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Thomas Paine

To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.

Saturday, December 21, 2019

21 December - Blogs I'm Following - 3 of 5

10:21 pm MST

Sheffield Rainfall Data For Nov 2019

Paul Homewood at NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT - 11 hours ago
By Paul Homewood https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-actual-and-anomaly-maps I have been waiting for the November rainfall stats for Sheffield, which was at the heart of the heaviest rainfall leading to the S Yorks floods. It was the wettest November on record there since measurements began in 1883, and it was also the wettest autumn. As we […]

Beginning of Winter Open Thread

Craig at Is the BBC biased? - 11 hours ago
As the last thread of Autumn filled up so quickly, here's a new pre-Christmas, Winter solstice open thread. Thank you for all your comments. They are much appreciated.

The Christmas Pumpkin

Menagerie at The Last Refuge - 12 hours ago
In years past I’ve done posts on favorite Christmas gifts, especially those from our childhood, and I will post that later, but this year I have something a little different to talk about as well. Sometimes we are blessed, in large … Continue reading →

New attack on Syrian oil fields was ‘too sophisticated’ for terrorist groups: source

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:40 P.M.) – A government source in the city of Damascus told Al-Masdar News on Saturday that the recent attack on the gas and oil fields in eastern Homs were most likely conducted by a foreign military or intelligence forces. According to the source, the attacks on the Al-Rayyan Gas Field and other […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Several Syrian soldiers killed in ambush by Turkish-backed militants in northeast Latakia

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:30 P.M.) – Several Syrian Arab Army (SAA) soldiers were killed in an ambush by the Turkish-backed militants in the northeastern countryside of the Latakia Governorate this morning. According to reports, the Syrian Arab Army troops were ambushed at Talat Al-Raqam in the Jabal Al-Akrad region of Latakia, resulting in the death of […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Iran blasts Pompeo’s ‘propaganda show’ and past as ‘hellish torturer organization’

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
On Thursday, the US Secretary of State reiterated that America “supports” and “stands with” Iranians protesting fuel price hikes, and would continue piling on sanctions against Tehran. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Seyed Abbas Mousavi has lashed out against US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, suggesting he was not fit to serve as America’s top diplomat. […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Hundreds of jihadists killed and wounded in failed southeast Idlib attack: Russia

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:00 P.M.) – The commander of the Russian Reconciliation Center, Major-General Yuri Borenkov, stated on Friday that about 300 gunmen tried to advance towards the town of Sinjar and clashed with the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in southeast Idlib. “At 22:05 on December 19, about 400 terrorists from the Ansar al-Tawhid organization and […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Last few issues concerning the Naep!

bob somerby at the daily howler - 12 hours ago
*SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2019Plus, Giuliani Unhinged and Undone:* We've been reminded that Christmas will be observed on Christmas Day this year. If Donald J. Trump is re-elected, we're reliably told that the holiday will be moved into the spring, where it will be conjoined with a new Robert E. Lee / Jackson Day. But at least for this year, the famous holiday will be observed next week, near the end of December. With that in mind, operations have started to wind down on our sprawling campus. Concerning this week's discussion of the Naep, several questions must still be explored: ... more »

For A Healing To Be Lasting - A Quotation by M.N. Hopkins

Stranger in a Strange Land at Stranger in a Strange Land - 12 hours ago
*To read more of my quotations, please click on the link below:* *Quotations by M.N. Hopkins* *or visit:* *Pinterest*

Trump's Foreign Policy Has Been Catastrophic-- Which Democrat Is Offering The Strongest Alternative?

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 12 hours ago
Common Defense defines itself as "a diverse, grassroots organization of U.S. veterans and military family members who are fighting to preserve the core values we swore to uphold and defend. Together we vow to protect our communities from hate and violence, to serve on the front lines for social, economic, and global justice, and to champion a truly equitable and representative democracy." Last cycle, notably, they endorsed the 4 women who won congressional seats and went on to be dubbed "the Squad." This cycle they are vetting congressional candidate right now. Common Defense is ... more »

This Day In Iraqi History - Dec 21

Joel Wing at MUSINGS ON IRAQ - 12 hours ago
1956 Communist uprising in Al-Hay put down and leaders executed (Musings On Iraq book review *Red Star Over Iraq, Iraqi Communism Before Saddam*) (Musings On Iraq Interviewwith Prof Johan Franzen on the history of the Iraqi Communist Party) 1981 Kuwait and UAE agreed to loan Iraq $2 bil to help during Iran-Iraq War 1998 Russia France Germany called for ending sanctions on Iraq 1998 Report Iraq intel officer Hijazi met with bin Laden in Afghanistan and offered him asylum False story 2001 UK Def Min Hoon asked ministry for plans for military action against Iraq 2001 Vanity Fair artic... more »

'It's not successful': Question marks linger over NZ gun buyback scheme

Just In - 12 hours ago
More than 50,000 firearms have been handed in as part of New Zealand's gun buyback scheme introduced after a shooter killed 51 people in Christchurch, but critics of the scheme say it has not done enough.

Bushfires upgraded to emergency level after nightfall on catastrophic day in NSW, as it happened

Just In - 12 hours ago
Night brings with it cooler temperatures, but the blustery conditions combined with dry terrain mean there is little relief for firefighters amid "catastrophic" conditions across New South Wales. Look back our live coverage of Saturday's fires across the state.

"What Will We Talk About Today, You and I?"

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 12 hours ago
*A Comment:* Long time readers know there is zero tolerance for racism and bigotry here. This article contains the vile "N" word, which you will never see here again, expressed repeatedly by the articles author. In their book "Cobra II," Michael R. Gordon and Gen. Bernard E. Trainor offer this ugly comment from a senior officer of the US Army's 4th Infantry Division: "The only thing these sand niggers understand is force and I'm about to introduce them to it." While not admitted publicly, that term is widely used within the American military, along with "ragheads", "jihadis" and oth... more »

Dysfunction In The Olympic Movement

Michael AVERKO at OrientalReview.org - 12 hours ago
Alan Dershowitz, the acclaimed US legal academic, is fond of noting the proverbial if the shoe is on other foot test – to see who is and isn’t sincere in their convictions. This matter relates to the call to have Russia formally banned from the next Summer and Winter Olympics. […]

Pelosi's Rush to Judgement has ended: threatening to not send impeachment to the Senate

trinko at Conversations about the obvious - 12 hours ago
Pelosi and her fellow dishonest Democrats have been telling us that they had to rush impeachment because it had to be done RIGHT NOW. But suddenly she's saying she might not let the Senate do its job on impeachment because she's concerned that the Senate might actually do the right thing. Clearly there is no real rush. The Democrats avoided going to the Courts to compel witnesses to testify because they knew they'd lose not because there was a rush. And of course if they'd lost in the courts they couldn't accuse Trump of the non-crime of "obstructing Congress". Pelosi is saying t... more »

The Impeachment Oath and the Article VI Oath

David Pozen at Balkinization - 12 hours ago
Pursuant to Rule XXV of the Rules of Procedure and Practice in the Senate When Sitting on Impeachment Trials, every senator will soon swear or affirm to “do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws” “in all things appertaining to the trial of the impeachment” of President Trump. This rule implements the instruction in Article I, Section 3, Clause 6 of the Constitution that senators “shall be on Oath or Affirmation” when trying impeachments. Historians have suggested that having a special impeachment oath was meant to reinforce the solemnity of the affair; Rule XX... more »

Trump's impeachment is purely political: Left was calling for impeachment before Trump did anything

trinko at Conversations about the obvious - 12 hours ago
April 17 2016: Politico headline "Could Trump Be Impeached Shortly After He Takes Office?" Apparently law scholars, the ones that Nadler called to testify?, and political junkies--glad to see that the left identifies with drug addicts-- were talking about it. January 20 2017: Washington Post headline "The campaign to impeach President Trump has begun" So the WaPo, voice of the Democrats, admitted that the Democrats were looking to impeach Trump for what must be purely political reasons since Trump hadn't done anything when this was published. December 25 2018: CNBC headline "A pote... more »

Breathing Toryscepticism

Craig at Is the BBC biased? - 12 hours ago
The* Daily Mail *is accusing the BBC of "bullying" in pursuit of "its licence-fee billions". We already knew (though it's still a startling figure) that the BBC's legal actions over non-payment of the licence fee account for one in ten of all magistrate hearings, but the *Mail *says it also accounts for a third of criminal cases brought against women. (One for *Woman's Hour*?) Meanwhile, in *The Times, *an admirer of the BBC, Trevor Phillips, is now calling for licence fee reform. He thinks the BBC is "digging its own grave" as "it breathes Toryscepticism". He's also deeply conc... more »

Can't Afford an F-35? The Gripen Fighter Could Be Your Very Own Super Fighter

Charlie Gao at The National Interest - 12 hours ago
*Charlie Gao* *Security, * Affordable and deadly. *Key point: *The Gripen has a very low relative flight hour cost. The JAS-39 Gripen is the Swedish defense industry’s largest export, financially. The Gripen has seen considerable success replacing aging fighters in former Warsaw Pact countries, and has also seen sales in Africa, the Americas and Asia. But why is the Gripen successful on the export market? How does it stack up against other NATO products and Russian jets? The primary European export success for the Gripen is in post-Soviet states. This is probably due to the acc... more »

Meet the Taurus TX22: The Best .22 Caliber Gun on the Planet?

Gun News Daily at The National Interest - 12 hours ago
*Gun News Daily* *Technology, Americas* [image: https://www.taurususa.com/firearms/pistols/tx22/tx22-pistols-22-lr-10-round-hard-anodized-black-3/] Looking good. *Key Point: *Can it compete with more popular brands? If there’s one thing that all .22 semi-automatic pistols seem to share in common, it’s that they all hold ten rounds of ammunition in the magazine. That’s by no means a bad thing, but there’s a lot of people who have strongly desired to own a .22 pistol with an ammunition capacity equivalent to a full size, duty 9mm pistol (which commonly hold fifteen to eighteen ro... more »

NZ Police reveal new $20m body armour

Pam Vernon at Rangitikei Environmental Health Watch - 13 hours ago
Disarm the people. Arm the Police … body armour, guns, armoured vehicles, home visits to inquire as to political views. Something is not right with this picture. Three people recently shot by Police in as many weeks. Think what could be achieved with all of that money. Alleviate growing poverty and homelessness for starters. EWR … Continue reading NZ Police reveal new $20m body armour →

Liberty going up in smoke

George Callaghan at The Duran - 13 hours ago
Now mark this: within ten years a Western land will outlaw the possession of tobacco. Bhutan has already done so. More The post Liberty going up in smoke appeared first on The Duran.

Beyond Clown Show: Pelosi hints at delay sending impeachment articles to Senate (Video)

Alex Christoforou at The Duran - 13 hours ago
The Duran Quick Take: Episode 410. More The post Beyond Clown Show: Pelosi hints at delay sending impeachment articles to Senate (Video) appeared first on The Duran.

Humiliation & Torture in Communist Reeducation Camps

Serban V.C. Enache at The Duran - 13 hours ago
Note to the reader. This article is highly critical of the CCP on this particular matter. It’s not by any stretch of the imagination an attack against the Chinese nation, its people, or its sovereignty. China’s Turkish minority [the Uyghurs], most of whom are Muslims, continues to suffer under the yoke of the Communist Party […] More The post Humiliation & Torture in Communist Reeducation Camps appeared first on The Duran.

The Coup Becomes a Civil War – Trump Impeached

Tom Luongo at The Duran - 13 hours ago
In passing these articles of impeachment against President Trump Congress has arrogated to itself powers it does not have. More The post The Coup Becomes a Civil War – Trump Impeached appeared first on The Duran.

The Left supports child abuse: Transgender edition

trinko at Conversations about the obvious - 13 hours ago
Anyone who thinks they're the wrong sex is mentally ill. Our sex is defined by our DNA and just like people who think that they shouldn't have an arm and want doctors to cut it off people who think they're a different sex are insane. Now that doesn't make them bad people, insanity is an illness, but it does mean that if you love them you don't enable their insanity. If your best friend dropped by and said he was Napoleon you wouldn't go along with it. Rather you'd explain to him that he is wonderful just as he is and he doesn't need to pretend to be something he's not; and you'd ma... more »

"Caribbean Pirates Had a Better System of Government"

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 13 hours ago
*"Caribbean Pirates Had a Better System of Government"* by Joe Jarvis "You never hear about a one-man pirate ship. Pirates had to work together to successfully plunder and rob. The average old-timey Caribean-type pirate ship during the 17th and 18th centuries consisted of 80 pirates, and some pirate crews reached into the hundreds. But pirates were not known for being the most orderly people. How did ruffians who thought nothing of murder work together to relieve massive armed merchant vessels of their goods? And how could one pirate be sure his hard work wouldn’t simply be stolen... more »

Leftist's love to attack kids who don't support them

trinko at Conversations about the obvious - 13 hours ago
It's been awhile but remember this kid? He's Nicholas Sandmann and the crime for which the entire #FakeNews media viciously attacked him for was standing and smiling when an adult hit a drum inches from his face and for not responding when a group of Black Hebrew Israelites, the same group that killed a bunch of Jews the other day, howled obscenities. Yet now when Greta Thunberg wanders the world pontificating and whining the same #FakeNews media tell us that it's a sin to point out where she's wrong. Thats just another example of leftists hypocrisy. Sandmann does nothing wrong and ... more »

We’re “LGBTQ-free,” Declare More Than 80 Polish Towns

Selwyn Duke at rss - 13 hours ago
[image: we-re-lgbtq-free-declare-more-than-80-polish-towns] Don’t try putting on a Drag Queen Story Hour in certain Polish towns — you’ll only get dragged away. In fact, more than 80 localities in the nation have explicitly declared themselves “LGBTQ-free zones,” raising sexual devolutionary ire to the point where the European Parliament has now condemned the declarations.

No Isolator Needed: Space-Time Metasurface Makes Light Reflect Only In One Direction

News Staff at Science 2.0 blogs - 13 hours ago
Light propagation usually goes both ways; it is reciprocal in that the trajectory of light traveling one direction is identical in the opposite direction. Isolators and circulators, which make light propagate only in one direction, are vital building blocks in many modern laser and communication systems, but are almost exclusively based on the magneto-optic effect, making devices bulky and difficult for integration. A magnetic-free route would be a great breakthrough for many optical applications. read more

The Historical Evolution Of Christmas Decorations

The Conversation at Science 2.0 blogs - 13 hours ago
The idea of hanging up decorations in the middle of winter is older than Christmas itself. Decorations are mentioned in ancient descriptions of the Roman feast of Saturnalia, which is thought to have originated in the 5th century BC. Some 900 years later, a Christian bishop in Turkey wrote disapprovingly about members of his congregation who were drinking, feasting, dancing and “crowning their doors” with decorations in a pagan fashion at this time of year. read more

Sarah Sands sounds off

Craig at Is the BBC biased? - 13 hours ago
*Today *editor Sarah Sands sounded off on this week's *Feedback *over the question of the Government's decision to boycott the *Today *programme in protest against BBC bias: Well, what's happened is that you can see the Government won a big majority, it sees Labour in disarray and it thinks it's a pretty good time to put the foot on the windpipe of an independent broadcaster. So the strategy, as we know, is quite Trumpian - to delegitimise the BBC. So, at the moment that's the policy. I don't think it will last because it's shortsighted and its' pretty discourteous, I think, to ... more »

Kangaroo Court of Australia 2019 Christmas and New Year post

Shane Dowling at Kangaroo Court of Australia - 13 hours ago
I didn’t publish a Christmas post last year because I was otherwise detained, so to speak, until a few days before Christmas because of what I said. Yes, what you say can […]

Bombs Away: Japan Sent Explosive-Laden Balloons To Set Fire To America

Warfare History Network at The National Interest - 13 hours ago
*Warfare History Network* *Security, Asia* A secret plot. *Key point: *The balloon attacks continued into April 1945. It crossed silently on a chilly winter evening over the southern Oregon coast, descending slowly, its ballast spent. The Japanese bomb-laden paper balloon collapsed into the Gearhart Mountain forest near the line separating Lake and Klamath Counties in south-central Oregon. The undercarriage of the 70-foot balloon slammed into the earth, its impact muffled by several inches of snow, which prevented a 33-pound high-explosive antipersonnel bomb from exploding. Thi... more »

Historical Counterfactual: What If Hitler and Stalin Had Signed a Peace Treaty?

Warfare History Network at The National Interest - 13 hours ago
*Warfare History Network* *History, Europe* [image: Reuters] A Nazi victory? *Key point:* World War II didn't necessarily have to end in either a complete German or Soviet victory. At daybreak on Monday, July 12, 1943, SS Sturmbannführer Christian Bachmann, the panzer group commander of the 3rd SS Panzergrenadier Division, ordered his unit to cross the Psel River and attack. The Germans drove north toward the east-west road connecting the towns of Karteschewka and Prokhorokva. After fighting through several Soviet defensive positions and advancing nearly five miles, the panzer ... more »

Own a Gun? These Are The 10 Upgrades You Definitely Need

Gun News Daily at The National Interest - 13 hours ago
*Gun News Daily* *Technology, * When you upgrade your weapon, you’re boosting its overall functions as well as its performance. If you’re new to owning a firearm, or a gun enthusiast, the occasional upgrade is an excellent thing to consider. It is hugely beneficial to update your gun every once in awhile. When you upgrade your weapon, you’re boosting its overall functions as well as its performance. These are both important aspects to consider whether you choose to use your gun for protection or sport. The upgrade options that are currently available are almost overwhelming bec... more »

The Left Can't Wait to Take Away Your Tax Cuts

Adam Michel, Abraham Farooqui at The National Interest - 13 hours ago
*Adam Michel, Abraham Farooqui* *Politics, Americas* [image: Senator Elizabeth Warren does an interview in the spin room after the sixth 2020 U.S. Democratic presidential candidates campaign debate at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California, U.S., December 19, 2019. REUTERS/Kyle Grillot] Here's what that means. It’s no secret that Democrats want to raise taxes on the rich. They are less willing to admit that their plan would actually raise taxes and shrink economic opportunity for the middle class. Since the 2017 tax cuts are now two years old, it’s worth revisiti... more »

Israel Threatens Iran, Says Syria Could Become Their Version of Vietnam

Seth J. Frantzman at The National Interest - 13 hours ago
*Seth J. Frantzman* *Security, Middle East* Israel’s new Defense Minister Naftali Bennett has warned Iran that Syria will become its version of Vietnam, where its forces will sink in the sand under Israeli airstrikes. Israel’s new Defense Minister Naftali Bennett has warned Iran that Syria will become its version of Vietnam, where its forces will sink in the sand under Israeli airstrikes. “There’s nothing for you in Syria,” he said during a late November trip to northern Israel. “Whatever you try to do, you will encounter a strong and determined IDF that will strike you.” The I... more »

Class 3: What Creates an Economic Orbit?

David at LaRouchePAC Feed - 13 hours ago
The Basement New International Economic Order Class 3: What Creates an Economic Orbit? Video of Class 3: What Creates an Economic Orbit? *LIVE today, Saturday, beginning at 2pm eastern.* From the 1930s through the 1960s, the United States had a period of incredible economic growth. From the 1960s to the 1990s, that physical economic growth slowed and was replaced with financial growth. Today, while enormous efforts are put into maintaining the financial system, the physical economy is nearly an afterthought. How did we get here? And is this problem temporary or systemic?

After DA Let Child Sex Trafficker Walk Free, Child Victim Killed Him, Now She’s Facing Life

Jack Burns at The Free Thought Project - 13 hours ago
[image: trafficking]After the DA let a pedophile sex trafficker walk free, one of his victims says she had no other choice but to take matters into her own hands and kill him.

The Power of Purpose at Kentucky

Dr. Julian Vasquez Heilig at Cloaking Inequity - 13 hours ago
This is no ordinary year. In our world, our nation, here in Kentucky and at the University of Kentucky College of Education, we have witnessed change and challenge, as well as inspirational accomplishments. In my first semester as dean, I have been awed by the passion within our students, faculty, and staff as they demonstrate time and again the heart

Weekend reads: 100 fake professors; study on police killings retracted; false data won’t scuttle company buyout

Ivan Oransky at Retraction Watch - 14 hours ago
Before we present this week’s Weekend Reads, a question: Do you enjoy our weekly roundup? If so, we could really use your help. Would you consider a tax-deductible donation to support Weekend Reads, and our daily work? Thanks in advance. The week at Retraction Watch featured: The top retractions of 2019; Two retractions and three corrections … Continue reading Weekend reads: 100 fake professors; study on police killings retracted; false data won’t scuttle company buyout

Playing the man

Craig at Is the BBC biased? - 14 hours ago
Oh dear. It looks as if young Lewis isn't happy about Robbie Gibb's intervention in the impartiality debate:

Leaf Blowers Banned (Take that, Greta)

Ron Clutz at Science Matters - 14 hours ago
Greta keeps repeating that nothing is being done to reduce emissions, blind to all the imposed policies and regulations. So today good news out of California, the leader in fighting climate change. From NBC San Diego Encinitas Leaf Blower Ban Goes Into Effect. Excerpts in italics with my bolds. Businesses in Encinitas are no longer […]

"Never Regret Anything..."

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 14 hours ago

The Native Son

Owen Gray at Northern Reflections - 14 hours ago
Jean Charest is pondering a bid for the leadership of the Conservative Party. Winning the leadership wouldn't be easy. Chantal Hebert writes: Over the past few days, Charest has not so much looked for advice as to the wisdom of throwing his hat in the ring as started to make a case for why he is the leader Conservatives need to win. Someone else with the same high-profile track record would not leave what has been a successful transition to the private sector without a reasonably certain prospect of victory. His big problem is that the party has changed since the time he spent o... more »

Space Force becomes reality

Uriel at 'Nox & Friends - 14 hours ago
With the stroke of a pen, U.S. Space Force becomes a reality Emblem of the Air Force Space Command Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs December 20, 2019 JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. (AFNS) — President Trump signed into law Dec. 20 the sprawling, $738 billion defense bill, making history by creating the Space Force as a stand-alone, sixth branch of the U.S. military … “Today [also] marks another landmark achievement as we officially inaugurate the newest branch of the military [United States Space Force], this is a very big and important moment,” said President Donald J. Trump. In a... more »

2020 Pentagon Funding Bill Contains Hidden Amnesty Provision

SafeSpace at 'Nox & Friends - 14 hours ago
Here’s how our elected Congress subverts our nation, using bloated legislative language that discourages even lawmakers from reading their own bills in detail. As The Queen famously said, “We have to pass it so you can see what’s in it”. Per the deceptively innocent and warm-fuzzy language found in Title X, Subtitle H, section 1099C on page 1,061 of NDAA 2020, which is captioned ‘Parole in Place for Members of the Armed Forces,’” a legal tactic called “parole in place” is codified, allowing a future (Democrat) President to grant amnesties to illegals “in place” in the USA. Read thi... more »

"How It Really Is"

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 14 hours ago
"One trillion?" Lies and damned lies... here's the truth: *"6.4 Trillion Reasons To End America’s Forever Wars"*

Cop Gets Life in Prison for Hiring Hitman To Murder Pregnant Girlfriend for Refusing to Have an Abortion

Matt Agorist at The Free Thought Project - 14 hours ago
[image: hitman]A former Texas cop has been sentenced to life in prison for hiring a hitman to murder his pregnant girlfriend after she refused to have an abortion.

Plane Passenger Gives Up First Class Seat For 88 Year Old Woman

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 15 hours ago
*FOX News:* *Plane passenger gives first-class seat to 88-year-old woman, makes her 'dream' come true: 'No one asked him to'* A Virgin Atlantic flight attendant didn’t hesitate to play favorites when sharing the sweet story of her new “favorite” passengers: a kindhearted man and the elderly woman he selflessly swapped seats with, so she could enjoy his first-class digs. Last week, Virgin stewardess Leah Amy shared the heartwarming tale on Facebook, in a post that has since gone viral with over 4,100 likes and 1,300 shares. Leah has already met famous athletes, supermodels and act... more »

Untitled

Jenna Orkin at From the Wilderness' Peak Oil Blog - 15 hours ago
From Jenna Orkin Protests Across India Turkey to establish military base in LibyaVatican Uses Donations for the Poor to Plug Its Budget DeficitOne quarter of world's pigs killed by African swine fever as disease spreads to South Korea (Sept) Donald Glover Is Now a Creative Consultant for Andrew Yang's Campaign Twitter just suspended over 88,000 accounts tied to a Saudi Arabian disinformation campaign in one of the largest crackdowns in Twitter's history YouTube's new documentary demystifying artificial intelligence features Robert Downey Jr. and an AI baby Retailpocalypse - A Record 9,... more »

The Top Ten Geopolitical Risks for 2020 (North Korea, Elections, China and Much More)

Robert A. Manning, Mathew Burrows at The National Interest - 15 hours ago
*Robert A. Manning, Mathew Burrows* *Security, World* What will happen next year in global politics? We have some ideas. 2019 did not offer any great surprises or ‘Black Swans,’ but the fragile world order did move further down the path of unraveling. 2020 will likely bear more resemblance to the 1930s, as some of the developments which did not reach a denouement in the past year cross the finish line. Several simmering conflicts, symptoms of a global system under strain from US President Donald J. Trump’s “anti-globalist” America First doctrine, could well reach breakpoints in 2... more »

Battle of Grozny: 25 Years Ago the Russian Military Hit Rock Bottom

Sebastien Roblin at The National Interest - 15 hours ago
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, Europe* How did they bounce back? On New Year’s Eve, 1994 Russian tanks and infantry fighting vehicles poured into the streets of Grozny with an assault expected to snuff out the self-declared Chechcen Republic of Ichkeria, as black smoke poured into the sky from oil tanks set ablaze by a dawn artillery bombardment. Defense Minister Pavel Grachev had claimed the upstart Chechens would be swept away in “a bloodless blitzkrieg” with minimal forces. But the forces entering Grozny from four axes were far from minimal, counting elements from seven motor... more »

What If Trump Ordered a Naval Blockade of North Korea?

James Holmes at The National Interest - 15 hours ago
*James Holmes* *Security, Asia* Could this be one way to respond to Kim's supposed 'Christmas gift'? Donald J. Trump adores splashy gestures. On the other hand, the president displays little enthusiasm for launching new military adventures. Suppose his administration decided to go big in response to a North Korean ballistic-missile test—the “Christmas gift” Kim Jong-Un’s minions have promised Pyongyang might bestow—rather than content itself with humdrum peacetime deterrence. And suppose Washington blanched at ground combat. How to satisfy both the impulses goading it into actio... more »

The World's Only 'Battlecrusiers' are Back (And in Russia's Navy)

Mark Episkopos at The National Interest - 15 hours ago
*Mark Episkopos* *Security, * But are they just as obsolete as battleships? As Russia forges ahead with a far-reaching modernization program to field a leaner, smaller, and more cost-efficient fleet, the Russian Navy continues to cling on to two of the most prolific ships of the Soviet past: the *Admiral Nakhimov *and *Petr Velikiy *battlecruisers, which remain the largest and heaviest surface combatant ships in the world. *Admiral Nahkimov *is currently undergoing a deep refit at the Severodvinsk shipyard in Northwestern Russia. First Deputy Prime Minister of the General Direc... more »

'Steel Rain': Could This Be the U.S. Military's Ultimate Weapon?

Warfare History Network at The National Interest - 15 hours ago
*Warfare History Network* *Security, Americas* Don't take on an MLRS. *Key point: *For the time being, the MLRS still provides an effective rocket system for U.S. armored units. On February 24, 1991, the ground phase of Operation Desert Storm began. Over the next four days, the soldiers of an international coalition, formed to eject the Iraqi army of Saddam Hussein from the neighboring nation of Kuwait, carried out a whirlwind offensive that quickly overwhelmed their foe. During this time, tens of thousands of Iraqi soldiers were taken prisoner. Many of them, arms thrust upward... more »

The New Glock 44 Gun Will Be a .22 LR: Why?

Charlie Gao at The National Interest - 15 hours ago
*Charlie Gao* *Technology, * Who is this pistol for? Will it be a smashing success? On December 10, 2019, after an extensive marketing and hype campaign, Glock announced that their next pistol, the Glock 44, would be a .22LR compact pistol. Many commentators expressed disappointment in this announcement, expecting Glock to release something more innovative and exciting. The rimfire pistol market is rather crowded, with other manufacturers like Ruger having established product lines. But others have expressed the opinion that a .22LR Glock is long overdue. Many other pistol manufa... more »

Netflix Makes History: Will Congress Give the Union From 'The Irishman' a Bailout?

Rachel Greszler at The National Interest - 15 hours ago
*Rachel Greszler* *Culture, * They're already showing billions on one union. Director Martin Scorsese’s award-winning new film “The Irishman” contains some important history for lawmakers as they prepare to vote on a spending package that would provide a $6 billion taxpayer bailout to one select union. That union is the United Mine Workers of America. For the first time in history, Congress is poised to use taxpayer dollars to fund the broken pension promises of a private-sector union and private employers. We can bet this won’t be a one-and-done move, however. The next big pe... more »

Glock 26 vs. Shield M2.0: Which Pistol Is King?

Gun News Daily at The National Interest - 15 hours ago
*Gun News Daily* *Technology, * We take a look. *Key Point:* We have some answers. A couple days ago my father-in-law and I met with one of his old friends at his personal shooting range. He showed us his collection — among which is a Chinese-made AK-47 clone (the brand is called Norinco), a Rock Island Armory 1911-style pistol chambered in .22 TCM, a Glock 26 Gen4 and an obscure semi-auto pistol that looked so beaten up I didn’t bother checking it out. What caught my attention was his newest acquisition: a subcompact S&W M&P9 , which he said was the second generation of the M... more »

Lost History: Japan Attacked Targets Off California with Submarines During World War II

Warfare History Network at The National Interest - 15 hours ago
*Warfare History Network* *Security, Americas* A second Pearl Harbor? *Key point: *In the end, Japan never had the time, opportunity, or resources to launch a major offensive effort against the continental United States. It seemed like just another ordinary day at sea. Early on December 7, 1941, a U.S. Army-chartered cargo vessel, the 250-foot SS Cynthia Olson, under the command of a civilian skipper, Berthel Carlsen, was plying the Pacific waters about 1,200 miles northeast of Diamond Head, Oahu, Hawaii, and over 1,000 miles west of the Tacoma, Washington, port from which she h... more »

The Israeli Assault Rifle That Fires A Whopping 800 Rounds A Minute

Kyle Mizokami at The National Interest - 15 hours ago
*Kyle Mizokami* *Security, Middle East* [image: https://pictures.reuters.com/archive/ROSEN-PBEAHUONTBQ.html] The Tavor rifle is quite a gun. *Key Point:* Despite flaws with its bullpup design, the Tavor is still an incredible weapon. In the 1990s, Israel developed an innovative new rifle designed specifically for the urban Middle Eastern battlefield. A compact weapon that moved freely indoors, the Tavor was one of the few so-called “bullpup” assault rifle designs to enter service with a modern military force. The unique design of bullpup weapons allows them to have a shorter ove... more »

The F-35 Is A Success Story That Keeps Getting Better

Dan Goure at The National Interest - 15 hours ago
*Dan Goure* *Technology, * Without question, the JSF program continues to face challenges. But it is also making enormous progress. The program is delivering aircraft, expanding capabilities and reducing costs. There is an old saying in the news business to the effect that bad news gets more attention than good news. There is some truth to this observation with respect to Pentagon acquisition programs. While it is important to inform the public about problems in military programs, focusing on challenges, rather than giving attention to successes, can give the impression that a p... more »

These Guns Might Be Cursed: 5 Guns That Might Be the Worst Ever

Kyle Mizokami at The National Interest - 15 hours ago
*Kyle Mizokami* *Technology, * Who made this infamous list? Most handguns are fairly well-made tools that do their jobs reasonably well. Revolvers and pistols are defensive weapons by nature and often a weapon of last resort, so such guns tend to emphasize reliability over all else. The vast majority of handguns are decent in one way or another, though in the modern history of firearms there have been several notable lemons. Unergonomic, underpowered, or worst of all unreliable, these cursed handguns have achieved lasting infamy. *The Japanese Type 94* Japan has never been know... more »

Weird History: In 1935 Patton Dispatched Bombers to Attack a Hawaiian Volcano—Did it Work?

Sebastien Roblin at The National Interest - 15 hours ago
*Sebastien Roblin* *History, Americas* Did you know about this? Disaster seemed imminent: day by day, a glowing river of molten lava was creeping steadily towards Hilo, Hawaii. The town of 15,000 lay slightly over 30 miles northeast of Mauna Loa, known as the second-largest volcano on the planet. The over 13,000-foot tall behemoth had erupted on Hawaii island on November 21. By December, Dr. Thomas Jaggar, a local volcanologist and founder of the Hawaii Volcano Observatory, estimated that one of the five streams of lava issuing from Mauna Loa was advancing at a mile per minute t... more »

Trump Commits to Not Imposing Surcharge on Brazilian Steel, Says Bolsonaro

Richard Mann at The Rio Times - 15 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - President Jair Bolsonaro announced yesterday, December 20th, during a Facebook live broadcast, that the US government will no longer surcharge Brazilian steel and aluminum exports. According to Bolsonaro, the commitment was undertaken by US President Donald Trump himself during a phone call. "Just now, I had the pleasure of receiving […] The post Trump Commits to Not Imposing Surcharge on Brazilian Steel, Says Bolsonaro appeared first on The Rio Times.

Federal State-owned Companies’ Profits through September Grow 70 Percent

Richard Mann at The Rio Times - 15 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The five leading federal state-owned companies that rely on their own revenues - Petrobras, Eletrobras, Banco do Brasil ("Bank . . . To read the full NEWS and much more, Subscribe to our Premium Membership Plan. Already Subscribed? Login Here Subscribe Login Here The post Federal State-owned Companies’ Profits through September Grow 70 Percent appeared first on The Rio Times.

São Paulo Government to Launch Cooperative App for Bus, Train, and Subway Routes

Xiu Ying at The Rio Times - 15 hours ago
SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL - The São Paulo State government plans to launch an App in 2020 that provides subway, train, and bus routes, as well as micro-mobility options such as shared bicycles. Why is this different from Google Maps or Citymapper, for instance? The Secretary of Metropolitan Transport invests in cooperative alerts to warn if […] The post São Paulo Government to Launch Cooperative App for Bus, Train, and Subway Routes appeared first on The Rio Times.

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