10:00 pm MST
The House of Representatives did the right thing on border security. Why not the Senate?
McCarthy said, “[T]he House did pass a bill that protects and secures the border. The Senate, it takes 60 votes. So, when it really comes to the question of shutting down, it comes to Schumer. Does Schumer make a decision to … Continue reading →
Indonesia – Tsunami triggered by volcano kills dozens, injures hundreds
At least 43 people have been killed after a tsunami hit the coast around Indonesia’s Sunda Strait, according to government officials.. Hundreds were injured. The tsunami, which hit at 9:27 p.m. Saturday, propelled a wall of water some 65 feet (20 meters) inland, sweeping away hundreds of houses and hotels, the government and witnesses said. Some 600 ... Read moreIndonesia – Tsunami triggered by volcano kills dozens, injures hundreds The post Indonesia – Tsunami triggered by volcano kills dozens, injures hundreds appeared first on Ice Age Now.
Pentagon Wants To Buy The New F-15X Advanced Eagle Fighter Jet For The Air Force
Image: Flickr *The Drive/Warzone:* *USAF's Next Budget Request Will Include New F-15X Advanced Eagle Fighter Jets: Report* *We revealed the existence of the F-15X concept last July and now it seems like it may become a line-item in the upcoming 2020 defense budget.* Last July, I broke a story about the existence of Boeing's F-15X Advanced Eagle concept, one that the plane-maker had been in discussions with the USAF about for many months. That aircraft would be procured to replace America's existing F-15C/D aircraft, the vast majority of which are operated by the Air National Guard... more »
The Nondelegation Doctrine -- Correcting a Common Error
I just read yet another article asserting that the Supreme Court invoked the nondelegation doctrine to hold a federal statute unconstitutional only twice, in *Panama Refining v. Ryan* and *Schechter Poultry*. (Cass Sunstein's formulation, that the doctrine had one -- and only one -- good year, 1935, is a clever version of the assertion.) It's not true. *Carter v. Carter Coal Co.*, decided in 1936, held the Bituminous Coal Conservation Act unconstitutional on several grounds, one of which was the nondelegation doctrine. Here's the language: "That subdivision delegates the power to fi... more »
President Trump: I Gave Mattis A 'Second Chance'
When President Obama ingloriously fired Jim Mattis, I gave him a second chance. Some thought I shouldn’t, I thought I should. Interesting relationship-but I also gave all of the resources that he never really had. Allies are very important-but not when they take advantage of U.S. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2018 *Politico:** Trump: I gave Mattis 'second chance'* President Donald Trump claimed Saturday he gave outgoing Defense Secretary James Mattis “a second chance” after the retired Marine general was ousted from military leadership under the Obama administr... more »
The UN Loss and Damage Scam Made Major Progess at Katowice without US Opposition
Almost unreported during the just concluded UN Katowice COP 24 conference is the biggest scam of all in the climate scam supported by the United Nations, the Democratic Party, and the other members of the Climate-Industrial Complex. The Paris “Treaty” of 2015 included a “Loss and Damage” provision under which developed countries would be obligated […]
Cannabis Use Declines For Teens In States Legalized According To Studies
By Aaron Kesel Use of cannabis has dropped by teenagers in Washington since legalization in 2012, according to a study published by the Journal of the... more »
More Young Fit People Experiencing Strokes. Cell Phone and WiFi Radiation Disrupt Blood-Brain Barrier
By B.N. Frank Strokes are on the rise in young adults. This includes fit people and teens. Exposure to all sources of cell phone and... more »
Is Hypersonic Weaponry The Next Big Ticket Item For The Military?
An artist’s rendering shows two common designs of “air-breathing” and “boost-glide” hypersonic strike vehicles. This illustration was produced by defense contractor Raytheon and reviewed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA. (Rendering courtesy of Raytheon) *Washington Post: **Military-industrial complex finds a growth market in hypersonic weaponry* In a recent gathering at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, two of the Pentagon’s highest-ranking weapons-buyers sent a clear message to a packed room of defense executives. America is racing Russia and Chin... more »
Western Nations Are Repeating the Mistakes of 1914
*Anatol Lieven* *Security, Americas* [image: Reuters] In their enthusiasm for a new cold war against China and Russia, the Western establishments of today are making a mistake comparable to that of their forebears of 1914. This year saw the centennial anniversary of the end of the World War I, in which some sixteen million Europeans died, two great European countries were destroyed, and other countries were crippled. This year may also be seen by future historians as the last year of the period between the cold wars, when after twenty-nine years of relative quiet, the world’s maj... more »
Intelligence Failure in the Trump Era
*Paul R. Pillar* *Intelligence, * The intelligence agencies’ mission involves providing the best possible information and analysis to inform policy decisions; it does not extend to the policy decisions themselves. The Trump administration’s tendency to disregard the conclusions of the U.S. intelligence community has become, as the *Washington Post*’s Greg Miller has reported, something of a habit. Initially, Trump’s shoving aside of the intelligence agencies’ assessments was all about his refusal to acknowledge the role that Russia played in his election victory in 2016. During ... more »
Hitler's Forgotten Plan to Win World War II: Assassinate Stalin, FDR and Winston Churchill
*Warfare History Network, Mason B. Webb* *Security, * [image: By Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-1987-0703-507 / unbekannt / CC-BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5346192] So what happened? In German it was called Operation Rösselsprung, which translates to “Long Jump.” Its goal was to kill or kidnap the Allies’ “Big Three” leaders––Soviet Premier Josef Stalin, British Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill, and American President Franklin D. Roosevelt—when they met in Tehran, Iran, in November 1943. That the plan did not succeed is attributable to s... more »
On Holiday Until New Year’s Day
This is just a post to let the folks on my mailing list know I’ll be taking a holiday until January 1st (Jan 2nd in Australia); won’t be writing anything unless they try to nab Assange from the embassy or something. Thank you all so […]
Australian Daily Electrical Power Generation Data – Tuesday 18th December 2018
TonyfromOz at Tony’s in the Hospital – UPDATED – With Tony’s Pacemaker – PA Pundits – International - 1 hour ago
By Anton Lang ~ This Post details the daily power consumption data for the AEMO coverage area in Australia. For the background information, refer to the Introductory Post at this link. Each image is shown here at a smaller size to fit on the page alongside the data for that day. If you click on […]
Dec. 22:: It's easy to see what's wrong....
...But what to do? Where to start? _______________________________________________________________ https:/www.thenation.com/article/overmatch-pentagon-military-budget-strategy/ _______________________________________________________________ A pause for stray thoughts In the confusion over Trump's pulling out of the war on ISIS, have you noticed the laguage of the reports on this? All the ones I have seen make the point that the ISIS fighters are 'terrorists'. Have you ever seen them refer to western troops as 'terrorists'? Almost certainly not, and almost certainly you never will. And ... more »
President Trump Skips Christmas Holiday Trip to Mar-a-Lago Estate…
President Trump, First-Lady Melania and 12-year-old son Barron had previously planned to spend 16 days at their Mar-a-Lago estate with friends and family for the holidays. First-Lady Melania and Barron departed last week. However, President Trump said Friday he would … Continue reading →
Volcanic Activity and Earthquakes Seem Excessive: Is Geological Activity Increasing?
This month there have been several large (in excess of 7.0) earthquakes in Russia (here), in the South Pacific (here), and now in Indonesia an active volcano caused a tsunami that just killed in excess of 43 people and injured in excess of 584 (here). Is the ring of fire more active than usual? In May of 2018, a blogger at Accuweather responded NO to this question but I have to wonder whether that answer would still hold true?
Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau Makes Surprise Visit To Peacekeeping Troops In Mali
*Globe And Mail: **Trudeau makes surprise visit to peacekeeping troops in Mali* Prime Minister Justin Trudeau surprised troops in Mali Saturday for a tour of the peacekeeping base and a Christmas turkey dinner where he thanked them for their service and underlined the importance of Canadian peacekeepers to the United Nations. Mr. Trudeau touched down in the dry and hot Camp Castor base in Gao, Mali, for a fast-paced afternoon visit with 250 Canadian troops deployed to the United Nations peace operations in the West African country. The trip marked the first time the prime ministe... more »
Skiers delight – Up to 3 ft of snow for Washington Cascades
A Christmas present for skiers (if they can actually get to the slopes), because the weather service is warning of possible road closures. WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 4 AM MONDAY ABOVE 2000 FEET National Weather Service Seattle WA Dec 22 2018 – Cascade Mountains of Whatcom and Skagit Counties- Cascade Mountains of Snohomish and King Counties- ... Read moreSkiers delight – Up to 3 ft of snow for Washington Cascades The post Skiers delight – Up to 3 ft of snow for Washington Cascades appeared first on Ice Age Now.
$500M Climate Carnival Concludes
Few delegates arrived by bicycle or solar-powered plane $500M Climate Carnival Concludes 23 December 2018 Viv Forbes COP 24 just concluded in Poland. Nearly 23,000 climate saviours attended this 24th annual climate carnival. Every year, plane-loads of concerned busybodies fly to some interesting new location to spend tax dollars on a well-fed 12-day holiday. They concoct ... Read more$500M Climate Carnival Concludes The post $500M Climate Carnival Concludes appeared first on Ice Age Now.
Canada's Ambassadors Around The World Are Mounting A Global Effort To Free Canadians Detained In China
*Global News:* *Canada’s ambassadors urging allies to push for release of Canadians detained in China: Freeland* Canada’s ambassadors around the world are launching a concerted campaign to pressure allies to push for the release of two Canadians detained in China, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Saturday. In a teleconference call with reporters, Freeland said Canadian ambassadors would reach out to their counterparts to discuss the “arbitrary detention” of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, which she said set a “worrying precedent.” “I will continue in the comi... more »
BACK AFTER CHRISTMAS
I'll be away over Christmas. The usual gang will be here, however, so stop by. I'll be back on December 28. Thanks for reading my rants all year, and have a merry and a happy.... more »
Democrats Want to Repeat the French Catastrophy; The Definition of Insanity is Repeating an Experiment Expecting a Different Result
A police motorcycle had to be abandoned to exfiltrate the forces. A policeman pulled out his service weapon. #GiletsJaunes #Yellowvests #Acte6 pic.twitter.com/gesL6i0haz — nonouzi (@Gerrrty) December 22, 2018 I don’t know if it is arrogance or ignorance, but Democrats are dumb as rocks. They keep proposing an agenda that has been proven to fail time … Continue reading "Democrats Want to Repeat the French Catastrophy; The Definition of Insanity is Repeating an Experiment Expecting a Different Result"
Trump’s Syria Withdrawal Is a Simple Case of Foreign Policy Realism
The post Trump’s Syria Withdrawal Is a Simple Case of Foreign Policy Realism appeared first on The Duran.
America Is One Of The World’s Deadliest Countries For Journalists
The post America Is One Of The World’s Deadliest Countries For Journalists appeared first on The Duran.
A much needed “Likbez” about Russian Tu-160 bombers in Venezuela
The post A much needed “Likbez” about Russian Tu-160 bombers in Venezuela appeared first on The Duran.
Gilets Jaunes Referendum by Initiative of Citizens (RIC): Push to Revive a Democracy
The Gilets Jaunes revolt marks the beginning of the end of France's Fifth Republic and is a precursor of more revolts against the neoliberal late capitalist order which are to come. The post Gilets Jaunes Referendum by Initiative of Citizens (RIC): Push to Revive a Democracy appeared first on The Duran.
Fallout Of Trump’s Syria Withdrawal – Why Erdogan Does Not Want To Invade
The post Fallout Of Trump’s Syria Withdrawal – Why Erdogan Does Not Want To Invade appeared first on The Duran.
School Reality vs. Identity Ideology
Heather MacDonald writes as update on the struggle in schools to create an educational environment in the face of student misbehavior sanctioned by minority racial privileges. Her article at City Journal is Back to Discipline. Excerpts in italics with my bolds. Disparate impact reflects disparate reality. A federal commission on school safety has repudiated the […]
2018 Was The Deadliest Year In A Decade In Kashmir
*Washington Post:* *2018 is the deadliest year in a decade in Kashmir. Next year could be worse. * NEW DELHI — The security forces arrived in the Kashmiri village of Sirnoo in the middle of the night and surrounded their targets: three separatist militants fighting Indian rule. Early Saturday morning, locals awakened to the sound of gunfire. As word of the clash spread, hundreds of young people converged on the area, throwing stones in an attempt to help the militants escape. Then the security forces opened fire on the crowd, killing seven and wounding dozens more. One of those k... more »
Do open borders mean open security gates around Democrat mansions?
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Begin With The End In Mind….
There is an agenda behind these people that 97% of the electorate just don’t understand. Nothing will change until Mitch McConnell is defeated. Nothing. For those who have eyes to see – REMEMBER ! Backstory – 2013 Backstory – 2014 … Continue reading →
Michio Kaku’s belief in god explained
https://bigthink.com/robby-berman/michio-kaku-believes-in-god-if-not-that-god?utm_medium=Social&facebook=1&utm_source=Facebook#Echobox=1545457480 Advertisements
Generating New Ideas for Machine Learning Projects Through Machine Learning
https://towardsdatascience.com/generating-new-ideas-for-machine-learning-projects-through-machine-learning-ce3fee50ec2
Psychopaths drink their coffee black, study finds
https://www.indy100.com/article/psychopaths-drink-their-coffee-black-study-research-antisocial-behaviour-diet-7800451?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#Echobox=1545414287
How to Master the Shot List Like Christopher Nolan
https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/design-shots-like-christopher-nolan/?utm_content=buffer437e6&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer #Christophernolan
Antioxidants in Cancer: A Little Knowledge Is a Dangerous Thing.
https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/Xv6diMkM9HEkXeYYvSzR/full#.XBjw7dzUmQQ.facebook
Vitamin D Insufficiency Linked to Irritable Bowel Syndrome
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2018/02/05/amp/vitamin-d-deficiency-linked-to-ibs.aspx?__twitter_impression=true
Human nature matters
https://aeon.co/amp/essays/theres-no-philosophy-of-life-without-a-theory-of-human-nature?__twitter_impression=true #humannature
What kidney cancer is teaching me about serendipity, persistence
https://www.statnews.com/2018/12/19/kidney-cancer-teaching-serendipity-persistence-survivors/ #kidneycancer
2018 In Review: Rudy Giuliani, The Ghoul Of New York The Whole World Is Watching, Part 3
*by Noah* Ever leave a carved Halloween pumpkin out on the front steps to long? They have a funny way of deteriorating. As they rot, dents form as the bacteria and maggots chew away from the inside. They destroy the support fibers of the outer skin and it sags inward. Same thing happens to any vegetable or fruit. Eventually, it passes from being something for a squirrel or rat to randomly nibble on to a nice place for flies to lay their eggs. As I watch the deterioration of Rudy Giuliani, it seems that every day, he is, both mentally and physically undergoing a very similar proces... more »
Musical Interlude: George Harrison, "What Is Life”
George Harrison, "What Is Life” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XFfUt7HQWM
The Poet: Wendell Berry, "Circles of Our Lives"
*"Circles of Our Lives"* "Within the circles of our lives we dance the circles of the years, the circles of the seasons within the circles of the years, the cycles of the moon within the circles of the seasons, the circles of our reasons within the cycles of the moon. Again, again we come and go, changed, changing. Hands join, unjoin in love and fear, grief and joy. The circles turn, each giving into each, into all. Only music keeps us here, each by all the others held. In the hold of hands and eyes we turn in pairs, that joining joining each to all again. And then we turn aside, alone... more »
"A Look to the Heavens"
“Seen as a seagull and a duck, these nebulae are not the only cosmic clouds to evoke images of flight. But both are winging their way across this broad celestial landscape, spanning almost 7 degrees across planet Earth's night sky toward the constellation Canis Major. *Click image for larger size.* The expansive Seagull (upper left) is itself composed of two major cataloged emission nebulae. Brighter NGC 2327 forms the head with the more diffuse IC 2177 as the wings and body. Impressively, the Seagull's wingspan would correspond to about 250 light-years at an estimated distance of 3... more »
Chet Raymo, "Why Not?"
*"Why Not?"* by Chet Raymo "A reader asked: "If we are all one and made out of the same material- then the things that we make are made out of the same material. But they are not animate. Why not?" At first glance, this might seem like a naive question, one that we all know the answer to. On reflection, it turns out to be terribly profound. Or should I have said, "wonderfully profound"? Yes, everything, animate and inanimate, is made of the same stuff - the 92 naturally-occurring elements - but all of the animate things we know about are made mainly of carbon compounds - carbon in ... more »
"A Cobbled Together Mess"
*"A Cobbled Together Mess"* by Mr Morphed "One commodity is in short supply these days, thinking. Humans all have an identical organ in their cranium but the use of it swings from the barely too weird to outlandish. Something to consider is the difference between the brain and the mind. Don't spend too much time on this though, as it will drive one towards the deep end. The brain absorbs information and stores it in different locations, while the mind collects this information and life's events into a mishmash with jumbled feelings and births a personality. This is what creates an ... more »
U.S. Navy's Use Of Dynamic Force Employment Is Confusing U.S. Adversaries
Sailors signal an E-2D Hawkeye ready for launch on the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman. US Navy/Mass Comm. Specialist 2nd Class Thomas Gooley *Business Insider:* *The Navy's top officer in Europe says the US' new strategy has already duped the Russians* * The US Navy has emphasized dynamic force employment as a method to seem more unpredictable to foes. * The Truman carrier strike group was the first to deployed under that new kind of employment. * According to the Navy's top officer in Europe, the method has already confused US adversaries. The National Defense Strategy docu... more »
UN Presentation Reveals US, UK-backed White Helmets as ‘Organ Traders, Terrorists & Looters’
*21WIRE* | Testimonies include White Helmet members who admit carrying out various frauds and crimes in Syria.
Rogue Colombian FARC Leader 'Guacho' Killed In Raid
*CNN: **Rogue FARC leader 'Guacho' killed in raid* (CNN)Walter Patricio "Guacho" Arizala Vernaza, one of the most notorious FARC leaders, was shot dead in a joint military and police raid, Colombian President Iván Duque told a national television audience Friday. The President thanked the police and members of the military for their "heroic" efforts. "Colombia deserves to breathe more freedom every day. Today many communities in Colombia are going to sleep calm because one of the most horrendous criminals that has known our country has fallen," Duque said in Medellin. Arizala Ve... more »
Heavy snow headed for Sierra Nevada by Christmas Eve
The snow, up to a foot in some areas, could then spread northeastward across the nation’s midsection. One to 2 feet of snow can pile up in the span of 12 hours leading to rapidly deteriorating road conditions, even road closures, over I-80’s Donner Pass, according to AccuWeather.com. The same storm could then unleash heavy ... Read moreHeavy snow headed for Sierra Nevada by Christmas Eve The post Heavy snow headed for Sierra Nevada by Christmas Eve appeared first on Ice Age Now.
Insufferable Media – War Advocate, CBS Margaret Brennan, Frames Brett McGurk Exit For Political Fodder….
CTH readers will know Brett McGurk; he is the departing U.S. state department envoy in-charge of the U.S./State Dept./Coalition de-ISIS campaign. We have discussed his presentations at great length [See Here in 2017]. McGurk was scheduled to exit the State … Continue reading →
Let God figure it out
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Pentagon In State Of Depression Over Defense Secretary Mattis Exit
*VOA:* *Mattis exit leaves Pentagon in state of depression* The mood at the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill darkened with the resignation of Defense Secretary James Mattis. A Pentagon official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity on Friday, described the mood inside the building as “eerie.” “Obviously it’s close to the holidays so you don’t expect to see a lot of people, but there’s just a general fear of the unknown,” the official said. *Read more *.... *WNU Editor*: The Pentagon will recover.
Call Me Sabrina
"Call me Sabrina..." She's not a spy, but she's heir apparent to the inner circle of Chinese leadership and she's a heavy shot caller in one of their intelligence networks, facing charges in the US. *The Middle Kingdom's Revenge Hostages* If you visit China, they will tell you with a certain amount of pride, that they are a communist nation. Then you look around and realize that rampant capitalism is the rule, not the exception and that "communism" in the current definition, has nothing to do with Das Kapital (Marx). It's a one-party system, managed by a power-elite oligarchy that m... more »
Good Food+Good Morals=Good Business: Boycotted Chick-fil-A Crows in Triumph
[image: good-food-good-morals-good-business-boycotted-chick-fil-a-crows-in-triumph] Despite being targeted by activists for destruction, it’s Chick-fil-A that now has the reason to crow: It’s poised to leapfrog a few major competitors to become our nation’s number-three fast-food chain in terms of sales, remaining behind only McDonald’s and Starbucks.
Byron York: Judge’s accusations mar Michael Flynn sentencing hearing
The post Byron York: Judge’s accusations mar Michael Flynn sentencing hearing appeared first on The Duran.
New Justice Department report asks: In anti-Trump text probe, what happened to Strzok, Page iPhones?
The post New Justice Department report asks: In anti-Trump text probe, what happened to Strzok, Page iPhones? appeared first on The Duran.
US Coalition envoy in Syria resigns amid Trump’s withdrawal announcement
Brett McGurk, the US ambassador to the coalition fighting the Daesh terror group, has resigned in protest to US troops being withdrawn from Syria, a US State Department official said on Saturday. Earlier this month, McGurk stated it would be “reckless” to believe that Daesh was defeated, and therefore, US forces must stay in the country in order to oppose terrorists. Commenting on the situation […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
US aircraft carrier enters Persian Gulf during Iran’s ‘Great Prophet 12’ military drills (video)
US aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis entered the Persian Gulf as Iran kicked off massive military maneuvers code-named the ‘Great Prophet-12’ in Qeshm in the Gulf on Saturday. “They have come to pretend that are the ones providing the security of the Persian Gulf countries,” said General Mohammad Ali Jafari the chief commander of […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
At least 3 Syrian regions come under heavy attack on Saturday
Militants operating in Syria’s Idlib de-escalation zone have repeatedly shelled the regions of Latakia, Hama and Aleppo over the past 24 hours, Lieutenant General Sergei Solomatin, head of the Russian center for reconciliation of the conflicting sides in Syria, told reporters on Saturday. “Over the past 24 hours, militants from the Idlib de-escalation zone have opened […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Turkey wont abandon S-400 sale for US Patriot missiles: report
Turkey has “zero chance to drop S-400” deal with Russia despite the US planning to sell its Patriot defence systems to Ankara, Hürriyet Daily News reported citing an anonymous diplomatic sources. The source added that Turkey is going to try and convince Washington that it will take all measures to develop its own software to prevent any alleged problems over the S-400 deployment. Hürriyet’s […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Syrian Army sends large convoy to southern Manbij as Turkish military prepares for offensive
BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:00 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) sent a large military convoy to the southern countryside of the Manbij on Saturday, a source told Al-Masdar News. According to the source, the Syrian Arab Army’s convoy arrived in the town of Ta Aswad earlier today, as they prepare for the upcoming Turkish military […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
France allegedly promises to support SDF after US military withdrawal
The White House has announced the withdrawal of its troops from Syria within the next 100 days with President Trump stating that the US had managed to defeat Daesh* and thus should no longer stay in the Arab Republic. Advisers to French President Emmanuel Macron met with representatives of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Kurdish militants and assured […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
UK Air Force fills void of US military in bombing campaign in east Syria
BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:00 P.M.) – The Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom stated on Thursday that their military would continue their airstrikes against the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL/IS/Daesh) in eastern Syria. The UK Ministry of Defense said that their air force will not halt their bombing campaign in east Syria, despite the U.S. military’s recent […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Installing Squid Proxy Server on Devuan
Setting up and configuring a Squid proxy server on the same Raspberry Pi as my PiHole server. Continue reading →
Russia Deploys More Fighter Jets To Crimea
*Reuters*:* Russian fighter jets land in Crimea amid Ukraine tensions* * Russia has deployed over a dozen fighter jets to Ukraine amid rising tensions between the countries. * In November, Russia fired on and seized three Ukrainian ships after it says they entered Russian waters. * Ukraine has called for international military support and banned Russian men of military age from entering the country. More than a dozen SU-27 and SU-30 fighter jets which Russia is deploying to boost its air force, amid heightened tensions with Ukraine, arrived in Crimea on Saturday. A Reuters witne... more »
Middle Finger Symphony Theater : Christmas Boogie
*For Your Dancing Around The Christmas Tree Pleasure......* * On Behalf of BLUESJUNKY and Myself, to all the patrons of Middle Finger Symphony Theater,* *Very Merry Christmas Greetings!*
Russia's Next Bomber Base: Venezuela?
*Michael Peck* *Security, South America* It won't happen. Here's why. If you really want to get into a fight with the United States, start basing nuclear-capable bombers in America’s backyard. Russia should have learned that in 1962, after its humiliation in the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Nonetheless, it recently flew two Tu-160 Blackjack long-range strategic bombers—Russia’s equivalent to the B-52—from western Russia to Venezuela. Similar flights took place in 2008 and 2013, and this year’s flight comes after tensions between Moscow and Washington over Russian claims over the B... more »
Christmas Surprise? Another US, NATO & Ukraine Planned Provocation Against Russia in Black Sea?
*21WIRE* | While pundits may argue over the potential timeline for a staged provocation, the preponderance of evidence suggests that such a move may already be underway.
A Primer on Syria’s Constitutional Committee
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad with Russian President Vladimir Putin (Source: The Kremlin) As new U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen prepares to assume his position on January 7, it is an opportune time to revisit the Syrian constitutional drafting effort and its role within the larger Syrian peace process. The constitutional committee was a central goal of Pedersen’s predecessor, Staffan de Mistura, who announced his resignation as the U.N.’s Syria Envoy in October. De Mistura worked for nearly year to convene a drafting committee by the end of 2018, and did so with Rus... more »
The Bloom is off The Ruse – Protecting UniParty and Decepticon Caucus From Sunlight, Mitch McConnell Won’t Call an Appropriations Vote…
For those who follow the deep weeds of politics, this is brutally transparent. For the remaining 97% of the voting electorate, they still don’t understand how the UniParty works. Decepticon leader McConnell doesn’t want the American electorate to see purchased … Continue reading →
Non-profits, politics, and Trump Foundation
Nonprofit Organizations: There are 1,571,056 tax-exempt organizations, including: 1,097,689 public charities 105,030 private foundations 368,337 other types of nonprofit organizations, including chambers of commerce, fraternal organizations and civic leagues. (Source: NCCS Business Master File 4/2016) How many of these non-profits, particularly the foundations which must choose which non-profits to fund, could survive the scrutiny that has been lavished on the Trump Foundation by people who hate the President? People employed in the non-profit world wouldn't agree with me, but I... more »
Robert Bruce wins the Arlington Million
My Canadian cousin reported this in her Christmas letter. I didn’t know there was such a horse and this was reported in Bloodhorse magazine. https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/229006/robert-bruce-rallies-to-arlington-million-victory? Inside library story. We used to get a subscription to Bloodhorse at the veterinary library at OSU where I was the librarian, but didn't catalog it. One day to clear the shelf I put about 2 years on a small table outside the library with a sign, "Free to a good home." Someone put all the magazines on the floor and took the table.
With The Arrival Of The U.S. Aircraft Carier USS Stennis In The Persian Gulf, Iran Begins War Games
US jets fly above USS John C. Stennis. © Steve Smith / US Navy / Reuters *Reuters*: *Iran Guards hold war games as U.S. carrier enters Gulf* DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards launched war games in the Gulf on Saturday, state television reported, after a U.S. aircraft carrier entered the waterway amid rising tension with Washington over reimposed U.S. sanctions. Television showed amphibious forces landing on Iran’s Gulf island of Qeshm during the exercises, in which naval vessels, helicopters, drones, rocket launchers and commando units also took part. “Hopefully... more »
Dinosaurs and delusions
- Back to the political maelstrom. What a year. Almost 10% as exhausting as 1968. (Gosh, exactly half a century ago. See the special way it ended.) Just remember, we survived that awful year, and got stronger /better. We can do it again. Let's start with... *== Matters of Mattis ==* I'll not go into huge details about the Mattis resignation. Some liberals are conceding that ending one of our wars - in Syria - might be a good thing. (And the dems need asap to withdraw House consent to the ceding of war powers.) But the pundits ignore what those 2000 US troops have been doing. Wh... more »
Supreme Court: Borders Open; Trump Can’t Stop Illegal-Alien Invasion
[image: supreme-court-borders-open-trump-can-t-stop-illegal-alien-invasion] The U.S. Supreme Court denied an appeal from the Trump administration on Friday to stop a lower federal court and the radical Left from seizing control of American immigration policy.
Energy Conundrums
Anyone paying attention to global warming/climate change knows that activists intend to disrupt (legally or otherwise) the energy platform supporting modern industrial society. It is a radical movement since the developed world (think G20) depends upon fossil fuels for nearly 90% of its energy. Gail Tverberg has again insightfully probed into the ways our energy […]
Jefferson Airship - 1897
To fully understand a case, it is necessary to return to the original source. I had the opportunity to do that just the other day. Andy McGinn of the *Jefferson Herald*, which had been the *Jefferson Bee*, called to ask about an entry *in Crash: When UFOs Fall from the Sky.* He was interested in an entry for April 15, 1897 which Greene County Courthouse, Jefferson, Iowadiscussed a crash near Jefferson. Frankly, I didn’t remember it off the top of my head. It was a short entry and gave the bare bones of the story. I had written: The *Jefferson Bee* reported that an airship had crash... more »
Native Americans Ride to Remember Wounded Knee
Dozens of Lakota and other Native American allies are about to converge on Bridger, South Dakota, for a pilgrimage they've made every December for the last 32 years: a 300-kilometer journey on horseback, retracing the historic journey, of a Lakota chief and 350 of his followers This year's ride begins Sunday. White Plume and dozens of riders, old and young, will saddle their horses for the seven-day ride across the frigid Plains, stopping, saddle sore, to camp at night. It's an arduous journey, but White Plume said he doesn't feel the cold or the pain of hours in the saddle. "You j... more »
Quarter Four Local By-Election Results
Overall, 109,066 votes were cast over 55 local authority (tier one and tier two) contests. All percentages are rounded to the nearest single decimal place. For comparison you can view Quarter Three's results here. Party Number of Candidates Total Vote % +/- Q3 +/- Q4 2017 Average +/- Seats Conservative 54 35,358 32.4% -2.0% +0.0% 655 -2 Labour 51 34,292 31.4% +0.7% -3.3% 672 -1 LibDem 47 21,769 20.0% +2.8% +1.8% 463 +1 UKIP 17 1,911 1.8% +0.6% -0.8% 112 -1 Green 30 4,838 4.4... more »
One Aspect Of Withdrawing From Afghanistan
On Wednesday Ro Khanna was one of the congressional progressives-- Ted Lieu was another-- happy to see Trump announce he was withdrawing American troops from Syria. Ted: "I strongly agree with the President’s decision to withdraw US troops from Syria. Congress never authorized the US to go to war in Syria. While going after terrorists is authorized, both the Obama and Trump Administrations went far beyond the congressionally authorized use of force against terrorists. Moreover, neither Administration had a strategy for Syria. Neither Administration could articulate why American tr... more »
Musical Interlude: Kevin Kern, “Above The Clouds”
Kevin Kern, “Above The Clouds” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgdjnK6I2u0 "For I have learned To look on nature, not as in the hour Of thoughtless youth; but hearing oftentimes The still, sad music of humanity, Nor harsh nor grating, though of ample power To chasten and subdue." - William Wordsworth, "Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey, on Revisiting the Banks of the Wye during a Tour, July 13, 1798"
The Poet: Rainer Maria Rilke, "Book of Hours II, 16"
*"Book of Hours II, 16"* "How surely gravity's law, strong as an ocean current, takes hold of even the strongest thing and pulls it toward the heart of the world. Each thing- each stone, blossom, child- is held in place. Only we, in our arrogance, push out beyond what we belong to for some empty freedom. If we surrendered to earth's intelligence we could rise up rooted, like trees. Instead we entangle ourselves in knots of our own making and struggle, lonely and confused. So, like children, we begin again to learn from the things, because they are in God's heart; they have never left him.... more »
The Daily "Near You?"
Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Thanks for stopping by!
"For Nothing Is Fixed..."
"For nothing is fixed, forever and forever and forever, it is not fixed; the earth is always shifting, the light is always changing, the sea does not cease to grind down rock. Generations do not cease to be born, and we are responsible to them because we are the only witnesses they have. The sea rises, the light fails, lovers cling to each other, and children cling to us. The moment we cease to hold each other, the sea engulfs us and the light goes out." - James Baldwin
Gregory Mannarino, "Special Markets: A Look Ahead"
Gregory Mannarino, "Special 'Markets: A Look Ahead'"
"More Than A Feeling"
*"More Than A Feeling"* by Grog “When I’m tired and thinking cold I hide in my music, forget the day And dream of a girl I used to know I closed my eyes and she slipped away” - Tom Scholz, Boston, "More Than A Feeling""I know this is more than slightly off topic for the situational questions of the times, but I cannot help but wonder if others are getting some of the same vibes I have been getting. I cannot quite put my finger on it. The closest reference to what I am trying to get through is the notion of political discussion at Thanksgiving. I saw more than a few articles about h... more »
EPA Plans to Allow Unlimited Dumping of Fracking Wastewater in the Gulf of Mexico
*Mike Ludwig* - Plans are being made to further sacrifice the Gulf of Mexico for the oil and gas industry.
Game Changer: French Police to Join Yellow Vests After Finding Out Gov’t is Ripping Them Off Too
*Matt Agorist* - Police in France are threatening to join the yellow vests.
VICE – Dick Cheney
A long awaited new movie about Bush Vice President Cheney with the double entendre name of “Vice” is opening nation-wide … Continue reading →
Can He Do That? Of Appropriations, Walls and Shutdowns
The beginning of a partial government shutdown of uncertain duration seems an appropriate time to sort through the mechanics of shutdowns as well as to evaluate some of the claims about appropriations law that have been appearing in the media for the past week or so. *The Scope of the Shutdown* First, it is important to note that this shutdown affects only part of the federal government, albeit a large part. Before the election, Congress passed, and the President signed, five of the seven annual appropriations bills required to fund the government. These included the ... more »
Stanford Medicine Health Trends
http://med.stanford.edu/school/leadership/dean/healthtrends.html?linkId=61386939 Advertisements
The Growing Significance Of DevOps For Data Science
https://www.forbes.com/sites/janakirammsv/2018/11/04/the-growing-significance-of-devops-for-data-science/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
[Infographic] The Docker vs. Kubernetes vs. Apache Mesos Myth: Why What You Think You Know is Wrong
https://mesosphere.com/blog/the-docker-vs-kubernetes-vs-apache-mesos-myth/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=organic-social&utm_campaign=blog
2018 Technology Fast 500 award winners
https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/technology-media-and-telecommunications/articles/fast500-winners.html?id=us:2sm:3tw:18fast500:eng:tmt:111518
Bay Labs and Northwestern Medicine team up for AI-based ultrasound technique
https://www.artificialintelligence-news.com/2018/11/23/bay-labs-and-northwestern-medicine-team-up-for-ai-based-ultrasound-technique/
AI in Healthcare.
https://www.aisoma.de/artificial-intelligence-in-healthcare-promising-progress-best-use-cases/
9 Ways Adult Children Can Avoid Regressing During Holidays
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/singletons/201711/9-ways-adult-children-can-avoid-regressing-during-holidays?amp&__twitter_impression=true
6 Well-Kept Secrets Affecting Family Size
https://www.susannewmanphd.com/blog/2015/02/02/secrets-affecting-family-size/
How to Boost Collagen for Better Skin
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2017/05/08/amp/boost-collagen-for-better-skin.aspx?__twitter_impression=true
Hollywood Superstar Keanu Reeves Has Secretly Been Financing Countless Children’s Hospitals
https://educateinspirechange.org/inspirational/hollywood-superstar-keanu-reeves-has-secretly-been-financing-countless-childrens-hospitals/?utm_source=sd&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=sd
"When All Others Have Deserted Us..."
“A silent look of affection and regard when all other eyes are turned coldly away- the consciousness that we possess the sympathy and affection of one being when all others have deserted us- is a hold, a stay, a comfort, in the deepest affliction, which no wealth could purchase, or power bestow.” - Charles Dickens
Why We Still Love the F-4 Phantom After 60 Years
*Michael Peck* *Security, Asia* My theory is that the Phantom is beloved not just because it was successful, but because it wasn’t supposed to be. There is no particular reason for the world’s love affair with the F-4 Phantom. Beautiful it was not, nor graceful, nor aesthetic. The Phantom earned nicknames like “Rhino” and “Double Ugly.” It was said to be proof of an amazing aeronautical principle: that “a brick can fly if you stick a big enough engine on it.” The Phantom was a capable aircraft, setting several speed records soon after it first flew in 1958. But then again, ther... more »
Introducing the China-Russia War of 2020 (That No One Saw Coming)
*Task and Purpose* *Security, Asia* [image: Reuters] Its fictional—for now. *Tom note: Here is the fifth entry in our 10 Long March posts for 2018, the 6th most-read item of the year, which originally ran on April 1, 2018. These posts are selected based on what’s called ‘total engaged minutes’ (the total number of time spent reading and commenting on an article) rather than page views, which the T&P editors see as a better reflection of Long March reader interest and community. Thanks to all of you for reading, and for commenting–which is an important part of this column. * Aug... more »
Matt Taibbi and the Truths He Spoke Against the Industries of Death
In a stunning departure from mainstream media orthodoxy, Matt Taibbi wrote an article for Rolling Stone about Trump’s announced pullout from Syria that rebuked the never-ending and bipartisan clamor for war. Instead of going along with the establishment punditry and echoing the talking points of arm chair generals, Taibbi methodically took apart the case for our continued presence in Syria. In a display of courage that is sorely lacking in our supposed “free-press”, he detailed… The post Matt Taibbi and the Truths He Spoke Against the Industries of Death appeared first on The Ghio... more »