News for Today (12/22/16)

Bogus News Story Of The Day.

N.Y. Times’ Fake News That Electoral College Was Created to Protect Slavery . I saw the New York Times article and was going to post it in bogus news. But I did not want to take the time to explain to the historically ignorant why it was so bogus. The above article does a pretty decent job. I think one of the things that make the “Electoral College Protected Slavery” sound so plausible to the ignorant is that it did have something of that effect later on. But in the beginning of the country, the Southern states did not feel the need of that kind of protection. Moreover, only two states had no slaves when this country was founded. So “protecting” slavery was not really a big concern.

In The News

Russian hacks into Ukraine power grids a sign of things to come for U.S.? and Russian hackers tracked Ukrainian artillery units using Android implant: report. I would like to note that these things have been going on for a long time. But now they are newsworthy because they help the “scary Russians cost Hillary the election” meme. That said, it probably is coming to a town near you even if the Russians don’t do it.

Polaris Wins Canadian Special Forces Ultra-Light Combat Vehicle Contract. I find this kinda of funny. In World War II, we had the jeep. Then NATO (primarily the US) kept making the “Jeep” bigger and more heavily armored until they became the Monsters that modern soldiers ride around it. Now, the Jeep is back (US is already using something like this).

The Infuriating Math Behind Overbooking. Yeah, we all know this. But it pays to be reminded that they really are out to get you.

Brexit poll: Six months on, Brits stand by EU referendum decision. I think this more evidence of how the major media don’t have that big of an impact anymore. If they did have influence on how people think, everyone in the UK would have repented by now.

Not In The News But Should Be

State-Sponsored Terror in Argentina I have been following this story for a long time. I have to say in impresses me that there are enough semi-honest people in Argentina that it is worth the Government’s time to go through all this work to cover its tracks.

 

Entertainment of the Day

News for Today (12/21/16)

Bogus News Story Of The Day.

Still nothing.

In The News

The more we learned about antibiotic resistance in bacteria, the more we learned that there was a problem.

China’s Bond Rout Triggers Turmoil as Leverage Curbs Bite

This Man Gets Paid $4,000 for Slicing a Leg of Spanish Cured Ham Not really news worthy, but good for a laugh.

A Look Inside Cybercriminal Call Centers

Hardware store zip guns

Not In The News But Should Be

The Foolish Reason The Federal Government Is Storing A Literal Mountain Of Cheese

Entertainment of the Day

The below video is the start of a really cool series put out by a guy determined to bring the old late medieval fencing manuals to life. If it tickles your fancy it should be easy to find the rest of them. I actually think the later ones are more entertaining but it is better to start at the beginning.

News for Today (12/20/16)

Bogus News Story Of The Day.

Nothing for today. I guess my outrage receptors are getting dull.

In The News

Trump wins Electoral College vote. Two republican electors switched from Trump. Eight democratic electors switched from Hillary (or tried to, not clear that all will be allowed to.

In Russia, Dozens Die After Drinking Alcohol Substitute

Case Against Berlin Suspect Crumbles

Breaking: Green on Blue Murder, Russian Ambassador to Turkey It shows that assassin as having amazingly good trigger discipline for that part of the world.

Marais: the chic Paris district where rats outnumber residents

Not In The News But Should Be

Ignore the stuff about counterinsurgency and focus on the details about Chicago crime that don’t often make it to the news.

Chicago’s Gangland Counterinsurgency

Entertainment of the Day

The below clip tells you something you already know and it is not all that scientific. Still, it should be required viewing by all idiots who think that all season tires are sufficient.

News for Today (12/19/16)

Bogus News Story Of The Day.

Don’t have anything for this.

In The News

Stronger ‘superbugs,’ and no new drugs to fight them

The Ghost Ship

OxyContin goes global — “We’re only just getting started”

Molten iron river discovered speeding beneath Russia and Canada

Is Mental Health Declining in the U.S.?

Truck Crashes into Christmas Market in Berlin

Not In The News But Should Be

China’s November Reserve Drain

Entertainment of the Day

You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive

News for Today (12/18/16)

Bogus News Story Of The Day.

“The electoral college is enshrined in the Constitution, but that doesn’t necessarily make it constitutional.”

In The News

The NYT Is Having a Meltdown Over Trump’s Israel Nominee

It’s Official: Clinton’s Popular Vote Win Came Entirely From California

Solar System’s biggest asteroid is an ancient ocean world

Most of Greenland Melted In the Recent Past, Study Finds

World Energy Hits a Turning Point: Solar That’s Cheaper Than Wind I am skeptical that they have the grid issues resolved. But in some poor parts of the world, it should be a good option. Plus most Third world countries are use to having an unreliable grid.

Pharma Execs Arrested in Shockingly Organized Scheme to Overprescribe Notorious Opioid

Not In The News But Should Be

Don’t have anything.

Entertainment of the Day

In my opinion, Michiel de Ruyter is a better Admiral then the better known Nelson. Granted, he often had the advantage of fighting in his home waters. But Ruyter fought the comparatively competent English where as Nelson fought poorly trained and led French. Anyway, somebody decided to make a movie about Ruyter fighting the English and it looks pretty cool to a history nerd like me. If I had to guess, I would say it is centered around the 4 day battle.

A lot of things don’t look right to me. For one thing, I don’t think that the English wore uniforms at this point in their navy’s history but I am sure the movies makers did that to make it easier to tell who is who. But over all, the clips look like someone trying to do justice to sailing age warfare.

https://youtu.be/t8u-sAtEjvQ

https://youtu.be/6rdXpxouK1U

https://youtu.be/5qn6oMaXAks

https://youtu.be/eCRtQ5GG_gE

https://youtu.be/jMoYq9MN23Q

News for Today (12/17/16)

Bogus News Story Of The Day.

Tech Upgrades Just Aren’t That Great Anymore. Someone more technical then me can correct me if I am wrong, but I am pretty sure the author’s problems with tech upgrades are primarily issues that Apple has created and not problems with the state of technology in general. Granted, faster processor speeds don’t do you much good anymore, but there are lots of other benefits from upgrading if you are not slavishly loyal to Apple.

In The News

Mylan launches EpiPen generic at $300 per two-pack . Only means something if you remember the fuss. But I do find it odd that a company is launching a generic version of its own brand. Why not drop the price of the original?

The Fall of Aleppo

The Government Finally Has A Realistic Estimate Of Killings By Police . A little bit dubious.

Autism linked to vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy, researchers find

How critical should we be of Vladimir Putin?

Total Loss: Overnight House Fire Levels Triangle Home

The chilling stories behind Japan’s ‘evaporating people’

Not In The News But Should Be

Don’t have anything for this today.

Entertainment of the Day

Some context for the final showdown.

I am not a big fan of western stare at each other and shoot fights. But I will make an exception for this one.

https://youtu.be/NE3mHhpGV2A

News for Today (12/15/16)

Bogus News Story Of The Day.

“The Russians hacked the election” stories are starting to drive me insane. They are everywhere and stupid beyond belief so there is no point in linking to one particular one. Instead, I will link to somebody trying to be sane (And she was an Obama voter).

In The News

EgyptAir crash: Explosives found on victims, say investigators

South China Sea Artificial Islands Have Weapons Installed: Report

Did Obamacare Really Insure 20 Million?

Netanyahu and Sisi Building Strong Security Ties

Iran starts nuclear program after US ‘violation’ of deal

One boy dead, another recovering after being trapped in snowbank

Not In The News But Should Be

So Who Gets to Pay for Italy’s Banking Crisis?

Entertainment of the Day

Today’s Entertainment comes from the CIA. This use to be classified (Warning, link downloads a PDF). Background on this file here

News for Today (12/14/16)

Bogus News Story Of The Day.

The Daily 202: Ayn Rand-acolyte Donald Trump stacks his cabinet with fellow objectivists.

In The News

Trump names Elon Musk, Uber CEO to advisory team

Cyber: the DNC Hack

The Futuristic Utensils Designed to Help You Eat Bugs

Tillerson’s record at Exxon shows a tough pragmatist

Not In The News But Should Be

Demonetisation for behavioural change

Entertainment of the Day

News for Today (12/13/16)

Bogus News Story Of The Day.

Bipartisan Electors Ask James Clapper: Release Facts on Outside Interference in U.S. Election. People have such a hard time resisting obvious lies. In this case the lie is the word “bipartisan” (to be fair, I think there is one nominal Republican in the bunch but that would not make it “bipartisan” if the shoe were on the other foot).

In The News

One Weight-Loss Approach Fits All? No, Not Even Close

Found: A Lost City in Greece. Nothing that noteworthy. Just a reminder of how little they know about even the areas that have been study to death.

Records: Too many votes in 37% of Detroit’s precincts. I have been beating this one to death. But the rumour mill has been constantly pointing towards fraud in this city long before it became somewhat “Official”. It will be interesting to see where the “Audits” go.

After their big election victory there is nothing to stop Republicans from dismantling Obamacare. So naturally they’re figuring out how to blow it.

Viruses may have evolved to hit men hard but go easy on women

Not In The News But Should Be

Exclusive: Top U.S. spy agency has not embraced CIA assessment on Russia hacking – sources For all the fuss about the CIA saying the Russians waged cyber warfare to help get Trump elected, you have to read far and wide to figure out what the CIA thinks they actually did.

Entertainment of the Day

https://youtu.be/D97OxHZzBeQ

News for Today (12/12/16)

Bogus News Story Of The Day

Methane surge needs ‘urgent attention’. What makes this story bogus is the allegation that the sudden surge over the last few years in methane emissions comes from agriculture sources. They don’t even try to pinpoint those sources or explain why it suddenly spiked.

Why do they pick on agriculture as opposed to fracking or other sources that could produce a more plausible sudden upsurge? I have read in other sources that this is because fracking or pipeline bursts should be locatable. Since they can’t locate any obvious culprits, they blame agriculture solely on the ground that it is impossible to prove that agriculture did not cause the sudden increase in the last few years.

In The News

Europeans Debate Nuclear Self-Defense after Trump Win

As U.S. Shale Seeps Into Biggest Oil Market, Saudis Hone Defense

All These Spy Planes Over Tunisia — Where Are They Coming From?

Not In The News But Should Be

Mosul Dam collapse ‘will be worse than a nuclear bomb’ . This Dam was in the news when people thought that ISIS might blow it up. But the real problem is the dam itself. And if the descriptions of the problems with it are accurate, it can’t really be fixed. My personal bet on how it fails involves heavy rains that political pressure requires them to be held back (this does happen on occasion even in this part of the world).

Entertainment of the Day

I don’t have anything for today.