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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.

Friday, December 25, 2020

25 December - Blogs I'm Following - 4 of 5

 10:20 pm MST

Glitter Bomb 3.0
Ragnar, 'Nox & Friends - 16 hours ago
From Mark Roper: ENJOY! ~Ragnar (RFXtFR)
Untitled
JR, GREENIE WATCH - 16 hours ago
* Hit the rich, say Greenies* World leaders should aggressively reduce the carbon footprint of the wealthiest to curb the effects of climate change, experts have said. It comes after a UN report found that the wealthiest 1 per cent pump more than twice times as much carbon into the atmosphere as the bottom 50 per cent. It is hardly the first time that wealthy figures have been accused of driving climate change with their lavish lifestyle choices. Orlando Bloom, Katy Perry and Leonardo DiCpario were among a slew of well-heeled celebrities criticsed for attending a Google climate s...
Why Russia Is Investing in Modernized Battlecruisers
Robert Farley, The National Interest - 15 hours ago
*Robert Farley* *Security, Europe* [image: Wikimedia Commons] These ships will provide power projection and will be more affordable than trying to keep an aircraft carrier. *Key point: *These battlecruisers help with many different capabilities that the Russian navy needs. Just as importantly, they would let Moscow defend itself and eventually retire its aging and very expensive single aircraft carrier. A second Russian battlecruiser may be on the cusp of returning to service for the first time since the 1990s. The Admiral Nakhimov, one of four Kirov class nuclear cruisers buil...
Shkval: Russia’s 200 Mile-Per Hour Torpedo
Mark Episkopos, The National Interest - 15 hours ago
*Mark Episkopos* *Security, Europe* And the U.S. Navy has no hope in matching it. One of the most devastating Soviet innovations in torpedo technology, supercavitating torpedoes are orders of magnitude faster than their conventional counterparts. On the heels of U.S. strides in nuclear propulsion technology toward the 1960s, the Soviet Navy found itself in need of reliable countermeasures against U.S. nuclear submarines that could feasibly threaten the integrity of the USSR’s sea-based nuclear deterrent. One solution came in the form of new submarine-based weapons. VA-111 *Shkva...
Is the Glock 26 Really the Ultimate Combo Pistol?
Kyle Mizokami, The National Interest - 15 hours ago
*Kyle Mizokami* *Security, World* [image: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2004%3Anewsml_RP5DRHZNSIAA&share=true] The weapon is unusual in the number of other pistol designs and parts it draws from. *Key point:* If there was a Frankenstein's monster of pistols, the Glock 26 would be it. Here is how that gives it a unique advantage. One of the most competitive markets in the world of handguns is the subcompact market. Guns with short barrels and small magazines, subcompacts are meant for those who favor carry-ability over firepower and range. The Glock 2...
Nazi Germany Built 20,000 Focke-Wulf FW-190 Fighters
Warfare History Network, The National Interest - 15 hours ago
*Warfare History Network* *History, Europe* [image: By Bzuk - Originally from en.wikipedia; description page is/was here., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1552141] Yet even these excellent planes could not ensure victory in the end. *Key Point:* The Focke-Wulf FW-190 not only was a superb daytime fighter but was also used extensively as a night fighter, interceptor, and ground attack aircraft on the Eastern, Western, and Italian Fronts. On July 28, 1943, Luftwaffe Oberleutnant Erwin Clausen shot down another two B-17 Flying Fortresses to add to the...
8 Ways Magic Mushrooms Explain Santa Claus and the Christmas Tradition
The Free Thought Project, The Free Thought Project - 16 hours ago
[image: santa]The origin of "Santa Claus" might have something to do with psychedelic mushrooms if we look at interpretations that pre-date Christianity.
US Cyber Spy Scandal: Why Did Pompeo Blame Russia But Trump China?
Andrew KORYBKO, OrientalReview.org - 16 hours ago
The contradictory claims from Secretary of State Pompeo and President Trump blaming Russia and China respectively for carrying out what's been described by many as one of the most intrusive cyber espionage operations against America in history are confusing for most observers but can be better understood if they accept that Pompeo might have some ulterior political motives for pushing his version of events.
The World Witnesses a Genocide Under Abiy Ahmed’s Watch in Ethiopia
Teodrose Fikremariam, null - 16 hours ago
While the rest of the world was gearing up for Christmas celebrations, a gruesome attack unfolded in Ethiopia that witnessed the extermination of more than The post The World Witnesses a Genocide Under Abiy Ahmed’s Watch in Ethiopia appeared first on .
Zapatistas Sup Galeano: How Defensa Zapatista tried to explain Zapatismo’s mission and other happy reasoning to Esperanza
Unknown, CENSORED NEWS - 16 hours ago
PART THREE: THE MISSIONHow Defensa Zapatista tried to explain Zapatismo’s mission and other happy reasoning to Esperanza By Sup Galeano (Marcos) Translations“All right, I’m going to explain something very important to you. But don’t take notes—just keep it in your head. You might leave the notebook laying around anywhere, but you have to carry your head with you all the time.”Defensa Zapatista
Fight! Is Russia’s Su-57 Ready to Take On America’s F-22 Raptor?
TNI Staff, The National Interest - 16 hours ago
*TNI Staff* *Technology, Americas* Time will tell. *Here's What You Need to Remember: *That means that if that whoever survives the beyond visual range engagement can meet in a visual dogfight. By the mid-2020s, both the Su-57 and the F-22 will be equipped with a helmet-mounted cueing system (HMCS) and highly capable high-off boresight (HOBS) air-to-air missiles, which basically allows the pilot to shoot in the direction he is looking. The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor is the king of skies—it combines stealth and eye-watering kinematic performance with a power array of sensors we...
Could North Korean Artillery Be Vastly Overrated?
Prakash Menon, PR Shankar, The National Interest - 16 hours ago
*Prakash Menon, PR Shankar* *Security, Asia* Though nuclear threats have also been exchanged, one of the oft-quoted retaliatory capability of North Korea has been its ability to devastate Seoul within a day by applying its conventional artillery fire power. *Here's What You Need to Remember: *By ineffectively countering the canard about the damage North Korea can inflict on Seoul through conventional fire power, the United States and its allies have allowed public support to be swayed by erroneous considerations. Additionally, U.S. officials have devalued the importance of public...
Bang!: These Bullets are the 5 Deadliest on the Planet
Kyle Mizokami, The National Interest - 16 hours ago
*Kyle Mizokami* *Security, * The most bang for the gun. *Here's What You Need to Remember: **During the Vietnam War the U.S. Military issued 90 and 105mm antipersonnel rounds packed with tiny darts to tank and tank destroyer crews. Upon firing, the so-called “flechette” rounds would send a high speed cloud of deadly darts downrange. Flechette rounds were particularly useful against human wave attacks, although they do cause higher than normal wear and tear on barrels.* Since their invention in the tenth century, engineers, soldiers and tinkerers have constantly tried to make fi...
On the twelfth day of Christmas
Robert, Small Dead Animals - 17 hours ago
On the twelfth day of Christmas, our intellectual betters in the media sent to me A lump of coal wrapped in a message not to dare deviate from their official narratives in 2021, An urgent plea to stock up on food and toilet paper before he locks down America next year, Membership cards for Antifa… Continue reading →
A Holiday Thought Looking Ahead
Paul Gilster, Centauri Dreams - 17 hours ago
I want to send along best wishes for the season to all of you. Centauri Dreams started as a book and became a study guide for me as I tried to keep up with ongoing developments in deep space research. But turning the site into a community, which I did in 2005 by adding comments, […]
Links 12/25/2020
Yves Smith, naked capitalism - 17 hours ago
Book 4 Chapter 14 The NXIVM Scandal: The Sex Cult, Megalomania and Pedophilia Protected by the Pedo-Cabal
Joachim Hagopian, American Empire Exposed - 17 hours ago
This 5-volume book series unearths the global child sexual trafficking, that is the satanic abuse network across the planet. Each major scandal represents merely a tip of the iceberg, the uncovered truth prior to the state’s standard criminal cover-up, leaving the full extent of organized child abuse never seen in the full light of day. But by taking the sum of all these iceberg tips as this exhaustive investigation aims, a bigger picture emerges that connects the global sex trade exploiting children to the highest echelons of power. At the top of this hierarchical pyramid of ...
MJBizDaily on limited publishing schedule for holidays
Kevin Huhn, Marijuana Business Daily - 17 hours ago
Marijuana Business Daily will be publishing on a limited schedule during the holiday season. MJBizDaily will return to its usual publishing schedule on Jan. 4. MJBizDaily on limited publishing schedule for holidays is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs
Analysis: Why Do Big Tech Companies Invest in Chile and Not Argentina?
The Rio Times Staff, The Rio Times - 18 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - This week, the digital services and software company Google announced the expansion of its cloud computing services in Chile. Cloud Computing refers to the provision of computing services through the internet (the cloud); It includes servers, storage, databases, networks, software, analytics and intelligence. The American multinational is seeking to expand […] The post Analysis: Why Do Big Tech Companies Invest in Chile and Not Argentina? appeared first on The Rio Times.
Merry Christmas 2020
Age of Autism, AGE OF AUTISM - 18 hours ago
Merry Christmas. Here's an 8 hour video of lovely music. 8 hours. One shift of work. Except for most of us who work 3 shifts a day plus our "day job", right? One shift of work for those of us...
Happy Xmas
Paul Homewood, NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT - 18 hours ago
Merry Christmas to you all. . Thank you for your support and contributions throughout the year, and I wish everybody a happy and successful new year. . Paul
Alberto Nepomuceno, “Father of Brazilian Music”, Remembered on Centenary of His Death
The Rio Times Staff, The Rio Times - 18 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Defying the received wisdom of his time that Italian was the only language suitable for art song, Alberto Nepomuceno (1864-1920) dared to embrace Portuguese and folk genres such as samba in the process of creating a truly Brazilian tradition of classical music. A century after his death in Rio de […] The post Alberto Nepomuceno, “Father of Brazilian Music”, Remembered on Centenary of His Death appeared first on The Rio Times.
Brexit : Que contient l'accord commercial trouvé in extremis entre Londres et Bruxelles ?
bilaterals.org - 18 hours ago
25-Dec-2020 Londres et Bruxelles ont trouvé un terrain d'entente, notamment sur la pêche, qui évite un «no deal».
Key points: What we know so far about post-Brexit trade deal
bilaterals.org - 18 hours ago
25-Dec-2020 The European Union and Britain agreed a post-Brexit trade deal after almost ten months of tortuous negotiations to govern ties when the UK exits the single market.
Quick Notes on the Brexit Deal
Yves Smith, naked capitalism - 18 hours ago
Brexit: an undertaking of great advantage, but nobody to know what it is.
Hold the Scrapyard: The Aircraft Carrier Isn't Done Yet
Robert Rubel, The National Interest - 18 hours ago
*Robert Rubel* *Security, World* [image: Wikimedia Commons] It is the viability of its primary weapon system – the air wing – that should be at the center of analysis. *Here's What You Need To Remember: *Following the Second World War, and the development of nuclear weapons and long-ranged bombers, there were fears that aircraft carriers were becoming obsolete. Happily, those fears were unfounded. Aircraft carriers have long served a crucial role - as a well-stocked mobile airfield - and this role is not going away. A lot of ink has been spilled over the past decade or so concern...
Oldie But a Goodie: The U.S. Army Still Loves the M4 Carbine
Kyle Mizokami, The National Interest - 18 hours ago
*Kyle Mizokami* *Security, * It was a firefight legend. *Here's What You Need to Remember:** The Army is also upgrading its existing M4s to a new M4A1 standard. The upgrade consists of **new** fire control group that replaces three round burst fire mode to **full** automatic, along with an improved trigger and a heavier barrel for longer, more sustained fire before overheating. The A1 also has ambidextrous controls, for lefties. New rifles are being delivered to the M4A1 standard, and older rifles are being converted at a rate of approximately three hundred a day**.* The U.S. A...
Russia vs Hitler: Their Air Force Aces Dueled Across the Skies
Warfare History Network, The National Interest - 18 hours ago
*Warfare History Network* *History, Europe* In June 1942, the Black Sea port of Sevastopol on the Crimea was the scene of some of the fiercest fighting of World War II. *Here's What You Need to Remember: *The defenders of Sevastopol indeed amazed the world for their long and tenacious resistance. It cost the German Eleventh Army more than 24,000 casualties, and four thousand from participating Romanian units. The Soviet aviation at Sevastopol—which had mustered no more than 53 serviceable aircraft at the onset of the battle—carried out 3,144 sorties, including 1,621 ground-attack...
Arab League chief warns of ‘imperial ambitions’ of Iran and Turkey
[image: Arab League chief warns of ‘imperial ambitions’ of Iran and Turkey] BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:10 P.M.) – The Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, spoke of an upcoming war in the world “because of the shape of relations between the major powers.” Aboul Gheit explained during statements carried by the Egyptian newspaper, Al-Ahram, that “the rapid rise in the power of China may enter the world into a cold war that will not necessarily be the same as the cold war that the world witnessed between the United States and the Soviet Union, due to the great interdependen...
Argentina Wants Bolivia to Become Full Member of Mercosur, Awaits Signal from Brazil
The Rio Times Staff, The Rio Times - 18 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Bolivia becoming a full member of Mercosur is one of the main objectives that Argentina proposed after assuming the Pro Tempore presidency of the regional bloc on December 16th. President Alberto Fernández has many geopolitical coincidences with the new Bolivian president, Luis Arce, and should join forces so that the […] The post Argentina Wants Bolivia to Become Full Member of Mercosur, Awaits Signal from Brazil appeared first on The Rio Times.
Sinovac Covid Shot’s Efficacy Uncertain Despite Brazil, Turkey Results
Latin America News, The Rio Times - 19 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - With trials of Sinovac Biotech Ltd.’s coronavirus vaccine in Brazil and Turkey suggesting the shot has a protection rate on either side of 90%, there is still no final assessment on exactly how effective it is in protecting people against Covid-19. Sinovac is finalizing results of phase III trials carried […] The post Sinovac Covid Shot’s Efficacy Uncertain Despite Brazil, Turkey Results appeared first on The Rio Times.
Mass military build-up from both sides of the Libyan conflict near strategic coastal city
[image: Mass military build-up from both sides of the Libyan conflict near strategic coastal city] BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:40 A.M.) – A mass mobilization of weapons and thousands were monitored in Al-Hisha, Al-Qadahiyah, Zamzam and all of eastern Misrata recently, several new reports revealed. The Turkish-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) reportedly called on all their forces to raise the level of alert and prepare to repel any anticipated move in light of the increasing mobilization from the borders of Sirte and Jufrah. On this topic, writer and political analyst Farag Zeidan...
Bolivia Announces Discovery of New Mega Gas Field
The Rio Times Staff, The Rio Times - 19 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Bolivia's President Luis Arce on Thursday, December 24th, announced the discovery of a mega natural gas field estimated to hold one trillion cubic feet, located in the Boicobo Sur X1 well at the Caipipendi block, in the southern department of Chuquisaca. "Our Pachamama (Mother Earth) is giving us Bolivians a […] The post Bolivia Announces Discovery of New Mega Gas Field appeared first on The Rio Times.
Russia’s Kalashnikov tests new ‘fire and forget’ missile system: video
[image: Russia’s Kalashnikov tests new ‘fire and forget’ missile system: video] BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:10 A.M.) – The Russian Kalashnikov Foundation announced the successful completion of field tests for the Strela-10M anti-aircraft missile system at the Donguz test site in the Orenburg region. The foundation told Russia’s Sputnik Agency: “The Strela 9M333 anti-aircraft guided missile is designed to strike low-altitude aircraft and helicopters at any time of the year, even in light of the launch of visual and other distorted elements, as well as remote-guided aircraft and cruise missi...
Fears over what Trump might do in his last days in office has US military on red alert: media
[image: Fears over what Trump might do in his last days in office has US military on red alert: media] BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:40 A.M.) – The US media has reported that military commanders in the Pentagon and Washington are on high alert, fearing what President Donald Trump might do in his remaining days in office. Newsweek magazine quoted military sources as saying that the senior officers discussed what they would do if the president declared martial law, and the military leaders responsible for Washington, DC, would participate in secret contingency planning in the event that the arm...
እንብላ: Give As You Can, Take As You Need
Teodrose Fikremariam, null - 20 hours ago
“Let’s Eat Together“, Kinebet, NebFoto and the Ghion Journal are teaming up to start an initiative we are calling “እንብላ: Give As You Can, Take The post እንብላ: Give As You Can, Take As You Need appeared first on .
Three More Soviet Christmas Cards
Phil, All That Is Solid ... - 20 hours ago
Okay, they're *new year* cards as opposed to Christmas cards, but artistic license is a thing.
Funny Friday
Terry, 'Nox & Friends - 20 hours ago
Let me begin by saying…. Now, on with the merriment! Fun at Christmas In our AMAZING….. ‘Slideshow-O-Ramo’ ! A bit too much of the Christmas spirits ? More Christmas delights….. For your Christmas viewing pleasure…… Battle of the Light Brigade…. A Very COVID Christmas (for our Limey friends) Christmas fireworks The joy of children at Christmas time Cousin Eddie strikes again *The following was posted yesterday on ‘Nox & Friends by our own Ragnar. I am re-posting it for those who may have missed it. ‘Twas the night before Christmas…. a retelling… ‘Twas the night before Christmas and ...

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