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PUTIN’S WAR OF AGGRESSION AGAINST UKRAINE
David Frum: ‘Zelensky came to Washington to speak for his nation. He came to Washington to ask for assistance. But above all, he came to Washington to recall Americans to themselves.’ {The Atlantic 12/22}
Cathy Young: Putin’s useful idiots in the American nationalist populist media lose it over Zelensky’s visit - ‘(A) deluge of snark and grievance.’ Borderline treason, and perhaps I’m being overly kind by calling it ‘borderline.’ {The Bulwark 12/22}
President Zelensky of Ukraine is Time Magazine’s Person of the Year - Could there have been any doubt? Continued prayers for his and his family’s safety. Слава Україні. {BBC 12/07}
Kurt Eichenwald: ‘Putin’s co-conspirators in America are supporting crimes against humanity.’ {The Threats Within 12/22}
Vladimir Putin’s propagandists in the Russian media ‘struggling to hide their growing sense of panic’ over war failures. {Daily Beast 12/04}
Jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny reveals prison doctors are injecting him with unknown drugs, and that authorities are using physical pain to break him - Pray for this brave and noble man, this is too much for anyone to bear. {Reuters 12/26}
Experts say top U.S. ‘conservatives’ are pushing Russia’s spin on their war of aggression against Ukraine - One need not be an expert on anything to see the obvious, but willful political blindness is at an epidemic stage right now. {The Guardian 12/06}
Pope Francis breaks down in tears during public prayer in Rome, reflecting on the suffering of Ukraine - As an Anglo-Saxon Protestant, I do not officially recognize this man - or any of his predecessors - as anything more than the leading cleric of the Catholic Church. Yet, at least during this extremely poignant moment, I have to believe God was speaking through him. {Reuters 12/08}
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| Don English/Getty Images |
GEOPOLITICS & WORLD NEWS
New Zealand enacts draconian, lifetime smoking ban for anyone born after 2008 - Coming soon everywhere. Am I ever grateful to not be growing up today, and that I was allowed to engage in some vices to help soothe the horrors of this rotten life. My life sucks enough as it is, I do not find the idea of a ‘smoke-free world’ all that appealing; nor am I wanting to live forever here. Nanny State bulls**t like this, wherever it occurs, is exactly why otherwise reasonable people turn to the likes of Trump and other right-wing demagogues falsely promising to save them from insufferable, left-wing douchebags who are forever demanding to police our words, actions, and even thoughts. {BBC 12/13}
‘The Iranian government has stepped up its efforts to kidnap and kill government officials, activists and journalists around the world, including in the United States’ - Iran is paying drug dealers and other assorted hard criminals to carry out their dirty work. China has set up rogue ‘police stations’ in American and Canadian cities. Despotic regimes killing and oppressing individuals beyond their borders is not a new concept, but it’s being weaponized as never before. {WaPo 12/01}
Neo-Maoist leader takes power in Nepal - We’ve witnessed the rebirth (or at least the echoes) of 1930s Fascism, so I suppose it’s not too surprising hard-left pathologies such as Maoism would also make a comeback somewhere in the world. Never mind that all of these tyrannies - left and right - were massive failures in the end, human nature is such that we never learn from history. {WaPo 12/26}
The State Department reiterates U.S. support for Israel, in spite of unease over the incoming government coalition led by the returning Benjamin Netanyahu - Fair concerns: Netanyahu should be old news, and his cozying up to Donald Trump was pathetic. And he has always been a bit too cozy for comfort with Vladimir Putin. Far be it for me to judge the Israeli people, but they made a horrendous call in restoring a failed, corrupt, and tired leader in Netanyahu. {AP 12/04}
Indonesian lawmakers pass new criminal code that would criminalize sex outside of marriage, as well as restrict political freedoms - All throughout history, religionists of all stripes have worked to impose their perverted will upon the societies they inhabit. And these efforts have *always* brought bloodshed and ruin in their wake. This time will be no different. {BBC 12/06}
Argentina: VP Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner convicted on corruption charges, receives a six-year prison sentence that she is unlikely to serve - This had something to do with public works. In America, it would likely go virtually unnoticed. {AP 12/06}
Ahead of impeachment vote, Peru’s president attempts to dissolve their Congress, and is promptly put under arrest and removed from office - Which is what should have happened here in the United States on the day of January 6, 2021. {CNN 12/07}
‘Twenty-five people have been arrested in raids across Germany on suspicion of plotting to overthrow the government’ - A far-right, racially motivated group led by one ‘Heinrich XIII,’ seeking to restore the Second Reich of 1871. {BBC 12/07}
The Prince and Princess of Wales receive a warm welcome in Boston. {WHDH 12/01}
A small dick is the least of his problems now: One day after being humiliated by Greta Thunberg, kickboxer Andrew Tate is arrested in Romania on sex-trafficking charges. {New York Post 12/29}
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| AP/Evan Vucci |
POLITICAL S**TSHOW IN #MURICA
When Trumpism becomes terrorism - The author of this article greatly overstates the extent to which Trump has lost his base, and I flat out disagree with his contention that the American people in general are making a noble stand against the resurgence of Fascism. A few of the less-committed have gotten cold feet or suffered a drop in enthusiasm, but there is not a ‘great exodus’ happening. Most of these people hate President Biden so vehemently that they will support Trump or whoever the GOP candidate is in 2024 (it will be Trump) …
No doubt, however, that #Cult45 has seen better days, and are growing more desperate to finish the job of punishing their fellow Americans. Trump and his core supporters may be more dangerous now than they’ve ever been; maybe not so much in the electoral sense, but as a threat to our very lives. Do not underestimate how powerful a hold hatred of anyone different from them has on these people, and the depths to which they may be willing to sink in order to satiate their bloodlust. I’ve learned the hard way, one too many times now, that they are not repentant. FTA: ‘(T)he last few true believers. They’re hardened, committed, fanatics. The kinds of people for whom violence and brutality and hate aren’t a cause for shame and regret — but the point.’ {Umair Haque 12/08}
Donald Trump: ‘A Massive Fraud of this type and magnitude allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution’ - What would be the excuse of any self-proclaimed ‘constitutional conservative’ to continue supporting this man now? {WaPo 12/03}
Trump Organization found guilty on all counts in tax fraud scheme, faces $1.6 million in fines - Hardly even a slap on the wrist, but another dent in Donald Trump’s legacy; albeit, he himself was not a defendant in this case. {Reuters 12/06}
Kurt Eichenwald: Trump’s trading card grift is worse than you think - In partnership with something called Wyoming Corporate Services, described in the article as ‘a rogue’s gallery of criminals.’ {The Threats Within 12/15}
GOP congressman-elect George Santos admits to having embellished his resume during campaign, but adamantly refuses to step down - Post-Trump, the utter shamelessness of these far-right grifters has become impossible to contain: Only until people stop falling for populist bulls**t every time out, but do not hold one’s breath waiting for that to happen. {NYT 12/26}
Project on Government Oversight: Over 300 Oath Keepers members may be current or former employees of the Department of Homeland Security - Think of how many thousands more have infiltrated state and local police departments. {Insider 12/13}
Trump condemns Jewish leaders in the U.S. for allegedly forgetting whatever great things he thinks he did for Israel, but refuses to condemn Kanye West - Trump knows what his audience wants, common sense or basic humanity be damned. {Times of Israel 12/09}
Kurt Eichenwald: Republicans hate America - FTA: ‘Most people in the modern world have spoken the question - who among us would have sided with the Nazis in Germany? The answer to this question cannot presume what Hitler ultimately emerged as being, but rather examine who sided with him - both tacitly and openly - as he gradually undermined German democracy. We now know the answer: The Republican Party. It hates America, at least the America all of us have presumed exists as an outgrowth of the Founders’ vision.’ {The Threats Within 12/05}
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President Biden strongly condemns antisemitism, one day after rapper Kanye West declares ‘I like Hitler’ - Quote: ‘I just want to make a few things clear: The Holocaust happened. Hitler was a demonic figure. And instead of giving it a platform, our political leaders should be calling out and rejecting antisemitism wherever it hides. Silence is complicity.’ {Israel National News 12/02}
Kanye West, wearing a hooded mask, appears with Nick Fuentes on Alex Jones’ broadcast. Exact quote: ‘I like Hitler’ - Alex Jones proves what a lowlife and evil scumbag he is once again, by providing these Jew-haters a platform. Yet, even he was taken aback and uncomfortable in this interview with how far ‘Ye’ is taking this antisemitic crusade. If ever anybody deserved to be ‘canceled,’ it is Kanye. {The Hill 12/01}
Following his pro-Hitler screed on Alex Jones’ broadcast, Kanye West is suspended from Twitter; deal to buy competing social media service Parler is off - Morbid curiosity drove me to view portions of this interview, and it is painful to watch. Actually rather shocking to witness the mental state this ‘Ye’ is in. At one point, he says this may be the last anyone hears of him, implying ‘the Jews’ are going to kill him soon. No matter that this is a man in mental breakdown: He is a public figure, with a large following, spouting antisemitic and pro-Nazi garbage. The kind of garbage our fathers and grandfathers fought in World War II to prevent from ever polluting the earth again. Consider this: Kanye is probably the highest profile and most famous *overt* (as opposed to covert) Jew-hater, at least in the non-Islamic world, to come along in many decades. Anybody who never wants to see another Holocaust is duty-bound to oppose someone with so wide a reach that is telling his audience to blame the Jews for all the world’s problems. A quick Google search reveals he has sold at least 30 million records in the United States alone, probably a severe undercount given the various problems with record certification and such (a different topic for another day.) Millions are listening to what Kanye is saying, and nodding their heads in agreement. Fascism is rearing its ugly head again all over the world. #NeverAgain means *never* again, so speak out now! {AP 12/02}
Chicago art school rescinds honorary degree given to antisemitic rap star Kanye West. {Chicago Tribune 12/09}
Michelle Goldberg: Antisemitism’s march into the mainstream - Quote: ‘If it were just Trump doing this, that would be bad enough. But other narcissistic celebrities are now joining him in reveling in reactionary transgression.’ {NYT 11/28}
American Jews are increasingly under attack from hate-mongers on both the hard-left and far-right, while there is also a schism of sorts with their Israeli counterparts - Shame on Israelis for turning their back on their American counterparts - and for embracing those in America colluding with right-wing antisemites, most notably Trump, out of primal fear. At the exact moment millions upon millions of American gentiles are practically begging for another Holocaust (albeit, rarely directly blaming the Jews in public, but anyone with an IQ over 70 knows who they mean), we are seriously on the cusp of reliving something horrifying: That is, America finally being exposed beyond any doubt as one of the most evil empires to ever rule the earth. {AP 12/07}
When populism becomes authoritarianism - A recap of how violent authoritarianism - particularly of the Fascist variants - gained popularity over the world in the interwar period. Only death and horror came of it then, and nothing good is coming from its various modern revivals. Learn from history. {Video via TimeGhost History}
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| Charles R. Knight/NatGeo |
ON THE PENDING DEMISE OF TWITTER, AND THE FUTURE OF SOCIAL MEDIA MICRO-BLOGGING: Elon Musk is really getting carried away with himself, neglecting his core business to join the (sometimes) lucrative ranks of professional a**holes: An industry that we all know was - if not outright pioneered by - refined and defined by the former president, Donald Trump. Of course, Twitter was utilized to great effect by Trump and professional a**holes everywhere; the supposed richest man in the world just couldn’t help but initiate a hostile takeover in order to make himself the head a**hole. I pray the a**hole industry will eventually take a downturn, but given that most of the general public are a**holes themselves, then probably not …
But, Twitter is eventually going down. It has been so entrenched and so integrated with everything - virtually every media outlet, corporation, government, and emergency service on earth is on there - that its implosion is going to take some time to play out. Fellow micro-bloggers, get on *Mastodon.* Intelligent people are there - the experts and best minds in their various fields - and the platform is very simple to use after one figures out which ‘instance,’ or server, they will use (the one I use - mastodon.world - is perfectly fine for any general user, and runs smoothly without server issues.) I am on the waiting lists of the post.news thing - a big ‘if’ as to whether I’ll ever use it - and, I think, something called BlueSky being developed by Twitter’s original founders. A month ago, I began an account at something called Tribel, but was so spectacularly unimpressed that I simply have never bothered to return after the first look. CounterSocial was rather the same deal, only even more convoluted. We will see about ‘post,’ but Mastodon appears to be best-positioned to eventually take over Twitter’s mantle as the micro-blogging service of choice for the world. And even if it never becomes quite that, it is growing into something that is more-than-viable. No morons allowed: @ArthurNewhook@mastodon.world.
Brittney Griner has been freed from Russian penal colony, exchanged for ‘Merchant of Death’ Viktor Bout - President Biden gets things done, and hopefully Paul Whelan will also soon be on his way home. While it is a tad concerning that America had to release a very dangerous criminal to secure her release, this was never going to be easy. I do not care about anyone’s opinion that she shouldn’t have entered Russia with the vial of hash oil that wouldn’t harm a fly, and that was only ever a pretense for detaining her: No, Brittney Griner was being held solely for political purposes. With Putin moderating some of his rhetoric concerning the use of nuclear weapons, and with the war on Ukraine going so badly for them, Russia is not in a strong position at the moment. Western nations must take advantage however they can. {ESPN 12/08}
‘(Q)uick to weaponize criticisms of American history or misbehavior in an attempt to police Americanness and keep Black advocacy against racism and white supremacy at bay.’ Examining #Cult45’s Brittney Griner obsession. {Tiffanie Drayton 12/08}
Mona Charen: The right needs Hunter Biden - In October 2020, candidate Joe Biden asked Twitter not to circulate compromising pictures of his son, and they chose to comply. Frankly, on both counts, I would have done the same thing. Elon Musk, the GOP, and all of #Cult45 are desperate to turn this whole thing with Hunter Biden into the scandal of the century, but it is falling flat. Precisely because their credibility is shot after six years of insane dedication to the world’s most obviously corrupt conman; the whole lot are desperate to detract from their massive failures …
Key passage FTA: ‘Further, the hyperventilating about the assault this represents on the First Amendment is risible. Twitter, a private company, was free to ignore Biden’s request. Even if Biden had been president at the time, there would be no violation of the First Amendment. Government officials not infrequently request that journalists refrain from publishing material, often about military secrets. Newspapers sometimes comply and sometimes not. It’s only a violation of the First Amendment if the government coerces the journalists.’ {The Bulwark 12/06}
Sen. Raphael Warnock defeats Herschel Walker in Georgia run-off election - Sanity (just barely) saves the day. {AP 12/07}
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| Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images |
‘The Supreme Court’s conservative majority sounded sympathetic Monday to a Christian graphic artist who objects to designing wedding websites for gay couples, a dispute that’s the latest clash of religion and gay rights to land at the highest court’ - Reason #13,457 why I’m embarrassed to be an American these days. People litigating such petty matters all the way to the Supreme Court, and only out of spite. Even worse that the high court now has five Christofascist nutjobs serving on it, eager to turn America into a pseudo-Christian version of Saudi Arabia. What do any of these stupid evangelicals, or any other homophobes, think the homosexuals are going to do to them, anyway? Why the hell should I care if a man wants to penetrate another man? Neither I or anyone else is being forced to participate or watch (well, maybe apart from some unfortunates serving time, but I digress.) I’ve had it with you heretical evangelicals, and allied bigots and fools (a/k/a #Cult45); especially those on the Supreme Court: Keep your mouths shut and mind your own damn business. Stay out of politics, stay away from women’s bodies, and stay out of everyone else’s bedrooms! {AP 12/05}
Lakeland, FL: Right-wing thugs, most wearing masks, display Nazi flags outside charity event that included drag show. {The Ledger 12/04}
Moore County, NC: ‘Intentional vandalism’ at substations knocks out power to over 40,000 residents - Seeing some very disturbing rumors flying around concerning the possible motives of this crime. If these rumors prove to be true, it will serve as further confirmation that LGBTQ folks are in grave danger in today’s #Murica. Whatever the motive for purposely knocking out power to thousands of people, it obviously cannot be good. {WRAL 12/03}
Sandy Hook first responder looks back, ten years later. {NYT 12/14}
The Sandy Hook killings, when a ‘change in conspiratorial targets from veiled government and elite figures to everyday people marked a shift in the trajectory of American conspiracy theories.’ {Amanda Crawford 12/14}
‘The leader of small polygamous group near the Arizona-Utah border had taken at least 20 wives, most of them minors, and punished followers who did not treat him as a prophet, newly filed federal court documents show.’ - And it gets worse from there. {AP 12/07}
Southwest Airlines suffers massive system breakdown, leading to widespread flight cancellations and leaving thousands stranded across the United States - Gross incompetence seems to be running rampant in America these past few years, and is only exacerbated by the many unfavorable circumstances that have plagued the nation and world. Particularly those related to our crumbling infrastructure and the increasingly dire climate crisis. {CNN 12/27}
U.S. home prices decline for the fourth straight month. {UPI 12/27}
Alcoholics Anonymous allows cameras for the first time in its seventy-five years in the UK - Wherever in the world they are, this is a cult as greedy for money and control as any other. I learned this the hard way. {The Guardian 12/06}
Nobody cares about you, they don’t even care about their own selves. These are the last days: Service workers left in the lurch as Americans cut back on tipping. {The Guardian 12/06}
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COVID-19 & OTHER HEALTH NEWS
Study finds opposition to school vaccine mandates has grown significantly - And not only to COVID vaccines, but inoculations for measles, mumps, polio, and other routine vaccinations that children have been receiving for decades. Sick times. {NYT 12/16}
Stanford University study suggests the brains of teenagers aged ‘by at least three or four years’ during the pandemic. {Axios 12/02}
Bird flu is the culprit for rising egg prices and shortages - This is all getting very tiresome: A shortage of this, a crisis with that. Everything costs an arm and a leg, and basic human competence is now a rare commodity. Bird flu may be a creation of nature, but some sort of human error or malfeasance has exacerbated it. Just as COVID spread to humans because idiots in Wuhan, China, were eating bat meat sold at their disgusting wet markets. #HellOnEarth {KGTV 12/06}
Life expectancy for a U.S. newborn drops to 76.4 years, the lowest level since 1996 - FTA: ‘While most countries in the world experienced a decrease in life expectancy during the pandemic, it was particularly pronounced in the U.S. And while many advanced economies, including France, Belgium, Switzerland and Sweden saw their life expectancy rates recover to pre-pandemic levels in 2021, death rates in the U.S. continued to climb.’ {VOA 12/23}
CLIMATE CHANGE
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Scientists breathlessly tout results of nuclear fusion test - Am skeptical that any silver bullet exists, or ever will exist, to meet future energy needs. Anything and everything in life that sounds too good to be true *is* too good to be true. {CNBC 12/13}
Neuralink, the medical firm owned by Elon Musk, is under investigation over animal testing concerns. {Sky News 12/06}
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MISC.
Alexis Petridis: The enigma of Christine McVie - An excellent tribute to one of rock music’s single most important women. {The Guardian 12/01}
