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from The Conversation US
Media/News Company in Boston
In 1968, Apollo 8 realised the 2,000-year-old dream of a Roman philosopher
Half a century of Christmases ago, the NASA space mission Apollo 8 became the first manned craft to leave low Earth orbit, atop the unprecedentedly powerful Saturn V rocket, and head out to circumnavigate another celestial body, making 11 orbits of the moon before its return. The mission is often cast in a supporting role – a sort of warm up for the first moon landing. Yet for me, the voyage of Borman, Lovell and Anders six months before Neil Armstrong’s “small step for a man” will always be the great leap for humankind.
Half a century of Christmases ago, the NASA space mission Apollo 8 became the first manned craft to leave low Earth orbit, atop the unprecedentedly powerful Saturn V rocket, and head out to circumnavigate another celestial body, making 11 orbits of the moon before its return. The mission is often cast in a supporting role – a sort of warm up for the first moon landing. Yet for me, the voyage of Borman, Lovell and Anders six months before Neil Armstrong’s “small step for a man” will always be the great leap for humankind.
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from The Heritage Foundation
RIGHT BIAS, MIXED, think tank in Washington, D.C
Right-to-Work for Public Employees Is Here. Now What?
On June 27, 2018, the Supreme Court overturned the four decades-old agency-fee set up that had allowed state worker unions in 22 states to charge representation fees to nonmembers. In practice, the arrangement allowed unions to force nonmembers to donate billions of dollars each year in pursuit of political agendas that they had not chosen to support. In Janus v. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the Court held that this arrangement violated public employees’ First Amendment rights of free speech and free association. The ruling directly affected nearly 5 million public employees working in the 22 states without public sector right-to-work laws. But the court’s holding is not self-executing, and past experience and current events show that much work is necessary to overcome union roadblocks erected to prevent employees from leaving.
Yes, What Happened in North Carolina Is Voter Fraud
More than a month after the November election, the details of an apparent voter fraud scandal orchestrated by a North Carolina Republican operative are still coming to light. A coordinated absentee ballot harvesting ring may have gathered, tampered with, or destroyed hundreds of ballots. The outcome of the House race in North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District hangs in the balance, and the state elections board may order a new election. Voters across the country are watching, rightly alarmed at the apparent ease with which some of their fellow citizens were effectively disenfranchised.
Pentagon Waste Shouldn’t Stop Congress From Fully Equipping the Military
Who wants to boost defense spending in 2020? Not Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., the presumptive chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. He argues that before the Pentagon even thinks about asking for more money, he wants to see an analysis of where the department can save money. Eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse is always a worthy goal, and one that deserves more attention. But there are limits to what this can accomplish, and it is no substitute for a properly resourced defense budget.
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from Hoover Institution
Nonprofit Organization in Stanford, California
Brexit’s Losers
“Fog in the Channel,” headlined the October 22, 1957 Times of London, “Continent cut off.” This famous-but-perhaps-apocryphal bit of journalism is particularly apropos of the dank “Brexit” shroud that has settled over northwest Europe. With 100 days to go until the supposed March 29 deadline for Great Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union, the fog is only getting thicker. No proposed solution seems palatable to all parties, Prime Minister Theresa May has a tenuous hold on power and no grip whatsoever on policy, and the continentals are blithely but foolishly relishing Britain’s distress.
Unplugging from the Saudis?
One of the greatest temptations for recent American presidents has been the insidious thought that the balance of power in the Middle East is of diminishing strategic importance to the United States. This would appear to be the logic behind Donald Trump’s order to withdraw U.S. ground forces from Syria. Like Barack Obama before him, the president looks through the smaller, counterterrorism lens—fighting the Islamic State was his “only reason for being there”—rather than the regional (or global) balance-of-power lens.
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Right-to-Work for Public Employees Is Here. Now What?
On June 27, 2018, the Supreme Court overturned the four decades-old agency-fee set up that had allowed state worker unions in 22 states to charge representation fees to nonmembers. In practice, the arrangement allowed unions to force nonmembers to donate billions of dollars each year in pursuit of political agendas that they had not chosen to support. In Janus v. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the Court held that this arrangement violated public employees’ First Amendment rights of free speech and free association. The ruling directly affected nearly 5 million public employees working in the 22 states without public sector right-to-work laws. But the court’s holding is not self-executing, and past experience and current events show that much work is necessary to overcome union roadblocks erected to prevent employees from leaving.
Yes, What Happened in North Carolina Is Voter Fraud
More than a month after the November election, the details of an apparent voter fraud scandal orchestrated by a North Carolina Republican operative are still coming to light. A coordinated absentee ballot harvesting ring may have gathered, tampered with, or destroyed hundreds of ballots. The outcome of the House race in North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District hangs in the balance, and the state elections board may order a new election. Voters across the country are watching, rightly alarmed at the apparent ease with which some of their fellow citizens were effectively disenfranchised.
Pentagon Waste Shouldn’t Stop Congress From Fully Equipping the Military
Who wants to boost defense spending in 2020? Not Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., the presumptive chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. He argues that before the Pentagon even thinks about asking for more money, he wants to see an analysis of where the department can save money. Eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse is always a worthy goal, and one that deserves more attention. But there are limits to what this can accomplish, and it is no substitute for a properly resourced defense budget.
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from Hoover Institution
Nonprofit Organization in Stanford, California
Brexit’s Losers
“Fog in the Channel,” headlined the October 22, 1957 Times of London, “Continent cut off.” This famous-but-perhaps-apocryphal bit of journalism is particularly apropos of the dank “Brexit” shroud that has settled over northwest Europe. With 100 days to go until the supposed March 29 deadline for Great Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union, the fog is only getting thicker. No proposed solution seems palatable to all parties, Prime Minister Theresa May has a tenuous hold on power and no grip whatsoever on policy, and the continentals are blithely but foolishly relishing Britain’s distress.
Unplugging from the Saudis?
One of the greatest temptations for recent American presidents has been the insidious thought that the balance of power in the Middle East is of diminishing strategic importance to the United States. This would appear to be the logic behind Donald Trump’s order to withdraw U.S. ground forces from Syria. Like Barack Obama before him, the president looks through the smaller, counterterrorism lens—fighting the Islamic State was his “only reason for being there”—rather than the regional (or global) balance-of-power lens.
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from HumanProgress.org
Education Website
Out of 195 countries in the world today, 128 have decriminalised homosexuality.
But progress on gay equality has not been uniform.
Homosexuality has existed in all human societies and it is common in the animal kingdom as well. Yet, with a few exceptions, such as ancient Athens, where same-sex attraction between men was tolerated in a highly regulated and restricted form, homosexual behaviour has generally been frowned upon, discouraged and punished. As such, countless gay men and women suffered deep psychological anguish, imprisonment, torture and death on account of their sexual orientation.
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from The Inlander
Media/News Company in Spokane, WA
Seattle University divested from fossil fuel companies — so why didn't Gonzaga?
Just three months ago, Seattle University made a commitment to divest its endowment of fossil fuels by 2023. Though students had been asking for such a commitment for years, it was in many ways a bold move: Seattle U became the first university in the state — and the first of 28 Jesuit universities in the country — to do so. Last week, Gonzaga decided it wouldn't divest from fossil fuel companies. Instead, the Board of Trustees agreed to use $10 million towards new investments, which may involve companies that reduce carbon emissions and greenhouse gases, that seek solutions for climate change, or that otherwise "promote social responsibility."
Media/News Company in Spokane, WA
Seattle University divested from fossil fuel companies — so why didn't Gonzaga?
Just three months ago, Seattle University made a commitment to divest its endowment of fossil fuels by 2023. Though students had been asking for such a commitment for years, it was in many ways a bold move: Seattle U became the first university in the state — and the first of 28 Jesuit universities in the country — to do so. Last week, Gonzaga decided it wouldn't divest from fossil fuel companies. Instead, the Board of Trustees agreed to use $10 million towards new investments, which may involve companies that reduce carbon emissions and greenhouse gases, that seek solutions for climate change, or that otherwise "promote social responsibility."
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from LifeZette (& PoliZette)
Media/News Company in Washington, D. C.Cops Are ‘Very Frustrated’ by Sanctuary State Laws, Says California Sheriff
Crime spree by twice-deported illegal immigrant drives home the enormous problems with this policy
McCaskill of Missouri Complains About Media Obsession with ‘That New York Woman’
Departing Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) slammed newly elected Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) — as well as mainstream media outlets — this week for lavishing “the new shiny object” with extensive coverage while ignoring her own accomplishments as a senator.
Trump Rejects Short-Term Spending Bill with Shutdown Deadline Ahead
President Donald Trump reportedly said on Thursday he will not sign a continuing resolution to avert a partial government shutdown in his fight for border wall funding. House Speaker Paul Ryan told reporters of the development after meeting with the president.
U.S. Will No Longer Allow Asylum Seekers to Stay While Claims Are Processed
Asylum seekers will no longer be able to wait here in this country while their claims are being processed. President Donald Trump has worked to crack down on illegal immigration since the start of his term. But a surge of asylum seekers at the southern border this past year has created legal challenges for the administration and its critics. The administration hopes to overcome this by making asylum seekers wait in Mexico. “We will confront this crisis head on, uphold the rule of law, and strengthen our humanitarian commitments,” Nielsen said in a statement. “Aliens trying to game the system to get into our country illegally will no longer be able to disappear into the United States, where many skip their court dates. Instead, they will wait for an immigration court decision while they are in Mexico.” 'We expect this will result in a truly historical drop in illegal immigration,' Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Thursday.
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from Mises Institute
RIGHT-CENTER BIAS, MIXED
POLICE HAVE NO DUTY TO PROTECT YOU, FEDERAL COURT AFFIRMS YET AGAIN
Following last February's shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, some students claimed local government officials were at fault for failing to provide protection to students. The students filed suit, naming six defendants, including the Broward school district and the Broward Sheriff’s Office , as well as school deputy Scot Peterson and campus monitor Andrew Medina. On Monday, though, a federal judge ruled that the government agencies " had no constitutional duty to protect students who were not in custody." This latest decision adds to a growing body of case law establishing that government agencies — including police agencies — have no duty to provide protection to citizens in general.
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from The Spokesman-Review
Newspaper in Spokane, Washington
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‘Bye, Felicia’: Did Michelle Obama Just Mock US First Lady Melania Trump on TV?
Speaking with nighttime television host Jimmy Fallon about how she felt during US President Donald Trump’s inauguration, former First Lady Michelle Obama made a remark that some viewed as a slight at her successor. "Can you just walk me through — " Fallon started to ask, pointing at the photo, when the former first lady interrupted him with a quip: "It was, like, ‘Bye, Felicia.'" While it is unclear to what or whom exactly Obama was referring, some — such as Daily Mail pundit Piers Morgan — perceived the remark as being addressed to current First Lady Melania Trump.
Illinois Finds Catholic Church Hid Abuse Accusations Against 500 More Priests
Preliminary findings from Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan regarding her investigation into abuse at Catholic churches in the state were released on Wednesday, revealing that the church's coverup of child abuse allegations against its clergy went much farther than previously revealed.
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from Sputnik
RIGHT-CENTER BIAS, MIXED, Broadcasting & Media Production Company out of Moscow, Russia
Speaking with nighttime television host Jimmy Fallon about how she felt during US President Donald Trump’s inauguration, former First Lady Michelle Obama made a remark that some viewed as a slight at her successor. "Can you just walk me through — " Fallon started to ask, pointing at the photo, when the former first lady interrupted him with a quip: "It was, like, ‘Bye, Felicia.'" While it is unclear to what or whom exactly Obama was referring, some — such as Daily Mail pundit Piers Morgan — perceived the remark as being addressed to current First Lady Melania Trump.
Preliminary findings from Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan regarding her investigation into abuse at Catholic churches in the state were released on Wednesday, revealing that the church's coverup of child abuse allegations against its clergy went much farther than previously revealed.
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from The Western Journal
Media/News Company
Media/News Company
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