10:24 pm MST
Saturday Snippet: a Viking teaser
During my ongoing recovery from my heart attack last month, I've been trying to work on the books I have in progress. It's very difficult to write creatively when the new medication I'm taking makes me breathless, dizzy, and too easily tired. The combination doesn't do much for my muse! As a result, when things get too confused, I put aside my regular projects and try to noodle on other things to get my mind out of the same old rut, and keep at least some creative juices flowing. The snippet below came to me a few weeks ago. It may go nowhere, or it may develop into a historica... more »
The House Passed 2 Important Bills Before Leaving Town-- One Good One And One Bad One... And Only The Bad One Will Become Law
Before rushing home for Christmas on Thursday, the House voted to pass Trump's NAFTA 2.0-- H.R. 5430-- (385-41) and voted to pass Tom Suozzi's Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act--H.R. 5377-- 218-206. Let's start with NAFTA 2.0. Hoyer introduced it and it was supported by 193 Democrats and 192 Republicans. Trump is eager to sign it. 38 Democrats, 2 Republicans and Justin Amash (I-MI) had the sense to oppose it. It was tough for Democrats to vote against it even though they all knew it sucked because most of the unions had come out for it. Among the independent-min... more »
How Mothers Protect Their Babies from Chickenpox
NEW DELHI 16 December 2019 Viral Immunol. 2019 Dec 13. doi: 10.1089/vim.2019.0090. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 31834852 doi.org/10.1089/vim.2019.0090 Ranjan V, Mishra A, Kesarwani A, Mohan KV, Lal SN, Puliyel J, Upadhyay P. Click here to dowload the .pdf By... more »
A rocket blast from the past: Understanding Space Force
Today the Military Industrial Complex is marching towards world dominance through Space technology on behalf of global corporate interest. To understand how and why the space program will be used to fight all future wars on earth from space, it's important to understand how the public has been misled about the origins and true purpose of the Space Program.
A conversation with a Trump hater on the impeachment, guest blogger Michael Smith
Michael Smith had an actual conversation with a liberal who believes Trump should be impeached based on his assumptions and feelings, not evidence--just like a few Democrats I know. Trump's enemies didn't expect him to release the transcript of the Ukraine phone call, but it didn't make any difference. Hate, which begins in the heart, has created an actual hate crime. Actual conversation on Wednesday afternoon (before the shampeachment vote): Person: "Trump asked Ukraine to manufacture dirt on Biden." Me: "No. That's not correct." Person: "Yes, it is. It was in the transcript." ... more »
Christianity Today doesn’t remember, but I do
About the *Christianity Today* editorial: I’m so old I remember when conservatives were horrified that a Roman Catholic could be president; I’m so old I remember that Ronald Reagan’s divorce and remarriage was a topic of media gossip; I’m so old I remember when Gerald Ford’s wife’s divorce years before was grist for the media mill as well as the divorce of his mother and his adoption by his stepfather, named Ford; I’m so old I remember when abortion was taboo for most Christian churches, and now it’s only in the documents of the Catholics who also are ignoring their church’s teach... more »
"For All You Are Worth..."
"There is only a certain amount of kindness in the world, just as there is a certain amount of light. We cast a shadow on something wherever we stand, and it is no good moving from place to place to save things. Choose a place where you won't do very much harm and stand in it for all you are worth, facing the sunshine." - E.M. Forster
The Shortest Day (least daylight)
Just about the time you thought that you may have human beings figured out, there comes the "Godzilla Lives Club", comprised of people who spend some of their time on the planet wishing and dreaming that there actually was a Godzilla - coming to a beachside city near you. No, you can't make this stuff up. And I won't waste anymore electrons discussing it. But this post should assure you that no 'news' is too insignificant for Virtual Mirage to cover. *The Wall* $1.4 billion set aside for funding the border wall passed through with the latest Congressional spending bill, far short ... more »
"Half-dead, We Stand..."
"Time is ungovernable, but grief presents us with a choice: what do we do with the savage energies of bereavement? What do we do with the memory- or in the memory- of the beloved? Some commemorate love with statuary, but behavior, too, is a memorial, as is a well-lived life. In death, there is always the promise of hope. The key is opening, rather than numbing, ourselves to pain. Above all, we must show our children how to celebrate existence in all its beauty, and how to get up after life has knocked us down, time and again. Half-dead, we stand. And together, we salute love. Becau... more »
"Fukushima Update 12/21/19: 20,730.3 Hiroshima Bombs Today, More Tomorrow"
*"Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.”* - Shiva ◆ *Updated Dec. 21, 2019: Fukushima Equals 20,730.3 Hiroshima Bombs Today, More Tomorrow; There is No Place On Earth to Escape the Rad: *The 3 melted-through cores of the destroyed reactors, now melted together into a single "corium" totaling over *600 tons*, at Fukushima *daily* release the radioactive equivalent of 6.45 Hiroshima bombs directly into the atmosphere and the Pacific Ocean. As of Dec. 21, 2019 - 3,214 days since the disaster began - this equals the detonation of *20,730.3 *Hiroshima atomic bombs and it is sti... more »
"We May Know..."
"We may know that the work we continue to put off doing will be bad. Worse, however, is the work we never do. A work that's finished is at least finished. It may be poor, but it exists, like the miserable plant in the lone flowerpot of my neighbor who's crippled. That plant is her happiness, and sometimes it's even mine. What I write, bad as it is, may provide some hurt or sad soul a few moments of distraction from something worse. That's enough for me, or it isn't enough, but it serves some purpose, and so it is with all of life." - Fernando Pessoa
Libyan Army vows to repel any Turkish military attack, willing to battle in Mediterranean
BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:20 A.M.) – The Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, said on Saturday that they will repel any attack by the Turkish military. According to Saudi state-owned Al-Arabiya TV, the Libyan National Army announced that it was “able to repel any Turkish aggression, and that its navy would take […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Syrian oil fields come under attack by terrorists in eastern Syria
BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:00 A.M.) – The Syrian Ministry of Oil and Mineral Resources has announced three simultaneous attacks on their oil fields in eastern Syria on Saturday. The Ministry said in a statement on Saturday morning that “a systematic and simultaneous terrorist attack was carried out on three of our oil facilities,” explaining that these […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
New footage of Russian and Syrian navies carrying out attacks in eastern Mediterranean: video
Russian and Syrian navies held joint naval drills in the eastern Mediterranean Sea on Thursday, as part of the first joint drills involving the two countries that kicked off on December 16. The drills included Russian surface ships, aircraft from Russia’s Hmeymim airbase, missile gunboats and minesweepers of the Syrian Navy. Footage also shows emergency […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
It's Alright To Cry - A Poem by M.N. Hopkins
*It's alright to cry* *You could also laugh instead* *Both release your pain* *© **2019 M.N. Hopkins* *Note: I wrote this poem after thinking about how one can release emotional pain, trauma and stress by the acts of crying or laughing. Both will release emotional stress and toxins from the body resulting in felling lighter and more content. I wrote this poem yesterday in the haiku style of poetry and published it for the first time on my blog today, the 21st of December, 2019.*
Don't Be Rude To Owen Jones Day
New blog favourite Lewis Goodall, who's just finished at Sky News and will be starting at* Newsnight *in the new year, has just recently published a mysterious tweet: Oh I see Twitter is engaged in some mass organised bullying today. Great job everyone! Merry Christmas. So who's being bullied today? I've no idea, but before I look and see I'm guessing it's not going to be a right-winger on the receiving end of Lewis's sympathy. OK, I'm off to have a look.... Hmm, it's Owen Jones. A very crude, cruel hashtag about him (please don't click on the link) is trending at No.1 in the UK.
History lesson: 'This is nuts and I want out'
This is a clip of poet and educator Bill Ehrhart - a very articulate Vietnam veteran who joined the military with patriotism in his heart. Ehrhart served with 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, from early February 1967 to late February 1968 in Vietnam.. Ehrhart became a well-known veteran poet. Ehrhart began writing when he was 15 years old, and has been writing more or less continuously ever since. His first published work, a poem about Swarthmore College, appeared seven years later in the Chronicle of Higher Education, and the following year eight of his poems were included in ... more »
Syria Launches New Idlib Campaign – UN Battle Over Control Of Aid For Syrians
The Syrian army campaign to liberate the terrorist held Idleb governorate was restarted yesterday. The campaign had been halted at the end of August after ceasefire negotiations between Turkey and Russia. Since then nearly a thousand people have died on all sides around Idleb during skirmishes, artillery attacks by rebels on Aleppo city and Syrian and Russian air strikes.
Information Clearing House Headlines 20-21 December 2019
21 December 2019 — Information Clearing House U.S. Is Bent on ‘Absolute Military Supremacy,’ Mikhail Gorbachev Claims: ‘Their Obsession With Weapons Is Crazy’ By David Brennan Hegemony by one single country is not possible in today’s world. –Continue ====== Syria Launches New Idlib Campaign – UN Battle Over Control Of Aid For Syrians By Moon Of … Continue reading Information Clearing House Headlines 20-21 December 2019
Governor Newsom doubling down to dismantle the California economy
Governor Newsom should know California is the only state in the union that currently imports most of its crude oil energy from foreign countries. The post Governor Newsom doubling down to dismantle the California economy appeared first on CFACT.
"Our Fragmentation Accelerates"
*"Our Fragmentation Accelerates"* by Charles Hugh Smith "That our society and economy are fragmenting is self-evident. This fragmentation is accelerating rapidly, as middle ground vanishes and competing camps harden their positions to solidify the loyalty of the "tribe." All or nothing, either-or binaries are the order of the day: you're either 100% with us or 100% against us, you're either part of the solution or part of the problem. As fragmentation accelerates, "tribes" splinter into warring groups who compete for members of once-broad-based movements. Moderation is no longer to... more »
The Emma Awards
By Paul Homewood We have a winner! London-based climate policy NGO, the Global Warming Policy Forum (GWPF), has announced that it is to name its annual awards for the world’s greatest eco-hypocrites after Hollywood actress Emma Thompson. Thompson’s lack of self-awareness propelled her to the front pages of newspapers around the world this year […]
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*Can colleges launch data science programs fast enough?* Higher ed has struggled to keep up with the surging demand for data scientists, but a new open-source curriculum from IBM could help. When the University of California, Berkeley rolled out a new undergraduate data science program last fall, nearly 800 students immediately signed up for major, making it one of the most popular degrees on campus. That move has positioned UC Berkeley to be a leader in producing data scientists, an in-demand and high-paying job that requires workers to be adept in topics such as statistics, mac... more »
Wreath Laying at Arlington National Cemetery Honors the Fallen—and Warns Against Unending Wars
*Christopher A. Preble* *Security, Americas* [image: Reuters] How many more must die? It was a decidedly bittersweet experience for me. Our group convened in Section 60, one of larger sections of the cemetery, and the resting place for many of those killed in the nation’s post-9/11 wars; in other words, the wars that I’ve been spending my 16+ years here at the Cato Institute mostly trying to stop. But it had far greater resonance to those around me who had family members and friends buried there. They knew the people behind the names on the stones. So I kept quiet. This day was ... more »
America's M72 Law Rocket Launcher Started In Vietnam And Now Serves Around The World
*Warfare History Network* *History, Asia* The one-shot disposable LAW made its debut with the U.S. military in 1963 and remains in limited use. *Key point: *Since the Vietnam War, the LAW has been in service with the armed forces of more than 30 countries, including Israel, Egypt, Australia, South Korea, and Great Britain. Among the most effective and feared weapons of the communist North Vietnamese Army and the Viet Cong insurgency during the Vietnam War was the rocket-propelled grenade, commonly known as the RPG. These were simple weapons originally designed and manufactured i... more »
5 Worst Submachine Guns To Ever Fire a Bullet
*Kyle Mizokami* *Technology, * The worst of the worst. Submachine guns were invented in the early twentieth century, due to the widespread use of trenches on the Western Front of World War I. The submachine gun was typically a fully automatic, short-barreled weapon chambered in pistol caliber for low recoil. The combination of a compact package and high firepower volume made the “SMG” a choice weapon for clearing out narrow trenches. There are few truly bad submachine guns, a byproduct of the category’s relatively late introduction. Instead, the guns on this list are popular and... more »
How Netflix Could Destroy Itself with This 1 Bad Move
*Jason Mittell* *Culture, Americas* [image: Reuters] Poof. Gone. *Key Point:* Customers may get very angry if Netflix starts selling their data en masse. Even in the wake of a recent mixed earning report and volatile stock prices, Netflix remains the media success story of the decade. The company, whose user base has grown rapidly, now boasts almost 150 million global subscribers. But as someone who studies the television industry, I’ve always wondered how Netflix can provide so much unlimited ad-free content for such a low monthly rate, which currently averages around US$14. ... more »
Joe Biden and Andrew Yang Like 'Smart Guns': Everything You Need To Know
*Richard Douglas* *Technology, * What are they? 2020 presidential candidates — like Andrew Yang and Joe Biden — are backing 007 technology called “smart guns.” Does the technology really exist? Or is it all a marketing fad? We’ll find out in this article. Let’s dig in. In 2005, the New Jersey Institute of Technology discovered a breakthrough technology called Dynamic Grip Recognition technology. Dynamic Grip Recognition Technology Prototype What was it? It’s the 007 grip technology. You use your hand’s grip to unlock your gun. The best part? It had over a 90 percent re... more »
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*Ruthless Joe Biden Admits He'll Sacrifice Hundreds of Thousands of Blue-Collar Workers for His Green Dream* You've got to give it to Democrats: they freely admit they do not care one bit about blue-collar workers. They don't. They're the party by and for leftist academics, illegal immigrants, and SJW whackjobs. Although this has been the case for at least a few decades, they've always pretended to care about John Doe. Not any longer. All pretenses are dropped. Case in point: Joe Biden admitting during Thursday's Democratic presidential debate that he's more than willing to hang ou... more »
Brazilian Government Bond Sales Record Best November in History
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The sale of public bonds to individuals totaled R$1.87 billion (US$468 million) in November, the National Treasury reported yesterday, December 20th. The amount sold through the Tesouro Direto ("Direct Treasury") program is the best in history for the month, outperforming the previous record of R$1.84 billion in November 2016. The […] The post Brazilian Government Bond Sales Record Best November in History appeared first on The Rio Times.
Tourism in Brazil Creates Approximately 25,000 New Formal Jobs in 12 Months
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Tourism in Brazil generated a net 24,902 formal jobs in the 12 months ending in October of this year, an increase of 330 percent over the immediately preceding 12 months, which ended in October 2018. The data are from the National Confederation of Trade in Goods, Services and Tourism (CNC) […] The post Tourism in Brazil Creates Approximately 25,000 New Formal Jobs in 12 Months appeared first on The Rio Times.
Brazil’s TIM and Vivo to Share 2G, 3G and 4G Mobile Networks in 2,700 Cities
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Operators TIM and Vivo signed agreements to share 2G, 3G and 4G networks this week. The deal is the result of negotiations announced in July, which provided the unification of the 2G network nationwide and share the 4G coverage in small municipalities. The final agreement provides for a unique network […] The post Brazil’s TIM and Vivo to Share 2G, 3G and 4G Mobile Networks in 2,700 Cities appeared first on The Rio Times.
Marcelo Odebrecht Dismissed by Order of His Father
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Ruy Sampaio, president of Odebrecht, dismissed Marcelo Odebrecht from the company for just cause, following a directive of the entrepreneur's father's, Emílio Odebrecht. Marcelo ws allegedly fired as a result of the disclosure by Folha de S. Paulo of e-mails in which he accuses his father of being to blame […] The post Marcelo Odebrecht Dismissed by Order of His Father appeared first on The Rio Times.
Paulista Dance Company Tiptoeing Abroad
SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL - With more than 500 national and international awards, the Companhia Paulista de Dança (Paulista Dance Company) will perform in the USA and Israel in 2020. With dancers performing in Europe and North America, the Cia premiered the play Le Corsaire, in São Paulo. The Rio Times team was at the premiere […] The post Paulista Dance Company Tiptoeing Abroad appeared first on The Rio Times.
'Maintaining dominance in space': President Donald Trump officially launches Space Force
Just In - 18 hours ago
US President Donald Trump celebrates the launch of Space Force — the first new military service in more than 70 years.
Scott Morrison returns home to face bushfire crisis after cutting holiday short
Prime Minister Scott Morrison touches down in Australia after cutting short his family holiday in Hawaii as the nation continues to battle a catastrophic bushfire crisis.
Robbie Gibb's Little List
Robbie Gibb, Rob Burley's predecessor at the BBC before he became David Cameron's Director of Communications, has today posted a checklist of what, in his view, needs to be done to improve impartiality and accuracy in reporting. I have to say that I think it's a superb list and the BBC should study it carefully. Many of its journalists break these 'rules' on an almost daily basis: Ch4’s decision to ban nonpolitical journalists from tweeting about politics is a step in the right direction and other broadcasters should follow its lead. However there is so much more that needs to be ... more »
Some 1600 People Protest in Minsk Belarus Against Integration with Russia
Link: https://youtu.be/yJLNO2i9yVU From RFERL: https://www.rferl.org/a/hundreds-protest-in-minsk-against-integration-with-russia/30336500.html “More Than 1,500 People Protest In Minsk Against Integration With Russia December 20, 2019 17:25 … Continue reading →
Belarus’ President Lukashenka and Putin Reportedly Agreed on 28 “Integration Documents” Out of 31
According to Russia, Belarus President Lukashenka and Putin have not yet agreed on gas, oil, and taxes. From Charter97.org “BelTA: … Continue reading →
NSA Director Rogers Disclosed FISA Abuse Days After Page Warrant Was Issued
*[image: Admiral Mike Rogers, Director of the National Security Agency (NSA), before Congress on May 23, 2017. (SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)]* This application likely woke him up. He then discovered a rats nest of surveillance activity he knew nothing about. This clearly meant he had been circumvented and it could even be foreign spying, though it was not. So he obviously sprang into action and would certainly not have been open to been waved off. Very likely he read the warrant properly. He also had read his job description as well. This was the key mistake of the coup handlers... more »
Bruce Lee on Self-Actualization and the Crucial Difference Between Pride and Self-Esteem
Lee had training in academic philosophy so was well prepared to enunciate these subtle ideas. Please read this. You will gain a huge leap in self awareness. This insight can change your path forward. All good. * Bruce Lee on Self-Actualization and the Crucial Difference Between Pride and Self-Esteem* * “The less promise and potency in the self, the more imperative is the need for pride. The core of pride is self-rejection.”* * Brain Pickings |* *https://getpocket.com/explore/item/bruce-lee-on-self-actualization-and-the-crucial-difference-between-pride-and-self-esteem ... more »
The Japanization of the European Union
*[image: japan_eu.PNG]* The fundamental problem has always been the increasing rigidity of economies. Ending that aspect liberates the entrepreneurial class to create new wealth. Thus fixing an economy by printing money only underwrites such nonsense. The USA has seen a massive wave of deregulation which has inspired acsharp jump in new business. The next phase should be forced breakup up of the top tier of lenders ASAP. This could easily produce a hundred or so successor operations as well as inducing rapid growth among an additional 100. Add in fifty or so new State Banks an... more »
Feds clear farmer to plow, then slap him with millions in fines
[image: Feds clear farmer to plow, then slap him with millions in fines] Once again the absurdity of Federal regulatory oversight. Hopefully this nightmare does not stand. Often politicians come to their senses and establish an office of the Ombudsman whose task is to recommend remediation. This at least removes the government agent from the decision tree and stops this type of nonsense from ever been part of a public and political discussion. It is possible to not have these problems.. . *Feds clear farmer to plow, then slap him with millions in fines* * By Paige Gilliard, op... more »
Trump signs $1.4 Trillion pair of spending bills at last minute
Trump Signs 2020 Spending Bills, Averting Midnight Shutdown The $1.4 trillion measures boost funding for most agencies and provide a 3.1% pay raise to civilian feds. Government Executive Eric Katz December 20, 2019 Late Friday, President Trump signed into law a pair of bills that will set line-by-line funding for every agency in the federal government and provide most with a significant funding boost, avoiding a midnight shutdown when current appropriations were set to expire. The bills will allocate $1.4 trillion: $738 billion to the military and $632 billion to non-defense agenci... more »
Beck video interview with Giuliani
RUDY GIULIANI ON UKRAINE: Documents PROVE Hunter Biden, Burisma Corruption and Money Laundering December 20, 2019 . President Trump’s personal lawyer and former Mayor of New York City, Rudy Giuliani, joins Glenn at the Turning Point USA Student Action Summit. He presents Glenn documents that prove Democrat corruption in Ukraine. Specifically, the documents show that Burisma committed a money laundering scheme to get millions of dollars into the pockets of board members…like Hunter Biden. –##– Shokin with One America News interview December 8, 2019 Giuliani says he has information on ... more »
"...even after I sent it phonetically to them"
Talking of Nihal, Kirsty Wark badly mangled his surname last night. Nihal himself later tweeted, "Yes Kirsty did kind of butcher my surname even after I sent it phonetically to them." His face was a picture though: I think I covered the mispronunciation of my surname quite well. pic.twitter.com/Sj42Iy8gJd — Nihal Arthanayake (@TherealNihal) December 20, 2019
Climate model predictions of future global temperatures are unreliable
Click here for source (Dr Roy Spencer) and further explanation.
"As Fragile As A Thought..."
"The unreal is more powerful than the real. Because nothing is as perfect as you can imagine it. Because it's only intangible ideas, concepts, beliefs, fantasies that last. Stone crumbles. Wood rots. People, well, they die. But things as fragile as a thought, a dream, a legend, they can go on and on. If you can change the way people think, the way they see themselves, the way they see the world, you can change the way people live their lives. That's the only lasting thing you can create." - Chuck Palahniuk
Andrew Marr on social media, that Boris interview and Cuddly Uncle John
The Christmas edition of *The Spectator *also features a *Broadcaster's Notebook *by Andrew Marr in which he admits that he didn't see the scale of Boris's majority coming and that he was "over-influenced by social media". Now, it's all very well pointing the finger of blame at Twitter and Facebook but people* choose* who they follow on Twitter and Facebook, and usually do so by following their own biases and inclinations. So if their social media feed turns out to be an unrepresentative echo chamber which then gives back a false, misleading picture of public opinion as a whole t... more »
Under the impression
The Christmas edition of *The Spectator *features a fascinating interview with Sir Tom Stoppard, conducted by Douglas Murray. Along the way the great playwright describes how much he enjoys silence. So, when his wife Sabrina switches on the *Today *programme in the morning she listens to it "very quietly". He, however, has "never, ever" listened to the programme - quietly or otherwise. He feels guilty, therefore, whenever he meets its editor Sarah Sands. I particularly liked this line of Sir Tom's: Of course the people who do the *Today* programme are under the impression that ev... more »
Shared Stormzy moments
Also on the subject of last night's *Newsnight*: On the question of whether we as a country had fewer "shared moments" during this past decade, Kirsty Wark suggested a couple - one of which was Stormzy. That made me smile. It's very BBC. The BBC loves Stormzy and has shared many a Stormzy moment over the past few years. Others may take the Brendan O'Neill line that Stormzy is "a *Guardian* editorial made flesh". Kirsty's other suggestion, if you were wondering, was the 2012 Olympics. (I'm assuming she meant the opening ceremony rather than the sporting success of Team GB that year... more »
New Year bubbles
Birds of a feather As discussed on the Open Thread, the earth hath bubbles, as the water has. And these are of them... Last night's *Newsnight* - the last of the year and, in its telling, also the last of the decade - perfectly encapsulates the BBC problem. On the very day that the British Parliament gave preliminary approval to the E.U. Withdrawal Plan so that we leave the EU on 31 January, *Newsnight*'s discussion of it was stacked 2:1 in favour of Remain voters who remain deeply gloomy about Brexit - Jenni Russell and Sir Peter Westmacott - wtih only Conservative activist Shabn... more »
Be Kind And Develop In Patience - A Quotation by M.N. Hopkins
*Clicking on image will enlarge * *It is in the giving that one again gains that which has been not lost, but only forgotten. Be kind and develop in patience.* *© **M.N. Hopkins* *To read more of my quotations, please click on the link below:* *Quotations by M.N. Hopkins* *or visit:* *Pinterest*
A Prayer - A Guest Post by Errol Clark Halkett
Prayer May today there be peace within May you trust your highest power that you are exactly where you are meant to be.... May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.... May you be content knowing you are a child of God.... Let this presence settle into our bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, It is there for each and every one of you... Amen *From a collection of writings by Errol Clark Halkett*
Invisible Ink Could Reveal Whether Kids Have Been Vaccinated
A group of Technology Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a way of keeping track of vaccinated children by embedding a record of the vaccination directly into the skin. When a child is vaccinated they would also be injected with a small amount of dye which is invisible to the naked eye. … The post Invisible Ink Could Reveal Whether Kids Have Been Vaccinated appeared first on OYE Alternative News.
America: The 15th Freest Nation on Earth?
*Ian Vásquez* *Politics, Americas* [image: An American flag is seen behind barbed wire at the former U.S. Sather Air Base near Baghdad, Iraq December 14, 2011.] The land of the free and home of the brave? The United States ranks 15 in the Human Freedom Index 2019 released today by the Cato Institute, the Fraser Institute in Canada, and the Liberales Institut at the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom in Germany. The five freest jurisdictions are New Zealand, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Canada, and Australia. The annual Index uses 76 indicators of personal, civil, and economic ... more »
The U.S. Army’s Artillery Is Outmatched By Russia’s Big Guns
*Michael Peck* *Security, * Problem? The U.S. Army’s big guns have problems. The Army’s field artillery is outgunned by Russian weapons. And, it would face difficulties in knocking out entrenched North Korean artillery, or mobile Iranian weapons. That’s the conclusion of a report on U.S. Army artillery—or ground fires—capabilities by the think tank RAND Corporation, which examined an Army artillery arm that has suffered two decades of neglect since the Pentagon began focusing on counterinsurgency in the early 2000s. During that time, aircraft and helicopters replaced artillery ... more »
Rio’s Justice Orders Suspension of Evangelical Worship Concert in Copacabana New Year’s Eve Celebration
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The Court of Justice of Rio de Janeiro ordered on Thursday, December 19th, the suspension of the evangelical worship music concert of singer Anayle Sullivan at the New Year's Eve celebration in Copacabana, South Zone, promoted by the city hall. The event was scheduled for the evening of December 31st. […] The post Rio’s Justice Orders Suspension of Evangelical Worship Concert in Copacabana New Year’s Eve Celebration appeared first on The Rio Times.
Rio de Janeiro is Second Largest Employer in Brazil
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - In November this year, the state of Rio de Janeiro created 16,922 jobs, becoming the country's second-largest employer, losing only to São Paulo. Of these jobs, 13,368 are in trade. The service sector accounts for 5,148 posts. In October, Rio de Janeiro closed 9,942 jobs, the worst balance in the […] The post Rio de Janeiro is Second Largest Employer in Brazil appeared first on The Rio Times.
“I Don’t Accept Religion in my Village,” Says Pataxó Indian About Evangelicals
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The Arassari Pataxó Indian defines himself as "a warrior who fights for respect for the rights of indigenous peoples in Brazil". He was in Rome to give lectures in universities, schools and cultural centers about the issues that Brazilian Indians suffer, mainly in what concerns the demarcation of lands. The […] The post “I Don’t Accept Religion in my Village,” Says Pataxó Indian About Evangelicals appeared first on The Rio Times.
Police say Karol Eller Started Fight Over Girlfriend and Discards Homophobia
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The examination of CCTV footage and statements led the Civil Police to conclude that it was YouTuber Karol Eller who started the fight with administrative assistant Alexandre da Silva last Sunday morning, December 15th, at a kiosk in Barra de Tijuca, West Zone of Rio. According to the investigators, there […] The post Police say Karol Eller Started Fight Over Girlfriend and Discards Homophobia appeared first on The Rio Times.
Bolsonaro Attacks Journalists: “You Look Like a Terrible Homosexual”
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Enraged by the corruption charges against the clan, Jair Bolsonaro urged supporters and attacked journalists on Friday, December 20th, during his daily morning parade outside the Alvorada Palace. Among instructions to "be quiet" and " let me speak", Bolsonaro raised his voice repeatedly and replied by attacking questions. Asked if […] The post Bolsonaro Attacks Journalists: “You Look Like a Terrible Homosexual” appeared first on The Rio Times.
Star Wars: Movies Based on America's Wars?
*Stephen McVeigh* *History, Americas* [image: The Rise of Skywalker] So how do you explain the force? We take a look. Since its release on May 25, 1977, Star Wars – now known as Episode IV: A New Hope – has inspired millions of followers across generations. The film has stood the test of time, but the original circumstances of Star Wars’ creation, and the film’s deliberately constructed relationship with US history, have become obscured. It seems unthinkable that Star Wars was a film that studios did not want. George Lucas’s treatment was rejected by United Artists, Universal and... more »
The Financialization of Child and Elder Care: The Tax Justice Network December 2019 Podcast
Private equity is moving in a big way into elder and child care services in the UK. Patients and parents beware.
Australia Faces Catastrophic Fire Conditions
From VOA News: “Australia Faces Catastrophic Fire Conditions By Phil Mercer December 21, 2019 12:47 AM SYDNEY – A catastrophic … Continue reading →
Duel Of the Pistols: Sig Sauer's P320 Takes On The Glock 21 Gun
*Gun News Daily* *Technology, * Who wins? *Key Question: *Which Is Better? Nothing’s worse than having to open a can of worms. We’ve all done it at least once in our lives and we never liked the outcome. Sometimes it’s just better to keep mum about certain touchy topics concerning politics, religion and sex, among others. But here at Gun News Daily, we pride ourselves in tackling touchy gun-related issues the average Joe wouldn’t even dare try. That’s just who we are and what we do. Over the past several months I have been comparing different types of handguns — mostly two dif... more »
History Book Nightmare: What if Germany Had Won the Battle of the Bulge?
*Michael Peck* *Security, Europe* Would Hitler Have Won World War II? In September 1944, when Adolf Hitler first told his stunned generals of a plan for a massive counteroffensive in the West, he was thinking big. Like a losing gambler betting the last of his cash on a final throw of the dice, he hoped the Battle of the Bulge might change the fortunes of a dying Third Reich on the brink of defeat. The plan was to unleash a blitzkrieg by massed panzer divisions through the Ardennes forest, weakly defended by green or exhausted American troops. The Germans would race through the A... more »
Pork Chop Hill: When America And China Went Head-To-Head Over Korea
*Warfare History Network* *Security, Asia* The Americans planned the pullout in a meticulous manner to deceive the Chinese about their intentions. *Key point: *The struggle for Pork Chop Hill had raged nonstop for five days. The tennis-shoed soldiers emerged from the darkness on July 6, 1953, like a “moving carpet of yelling, howling men [with] whistles and bugles blowing, their officers screaming, driving their men” against the Americans as they swept up Hill 255, recalled Private Angelo Palermo. The lead elements of the Chinese infantry were loaded down with grenades, but the... more »
Which Gun Caliber Is Superior: The .38 Special or the 9mm?
*Gun News Daily* *Security, Americas* [image: https://ruger.com/products/lcr/specSheets/5401.html] Here's what we know. *Key Point: *It depends on your preferences. Truth be told I tend to shy away from comparing any revolver cartridge to any semi-auto handgun cartridge. It’s an apples-to-oranges type of comparison — there’s no practical reason for it, so ultimately, it’s pointless. And I’m also a wheelgun guy so I’m a little biased toward revolver cartridges. But having written a few handgun caliber comparison articles in the past, from time to time I would get emails from so... more »
1 Million Dead: Why The Battle Of The Somme Should Never Be Repeated
*Warfare History Network* *Security, Europe* A truly awful World War I battle. *Key point: *Allied artillery pounded German positions for a week, firing more than 350,000 shells and prompting one British officer to tell his troops In February 1916, Allied military leaders met at Chantilly, in the Picardy region of France to discuss grand strategy as World War I entered its second full year. British and French commanders agreed to undertake a joint offensive against the Germans in the West, and the area of the Somme River in northern France was chosen. Meanwhile, the German high... more »
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