In the news, Friday, September 15, 2017

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SEP 14      INDEX      SEP 16

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________

from Breitbart

RIGHT BIAS, MIXED, American conservative news and opinion website

KASSAM: POTUS Signs ‘Anti-Hate’ Resolution, a Major Assault on America’s First Amendment
DACA wasn’t the biggest win for the swamp-left this week. Blink and you’ll have missed it. In amongst the furore over immigration, news coverage of Hurricane fallout, and North Korea’s latest tub thumping, President Trump signed that anti-free speech resolution I warned about just a few days ago. The Associated Press reports: President Donald Trump has signed a resolution condemning white supremacists, neo-Nazis and other hate groups following a white-nationalist rally in Virginia that descended into deadly violence. The resolution also urged Trump and his administration to speak out against hate groups that espouse racism, anti-Semitism and white supremacy. That’s not entirely accurate. In fact it’s a pretty thoughtless and likely intentional misinterpretation of the breadth of this resolution and its real world implications.

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from Charisma News

[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

Planned Parenthood Forges Deadly Satanic Alliance
Planned Parenthood in Missouri has a new ally in its battle for increased abortion access: the Satanic Temple. The religious and politically active national Satanist organization is backing the powerful abortion provider with state and federal lawsuits designed to challenge Missouri's informed consent and 72-hour-waiting period laws.

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from The Frankfort State Journal

Newspaper in Frankfort, Kentucky

Chilton warns of dire consequences in pension letter

State Budget Director John E. Chilton warned there will be huge increases in employer contributions to public pension systems unless lawmakers enact reform. Chilton sent out a letter Friday to employers whose workers are covered by the Kentucky Employees’ Retirement System that hikes will range from 66 to 88 percent without pension reform.

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from HumanProgress.org

Education Website

The United States Should Heed the Lessons of 1917
As 2017 enters its final months, leaders in the United Kingdom and in the United States wrestle with some momentous decisions. In Britain, Dr Liam Fox, the Secretary of State for International Trade, is beefing up his department with the intention of negotiating free trade agreements for the post-Brexit era, while Donald Trump, the American President, howls at his White House staff, “I want tariffs. And I want someone to bring me some tariffs.” As our leaders set their sights on reconstituting British and American trade relations with the rest of the world, they should keep two dates – 1817 and 1917 – in mind.

Europe's Anti-GMO Stance Is Killing Africans
The cost of Africa’s refusal to grow GMO crops are incredible in human health and economic terms. Fifteen years ago, The Economist ran an article headlined "Better dead than GM-fed?" It focused on the refusal of some African countries to allow imports of American food aid, because it contained genetically modified organisms (GMOs). This was when extreme hunger threatened some 15 million people, before Africa's decade of economic growth spurred by high commodity prices as well as some economic reforms. Some of the reasons for the refusal of U.S. food aid, such as Zambia's then-president Levy Mwanawasa's statement that GMOs were "poison," were just silly. American's have been eating GMO foods for decades and there is not an iota of evidence that GMOs are detrimental to health. Other reasons were more serious. Much of Africa's agricultural produce is still destined for Europe and the European Union has been waging a war on GMO foods for decades. The reasons for the EU's anti-GMO stance, ostensibly, are health concerns. In reality, the EU is trying to protect its farmers against their more productive American competitors. Thus, were the U.S. food aid inadvertently to "contaminate" Africa's crops, Africans would be in trouble.

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from Miami Herald

Leonard Pitts Jr.: Since he walks like a racist and talks like a racist

Jemele Hill, of ESPN’s “SportsCenter” tweeted last week that President Trump was “a white supremacist who has largely surrounded himself w/ other white supremacists.” The White House wants her fired. But what did she get wrong?

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from Mises Institute

[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

With a Central Bank, Bank "Deregulation" Can Be a Bad Thing
When a central bank exists, deregulation may make it easier for central banks to create more money "out of thin air."

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from New Statesman

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

Is the EU going to curb free movement after all?
Political support for the Schengen travel zone is eroding among member states. Could there be life in Britain's membership of the European Union yet? Although it wasn't the only reason Britain voted to leave the EU, without the free movement of people, there would have been no Brexit vote.

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from Orthodox Christianity

CHURCHES OF MA'LOULA LOOTED BY MILITANTS BEING RESTORED IN SYRIA
The Ma’loula church complex, looted by Islamic militants, is being restored at an accelerated speed. One of the churches is expected to be ready for parishioners in the near future, RIA-Novosti reports.  “The most difficult was restoring the cave of St. Thekla. It suffered greatly, as did the Church of St. Elias. The specialists faced the difficult task of preserving the historical artifacts. However, some of the architectural monuments had to be built anew, because they were lost,” engineer Elias Hilal told reporters.

________

from Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity

[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

Janet Reno: Saint or Tyrant?
When former Attorney General Janet Reno died last November, the media heaped praise on her as if she had been justice incarnate. Reno had long enjoyed sainthood inside the Beltway; the Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia even created a Janet Reno Torchbearer Award. But Reno’s record of deceit, brutality, and power grabs should not be forgotten by any American who cares about freedom.

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from The Spokesman-Review

Idaho unemployment drops to 2.9% in August, a 10-year low

Stargazers eye the nation’s first dark sky reserve in Idaho
Tourists heading to central Idaho will be in the dark if local officials get their way. The first International Dark Sky Reserve in the United States would fill a chunk of the state’s sparsely populated region that contains night skies so pristine that interstellar dust clouds are visible in the Milky Way.

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from Zero Hedge

CONSPIRACY-PSEUDOSCIENCE,  MIXED,  financial blog with aggregated news and opinion

North Korea Fires Ballistic Missile Over Japan; US Demands China, Russia "Take Direct Actions"
According to Yonhap, "North Korea fired an unidentified missile eastward from the vicinity of Pyongyang this morning," the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said. It added that South Korea and the United States are analyzing additional information. On August 29, the North lobbed a Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile over the island nation in a similar provocation. US Secretary of State Tillerson has issued a rather aggressive (towards China and Russia) statement.

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In the news, Thursday, September 14, 2017

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SEP 13      INDEX      SEP 15

________

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

________

from ABC News (& affiliates)

ANALYSIS: Trump's DACA dealings throw Republicans and Democrats for a loop
The "wall" becomes fence "renovation," "amnesty" becomes "DACA," and "Nancy and Chuck" become President Trump's new best friends.

________

from Asia Times Online

Bullet train project exposes India’s misplaced priorities
The $17 billion project, connecting Mumbai with Ahmedabad, comes at a time when Indian Railways is struggling with safety and hygiene.

________

from Bloomberg

[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

Iceland PM Calls Snap Vote as Pedophile Furor Crashes Coalition
Iceland is facing its second snap election in about a year after the Independence Party-led government collapsed over a scandal involving grants of clemency to convicted child molesters.

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from Breitbart

RIGHT BIAS, MIXED, American conservative news and opinion website

Outraged Customers: National Anthem Muted to Start NFL Game at Buffalo Wild Wings Franchise
Outraged customers at a Riverside County, California, Buffalo Wild Wings claim an employee silenced the National Anthem as Monday’s NFL game began. According to CBSLA, customers said the employee refused to turn the sound up during the anthem, claiming it was “too controversial” and saying it was against “company policy” to play it.

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from FEE (Foundation for Economic Education)

RIGHT-CENTER BIAS, HIGH, non-profit organization

India’s Disastrous War Against Cash, Encouraged by American Taxpayers
Today, let’s look at a real-world example of what happens when a government seeks to curtail cash. It happened in India last November, and I wrote about the disruption that was caused when the government banned certain notes. But maybe the short-run costs were acceptable because there are long-run benefits. That’s certainly possible, but the evidence suggests that the Indian government is doing long-run damage.

When Government is Restrained Liberty Reigns Triumphant
If you were asked, “who is the least-known of America’s founders?” a good answer would be James Wilson. Even 17 years after the release of Castaway, Tom Hanks’ volleyball “friend” is better remembered. But Wilson deserves far better. James Wilson was one of only six to sign both the Declaration of Independence and The United States Constitution. Perhaps most striking about James Wilson was his understanding that the purpose of government was to secure the pre-existing rights of its members and that the Constitution was crafted to create such a government. Remembering those ideas, now seriously compromised and threatened with further erosion, would benefit Americans.

Socialist Policy Tanked Venezuela's Economy, Not Falling Oil Prices
The IMF has announced that Venezuela's inflation could top 1,000,000% by the end of the year--yes, one million percent! So let's be one million percent clear: this is not happening because of oil prices or so-called "mismanagement."

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from The Heritage Foundation

RIGHT BIAS, MIXED, think tank in Washington, D.C

NATO Wary as Russia ‘Trains’ on its Borders
Russia’s massive military exercise with Belarus was scheduled to begin today. It’s doubtful that Russian President Vladimir Putin will make a military move on the Suwalki Gap, activating NATO’s Article 5. It’s also critically important that we keep our eyes and ears open to study and assess current Russian military doctrine, readiness and capabilities.

Trade and Prosperity in the States: The Case of Alabama
International trade and investment support hundreds of thousands of Alabama jobs. More than 97,000 jobs depend on exports, and another 97,000 jobs have been created by foreign investment. The state’s economy is weakened by special-interest barriers that increase prices and make it difficult for Alabama businesses to compete in the global economy. Alabama’s congressional delegation should support policies that reduce the federal government’s power to interfere with how Alabamans spend their hard-earned dollars.

The Mythical Constitution
The nation marks the 230th birthday of our Constitution this weekend. On Sunday, many Americans of all political persuasions who are aware of Constitution Day will praise the Framers of that document and express gratitude that they live under its protections. One problem, though. That Constitution—the one taught to students in high school civics classes—doesn’t really exist anymore. Nowadays, American government follows a process that barely resembles the basic principles established in our fundamental law.

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from Mad World News

[Information from this site may be unreliable.]

School Warns Students Not To Chant ‘USA,’ What Kids Do Instead Has Officials Regretting It
After high school students began chanting “USA” during sporting events, parents received a letter warning the teens to stop saying the “intolerant and offensive” phrase. However, as soon as they read the note, the patriotic students responded in a way that would not only make our Forefathers proud but had school officials instantly backtracking.

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from Mises Institute

[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

The Neoconservatives Have Declared War on the Realists
Interventionist foreign policy is facing some challenges from foreign-policy realists. Naturally, neoconservatives are very upset about it.

Why Natural Disasters Are Worse For Poor Countries
Wealth-building and capital are the most important factors in weathering natural disasters.

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from NBC News (& affiliates)

LEFT-CENTER BIAS

The party's over: Republicans and Democrats are both finished
Trump's election and his increasing comfort in shifting from right to left prove that the Republican and Democratic parties as we know them are finished.

________

from The Spokesman-Review

________

from Zero Hedge

CONSPIRACY-PSEUDOSCIENCE,  MIXED,  financial blog with aggregated news and opinion

Former CIA Director Resigns From Harvard After Chelsea Manning Named Visiting Fellow
Former CIA Acting Director Michael Morell announced his resignation earlier today as senior fellow saying he couldn't be associated with an organization "that honors a convicted felon and leaker of classified information." "Senior leaders in our military have stated publicly that the leaks by Ms. Manning put the lives of U.S. soldiers at risk," Morell said. "I have an obligation in my conscience -- and I believe to the country -- to stand against any efforts to justify leaks of sensitive national security information."

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In the news, Wednesday, September 13, 2017

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SEP 12      INDEX      SEP 14

________

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

________

from The Baltimore Sun

Baltimore to keep, clean defaced Francis Scott Key statue
Mayor Catherine Pugh says she has no plans to remove the Francis Scott Key monument in Bolton Hill that was vandalized before dawn Wednesday and has directed art preservation experts to determine the cost of cleaning it. Exactly 203 years after the Maryland attorney wrote the poem that would later become the national anthem, the city awoke to find the words “Racist Anthem” spray-painted on the Eutaw Place monument and red paint splashed on it. The third stanza of Key’s poem includes a reference accusing the British of encouraging American slaves to join the fight against their masters.

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from BBC News (UK)

LEFT-CENTER BIAS

What's it like to start reading at 60?
Adult learners in Kenya get to read their first words, after a library opens in their village.

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from The Blaze (& Glenn Beck)

RIGHT BIAS

Watch: Matt Walsh discusses transgenderism: ‘It’s a religious dogma’
It is a religious dogma. A superstition. A matter of faith. A demented, deranged faith, but a faith all the same.

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from CNSNews.com (& MRC & NewsBusters)

RIGHT BIAS

John Podhoretz Brings the Truth on Voter Fraud to Liberal Panel
The Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity was in New Hampshire on Tuesday to look into the state’s same-day voting system. And in the wake of their inquiries, the liberals of MSNBC were up in arms with claims of voter suppression and denials of voter fraud existing at all. But Commentary magazine Editor John Podhoretz laid out the facts regarding the reality of voter fraud during MSNBC’s MTP Daily.

________

from The Hill

LEFT-CENTER BIAS, MIXED, newspaper in Washington, D.C.

Senate votes down Paul's bid to revoke war authorizations
The Senate has rejected a measure from Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) to sunset two war bills and force a debate on what war powers President Trump should have.

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from Mises Institute

[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

Think Gentrification Is Bad? The Opposite Is Worse
Land has no intrinsic value, and its price can go to zero under various conditions. Nearby owners will soon find themselves wishing for gentrification.

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from The Spokesman-Review

________

from Trains Magazine

Amtrak chairman talks infrastructure with Trump administration

Amtrak Chairman Tony Coscia recently met with the Trump administration to talk about the railroad’s massive undertaking to build new rail tunnels underneath the Hudson River. The $24-billion project, better known as the Gateway program, includes the construction of a new two-track Hudson River rail tunnel from New Jersey to New York Penn Station on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor, and the rehabilitation of the existing 106-year-old North River Tunnels, which were badly damaged by Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

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from Zero Hedge

CONSPIRACY-PSEUDOSCIENCE,  MIXED,  financial blog with aggregated news and opinion

Schumer, Pelosi Announce Deal With Trump: DACA For Border Security But No Wall; White House Denies
There appears to be some post-dinner confusion, because while the top Democrats issued a statement saying there was a deal on DACA, White House press sec. Sarah Sanders said that "While DACA and border security were both discussed, excluding the wall was certainly not agreed to."

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In the news, Tuesday, September 12, 2017

________

SEP 11      INDEX      SEP 13

________

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

________

from CNSNews.com (& MRC & NewsBusters)

RIGHT BIAS

Levin: ‘Man Can’t Do a D--- Thing About’ Hurricanes, Climate Change
On his nationally syndicated radio talk show Monday, host Mark Levin slammed the “dishonest” media for propagating climate change. “You know, the problem is when there’s desperate people, you know, when there’s natural disasters, where people who are, obviously, fearful of natural disasters – we all are – are looking for answers,” said Mark Levin. “Can I tell you a little secret. There is no answer. That’s right, I said it. There’s no answer. Man can’t do a d--- thing about it.” Levin’s comments came as “dishonest” media hosts and guests on MSNBC blamed man-made climate change for hurricane Irma.

Can Christians Agree to Disagree on Same-Sex Marriage? Answer: No
Can Christians agree to disagree about same-sex “marriage”? Or is accepting homosexuality heresy? Most of us are familiar with the Nicene Creed, the statement of faith adopted in 325 A.D. to unite Christians against the Arian heresy. It is, to this day, the most widely-used summary of Christian orthodoxy. Lately, “orthodoxy” has become stickier to define. In the wake of the sexual revolution, some who call themselves Christians and would affirm the Nicene Creed, also accept unions between members of the same sex.

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from FEE (Foundation for Economic Education)

RIGHT-CENTER BIAS, HIGH, non-profit organization

How the Government Turns Natural Disasters Into Catastrophes
any of the most expensive flood and storm disasters in US history have occurred in recent decades. The glib response is to blame the severity of these catastrophes on climate change, but are we looking in the wrong direction? Almost 20 years ago, the National Wildlife Federation issued a report on this subject, Higher Ground. It argued, among other things, that federal flood insurance was amplifying the impact of storms by encouraging Americans to build and rebuild in areas prone to flooding. Those who advocate for insurance subsidies might say that every great city was once small and population growth requires building. The same subsidies advocates might say that to take a position against subsidies is to prevent growth and push people into rural areas where they prefer not to live. But the case against subsidized flood insurance is not a case against growth; it is a case against distorted growth. Federally supported insurance overrides the risk-reducing incentives that insurance premiums provide and results in building in vulnerable areas. For example, wetlands are lost to distorted growth.  From 1992 to 2010, Northwest Houston lost more than 70% of its wetlands.

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from The Heritage Foundation

RIGHT BIAS, MIXED, think tank in Washington, D.C

Constitution at 230: Separation of Powers Prevents a Democratic Tyranny
September 17 marks the 230th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution. Separation of powers is fundamental to preserving a democratic republic with a government that is effective and efficient and yet not so powerful that it can abuse its power, infringe on liberty, and be unaccountable to the people. It’s a principle that Washington should fully embrace once again.

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from Hoover Institution

Responding To Hurricanes While Assuming No More Wars
While we are increasing funds for recovery from natural disasters, we are cutting our military budget to respond to man-made catastrophes.

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from Independent Journal Review
RIGHT BIAS

At 9/11 Ceremony, Mattis Stopped, Looked at Trump and Said Five Words That Define Military Service
“Mr. President, your military does not scare.”

________

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

Window into a larger world
Returning to worship after falling away from church attendance during my college and early graduate school years was an uncomfortable experience. At the time, I found it difficult to sing the hymns (the words can be so specific about belief). But I was especially challenged by the Nicene Creed, particularly the part that says Jesus is “the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father” (1979 Book of Common Prayer, p. 358). I would typically remain silent at that point, letting the rest of the gathered assembly say those words and carry me through the remainder of the Creed to the Prayers of the People. It took about a year of worship before I was able to not only say all of the Nicene Creed, but also embrace it as a beautiful expression of truths at the heart of the gospel. Somehow, in ways I could not fully perceive, regular immersion in the eucharistic liturgy shaped me and moved me beyond doubt and skepticism to deeper faith.

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from Miami Herald

Leonard Pitts Jr.: God has more sense than to ‘speak’ to these false prophets

‪What did God mean by pointing a hurricane at Florida? Some nickel prophets have a few ideas.

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from Mises Institute

[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

Is Forced Military Service Good for the Economy?
Conscription, also known as "the draft," is typically justified with appeals to values like partriotism, public service, and "sharing the burden." That's in peacetime. In times of war, of course, government claims conscription is necessary to provide the manpower needed for military victory. The latest argument in favor of conscription is that it's good for the economy. But, it's all just another central-planning scheme.

Why Is the Euro Still Gaining Against the Dollar?
The primary purposes of the incorrectly named “unconventional monetary policies” are to debase the currency, stoke inflation, and make exports more competitive. Printing money aims to solve structural imbalances by making currencies weaker. The European Central Bank (ECB) has been trying to weaken the Euro. The relative weakness of the US dollar, however, continues to make the Euro look good by comparison.

________

from New Statesman

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

Hurricane Irma and why the only thing worse than climate change denial is acceptance
People don’t like to be reminded of their own moral relativism when their homes are underwater.

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from The Spokesman-Review

________

from Sputnik

(Russian government-supported propaganda channel)

‘We Will Go Down’: Pope Francis Warns Climate Change Deniers

Pope Francis has warned that “history will judge” climate change skeptics in the wake of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, which, some experts predict, could cause combined damage worth up to $290 billion. Science experts have previously warned the public that the warming of the of the Earth's oceans and atmosphere could result in stronger hurricanes with catastrophic effects — and that's exactly what seems to be happening now.

US Uses N Korean 'Self-Defense' as Pretext to 'Fully Strangle' Country - Envoy
The North Korean ambassador to Russia, Kim Hyun Joon, accused the United States of using Pyongyang's "self-defense measures" as a pretext to worsen the situation in the country. The diplomat also said that by initiating new sanctions against North Korea, Washington wants to relieve itself of responsibility as the main culprit of tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

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from The Telegraph (UK)

Priests-in-training to be given glossaries because they struggle to understand the Book of Common Prayer
Priests-in-training are to be given glossaries to help them understand the Book of Common Prayer for the first time because they struggle to decipher the language. The Prayer Book Society, which gives out free copies of the 17th century book to first-year students in theological colleges, will this year also include a key to some of its more old-fashioned words and phrases. The list includes definitions for words such as "eschew" meaning abstain from, "concord", for an agreement between people, and "froward", meaning perverse or contrary. The glossary will be given in bookmark form to new students, and is also available on the Society's website.

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from The Washington Post

PewDiePie said the n-word on YouTube. The Internet’s most famous gamer is out of excuses.
PewDiePie, a.k.a. Felix Kjellberg, has more subscribers than anyone else on YouTube. And on Sunday, he angrily used the n-word during a livestream that has since been seen by millions. In the now-deleted video, Kjellberg was streaming himself playing “PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds.” Furious at another player during a tense moment in the gameplay, the influential gaming personality said, “What a f—— n—–.”

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In the news, Monday, September 11, 2017

________

SEP 10      INDEX      SEP 12

________

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

________

from The Heritage Foundation

RIGHT BIAS, MIXED, think tank in Washington, D.C

Russia Will Not Win a Diplomatic Tit-for-Tat With the US
The recent U.S.-Russian tit-for-tat—the expulsion of diplomats and the closing of consulates—appears to be resulting in more parity of representation between the two global powers. That is no bad thing. According to the White House, the United States and Russia now have three diplomatic facilities in each other’s countries and a like number of diplomats of about 455. It is easy for countries like Russia, China, or Iran to exploit the openness of American society and the First Amendment’s guarantee of freedom of expression to conduct enter the media market and to spread propaganda and fake news. It is a tough yet reasonable response to Russia’s own actions. Before anyone bemoans the loss for international relations, it is worth recalling that there are diplomats, and then there are diplomats. While being careful not to undermine U.S. international relations or democratic principles, the U.S. government is right to argue for parity between Russian and U.S. representations.

The Myth That Climate Change Created Harvey, Irma
Climate policies and regulations designed to prevent natural disasters and slow the earth’s warming simply will not do so. Instead of blaming man-made greenhouse gas emissions, climate catastrophists should see natural disasters for what they really are: natural. Flooding in homes and businesses across Houston was still on the rise when Politico ran a provocative article, titled “Harvey Is What Climate Change Looks Like.” Politico was not alone, as another news outlet called the one-two punch of Harvey and Irma the potential “new normal.” Brad Johnson, executive director of the advocacy group Climate Hawks Vote, says Harvey and Irma are reason to finally jail officials who “reject science.” Rather than focus on the victims and offer solutions for speedy recovery, pundits and politicians in the wake of Harvey focused on saying, “I told you so.”

________

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

Christchurch Saves Cathedral
More than six years after its cathedral was devastated by an earthquake, the Diocese of Christchurch, New Zealand, voted Sept. 9 to rebuild. By a majority of 55 percent, the diocesan synod voted to save the building. The church will work with the Christchurch City Council and government and the reconstruction is likely to take 10 years. The Gothic-style 136-year-old cathedral was badly damaged in a 6.3-magnitude earthquake on Feb. 22, 2011, that killed 185 people. The cost of a full rebuild is expected to be about $108 million.The national government has offered $50 million toward the project. The regional government and Christchurch City Council will offer a further $35 million. The balance will be met by trust funds, an insurance payout, and a soft loan from the government that may not have to be repaid. Government authorities have promised to fast track the legislation so restoration can begin.

________

from Mises Institute

[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

Ludwig von Mises and the Real Meaning of Liberalism
Liberalism has become one of the most widely misused and abused words in the American political lexicon. It represents, some say, politically “progressive thought,” based on the goal of “social justice” through greater “distributive justice” for all. Others declare it represents moral relativism, political paternalism, governmental license, and just another word for “socialism.” Lost in all of this is that fact that historically “liberalism” originally meant, and continues to mean for some, individual freedom, private property, free enterprise and impartial rule of law under constitutionally limited government.

What If Every Person Paid an Equal Share of the Military Budget?
Government employees and their apologists like to lecture Americans about how "freedom isn't free." And indeed it isn't. If military costs were spread out evenly, a family of four would be paying more than $9,000 per year.


What We Lost on September 11th
The cliché is true: September 11, 2001, represents a defining American moment. Generation X and Millennials suddenly had their own day of infamy, just as their parents and grandparents had Pearl Harbor and the Kennedy assassination. 9/11 marked the end of a relatively untroubled time in the US following the 1980 and 90s, and the beginning of a dark turn that continues to this day. Optimism, an enduring feature of the American psyche (rightly or wrongly identified as buncombe by Mencken) suddenly was in short supply.

Congress Exploits Hurricane to Raise Debt Ceiling
Former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel famously counseled politicians to never let a crisis go to waste. Sadly, this week President Trump and congressional leaders of both parties showed that they have taken this advice to heart when they attached a debt ceiling increase and an extension of government spending to the over 15 billion dollars Hurricane Harvey relief bill. This maneuver enabled Congress to avoid a contentious debate over whether to pass a clean debt ceiling increase or to pair it with spending cuts. After all, few members of Congress want to be accused of blocking a bipartisan deal to help those suffering from Harvey over what the media will spin as a “right-wing anti-government” crusade.

Why Police Cannot (and Will Not) Protect Our Rights
It would seem that most people on the planet have seen the viral video of Alex Wubbels, the nurse at the University of Utah Medical Center, being arrested by police officer Jeff Payne because she insisted on following state and federal law, along with hospital protocol, regarding Payne’s demand that he be permitted to draw blood from a car accident victim. Most police today – and most politicians, frankly – see the rights of due process enshrined in the Bill of Rights not as rights that police need to protect, but rather as barriers to “good police work.”

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from Orthodox Christianity

REMEMBERING 9/11
Even 16 years after the events, when I see any documentaries on TV about the terrorist attack on the United State on 11 September 2001, I find myself hypnotized by the images on the screen. A paralysis of disbelief takes over as I watch in horror the events unfolding and experience the terror and sorrow of the victims and their families – images that seem burned into my memory.

________

from The Spokesman-Review

________

from The Wall Street Journal

What It’s Like to Be Smeared by the Southern Poverty Law Center
Carol M. Swain: I paid a professional price when the group attacked me in 2009. Now I wear its mud as a badge of honor. Richard Cohen, president of the Southern Poverty Law Center, was to testify before the House Homeland Security Committee about threats posed by domestic extremist groups. The hearing, scheduled for Tuesday, has been postponed because of Hurricane Irma. As a black conservative who has been smeared by the SPLC, I recommend against reinviting Mr. Cohen. When Morris Dees and Joseph J. Levin Jr. started the SPLC in 1971, it was needed and it had noble goals. In recent years, however, it has become a tool of the radical left. Domestically, it uses its influence to paint with a broad brush that smears immigration restrictionists, orthodox Christian churches and pro-family organizations as “hate groups.” blog entry titled “Mission Creep and the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Misguided Focus.” I pointed out the SPLC’s silence about video footage released after the 2008 elections showing members of the New Black Panther Party, decked out in full paramilitary regalia, patrolling a polling precinct in Philadelphia where they were clearly intimidating white voters. Although several news organizations covered the story, the SPLC ignored the incident. At the time, the law center was spending an inordinate amount of time attacking then-CNN host Lou Dobbs for his relentless focus on illegal immigration. It demanded that CNN fire the anchor. After CNN and Mr. Dobbs parted ways, the SPLC took credit for getting him off the air. I ended my post with a one-liner that raised the ire of the organization and had a devastating effect on my life. I wrote: “Rather than monitoring hate groups, the Southern Poverty Law Center has become one.”

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In the news, Sunday, September 10, 2017

________

SEP 09      INDEX      SEP 11

________

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

________

from BBC News (UK)

LEFT-CENTER BIAS

Mexico earthquake: Death toll rises to 90
At least 90 people have died in Thursday's 8.1 magnitude earthquake in Mexico, officials have confirmed. A government spokesman said 71 people had been killed in the south-west state of Oaxaca alone.

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from FEE (Foundation for Economic Education)

RIGHT-CENTER BIAS, HIGH, non-profit organization

History Shows We Don't Need Big Government to Clean Up Big Disasters
Why do we assume that federal agencies have to take the lead after a natural disaster? The large-scale federal intervention we saw during and after Hurricanes Katrina, Sandy, and Harvey is a relatively recent phenomenon. Prior to recent decades, the private sector handled much of the nation’s disaster response and rebuilding. The US military and National Guard have long played important roles, but private charities and businesses have been central to disaster response throughout US history.

The Blockchain Can Solve Internet Censorship and Copyright Issues
Blockchain technology is the tool the Internet was intended to become. Over time, the Internet has acted as a safe haven for those that seek to find information and those that seek to expose it. However, its centralized, yet global, structure has made it the perfect vehicle for surveillance and censorship, allowing information to be edited and even removed at will. But decentralized Blockchain networks grant authority to none, regardless of their wealth or social status.

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from Mises Institute

[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

Rule by Experts?
The populist sentiment behind the Brexit vote, the election of Donald Trump, increasing skepticism of the mainstream media, distrust of higher education institutions, and similar phenomena has given rise to a worry among experts that society no longer values expertise. Does the increasingly skeptical attitude among the general public towards "experts" pose a grave threat to society?

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from The Spokesman-Review

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from Sputnik

(Russian government-supported propaganda channel)

NATO Secretary General Calls for 'Global Response' to North Korea’s Nuke Tests
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Sunday that the global community should collectively respond to Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile tests, which pose a threat to the entire world. Stoltenberg stressed that NATO urges North Korea to abandon its nuclear and missile programs and to stop tests that are a "blatant violation" of several UN security resolutions. "The reckless behavior of North Korea is a global threat and requires a global response, and that of course also includes NATO," Stoltenberg told the BBC broadcaster.

Premonition of War: Japan Backs US Plan to Curb N Korea's Oil Imports
The US Treasury’s proposal to target North Korea’s oil imports is very similar in spirit to the oil embargo that the US slapped on Imperial Japan in 1941 which triggered the attack on Pearl Harbor, thus bringing the prospect of a full-scale military conflict closer.

US President Trump Declares Major Disaster in Puerto Rico Amid Hurricane Irma
US President Donald Trump declared an emergency situation in Puerto Rico, affected by Hurricane Irma, and ordered to provide assistance to local residents, the White House said in a statement on Sunday. "Today, President Donald J. Trump declared that a major disaster exists in the commonwealth of Puerto Rico and ordered Federal aid to supplement Commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by Hurricane Irma beginning on September 5, 2017, and continuing," the statement read.

Tit for Tat: Furious Ankara Issues Travel Warning for Turks in Germany
In a sign of further deterioration in bilateral relations, Turkey has retaliated to Germany's warning about travel to Turkey, with some advice of its own about the risks of visiting Germany.

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from The Washington Post

Hurricane Irma is literally pulling the ocean away from shorelines
As a meteorologist, there are things you learn in textbooks that you may never see in person. You know they happen theoretically, but the chances of seeing the most extraordinary weather phenomena are slim to none. This is one of those things — a hurricane strong enough to change the shape of an ocean. Hurricane Irma’s winds are so strong, it’s pulling water away from the shoreline. It happened in the Bahamas on Friday and Saturday, and now it’s happening on the Gulf Coast of Florida on Sunday.

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In the news, Saturday, September 9, 2017

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SEP 08      INDEX      SEP 10

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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 FEE (Foundation for Economic Education)

[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

A Rogues Gallery of Right-Hegelians
A major project of mine for the last three years has been to trace the origin and development of the ideas that led to today’s alt-right activists. They have emerged on the political scene suddenly and with impressive ferocity. Some people just assume that they represent nothing but a melange of hate and racism. This is too simple. Even the most dumbed-down political movement is built by parrots of defunct philosophers. If you are tempted by the alt-right, here is your intellectual family tree.

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from Miami Herald

Leonard Pitts Jr.: Hurricanes are not a liberal conspiracy, trust me on this one

Unfortunately for those of us craving clear cause and effect, the answer from scientists is a bit more nuanced. Asking if global warming caused all this is, it turns out, like asking if old age causes arthritis and bad eyesight. It doesn’t, but it does make those things more likely — and exacerbates them when they occur.

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from New Statesman

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

From Caloy to Irma - the storms that change everything
In 2006, I found myself in the eye of a super typhoon. It was far more terrible than I could have imagined.

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from The Spokesman-Review

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from Sputnik

(Russian government-supported propaganda channel)

Deadly Hurricane Irma Begins Assault on Florida, Hurricane Jose Close Behind
Lines of cars are lengthening along highways after an unprecedented 7 million people were told to evacuate low-lying coastal areas of Florida as deadly Hurricane Irma, forecast to maintain Category 4 strength over the next 24 hours, has already begun to strike the Sunshine State as of Saturday. Winds of up to 75 mph have been recorded in the southern reaches of the state, and are predicted to approach 125 mph or more on Sunday, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), as the large and dangerous storm speeds toward the US mainland.

Alleged US Evacuation of Daesh Field Commanders: 'We Are Rescuing Our Allies'
A source has told Sputnik that US Air Force aircraft had evacuated a group of nearly two dozen Daesh (ISIS) field commanders and militants from Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria last month. Retired US Air Force Lieut Col. Karen Kwiatkowski says this is standard operating procedure for CIA black ops looking to cover their trail after an operation. On Thursday, a military and diplomatic source told Sputnik that USAF helicopters had evacuated 22 Daesh field commanders and militants from areas outside the city of Deir ez-Zor in late August, amid a successful operation by Syrian government forces to free the area from terrorist control. The militants were reportedly taken to northern Syria. The US-led coalition's press office told Sputnik that the allegations were "false." Asked to comment, Karen Kwiatkowski, a retired US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel turned anti-neoconservative activist, told Sputnik that these evacuees were likely people that the US military and intelligence establishment wanted to protect, "particularly people with evidence that could be used against the US [during] negotiations."

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