11:55 pm - 1:15 am MDT
Is Donald Trump Right? 36 Percent of Americans Support a Ban on Tiktok
*Stephen Silver* *Politics, Americas* [image: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2020%3Anewsml_RC2MCI9O7M34&share=true] What will become of the infamous Chinese app? President Trump, earlier this month, threatened a ban on TikTok, over the course of a bizarre weekend that ended with Microsoft confirming its interest in purchasing the U.S. operations of the Chinese-owned social media app. Since then, other companies, including Twitter, have reportedly emerged as potential bidders for TikTok. The president has also demanded that the U.S. government get a cut... more »
Tusli Gabbard's Time In Congress Is Almost Up: What's Next?
*Rachel Bucchino* *Politics, * Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) announced in October 2019 that she’ll call it a quits on Capitol Hill to focus on her presidential candidacy, but clearly, that’s out-of-the-picture. Even though Gabbard won’t serve for Congress come November, she vows to look after Americans post-retirement. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) announced in October 2019 that she’ll call it a quits on Capitol Hill to focus on her presidential candidacy, but clearly, that’s out-of-the-picture. Even though Gabbard won’t serve for Congress come November, she vows to look after Am... more »
No iPhone for You: Smartphones Still Too Expensive for Billions of People Worldwide
*Ethen Kim Lieser* *Technology, World* [image: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2018%3Anewsml_RC19783526A0&share=true] Can the market provide better-priced solutions? Amid the ongoing global coronavirus pandemic, high-tech devices like smartphones are increasingly seen more as a necessity than a luxury. Yet, for billions of people around the world, having the financial resources to purchase a smartphone is still well out of reach, according to new research from the Alliance for Affordable Internet and the Web Foundation. “COVID-19 has shown that to be w... more »
iPhone Still Rules: Smartphone Sales in the U.S. Started to Recover in Second Quarter
*Stephen Silver* *Economics, Americas* [image: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2016%3Anewsml_D1BETWXQQOAB&share=true] Here's how all of the brands are faring. Nearly thirty-two million smartphones were sold in the U.S. in the second quarter of the year, which represented a 5% decrease over the same time last year, but was nevertheless an 11% increase over the first quarter, as the market showed signs of recovery from the worst depths of the coronavirus pandemic. That’s according to research firm Canalys, which also noted that 70% of the smartphones shi... more »
Authors retract highly cited 2014 Science paper
The authors of a 2014 paper in Science have retracted it, after becoming aware that impurities in the chemicals they used for their experiments may have generated the apparent findings. The paper, “Ammonia synthesis by N2 and steam electrolysis in molten hydroxide suspensions of nanoscale Fe2O3,” has been cited 323 times, according to Clarivate Analytics’ … Continue reading Authors retract highly cited 2014 Science paper
Wuhan Covid: It Is About How Fast, Not How Many. Time To end Lock Downs.
30 days to flatten the curve is over. We flattened it. It was NEVER about fewer infections. Area under the curve is constant. It was about not overwhelming hospitals with a spike. Continue reading →
SCOTUS Rules That Your Home Is Not Your Castle
The Common Sense Show Aug 12, 2020 via SCOTUS Rules That Your Home Is Not Your Castle – YouTube
Can Erdogan reciprocate Macron’s Beirut stunt?
Macron’s call for a “new order” in Lebanon conflicts with Erdogan’s regional ambitions, but the climate in Lebanon is no longer as welcoming to Turkey’s president as it was a decade ago. French President Emmanuel Macron (C), flanked by French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian (C,R) visits the devastated site of the explosion at … Continue reading Can Erdogan reciprocate Macron’s Beirut stunt? →
First 3 Israelis treated with new passive vaccine recover, leave hospital
Passive immunization is when you are given antibodies formed by other patients who developed them when they got the disease. By MAAYAN JAFFE-HOFFMAN AUGUST 13, 2020 Coronavirus lab at Hadassah (photo credit: HADASSAH) The first three patients treated with a new COVID-19 “passive vaccine,” which was developed by Hadassah Medical Center and the Israeli biopharmaceutical … Continue reading First 3 Israelis treated with new passive vaccine recover, leave hospital →
The Tides Foundation and BLM
August 13, 2020 By Civis Americanus The 501(c)(3) tax exempt Thousand Currents and ActBlue Charities are supporting Black Lives Matter (BLM) Global Network, which is campaigning openly against President Trump on its website and also in other venues. BLM leader Patrisse Cullors said openly in a CNN interview, “Trump not only needs to not be … Continue reading The Tides Foundation and BLM →
Must We Fight Cancel Culture with Cancel Culture?
August 13, 2020 By J. Robert Smith As of August 2020, we Americans are embroiled in an intensifying cold civil war. Democrats and the left are the aggressors. Cancel culture is a chief weapon. It’s not being employed wholesale — yet — but it is being selectively used as a means of instilling fear in the citizenry. As morally repugnant … Continue reading Must We Fight Cancel Culture with Cancel Culture? →
Surging Gun Sales Triggers Second Ammo Shortage Of This Year
by Tyler Durden Tue, 08/11/2020 The virus pandemic triggered a socio-economic bomb across major US metro areas resulting in one of the largest panic hoardings of guns and ammo by fearful consumers in quite some time, if not ever. Gregory Ionadi, 75, the owner of gun shop Smoke N’ Guns, located in Oakmont, Pennsylvania, told PJ Media: “Prior to … Continue reading Surging Gun Sales Triggers Second Ammo Shortage Of This Year →
Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Kicks Off With Bang Amid Virus Controversy: 84 arrests, 226 Citations, 18 Crashes In 24 Hours
by Tyler Durden Tue, 08/11/2020 Sturgis meet coronavirus shutdowns: the world’s largest annual motorcycle rally in Sturgis, South Dakota has been source of immense controversy this year after health officials warned it could be a ‘super-spreader event’. Running from Aug. 7 to 16, it’s expected to be the single largest gathering that’s taken place since national … Continue reading Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Kicks Off With Bang Amid Virus Controversy: 84 arrests, 226 Citations, 18 Crashes In 24 Hours →
BOMBSHELL: Chinese Scientist Who Fled From Country Claims COVID-19 was ‘Created in Military Lab’
She says the wet market story was a lie. Aug 3, 2020 Shane Trejo Dr. Li-Meng Yan, a former virology specialist for the Hong Kong’s School of Public Health forced to flee to the US to protect her safety, has claimed that COVID-19 was “created in a military lab” as a possible bioweapon. Li-Meng … Continue reading BOMBSHELL: Chinese Scientist Who Fled From Country Claims COVID-19 was ‘Created in Military Lab’ →
As Many as 20,000 People Protest Lockdown Restrictions in Germany – Big League Politics
It’s not just America where there’s widespread skepticism of coronavirus shutdowns and restrictions. The Berlin gathering, which authorities maintain numbered in the tens of thousands, may have been the single largest individual anti-coronavirus lockdown demonstration to occur in the world. It’s not just America. Aug 1, 2020 Richard Moorhead A crowd of people possibly … Continue reading As Many as 20,000 People Protest Lockdown Restrictions in Germany – Big League Politics →
FREEDOM RISING: Large Anti-Scamdemic Protests Spring Up in Germany, UK, Netherlands – Big League Politics
Even after months of wall-to-wall propaganda, people are still refusing to buy into the scamdemic. The resistance will need to escalate in order to stop the frenzied push for experimental vaccines from the likes of technocratic oligarch Bill Gates and Mengelean monster Dr. Anthony Fauci. The people are rising up against the virus regime. Aug … Continue reading FREEDOM RISING: Large Anti-Scamdemic Protests Spring Up in Germany, UK, Netherlands – Big League Politics →
Summary: En Banc D.C. Circuit Rules that House Committee has Standing to Sue to Enforce McGahn Subpoena
Former White House Counsel Don McGahn speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in February of 2018. (Gage Skidmore, https://flic.kr/p/24FERaB; CC BY-SA 2.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/) On August 7, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, sitting en banc, decided Committee on the Judiciary v. McGahn. The case concerns whether the House Judiciary Committee has standing to seek enforcement in federal court of its subpoena to former White House Counsel Don McGahn. A majority of the court held that the committee does ... more »
The hard hard details on Wuhan Institute of Virology
Or a virus that WIV researchers were studying, passaging, engineering, or otherwise manipulating, escaped. “*Take a bat coronavirus that is not infectious to humans, and force its selection by culturing it with cells that express human ACE2 receptor, such cells having been created many years ago to culture SARS coronaviruses and you can force the bat virus to adapt to infect human cells via mutations in its spike protein, which would have the effect of increasing the strength of its binding to human ACE2, and inevitably reducing the strength of its binding to bat ACE2. Viruses i... more »
Defendant sentenced to sex offender probation for unlawful surveillance
Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 28-year-old Glendale Snead of Buffalo has been sentenced by State Supreme Court Justice John Michalski to 5 years of sex offender probation. The Buffalo Police Department conducted an investigation after the
Buffalo man indicted for rape
Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 39-year-old Rashawne Smith of Buffalo has been virtually arraigned before Erie County Court Judge Sheila A. DiTullio on an indictment charging him with one count of Rape in the First Degree,
Shooter indicted for murder of convenience store employee and attempting to murder responding officer
Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 28-year-old Travis J. Zukic of Cheektowaga has been virtually arraigned before Erie County Court Judge James Bargnesi on an indictment charging him with one count of Murder in the Second Degree
Port Authority of NY and NJ payroll increased by $150 million
Payroll for Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) in calendar year 2019 increased by more than $150 million, according to data released today on SeeThroughNY.net, the Empire Center’s transparency website. Payroll at Port Authority totaled more than $997
State dormitory authority dished out $152 million in pork last year
New York’s governor and state lawmakers dished out $152 million for local projects favored by state lawmakers through the state Dormitory Authority during the state’s 2020 fiscal year, according to data posted today on SeeThroughNY.net, the Empire Center’s government transparency website. The
Restaurant Revolution: Pennsylvania Businesses to Defy COVID-19 Mandate
[image: restaurant-revolution-pennsylvania-businesses-to-defy-covid-19-mandate] Restaurant owners in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, plan to open at full capacity in defiance of the governor’s coronavirus restrictions.
One Nation, Indivisible? America MORE Divided Today Than Before Civil War
[image: one-nation-indivisible-america-more-divided-today-than-before-civil-war] With a poll last year finding that almost 70 percent of Americans believe another civil war is imminent, many today wonder if our divisions are as severe as they were before our 1861 conflict. Some say they’re worse.
Atilis Gym Reopens After Town Revokes Owners’ License
[image: atilis-gym-reopens-after-town-suspends-owners-license] The borough council of Bellmawr, New Jersey, voted 5-1 to rescind the business license of the Atilis Gym. The owners of the gym, Ian Smith and Frank Trumbetti, opened the gym the next day anyway.
Vaccine Fundamentalism—War Metaphors in the Covid-19 Response, Vaccine Policy, and Public Health, Part 1
Public health officials themselves disseminate the war mentality with the repeated message: We are at war with an invisible enemy that must be eradicated. War mentality emphasizes the need for self-sacrifice in order to stop Covid-19 spread. And the weapons of war are glorified; public health authorities glorify its chief weapon of vaccination. The post Vaccine Fundamentalism—War Metaphors in the Covid-19 Response, Vaccine Policy, and Public Health, Part 1 appeared first on Children's Health Defense.
Defiance! 6,000 Attend 'Illegal' California Church Service
A California mega-church has refused to buckle under the tyrannical governor's orders to limit attendance to 100 people. On Sunday, between 6-7,000 worshipers showed up and attended services. Also today: Florida sheriff says 'no masks!" A post-apocalyptic UK conference. Epidemic versus 'case-demic.' And a new MIT article suggests community immunity is preventing coronavirus spread in US. Watch today's Liberty Report:
Why Immunity for the CIA?
[image: undefined] Amidst the controversy over the doctrine of qualified immunity for cops, no one is talking about the full immunity accorded to the Central Intelligence Agency, an agency within the national-security establishment that wields omnipotent power. Among the most interesting lines in the new Amazon Prime series The Last Narc is what a CIA official says to DEA investigator Hector Berrellez, who was charged with leading the investigation into the kidnapping, torture, and murder of DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena. The official tells Berrellez that the CIA is not a law-e... more »
Letters From Melbourne, a ‘Ghost Town Police State’ Under Brutal Covid Lockdown
[image: undefined] The citizens of Australia’s second most populous city are suffering under the harshest lockdown conditions of all Western democracies. Their voices need to be heard. In the last several weeks, Melbourne has introduced shockingly draconian anti-Covid measures, imposed on the metropolis of some 5 million souls. What tragedy was responsible for spurring officials to leap into action? To blame was a fractional uptick in the number of coronavirus deaths – seven to be exact, and all involving citizens above the age of 70 years old. The media jumped on the “new single-d... more »
Whether from pandemic or riots, our lifestyle is changing fast
Bloomberg and an associated company teamed up to analyze how Americans are using, or visiting, or interacting with, a number of institutions in our society, and compared it to pre-COVID-19 figures. The results are eye-opening. By counting phone signals in 15 designated areas each day for the past three months, the data offer a way to see how many people are returning to where they eat, play and spend money — at mega malls, upscale retail streets and nightlife hotspots. Golf courses are humming again, but so are the nation’s non-profit food banks, underscoring the gap between the h... more »
2:00PM Water Cooler 8/13/2020
~ Today's Water Cooler ~
Cutting Through Indecision And Overthinking
Many people get stuck in indecision and analysis paralysis. It has nothing to do with being competent, intelligent, or talented. In effect, overthinking and getting lost in infinite choices decreases their effectiveness and intelligence by creating inaction. It would be better to take any action than no action or to be indecisive. Don’t get caught up in trying to make the perfect decision and then not making any decision. The Pitfall of Overthinking The resolution is to cut through the indecision and overthinking with action. If there are not many possibilities or choices, it woul... more »
The Hard Work That Must Be Done to Improve Police Accountability
As I observe it currently, the three strategies currently being taken by Progressives to increase police accountability are Demonizing all police officers, good and bad Making large cuts to police budgets and/or salaries Looting Apple stores I have lamented before that none of these approaches are likely to succeed at reforming police accountability or more […]
Some of Joe Biden’s Lies for Blacks’ Votes
Eric Zuesse Joe Biden was one of the U.S. Senate’s leading segregationists; and he was condemned by the NAACP for it in 1977 hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee, but he has claimed instead to have participated in anti-segregation sit-ins, which were led by black ministers all of whom were conveniently deceased at the time […]
Greece, Egypt & France align against Turkish moves in East Med. (Video)
The Duran Quick Take: Episode 628.
The Brookings Hand Behind Russiagate Points Back to Rhodes Trust Coup on America
An incredible report on Real Clear Politics by Paul Sperry on July 24 has revealed a new dimension to the Russiagate frenzy that contaminated American politics for the last four years. While all claims of Russian collusion between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin have been thoroughly debunked over recent months, it was believed that the culprits of […]
Did Kamala Harris Say She ‘Believes’ Joe Biden’s Accusers?
Right-leaning websites jumped into action after Biden announced Harris as his vice-presidential running mate in August 2020.
Wayward Emu Captured Running Through New Jersey City
A wayward emu was taken to an animal shelter after it was captured while running through the streets of a northern New Jersey city.
What Every AFib Patient Needs to Know About COVID
Millions of people have been diagnosed with the coronavirus known as COVID-19. Fortunately, most people recover quickly while many actually have no symptoms at all. But thousands of deaths have been blamed on COVID. I don’t see it that way. I blame all deaths on poor nutrition, an unhealthy lifestyle, and environmental pollutants. I don’t … Continue reading "What Every AFib Patient Needs to Know About COVID" The post What Every AFib Patient Needs to Know About COVID appeared first on TDW.
Declassification at the Pentagon: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
A recent declassification decision at the Department of Defense, in response to a mandatory declassification review appeal by the National Security Archive, demonstrates that over-classification and silly secrecy are alive and well in certain quarters of the Pentagon. Recently, in response to an appeal to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) filed in 2013 […]
The Breakdown of New NAACP Education Initiative with Dean Julian Vasquez Heilig
The University of Kentucky College of Education is teaming up with the NAACP to launch a groundbreaking collaboration. Together, the two are developing an education and research initiative focused on educational equity, civil rights and social justice. Tonight on The Breakdown-UK College of Education Dean, Julian Vasquez Heilig. Please Facebook Like, Tweet, etc below and/or reblog to share this discussion with
Colorado’s $158M in June recreational cannabis sales sets mark amid COVID
Colorado adult-use marijuana sales in June hit a record $158.1 million as the coronavirus pandemic continued to fuel staggering sales growth. June sales in Colorado represented nearly a 30% year-over-year increase from recreational sales of $122.4 million in June 2019. The sales record marked the first month in the state’s history that rec sales topped […] Colorado’s $158M in June recreational cannabis sales sets mark amid COVID is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs
Sex through a hole in the wall
“Dear lord, I’m going to bust laughing” – Penelope _________ Sex through a hole in the wall Penelope Dear lord, I’m going to bust laughing: In New York City, health officials suggest couples who do not reside in the same residence on a permanent basis should wear a mask during sex and avoiding kissing. According ... Read more Sex through a hole in the wall The post Sex through a hole in the wall appeared first on Ice Age Now.
Coronavirus is the New ‘Terrorism’
“Remember the 1976 swine flu vaccine debacle. The swine flu vaccine was rushed into production in response to political pressure to “do something.” The result was a vaccine that was more of a danger than the flu.” – Ron Paul __________ Coronavirus is the New ‘Terrorism’ By Ron Paul 10 Aug 2020 House Speaker Nancy ... Read more Coronavirus is the New ‘Terrorism’ The post Coronavirus is the New ‘Terrorism’ appeared first on Ice Age Now.
North American insect population holding steady
Crossley, M.S., Meier, A.R., Baldwin, E.M. et al. No net insect abundance and diversity declines across US Long Term Ecological Research sites. Nat Ecol Evol (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-020-1269-4 Recent reports of dramatic declines in insect abundance suggest grave consequences for global ecosystems and human society. … Continue reading →
IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN 17 YEARS, YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO THIS POD CAST
From TruePundit: Episode 36: Shocking Discovery THE CDC IS TRICKING PARENTS INTO VOLUNTARILY SURRENDERING IMMUNIZATION RECORDS. THIS IS A VIOLATION OF THE ADA AND HIPPA ACTS. “Thomas Paine” received the phone call and recorded it, so YOU can hear what they want from you. It occurs during the first 40 minutes of the pod cast. This should be alarming to YOU! ~Ragnar (RFXtFR)
"Nothing Is Off the Menu"
*"Nothing Is Off the Menu"* By Bill Bonner SAN MARTIN, ARGENTINA – "The news this morning tells us that the Republicans and Democrats are still “$1 trillion apart” in their negotiations. Both favor more “stimulus.” That is, both favor taking more money from people who earned it and giving it to people who didn’t. They’re just dickering over the price. But there are lots of ways of ripping people off. And the nice thing about the feds’ counterfeiting is that it is more like a white-collar embezzlement than sticking up a liquor store in a bad neighborhood. Often, the victims never e... more »
Former McCain Advisor and Iraq War Advocate Niall Ferguson Warns TikTok Is a Chinese Imperial Plot
Writing in Bloomberg, Niall Ferguson, Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world, warned that TikTok was not simply a popular Chinese-owned video app, but “Xi Jinping’s imperial panopticon,” and a “superweapon” for Chinese domination of the world. Ferguson applauded the Trump administration’s decision to force the company to sell up to an American corporation or face a complete ban within 45 days.
Moral panic over refugees in the English Channel is the ugly face of Brexit
Imagine the courage and fortitude, borne of desperation, it requires to embark on a do or die attempt to cross the sea in a dinghy from a land where you’ve already been met with the fist of fury rather than the hand of friendship, to another land where more hostility and rage awaits your arrival.
President Trump Announces 'Historic Peace Agreement' Between Israel, UAE
*Daily Mail:* *Donald Trump unveils Middle East 'peace deal' with Israel gaining diplomatic relations with UAE in return for abandoning Jared Kushner's 'deal of the century' and not annexing swathes of West Bank* * President Donald Trump said the United Arab Emirates and Israel have agreed to establish full diplomatic ties * It's part of a deal to halt the annexation of occupied land sought by the Palestinians for their future state * Recognition grants a rare diplomatic win to Trump ahead of November election * But it's a departure from the 'deal of a century' his administrati... more »
President Trump's Project Warp Speed; The Crash Science Driver To Decapitate Covid-19
[image: President Donald J. Trump answers a reporter’s question during a news conference Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian)] Lyndon LaRouche’s long-time associate Dr. Ned Rosinsky has published a review of the explosion of medical advances which are coming out of the COVID-19 crash vaccine program and related science. The review, from this week’s EIR Magazine, can be found here (PDF). President Trump’s Operation Warp Speed is propelling this massive effort, providing over $10 billion... more »
Neil Young Says He Paid $20,000 to Remove Facebook, Google Logins From His Website
*Stephen Silver* *Technology, Americas* [image: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2016%3Anewsml_TM3ECAD1KYN01&share=true] The famous musician has a known anti-modern technology streak. Neil Young has had a legendary career in music that’s spanned six decades, with the singer and guitarist cranking out a series of hits both as a solo artist, and with such groups as Crazy Horse and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Young is also known for bucking the system when it comes to technology. In 2012, Young announced a portable music player called the PonoPlayer, wh... more »
B-21: The U.S. Air Force’s New Stealth Bomber Is Right on Schedule
*Caleb Larson* *Security, Americas* [image: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2011%3Anewsml_GM1E73N1BGC01&share=true] Though the program has experienced at least one production delay, work is progressing—and it might just be a few years before prototypes are in the sky, if not sooner. The United States’ newest bomber, the B-21 Raider, is moving closer and closer to production. Just recently, Dr. Mark Esper, the current Secretary of Defense, visited the facilities where the stealth bomber is to be manufactured by Northrop Grumman and took a look at the fi... more »
Efforts to Stymie Coronavirus Might Mean Milder Flu Season
*Ethen Kim Lieser* *Health, Americas* [image: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2018%3Anewsml_RC160AF3C7E0&share=true] That would be nice and likely result in much better outcomes than a two-punch flu, coronavirus combo in the Fall. Health officials and doctors have been sounding the alarm about the fast-coming flu season, warning that a devastating one-two punch of the seasonal virus plus the pandemic has the potential to overwhelm the U.S. health-care system. However, global efforts to stymie the further spread of the coronavirus—which include face-mas... more »
Joe Biden Campaign Raises Highest “Single-Day Record” After Picking Harris as Vice President
*Rachel Bucchino* *Politics, Americas* [image: Reuters] The ground-breaking total included 150,000 first-time donors, according to a campaign aide, as Harris’s candidacy energized and enthused voters to donate to the Biden-Harris historic ticket. Joe Biden’s presidential campaign “set a single-day record for online political fundraising” and raised $26 million in the 24 hours after he chose Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) as his running mate. “I have no doubt that I picked the right person to join me as the next vice president of the United States of America, and that's Sen. Kamala... more »
downhome Kamala
8-12 Harris has "glad-handed with San Francisco elites for decades," Vox reported, and is seen as key to Biden's campaign, which has "struggled until recently to excite the wealthiest and most powerful tech moguls.""Harris will bring superfans from the billionaire class that will supercharge Democrats' coffers, even though it makes Biden more dependent on these big donors," the report said. https://www.wnd.com/2020/08/kamalas-key-qualification-idd-schmoozing-billionaires/
Across the ‘Jupiter Gap’
A great part of the excitement of scientific discovery is not knowing what will emerge when you take data. Our space missions have proven that time and again, and I have no doubt that as we tighten the resolution on future telescopes, we’ll find things that defy many an accepted theory. NASA’s Stardust mission reflects […]
New York City’s Newest Neighborhood: Abolition Park
At the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge, City Hall Park lies in a cold-stone land where law and order rule. The area is defined by French Renaissance-style courthouses and municipal buildings. The NYPD’s headquarters is across the street and the Manhattan Detention Complex, colloquially referred to as “the Tombs” by many, is a short walk away. While the park provides one of the only green spaces in the concrete-scape of Lower Manhattan, it does not have a laid-back, community ambiance the way that many smaller New York parks do. The post New York City’s Newest Neighborhood: Abolitio... more »
Xinjiang And Uyghurs – What You’re Not Being Told
Like a few other provinces, Xinjiang is an “autonomous” region, which means it is run by Uyghurs for the most part. For example, the current “governor” is Shohrat Zakir, an Uyghur man who’s been in charge since 2014. Also to remember are two nuggets of information: Xinjiang is a really vast region — it’s four times as large as California(!); and Uyghurs make up only about 40% of Xinjiang’s population. Overall, Uyghurs account for only 0.7% of China’s population. That’s about the same percentage as the Native American population in the U.S. now. The post Xinjiang And Uyghurs – What... more »
Krugman and Growth Agnosticism
Back in 2004, Robert Lucas famously remarked: “Of the tendencies that are harmful to sound economics, the most seductive, and in my opinion the most poisonous, is to focus on questions of distribution.” Ten years later, Paul Krugman replied: It’s fairly common for conservative economists to try and shout down any discussion of income distribution […] The post Krugman and Growth Agnosticism appeared first on Econlib.
Should Xi Prefer Trump or Biden?
President Donald J. Trump and President Xi Jinping stand with Melania in April 2017 (Trump and Peng Liyuan on the steps of a building in Mar-a-Lago, Florida (POTUS Official Twitter/https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/850144244107022336/Public Domain) Last week, the intelligence community came out with a statement that "China prefers that President Trump – whom Beijing sees as unpredictable – does not win reelection.” It's hard to put much too much stock into this assessment. The Trump White House has shown itself more than capable of getting the intelligence community to shade its ... more »
Betsy DeVos: Teachers Unions Care More About Liberal Agenda Than Teaching
[image: betsy-devos-teachers-unions-care-more-about-liberal-agenda-than-teaching] Education Secretary Betsy DeVos argued that teachers unions are prioritizing activism for left-wing policies, such as defunding the police, over actual teaching.
The Stakes in the Administration’s Problematic Unemployment Plan
A fair amount of my writing for this site consists of updates on the development of major federal legislation affecting the budget, health care, and human services. My twopostsearlier this week on President Trump’s weekend executive actions served that purpose. Implicit in those posts was the belief that the lawlessness of the Administration’s solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short unemployment program matters. This post explains why that is so. To review, the “lost wages assistance (LWA)” program that the President announced on Saturday is supposed to be a subst... more »
Top U.S. General In The Middle East Warns That ISIS Is Resurging. Says Iran Is 'Top Priority'
U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., the commander of U.S. Central Command, speaks to U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan in 2019. U.S. Marine Corps / Sgt. Roderick Jacquote *VOA: **CENTCOM Chief Warns of Resurgent IS Without Repatriation from Syrian Camps * WASHINGTON - The top U.S. general for military operations in the Middle East is warning of a potential Islamic State resurgence should the international community not act quickly to repatriate and deradicalize former members and supporters of the terror group who are in Syrian camps. “We’re buying ourselves a strategic p... more »
The Beirut Blast: An Accident in Name Only
Global Issues News Headlines - 14 hours ago
Aug 13 (IPS) - The catastrophic explosion in Beirut's port is a manifestation of the Lebanese political elite's predation and dysfunction. Among the country's long-suffering citizens, shock is quickly yielding to fury. It may be the last chance for those in power to effect long-overdue structural reforms. Read the full story, “The Beirut Blast: An Accident in Name Only”, on globalissues.org →
Young South Africans are Shut Out From Work: They Need a Chance to Get Digital Skills
Global Issues News Headlines - 14 hours ago
Aug 13 (IPS) - Most young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in South Africa continue to be denied access to information and communications technology because of poor infrastructure and the digital divide. Read the full story, “Young South Africans are Shut Out From Work: They Need a Chance to Get Digital Skills”, on globalissues.org →
Iraq’s Public Spending Unsustainable
Oil prices are not keeping up with the demands of Iraq's budget Ahmed Tabaqchali, the CIO of Asia Frontier Capital Iraq Fund and an adjunct assistant professor at the American University of Iraq Sulaymaniya wrote another very interesting piece on the institutional dilemmas facing Iraq’s economy. He argued that the Iraqi elite are on course to bankrupt the state in order to maintain their power. The dilemma Iraq is facing is that the budget as currently constituted is unsustainable. The ruling parties keep adding jobs, pensions, and increasing their p... more »
This Day In Iraqi History - Aug 13
1919 War Min Churchill told PM George that keeping large British forces in Mesopotamia was a financial drain (Musings On Iraq Churchill In His Own Words On Mesopotamia/Iraq) (Musings On Iraq review *Churchill’s Folly, How Winston Churchill Created Modern Iraq*) (Musings On Iraq review *Inventing Iraq: The Failure of Nation Building and a History Denied*) (Musings On Iraq review *Supremacy And Oil, Iraq, Turkey, and the Anglo-American World Order, 1918-1930*) 1920 6 British officials were killed during 1920 Revolt in Shahraban (Musings On Iraq review *Reclaiming Iraq, T... more »
How ‘digital trade' rules would impede taxation of the digitalised economy in the Global South
bilaterals.org - 14 hours ago
13-Aug-2020 The new digital trade regime, which has already been adopted in some free trade agreements and is being proposed in the WTO, would exacerbate the harmful tax practices of multinational enterprises within a deeply integrated digitalised economy.
Taiwan to seek closer security ties, trade agreement with US: Tsai
bilaterals.org - 14 hours ago
13-Aug-2020 Taiwan will continue to work closely with the United States with the focus on establishing a constructive security relationship and beginning negotiations on a free trade agreement, said President Tsai Ing-wen.
New Zealand 'frustrated' over UK trade talks, says deputy PM
bilaterals.org - 14 hours ago
13-Aug-2020 New Zealand is "very frustrated" with the pace of post-Brexit trade talks with the UK, the country's deputy prime minister has said.
AfCTA threatening intra ECOWAS trade
bilaterals.org - 14 hours ago
13-Aug-2020 The impending commencement of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCTA) will remove the advantage of intra-ECOWAS trade.
APE : le Cameroun reporte la suppression des droits de douane sur les véhicules, motos, carburants, ciments...
bilaterals.org - 14 hours ago
13-Aug-2020 Le Cameroun a décidé de reporter la mise en œuvre de la cinquième phase de ce démantèlement du fait de l'impact de la pandémie de coronavirus sur les recettes publiques.
UK says trade talks with US continue to make positive progress
bilaterals.org - 14 hours ago
13-Aug-2020 Nevertheless, British international trade minister told her US counterparts that retaliatory tariffs imposed on EU goods were unacceptable and should be removed.
VP Pick Harris Joined In Bashing Catholic Judicial Nominee for K of C Membership
[image: harris-joined-in-bashing-catholic-judicial-nominee-for-kofc-membership] After Senator Kamala Harris spent weeks helping other Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee smear the good name of then-U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, she and her colleagues attempted to create a religious test for a candidate nominated to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska.
Schweizer: Kamala Harris Destroyed Documents That ID’d Child Sex Abusers
[image: schweizer-kamala-harris-destroyed-documents-that-id-d-child-sex-abusers] “Clinton Cash” author Peter Schweizer explained how Kamala Harris “deep sixed” documents identifying Catholic clergy accused of abusing children.
Calvin and More
“The secret of success is making your vocation your vacation.” – Twain Percent of Muslims who favor making sharia the official law in their country. The map isn’t that accurate. If House Republicans were polled, you’d see a different trend in the USA. Of Course – Texas Turkey […] The post Calvin and More appeared first on Virtual Mirage.
PROPAGANDA, INCOMPETENCE, ERROR: Could Donald J. Trump win re-election?
*THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2020Is our tribe even dumber than theirs?:* Could Donald Trump get re-elected? We've started to think that he actually could! Or at least, we've started to think that it might *seem* that he's been re-elected after the votes are finally counted, few as those votes may be. In part, we say that because Trump seems to be (successfully?) shutting the post office down, a move which will make us a western province of Belarus. But we also say that because of the dumbness which now suffuses the culture, especially that afflicting our own failing anti-Trump tribe. H... more »
Covid-19: Russia approves vaccine without large scale testing or published results
Covid-19: Russia approves vaccine without large scale testing or published results | The BMJ https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3205?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage
Watch: “Woke” Corporations Supporting Black Lives Matter Quietly Funding Police
A report from the Public Accountability Initiative exposes how corporate America is bankrolling police departments across the country, including many of the same ones facing scrutiny over racist practices. The post Watch: “Woke” Corporations Supporting Black Lives Matter Quietly Funding Police appeared first on MintPress News.
Australia and New Zealand are being set up as Cautionary Covid Tales for the West
[image: There’s always that one guy. – Plagues, Epidemics, and Outbreaks] Good morning folks. I'm typing from the comfort of the *SS Limerence *with my tea in front of me and my dogs sleeping quietly on the side berth. The weather this morning in Chemainus, BC is warm, sunny and, thankfully, with no high winds like we experienced a few days ago when it was blowing 20 knots in Georgia Strait. We like our mooring here so much we've decided to stay an extra day and then toddle off to Maple Bay tomorrow morning. We went shopping in downtown Chemainus yesterday and the town is surprisin... more »
That One Video AntiFa And The BLM Don't Want You to See Because It Explains EVERYTHING...
*warnings and age restrictions slapped all over this video.* I'm astonished it hasn't been taken down. A look back at the 1960's and even earlier helps explain what's going on today. Wall to wall Kamala Harris today. Are we to be tortured for the next 82 days with stories about this dreadful woman? *More:* Lone Star Parson: Marx & Satan? Books With LSP Was Marx a Satanist? LSP reviews a mostly forgotten book by Richard Wurmbrand who thinks Marx probably was a Satanist The Night Wind: *The Morality Pill *The Night Wind elaborates on the morality pill - and does a masterf... more »
Does a Republican Have To Win Before a Progressive Can Run for the White House?
*Is the Democratic Party transitioning its base from working people and progressives to #NeverTrump Republicans and whoever this guy represents?* *by Thomas Neuburger* In the wake of Kamala Harris's pick as Joe Biden VP, I want to look again at something I covered in June (see "What's the Earliest a Progressive Democrat Can Be Elected President?"). There I made the following assumptions: *Because no progressive Democrat will run in the primary against an incumbent Democratic president, either the Party must be reformed — or a Republican must first take the White House — before a ... more »
Kamala Harris’ Uncle Explains Importance of US Presidency to India for By-Passing Nuclear Related-Other Sanctions; India Buys Most Weapons From Russia-Previously from Soviets
Right now Biden and Kamala Harris are only “engaged”. The “marriage” isn’t until the Convention next week. Like Lady Di, … Continue reading →
Will America be saved by Tampa police?
On 8-12 in Tampa: Protesters said Jae Passmore had been leaving a demonstration in downtown Tampa on Wednesday night when she was detained. "Stop! Get your knee off her neck!" A protester can be heard repeatedly yelling. Another is heard screaming: "Get off of her like that!" https://www.newsweek.com/black-lives-matter-activist-hospitalized-police-kneel-neck-1524806 ……………………………………………. June 2 from Sarasota (where the department says it does not have knee on neck policy) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4D3sIk8bk8 ............................ These power-crazed, hot... more »
Up to 204,691 Extra Deaths in the US So Far in This Pandemic Year
The number of deaths in the United States through July 2020 is 8% to 12% higher than it would have been if the coronavirus pandemic had never happened.
An elephant in East River
News 1. Surprise: cops try to hide even most basic information about mass murder investigation Tim Bousquet writes about the absurd redactions and lack of information released about the investigation into the April 18-19 murders in Nova Scotia. Local media, including the Examiner, have gone to court to argue for the release of even the […]
The RCMP kept secret information any TV watcher could’ve predicted
The long slog to unseal search warrant documents related to the investigation of the April 18/19 mass murders continues. Back in April, eight media organizations, including the Halifax Examiner, hired lawyer David Coles to ask the court to unseal the documents. The killer is himself dead, and so revealing details of the investigation won’t tip […]
New Study Shows Teen Vapers 5 to 7 Times More Likely to Get Coronavirus
*Rachel Bucchino* *Health, Americas* [image: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2019%3Anewsml_RC126F1C83E0&share=true] Vaping doesn't help your health at all. There’s yet another public health crisis at stake in America: the “epidemic” of teen and young adult vaping. A new study conducted by the Stanford University School of Medicine revealed that among young people who tested positive for the coronavirus, those who engage in vaping or e-cigarettes are five to seven times more likely to contract the deadly virus. “We were surprised,” Dr. Bonnie Halpern-Fe... more »
The Case Against Trump
*Dov S. Zakheim* *Politics, Americas* By the time Trump's term reaches its unhappy conclusion, he may well have overtaken Andrew Johnson as the most dangerous chief executive ever to occupy the Executive Mansion. *Editor’s Note: Please see a counter perspective, courtesy of Dimitri K. Simes, President and CEO of the Center for the National Interest and Publisher of The National Interest, as part of a two-part debate on the 2020 Election and Donald Trump. You can read the essay here. * FOR TOO long, many Donald Trump supporters have argued that however debased his character might... more »
Russia Wary of “Information Warfare” Against Its Coronavirus Vaccine
*Ethen Kim Lieser* *Politics, Europe* [image: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2020%3Anewsml_RC2NBI97O7BY&share=true] Experts have raised serious concerns about Moscow's rushed vaccine. Russia has doubled down on its claim that its coronavirus vaccine is both safe and effective. On Tuesday, the country announced that its vaccine had been approved by its health regulators—making it the world’s first coronavirus vaccine to be registered. Large-scale production of the vaccine, perhaps up to five million doses a month, is slated to begin in September, with ... more »
The Case For Trump
*Dimitri K. Simes* *Politics, Americas* [image: Reuters] Donald Trump isn’t the better choice to secure America’s future. He is the only choice. *Editor’s Note: Please see a counter perspective, courtesy of Dov Zakheim, a former U.S. Undersecretary of Defense during the George W. Bush Administration, as part of a two-part debate on the 2020 Election and Donald Trump. You can read the essay here. * PRESIDENT DONALD Trump, despite his numerous and well-documented faults, is by far a better choice than former vice-president Joe Biden in 2020. If the election were strictly a referen... more »
Yes, the U.S. Military Already Has Laser Weapons (Can We Add Them to F-35s?)
*Kris Osborn* *Security, * Here's what it would take to bring these high-tech weapons to the F-35 and other platforms. Power scaling, increased precision, space operations, tailorable attacks, missile defense and an ability to pinpoint and incinerate targets are all factors characterizing the development and operational deployment of laser weapons. While laser weapons are already here, the Pentagon and industry are taking new accelerated steps to prepare them for a much wider sphere of applications. For example, they want to fire them from fighter jets, burning up and disabling... more »
U.S. General Backs Turkey's Fight Against Kurdish Militants
*Matthew Petti* *Security, Middle East* [image: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2019%3Anewsml_RC1A73E73120&share=true] “We agree that the PKK has been a terrorist organization, has attacked the Turks.” The top U.S. commander in the Middle East said that Turkey has “legitimate security interests” in fighting back against the Kurdistan Workers Party, but said that Turkish military operations have caused “friction.” The left-wing Kurdish rebel group, also known as the PKK, has fought a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish government and is considere... more »
What to Watch to Understand the Sino-Iranian Relationship
Chinese and Iranian diplomats observe a meeting between President Xi Jinping of China and Iran's president, Hassan Rouhani, and supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, on Jan. 23, 2016. Photo credit: Iranian government via khamenei.ir, CC BY 4.0 Beijing and Tehran are in the process of finalizing an ambitious partnership covering a range of security and economic issues. According to reporting by the New York Times, the agreement will include Chinese development of Iranian transportation infrastructure, a 5G network and joint military exercises, among other points of cooperation. The anno... more »
"Covid-19 Pandemic Updates 8/13/20"
*"Covid-19 Pandemic **Updates 8/13/20" * *- Frequently **Updated* Please visit these sites often for the very latest information. ○ *8/13/20* By Sanam Yar and Ian Prasad Philbrick *The pandemic’s true toll: *The number of U.S. residents who have died since March is now more than 200,000 higher than it would be in a normal year, a Times analysis found. Those “excess deaths” most likely reflect the true cost of the pandemic - and suggest that the official death toll may be a substantial undercount. "As the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. has moved south from its early epicenter in New... more »
"Such Cunning Disguise..."
"History repeats itself, but in such cunning disguise that we never detect the resemblance until the damage is done." - Sydney J. Harris
Endangered macaws saved by…plastic?
Conservationists in the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve in Veracruz, Mexico, have found a unique way to encourage macaws to begin safely mating once more. The post Endangered macaws saved by…plastic? appeared first on CFACT.
Lukashenko wins the election, but his biggest fight may be yet to come
The coronavirus pandemic has weakened the President of Belarus’ position; he now needs Russia as a friend, not an enemy.
Biden Chooses Kamala Harris as Running Mate
By Mousumi Roy… She will bring added strength to Biden’s image of sobriety and gravitas compared to Trump’s obstreperous intemperance. The Smart Daughter of an Asian Indian Foreign Student Genius Scientist and Black Jamaican Economist will become the next Vice President of the United States? That’s the America Dream? Bridges two different racial and religious […]
Disbelief and denial in the West as Russia produces first Covid vaccine
Russia has won the vaccine race, but its success is not being celebrated by all... more »
Egypt and Turkey may face-off in Libya, while ISIS sails for European shores
Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator… To understand the effect of terrorism in the world today, we must accept that terrorism has been yabsorbed into some legitimate governments. They use fear to achieve their goals, and have adapted to the use of digital technology. These terrorists are used by well-known politicians who disregard law, international norms, and […]
Mohammed bin Salman faces his biggest threat to the throne
Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator… Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, has been able to dodge legal responsibility in the death of Jamal Khashoggi, while US President Trump has defended and supported him. It appears Mohammed bin Salman is facing a serious legal threat, and it will take personal interference by Trump […]
Trump’s targeting of TikTok escalates trade war between the U.S. and China
TikTok is a threat to Trump’s election campaign.
Political Trolls Adapt, Create Material to Deceive and Confuse the Public
Russian-sponsored Twitter trolls, who so aggressively exploited social media to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election, didn’t stop when Donald Trump was elected president.
The Go-Gos – an underappreciated group
The Go-Gos are the first popular all female band that played their own instruments and wrote their own songs. There were earlier female bands, but this New Wave group catapulted to the top of the charts faster than others and … Continue reading →
After the civil rights era, white Americans failed to support systemic change to end racism. Will they now?
Candis Watts Smith, Associate Professor of Political Science & African American Studies, Pennsylvania State University at Politics/Election '20 – The Conversation - 15 hours ago
In principle, white Americans support efforts to end racism. But in practice, they have long been unwilling to support the fundamental change needed to do that. Will this year's events change that?
Political trolls adapt, create material to deceive and confuse the public
Savvas Zannettou, Postdoctoral Researcher, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History at Politics/Election '20 – The Conversation - 15 hours ago
Russian-affiliated Twitter accounts changed what they posted about, and used both text and images in ways that shed light on how these information warriors work.
Untitled
From Jenna Orkin International report confirms 2019 was among three warmest years on record South China Sea: Chinese military told not to fire first shot in stand-off with US forces Luxury Homes Tie Chinese Communist Elite to Hong Kong’s Fate Greek Armed Forces on high alert for potential confrontation with Turkey ‘A Smoking Gun’: Infectious Coronavirus Retrieved From Hospital Air Age-Related Differences in Nasopharyngeal Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Levels in Patients With Mild to Moderate Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Award of Posthumous Degre... more »
Doofus Of The Day #1,065
Today's award goes to Bouygues Telecom, a telephone company in France. A woman in south-west France, who received a telephone bill of nearly 12 quadrillion euros, has had the real amount she owed waived - after the company admitted its mistake. Solenne San Jose, from Pessac outside Bordeaux, said she received a huge shock when she opened the bill for 11,721,000,000,000,000 euros. This is nearly 6,000 times France's annual economic output. *. . .* The former teaching assistant said she "almost had a heart attack. There were so many zeroes I couldn't even work out how much it was". ... more »
France Bolsters Military Presence In The Mediterranean Over Turkish Gas Explorations
*Reuters:* *France to bolster Mediterranean military presence over Turkish prospecting: Macron* PARIS (Reuters) - France will increase its military presence in the eastern Mediterranean, President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday, calling on Turkey to halt oil and gas exploration in disputed waters that has heightened tensions with Greece. The French leader voiced concern over “unilateral” exploration by Turkey in a call with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Macron’s office said in a statement. It added that prospecting should “cease in order to allow a peaceful dialogu... more »
The Russian Interference Report, Without Laughing
Now the madding crowd has moved on, I take a mature look at the report by the Intelligence and Security Committee on Russia. It is so flawed it is tempting simply to mock it. But in fact, it is extremely dangerous.
It Is Late, but It Is Early Morning If We Insist a Little: The Thirty-Third Newsletter (2020)
From Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research comes Red Alert no. 8: The Explosion in Beirut. This red alert has been put together by organisations and people from Lebanon, for whose input we are grateful.