In the news, Wednesday, August 16, 2017

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AUG 15      INDEX      AUG 17

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Information from some sites may not be reliable, or may not be vetted.
Some sources may require subscription.

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from BBC News (UK)

HMS Queen Elizabeth arrives in Portsmouth for first time
The Royal Navy's new £3bn vessel visits her home port for the first time.

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from The Daily Bell

[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

Genocide: Which of These 8 Stages are Happening Now?

There are 8 stages which lead up to a genocide. Not all 8 stages always occur before a genocide, nor does any one necessarily signify an impending genocide. By recognizing these 8 steps, we can stop the madness before it starts.

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from Breitbart

Seattle’s Statue of Communist Dictator Vladimir Lenin Under Fire
A growing number of people on social media are calling for the removal of Communist dictator Vladimir Lenin’s statue in Seattle.

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from CBS News (& affiliates)

Pastor Wants Presidents’ Names Removed From Washington, Jackson Parks Over Ties To Slavery
A Chicago pastor has asked the Emanuel administration to remove the names of two presidents who owned slaves from parks on the South Side, saying the city should not honor slave owners in black communities. A bronze statue of George Washington on horseback stands at the corner of 51st and King Drive, at the northwest entrance to Washington Park. Bishop James Dukes, pastor of Liberation Christian Center, said he wants the statue gone, and he wants George Washington’s name removed from the park.

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from The Guardian (UK)

[Information from this site may be unreliable.]

End of the checkout line: the looming crisis for American cashiers
Donald Trump is fixated on a vision of masculine, blue-collar employment. But the retail sector has long had a far greater impact on American employment – and checkout-line technology is putting it at risk.

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from The Heritage Foundation

[Information from this site may be unreliable.]

Some Bad Ideas, Like Zombies, Never Die. A ‘No First Use’ Nuclear Policy Is One of Them
Some argue that the United States should declare a “no first use” nuclear weapons policy. This would mean that the United States would only use a nuclear weapon in response to another country’s nuclear attack. Proponents of this idea generally argue that an adoption of this policy would get the world closer to a world without nuclear weapons. Such optimism couldn’t be further away from the truth. A no first use nuclear weapons policy would make the United States and allies less safe from devastating attacks.

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from Mises Institute

[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

The Attack on Marijuana During the 1930s
How did Americans fall for the government's reefer madness? Chris Calton explains how junk science, overt racism, and myths of bloodthirsty soldiers all played a role in the criminalization of marijuana in America.

Decentralize the Gun Laws
Having the feds impose nationwide reciprocity of gun licensing might sound like a good idea. But it really is just a scheme to federalize gun policy.

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from The New American Magazine

RIGHT BIAS: John Birch Society

Member of “Revolutionary Marxist-Leninist Party” Arrested for Role in Destroying Confederate Statue
Takiyah Fatima Thompson, a member of Workers World Party (WWP) and a student at N.C. Central University, was arrested on August 15 for playing a leading role in toppling a statue of a Confederate soldier that had stood in front of a county administrative building in Durham, North Carolina, since 1924. On its own website, the WWP describes itself as “a revolutionary Marxist-Leninist party dedicated to organizing and fighting for a socialist revolution in the United States and around the world.”

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from New Statesman

"The leading voice of the British left, since 1913."

Here’s why a statue of confederate president Jefferson Davis still stands in Washington DC today

Is it OK to punch a Nazi?
There are moral and practical reasons why using force to stop a far-right march is justified.

When heritage becomes hate: why my home town of Charlottesville needs to address its complex past
After an invasion of white supremacists, we need to see what our history means today.

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from Newsweek

ZIMBABWE PRESIDENT ROBERT MUGABE: 'WE WILL NOT PROSECUTE KILLERS OF WHITE FARMERS'
Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has said that people who murdered white farmers during a government-sanctioned purge in the 2000s will never be prosecuted.

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from Open Culture

Education Website

Ralph Steadman’s Surrealist Illustrations of George Orwell’s Animal Farm (1995)
As a novelist, George Orwell did not traffic in subtleties, but then neither did the authors of Medieval morality plays. The allegorical Animal Farm performs a similar, if secular, function, giving us unambiguous villainy and clear didactic intent.

F.D.R. Proposes a Second Bill of Rights: A Decent Job, Education & Health Care Will Keep Us Free from Despotism (1944)

It’s difficult to appraise the complicated legacy of Franklin D. Roosevelt. His New Deal policies are credited for lifting millions out of destitution, and they created opportunities for struggling artists and writers, many of whom went on to become some of the country’s most celebrated. But Roosevelt also compromised with racist southern senators like Mississippi’s Theodore Bilbo, and underwrote housing segregation, job and pay discrimination, and exclusions in his economic recovery aimed most squarely at African-Americans. He is lauded as a wartime leader in the fight against Nazism. But he built concentration camps on U.S. soil when he interned over 100,000 Japanese Americans after Pearl Harbor. His commitment to isolationism before the war and his “moral failure—or indifference” to the plight of European Jews, thousands of whom were denied entry to the U.S., has come under justifiable scrutiny from historians. Both blame and praise are well warranted, and not his alone to bear. Yet, for all his serious lapses and wartime crimes, FDR consistently had an astute and idealistic economic vision for the country. In his 1944 State of the Union address, he denounced war profiteers and “selfish and partisan interests,” saying, “if ever there was a time to subordinate individual or group selfishness to the national good, that time is now.”

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from POLITICO

[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

Trump congratulates Moore and Strange for advancing in Alabama's Senate race
President Donald Trump congratulated former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore and Sen. Luther Strange for advancing to a September run off in the race to fill the Senate seat left vacant by Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had endorsed Strange, who received 32 percent of the votes, while Moore received almost 40 percent. A third GOP candidate, Rep. Mo Brooks, received 20 percent. A candidate would have needed to receive 50 percent of the vote to outright win the primary.

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from Reason Magazine

[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

Virginia State Police Say They Didn't Find Caches of Weapons in Charlottesville
Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe said police found weapons stashed by white nationalists. Police say they didn't. What happened in Charlottesville was bad enough. Why does Terry McAuliffe have to keep making stuff up?

Taliban, Russia Want U.S. to Withdraw From Afghanistan
If it’s what they really want they’re going about it in the wrongest way.
The Taliban released an open letter urging President Trump to end the war in Afghanistan at the same time Russian presidential envoy to Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov suggested that if the U.S. is "unable to do anything serious" in Afghanistan, it should leave. Neither Kabulov nor the unidentified Taliban author are wrong in principle—16 years of war in Afghanistan have produced almost nothing. The U.S. invaded Afghanistan in 2001 to eliminate one of the few safe havens for terrorists in the world. Safe havens have proliferated since then. But their statements could have the opposite effect, toughening the resolve of forces within the Trump administration who want to extend the Afghan war.

African Americans Are Eight Times More Likely to Be Victims of Homicide Than Whites, Says CDC
The murder rate fell from 9.8 per 100,000 residents in 1991 to 4.5 in 2014; it's estimated at 5.3 for 2016.

Reason Foundation Supports Florists, Bakers in Gay Wedding Case Before Supreme Court
Brief argues custom-made cakes, flowers are expressive acts protected by First Amendment.

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from The Spokesman-Review

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from Zero Hedge

[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

FBI Investigator Who Led Hillary Email Case Suddenly Resigns From Mueller's Team
After being appointed to Special Counsel Mueller's team just over a month ago, ABC is now reporting that Peter Strzok, the FBI agent who oversaw the botched investigation of Hillary Clinton's email case, has now decided to step down.  ABC reports that their anonymous sources have yet to discover the reasons for Strzok's sudden departure.

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In the news, Tuesday, August 15, 2017

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AUG 14      INDEX      AUG 16

________

Information from some sites may not be reliable, or may not be vetted.
Some sources may require subscription.

________

from Anglican Journal

Child abuse inquiry recommends end to Seal of the Confessional
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse – the official independent inquiry in Australia –  has recommended that the failure to report child sexual abuse in institutions should be made a criminal offence. And it said that there should be “no exemption, excuse, protection or privilege from the offence granted to clergy for failing to report information disclosed in connection with a religious confession.”

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from Business Insider

America's urban and rural 'divide' doesn't actually exist

It's likely that the American news media will continue to run stories that try to understand "rural resentment" and the rural voters who voted for Trump. For the average journalist, these people must seem exotic, unknowable, and possibly worthy of study like animals in a zoo. But if the media class is looking for a more convenient way to take a look at "the other side," it often need look no further than the suburban county next door.

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from Christian Today

'Musicians' church' now linked to HTB in row after closing its doors to non-religious choirs and orchestras
A church in central London that has become part of a network led by the evangelical Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB) is facing criticism from a leading composer and others after closing its doors to choirs and orchestras whose music is non-religious. St. Sepulchre Without Newgate Church in Holborn, which is known as 'the musicians' church' and is where the Proms founder Sir Henry Wood is buried, has become embroiled in a row after stopping taking bookings from classical musicians who have relied on it as a rehearsal and concert venue for many years, the Daily Telegraph reported. John Rutter, who is known for composing, arranging and conducting choral music, said the decision meant the church had 'betrayed' musicians. He added: 'The Church of England needs all the friends it can get. It shouldn't be making enemies - it's un-Christian. Churches are and should be busy places where all can walk through the door and all are welcome.'

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from Coeur d'Alene Press

CHURCH PLANS $9M PROJECT WITH FIELDHOUSE AND MORE
Real Life Ministries wants to align needs in the community with the gospel. The nondenominational Christian church, one of the largest churches in the region, soon plans to construct an estimated $9 million worth of improvements, including a 41,000-square-foot fieldhouse with three basketball courts, an outdoor artificial turf sports complex that will be a first in the area, a 25,000-square-foot children's addition and more.

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from FEE (Foundation for Economic Education)

[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

Why Do So Many Intellectuals Oppose Capitalism?
I think a major reason why intellectuals tend to move towards collectivism is that the collectivist answer is a simple one. If there's something wrong pass a law and do something about it. If there's something wrong it's because of some no-good bum, some devil, evil and wicked – that's a very simple story to tell. You don't have to be very smart to write it and you don't have to be very smart to accept it.

Why Economic Education Is Essential for Young Americans
An economic education is not a cure-all for our social ills. However, economics taught at the secondary school level is lacking or non-existent. It’s time to re-think how this discipline is presented to kids.

How High Bail Costs Contribute to Systemic Poverty
When low-income Americans can’t pay their bail, they go to jail. According to the Prison Policy Initiative, of the 646,000 people in local jails, 70% have not yet been convicted of a crime. Most are awaiting their trial. Many inmates are there due to low-level crimes, like not paying a traffic ticket or driving without a license.

Government, Not Automation, Destroys Jobs
For the past few years, newspapers have frequently published articles arguing that automation is to blame for job losses. Even seemingly intelligent people like Bill Gates have made outlandish suggestions such as taxing robots , to compensate workers who might lose their jobs as a result. But what many fail to realize is that government regulations are the greatest job destroyers.

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from The Heritage Foundation

[Information from this site may be unreliable.]

Tax Reform for Investment and Jobs
Fixing a quirk in the U.S. tax code would let businesses add new jobs and increase economic growth immediately. The remedy, known to economists as “expensing,” lets businesses deduct from their taxable income the full value of all capital expenses incurred that year.

The EPA’s Gold King Mine Cover-Up
Two years ago the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) dumped 3 million gallons of acid mine drainage and over a million pounds of metal contaminates into Colorado’s Animas River, turning it psychedelic orange. Commendably, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt is now taking a second look at previously rejected claims for damages. But it’s also time to hold bureaucrats accountable for hiding the truth of what happened at the Gold King Mine.

Initiated Under Obama, A Plan for Cleaning Voter Rolls Is Now “Radical”
Can a state ensure that its voter rolls aren’t filled with non-residents and dead people who shouldn’t be registered to vote?  The Left doesn’t think so, but the U.S. Department of Justice answered yes recently when it filed an amicus brief in Husted v. A. Philip Randolph Institute. The Supreme Court will hear arguments in the case when it starts its new term this fall. The Department of Justice is supporting Ohio in its attempts to keep its voter rolls accurate and up to date. Federal law requires states to do so under the National Voter Registration

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from The Hill

The clock is ticking for GOP to figure out debt, tax reform and healthcare
August recess has arrived, and that’s a big relief for many members and staff on Capitol Hill (and local commuters!). Some had called for Congress to skip this year’s recess and make greater progress on the big promises of their agenda. After all, the future of ObamaCare repeal is uncertain, as is next year’s budget and spending. On the bright side, the Senate confirmed a relatively large tranche of President Trump’s nominees before recessing, and negotiations are full steam ahead on tax reform.

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from Independent Journal Review
RIGHT BIAS

Here’s One Statue in Seattle That No One on the Left Is Talking About Tearing Down
On Monday, a mob of people tore down a Confederate soldier statue in Durham, North Carolina, protesting the symbol of slavery and the Civil War. But here’s one statue that no one in leftist Antifa groups is clamoring to have taken down. That’s the statue of Vladimir Lenin, the leftist revolutionary and acolyte of Karl Marx, who led the Bolshevik Revolution, changing the formerly “Holy Russia” into the Soviet Union.

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from Intellectual Takeout

Nonprofit Organization in Bloomington, Minnesota

Christianity and Social Justice: What C.S. Lewis Said on the Subject

Few would disagree with the assertion that politics increasingly pervades our culture.  Much of the politicization stems from the ideology of social justice, the idea that the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges in our society (and the world) is unequal and needs to be rectified. Christians increasingly are called to join this fight. To what degree are Christians called to be in the world and shaping it? It’s an ancient question, and a thorny one. But social justice, and the means we are to employ to pursue it, is a particularly tricky question for Christians grounded in the Lockean philosophy, which holds property, life, and liberty as natural rights.  One person who did have thoughts on the matter was C.S. Lewis, who touched on the issue in The Screwtape Letters.

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from The Living Church
Magazine of The Living Church Foundation (Anglican)

Taylor: St. James Sale to Proceed
Members of St. James the Great Church in Newport Beach learned Aug. 14 that what they thought might be a tentative agreement to sell the property is in fact a binding contract, and the developer plans to complete the purchase. In June, both Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and a disciplinary hearing panel ordered the Rt. Rev. J. Jon Bruno, Bishop of Los Angeles, not to sell the property, after learning of his intention to do so. But it was already too late, as Bruno had committed the diocese to the sale. The congregation has been locked out of the 40,000-square-foot building, which sits empty, since June 2015.

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from Mises Institute

[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

Korea and Venezuela: Flip Sides of the Same Coin
By suggesting that he might order a US regime-change invasion of Venezuela, President Trump has inadvertently shown why North Korea has been desperately trying to develop nuclear weapons — to serve as a deterrent or defense against one of the US national-security state storied regime-change operations. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Venezuela and, for that matter, other Third World countries who stand up to the US Empire, also seeking to put their hands on nuclear weapons. What better way to deter a US regime-change operation against them?

Before "Fake News," America Invented "Pseudo Events"
In the wake of the Chalottesville riot, it's been interesting how quickly the focus has shifted away from the actual events in Charlottesville and toward the public pundits and intellectuals expressing opinions about the events. Already, the media has lost interest in analyzing the details of the event itself, and are instead primarily reporting on what Donald Trump, his allies, and his enemies have to say about it. This is an important distinction in coverage. Rather than attempt to supply a detailed look at who was at the event, what was done, and what the participants — from both sides — have to say about it, we are instead exposed primarily to what people in Washington, DC, and the political class in general, think about the events in which they were not directly involved. 

How Central Banking Increased Inequality
Although today high levels of inequality in the United States remain a pressing concern for a large swath of the population, monetary policy and credit expansion are rarely mentioned as a likely source of rising wealth and income inequality. Focusing almost exclusively on consumer price inflation, many economists have overlooked the redistributive effects of money creation through other channels. One of these channels is asset price inflation and the growth of the financial sector.

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from New Statesman

"The leading voice of the British left, since 1913."

Britain's commemoration of Partition is colonial white-washing in disguise
The overwhelming focus on the grisly details of Partition by the British press is deeply problematic. It’s much easier to focus on the indigenous perpetrators of religious violence than on the imperialist policies that facilitated it. The British press - and certain politicians - may continue to harbour sepia-tinted ideas of the British Raj and the "special relationship" between the two countries, but India has moved on. After 70 years, perhaps the UK will finally realise that India is no longer "the jewel in its crown". 

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from The Paris Review

Literary Magazine

Voyage to the Otherworld: A New Eulogy for Ray Bradbury
“What accounts for Bradbury’s scope, his influence?” Margaret Atwood remembers the late Ray Bradbury, who saw his writing as a way of living on after his death.

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from The Spokesman-Review

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from The Washington Post

Violence adds momentum to removal of Confederate statues
Cities and states accelerated their plans to remove Confederate monuments from public property Tuesday as the violence over a Robert E. Lee statue in Charlottesville, Virginia, moved leaders across the country to plan to wipe away much of the remaining Old South imagery.

The Nation is reviewing a story casting doubt on Russian hack of DNC
There is some discontent in the Nation. Staffers and contributors at the storied lefty magazine have raised concerns about an Aug. 9 piece by contributing writer Patrick Lawrence under the headline, “A New Report Raises Big Questions About Last Year’s DNC Hack.” Based on technical evaluations, the article called into question the consensus view of U.S. intelligence agencies that the email disclosures last year from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) — which assisted the campaign of Donald Trump — were the work of Russian actors. The whole thing could have been the work of an internal leaker, notes the article.

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from Zero Hedge

[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

NYT Shocking Report: US "Ally" Ukraine Is Source Of North Korean Missile Engines
When the US State Department supported Ukraine domestic forces and nationalist elements to stage a successful and deadly coup against then pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych in 2014, the outcome was supposed to be a nation that is a undisputed US ally and persistent threat, distraction and non-NATO opponent to bordering Russia. Instead, it now appears that it has been Ukraine which was, as the NYT writes, the secret behind the success of North Korea's allegedly nuclear-capable ballistic missile program. Specifically, in a blockbuster report this morning, the NYT alleges that North Korea has been making black-market purchases of powerful rocket engines from a Ukrainian factory citing "expert analysis being published Monday and classified assessments by American intelligence agencies."

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In the news, Monday, August 14, 2017

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AUG 13      INDEX      AUG 15

________

Information from some sites may not be reliable, or may not be vetted.
Some sources may require subscription.

________

from Anglican Journal

Charlottesville clergy hold anti-racism prayer meeting
Clergy from the U.S.-based Episcopal Church joined other Christians leaders in Charlottesville, Virginia, this weekend in a show of solidarity with members of minority communities. Priests from across the diocese of Virginia took part in the rally, which was held to counter what became a deadly protest by white-supremacists, neo-Nazis, the Ku Klux Klan and other extreme right-wing groups. The right-wing protest was sparked by a decision to remove a statue of Civil War Confederate military leader Robert E. Lee and change the name of the city’s Lee Park into Emancipation Park. The decision to remove the statue is currently being challenged in court. There is growing pressure to erase Lee from public view, or celebration, because of the way that far-right groups across America have turned him into a rallying symbol and icon for racism.

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from Asia Times Online

North Korea, the ultimate Black Swan
Next month’s International Olympic Committee meeting will be a uniquely dramatic affair as officials mull new risks to the Pyeongchang winter games to be staged in South Korea, 80 kilometers from North Korea. That event is five months out, but the sudden focus on missiles rather than medals speaks to the geopolitical threats emanating from Pyongyang. Economic ones, too. In recent years, Pyeongchang has gone to great pains — and marketing expense — to stress it’s not the similar-sounding North Korean capital. That didn’t stop a Kenyan official from flying to Kim Jong Un’s biggest city in 2014 by accident. But there’s no confusing what’s at stake as investors from Seoul to New York mull how a rhetorical arms race between Kim and newish US President Donald Trump might play out.

Syrian fair to attract a limited crowd
While China and Russia will send prominent commercial delegations to the showcase investment event, the US, France and Great Britain will all be notable no-shows

Get ready for the ‘droid’ of autonomous vehicles
Search giant Google made its Android operating system wildly popular by giving free access to its software to mobile-device makers and wireless carriers so they could utilize its platform. Now, Chinese Internet company Baidu wants to do the same thing with its driverless-car operating software. A host of companies are climbing on board – including Microsoft, Uber rival Grab, mapping specialist TomTom and big carmakers such as  Ford. The more than 50 partners are grouped under Baidu’s Apollo project to distribute its driverless software to other companies and also develop a self-driving vehicle that can be mass-produced.

US may curb China’s help in developing driverless cars
US President Donald Trump has touted driverless cars as a tech and investment area that can help revitalize America’s aging transport infrastructure. There’s also talk about enlisting the help of Chinese companies such as Baidu in developing such autonomous systems.  If there is to be Sino-US collaboration, Baidu is a leading candidate. The Beijing-based Web services company has grabbed the lead in developing artificial intelligence (AI) and driverless-vehicle technology in China. But some experts say there’s a potential roadblock to Baidu’s involvement in stateside driverless-car development – US national-security concerns.

Baidu needs to develop global brand for driverless cars
Chinese Internet search company Baidu is easing into the passing lane for driverless cars. The Beijing-based firm plans to mass-produce its own autonomous “Apollo” car by 2021 with help from such heavyweights as Daimler, Ford and nearly a dozen Chinese carmakers. A prototype is due next year and Baidu is testing driverless vehicles in California. Baidu, which is at the fore of developing artificial intelligence (AI) technology in China, has also made its self-driving-car software available for any company to download. The idea is to promote the use of Baidu’s platform (which already works “out of the box” on some vehicles) by allowing free access and data collection. More than 50 partners, including Microsoft, have signed on, allowing Baidu to close the gap with Waymo, the Google spin-off that’s considered the current leader in autonomous-vehicle technology.

Beijing banks raise mortgage rates
Several banks in Beijing have adjusted the mortgage rate for first-time home buyers by 15% above the benchmark mortgage rate, while major state-owned banks in Guangzhou raised the rate by 5 percentage points, Sina Finance reported. Also, mortgage rates for a second home increased by 15% above the benchmark rate in Guangzhou. The Shanghai Municipal Commission of Construction and Administration said it would put forward rules on changing unsold commercial homes into homes for residential leasing.

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from BBC News (UK)

Australia church abuse: Priests 'must report' confessions
Catholic clerics should face criminal charges if they do not report sexual abuse disclosed to them during confession, an Australian inquiry has recommended. It is among 85 proposals to emerge from a landmark inquiry into institutional abuse in the nation. The Church has indicated it will oppose altering the rules around confession.

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from FEE (Foundation for Economic Education)

[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

There Is a Way Out of Hate
The good news is that almost everyone in the nation is united in condemning the Nazi and white supremacist marchers. But let us be clear about why, and what the alternative to hate truly is. The main thing is to cast aside the collectivism of racism and group-think.

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from First Things

SAVING CHRISTIANS FROM GENOCIDE
“Genocide” is the most accurate term for what is happening to Christians in the Middle East. Persecution may well eliminate Christians from the Middle East, yet too many remain reluctant to declare ISIS guilty of genocide.

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from The Heritage Foundation

[Information from this site may be unreliable.]

Clothing Suppliers Want Free Trade, Not Protectionism
A recent study shows that anti-trade rhetoric in the nation’s capital is worrying U.S. executives who represent clothing brands, retailers, importers, and wholesalers. This rhetoric should concern the rest of us, too.

There’s Good History, and Not-So-Good History
Fortunately, there’s at least one way to tell them apart. The tip off: simplicity. History — real history — is complicated. Just remember: if it makes history seem simple, it’s probably not good.

Add Homebuilders to the List of Industries Hurt by Tariffs
New data show that protectionism is taking a toll on the confidence of homebuilders. Last month, homebuilder confidence hit its lowest reading since November 2016, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market. The Index fell two points from 66 to 64, upsetting economists’ predictions that confidence would actually improve.

Trump-Endorsed Immigration Bill Would Save Taxpayers Trillions
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump endorsed the RAISE (Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment) Act introduced by Sens. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and David Perdue, R-Ga., a bill to reform the merit-based immigration system and limit low-skill immigration. Low-skill immigration is very costly to U.S. taxpayers. For example, a legal immigrant without a high school degree typically receives $4 in government benefits for every one dollar he pays in taxes. By limiting future low-skill immigration, the RAISE Act has the potential to save U.S. taxpayers trillions of dollars in future years.

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from LifeZette (& PoliZette)

Why Fox News Remains Dominant in the Ratings
While MSNBC has made gains, new data reveal one network is still king — for very good reasons

Three Distinct Brands of Conservatism Battle in Alabama
Social conservatives, Tea Party, and Establishment will clash Tuesday in Senate special election

Attacks on Trump Korea Rhetoric Undermine U.S. Credibility Abroad
Standoff with Pyongyang warrants tough language, but Dems more concerned with scoring political points

What Trump Had to Say About Merck CEO Who Quit Business Council
President slams pharmaceutical exec, 'He will have more time to lower ripoff drug prices'

Bill Maher’s Wacky Theory About the President
Television host shares his extreme thoughts about our country — and about the elected leader of our nation

Trump: KKK, Neo-Nazis, and White Supremacists Are ‘Criminals and Thugs’
President explicitly denounces hate groups by name after media criticism, 'repugnant to everything we hold dear'

Korean Crisis, Charlottesville Firestorm Bring Trump Back to D.C.
President cuts trip short to get tough with Beijing on trade, tackle racially charged media frenzy

Democrats Fractured Over Ideological Purity Tests
Party rejects center after bruising 2016 election, demands fealty to pro-abortion, single-payer policies

Not So Long Ago, Democrats Favored Immigration Curbs
Controversial RAISE Act is 'second coming' of 1990s commission headed by civil rights icon Barbara Jordan

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from The Living Church

‘SAY IT WITH YOUR CHEST’: PROCLAIMING THE SUPREMACY OF CHRIST IN THE FACE OF WHITE SUPREMACY
Do we as Christians truly believe that white supremacy is a problem that must be addressed, or is it an insignificant issue that flares up now and again at the fringes of society? Do we feel compelled to condemn the rally in Charlottesville, or do we speak with our chests against racism with the same passion that we defend the sanctity of the life of children in the womb? On our list of theological priorities, where exactly is the condemnation of the white supremacy that has oppressed people of color for generations? I do not expect the world to understand everything about the intricacies of Christian faith. But at least this much must penetrate everyone’s conscience: the Church believes that all people bear the image of God and therefore must be treated with respect. God’s love calls us out from our biases, sins, and prejudices into the beloved community whose unity testifies to God’s desire to reconcile the world to himself through his Son. Therefore, the Church is for the gospel and against all false gospels, including the false gospel of white supremacy.

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from Mashable

[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

Obama responds to Charlottesville with one of the most liked tweets in history
After a "Unite the Right" white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, turned deadly on Saturday, former president Barack Obama reached out on Twitter to comfort Americans. While President Trump was silent on the platform, refusing to address the violent clash between hate groups and protesters for hours, Obama shared a powerful message in the form of a Nelson Mandela quote about hate and the potential to love. The first of Obama's three tweets has since become the third most-liked tweet in history at the time of writing this article, according to Esquire.

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from RAND Corporation

How Did North Korea Get Its Nuclear Capabilities So Far So Fast?

The recent North Korean missile tests and other provocations have sent shock waves through the global national security community and have predictably heightened tensions throughout the region. The tests have also made North Korea one of a small number of nations with an intercontinental ballistic missile capability and ominously gives it the potential to reach the United States. Much of the recent debate has centered on the important questions of deterring further North Korean tests and potential response options. Yet another important topic that urgently needs to be investigated surrounds how North Korea's missile capabilities have increased so dramatically in such a short period of time.

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from Reason Magazine

[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

Violent Charlottesville Protester Claims 'Free Speech Does Not Protect Hate Speech'
That is not the law, and it shouldn't be. The idea that "the Government has an interest in preventing speech expressing ideas that offend...strikes at the heart of the First Amendment," Justice Samuel Alito noted last January in Matal v. Tam, which overturned the federal ban on registration of disparaging trademarks. "Speech that demeans on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, age, disability, or any other similar ground is hateful; but the proudest boast of our free speech jurisprudence is that we protect the freedom to express 'the thought that we hate.'"

For Sake of Civil Liberties, Use of Word 'Terrorism' Should Be Restricted, Not Expanded
The rhetorical use of the term "terrorism" leads to erosions of civil liberties and poor policy making.

The Federal Government Is Finally Exploring Marijuana As a Medical Alternative to Opioids
Cannabis research turns another corner. Medical marijuana advocates have claimed for years that cannabis is an effective and safe alternative to prescription opioids for the treatment of pain. But no one put up the money to prove it until last week.

No, Virginia State Police Weren't Outgunned By Militiamen
Gov. Terry McAuliffe says militia members at Saturday's Charlottesville rally had better equipment than state troopers. Not really. The notion that police are outgunned by heavily armed private citizens is a common trope among gun-control advocates, but it bears little resemblance to reality.

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from The Spokesman-Review

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from The Telegraph (UK)

Proms conductor in row with musicians' church after it bans 'non-religious' concerts
It's the spiritual home of musicians where Proms founder Sir Henry Wood is buried. But a London church has become embroiled in a row with one of Britain's best-known composers after it announced it would close its doors to choirs and orchestras because their music was not religious. Now part of a network founded by evangelical church Holy Trinity Brompton, St. Sepulchre Without Newgate Church, in Holborn, central London, will stop taking bookings from the classical musicians which have relied on it as a rehearsal and concert venue for many years.

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In the news, Sunday, August 13, 2017

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AUG 12      INDEX      AUG 14

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Information from some sites may not be reliable, or may not be vetted.
Some sources may require subscription.

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from Asia Times Online

Buddhist extremism, despite a clampdown, spreads in Myanmar
Ethno-nationalist monks have resisted a state bid to restrict their views and activities targeting Muslim and other religious minorities. In May, Myanmar’s Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee, a state appointed organization representing over 500,000 Buddhist monks known as Ma Ha Na, issued a controversial order against the Ma Ba Tha nationalist group to remove its signboards across the country. The committee’s order came in response to Ma Ba Tha’s association with anti-Muslim activities and amid calls from Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government that the Buddhist nationalist group was provoking instability. Ma Ha Na also accused Ma Ba Tha of acting against basic Sangha principles, rules and regulations.

Sharia-free vacation plans for Saudi Arabia
On August 1, Saudi Arabia announced plans for building luxury beach resorts on its Red Sea coastline. The Red Sea project will build luxury hotels, residential units and transport infrastructure on the Saudi coast, including on 50 islands. The area which covers more than 180 kilometers of the coastline will have its own “semi-autonomous” legal status, and laws “on par with international standards.” In other words, to promote international tourism, it will not follow Saudi Arabia’s conservative and Sharia-based laws.

Indian Muslims call for UN action on Pakistani terrorism
Over a thousand Muslim clerics and imams in India have sought United Nations action against Pakistan-based alleged terrorist and Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Muhammed Saeed for his anti-India and anti-Islamic activities. In a resolution approved at a gathering in Mumbai on Wednesday, they also expressed concern over the threat that Saeed may pose to the world community if he and his political group ever win elected office and gain possession of nuclear arms. Their fears are relevant since reports last week that Saeed plans to enter politics by floating a new party known as Milli Muslim League (MML).

Nameless, faceless leadership for Ho Chi Minh City
The rise of Nguyen Thien Nhan, an unexceptional apparatchik, to lead Vietnam's economic and financial hub points to unresolved intra-party divisions and a return to more passive governance. In May, Dinh La Thang, the Communist Party Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s largest city, was stripped of his post, expelled from the Politburo and made vice-chair of a largely insignificant economic committee. The ruling Party’s reason for Thang’s removal after just 15 months in office was clear: he made “very serious mistakes” by defying Party orders and losing the state millions of dollars while serving as general director of PetroVietnam, a state-owned energy company. Within days, the Party’s Central Committee voted in his replacement, Nguyen Thien Nhan, an unexceptional Politburo member who had appeared to fall out of favor after performing poorly as education minister during the 2000s. Nhan also heads Vietnam’s Fatherland Front, an umbrella group that controls party-endorsed “people’s organizations.”

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from The Atlantic (& CityLab)

[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

Why an Anti-Fascist Short Film Is Going Viral
“I’ve heard this kind of talk before, but I never expected to hear it in America.”

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from Mises Institute

[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

The Wrong Narrative in Charlottesville
The political violence in Charlottesville yesterday was as predictable as it was futile. One person was killed and dozens badly injured, marking a new low in the political and cultural wars that are as heated as any time since in America since the 1960s. This relentless politicization of American culture has eroded goodwill and inflamed the worst impulses in society. Antifa and the alt-right may represent simple-minded expressions of hatred and fear, but both groups are animated entirely by politics: the perception that others can impose their will on us politically. The only lasting solution to political violence is to make politics matter less.

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from The Spokesman-Review

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In the news, Saturday, August 12, 2017

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AUG 11      INDEX      AUG 13

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Information from some sites may not be reliable, or may not be vetted.
Some sources may require subscription.

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from Asia Times Online

What makes a great leader?
Not long ago, over dinner in Singapore, we attempted to define what qualities make a great leader. For Klaus, the five key elements were heart, brain, muscle, nerve and soul. For Kishore, compassion, canniness and courage were key, as was the ability to identify talent and understand complexity. The extent of the overlap is telling. It is no coincidence that both lists begin with heart. Like Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi, a leader cannot achieve greatness without showing deep empathy with his or her people – a sentiment that fuels the fight against the injustices those people may face. Such heroic leaders are unlikely to emerge in normal times. But these are not normal times. On the contrary, today’s unprecedented inequality in many parts of the world is precisely the kind of injustice that could spur the emergence of great leaders with compassion for those at the bottom.

Bangladesh a test for the next wave of industrialization
The spectacular success Bangladesh has achieved over the past twenty years has seen the country’s economic growth rise to more than 6%, and has seen the poverty rate more than cut in half. The transformation has been driven largely by the textile industry, as jobs are finally moving from China, which had maintained a comparative advantage for decades. But are rapid advancements in automation moving too fast to allow a new wave of developing countries to rely on cheap labor to fuel their economic development? Many see this happening, and research from the UN last November found that the developing world will lose two-thirds of all jobs due to automation.

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from The Atlantic (& CityLab)

[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

The Hoods Are Off
The “Unite the Right” gathering wasn’t a Klan rally at all. It was a pride march.

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from BBC News (UK)

White nationalist rally at University of Virginia
Hundreds of US white nationalists have rallied at the University of Virginia, protesting against plans to remove a statue of a confederate general. The group waved torches and chanted "White lives matter" as they marched through the Charlottesville university. There were clashes with counter-protesters, while the local mayor condemned the march as racist and a "parade of hatred". A larger "Unite the Right" rally is planned in the city on Saturday. The protesters are angered at the planned removal of a statue of General Robert E Lee from Charlottesville. The local mayor called the torch-lit protest "a cowardly parade of hatred, bigotry and racism".

Antarctica fruitcake: 106-year-old dessert 'left by Capt Scott'
Ice-covered Antarctica is one of the earth's most hostile natural environments. But a new find by the Antarctic Heritage Trust suggests it's no match for a 106-year-old British fruitcake. Conservators found the elderly cake on Cape Adare, and believe it belonged to British explorer Robert Falcon Scott - known as Scott of the Antarctic.

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from The Blaze (& Glenn Beck)

[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

Study: Earth cooler now than when Al Gore won Nobel Peace Prize for global warming work
Respected meteorologist Joe Bastardi recently penned on op-ed hammering Gore for his awful climate predications made in his hit 2006 documentary, “An Inconvenient Truth,” while noting that today’s global temperatures are cooler than they were when Gore’s won the Nobel Peace Prize for his global warming work. Bastardi’s study shows that while global temperatures were anomalously warm when Gore won the Nobel Peace Prize, they are less warm now and they were even less warm in the years between today and when Gore won the peace prize.

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from Conservative Intelligence Briefing

BROOKS PITCHES MOORE, PITTMAN AND BRINSON SUPPORTERS: “To stop Luther Strange, I need your vote”
As part of his “Drain the Swamp Bus Tour,” Rep. Mo Brooks (AL-05) made a stop Friday in Mobile, Ala. With the top three candidates locked in a fierce battle for the runoff, Brooks urged voters in the upcoming Senate primary to vote for him, instead of one of the six lower tier candidates.

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from FEE (Foundation for Economic Education)

[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

The Violence in Charlottesville
The huge mess began with bad ideas. The only means available – and it is the most powerful – is to fight bad ideas with good ideas. We all need to throw ourselves into the intellectual battle most of all and as never before.

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from HumanProgress.org

Education Website

U.S. Cost of Living and Wage Stagnation, 1979-2015
Looking at the average hourly earnings alone ignores at least three very important factors: expansion of non-wage benefits, fall in the price of consumer goods and rise in price of services, such as education and healthcare.

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from The Living Church

CHRISTIAN READERS AND ‘THE PATH OF CHARITY’
As someone who writes and speaks publicly with some regularity, I am often aware of the weakness of language, as well as my faults as a communicator or teacher. It’s often hard to get your point across, due to personal frailty. You cannot guarantee that your hearers or readers will understand you. It’s possible to write or speak in the wrong tone or style or at an inopportune time. It can be dispiriting. It’s always tempting to quit. In Christian speech, we are bound together on the path of knowledge whose end is God. We must always put the best meaning on each other’s words; we must work out how to comprehend one another. There is no room for hate in communication; the very act speaks of love.

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from The New Republic

LEFT BIAS

Don’t Just Impeach Trump. End the Imperial Presidency.

His threats against North Korea expose the many dangers of the White House's post-9/11 powers.

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from The Spokesman-Review

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