled by Saudi Arabia
Mostly propaganda, partial truths and intentional leaks to test the reaction of the people involved and see the response of the Middle East Muslim sheeple. The real plan is to drive the Palestinians(REAL Jews) into the North Sinai desert and thus fulfilling Revelation 12:6,13-14. My understanding is that the control of the temple mount will …
Bolivia's Attorney General Orders The Arrest Of Former President Morales
© Reuters / Agustin Marcarian *The Guardian:* *Warrant for arrest of Evo Morales issued in Bolivia* Ousted president accused by prosecutors of sedition and terrorism Prosecutors in Bolivia’s capital have issued an arrest warrant against the former president Evo Morales, accusing him of sedition and terrorism. The interior minister, Arturo Murillo, recently brought charges against Morales, alleging he promoted violent clashes that led to 35 deaths during disturbances before and after he left office. On Wednesday, the minister tweeted a picture of what appeared to be the arrest warr... more »
GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH, ALSO ST PAISIOS MONASTERY AT SOUROTI, SIDE WITH THE NWO EXTERMINATION PROJECT, REFUSE ME HELP
*IF THE GREEK ARMY IS AS USELESS AS THE ORTHODOX CHURCH, GREECE IS IN DEEP TROUBLE AS THE NWO ROLLS OUT ITS EBOLA EPIDEMIC VACCINE DEPOPULATION PLANS AROUND THE GLOBE* *AM NOW SET TO BE MURDERED WITH MURDER REFRAMED AS SUICIDE* *REQUESTED SANCTUARY FROM VARIOUS GREEK ORTHODOX MONASTERIES* *MONASTERIES CAN GIVE SANCTUARY FROM ARBITRARY ARREST IN GREECE* *REFUSED HELP BY ALL OF THEM, IMPRESSION THAT ILLUMINATI CLERGY PUT PRESSURE BUT ALSO THAT THE CLERGY DON'T CARE ABOUT ANYTHING EXCEPT THEIR WORLDLY COMFORT * *ALSO BY THE ABBESS OF ST PAISIOS MONASTERY AT SOUROTI, WHICH I VISITED IN... more »
Record Heat In Three Australian Capitals
On January 10, 1939 – Melbourne was 113 degrees, nine degrees warmer than this month’s hottest temperature. 11 Jan 1939 – HOTTEST DAY ON RECORD IN THREE CAPITALS Seven Deaths: Many People Collapse – Trove Melbourne, Australia Weather Calendar | … Continue reading →
Teen Girl Sneaks Into Small Plane, Drives It into Fence
A 17-year-old girl was arrested after authorities say she sneaked into a small plane at a central California airport and drove it into a chain-link fence.
Sanders Report Shows How Millennial Generation Is ‘Being Punished With Crushing Student Debt and Low-Paying Jobs’
Sanders commissioned a GAO report on how high student debt levels and lousy wages translate into poor economic prospects for young people.
We’re hiring: Apply to be our new global health editor
We are looking for a top-calibre editor to co-lead an exciting new three-year Global Health project
A Number Of Top US Defense Officials Have resigned In The Past Week
*Defense News:* *Top defense exports official exits the Pentagon amid multiple recent resignations* WASHINGTON — Ambassador Tina Kaidanow, a longtime State Department official who joined the Pentagon in 2018, has left her position as senior adviser for international cooperation, Defense News has learned. Her departure represents the fifth high-level official at the Defense Department to either exit or announce plans to leave the Pentagon in just the last week. Kaidanow stepped down from her role on Dec. 16, department spokesman Lt. Col. Michael Andrews told Defense News. Michael V... more »
Pelosi wants to impose dishonesty on the Senate
The way impeachments work is that the House makes the case that the President has done something criminal and then the Senate reviews the case and votes on it. Essentially the House is the prosecutor and the Senate is the jury. Yet now Democrats are saying that unless they can call witnesses that weren't called during the trial during what is essentially the prosecutions closing arguments, something that never happens, the Senate isn't being "fair". What makes this really absurd is that the House's hearings, overseen by Pelosi, are a textbook example of a kangaroo court and were co... more »
Confederate Christmas ornaments are smaller than statues – but they send the same racist message
Nicole Maurantonio, Associate Professor of Rhetoric & Communication Studies and American Studies, University of Richmond at Politics + Society – The Conversation - 15 hours ago
Take a good look at those old Christmas ornaments before hanging them on the tree – you may find it's time to retire some family keepsakes.
Joseph Conrad On The Unexamined Life
Socrates assumed that an examined life is a good life, but Joseph Conrad rejects this idea. He believed that an unexamined life is better because it has authenticity. When a friend suggested in a letter that Singleton, the character in Conrad’s novel *The Nigger of the ‘Narcissus'*, would have been more convincing if he was educated, Conrad sent a reply in which he questions the idea that the world is more intelligible to an educated person. Here’s an excerpt from Conrad’s letter: You say: ‘Singleton with an education’ ... But first of all – what education? If it is the knowledge of... more »
U.S. Senator Majority Leader McConnell Calls House Speaker Pelosi's Bluff On Not Forwarding The Articles Of Impeachment
*Daily Mail:* *Mitch McConnell says Nancy Pelosi is SCARED to send him 'shoddy' articles of impeachment as House speaker hints she'll delay for leverage over Senate trial and Donald Trump claims he would 'win by default' if 'Do Nothing' Democrats don't show up* * Nancy Pelosi forced the Trump impeachment across the finish line Wednesday * Now the process moves to a U.S. Senate trial but Pelosi said she's in no hurry * She blasted Senate leader Mitch McConnell for saying he's not an 'impartial' juror, and declared she won't hand him the baton without a pledge of 'fairness' * Senate ... more »
From a Blessing to a Curse: How UN Resolution 2334 Accelerated Israel’s West Bank Colonization
UN Resolution 2334, although externally supportive of Palestinian rights, turned out to be one of the most costly decisions ever made by the international institution. The post From a Blessing to a Curse: How UN Resolution 2334 Accelerated Israel’s West Bank Colonization appeared first on MintPress News.
A Maine artist tells the stories
TRUTH TELLERS: Robert Shetterly's Odyssey to Celebrate Great Americans from Richard Kane on Vimeo. Truth Tellers is a film about American courage. Shortly after 9/11 and catalyzed by lies behind the US attack on Iraq, Maine artist Robert Shetterly, filled with angst, knew he had to act: leave behind the country he loved or find a way to rally fellow citizens against an unjust war. So he undertook a campaign to do what he knew best – paint -- and began surrounding himself with Americans whose honest voices courageously defend democracy. Nearly 20 years and 250 portraits later, Amer... more »
LaRouche Tells You Why You Must Defend This Strong Presidency
[image: Lyndon LaRouche at his 90th Birthday Party, where he delivered a speech, "The coming end of the two party system." Sept. 9, 2012 (EIRNS)] When, at a September 9, 2012 event celebrating his 90th birthday the day before, Lyndon LaRouche denounced the “two-potty system” as a plague on American political life, it was just such anti-Constitutional maneuvers and desperate schemes as are now being run and planned by the impeachment Democrats. Despite public sentiment slowly but steadily shifting against them and the big flop of “rallies for impeachment” across the country Tuesday n... more »
How long is too long for leftovers?
Instead of the smell test, consider how long your leftovers have been in the fridge since they were prepared. Different items have a different shelf life, so keep the following time frames in mind: - *Cooked pasta:* Eat within 1-2 days - *Cooked rotisserie chicken:* Eat within 3-4 days from the date of purchase - *Chicken, seafood, and pizza:* Eat within 3-4 days - *Red meat and pork:* Eat within 3-5 days https://blog.ohiohealth.com/leftover-lessons-know-whats-safe-to-eat-and-whats-not/ This site didn’t mention potato salad, so I looked that up separately. Most ... more »
How America Could Catch China Preparing for a War
*David Axe* *Security, * The U.S. Navy needs better surveillance and reconnaissance systems if it’s to have any chance of detecting a Chinese build-up in the Western Pacific in the weeks or days preceding a possible major war. The U.S. Navy needs better surveillance and reconnaissance systems if it’s to have any chance of detecting a Chinese build-up in the Western Pacific in the weeks or days preceding a possible major war. That’s the thrust of a new report that seapower experts Seth Cropsey and Bryan McGrath wrote for the Hudson Institute in Washington, D.C. “There is a curren... more »
Report: Defense Contractors Hiding Behind Shell Companies are “Ripping off the Pentagon"
*David Axe* *Security, * What can be done to stop it? Defense contractors hiding behind shell companies are “ripping off the Pentagon and endangering national security,” one watchdog group concluded after reading a “sobering” November 2019 report from the Government Accountability Office. The GAO report underscores a problem that has become “a worldwide concern,” noted Neil Gordon, an investigator for the Washington, D.C.-based Project on Government Oversight. POGO has ideas for how the Pentagon can begin to address the problem. The U.S. Department of Defense “faces several ty... more »
Superpower No More? The U.S. Army Arsenal Might Be Obsolete
*Michael Peck* *Security, Americas* [image: A U.S. M1 Abrams tank fires during the] The advantages aren't what you think. *Key Point:* No one in the world has a decisive land warfare advantage, at least when it comes to tech. How good are U.S. Army weapons compared to their overseas counterparts? Quite good in many areas, but foreign weapons have some capabilities that American weapons don't, according to a new study. The study, prepared by think-tank RAND Corp. on behalf of the U.S. Army, examined major ground combat systems. Note that it is mostly based on open-source data ra... more »
Chess Can Turn You Into a Better Law Student and Lawyer
*Mark Kende* *Environment, Americas* [image: Reuters] Legal battles require the same skills seen at the highest levels of chess. Paul Morphy was a 19th-century New Orleans chess prodigy who was the de facto world chess champion during much of his short life. He rarely lost when he played throughout Europe and the United States. He was also a lawyer who graduated from what is now Tulane Law School. As a student, he was said to have memorized the Louisiana Civil Code in English and French. His father was a prominent Louisiana judge. There are other talented chess-playing lawyers, ... more »
This Is Why The U.S. Army Decided Colt's Rifles Weren't Good Enough
*Charlie Gao* *Security, * FN is eating Colt's lunch. *Key Point:* If the “new” Colt wants to thrive, they need to find a way to innovate and develop new products. Belgium’s Fabrique Nationale (FN) and Colt have long been competitors on the American firearms market. For almost a century both companies have competed for military contracts, designers, and sales on the American civilian market. However, in the 2000s, FN dealt a blow that stung Colt: it won a contract to produce the M16 rifle and M4 carbine, designs that were almost inextricably linked to the Colt brand. The story o... more »
Old F-35s Won't Be Turned Into 'Enemy' F-35s For Training Purposes (For Now)
*David Axe* *Security, * Federal lawmakers have delayed the U.S. Air Force’s plan to establish an aggressor unit flying early-model F-35 stealth fighters. Aggressors portray the enemy in aerial war games. Federal lawmakers have delayed the U.S. Air Force’s plan to establish an aggressor unit flying early-model F-35 stealth fighters. Aggressors portray the enemy in aerial war games. “The draft 2020 defense policy bill prohibits the Air Force from transferring any low-rate initial production F-35s to the adversary air role until the chief of staff submits a report to Congress deta... more »
Russia’s Got a Giant New Icebreaker (The Largest on Planet Earth)
*David Axe* *Security, * Arktika is 568 feet long, making her the largest icebreaker in the world. Her two RITM-200 reactors each produce 175 megawatts. Russia plans to build five of the vessels, adding to and partially supplanting the current force of six heavy icebreakers. The first in the Russian government’s new class of nuclear-powered icebreakers has begun trials on the Gulf of Finland. *Arktika* is 568 feet long, making her the largest icebreaker in the world. Her two RITM-200 reactors each produce 175 megawatts. Russia plans to build five of the vessels, adding to and pa... more »
'The Silent Death': Russia's Deadly Spetsnaz Is Getting a New Assault Rifle
*Mark Episkopos* *Security, * The Spetsnaz will soon receive a modernized assault rifle with an integrated suppressor, dubbed “the silent death” by Russian defense commentators. The Spetsnaz will soon receive a modernized assault rifle with an integrated suppressor, dubbed “the silent death” by Russian defense commentators. Russian news outlet Izvestia reported earlier this week that the first shipments of the new “ASM” assault rifle are about to be dispatched to branches of Russian special operations units-- commonly known under the umbrella term “Spetsnaz”-- starting with the... more »
This New Plane Will Make the Whole U.S. Fleet Even Deadlier
*Kris Osborn* *Security, * [image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_KC-46_Pegasus#/media/File:KC-46_Pegasus_prepares_to_refuel_C-17_(cropped).jpg] The F-15, F-22, and F-35 will all benefit from this new addition. *Key Point:* The KC-46A will be able to refuel all of the U.S. Air Force's other planes. The first new, high-tech next-generation KC-46A aerial refueling tanker will be delivered to the service later this year, marking the beginning of a long-sought after effort to replace the current aging fleet and better enable attack and ISR missions around the globe, service of... more »
Trump Impeached on Charges of Abuse of Power, Obstruction
President Donald Trump was impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives, becoming only the third American chief executive to be formally charged under the Constitution’s ultimate remedy for high crimes and misdemeanors.
Marijuana vaping ban
A judge cleared the path for Montana to enforce a temporary emergency ban on flavored vaping products, including those containing THC Marijuana vaping ban is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs
Pelosi just compared Impeachment to the Battle of the Bulge
I just read where Nancy Pelosi has compared the fight for Impeachment of Donald Trump to the Battle of the Bulge. Here from Breitbart. I am always amazed at the arrogance of these people who have never in their lives served on the front lines in a battlefield, with bullets and artillery rounds being fired, these people like Beto and Pelosi comparing their service to a battle. I am sick to my stomach at the thought of these people having any kind of authority in these United States. I want the draft back. EVERYBODY serves. Everybody gets shot at. Or … Continue reading →
Democrats cheer at impeachment; it's all about power
The Democrats lost the 2016 election and since then they've clearly and unambiguously shown that they won't accept the results of elections they don't win. While Pelosi has been trying to portray the Democrats as sadly having to impeach Trump for crimes the fact that the Democrats in the House were cheering, whooping, hollering, and taking selfies when they voted to impeach Trump shows that this whole exercise is nothing more than Democrats trying to keep we the people from picking a President Democrats don't approve of. When the Framers were debating what the Constitution should s... more »
Legal Ambiguities Limit Protections for Service Members in Academia
Col. Scott Manning gives the oath of enlistment to new ROTC cadets at Yale, 2012 (Source: Wikimedia/Michael Marsland) During Veterans Day ceremonies last month, universities across the country marked the holiday with celebrations of service and sacrifice. Many institutions proudly highlighted improvements to the experience of veterans on campus, and rightly so: Civil-military relations have improved steadily throughout academia in the post-Vietnam era, including the reestablishment of Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) across the Ivy League and the presence of distinguished f... more »
As British elections go, so go American elections
Democrats can expect ignominious defeat in 2020 More The post As British elections go, so go American elections appeared first on The Duran.
Wikileaks Exclusive: 20 inspectors blow apart OPCW Douma, Syria false flag
The Duran Quick Take: Episode 408. More The post Wikileaks Exclusive: 20 inspectors blow apart OPCW Douma, Syria false flag appeared first on The Duran.
PRESIDENT HILLARY CLINTON WOULDN'T HAVE MADE IT TO DAY ONE UNSCATHED
The president responds to impeachment: Addressing cheering supporters at a rally in Battle Creek, Michigan, as the House delivered its historic verdict, Mr Trump was dismissive and defiant. "They've been trying to impeach me from day one," he said. That's a common Republican talking point, heard repeatedly throughout the impeachment process. A right-wing blogger cites evidence that Democrats wanted Trump impeached mere weeks into his presidency: Feb. 24, 2017: "Impeach Trump? Most Democrats already say 'yes.'" https://t.co/aIzPpRHwuC https://t.co/MOkeGZgonX pic.twitter.com/oukv7GWOD... more »
Democrats admit that they don't have evidence Trump did anything wrong
While the Democrats gleefully impeached Trump for the "crimes" of not being Hillary and daring to exercise his Constitutional rights they're words and actions show that they know that they have no evidence of him doing anything actually wrong. - Adam Schiff made up a conversation between Trump and Ukraine President Zelensky and only admitted it was fiction when forced to do so. If in fact the transcript showed Trump saying something criminal Schiff wouldn't have had to make something up - Two Democrat Representatives misquoted Trump as saying that he wanted Ukrai... more »
High-Level Police Commander and Wife Indicted on 150 Counts for Child Sex Ring, Sex With Animals
[image: perkins]A high-level SWAT commander and his wife face up to 6,000 years in prison for over 150 felonies stemming from unspeakable acts against children and animals.
The War of the Future Part 2 - China's Foray into Hypersonic Weapons
In part one of this two-part series, I examined the most recent advances in Russia's military technology; the development of its Zircon (Tsirkon) 3M22 hypersonic missile, an advancement that led Washington's Government Accountability Office to state this: "*China and Russia are pursuing hypersonic weapons because their speed, altitude and maneuverability may defeat most missile defense systems, and may be used to improve long-range conventional and nuclear strike capabilities. There are no existing countermeasures.*" (my bold) In the second part of this posting, I will outline Chi... more »
The Paralysis Of The WTO
The World Trade Organization (WTO) is one of the leading international bodies responsible for global trade regulation. Along with other fundamental elements of the international system, it was designed by the West and in the interests of the West. Established in Geneva in 1995 and based on the General Agreement […]
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