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Solar Update December 2019
Reblogged from Watts Up With That Guest Blogger / December 22, 2019 David Archibald We are well into the Solar Cycle 24/25 minimum but 24 may not have ended yet. A solar cycle isn’t over until the heliospheric current sheet… Continue reading →
Russia's Tanks In Syria Were Not Invulnerable To Missile Attacks
*National Interest:* *Russia's Tank Forces Got A Really Rude Awakening In Syria* *Maybe the T-90 should have stayed out of the desert.* *Key point:* TOW missiles used by Syrian rebels blew holes through Russia's armored tanks. The interconnected conflicts raging across the Middle East today have amounted to a dreadful human catastrophe with spiraling global consequence. One of their lesser effects has been to deflate the reputations of Western main battle tanks mistakenly thought to be night-invulnerable in the popular imagination. Iraqi M1 Abrams tanks not only failed to preven... more »
Now That Rep. Matt Shea Been Expelled From The Washington State GOP Caucus For Domestic Terrorism, Perhaps Trump Can Appoint Him To A Judgeship
No one in the Spokane area was surprised to read last week that one of their state legislators is a dangerous fascist freak who wants to overthrown the government. *DWT* has been covering Matt Shea for years, though mostly noting that if you were to sctach the surface of most Republicans these days, Matt Shea is what you would find. He's certainly not very different from congressional sociopaths like Matt Gaetz, Gym Jordan, Devin Nunes, Liz Cheney, Clay Higgins, John Ratcliffe, Debbie Lesko, Steve Scalise, Steve King... Officially exposed by the state legislature as a domestic t... more »
Has The U.S. Government Massively Deceived The Public About Afghanistan?
* The Washington Post has gotten big play the past couple of weeks for a huge six-part series of articles about the Afghanistan war, all bearing the date of December 9. The overall title is “THE AFGHANISTAN PAPERS: A secret history of the war.” * You can get the sense of the main point of the series from the headline of the first installment, “At War With The Truth: U.S. officials constantly said they were making progress. They were not, and they knew it, an exclusive Post investigation found.” * It’s certainly a thesis with surface plausibility, given constant government deception ... more »
"Wise People Have Rules For Themselves"
"The rules may be stupid, irritating and arbitrary, but God help you if you break them." *"Wise People Have Rules For Themselves"* by David Cain "Every time I post a new behavioral experiment, or share a personal resolution of some kind, I get a few emails telling me not to be so strict with myself. They always say something like “It’s not good to be so hard on yourself!” or “We shouldn’t be forcing ourselves to do things!” This is a common thing to hear in our improvement-focused culture. I used to think it was a reasonable caution, but now I think it’s generally bad advice. It se... more »
"How the Republic Ends"
*"How the Republic Ends"* by Bill Bonner YOUGHAL, IRELAND – “The real question is whether the new dictatorship is one of the right or the left. I think the left is the bigger danger.” A friend, who prefers to remain anonymous, had asked us to imagine what would happen if there were a disputed result in the next presidential election. Could the American Republic survive? *Fictional Republic: *Here at the Diary, we think the American Republic is already largely a fiction. Congress blabs. The president distracts. The Deep State rules. But our friend was talking about a more serious br... more »
"You See..."
"You see, the thing about the truth is that it's consistent. It doesn't have to be altered and manipulated in the face of every new piece of information because all the new information simply adds to the content, strength and credibility of the original truth." - Tom Dennen
How to to Eat Healthier, Recycle and Make Better Decisions Every Day
*José Antonio Rosa* *Health, Americas* [image: Reuters] Were you subtly encouraged to make that menu choice? Every day, you make important choices – about whether to feast on fries or take a brisk walk, whether to spend or save your paycheck, whether to buy the sustainable option or the disposable plastic one. Life is made up of countless decisions. The idea of nudging people in the right direction, instead of relying on their internal motivation, has gained traction over the last decade. In general, nudging involves gently coaxing someone into a decision or behavior. The perfec... more »
Why Lincoln vs Douglas Is Still an Amazing Political Debate
*Warfare History Network* *History, Americas* [image: Reuters] An intellectual boxing match. *Key point:* Lincoln and Douglas impacted the country and debate strategies to this day. The two men facing each other across the debate stage at Ottawa, Illinois, on the afternoon of August 21, 1858, were no strangers to one another. Indeed, Senator Stephen Douglas and former one-term congressman Abraham Lincoln had been personal and political opponents—and more or less friendly neighbors—for the better part of two decades. But in ways neither man could imagine, their rivalry was about ... more »
Gold Is Now More Efficient Than Paper Money
*Lawrence H. White* *Economics, Americas* [image: United States one dollar bills are inspected under a magnifying glass during production at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington November 14, 2014. REUTERS/Gary Cameron] It's expensive to print all that money... Milton Friedman (1951, 1960) provided influential back-of-the-envelope estimates of the costs devoted to extracting gold under what he called a “strict” gold standard. I have criticized those estimates elsewhere (White 1999, pp. 42-48) for exaggerating the volume of gold reserves used by actual gold-standard ... more »
Russian And Syrian Forces Intensify Their Military Campaign On The Last Rebel PRovince In Syria
*Reuters:* *Russian-backed forces gain ground in rebel-held northwest Syria* BEIRUT (Reuters) - Russian-backed Syrian forces have gained ground after a week-long renewed assault against the last opposition enclave in Syria’s northwest, the biggest such push in more than three months that has prompted a large civilian exodus, witnesses and residents said on Sunday. The wide-scale offensive led by intense aerial strikes on civilian areas in rural southeastern Idlib province broke months of stalemate on the frontlines, where rebels had been holding back the army from major advances, ... more »
Charges laid over dangerous chemical stockpiles at Melbourne warehouses
Just In - 1 hour ago
WorkSafe charges Graham Leslie White with 55 offences after he allegedly stockpiled massive amounts of dangerous chemicals at five Melbourne warehouses, posing a significant fire and health risk to the community.
Firie saved crewmate, then rushed off to defend homes while blaze threatened his own
A NSW firefighter acted quickly to save his mate who suffered an asthma attack during the catastrophic fire at Balmoral, but his work was far from done.
Albanese to Morrison on bushfires: There are things you can do, like pay firefighters
Scott Morrison might not need to handle the hose, says Anthony Albanese, but the Labor leader says he can think of three things the Prime Minister could do right now to address the bushfire crisis.
French railway company backtracks on plan to cancel children's train service
Just In - 1 hour ago
After an outcry, striking train drivers from rail company SNCF agree to operate a popular service that allows children aged between four and 14 to travel unaccompanied by a parent or carer over Christmas.
'Well below safety guidelines': Report reveals residents near Paradise Dam not properly informed of flood risk
A new report into the embattled Paradise Dam, near Bundaberg, finds the public has not been significantly informed of the flood risks it poses, warning if the dam fails in a severe weather event more than 100 lives may be at risk.
Got questions after seeing Rise of Skywalker? We (probably) have answers
Rise of Skywalker might have been the finale of a nine-movie saga, but it still left a lot of open questions. We've tried to find the answers to them. *SPOILERS AHEAD*.
Your Vote for President Donald Trump Produced…
Tax cuts and regulatory reform; USMCA trade agreement negotiated and passed; Mexico halting illegal migration flows; new central American amnesty agreements; border wall under construction; lower energy costs; lower and stabilized fuel costs; highest blue collar wage gains in decades; … Continue reading →
Panda Takes a Knee – Beijing Announces Lowering of 850 Import Tariffs…
Donald J Trump was the only candidate in 2016 who knew how to use China’s panda playbook against them. Thus, when you plant your tree in another man’s orchard, don’t be surprised when he charges you to harvest your own … Continue reading →
Researchers Explore A Drug-Free Way To Relieve Chronic Pain: Green Light
Dr. Mohab Ibrahim, an anesthesiologist, found that, with exposure to green light over time, people experienced a 60% decrease in the intensity of their migraines headaches.
New WikiLeaks Bombshell: 20 Inspectors Dissent From Syria Chemical Attack Narrative
A memo said that 20 inspectors felt that the official US version of the OPCW's report on Douma “did not reflect the views of the team members that deployed to [Syria]”.
Falling Walrus: Attenborough Tacitly Admits Netflix Deception
Originally posted on NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT: By Paul Homewood An exclusive new video for the GWPF exposes Attenborough’s contradicting explanations of the bizarre and tragic phenomenon of falling walruses ? ? ? ? https://youtu.be/U5Ji6ME3Vlo ?
European outrage over my loss of adjunct status and video of my Dutch school lecture
Originally posted on polarbearscience: I’ve been home for just over 3 weeks now but even with all the demands on my time from family, friends, colleagues, and the media that I had to put off while I was away, I didn’t want to miss setting down a few final thoughts about my speaking tour across…
China Closes The Jet Engine Gap For Its Fighters
It appears that there has been at least some success, as the latest J-20 prototypes are powered by upgraded WS-10 engines that are supposedly stealthier and more powerful than the AL-31. Credit: Military Watch Magazine. *Asia Times:* *Throttle up: China closes the jet engine gap* Ongoing difficulty in producing a high-quality indigenous jet engine remains a major issue for the PLAAF, for now The Chinese defense industrial base is infamous for its tendency to “borrow” from foreign designs, particularly in the aerospace industry. Almost the entirety of China’s modern fighter fleet h... more »
Preliminary Results Say Afghan President Ghani Has Won A Slim Majority In The Presidential Vote
*BBC:* *Afghanistan presidential election: Ghani set for second term after initial results* Afghan President Ashraf Ghani appears set to win a second term, after preliminary election results showed he was on course to win a narrow majority. He secured 50.64% of the vote in the September 28 election, officials said. The initial results were delayed amid protests and allegations of fraud. Mr Ghani's main rival, Dr Abdullah Abdullah, won 39.52% of the vote. But he has rejected the result and is expected to file an appeal before the final result is announced. "We would like to make ... more »
Is This Gun Better than a Glock 19 or Glock 17?
*Gun News Daily* *Security, Europe* [image: https://fnamerica.com/products/pistols/fn-509/] A challenger appears. *Key Point:* Check out the FN 509. Fabrique Nationale (FN) Herstal is known worldwide for their rifles and machine guns. But they haven’t reached wide success with a pistol since the FN Browning Hi-Power, a design that originated from before WWII. But with their new FN 509, FN Herstal is again aiming for the lucrative civilian, police, and military pistol markets. Could it succeed? How does it build upon more than 100 years of pistol design at FN? For the majority ... more »
Farewell 2019
The top posts of 2019 and end of year thanks. The post Farewell 2019 appeared first on New Mandala.
DOBBINS: Is NATO brain dead?
BY JAMES DOBBINS French President Emmanuel Macron recently declared that “we are experiencing the brain death of NATO.” He made this remark in support of longstanding French policy favoring a more united Europe less dependent for its security on American leadership
Policy experts argue that the Pentagon’s ambitious strategy for AI lacks visibility
The U.S. Department of Defense has articulated an ambitious vision and strategy for artificial intelligence (AI) with the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center as the focal point, but the DoD has yet to provide the JAIC with the visibility, authorities and
North Korea holds most of the cards in negotiations with the United States
BY SOO W. KIM This year, North Korea has been reminding the United States that the window of opportunity for negotiating a nuclear deal is slowly drawing to a close. In a speech delivered to the Supreme People’s Assembly in
Can anything stop the flow of Russian weapons into Libya?
BY NATHAN VEST Amid intense clashes around southern Tripoli, Libya’s capital has become a proving ground for foreign military equipment. In flagrant violation of the U.N. arms embargo on Libya and with dire consequences for the country and region’s security,
Iraq at the crossroads
BY LINDA ROBINSON The protests gripping Iraq pose an extraordinary challenge to Baghdad’s political leadership, which must move the country ahead or step aside. The mostly youthful protesters are tired of politics as it has been practiced over the past
Ryan Murphy’s “Markets Against Modernity”
Ryan Murphy has a new book that doesn’t fit neatly into any single category. This is from the intro: There are many attitudes that, upon cursory consideration, do not make any sense from an economic or analytical perspective. Why do people think that buying local is good for the local economy and the environment? Why […] The post Ryan Murphy’s “Markets Against Modernity” appeared first on Econlib .
Firsthand account of Deep State in Public Schools
[image: firsthand-account-of-deep-state-in-public-schools] VIDEO - Alex Newman interviews Dominic, a young man who shares his experiences as a public school student, such as being condemned for writing about his faith and standing for the Pledge of Allegiance, and the American flag being removed from his classroom.
Syrian air defenses confront Israeli missiles over southern Syria
BEIRUT, LEBANON (2:00 A.M.) – The Syrian air defenses confronted several hostile missiles that were fired towards southwestern Syria this evening. “The Syrian air defenses resisted hostile missiles coming from the direction of the occupied territories,” the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) said in a statement. According to an Al-Masdar News source, the Israeli planes […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
The Daily Brief 2019-12-21
This is a summary of 14 AMN articles on the following subjects: ICC, Palestine, Idlib, Syria, Libya, Tripoli, Turkey, Russia, Hama, Homs, Latakia, Iran, Pompeo, US, Mediterranean, France, Iraq. Categories covered in this brief: Middleeast, Palestine, Syria, North-Africa, Iran, Iraq Let us know how you like this brief in the comments below. — The AMN […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Russia sends another warship armed with cruise missiles to Syria
BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:20 P.M.) – The Russian Navy is sending another warship to the eastern Mediterranean, the Interfax News Agency reported on Saturday. According to the Interfax report, the Admiral Essen frigate, which is equipped with Kalibr cruise missiles, is transiting Sevastopol en route to Syria’s Port of Tartous. Interfax said the crew is currently […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Syrian air defenses shoot down 2 enemy drones over Hama Airport
BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:00 P.M.) – The Syrian air defenses at the Hama Military Airport in central repelled an attack by two enemy drones. According to a source in the Hama Governorate, the Syrian military tracked two enemy attack drones that were heading south from Idlib to the airport. The Syrian military then proceeded to shoot […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Jihadist suicide attack kills 6 Syrian soldiers in southeast Idlib
BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:00 P.M.) – The Russian Army announced the death of six Syrian soldiers and the hospitalization of 13 others in a suicide attack in Idlib governorate, northern Syria. READ ALSO: JIHADIST DEFENSES COLLAPSING AS SYRIAN ARMY TROOPS CAPTURE SEVERAL TOWNS IN SOUTHEAST IDLIB: MAP The head of the Russian Reconciliation Center, Major-General Yuri […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Prominent Syrian Army commander makes appearance in southeast Idlib: video
BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:30 P.M.) – The prominent commander of the 25th Special Mission Forces Division (formerly Tiger Forces), Major General Suheil Al-Hassan, made an appearance in southeastern Idlib on Sunday. General Al-Hassan was seen taking off in a military helicopter as he observes the ongoing Syrian Arab Army offensive in the southeastern countryside of the […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
The Invention of Hispanics
*Mike Gonzalez* *Politics, Americas* [image: Immigrants take the Oath of Allegiance to become a U.S. citizens during an official Naturalization Ceremony at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., May 6, 2019. REUTERS/Brian Snyder] It didn't happen how you think it happened. America’s surging politics of victimhood and identitarian division did not emerge organically or inevitably, as many believe. Nor are these practices the result of irrepressible demands by minorities for recognition, or for redress of past wrongs, as we are constantly told. Those expla... more »
A Way to Ensure the Disruption of the Islamic State: Bring ISIS Children Home
*Elena Pokalova* *Security, Middle East* [image: Reuters] The faster children get extricated from detention camp environments, the sooner they will break out of the cycles of radicalization. It is time the international community dealt with the uncomfortable consequences left behind from the migration of foreign fighters from all over the world to join the ISIS—children stranded in the post-Caliphate spaces need to go home. If we allow children of ISIS to remain in detention camps, then we only risk raising them as the next generation of ISIS fighters. Before it is too late, the... more »
The Holidays Remind Us of Our Personal Losses
*Heather Servaty-Seib* *Environment, Americas* [image: Reuters] The holidays for many are not always about joy. Grief is a significant part of the holidays for those who have lost loved ones in the past year. The year-end holidays are a time of social gatherings, traditions and celebrations. They can also be a time of revisiting and reflection. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2.8 million people die each year in the U.S. If we conservatively estimate four or five grievers per death, there are 11 to 14 million people who are experiencing their first ho... more »
Nonprofits that Empower Leaders of Color are More Apt to Recognize Racial Inequality
*Brad R. Fulton* *History, Americas* [image: Reuters] Nonprofit leaders aren’t particularly diverse. The U.S. is becoming more racially diverse. Since 2010, 96% of all U.S. counties registered an increase in their percentage of nonwhite residents. Yet the people who lead nonprofits in the U.S. remain disproportionately white. This mismatch can make it difficult for such organizations to understand and address racial inequality in their community and throughout the country. As a scholar of diversity, I know most nonprofits want to become more racially diverse. However, many strug... more »
History Lesson: How St. Francis Created the Nativity Scene
*Vanessa Corcoran* *History, Americas* [image: Reuters] The earliest biblical descriptions do not mention the presence of any barnyard animals, that are part of Nativity displays today. Around the Christmas season, it is common to see a display of the Nativity scene: a small manger with the baby Jesus and his family, shepherds, the three wise men believed to have visited Jesus after his birth and several barnyard animals. One might ask, what are the origins of this tradition? *Biblical description* The earliest biblical descriptions, the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luk... more »
Two powerful quotes
Two quotes. One from Carl Sandburg, the other from Samuel Clemens, or Mark Twain, as he is better known. I was reminded this weekend of the quote from Sandburg in an editorial by Ned Barnett of the Raleigh News and … Continue reading →
December 24
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2019/dec/23/nsw-fires-live-news-near-sydney-new-south-wales-south-australia-bushfires-victoria-latest-updates The future - for all of us. Unless we wake up. _______________________________________________________________ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/dec/22/hong-kong-police-clash-with-protesters-after-uighur-rally Hong Kong is now protesting China's treatment of Muslims. Isn't that strange? What does it have to do with the Hong Kong protests we've been hearing about? And how can supporting it help Hong Kong? On the contrary. It... more »
Sunday Talks: Marc Short -vs- Chuck Todd…
Marc Short, Chief of Staff to Vice President Mike Pence, appears on Meet The Press with Chuck Todd to discuss what the White House expects from a Senate impeachment trial. Oddly, something about Short’s demeanor seems to neutralize the traditional … Continue reading →
For The First Time In Over 40 Years Cuba Names A Prime Minister
*DW:* *Cuba names Manuel Marrero Cruz as first prime minister since 1976* Long-time tourism minister Manuel Marrero Cruz is set to be the first person in decades to take up the post. His power of authority, however, won't match that of his prime ministerial peers abroad. Manuel Marrero Cruz was named Cuba's new prime minister on Saturday, the first person to take up the post since it was abolished in 1976 when Fidel Castro became president. Marrero, who has served as tourism minister for 16 years and is an architect by trade, helped boost Cuba's economy by making tourism one of ... more »
UK’s Tory Victory Likely to Bind U.S. & UK against Europe & Asia
Eric Zuesse Huffington Post headlined on December 21st “I Left Increasingly Right-Wing Britain And Now I Don’t Know If I Will Ever Return Home”, but the young woman who wrote it seems to have had no idea of the deep international forces that — as she sadly noted — are driving ever-larger numbers of young […] More The post UK’s Tory Victory Likely to Bind U.S. & UK against Europe & Asia appeared first on The Duran.
The release of Sami Anan : Expect the Unexpected
Sunday witnessed a ministerial reshuffle in Egypt with new faces joining the cabinet and old faces gone. Yet that news did not catch the people’s attention as much as that news that came out of nowhere surprisingly. Former Egyptian armed forces Chief of staff and former presidential hopeful Sami Anan was released on Sunday and he returned back home in Cairo after two years in detention for breaking military laws in 2018. His secretary Mostafa El-Shall tweeted that photo from Cairo following his release. اللهم لك الحمد كما ينبغي لجلال وجهك وعظيم سلطانك ..حمدلله علي السلامة نورت بي... more »
Money Printing ➡️ Wealth Gap ➡️ Societal Breakdown ➡️ Complete Collapse
The Money GPS Massive debt in the U.S. at this time is only further compounding every issue there already is in the economy as well as the financial system. When they print money, when they try to use QE (Quantitative Easing) as a method of supporting the financial system, it has historically, over eventually failed. …
Who Supports Trump-- Let's Look At The Social Psychological Perspectives On These Poor Souls
It's very politically incorrect so no one ever wants to talk about the likelihood that most Trump supporters have subnormal IQs and are incapable of abstract thought. What good would it do anyway? Let's take a look, however at a study in the *Journal of Social and Political Psychology* by UC Santa Cruz psychology professor Tom Pettigrew. "No one factor," he wrote, "describes Trump’s supporters. But an array of factors-- many of them reflecting five major social psychological phenomena can help to account for this extraordinary political event: authoritarianism, social dominance or... more »
A Disastrous Year For The Main Stream Media
*Sara Fischer, Axios: **A year of media upheaval* 2019 was a transformative year for the U.S. news media industry, but it was also one of the most turbulent points in its history. The big picture: There were enormous business challenges, which resulted in an unprecedented number of layoffs, desperate product maneuvers and fire-sale deals. Driving the news: The impeachment of President Trump by the House of Representatives on Thursday was prompted by a whistleblower's complaint, but the stage was set by the dogged reporting of many journalists across the country. * But despite tho... more »
Christmas Frogs…
Joe Dan Gorman has produced a Christmas Special edition of Intellectual Froglegs. Visit Website Here to View Latest Production
Horsewoman rides 4,500km across Australia for 'a bit of quiet'
Stef Gebbie's 4,500-kilometre outback expedition from Snowy River, Victoria, to Margaret River, WA, is a true story of Australian spirit and adventure.
White Island volcano eruption claims another victim
Just In - 4 hours ago
A person injured in the Whakaari/White Island volcano eruption has died in hospital overnight, taking the official death toll to 17, New Zealand police say.
'We can find an answer': The Alice Springs community on how to solve youth crime
Six months ago, a special youth engagement team was launched in Alice Springs to help curb youth crime. Many locals still insist not enough is being done to resolve the issue, with claims of a spike in youth crime in the town in recent months. What will help?
Former Victorian premier John Cain dies
Just In - 4 hours ago
Victoria's longest-serving Labor premier — who imposed a ban on poker machines and casinos, legalised brothels and oversaw an expansion of Victoria's national parks — dies, aged 88.
Boeing capsule makes successful ground landing after aborted space mission
Just In - 4 hours ago
After failing to complete its mission to dock with the International Space Station, Boeing's Starliner capsule returns to Earth in a first-of-its-kind landing.
How can you avoid a sore back on a long car or plane trip?
A long-haul flight or interstate road trip can leave your back in agony. So what can you do to avoid that?
NRL decade in review: The team and player of the decade
Droughts were broken and we saw some of the game's greatest players call time on their careers. But who was the best, the most dominant and the most exciting of the 2010s?
'It's our Times Square': Lightbulb moment helps outback town ease drought stress
You can see the glow of Dirranbandi in Queensland's south-west long before you reach the outskirts of town, and it is all thanks to a bright idea for Christmas.
Queen Elizabeth attends church as Prince Philip remains in hospital
Just In - 4 hours ago
With the Duke of Edinburgh in a London hospital, the Queen attends a church service near her country estate with her son Prince Edward and his family.
Number of homes destroyed by Adelaide Hills fire jumps to 86
Just In - 4 hours ago
Smoke blankets Adelaide's CBD as the toll from the state's bushfire crisis continues to grow, with SA Premier Steven Marshall saying the number of homes lost stands at 86.
Israel and the Future of the Two-State Solution
*Ami Ayalon, Gilead Sher, Orni Petruschka* *Security, Middle East* [image: Reuters] The overarching principle that must guide Israel’s considerations in any future agreement is what will provide security, not the location or status of one settlement or another. For months, Israel has been busy with political calculations surrounding the formation of the government, which are now further complicated by the indictment of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But the stalemate in the Israeli political arena is unrelated to the continued status quo in the Israeli-Palestinian theater, wh... more »
India's Geopolitical Blunder Will Lead to Economic Woes
*Michael Kugelman, Shihoko Goto* *Security, Asia* [image: Reuters] For Tokyo, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership is a major political tool that would advance broader regional integration and act as a roadmap for good governance. For New Delhi, though, RCEP is first and foremost an economic deal that could hurt its more vulnerable industries and lead to near-term pain. India’s decision to pull out of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a new fifteen-member trade bloc, may make sense for domestic economic and political reasons. However, it delivers ... more »
The 'Gotcha' Plans of an Online Scammer
*Ken Rotenberg* *Security, Americas* [image: Reuters] Scams are being personalized to the victim by including references to familiar people or by targeting the victim’s occupation. When Dame Helen Mirren revealed she had been the victim of a “humiliating” scam on the press junket for her latest movie (in which, coincidentally, she also plays the victim of a hoax), it highlighted how everyone needs to be on their guard against fraudsters. Even members of the royal family are not immune, as was illustrated when Prince Charles was dragged into a major counterfeit art scandal. But wh... more »
Is China Beating America to AI Supremacy?
*Graham Allison* *Artificial Intelligence, China* Beijing is not just trying to master artificial intelligence—it is succeeding. AI will have as transformative an impact on commerce and national security over the next two decades as semiconductors, computers and the web have had over the past quarter century. OVER THE past year, I have been collaborating with a prominent leader in the technology industry to combine his decades of experience advancing frontier technologies, on the one hand, and my decades of experience in national security decisionmaking, on the other, in an effor... more »
A Lesson for Trump? When Impeaching A President Doesn't Go As Planned
*Fred Lucas* *Politics, Americas* The story of President John Tyler. *Key point: *The House rejected the motion to investigate Tyler for the impeachable offenses of “corruption, malconduct, high crimes and misdemeanors,” by a vote of 127-83. The president’s critics thought his presidency was illegitimate to begin with. His Cabinet members changed frequently. Mainly based on policy disagreements, members of Congress demanded his ouster. Some lawmakers were willing to toss out constitutional norms based on what they said was the president’s “ignorance of the interest and true poli... more »
America Needs To Create Alternatives To China And Huawei's 5G Market Dominance
*Tim Morrison* *Security, * Or else American and allied security is at serious risk. At the recent NATO Leaders Summit in London, President Trump was clear about how he and the United States government view Chinese Communist Party (CCP) linked telecommunications equipment manufacturers like Huawei and ZTE, when he said, “I do think it’s a security risk, a security danger.” But here is the challenge for the President and his Administration: even our closest allies, few of whom question the threat, are understandably focused on the next question--if not CCP-linked telecommunicatio... more »
Why Confederate Christmas Ornaments Send the Same Racist Message as Confederate Statues
*Nicole Maurantonio* *Security, Americas* [image: Reuters] Decorated with ornaments purchased, created and inherited for years, even generations, Christmas trees are a reflection of a family’s history and tastes. As Christmas approaches, many families undertake a familiar ritual: an annual sojourn to the attic, basement or closet to pull out a box of treasured ornaments bought, created and collected over years, even generations. Hanging these ornaments on the tree is an opportunity to reconnect with memories of personal milestones, holiday icons and, in many cases, destinations... more »
WIll China's Economy Become The World's Number One Economy In Ten Years?
*CNBC:* *Here’s how China became the world’s No. 2 economy and how it plans on being No. 1* China is on the cusp of keeping a big promise — a vow to double its GDP and income in a decade and take the country to the forefront of the global economic power structure. The nation now faces the challenge of keeping the momentum going in the face of mounting challenges. The ascension began in the late 1970s with a move to more open markets. It continued through aggressive central planning, utilizing the advantages of cheap labor, a devalued currency and a robust factory system to sprea... more »
A Christmas Musical Interlude: Plácido Domingo, “La Virgen Lava Panales”; "Ave Maria"
Plácido Domingo, “La Virgen Lava Panales” Plácido Domingo and the Vienna Boys Choir, "Ave Maria"; Franz Schubert
"Here We Are..."
"Here we are, trapped in the amber of the moment. There is no why." - Kurt Vonnegut
Decoy Flares Cost That Military Aircraft Fire Off All The Time Are Not Cheap
USAF *Warzone/The Drive:* *Here Is How Much Those Decoy Flares Cost That Military Aircraft Fire Off All The Time* *In combat, they are essential to the survivability of the aircraft that carry them, but they don't come as cheap as one may think. * Flares can make any aircraft, no matter how big and lumbering, look dynamic and even beautiful. In reality, they are an essential countermeasure used to confuse enemy heat-seeking missiles. So, how much do these fiery things being pumped out the back of military aircraft actually cost? Countermeasure flares burn at thousands of degrees a... more »
Small nuclear reactor proposal passes latest hurdle
Originally posted on Tallbloke's Talkshop: Small modular reactor [credit: ANS Nuclear Cafe] The battle to make nuclear power more practical and affordable steps up a gear. NuScale Power’s small modular reactor (SMR) design has cleared the latest stage of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)’s review process, reports New Civil Engineer. The reactor is…
'When two elephants fight': EU, Indonesia tussle over resources
bilaterals.org - 5 hours ago
22-Dec-2019 As disputes over palm oil and nickel head to World Trade Organization, affected residents say they feel trapped.
RCEP fallout: raw deal
bilaterals.org - 5 hours ago
22-Dec-2019 The withdrawal of India from the RCEP as also the changed ground truths call for a recalibration of the FTP which is not only in tune with the changing times, but factor in future uncertainties as well.
RCEP nothing but an India-China free trade agreement: Piyush Goyal
bilaterals.org - 5 hours ago
22-Dec-2019 Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for India's decision to opt-out of the RCEP noting that it was nothing more than a FTA between India and China.
Is free trade dead?
bilaterals.org - 5 hours ago
22-Dec-2019 Conflict over trade dominated the economic headlines in 2019, so it's surprising that the year ended with significant progress on three trade agreements.Each tells a different story about the outlook both for the global economy and for relations between nations.
Seoul, Beijing, Tokyo agree to accelerate trilateral FTA talks
bilaterals.org - 5 hours ago
22-Dec-2019 Top trade officials from South Korea, China and Japan agreed to accelerate their trilateral free trade talks and ramp up efforts to conclude a mega Asia-Pacific trade deal.
The Left’s New Front in Their War on the Constitution: The U.S. Senate
“The U.S. Senate is an irredeemable institution”, claims Colin McAuliffe of Data For Progress, a leftard think tank (now that’s an oxymoron). Why? Because it gives “excessive” political power by “over-representing” thinly-populated regions of the United States. So what’s bad about that? Dummy! Those regions are populated mostly by WHITE PEOPLE, that’s what. And white people outweigh persons of colour in flyover country by a neat trick labelled “racism by proxy”. Let me remind our gentle readers that white people are, in the eyes of the American left, evil deplorable incurable trash ... more »
Gottfried heralds new nursing home reporting requirements
A new law expanding nursing home reporting requirements, quality oversight, and financial transparency was signed by Governor Cuomo on December 16. The bill, A4757A/S5908, was sponsored by Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard Gottfried and Senate Health Committee Chair Gustavo Rivera. The
Flanagan: Working Families Party says ‘taxpayer’ is ‘racially coded’
BY SENATOR JOHN FLANAGAN The radical left Working Families Party wants Democrats who get its endorsement to stop defending New York taxpayers and talking about taxes, though the far left will be quick to advocate for higher taxes in one
Schumer lauds $495m appropriation for New York land and water conservation fund
Funds Will Be Used To Help Preserve and Protect Public Lands, Water Resources, and Historic Sites Across New York State WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the just-passed, bipartisan
$272m for Rome Lab in bipartisan spending package for quantum computing and artificial intelligence research
The Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome will receive over $272m in funding for fiscal year 2020 – more than $34m above the President’s budget request and $27m more than fiscal year 2019. Representatives directly secured funding for Rome lab
$80 million in funding for Rochester laser lab in a just-passed bi-partisan appropriations bill
Funding Will Help Support Over 350 Jobs In The Rochester-Finger Lakes Region And Keep The United States At The Cutting Edge Of Nuclear Fusion Research WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced
What will happen next with “L’Affaire Trump” — an open discussion
Some wiseacre entitled this photograph "Mitch McConnell and his Merry Band" I'm really furious with Steve M. At the head of the holidays, just when I’m feeling exhausted and overwhelmed by the nonstop barrage of Trump outrages, Steve picks up and goes away. Along with Yastreblyansky, who usually carries most of the load in this space, and who probably will again (he’d better), and with Tom Hilton, and possibly another hapless soul or two, I’m left to fill the vacuum. Dang! This happens just when the tank is empty. I’m as dry as a dead steer’s skull on a sandhill in the Sonora De... more »
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