The Power Hour News
 The Power Hour News
Today's News: The Riley Report
JANUARY 2017
Friday - January    13, 2017
Today In History:
1794 - U.S. President Washington approved a measure adding two stars    and two stripes to the American flag, following the admission of Vermont    and Kentucky to the union.
1893 - Britain's Independent Labor Party, a precursor to the current    Labor Party, met for the first time.
1900 - In Austria-Hungary, Emperor Franz Joseph decreed that German    would be the language of the imperial army to combat Czech nationalism.
1966 - Elizabeth Montgomeryï¿½s character, Samantha, on "Bewitched," had a    baby. The baby's name was Tabitha.
1966 - Robert C. Weaver became the first black Cabinet member when he    was appointed Secretary of Housing and Urban Development by U.S.    President Johnson.
1986 - "The Wall Street Journal" printed a real picture on its front    page. The journal had not done this in nearly 10 years. The story was    about artist, O. Winston Link and featured one of his works.
1990 - L. Douglas Wilder of Virginia, the nation's first elected black    governor, took the oath of office in Richmond.
1992 - Japan apologized for forcing tens of thousands of Korean women to    serve as sex slaves for Japanese soldiers during World War II.
2002 - Japan and Singapore signed a free trade pact that would remove    tariffs on almost all goods traded between the two countries.
2002 - U.S. President George W. Bush fainted after choking on a pretzel.
2009 - Ethiopian military forces began pulling out of Somalia, where    they had tried to maintain order for nearly two years.
World News
US tanks and soldiers in Poland pose threat to Russia ï¿½ Kremlin
RT - Russia sees the deployment of US tanks and other military      vehicles, along with army personnel, as a threat to its national      security and interests, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov      said. ï¿½We see this as a threat. These actions pose a threat to      our interests and security,ï¿½ Peskov told journalists on      Thursday, stressing ï¿½especially, when a third country is beefing      up its military presence along our borders with Europe.ï¿½ ï¿½And      this is not even a European country,ï¿½ he added. Eighty-seven      battle tanks, 144 Bradley fighting vehicles, and over 3,000      soldiers are on their way from Germany to Poland. An official      ceremony to mark the arrival of the US servicemen was scheduled      to take place on January 12. The brigades are to be deployed      mainly in the western part of Poland, but drills have been      planned that are to be conducted across the whole country. After      the military exercises, the soldiers are to be distributed among      Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, and the Baltic countries. A      headquarters unit will be stationed in Germany. The arrival of      American military equipment and personnel in Poland is another      step in Operation Atlantic Resolve, a large-scale military      undertaking that the US launched in April of 2014, right after      Crimea voted to join Russia, as a demonstration of ï¿½continued US      commitment to the collective security of Europe.ï¿½ NATO describes      the buildup along Russiaï¿½s borders as a defensive measure      justified by Moscowï¿½s alleged involvement in the Ukrainian      crisis.
Russia reduces military presence in Syria, Su-25 transfer to      Khmeimim is planned rotation ï¿½ MoD
RT - The Russian Defense Ministry has said that it is continuing      to scale down its military presence in Syria, with the recent      transfer of four Su-25 aircraft to Khmeimim airbase part of a      planned troop rotation. ï¿½In accordance with the order of the      Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation,      the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation is      implementing measures to reduce Russiaï¿½s military presence in      the Syrian Arab Republic,ï¿½ Defense Ministry spokesman      Major-General Igor Konashenkov said on Thursday. He added that      the Russian Navyï¿½s aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, and      its group, which numbers more than 40 naval aviation aircraft,      will be the first to return from the Mediterranean Sea to their      base in Severomorsk, where Russiaï¿½s Northern Fleet is permanent      stationed. In addition, the first six Su-24 bombers have already      been relocated from the Khmeimim airbase to the territory of the      Russian Federation. The withdrawal of other aircraft, as well as      pilots and technical staff from the territory of the Syrian Arab      Republic is planned for the nearest future,ï¿½ Konashenkov noted.      He also said that, in the meantime, four Russian Su-25      airplanes, which NATO calls Frogfoots, have been deployed at      Khmeimim, explaining that the transfer is part of a planned      troop rotation.
US raid on Afghan homes saw 33 civilians killed, probe confirms
RT - Thirty-three civilians were killed and 27 wounded as US      troops fired on Afghan homes during a shootout with the Taliban      in the northern Kunduz province in November, the US military in      Afghanistan has confirmed following an investigation. ï¿½The      investigation determined, regretfully, that 33 civilians were      killed and 27 wounded. To defend themselves and Afghan forces,      US forces returned fire in self-defense at Taliban who were      using civilian houses as firing positions,ï¿½ the statement said.      Since the actions were defined as self-defense, no further      action will be taken. The probe followed allegations that      multiple civilian deaths resulted from airstrikes called in to      support Afghan and US troops under fire in the village of Buz. "Regardless of the circumstances, I deeply regret the loss of      innocent lives," Gen. John Nicholson, commander of US Forces in      Afghanistan, said in a statement on Thursdayï¿½. According to the      US military, the ill-fated operation was conducted to capture      Taliban leaders and was carried out by Afghan special operation      forces backed by a ï¿½US element to provide advice and      assistance.ï¿½
Israeli Airstrikes Target Military Airport in Damascus - Syrian      State TV
Sputnik News - A Mezzah military air facility was struck by      several explosions near the Syrian capital of Damascus. Israeli      rockets took aim at an ammunitions hub, producing an enormous      explosion, according to Syrian state TV. "Rockets strike at      Mezzeh Military airport in Damascus minutes ago," Hadi al-Bahra,      former president of the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution      and Opposition Forces said on Twitter in the early hours of      Friday, posting pictures of the explosions. The blasts were      reportedly caused by heavy bombing conducted by Israel, local      activists and journalists reported on Twitter. The airport is a      major strategic asset used by Syrian elites, military officials      and troops as a transit complex. The Syrian government also used      the airport as a military outpost to launch artillery shells at      former rebel-held areas in the suburbs of Damascus. The death      toll from the attacks has yet to be determined, according to a      journalist on the ground. The airstrikes "may have taken out      Syrian commanders," according to Georgetown Center for Security      Studies' John Arterbury.
ï¿½Stop island-building, prevent accessï¿½: Tillerson threatens      tough stance over S. China Sea
RT - Beijing should be denied access to islands it has built in      the disputed South China Sea, according to Donald Trumpï¿½s      nominee for secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, who likened the      construction to ï¿½Russia taking Crimeaï¿½ from Ukraine. Asked      whether he was in favor of Washington taking a tougher stance      toward China, the former ExxonMobil CEO replied: ï¿½Weï¿½re going to      have to send China a clear signal that, first, the      island-building stops and, second, your access to those islands      also is not going to be allowed.ï¿½ Tillerson did not elaborate on      how exactly Beijing might be blocked from the artificial islands      but said he considered its South China Sea activity "extremely      worrisome." It would be a threat to the "entire global economy" if Beijing were able to dictate access to the waterway, he      added. Tillerson branded as "illegal" the Chinese declaration of      an air defense zone in the East China Sea, which Beijing      contests with Japanï¿½. The former CEO, 64, blamed the situation      on what he called an inadequate response from the outgoing Obama      administration.
Ruckus erupts in Turkish parliament as MPs debate new      constitution (VIDEO)
RT - The fifth article of a constitutional reform package has      been adopted by the Turkish parliament amid a mass brawl between      the ruling party and members of the opposition. Lawmakers      convened in Ankara on Wednesday to debate an 18-article series      of constitutional reforms that will be put to a referendum later      this year. The fracas began when members of the Republican      Peopleï¿½s Party (CHP) complained about MPs from the ruling      Justice and Development Party (AKP) openly casting their votes      in what was supposed to be a secret ballot on the third article      of the new constitution. Opposition lawmakers were concerned      that the open vote was an attempt to put pressure on MPs who      might be considering casting their ballots against the reforms,      according to the Turkish daily Hurriyet.
Chinaï¿½s ï¿½war on pollutionï¿½ leads to 720 arrests, $63.6mn in      fines
RT - China detained 720 people and imposed fines totaling $63.6      million last year as part of its ï¿½war on pollution,ï¿½ according      to state media. The arrests and fines took place following      random inspections and public tip-offs. The central government      looked into 33,000 cases of potential violations of      environmental protection laws in 2016, according to data      disclosed at a national environment work conference, as cited by      state news outlet Xinhua. Fines totaling 440 million yuan      (US$63.6 million) were handed down, and 720 arrests were madeï¿½.      It comes just one week after smog levels in China reached      historic levels, with as many as 32 cities under ï¿½red alertï¿½ -      the country's most severe pollution warning. Two other red      alerts in Beijing forced the closures of schools and factories      in December, and half the city's cars being banned from the      roads.
U.S. News, Politics & Government
Rand Paul: Trump Intel Leakers ï¿½Should Go To Jailï¿½
Steve Watson - Kentucky Senator Rand Paul said Wednesday that      those responsible for leaking intelligence pertaining to Donald      Trump, whether fake or not, should be prosecuted and jailed.      ï¿½What I would say is that if there is private information that      someone is blackmailing a public figure and the public figure or someone takes it to the intelligence agencies, you would think      it would be private. And really, this is so important that I      think whoever leaked it should be prosecuted.ï¿½ Paul told Fox      Newsï¿½ Neil Cavuto. ï¿½Someone should go to jail. If this was an      intelligence agency head talked to the media, they should go to      jail. If it was the Obama administration, they should go to      jail.ï¿½ Paul urged. ï¿½The reason is you donï¿½t want your public      figures succumbing to blackmail.ï¿½ Paul continued. ï¿½Now heï¿½s      saying the information is false and I have to rely on his word      on that. But letï¿½s say any public official is being blackmailed.      What are you supposed to do? Youï¿½re supposed to go to the FBI      and give them the information.ï¿½ The Senator further noted. ï¿½But      if you canï¿½t trust the FBI to keep it secret and the FBI is      going to tell the press what someone is blackmailing you about,      what will happen is it will lead to where more public figures      will be likely to be extorted or to be blackmailed.ï¿½ Paul      lamented. Reports suggest that individuals named within the fake      dossier could take legal action against Buzzfeed, for      proliferating the salacious material.
They Go Lowï¿½ Report: Obama Officials Used ï¿½Russia Blackmailï¿½      Claims to Undermine Trump-Israel Relations
Breitbart - U.S. intelligence officials warned their Israeli      counterparts not to trust President-elect Donald Trump with      intelligence secrets, citing alleged fears that Russia held      blackmail information over Trump, according to a report today in      Israelï¿½s respected Yediot Ahronot daily newspaper. The alleged      blackmail information that U.S. officials reportedly warned      Israel about seems to be in part referencing details contained      in a debunked document of mysterious origin purporting to be an      intelligence report alleging that Russia collected compromising      videos and information on Trump. In the report, investigative      journalist Ronen Bergman writes of a meeting that took place      ï¿½recently between Israeli and American intelligence officials      (the date of the meeting is not mentioned to protect the sources      of the report).ï¿½
Former MI6 officer Christopher Steele, who produced Donald Trump      Russian dossier, 'terrified for his safety' and went to ground      before name released
The Telegraph - Christopher Steele, 52, fled from his home in      Surrey on Wednesday morning after realizing it was only a matter      of time until his name became public knowledge. A source close      to Mr Steele said on Wednesday night that he now fears a prompt      and potentially dangerous backlash against him from Moscowï¿½.      With his cover about to be blown, Mr Steele hurriedly packed his      bags and went to ground hours before his name was published on      Wednesdayï¿½. Mr Steele, who spied in Moscow for the Secret      Intelligence Service in the 1990s, fled from his home in Surrey      after leaving his cat with a neighbor and telling them he would      be away ï¿½for a few daysï¿½.
Opposition Firm Behind Trump Dossier Is Also Hired Gun For      Planned Parenthood
The Daily Caller - The opposition research firm that hired a      former British spy to dig up dirt on Donald Trump is the same      shady outfit that was hired by Planned Parenthood to put a      positive spin on videos showing the sale of baby parts. The New      York Times reported on Wednesday that Washington D.C.-based      Fusion GPS is the firm that hired Christopher Steele, the former      British spy who authored the salacious but unsubstantiated      35-page Trump dossier that was published by BuzzFeed on      Tuesdayï¿½. After Steele was identified, the next mystery was the      identity of his employer. The Times cleared that up by      identifying Fusion GPS, an opposition research firm started by      former Wall Street Journal reporter Glenn Simpson in 2010.      According to The Times, Fusion GPS was hired to research Trump      in Sept. 2015 by a wealthy GOP donor who was vehemently opposed      to the real estate billionaire. But after Trump emerged as the      GOP nominee, the unidentified Republican donor dropped the      project. But Democrats who support Hillary Clinton had an      interest in the information, according to The Times.
Obama ends visa-free path for Cubans who make it to US soil
(AP) - President Barack Obama announced Thursday he is ending a      longstanding immigration policy that allows any Cuban who makes      it to U.S. soil to stay and become a legal resident. The repeal      of the "wet foot, dry foot" policy is effective immediately. The      decision follows months of negotiations focused in part on      getting Cuba to agree to take back people who had arrived in the      U.S. "Effective immediately, Cuban nationals who attempt to      enter the United States illegally and do not qualify for      humanitarian relief will be subject to removal, consistent with      U.S. law and enforcement priorities," Obama said in a statement. "By taking this step, we are treating Cuban migrants the same      way we treat migrants from other countries. The Cuban government      has agreed to accept the return of Cuban nationals who have been      ordered removed, just as it has been accepting the return of      migrants interdicted at sea." The Cuban government praised the      move. In a statement read on state television, it called the      signing of the agreement "an important step in advancing      relations" between the U.S. and Cuba that "aims to guarantee      normal, safe and ordered migration."
Nutty Elizabeth Warren Tries To Trap Ben Carson at Hearing      (Video)
The GatewayPundit - On Thursday renowned neurosurgeon Ben Carson      sat before Elizabeth Warren in a Senate committee and was      questioned about his ability to lead the department of Housing      and Urban Development. President-elect Donald Trumpï¿½s decision      not to sell his businesses is providing opportunities for      Democrats who are in need of attention to try to embarrass him      and his Cabinet picks. Elizabeth Warren took on Ben Carson,      Trumpï¿½s choice to head the department of Housing and Urban      Development and tried to trap him on numerous occasions by her      line of questioning. ï¿½Can you assure me that not a single      taxpayer dollar you give out will financially benefit the      president-elect or his family?ï¿½ Warren said. She said she was      trying to ï¿½highlight the absurdityï¿½ of Trump continuing to hold      business interests. ï¿½I will manage things that benefit the      American people,ï¿½ he said, adding that using common sense and      reason are the best tools to use when making decisions.      Elizabeth Warren is a notorious liar who falsely claimed that      she was native american so she could get into Harvard Law School      earning her the nick name Pocahontas.
12 year old girl commits suicide online, Georgia cops struggling      to take down video
RT - The live broadcast of a 12-year-old girl committing suicide      has sparked outrage online, after authorities said they lack the      power to remove the video from the internet. Katelyn Nicole      Davis hung herself in the front yard of her Cedartown, Georgia,      house on December 30, streaming her death for the world to see.      The video reportedly runs for just over 40 minutes and      apparently ends only after the parents discover the body of the      girl. The suicide occurred after Davis announced that she had      been physically and sexually abused by a family member. Davis'      death has since been shared online, with Polk County Police      Chief Kenny Dodd stating that authorities have cannot force      websites to take down the footage, despite their best effortsï¿½.      According to reports by the local outlet Coosa Valley News,      three days prior to the suicide police launched an investigation      into Davisï¿½ allegations of sexual abuse.
Veteran News
David Shulkin picked to head Department of Veterans Affairs
CNN - President-elect Donald Trump has tapped David Shulkin to      head the Department of Veterans Affairs, he announced      Wednesdayï¿½. Shulkin is the VA's current undersecretary for      health, a position in which he oversaw more than 1,700 health      care sites across the United States. Before joining the VA,      Shulkin was president and CEO of the Beth Israel Medical Center      in New York City and president of the Morristown Medical Center.      He was also the chief medical officer of the University of      Pennsylvania Health Systemï¿½. Veterans' care advocates had said      they'd seen clear signs of progress and had lobbied Trump to      keep current VA Secretary Robert McDonald in the postï¿½. After      joining the VA in 2015, Shulkin -- who is not a veteran --      pushed an initiative to expand nurses' authority to provide      care, part of an effort to reduce the VA's backlog. "My number      one imperative is to address the access issue among veterans," he told The Washington Post in 2016. "What we know about      American medicine is that our supply of health-care      professionals is not equally distributed. In rural areas, we      have severe shortages. I've seen firsthand how difficult it is      to recruit to some of the areas where our veterans live. We have      a shortage of both nurses and physicians. We are recruiting      thousands of doctors and advanced-practice nurses."
Economy & Business
Time Warner Stocks Fall After Trump Labels CNN ï¿½Fake Newsï¿½
Mikael Thalen - Media conglomerate Time Warner, which owns CNN,      saw its stocks fall Wednesday after President-elect Donald Trump      labeled the outlet ï¿½fake news,ï¿½ a CNBC reporter says. According      to journalist Carl Quintanilla, the shares took a noticeable dip      during the president-electï¿½s first news conference moments after      Trump refused to answer questions from CNN Senior White House      Correspondent Jim Acosta. ï¿½Your organization is terribleï¿½ï¿½ Trump      said repeatedly. ï¿½Iï¿½m not going to give you a question. You are      fake news.ï¿½ Steve Kopack, a social lead for CNBCï¿½s breaking news      desk, also stated that shares ï¿½fell to session low.ï¿½ While the      dip was just ï¿½1.2%,ï¿½ Kopack asserted the incident showed the      ï¿½power of Trumpï¿½s comments.ï¿½
E.P.A. Accuses Fiat Chrysler of Secretly Violating Emissions      Standards
NY Times - The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday      accused Fiat Chrysler of installing secret software that allowed      more than 100,000 of its diesel vehicles to emit pollutants      above legal levels. The case has echoes of one against      Volkswagen, which on Wednesday pleaded guilty to criminal      conspiracy as part of a widespread emissions-cheating scheme. In      both cases, the government focused on software in vehicles that      can adjust emissions levels. The accusations against Fiat      Chrysler also appeared to be part of a last push by the Obama      administration to finish investigations and negotiations      involving companiesï¿½. Sergio Marchionne, chief executive of Fiat      Chrysler, mounted an impassioned defense, denying that the      company had intentionally broken the lawï¿½. The 104,000 affected      vehicles include the light-duty model year 2014, 2015 and 2016      Jeep Grand Cherokees and Dodge Ram 1500 trucks with 3-liter      diesel engines sold in the United States, the E.P.A. said. At      issue is software installed in all modern diesel vehicles that      calibrates an engineï¿½s performance and controls emissions      levels. Federal regulations allow diesel cars to shut off      emissions controls in certain situations ï¿½ to protect an engine      from overheating, for example.
Energy & Environment
Record floods hit West Coast, Californians evacuate by the thousands    (Photos/Video)
RT - California has been hit by seven days of major rain storms, causing    flooding all over the state and prompting evacuations. More heavy rain    is forecasted for the Golden State in the coming days. After six years    of drought, parts of California have received record amounts of rain,    causing rivers to flood, roads to close, trees to fall, power to go out    and businesses to shut down. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued    several warnings across the state, and authorities have advised    thousands of Californians to evacuate their homes after rivers    overflowedï¿½. The Russian River is predicted to reach its peak of 37.8    feet, more than 6 feet above flood level, according to the NWSï¿½. The    storms have helped California out of a severe drought, filling the    stateï¿½s dwindling reservoirs to record levels. Precipitation filled the    reservoirs with 423 billion gallons of water, or enough to serve more    than 2.5 million families for a year, Maury Roos, a longtime state    hydrologist, told the Los Angeles Times.
Science & Technology
Your Fingerprints Now Can Be Stolen From Selfie Pictures?
Off the Grid News - Your fingerprints might be a major threat to your    privacy. Thatï¿½s because the images taken by smartphone cameras are so    full of detail that it is now possible to copy fingerprints from them,    Professor Isao Echizen of Japanï¿½s National Institute of Informatics told    The Sankei Shimbun newspaper. ï¿½Just by casually making a peace sign in    front of a camera, fingerprints can become widely available,ï¿½ Echizen    said. The problem: An increasing number of new technologies, including    iPhones, use fingerprints to unlock phones. Echizen said fingerprints    can be stolen from pictures taken from up to 10 feet away ï¿½ in other    words, ever selfie youï¿½ve taken where your fingerprints could be seen.    Many people post such pictures on social media. ï¿½Fingerprint data can be    recreated if fingerprints are in focus with strong lighting in a    picture,ï¿½ Echizen told Yomiuri TV. Even worse, the professor said that    advanced technology is not needed to steal fingerprints. As Digital    Trends reported, ï¿½The problem is compounded by photos being shared and    stored online, creating a gallery of fingerprints for thieves to    exploitï¿½. Echizenï¿½s find has other privacy problems: Cops might be able    to identify and locate protestors via a news photograph. All they would    need to do is run the fingerprints from the picture through the    database.
Robot kill switches & legal status: MEPs endorse AI proposal
RT - A European Parliament committee has voted in favor of a draft    report that proposes granting legal status to robots, categorizing them    as ï¿½electronic personsï¿½. The draft report, approved by 17 votes to two    and two abstentions by the European Parliament Committee on Legal    Affairs, proposes that ï¿½The most sophisticated autonomous robots could    be established as having the status of electronic persons with specific    rights and obligations, including that of making good any damage they    may cause.ï¿½ Authored by Luxembourg MEP Mady Delvaux, the report proposes    definitions and outlines rules to govern how robots interact with humans    ï¿½now that humankind stands on the threshold of an eraï¿½ that it claims    will see artificial intelligence (AI) ï¿½unleash a new industrial    revolution.ï¿½ AI developers will have to ensure their creations follow a    set of rules that prohibit them from harming a human or allowing a human    to come to harm through their inaction. AI can protect their own    existence under the rules, if this does not harm any humansï¿½. An opt-out    mechanism or kill switch is also proposed in the report, ensuring any    rogue robots can be turned off easily (provided the designer hasnï¿½t let    their AI outsmart them).
 Gardening, Farming & Homesteading
DHS creates the 'National Livestock Readiness Program' to      control our food supply
MassPrivateI - Last year, DHS gave the National Agricultural      Biosecurity Center (NABC) $331,118 to develop the 'National      Livestock Readiness Programï¿½ï¿½. The government created the FDA      and the USDA to control disease, foodborne pathogens etc., why      do we need a national livestock program run by DHS? The very      name Department of Homeland Security should give people pauseï¿½.      Many of us have watched DHS turn America into a police state      ruled by fear. DHS has created fear of each otherï¿½ fear of      drugs, fear of drunk & drugged driving, fear of terror and now      fear of hate crimesï¿½. None of us could have imagined DHS      controlling our food supply. "The program also entails extensive      collaboration of academia, private industry and state      governments. The center is collaborating with the Kansas      Department of Agriculture to build relationships with other      state departments of agriculture to ensure adoption of best      emergency planning and management practices." "NABC has      extensive experience developing, implementing, and managing      research projects and training programs for multiple state and      federal agencies ï¿½ ranging from the U.S. Departments of Defense,      Agriculture, and Homeland Security ï¿½ to the intelligence      community." "NABC is dedicated to increasing public awareness of      agro-terrorism and developing solutions for improving      agricultural and food production safeguards." Americans have      something else to fear: 'agro-terrorism.' Where does the lunacy      end?
The Government ï¿½ Placing Kill Orders On Homemade Cookies and      Muffins
Natural Blaze - The president of Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense      Fund* recently reported: The Michigan Department of Agriculture      and Rural Development (MDARD) has filed a complaint with the      Livingston County Circuit Court asking that the court order the      destruction of, among other foods, 18 homemade oatmeal cookies      and 17 homemade apple muffins. MDARD seized the cookies,      muffins, and other foods during a September 1, 2016 raid of      Dairy Delight Cow Boarding, LLC, a herd share dairy farm owned      and operated by Kris Unger in Cohoctah Township. FTCLDF members      have been subject to food seizures since the organizationï¿½s      inception, but just about all of the seizures have been of      either meat or dairy products; the enforcement action at Dairy      Delight marks the first seizure of baked goods. The Unger case      is great testimony for why a legal distinction needs to be      established between the public and private distribution of food      and why government agencies should leave the private      distribution of food aloneï¿½. Just as in raids of the past, when      there are complaints of or reports of illnesses such as E. coli,      authorities set their sights on small farm clubs often without a      whisper of proof. A raid will often take place on a Friday      afternoon or perhaps when the farmer is gone, and personal items      like computers are stolen for ï¿½evidenceï¿½ and/or member contact      lists are demanded.
Urban Agrihood In America Feeds 2,000 Households For Free
REALfarmacy - Inhabitat reports that in the city of Detroit ï¿½      which is recognized as a location where many families are      affected by economic imbalance, Americaï¿½s first urban ï¿½Agrihoodï¿½      exists and it feeds approximately 2,000 households. The Michigan      Urban Farming Initiative (MUFI) is responsible for implementing      the three-acre project. Two acres of the land is devoted to      growing crops, such as fruits and vegetables, and the remaining      one acre allows for a fruit orchard with 200 trees.      Additionally, a sensory garden has been constructed for kids to      experience and learn more about sustainable agriculture.
Health
Is it Time for Your Flu Shot or Extra Nutrition?
Natural Blaze - The majority of individuals still fail to      realize that the flu vaccine is neither safe nor effective at      preventing influenza. It is considered one of the most dangerous      of all vaccinations. According to integrative physician Dr.      Mercola, the influenza vaccination has been responsible for causing a serious neurological disease, Guillain-Barrï¿½ Syndrome,      which, in severe cases can cause paralysis and deathï¿½. There are      an estimated 3-6,000 cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome each year.      The flu vaccine is known to contain unsafe amounts of the      neurotoxin mercury. Vaccines have also been found to increase      inflammation in recipients, which, in pregnant women, is linked      to brain damage in their newbornsï¿½. In a comprehensive report by      Barbara Loe Fisher of the National Vaccine Information Center,      Fisher revealed that several European scientific studies have      shown that unvaccinated individuals were less likely to become      ill with influenza and other respiratory illnesses, compared to      those vaccinatedï¿½. The following suggestions can be beneficial      for both prevention and treatment of respiratory illness and      flu. Rest. Drink fluids. Vitamin D: Increasing vitamin D intake      through supplementation or direct sun when possible is very      healing for illness. Take cod liver oil. Cod liver oil is an      excellent source of vitamins D and A, which work together to      ensure good health and healing. Vitamin C: Lots of research      supports the healing power of vitamin C. Adding lemon juice to      water, eating oranges and taking a vitamin C supplement can all      aid the body to heal. One can safely take 4-6 1,000 mg doses of      vitamin C throughout the day, no more than 1,000 mg per hour.      Frankincense essential oil: If it is organic, therapeutic grade      quality, then it is safe to take 2-3 drops in water 2 to 3 times      dailyï¿½. Cinnamon powder mixed with raw honey is a good immune      booster, about ï¿½ to 1 teaspoon each, 3 times daily. Three cloves      of crushed garlic mixed with honey also boosts the immune      system, up to 3 times dailyï¿½. Oil of oregano capsules can help      fight infection. Two capsules taken twice daily can be      effectiveï¿½.
Video: Eleven states get failing grades for nursing home care
CBS News August 9, 2013 - More than one-and-a-half million      Americans live in nursing homes, but the quality of care varies      greatly. A report out Friday shows, for the first time, which      states do a good job of caring for seniors and which fail to      ensure that they won't be neglected or abused. Minnie Graham was      a great-grandmother. At 97, she suffered from dementia. "She was      a fine Christian woman," her granddaughter, Shirley Ballard,      says. "And very loving. She would do anything for anybody." Graham lived in a nursing home outside Dallas for about a year      when her family noticed bruises on her, then two black eyes. "They said she fell out of her wheel chair," Ballard says,      adding she "absolutely" did not believe that had happened.      Graham's family placed a clock, equipped with a hidden camera,      in her bedroom, recording video for weeks. Graham resisted being      changed; a nursing aide mocked her, pulled, pushed, then what      sounds like a slap can be heard. The video also caught another      aide shoving her. "That should never happen to people, ever, in      nursing homes, anywhere," says Brian Lee, executive director of      Families for Better Care. His nonprofit elder advocacy group      released what it says is the first comprehensive state-by-state      review of nursing home careï¿½. States that got As: Alaska, Rhode      Island, New Hampshire, Hawaii, Oregon, Maine, Utah, Idaho, South      Dakota and North Dakota. States that got Fs: Texas, Louisiana,      Indiana, Oklahoma, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, Michigan,      Nevada, Illinois and Iowa. In Oklahoma, a hidden video caught a      nursing assistant shoving a glove in a 96-year-old woman's      mouth. In Ohio, which lacks staff, video caught a caregiver      flinging a senior onto her bed.
* Related: Criminal Care Caught on Camera
Pet News
5 Reasons to Throw Out Your Dry Cat Food ï¿½ Itï¿½s Bad For Your Cat
Natural News Blogs - Dry food is the biggest-selling form of cat food in    the United States, despite the fact that it has been linked to urinary    tract disease, diabetes, dehydration, and obesity. Letï¿½s break through    the ignorance and learn the unpleasant truth about dry cat foodï¿½. Cats    are obligate carnivores. They are biologically designed to eat meat in    the form of the prey they kill. Raw muscle meat, bones, and organs    provide the nutrition that your cat requires. Cats do not naturally    consume corn. Most dry cat foods are corn-based (read: cheap), and    therefore, carbohydrate-heavy. This is not a biologically appropriate    food for your cat. ï¿½ Cats simply donï¿½t get the hydration they need when    consuming a dry food diet. As obligate carnivores, cats naturally get    most of their hydration from eating their moisture-rich prey. Because a    catï¿½s biologically normal food is so rich in water, cats have very low    thirst drives. You typically wonï¿½t see a healthy cat chugging water    after a mealï¿½. Since cats living off of dry food are constantly    dehydrated, their risk of suffering from urinary tract disease is high.    Even dry foods marketed as being good for urinary tract health are    dangerously dehydrating. If your cat develops a urinary tract disease,    itï¿½s a definite sign that itï¿½s time to stop feeding them dry foodï¿½. Many    dry cat food users engage in free-feeding, which encourages frequent    snacking throughout the day. Since dry food is less satiating than a    moisture-rich food, cats tend to eat more of it and will likely gain    weight. When your cat consumes a high-carb diet and is overweight, the    stage is set for feline diabetes.
Thursday - January    12, 2017
Today In History:
1773 - The first public museum in America was established in Charleston,    SC.
1896 - At Davidson College, several students took x-ray photographs.    They created the first X-ray photographs to be made in America.
1915 - The U.S. House of Representatives rejected a proposal to give    women the right to vote.
1915 - The U.S. Congress established the Rocky Mountain National Park.
1940 - Soviet bombers raided cities in Finland.
1942 - U.S. President Roosevelt created the National War Labor Board.
1945 - During World War II, Soviet forces began a huge offensive against    the Germans in Eastern Europe.
1948 - The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states could not discriminate    against law-school applicants because of race.
1966 - President Johnson said in his State of the Union address that the    U.S. should stay in South Vietnam until Communist aggression there was    ended.
1973 - Yassar Arafat was re-elected as head of the Palestinian    Liberation Organization.
1986 - Space shuttle Columbia blasted off with a crew that included the    first Hispanic-American in space, Dr. Franklin R. Chang-Diaz.
1991 - The U.S. Congress passed a resolution authorizing President Bush    to use military power to force Iraq out of Kuwait.
1998 - 19 European nations agreed to prohibit human cloning.
1998 - Linda Tripp provided Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr's office    with taped conversations between herself and former White House intern    Monica Lewinsky.
2000 - The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 5-4 ruling, gave police broad    authority to stop and question people who run at the sight of an    officer.
2006 - The U.S. Mint began shipping new 5-cent coins to the 12 regional    Federal Reserve Banks. The coin has an image of Thomas Jefferson taken    from a 1800 Rembrandt Peale portrait in which the president is looking    forward. Since 1909, when presidents were first depicted on circulating    coins, all presidents had been shown in profile.
World News
US: Afghan Army Canï¿½t Secure Country, Loses Territory to Taliban
Sputnik News - On Wednesday, a US government report stated that      Afghanistanï¿½s security infrastructure must be stabilized to keep      from becoming a sanctuary for terrorists, but noted that Afghan      Security Forces are not yet equipped to secure the country      without assistance. The report by the Special Inspector General      for Afghanistan (SIGAR) rendered an assessment of the country      two years after NATO forces pulled out in 2014, leaving behind a      small training and assisting mission. SIGAR serves as an      oversight group for the spending of US reconstruction funds in      Afghanistan, and their high-risk evaluation notes that Kabul      only controls 63 percent of its territory despite some $70      billion spent to train, bolster and equip Afghan forces. "The      Afghan national defense and security force has not yet been      capable of securing all of Afghanistan and has lost territory to      the insurgency," the report reads. The document also observed      that several areas in the country have become hotbeds for drug      trafficking and corruption, with Inspector General John Sopko      saying, "To combat the Taliban and other threats, the United      States has provided more than $64 billion since 2002, including      $3.45 billion in fiscal year 2016 alone, to support the Afghan      National Army, the Afghan National Police, and the Afghan Air      Force."
US-led coalition ï¿½acts secretively in Syria,ï¿½ Americans often      absent from hotline ï¿½ Russian military
RT - After senior US Air Force officers accused Russian jets of      flying dangerously close in Syria, Russiaï¿½s Defense Ministry hit      back. Moscow said US colleagues only reluctantly share plans for      combat aircraft operations, and are acting secretively in Syria.      According to the US Air Force, Russian planes allegedly donï¿½t      ï¿½squawkï¿½ (carry transponders that send a four-digit number      allowing air-traffic controllers to identify them), and fail to      timely answer ï¿½guard calls,ï¿½ which are urgent summons on an      emergency radio frequencyï¿½. The Russian Defense Ministry noted      in a statement on Wednesday that itï¿½s hard to say if the      allegations are Gen. Corcoranï¿½s personal views or if they are      just part of ï¿½the farewell Russophobic performance by the      outgoing US administration.ï¿½ï¿½ In any case, we have received no      such claims either from Gen. Corcoran or Pentagon      representatives during the regular videoconferences with the      Russian Defense Ministry on compliance with the memorandum on      the prevention of incidents in the Syrian sky,ï¿½ Defense Ministry      spokesperson Gen. Igor Konashenkov stated on Wednesday. Both the      US Air Force and the US-led international coalition are trying      to act "secretively" during operations in Syria, he added. ï¿½Our      American colleagues donï¿½t like to notify [us] about their plans      to use combat aircraft, only occasionally indicating the time      period and an approximate area. But not the specific types of      aircraft and their affiliation. This has allowed [the US] in the      case of tragic ï¿½mistakesï¿½ of the coalition aircraft to avoid      responsibility for the deaths of civilians and destruction of      civilian objects. Suffice to recall the bombing of Kurdish      villages in Hasadjek, which led to the deaths of civilians in      October 2016.ï¿½
S-400 missile defense regiment takes up combat duty outside      Moscow (VIDEO)
RT - A surface-to-air missile regiment equipped with the      brand-new S-400 air defense system, Russiaï¿½s most advanced, has      come on duty in Moscowï¿½s suburbs on combat alert. ï¿½The SAM      combat squads of the Moscow Region aerospace forces have put the      new S-400 Triumph air defense missile system into service, and      have gone on combat duty for the air defense of Moscow and the      central industrial region of Russia,ï¿½ the Defense Ministryï¿½s      Department of Information and Mass Communication told Interfax.      In December, the new SAM system arrived at its destination in      the Moscow Region from Kapustin Yar in the south Russia, where      drills at a military test range went successfully, the Defense      Ministry noted. The main task of the anti-aircraft missile      troops of the Russian Aerospace Forces is air defense and      protecting vital state, military, industry and energy      facilities, as well as the Armed Forces troops and transport      communications, from aerospace attacks,ï¿½ the ministry stressed.
Gunman screaming 'Allahu Akbar' opens fire in Spanish      supermarket
Daily Mail - The attacker, who was reportedly carrying gasoline      and gunpowder, walked into the Mercadona shop, in the As Lagoas      region of the northwestern region Ourense, before opening firing      shots into the air. Several shoppers were inside the supermarket      when the man entered and fired several shots into the air,      causing emergency services to swoop on the buildingï¿½. He was      reportedly carrying gasoline and gunpowder, and was later      detained after a struggle ensuedï¿½ The incident, which happened      at around 2pm, did not result in any injuries but left many      extremely shaken.
U.S. News, Politics & Government
Trump to CNN: ï¿½You Are Fake Newsï¿½
Breitbart - During a press conference on Wednesday,      President-Elect Donald Trump refused to take a question from CNN      Senior White House Correspondent Jim Acosta and told him ï¿½You      are fake news.ï¿½ After Trump criticized CNN for its recent report      on Russia and him, Acosta asked if, since Trump was attacking      them, CNN could ask a question. Trump stated, ï¿½Your organization      is terrible. ï¿½ Donï¿½t be rude. No, Iï¿½m not going to give you a      question. ï¿½ You are fake news.ï¿½ Acosta replied that this wasnï¿½t      appropriate. Later in the press conference, Trump did take a      question from CNN reporter Jeremy Diamond.
10 Key Moments and More From Trumpï¿½s News Conference
NY Times - President-elect Donald J. Trump made an important      concession about Russia. He criticized American intelligence      officials. He sparred with reporters and denounced ï¿½fake news.ï¿½      And that was all before he arrived at the ostensible reason for      holding his first formal news conference since July: his plans      to extricate himself from the operations of his vast business      holdings. Here are the highlights from the whirling, hour long      news conference in Trump Tower. Mr. Trump said that after his      briefing on Friday with American intelligence officials, he now      thought Russia was behind the effort to hack his election      opponents. ï¿½As far as hacking, I think it was Russia,ï¿½ Mr. Trump      said. However, later in the news conference, Mr. Trump wavered      slightly when pressed on the matter. ï¿½But you know what, it      could have been others also,ï¿½ he said when asked why he had been      so critical of American intelligence officials. He harshly      criticized the publication of unverified reports that claimed      Russia has salacious information about his behavior and      finances. ï¿½I think it was disgraceful, disgraceful that the      intelligence agencies let any information that turned out to be      so false and fake out,ï¿½ he said. Explaining his Twitter post      comparing the United States to Nazi Germany, he said of the      leaks: ï¿½Thatï¿½s something that Nazi Germany would have done and      did do.ï¿½ ï¿½ Mr. Trump said he was untroubled by other      intelligence reports that have been made public, which said      Russia preferred him over Hillary Clinton and that President      Vladimir V. Putin ordered the election meddling to benefit him.      ï¿½If Putin likes Donald Trump, guess what, folks: That is called      an asset, not a liability,ï¿½ he said. He added that a strong      relationship could allow the two nations to work together on      difficult international issues. When asked whether he had a      message for Mr. Putin, Mr. Trump said: ï¿½He shouldnï¿½t be doing      it. He wonï¿½t be doing it. Russia will have much greater respect      for our country when I am leading it.ï¿½ He added: ï¿½Thereï¿½s no      reset button. Weï¿½re either going to get along or weï¿½re not.ï¿½ ï¿½
McCain Admits He Gave Dossier Containing "Sensitive Information" On Trump To The FBI
Zero Hedge - While hardly surprising considering the copious      amounts of bad blood between the President elect and John      McCain, earlier today the Arizona senator confirmed that he      passed along the 35-page report to the FBI that details      unverified allegations that President-elect Trump's team      coordinated with the Russian government to defeat Hillary      Clinton. In a statement released Wednesday, McCain said passing      the report along was the extent of his involvement in the      process. "Late last year, I received sensitive information that      has since been made public," McCain said. "Upon examination of      the contents, and unable to make a judgment about their      accuracy, I delivered the information to the director of the      FBI. That has been the extent of my contact with the FBI or any      other government agency regarding this issue." As The Washington      Examiner notes, reports surfaced Tuesday night that a foreign      contact of McCain's passed along the report detailing alleged      compromising information the Russian government has on Trump.      That report was published in full by Buzzfeed Tuesday evening,      despite being unverified information.
Russian tech expert named in Trump report says US intelligence      never contacted him
McClatchy - A Russian venture capitalist and tech expert whose      name and company are mentioned in the now-notorious document      alleging connections between the Donald Trump campaign and      Russian hackers says no intelligence officers have ever      contacted him about the accusations, which he says are false. A      report compiled by a former Western intelligence official as      opposition research against Trump was made public Tuesday when      BuzzFeed posted its 35 pages. The document included      unsubstantiated claims of collusion between the Trump campaign      team and the Kremlin. It also alleged that global tech firm XBT      Holding, with operations in Dallas, was instrumental in the hack      of leaked Democratic Party emails that embarrassed Hillary      Clinton and fellow Democrats.
Buzzfeedï¿½s Trump report takes ï¿½fake newsï¿½ to a new level
NY Post - BuzzFeed decided to publish a series of memos that      have been floating around for months alleging all kinds of      terrible things about Donald Trump. Some of those terrible      allegations have to do with efforts to influence the American      elections and Trump. Some of them have to do with Trumpï¿½s      personal sexual conductï¿½. There is literally no evidence on      offer in these memos or from BuzzFeed that any single sentence      in these documents is factual or true. Whatï¿½s more, we know most      major news organizations in America had seen them and despite      their well-known institutional antipathy toward Trump, had chosen not to publish them or even make reference to them after      efforts to substantiate their charges had failed. BuzzFeed tells      us that ï¿½the document was prepared for political opponents of      Trump by a person who is understood to be a former British      intelligence agent.ï¿½ Indeed, the memos are designed to read as      though they were cables sent from the field to the home office.      And they should set off the bull detector of every rational      person who reads them.
Trump To Donate All Money Paid To Trump Properties By Foreign      Govts To US treasury (Video)
The GatewayPundit - Trumpï¿½s tax attorney Sheri Dillon made an      announcement regarding possible conflicts of interest between      Trumpï¿½s business dealings and running the country as President.      At first Dillon stated that Trump did not believe that paying      for a hotel room would fall under the so called emoluments      clause which states: ï¿½no person holding any Office of Profit or      Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress ,      accept of any present, Emolument, Office or Title, of any kind      whatever, from any King, Prince or foreign state.ï¿½ Dillon then      went on to make the announcement about Trump donating hotel      profits from foreign governments to the US treasury: Just like      with conflicts of interest, he wants to do more than what the      Constitution requires. So President-elect Trump has decided, and      we are announcing today, that he is going to voluntarily donate      all profits from foreign government payments made to his hotels      to the United States Treasury. This way it is the American      people who will profit. ï¿½ Sheri Dillon, Trump tax attorney.
Mexico's peso hits record low on Trump talk of wall, auto tax
Reuters - The Mexican peso weakened to a historic low of 22.04      per dollar and the country's stock index fell on Wednesday,      after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump warned U.S. auto      companies would face a high tax for products made south of the      border. Speaking at a news conference in New York, Trump also      reiterated that the United States would start building a      southern border wall after he took office next week. He said      Mexico would reimburse the cost either through a tax or a      paymentï¿½. On Wednesday, Trump congratulated Ford and Fiat      Chrysler for announcing plant expansions in the United States.      He said General Motors, another major investor in Mexico, should      follow suit, reiterating the threat of new taxes on Mexican-made      autos. He said he would not wait for negotiations with Mexico to      be completed before starting to build a wall along the two      countries' border.
Trump says pharma 'getting away with murder,' stocks slide
Reuters - U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday said      pharmaceutical companies are "getting away with murder" in what      they charge the government for medicines, and promised that      would change, sending drugs stocks sharply lower. The benchmark      S&P 500 index .SPX slipped into negative territory after his      remarks at a news conference spooked investors. The iShares      Nasdaq Biotech ETF (IBB.O) dropped 4 percent at its session low      and ended down 3 percent, its largest daily percentage drop in      three months. "When the president-elect says we're going to      negotiate drug pricing, you have to take that seriously, but at      the same this is a complicated issue because there's not going      to be clarity on drug pricing reform anytime soon," said Brad      Loncar, manager of the Loncar Cancer Immunotherapy ETF (CNCR.O). "When somebody that high profile says something that negative,      people do not want to invest in it.ï¿½ï¿½ After his promise to bring      down drug spending, the ARCA pharmaceutical index gave up as      much as 2.6 percent and ended the day down 1.7 percent. The drug      industry has been on edge for two years about the potential for      more government pressure on pricing after sharp increases in the      costs of some life-saving drugs drew scrutiny in the press and      among lawmakers. The government is investigating Medicaid and      Medicare overspending on Mylan NV's (MYL.O) allergy treatment      EpiPen, for instanceï¿½. Trump's campaign platform included      allowing the Medicare healthcare program to negotiate with      pharmaceutical companies, which the law currently prohibits. He      has also discussed making it easier to import drugs at cheaper      prices.
California Lt. Gov: Weï¿½ll Stop Trumpï¿½s Wall with Environmental      Suits
Breitbart - California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom said in an      interview with ï¿½The Golden State Podcastï¿½ that he would use      specific environmental laws in the state to stop the border wall      from being built, at least in southern California. ï¿½Thereï¿½s      something called CEQA in Californiaï¿½NEPA at the federal level,ï¿½      Newsom told the podcast host. ï¿½Thereï¿½s indigenous lands and      autonomies relating to governance on those lands. There are all      kinds of obstructions as it relates to just getting zoning      approval and getting building permits. All those things could be      made very, very challenging for the administration.ï¿½ Newsom      hinted that if he could not actually stop the construction of      the border wall in California, he would at least try to tie it      up in bureaucratic battles. Trumpï¿½s border wall is reportedly in      the works, as he explained at a press conference at Trump Tower      today that he would not be waiting on payment from Mexico and      begin construction immediately.
Illegal Alien Gets 12 Years for Hit-and-Run Crash Killing      Pastor, Wife
Breitbart Texas - A prior report by Breitbart Texas notes that      De La Rosa Sosa has been placed on an immigration hold by      Immigration and Customs Enforcement since April 16, 2016, the      day after he was arrested. De La Rosa Sosa, a 22-year-old      Mexican national, pleaded guilty in the 180th Criminal District      Court in Harris County on Tuesday, court records obtained by      Breitbart Texas revealed. He received four, 12-year prison      sentences for each of the charges. Those charges include two      counts of Racing on a Highway Causing Serious Bodily Injury or      Death (a Class 2 felony), and two counts of Failure to Stop and      Render Aid in an Accident Involving Death (a Class 2 felony).      The sentences were set by the court to run concurrently, meaning      the man who killed Pastor Jesse Estrada Sabillon and his wife      Maria Alicia Sabillon will spend no more than 12 years behind      bars. An immigration detainer by federal officials should lead      to his removal to Mexico following release from prison.
Volkswagen to plead guilty to criminal charges, pay $4.3 billion      settlement in US
Deutsche Welle - The US Department of Justice said on Wednesday      that Volkswagen AG (VW) has agreed to plead guilty to      three-count felony of misinformation, including conspiracy to      commit fraud, obstruction of justice and entry of goods by false      statement. US Attorney General Loretta Lynch said the German      carmaking giant is charged with conspiring to defraud the United      States and the company's US customers, as well as conspiring to      violate the Clean Air Act by using devices on its diesel      vehicles that evaded emissions standards. VW will also pay a      record $2.8 billion (2.6 billion euros) in criminal fines and      $1.5 billion in civil fines. The company already agreed to      additional settlements with car owners, dealers and for      environmental cleanup to the tune of $17.5 billion. The United      States will also charge six VW executives and employees for      their roles in the nearly 10-year conspiracy - including Oliver      Schmidt, who was in charge of VW's environmental engineering      office in Michigan. Volkswagen admitted that between 2006 and      2016 six unnamed supervisors agreed to mislead regulators and      customers about the standards of its diesel emissions. The      Department of Justice also said that in 2012 VW officials      instructed engineers to destroy a document that detailed the      cheating, while lawyers prodded employees to destroy other      documents.
Economy & Business
Zero Hedge - Gold is now up almost 4% year-to-date, approaching      $1200 - 8 week-highs - as the USD Index plunges to 2017 lows      after Trump's disappointing press conference...
Science & Technology
Facebook launches 'Journalism Project' to fight spread of 'fake news'
Deutsche Welle - As part of the new "Journalism Project," Facebook said    on Wednesday that it would focus on improving its current storytelling    formats such as Live, 360 and Instant Articles. The company also plans    to test a feature using Instant Articles to allow readers to see    multiple stories at a time, as a package, from their preferred news    organizations. Working with third-party organizations, Facebook said it    will work to promote "news literacy" and help users decide which sources    are trustworthy and would also continue to work on curbing hoaxes.
Prestigious Karolinska Institute Forces EMF Researcher To Retire ï¿½ A    Call To Action
Natural Blaze - One of the most respected electromagnetic frequency    researchers in the world, Professor Olle Johansson, is being forced to    retire from the Karolinska Institute apparently because Dr. Johanssonï¿½s    research proves non-thermal adverse health effects from EMFs/RFs from    microwave technology, things like Wi-Fi and AMI Smart Meters. The    Karolinska Institute namely wants Dr. Johansson to retire in advance of    his desire to do so, due to a) a lack of funding, and b) lack of need    for his services, i.e. the need for research concerning health effects    of electromagnetic fields and the functional impairment of    electrohypersensitivity, which does not exist any longer at the    Instituteï¿½. Those who are confronting the problems with AMI Smart Meters, Wi-Fi in schools harming their children for several hours a day,    perhaps you ought to take seriously Dr. Johanssonï¿½s forced retirement    and what it will mean not to have valid research about what those who    promote microwave technology donï¿½t want us to knowï¿½. Below are the    officers of Karolinska Institute you should send an email to demanding    Professor Olle Johansson NOT be forced to retire and his important EMF    research continue.
Scientists can now grow a beating human heart from stem cells
The Independent - A team of scientists from Massachusetts General    Hospital and Harvard Medical School have used adult skin cells to    regenerate functional human heart tissue. The study, published in the    journal Circulation Research, detailed that the team took adult skin    cells, using a technique called messenger RNA to turn them into    pluripotent stem cells, before inducing them to become two different    types of cardiac cells. Then for two weeks they infused the hearts with    a nutrient solution, allowing them to develop under the same    circumstances a heart would grow inside a human body. After the two week    period, the hearts contained well-structured tissue, which appeared    similar to that contained in developing human hearts. When shocked with    electricity, they started beating. This represents the closest that    medical researchers have come to growing an entire beating human heart.    The next step, would be to find a way to help the cells mature faster    and perfect the mimicry of conditions under which the heart develops -    thus minimising the likelihood of the body rejecting a heart.
Health
Vitamin C does reverse cancerï¿½and now itï¿½s on track for approval      as a chemo alternative
What Doctors Don't Tell You - High-dose vitamin C does kill      cancerï¿½but only when itï¿½s given intravenously. Itï¿½s now just a      few steps away from being approved as a safe and effective      cancer treatment alongside chemotherapy and radiation. Although      researchers have tested the vitamin as a cancer therapy many      times, they almost always concluded that it was ineffectiveï¿½but      they were guaranteeing failure by giving it orally to patients.      When itï¿½s given intravenously, it bypasses the gut and goes      directly into the bloodstreamï¿½where concentrations of the      vitamin are up to 500 times higher than when itï¿½s taken      orallyï¿½and targets cancer cells, say researchers at the      University of Iowa. The therapy is now going through the      approval process, and could soon be available as an alternative      to chemotherapy or radiation, the two conventional cancer      treatments. Itï¿½s been proved to be effective in animal studies,      and phase 1 trials have demonstrated that itï¿½s safe and      well-tolerated. Now doctors at the university are starting to      use it on patients with pancreatic cancer and lung cancer, and      are measuring their progress against other patients who will      continue to be given chemotherapy or radiation. Biologist Garry      Buettner, who works at the university, has worked out just why      vitamin C is so effective: the vitamin breaks down quickly in      the body, and generates hydrogen peroxide that kills cancer      cells. ï¿½Cancer cells are much less efficient in removing      hydrogen peroxide than normal cells, so cancer cells are much      more prone to damage and death from a high amount of hydrogen      peroxideï¿½, he explained. ï¿½This explains how very, very high      levels of vitamin C do not affect normal tissue, but can be      damaging to tumour tissue.ï¿½
Here We Go Again: FDA Defies Congress
Alliance for Natural Health - In December 2015, Congress      included a provision in an end-of-the-year spending bill      ordering the FDA to issue a guidance document clarifying how      physicians and compounding pharmacists could continue the      ï¿½office useï¿½ of drugs. These are custom drugs that a doctor      keeps on hand for immediate treatment use. Congress could not      have been clearer: the agency was not to forbid office use. The      FDA has now answeredï¿½by ignoring it. The FDA now wants the      doctor to have to prescribe the drugï¿½to have it compounded      separately for each patient, and then administered on follow up      visit. This is not only dangerous for patients who need      immediate treatment. It also vastly increases the cost of the      drug, wastes patient and doctor time, and is gross interference      with the practice of medicine, which is supposed to be regulated      by the states, not the federal government. In December 2015,      Congress included a provision in an end-of-the-year spending      bill ordering the FDA to issue a guidance document clarifying      how physicians and compounding pharmacists could continue the      ï¿½office useï¿½ of drugs. These are custom drugs that a doctor      keeps on hand for immediate treatment use. Congress could not      have been clearer: the agency was not to forbid office use. The      FDA has now answeredï¿½by ignoring it. The FDA now wants the      doctor to have to prescribe the drugï¿½to have it compounded      separately for each patient, and then administered on follow up      visit. This is not only dangerous for patients who need      immediate treatment. It also vastly increases the cost of the      drug, wastes patient and doctor time, and is gross interference      with the practice of medicine, which is supposed to be regulated      by the states, not the federal government.
Worse than Zika, but Ignored. Why?
Alliance for Natural Health - This is a virus that most of us      are exposed toï¿½one that is likely to shorten your life, and that      can destroy it. But you may not even have heard of it. Between      20,000 and 40,000 infants are born with cytomegalovirus (CMV)      each year, and the virus kills 400 of those infants annually.      These numbers compare with 1,600 babies exposed to Zika in the      continental US in 2016. Twenty percent of infants born with CMV      develop permanent disabilities such as hearing loss,      microcephaly (a condition where the babyï¿½s head is significantly      smaller than expected), vision abnormalities, and intellectual      deficits. It is the most common congenital viral infection and      the leading non-genetic cause of deafness in children. If you      donï¿½t get this virus in utero, you are lucky, but you are not      out of the woods. Half of adults have been exposed by age 40.      Like all viruses, it remains inside the body even after the      illness has passed. Like other herpes viruses, it tries to come      back, and challenges the immune system in order to do soï¿½. It      should surprise no one that some in the public health community      are recommending antiviral drugs for infected infants. A study      in the New England Journal of Medicine seems to endorse that      view, finding that infants who took antiviral drugs for six      months had ï¿½moderately betterï¿½ hearing than newborns who took      the drugs for just six weeks. The CMV antiviral drug, of course,      comes with a host of nasty side effects: tremors, nausea, and      diarrhea are among those acknowledgedï¿½. There are natural ways      of dealing with CMV and other viruses, including silver and      ozone, and also natural supplements to deal with the associated      inflammationï¿½which may ultimately be what kills the patient, as      it was in the famous Spanish flu epidemic. These include fish      oil, resveratrol, curcumin, cherry extract, green tea extract,      and many others. Of course, these therapies donï¿½t make money for      the drug companies, so donï¿½t expect conventional doctors to      discuss them with you.
Canï¿½t Sleep? Here are 13 Effective Ways to Fall Asleep Faster
Natural News Blogs - Having trouble falling asleep can lead to      getting not enough sleep or sleep deprivation, the most signs of      which are excessive daytime sleepiness, yawning, and      irritability. Chronic sleep deprivation can interfere with      balance, coordination, memory, decision-making abilities. Worse      still, it suppresses immune system function. ï¿½here are some      do-it-yourself suggestions: Avoid eating within 1 ï¿½ ï¿½ 2 hours of      bedtime - Eating especially right before your bedtime can be      very disruptive to sleep. Salt-filled snacks such as potato      chips, for instance, could make you feel thirsty. Drinking too      much fluid before bedtime may cause extra trips to the      bathroomï¿½. Snacking on fats and proteins 2 hours of bedtime are      much safer than snacking on carbs especially processed carbs.      The reason is these foods would not cause sugar spikes. Fats      especially healthy fats such as coconut milk, cheese, full cream      milk and most proteins that contain an amino acid tryptophan may      help you to feel calm, which in turn make you falling sleep more      easily. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine - Caffeine,      nicotine, and sugar are stimulants if consumed close to bedtime      can prevent you from falling asleep. ï¿½ Consider alternative      treatment/therapy - Some medications can cause disrupted sleep.      These are the most common ones said to cause it, including      alpha-blockers, beta-blockers, corticosteroids, SSRI      antidepressants, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, cholinesterase      inhibitors, H1 antagonists, glucosamine/chondroitin, and statinsï¿½.      Turn off you mind - Convert your concern over something that      bothering such as worrying about next dayï¿½s event into some kind      of action plan and you will rest easier. Take a piece of paper      and jot down your top concerns. Then write down the steps you      will take to resolve the problems or situations. Donï¿½t forget to      include how and when you want to materialize your planned      strategiesï¿½.
Wednesday - January    11, 2017
1770 - The first shipment of rhubarb was sent to the United States from    London.
1805 - The Michigan Territory was created.
1861 - Alabama seceded from the United States.
1878 - In New York, milk was delivered in glass bottles for the first    time by Alexander Campbell.
1902 - "Popular Mechanics" magazine was published for the first time.
1913 - The first sedan-type car was unveiled at the National Automobile    Show in New York City. The car was manufactured by the Hudson Motor    Company.
1922 - At Toronto General Hospital, Leonard Thompson became the first    person to be successfully treated with insulin.
1935 - Amelia Earhart Putnam became the first woman to fly solo from    Hawaii to California.
1942 - Japan declared war against the Netherlands. The same day,    Japanese forces invaded the Dutch East Indies.
1964 - U.S. Surgeon General Luther Terry released a report that said    that smoking cigarettes was a definite health hazard.
1988 - Vice President George Bush met with representatives of    independent counsel Lawrence E. Walsh to answer questions about the    Iran-Contra affair.
2000 - The merger between AOL and Time Warner was approved by the U.S.    government with restrictions.
2000 - The U.S. Postal Service unveiled the second Vietnam Veterans    Memorial commemorative stamp in a ceremony at The Wall.
2001 - The Texas Board of Criminal Justice released a review of the    escape of the "Texas 7." It stated that prison staff missed critical    opportunities to prevent the escape by ignoring a fire alarm, not    reporting unsupervised inmates and not demanding proper identification    from inmates.
2001 - The U.S. Federal Trade Commission approved the merger of America    Online and Time Warner to form AOL Time Warner.
World News
Taliban attack near Afghan parliament kills more than 30
Reuters - Saleem Rasouli, a senior public health official, said      33 people had been killed and more than 70 wounded in the attack      on the Darul Aman road, near an annex to the new Indian-financed      parliament building. He said most of the victims were      parliamentary staff members. On the same day, at least another      14 people were killed and dozens injured in separate incidents      in the volatile southern provinces of Helmand and Kandahar. The      Islamist militant Afghan Taliban movement, which immediately      claimed responsibility for the Kabul attack, said its target had      been a minibus carrying staff from the National Directorate of      Security (NDS), Afghanistan's main intelligence agency.... Hours      after the Kabul incident, at least seven people were killed and      18 wounded in an explosion in the southern city of Kandahar.      There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Among the      wounded were the provincial governor and the United Arab      Emirates ambassador, officials said. Afghan armed forces control      no more than two thirds of national territory, and have      struggled to contain the Taliban insurgency since the bulk of      NATO soldiers withdrew at the end of 2014. Several thousand,      mainly Americans, remain in training and counter-terrorism      roles. The United States has announced plans to send 300 Marines      to the volatile southern province of Helmand, large parts of      which are under Taliban control, as part of a regular rotation      of troops helping train and advise Afghan forces.
Hungary To Launch Crackdown On All George Soros-Funded      Organizations
Zero Hedge - The European Union member, and native country of      Soros, will use "all the tools at its disposal" to ï¿½sweep outï¿½      NGOs funded by the Hungarian-born financier, which ï¿½serve global      capitalists and back political correctness over national      governments,ï¿½ Szilard Nemeth, a vice president of the ruling      Fidesz party, told reporters on Tuesday. No one answered the      phone at the [Soros founded] Open Society Institute in Budapest when Bloomberg News called outside business hours. ï¿½I feel that      there is an opportunity for this, internationally,ï¿½ because of      Trumpï¿½s election, state news service MTI reported Nemeth as      saying. Lawmakers will start debating a bill to let authorities      audit NGO executives, according to parliamentï¿½s legislative      agenda. As a reminder, Orban was the first European leader to      publicly back Trumpï¿½s campaign, and was reportedly invited by      Trump to visit the US; he has ignored criticism from the      European Commission and U.S. President Barack Obamaï¿½s      administration for building a self-described ï¿½illiberal stateï¿½      modeled on authoritarian regimes including Russia, China and      Turkey. In 2014, Orban personally ordered the state audit agency      to probe foundations financed by Norway and said that civil      society groups financed from abroad were covers for ï¿½paid      political activists.ï¿½ As a result of Trump's victory, Orban has      felt empowered to further last out against Europe's established      structures, and its core supporters.
Israel's military investigating why its soldiers fled from truck      driver terrorist
Daily Mail Online - The Israel Defence Forced (IDF) is looking      into footage of soldiers seemingly fleeing the scene as Fadi al-Qanbar,      28, drove a truck into a crowd of troops in Jerusalem.... it was      left to tour guide Ethan Rond to shoot the terrorist having      already been sent somersaulting by the truck.... The tour guide      initially thought it was a traffic accident, but when he saw the      truck reversing, he knew it was deliberate. As the truck      reverses, a video clip captures a group of soldiers appearing to      run away from the scene. Some of the troops did run towards the      incident.... 'I pulled out my gun and fired one shot at the      wheel and I realised this wasn't enough. 'As he was driving, I      ran to overtake him then I stood in front of him and started      firing my entire magazine until it was over.'.... MK Amir Ohana      (Likud) heaped praise on the tour guide, and told Israel      National News: 'Of particular note is the fact that a citizen, a      tour guide, was the first to shoot the terrorist to prevent the      attack from continuing. 'He joins a growing list of civilians      who have stopped terror attacks during this terror wave. 'I will      continue to push and encourage law-abiding citizens to carry      arms and to back those who do so according to the law.'
UK ï¿½first in lineï¿½ for US trade deal: Johnson
PressTV - UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson says Britain is      ï¿½first in lineï¿½ for striking a trade deal with the incoming      administration of US President-elect Donald Trump, seemingly      putting to rest concerns over President Barack Obamaï¿½s warnings      against Brexit..... ï¿½Clearly, the Trump administration-to-be has      a very exciting agenda of change,ï¿½ he said. ï¿½One thing that      won't change though is the closeness of the relationship between      the US and the UK.ï¿½....ï¿½We hear that we are first in line to do      a great free trade deal with the United States. So, it's going      to be a very exciting year for both our countries,ï¿½ Johnson      added.... The remarks amounted to a rebuttal of Obamaï¿½s last      year warnings that withdrawing from the European Union would put      London ï¿½in the back of the queueï¿½ for trade deals with the      US.... ï¿½Maybe some point down the line there might be a UK-US      trade agreement, but itï¿½s not going to happen any time soon.ï¿½      Obama said during a visit to London in last April.
EU Boss: Citizens Should Not Get to Vote on Important Issues
The New American - The comments from the EU boss were crystal      clear. ï¿½I am asking EU leaders to stop with adventures like the      British and Italian referendums ... on domestic issues which      pose a threat to the EU,ï¿½ said Slovak Prime Minister and EU      Council boss Robert Fico as he passed the rotating reins of the      EU Council to its next leader on January 2 of 2017. In essence,      Fico was calling for citizens of European countries ensnared in      the EU to lose their right to decide their own fate. Like many      other totalitarian-minded EU bosses from Eastern Europe, Fico      was a longtime Communist Party operative. The ï¿½adventuresï¿½ such      as the British and Italian referendums he mentioned were a      reference to recent votes held in those nations, both of which      bucked the establishment. In the United Kingdom, voters defied      the entire globalist establishment by voting for a British exit,      or ï¿½Brexit,ï¿½ from the controversial EU super-state. That      historic vote shocked the political class, which is still      scrambling for a way to defy the people without losing its      legitimacy entirely. In Italy, voters also rejected the demands      of the establishment in a vote that was compared to Brexit and      the election of anti-establishment maverick Donald Trump. By a      huge margin, Italian voters turned down a barrage of      globalist-backed constitutional reforms that would have made it      easier for globalists and the political class to expand      government, surrender sovereignty, and more. Before, during, and      after the vote, a ï¿½noï¿½ vote was portrayed as an anti-EU vote      that could doom the country. Obviously, the sky did not fall.
The Ukrainian Power Grid Was Hacked Again
Motherboard - The more recent attack occurred at a transmission      facility, as opposed to the 2015 attack that affected a      distribution facility, and was not as far-reaching (although it      could have been much worseï¿½as disruptions to a transmission      facility could impact a wider area than distribution      facilities). But taken together, the implications of both      attacks and a series of other breaches around Ukraine suggest      that someone, or various individuals, may be using the country      as a testbed for refining attacks on critical infrastructure      that could be used across the world.... The attackers appear to      be testing out techniques, says Oleksii Yasynskyi, head of      research for Information Systems Security Partners in Ukraine,      who worked on the investigation for UkrEnergo. Their ultimate      goal is sabotage he says.... "The attack [was] not meant to have      any lasting dramatic consequences," [Ukrainian researcher for      Honeywell Industrial Cyber Security Lab, Marina] Krotofil told      Motherboard. "They could do many more things, but obviously they      didn't have this as an intent. It was more like a demonstration      of capabilities.".... The researchers say the attacks show that      Ukraine "has turned into a training playground for research and      development of novel attack techniques" ï¿½ attacks that will      likely be used elsewhere once the hackers refine them. "Ukraine      uses equipment and security protections of the same vendors as      everybody else around the world," says Krotofil. "If the      attackers learn how to go around those tools and appliances in      Ukrainian infrastructures, they can then directly go to the West."
Putinï¿½s extreme plan to stub out smoking for good
Daily Express - Under plans to introduce legislations, anyone      born after 2015 would be banned from simply buying cigarettes      with penalties for the offence on a par with illegal drugs....      Mr Putinï¿½s spokesman Dmitri Peskov said that the proposed band      would require serious discussion and added that various      ministries would need to be consulted beforehand.... The smoking      ban has sparked debate in Russia, with warnings that the move      could lead to a rise in black market cigarettes. Elena      Topoleva-Soldunova, a member of the Russian public chamber,      which advises the government on social policy, said:      ï¿½Counterfeit tobacco could lead to even more harm to peopleï¿½s      health.ï¿½ Cigarettes are relatively cheap compared to the price      of a pack of 20 in the UK. In Russia a packet of Marlboro Reds      costs 110 roubles (ï¿½1.10). A sizeable 43 per cent of the Russian      population smokes.
Mercury fillings face Europe-wide ban
What Doctors Don't Tell You - Dentists across Europe will stop      using amalgam fillingsï¿½which contain mercuryï¿½in pregnant and      nursing women and children under the age of 15 in 2018. The ban,      which affects dentists in all the 28 member-countries of the EU,      comes into effect in July next year. The ban needs to be      officially ratified, but this is expected to be a formality as      the European Commission, the European Council and the European      Parliament have already agreed to it. Health agencies in each of      the member countries must also submit plans as to how they will      be reducing the use of amalgam fillings in the rest of the      population by 2019. The edict is a triumph for consumer groups      who have played a major role in the six-year consultation      periodï¿½and a blow to the dental associations that still maintain      that amalgam fillings are safe. Groups such as the World      Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry predict the ruling marks the      beginning of the end for amalgam fillings across the developed      world. Amalgam fillingsï¿½which are a mix of silver, tin and      copper in liquid, or elemental, mercuryï¿½have been used by      dentists for more than 150 years because the material is      inexpensive and pliable. Dental associations have maintained the      mercuryï¿½which makes up around half the fillingï¿½is locked in, and      canï¿½t escape. But, as WDDTY revealed last month... the mercury      does escape, and can damage our brain, heart, kidneys, lungs and      immune systemï¿½because our gut converts the elemental mercury      into methyl mercury, its most lethal form.
Pesticides Kill Over 10 Million Pollinators in Brazil
Sputnik News - The suspected cause of death is reported to be      airborne pesticides.... The offending pesticides were sprayed on      a nearby sugarcane field. The owner of the field, Ferrari Mill,      claims that they did not spray their pesticides over the apiary      and are not sure what caused the pesticides to migrate. Sï¿½o      Paulo's Public Prosecutor's office has announced an      investigation and potential litigation against Ferrari Mill.      Ferrari Mill has sent bee corpses to a biologist to investigate      whether their pesticides are what killed the bees....      Researchers from State University of Sï¿½o Paulo (UNESP) and the      Federal University of Sï¿½o Carlos (UFSCar) performed analyses on      damaged apiaries around the state and concluded that some 70      percent of mass bee deaths in Sï¿½o Paulo is the result of      pesticide misuse. Millions of other mass bee deaths were      recorded throughout Sï¿½o Paulo in 2015 and 2016.
U.S. News, Politics & Government
Democrats Call For Sept 11-Style Commission To Probe Russia
Zero Hedge - According to Reuters, the proposed "Protecting our      Democracy Act" would create a 12-member, bipartisan independent      panel to interview witnesses, obtain documents, issue subpoenas      and receive public testimony to examine attempts by Moscow and      any other entities to influence the election. The panel members      would not be members of Congress. The latest legislation      proposal is one of many calls by lawmakers to look into Russian      involvement in the presidential contest whose outcome stunned      so-called experts.... U.S. intelligence agencies on Friday      released a report saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin      ordered an effort to help Trump's electoral chances by      discrediting Clinton. "There is no question that Russia attacked      us," Senator Ben Cardin, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign      Relations Committee, told a news conference. Actually there is,      however when asked to show evidence of Russian hacking,      yesterday the state department said it would be "irresponsible." Versions of the bill were introduced in both the Senate and      House. In the Senate it has 10 sponsors. In the House it is      backed by every member of the Democratic caucus, said      Representative Elijah Cummings, the top Democrat on the House      Oversight Committee. However, the bill may end up going nowhere      as no Republicans currently back the bill, so its prospects are      dim, given Republican control of both houses of Congress.
James Comey: DNC denied FBI direct access to servers during      Russia hacking probe
Washington Times - FBI Director James B. Comey, in his first      public comments since the presidential election, said the bureau      requested but was denied direct access to the Democratic      National Committeeï¿½s servers and other hacked devices as part of      its probe of Russian hacking. Providing details Tuesday to the      Senate Intelligence Committee about the bureauï¿½s investigation      into Russian hacks targeting the election, Mr. Comey said the      FBI made ï¿½multiple requestsï¿½ for access but ultimately a private      company was the one to conduct the forensic review and then      shared details about what it found with investigators. ï¿½Itï¿½s not      the way we would prefer to do the investigation,ï¿½ Mr. Comey      said. He said he did not know for sure why the DNC did not      provide the FBI direct access to the servers.
Sessions showdown fizzles
Washington Examiner - There was a lot of talk that the Senate      Judiciary Committee's confirmation hearing for attorney      general-designate Jeff Sessions would be an epic showdown....      But the epic showdown just didn't happen. The Democratic      questioners were sluggish and without focus; with one exception,      their questions lacked the sting of an opposition party that      really wants to bring down a nominee. And the protesters ï¿½ well,      they just didn't bring their A game.... Sessions smoothly      handled questions that might have tripped up a less prepared      nominee.... It's not necessary to go down each line of      questioning in detail, but the bottom line is that few, if any,      laid a glove on Sessions.... Without the votes to win, Democrats      and the activist groups that support them just didn't bring the      energy to the Sessions showdown. The first Senate confirmation      battle of the Trump administration goes to Trump.
Trump puts RFK Jr in charge of new commission on vaccine safety
The Daily Mail - Robert F. Kennedy Jr. revealed his new role      after a meeting at Trump Tower on Tuesday. He said Trump had      asked him to head a commission on 'vaccine safety and scientific      integrity' and that he had agreed to do so. Both Trump and      Kennedy have have raised suspicions about vaccines despite their      overwhelming support among scientists and physicians as a way to      prevent the spread of deadly diseases that can infect infants      and other children when the pool of protected people is      diminished. Kennedy said the purpose would be 'to make sure we      have scientific integrity in the vaccine process for efficacy      and safety effects.'.... 'President-elect Trump has some doubts      about the current vaccine policies and he has questions about      it,' Kennedy told reporters Tuesday. 'His opinion doesn't matter      but the science does matter and we ought to be reading the      science and we ought to be debating the science,' Kennedy added.      'And that everybody ought to be able to be assured that the      vaccines that we have ï¿½ he's very pro-vaccine, as am I ï¿½ but      they're as safe as they possibly can be.'.... Kennedy's      appointment marries vaccine skeptics on the left and right,      notwithstanding the widespread scientific consensus on the      benefit of vaccine use on a population. Trump tweeted about      vaccines in 2014: 'Healthy young child goes to doctor, gets      pumped with massive shot of many vaccines, doesn't feel good and      changes ï¿½ AUTISM. Many such cases!' he wrote. In another 2014      tweet, he wrote: 'Lots of autism and vaccine response. Stop      these massive doses immediately. Go back to single, spread out      shots! What do we have to lose.'
Activists Are Hoping To Turn Donald Trumpï¿½s Inauguration On      January 20th Into One Of The Biggest Riots In U.S. History
Economic Collapse Blog - Radical leftists are planning to make      January 20th the most chaotic Inauguration Day in American      history. Their stated goal is to ï¿½disruptï¿½ the Inauguration      festivities as much as possible, and they are planning a wide      range of ï¿½actionsï¿½ to achieve that stated goal. Some of the more      moderate groups are using terms such as ï¿½civil resistanceï¿½ and      ï¿½civil disobedienceï¿½, but others are openly talking about      ï¿½blockadesï¿½, jumping barricades, throwing projectiles and      ï¿½citywide paralysisï¿½.... If you go to refusefascism.org, you      will discover that the protests that they are organizing in      Washington D.C. will begin on January 14th. They say that they      want to ï¿½stop the Trump-Pence regime before it startsï¿½, and they      hope to have protests going ï¿½every day and every nightï¿½ without      interruption through at least January 20th. Another group that      plans to kick things off on January 14th is DisruptJ20. Of      course that is short for ï¿½Disrupt January 20thï¿½. If you go to      their official website, you will find a long slate of events      that have already been scheduled.... And these protests are not      going to end on January 20th. In fact, abortion advocates are      hoping to get close to a million women into Washington D.C. on      the day following the Inauguration to protest for abortion      rights.
Jury sentences Dylann Roof to death for Emanuel AME Church      massacre
postandcourier.com -The 12-member panel ï¿½ three white jurors,      nine black ï¿½ deliberated for a little less than three hours      before unanimously deciding that the 22-year-old white      supremacist should die for his crimes rather than spend his life      in prison without the possibility of parole. It will be up to      the presiding judge to formally impose that sentence, but he is      bound by law to follow the juryï¿½s decision.... After Assistant      U.S. Attorney Jay Richardson delivered a two-hour closing      statement, Roof walked to the podium with a single sheet of      yellow notebook paper. He appeared to read from it, pausing at      times to glance down. His remarks lasted less than five      minutes.... Loved ones of the nine people Roof killed crammed      every seat in one side of the courtroom and listened with quiet      but intense focus as he spoke. None of Roof's family members      attended.
John Kelly promises to speed up deportations
Washington Times - President-elect Donald Trumpï¿½s nominee to      head the Homeland Security Department vowed Tuesday to ï¿½rapidlyï¿½      deport illegal immigrants from the U.S. and said the biggest      threat to the country is a still-porous border, as he appeared      before Congress for his confirmation hearing. Retired Marine      Corps Gen. John Kelly chided the Obama administration for giving ï¿½a passï¿½ to most illegal immigrants, and said he believes the      job of the secretary is to enforce the laws on the books, which      includes deporting those who arenï¿½t authorized to be in the U.S....      ï¿½I believe that there is a role for traditional prosecutorial      discretion, but we cannot refuse to enforce the laws on the      books,ï¿½ Gen. Kelly said. The nominee also said a wall should be      part of the mix of border security, backing Mr. Trumpï¿½s      signature border security pledge from the campaign.
D.C. Will Create $500K 'Legal Fund' for Migrants
Breitbart - The nationï¿½s capital is planning to use $500,000 to      help migrants circumvent deportation under President-Elect      Donald Trumpï¿½s and help pay the legal bills for individuals      looking to apply for asylum. The money will go from the pockets      of Washington D.C.ï¿½s taxpayers to the coffers of defense lawyers      who are willing to represent the regionï¿½s estimated 25,000      illegal immigrants in court, the Washington Post reported. Mayor      Muriel E. Bowser said her city was ï¿½doubling downï¿½ on their      sanctuary city status, saying the illegal immigrant population      would be supported by the ï¿½legal community.ï¿½.... Washington is      not the first in the country to begin a legal fund for migrants.      Los Angeles, California, has started a much more significant      fund, with nearly $10 million expected to be set aside to pay      for the legal expenses of the areaï¿½s massive illegal immigrant      population, as Breitbart Texas reported.
Energy & Environment
Thousands in California and Nevada told to evacuate due to flooding
12160 - Heavy rains and flooding along rivers forced the evacuation of    thousands of people in a California wine making region and an area of    Nevada east of Lake Tahoe on Monday, officials said, with more storms on    the way. Regions of California and Nevada, two states which have    suffered from drought for years, were walloped by storms over the past    week from a weather system called the "Pineapple Express" that sent    moisture streaming from Hawaii. The storms have knocked out power for    more than 570,000 customers of Pacific Gas and Electric in northern and    central California since Saturday, but electricity has been restored to    almost all of them, said company spokesman Tom Schmitz. The storms are    the latest in a wet winter expected to put a considerable dent in    California's years-long drought.... Officials in both California and    Nevada said they were still assessing flood damage on Monday. Over the    past week, the storms brought 10 to 15 inches (25 to 38 cm) of rain and    snow to the Sierra Nevada mountains in California and lesser amounts of    precipitation in western Nevada, meteorologist Bob Oravec of the Weather    Prediction Center said by phone.
Viruses, Bacteria in Electrospun Nanofibers Can Be Sprayed on Crops,    Says Academia
Natural Blaze - Academics from Israel, Spain, the US and other places    have been writing papers about putting viruses, bacteria, drugs, and    chemicals into electrospun nanofibers, which can be sprayed on crops,    introduced to water supplies to treat the water, and be used to deliver    medicine. One notable academic figure involved in much of this research    is Prof. Zussman, of Universitï¿½t Bayreuth. Israeli academics appear to    be prominently involved in this. While these particular papers are not    about biowarfare, could it explain why people report a plastic-like,    electronic smelling odor in the air after noticing spraying in the    skies? Could use of this technology be why people report illness after    they smell that, and after witnessing chemtrails?ï¿½ Why did they choose    E. Coli and Staph to encapsulate in nanofibers? Another bacteria chosen    was rhizobia, which adds nitrogen to the soilï¿½. The concept of spraying    nanoparticles of aluminum in the stratosphere to allegedly combat    climate change is now well known: rain tests and common sense    observation indicate aluminum, barium nanoparticles are already being    sprayed on us, but the flu like symptoms and other observed effects    after spraying have so far mostly been a mystery. Victims of the elusive    Morgellonï¿½s Disease have reported fibers and strange things coming out    of their skin.
Science & Technology
College Forced To Pay Hackers Thousands To Get Data Back
The Daily Caller - A Los Angeles college paid hackers $28,000 to remove    infected software from its computer systems after cybercriminals took    the schoolï¿½s data hostage. The perpetrators infiltrated the servers of    the Los Angeles Valley College (LAVC) and issued ransomwareï¿½a type of    infected software designed to take over a computer system and then block    access for the authorized user until a fee is paid.... The Los Angeles    Community College District made the payment after consulting ï¿½outside    cybersecurity experts and law enforcement,ï¿½ according to an official    report of the incident. This isnï¿½t the first time an academic    institution has succumbed to nefarious virtual pressure. The University    of Calgary was forced to pay roughly $15,700 in June to hackers who    infiltrated its information technology systems. But the majority of    cybersecurity experts say it is not advisable to pay cybercriminals when    they take data captive. Two primary reasons are that there is no    guarantee that data will be given back to its rightful owner, and    because there is no assurance that the cybercriminal will not blackmail    the person againï¿½aside from the hackerï¿½s word.
 Gardening, Farming & Homesteading
Gangsta Gardener Ron Finley Asks The World For Assistance To      Save His Garden
Activist Post - Ron Finley, affectionately known as the Gangster      Gardener, changes lives with his passion for urban farming, a      task he took on when one day he realized fast-food and      low-quality processed foods were killing his community, South      Central Los Angeles, inflicting far more damage than drugs and      crime.... His efforts have inspired and brought forth a new      generation of gardeners, something the world needs now more than      ever before as biodiversity in food seed is collapsing and      companies like Monsanto and other agrochemical giants are      poisoning the earth and monopolizing the global farming      industry.... The Ron Finley Project (RFP) is headquartered in      Los Angeles, now home to a massive edible community garden and a      center for urban renewal with classrooms and a host of community      projects. The building itself has been sold to a real estate      investment firm and now the project is faced with the choice of      purchasing it or finding a new location, something that would be      a colossal setback for this grassroots movement, and he needs      your help to save it. Over the last few years, the owner of the      RFP property has been battling with the bank and has made      several attempts to receive a loan modification to no avail. The      bank recently foreclosed on the property and sold it to      Strategic Acquisitions Inc. RFP has requested that Strategic      Acquisitions allow them to continue operating from the location      as to sustain with the important work they are doing in the      community. The only solution they have been offered is to      purchase the property, otherwise, face eviction.
Health
10-month-old suddenly suffers 14 seizures a day after receiving      new meningitis vaccine, viral video spreads
(NaturalNews) As reported by the UKï¿½s Daily Mail, Luke Maguire,      25, and Louise McKever, 22, said theyï¿½ve taken their son, Bobby,      to the hospital more than 55 times since he received all of his      vaccines this past summer. Itï¿½s yet another sad example of      vaccine injury that the ï¿½mainstreamï¿½ media and Big Pharma will      try to sweep under the rug. The Daily Mail noted that the      Bexsero Meningitis B vaccine has been administered to all babies      in the UK since September 2015, and seizures are known to be a      side effect. But the first-time parents say the vaccine has left      their son suffering from other problems as well, including night      terrors, allergies and stomach issues.... Little Bobby is now      undergoing several tests, perhaps to rule out a complex genetic      epilepsy disorder. But one expert in the condition who has seen      the video footage says it is not likely that the seizures are      related to the vaccine. That, of course, is coming from the UK      government. The governmentï¿½s regulatory agency also said there      was ï¿½insufficient evidenceï¿½ to link the meningitis B vaccine to      the fits. But the parents arenï¿½t buy it.... Maguire said his son      began experiencing his seizures on the very day he received his      eight-week vaccinations, when his temperature spiked suddenly      and ï¿½he went floppy and unresponsive.ï¿½
Diatomaceous Earth: Safe Supplement that Supports Human      Detoxification and Restores Collagen
Health Impact News - Diatomaceous earth (DE) is an inexpensive natural compound      with multiple uses. As a food grade powder it can be used to      detox heavy metals, parasites, and microbial pathogens. It also      distributes silica internally. Silica is an important component      of bone matter. So is magnesium, which is to a lesser extent      part of DE. Without silica and magnesium, supplementing calcium      alone is dangerous. Calciumï¿½s assimilation into building bone      matter depends on both silica and magnesium as well as vitamin      D. Without proper assimilation into bone matter, calcium remains      in the blood and can literally calcify in the arteries, creating      arteriosclerosis. DE is known for its ability to safely      eliminate bugs of all types, including bedbugs, from dwellings,      gardens, and small organic farms. Itï¿½s safe because it is      non-toxic to humans and animalsï¿½. Diatomaceous earth particles      are quite tiny and hard. But food grade DE is crushed into an      extremely fine powder that makes it easy to mix into a solution      with water or juice. Thereï¿½s only slightly chalky taste and      texture. Yet food grade DE is just abrasive enough to ï¿½gently      scrubï¿½ the inner walls of our gastrointestinal (GI) tract from      beginning to end without damage to the GI tract. Recommended      dosage from most sources: One teaspoonful mixed well in      water or juice away from food. Then two teaspoonfuls away from      food after feeling comfortable with that. This author has used      tablespoon amounts at times without problems. Note: Avoid      inhaling DE into your lungs or getting it into your eyes. Those      areas may not be so resistant to DEï¿½s mild abrasive qualities.      The powderï¿½s fine dusty quality could invade those areas and      cause harm over time. However, there are no recorded incidents      of eye and lung damage from DEï¿½.
Pet News
UPDATE: Raised for meat in SKorea, dogs head for new homes in USA
Nataly Pak - Demi was one of 10 dogs rescued on Tuesday from a farm in    Wonju, 90 km (55 miles) from the South Korean capital, Seoul, where 200    dogs were being raised for human consumption, to start new lives as pets    under the HSI's campaign. The farm is the sixth that the group has    helped close down in South Korea since 2015, and follows six-months of    negotiations, medical examinations and vaccinations. Because airline    flights can only carry a limited number of dogs a day, it will take a    couple of weeks for HSI to rescue all 200 of the dogs at the farmï¿½.    Humane Society International hopes the government will ban the breeding    of dogs for meat ahead of the 2018 Winter Olympics to be held in South    Korea. Recently, the mayor of the city of Seongnam, Lee Jae-myung, who    is running for president, ordered the closure of a big dog-meat section    of a city market. Seafood will be sold there instead.
 
1776 - "Common Sense" by Thomas Paine was published.
1870 - John D. Rockefeller incorporated Standard Oil.
1901 - Oil was discovered at the Spindletop oil field near Beaumont, TX.
1943 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt sailed from Miami, FL, to    Trinidad thus becoming the 1st American President to visit a foreign    country during wartime.
1946 - The first meeting of the United Nations General Assembly took    place with 51 nations represented.
1957 - Harold Macmillan became prime minister of Britain, following the    resignation Anthony Eden.
1984 - The United States and the Vatican established full diplomatic    relations for the first time in more than a century.
1986 - The uncut version of Jerome Kernï¿½s musical, "Showboat", opened at    the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
1994 - In Manassas, VA, Lorena Bobbitt went on trial. She had been    charged with maliciously wounding her husband John. She was acquitted by    reason of temporary insanity.
2000 - It was announced that Time-Warner had agreed to buy America    On-line (AOL). It was the largest-ever corporate merger priced at $162    billion. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) approved the deal on    December 14, 2000.
2001 - American Airlines agreed to acquire most of Trans World Airlines    (TWA) assets for about $500 million. The deal brought an end to the    financially troubled TWA.
2003 - North Korea announced that it was withdrawing from the global    nuclear arms control treaty and that it had no plans to develop nuclear    weapons.
2007 - The iTunes Music Store reached 1.3 million feature length films    sold and 50 million television episodes sold.
World News
U.S. Navy ship fired warning shots at Iranian vessels
Reuters - A U.S. Navy destroyer fired three warning shots at      four Iranian fast-attack vessels near the Strait of Hormuz after      they closed in at high speed and disregarded repeated requests      to slow down, U.S. officials said on Monday. The incident, which      occurred on Sunday and was first reported by Reuters, comes as      U.S. President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office on      Jan. 20. In September, Trump vowed that any Iranian vessels that      harassed the U.S. Navy in the Gulf would be "shot out of the      water." "This was an unsafe and unprofessional interaction, and      that is due to the fact that they were approaching at a high      level of speed with weapons manned and disregarding repeated      warnings," Captain Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, said in a      briefing. The warning shots were fired at the Islamic      Revolutionary Guard Corps boats by the USS Mahan after it      established radio contact but failed to get them to slow down,      Davis said, confirming earlier accounts of U.S. defense      officials. Those officials, speaking to Reuters on condition of      anonymity, said the Iranian vessels came within 900 yards (800      meters) of the Navy destroyer, which was escorting two other      U.S. military ships. The Mahan also fired flares and a U.S. Navy      helicopter also dropped a smoke float before the warning shots,      they said.
Pakistan test-fires first nuclear-capable submarine cruise      missile Babur-3
Times of India - Pakistan on Monday successfully test-fired its      first Submarine-Launched Cruise Missile capable of carrying a      nuclear warhead up to 450km from an undisclosed location in the      Indian Ocean, giving the country a "credible" second-strike      capability, the military said. The missile, Babur-3, was fired      from an underwater, mobile platform and hit its target with      precise accuracy, the Inter Services Public Relations, the media      wing of the Pakistani military said in a statement.... While the      pursuit and now the successful attainment of a second strike      capability by Pakistan represents a major scientific milestone,      it is manifestation of the strategy of measured response to      nuclear strategies and postures being adopted in Pakistan's      neighbourhood, it said, in an obvious reference to India.
Peace Prize Nominated "Humanitarian" White Helmets Stand with      al-Qaeda, Hold Citizens Hostage in Damascus Without Water
The Daily Sheeple - Shortly after the liberation of Aleppo,      al-Qaeda fighters in the Barada Valley outside Damascus dumped      diesel fuel into the water supply to the city on December 22....      the Syrian government is ready to send teams to restore water to      Damascus, the lack of which only punishes civilians and holds a      vast number of people hostage under the possibility of thirst.      Terrorists, however, are denying access to the site and,      instead, are offering to allow teams access the facilities on      the condition that the Syrian military and Hezbollah end their      military siege of the city. In effect, the terrorists are      holding the people of Damascus hostage for military gain....      However, the White Helmets, who typically attempt to stay behind      the scenes (although they have been exposed for doing much more      than mere behind-the-scenes activity), have openly released a      statement of solidarity with al-Qaeda in Barada and Damascus.
Senior Palestinian Official: Moving U.S. Embassy To Jerusalem A      ï¿½Declaration Of War On All Muslimsï¿½
Breitbart - If President-elect Donald Trump makes good on his      promise to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, it would be      considered ï¿½a declaration of warï¿½ on all Muslims, the      Palestinian Authorityï¿½s supreme Sharia judge Mahmoud Al-Habbash      declared on Friday. ï¿½The new American administration intends to      transfer its embassy to Jerusalem. In a simple, calm, and      rational manner, in clear words that need no explanation and      which are unambiguous: Such a step, for every Muslim, is a      declaration of war on all Muslims,ï¿½ said Habbash in a Friday      sermon broadcast on the Palestinian Authorityï¿½s official      television network. The speech, which was attended by      Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, was translated by Israeli      watchdog Palestinian Media Watch. ï¿½We are no oneï¿½s enemies, and      we do not want to be. We are not enemies of the US and we do not      want to be. However, when something harms our faith and our      existence, we cannot stand by and do nothing,ï¿½ Habbash, who also      serves as a senior aide to Abbas, said. ï¿½Occupied Jerusalem is      our eternal capital, the capital of our existence and the      capital of our state. In politics, there can be compromises here      and thereï¿½ In politics there can be negotiation. However, in      matters of religion, faith, values, ethics, and history, there      can be no compromises,ï¿½ he added. Trumpï¿½s team has emphasized      that the president-elect is ï¿½firmly committedï¿½ to transferring      the embassy to Israelï¿½s capital as soon as possible.
US Embassy in Mexico Warns Americans over Security Situation
Pontiac Tribune - The US embassy in Mexico called on US citizens      in Guadalajara to avoid leaving their homes unless highly      necessary following the recent attack on a consular official. A      man injured the consular employee early on Friday. According to      the video released by the US consulate, the perpetrator of the      attack had been waiting for the consular official and started      fire as the latter was driving out of a parking lot.... The      embassy also recommended the US citizens to change their      ordinary pattern of movement to prevent criminals from planning      attacks.
Terror suspects could be forced to wear electronic tags under      radical proposal from German justice minister
The Telegraph - Suspected Islamic extremists could be forced to      wear electronic tags without trial in Germany, under radical new      proposals put forward by the countryï¿½s justice minister. Heiko      Maas said he wanted to extend the use of electronic ankle tags      to those deemed a potential terror threat even if they have not      been convicted of any crime. The proposals come as senior      ministers in Angela Merkelï¿½s government prepare to meet on      Tuesday to discuss security reforms in the wake of last monthï¿½s      Christmas market terror attack in Berlin, in which 12 people      died. Anis Amri, the attacker, was able to move freely around      Germany despite being identified as a terror threat because      police could not secure enough evidence to arrest him. Mr Maas      called for a ï¿½preventive offensiveï¿½ against the threat from      Islamic extremism. ï¿½The use of ankle tags should not be only      available for convicted criminals after release from prison, but      for those identified as a general threat as well,ï¿½ he said.      Under current German law, electronic tags are only possible for      convicted sex offenders after their release from prison, but Mr.      Maas called for their use to be expanded.
U.S. News, Politics & Government
As Americans Freaked Over Russian Fake News, FBI Quietly      Released New Clinton Investigation Docs
The Free Thought Project - The documents were released Sunday on      the bureauï¿½s website, which has a page dedicated to the      investigation of Hillary Clinton.... The FBI did not make an      announcement related to the release.... The file is 299 pages      and many of the documents are part of the basics of building a      federal case including the preservation of records, evidence      chain of custody, and listing many seized items.... The first      document in the file is the initial report titled ï¿½Opening of      Full Investigation on a Sensitive Investigative Matter (SIM),ï¿½      which is dated July 10, 2015. It states the investigation is      designated as a SIM because of the ï¿½connection to a current      public official, political appointee or candidate,ï¿½ which kept      the status of the case out of the public domain. The same report      also lists the case as a prohibited investigation, which      receives special classification for counterintelligence      needs.... On page 235 of the documents, the FBI admits the      Office of Inspector General found classified materials on      Clintonï¿½s server. This means the FBI knew about this leak well      before anything was made public ï¿½ and while Clinton was publicly      denying it the entire time.... The files are also showing signs      of details corroborating some pending theories about Hillary      Clintonï¿½s corruption scandals, as evidenced by internet      forums.... The FBIï¿½s timing in releasing the documents has been      questioned as it comes just days after the full report ordered      by U.S. President Barack Obama to investigate Russian influence      on the election in favor of Donald Trump.
Revealing evidence of Russia's hacking would be 'irresponsible'      State Dept
RT - Asked by RTï¿½s Gayane Chichakyan if Fridayï¿½s public      intelligence report should have contained evidence, State      Department spokesman John Kirby said that no one should be      surprised that US intelligence agencies were keeping evidence      secret in order to protect their sources and methods. ï¿½Most      American people understand that they have the responsibility to      protect their sources and methods,ï¿½ Kirby said, adding it would      be ï¿½irresponsibleï¿½ to do otherwise. It is up to the agencies to      decide which information they share with the public. ï¿½We rely on      them to make that determination for themselves,ï¿½ the State      Department spokesman said at Monday's press briefing.... When      Chichakyan brought up the 2003 intelligence assessment on the      Iraqi weapons of mass destruction ï¿½ invoked by the Bush      administration to justify the US invasion and occupation of that      country ï¿½ Kirby said the comparison was irrelevant, since that      was a long time ago. ï¿½We have moved on. We have learned a lot      from those mistakes,ï¿½ he said.
Donald Trump musters a heartland army for his inauguration
Washington Times - Gleeful journalists who cackled over the      celebrity boycott of the presidential inauguration must now face      a new phenomenon. President-elect Donald Trump and his staff are      winning praise for their ï¿½refreshingï¿½ ideas as they return      inaugural culture to its more traditional, less complicated      origins. The event is not supposed to be Woodstock says Boris      Epshteyn, director of communications for the Inaugural      Committee. Mr. Trump himself insists his No. 1 guest is ï¿½the      American people,ï¿½ and appears delighted with the heartland      heroes ï¿½ all 8,000 of them ï¿½ who will be with him on Jan. 20,      including Border Patrol officers, police color guards, high      school and university marching bands, Boy Scouts, equestrian      corps, first responders, wounded warriors, veterans, caissons      battalions and pipe and drum corps.
Senate Democrats Prepare For Their 2017 Theatrical Debut As      Confirmation Hearings Loom
Zero Hedge - Starting Tuesday Americans will be subjected to      what will feel like endless hours of torture as Senate Democrats      get their opportunity to question Trump cabinet appointees. The      hearings will undoubtedly focus on the wealth accumulation of      many of his nominees as key Democrats have already started to      apply pressure for them to turnover historical tax filings. That      said, given that Republicans control a 52-48 majority in the      Senate and that Democrats eliminated the 60-vote threshold in      2013, the Democrat theatrical displays this week will ultimately      amount to nothing more than an attempt to discredit and shame      Trump's appointees. As John Cornyn of Texas pointed out, "[Democrats] can delay the process, they canï¿½t stop it." Of      course, their lack of leverage (due to their own rule changes      which have now come back to haunt them in just 3 short years)      has Senate Democrats "triggered" over Republican efforts to fast      track the nomination approval process. As The Hill notes, Chuck      Schumer seems particularly upset about the amount of work he'll      have to do this week saying ï¿½It shouldnï¿½t be the case that 6      hearings occur all on the same day." While all of Trump's picks      will be put through the wringer, a handful, including Rex      Tillerson (Secretary of State), Steve Mnuchin (Secretary of      Treasury), Jeff Session (Attorney General) and Betsy DeVos      (Secretary of Education), are expected to draw the most      criticism from the left.
Feds Admit To Putting Migrants on Planes for U.S. Destinations
Breitbart - Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have      admitted that they are not only releasing illegal immigrants at      bus stations, they are also ï¿½identify[ing]ï¿½ and transporting      them to airports for travel to various destinations within the      country. Officials say these undocumented migrants are from      Central America. The migrants are given notices to appear and      are promising to later reappear before an immigration judge.      Missing from the recent announcement is an explanation of the      types of identification that are being used to board commercial      flightsï¿½. The Local 2455 Border Patrol spokesman said that the      planes being used by the migrants were ï¿½the same planes that the      American public uses for domestic travel.ï¿½ Moreover, he said:      Not only are we releasing unknown illegal aliens onto American      streets, but we are allowing them to travel commercially using      paperwork that could easily be reproduced or manipulated on any      home computer. The Notice to Appear form has no photo, anyone      can make one and manipulate one. They do not have any security      features, no watermark, nothing. They are simply printed on      standard copy paper based on the information the illegal alien      says is the truth.
Veteran News
VA employees received millions of dollars in unjustified      incentives
Stars and Stripes - The Department of Veterans Affairs handed      out more than $30 million in employee incentives in one year      without justification, and it will continue to overspend if      changes arenï¿½t made, according to a report released Thursday by      the agencyï¿½s internal watchdog.... Inspectors initiated the      investigation after allegations that the department was giving      out too many incentives to VA executives without cause ï¿½ a      charge Republican lawmakers and VA leaders have quarreled about      in recent years.... Inspectors found $30.7 million of $66      million spent in fiscal 2014 to recruit, relocate or retain      employees was not fully justified. At that rate, they estimated      the VA could give out $158.7 million in unsupported incentives      through September 2019. Inspectors concluded VA officials did      not always confirm the incentives were being used to help fix      workforce gaps or were necessary to recruit and retain      employees. The VA also failed to recoup about $784,000 of      incentives that were awarded on conditions that employees then      did not meet. Inspectors estimated the VA could fail to collect      another nearly $4 million through fiscal 2019.... The findings      were issued about two weeks after Deputy VA Secretary Sloan      Gibson sent a letter to Congress urging lawmakers lift spending      restrictions on employee bonuses that were put in place last      year.
Economy & Business
Great Again: Apple to expand manufacturing in Arizona...
CNBC News - Amid pressure to build products at home, Apple is      seeking to conduct "high-tech manufacturing" at one of its      American plants, according to a federal government filing. Apple      has requested to make finished products in its facility in Mesa,      Arizona, according to the document, first reported by Business      Insider. Right now, it has permissions to make consumer      electronics components there, the filing said. Mesa first      announced the Apple manufacturing facility in 2013, when there      were expected to be 2,000 jobs created there. In 2015, Apple      said it would invest $2 billion to expand "a command center for      the company's global networks." The company currently has job      postings for "data center site services technicians" in Mesa.      Apple has reportedly been looking to expand its cloud services      to compete with rivals like Amazon and Google, The Information      reported last year. Meanwhile, president-elect Donald Trump has      said as president he would "create the incentives" to get Apple      to "build a big plant in the United States."
Trump Hails Fiat Chrysler's $1 Billion Investment in America
LifeZette - President-Elect Donald Trump celebrated Fiat      Chrysler Automobilesï¿½ Sunday announcement that the company is      investing $1 billion in U.S. manufacturing while creating 2,000      jobs as another pre-inauguration economic victory Monday. Even      though Trump hasnï¿½t assumed the presidency yet, the      president-elect has been hard at work delivering on campaign      promises to fight for U.S. workers, revitalizing the economy and      bringing jobs back to the country. After Fiat Chrysler made its      announcement Sunday, Trump lauded the move and expressed his      optimism for the future of American auto manufacturing.... In      its announcement, Fiat Chrysler said it would invest the $1      billion in revamping the two plants in the Midwest states. The      company also plans to manufacture new Jeeps and a new pickup      truck at the facilities, and indicated that it may halt      production of its Ram model in Mexico and move it to Michigan,      according to Reuters.
Fiat CEO Warns May Shut All Mexico Production If Trump Tariff      Too High
Zero Hedge - Agree with his proposed policies or not, it's      difficult to argue that Trump is delivering on his promises to      the autoworkers of the Midwest who single-handedly voted him      into the White House. Before even taking office, the mere threat      of import tariffs has caused Ford to cancel the construction of      a $1.6 billion new facility in Mexico, and has automotive CEO's      from Toyota to Chrysler walking on eggshells as they carefully      try to flaunt all of the capital investments they're making in      U.S.-based facilities. While likely secretly hoping for the      status quo, Fiat Chrysler's U.S. CEO, Sergio Marchionne,      admitted earlier today that if Trump's import tariffs are "sufficiently large" he would be forced to shutter all of his      manufacturing capacity in Mexico as it would be rendered "uneconomical.".... As it turns out, purchasing 18mm cars per      year, even if those purchases are fueled by a massive subprime      auto lending bubble, affords the U.S. some leverage on where      those vehicles are manufactured. And, as Marchionne points out,      the manufacturing capacity in Mexico was specifically designed      and tooled to manufacture vehicles for the U.S. market which      means that attempts to "re-purpose" the facilities for the      export market would almost certainly be uneconomical.... And      with America's United Auto Workers making just over 7x what      comparable workers make to build the same products in Mexico, we      suspect car shoppers in the U.S. should get accustomed to pay a      little more for their Ford Focus or Chevy Cruze.
GM Lied To The Public And To Trump About Where Chevrolet Cruze      Sedans Sold In The USA Are Assembled
Zero Hedge - On Tuesday, president-elect Trump tweeted about      General Motors, stating the GM was building its Chevrolet Cruze      in Mexico, importing them to the US tax-free, and selling them      at US car dealers. GM quickly denied Trumpï¿½s tweet, and in a      press release that same day, the company claimed that all Cruze      sedans sold in the US are ï¿½built in GMï¿½s assembly plant in      Lordstown, Ohioï¿½, and that GM builds the Cruze hatchback for      global markets in Mexico, with only a small percentage being      sold in the USï¿½and the MSM and other liberal outlets were quick      to pounce on GMï¿½s statement, using it to slander the      president-elect. ... So, who did the fact-checking work that the      MSM didnï¿½t bother doing? Auto enthusiast and Twitter user E.W.      Niedermeyer, thatï¿½s who. ï¿½Niedermeyer quickly got to the      nitty-gritty of his argument, noting the the VIN sequence (3G1)      used at the beginning of GM cars made in Mexicoï¿½ï¿½and finally,      Niedermeyer provided evidence on where the autos sold in the US      were built.... GM is selling Cruze sedans manufactured in      Mexico, in the same Ohio town that builds Cruze sedans. And at      the same time, GM is brazen enough to say it doesnï¿½t sell Cruze      sedans built in Mexico in the US.... And GM did so in the face      of the president-elect of the United States accusing the company      of building Cruze sedans in Mexico, shipping them to America      tax-free, and selling them in your local dealerships.... If you      think GM is somehow more credible than Trump, recall that this      isnï¿½t exactly the first time the auto maker has been caught      lying.... But the MSM gleefully took GM at their word, using any      chance it could get to refer to the president-elect as a      dangerous, reckless liar, when a simple fact-check has shown GM      was falsifying the truth, not Trump.
Seafood Companies Sue For Requiring They Track Every Fish
The Daily Caller - Under the rules from the National Marine      Fisheries Service, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric      Administration, companies would have to prove where each fish or      cut of meat came from, down to the ship that caught it or the      farm that raised it. Fish sellers would be required to show the      origin for 13 of the most popular fish species ï¿½ including most      types of tuna fish, crabs and cod ï¿½ and when the seafood arrived      at U.S. customs stations.... Seafood fraud occurs when a company      intentionally mislabels a fish as a different species, either to      fetch a higher price or conceal illegal fishing, according to      Oceana, an environmental group that supports the regulations....      ï¿½These changes to food processing practices in every nation      would reduce exports into the United States and would      dramatically increase the cost of catching, processing and      importing seafood,ï¿½ the lawsuit alleged. The National Fisheries      Institute is committed to fighting seafood fraud, which      according to an Oceana report, accounts for one-fifth of seafood      sold in the U.S., but disagrees that the rule as written will do      more help than harm. The lawsuit claims that the governmentï¿½s      own studies have shown most seafood fraud occurs within the      border, ï¿½even though many U.S. importers subject imported      seafood to DNA testing to preclude fraud at the border.ï¿½
Energy & Environment
U.S. should pursue controversial GeoEngineering research, federal    scientists say for first time
˘The Liberty Beacon -The U.S. government office that oversees federally    funded climate research has recommended studies into two areas of    geoengineering research, marking the first time scientists in the    executive branch have formally called for studies in the controversial    field. The move, part of a climate science planning report sent today to    Congress, will likely further normalize discussion of deliberate    tinkering with the atmosphere to cool the planet, and of directly    collecting carbon from the sky, both topics once verboten in the climate    science community. Yet the new endorsement of geoengineering research    comes amid deep uncertainty about the direction that climate research    will take under the new administration of President-elect Donald    Trump.... The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP), which    produced the report, coordinates climate research across 13 departments    and agencies. Currently, none expressly supports geoengineering    research, though federal climate science officials have been quietly    reviewing the idea for the entirety of the Obama administration. In    2009, in his first public interview after receiving Senate confirmation    for the job of White House science adviser, John Holdren said he had    discussed the controversial idea in his new position. A kerfuffle    followed over whether the White House was ï¿½consideringï¿½ geoengineering    or not. In the aftermath, federal scientists rarely broached the topic    publicly, though influential institutions like the Royal Society in the    United Kingdom, the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering,    and Medicine, and the House of Representatives science committee    subsequently called for government-funded geoengineering research.
New Study Links Neonicotinoid Pesticide To Negative Social Behavior In    Bees
Natural Blaze - While an increasing number of countries, particularly in    Europe, have taken action against neonicotinoids, the U.S. stubbornly    clings to their widespread use. This is happening even as the bumblebee    has been put on the endangered species list in the U.S. for the first    time. A new study has looked beyond what is documented to be a lethal    level of pesticide exposure for bees and has found disturbing changes in    bee behavior at sublethal levels. These effects, while not as dramatic    as millions of bees instantly dropping dead, hint at a more insidious    consequence of spraying. A team of researchers with the Planetary Health    Alliance at Harvard University noted that bees exposed to one type of    neonicotinoid called imidacloprid experienced dramatic changes in the    way they socialized within their hive. Essentially, they abandoned their    responsibilities and withdrew from interaction, even with protective    care and foragingï¿½. This inability to attend to even the most basic    functions that ensure the survival of future generations should sound a    new alarm over the potential loss of such a key component of the    ecosystem upon which human beings depend.
Science & Technology
Feds may let Playpen child porn suspect go to keep concealing their    source code
Ars Technica - In United States v. Michaud, Jay Michaud of Vancouver,    Washington allegedly logged on to Playpen in 2015. But unbeknownst to    him at that point, federal investigators were temporarily operating the    site for 13 days before shutting it down. As authorities controlled    Playpen, the FBI deployed a sneaky piece of software (a "network    investigative technique (NIT)," dubbed by many security experts as    malware), which allowed them to reveal Playpen usersï¿½ true IP addresses.    With that information in hand, identifying those suspects became    trivial. Since being apprehended, some of the Playpen defendants    immediately took plea deals. Others have challenged the government's NIT    and the single out-of-district warrant that authorized its use. In this    case, US District Judge Robert Bryan eventually ordered the government    to hand over the NIT's source code. Since that May 2016 order, the    government has classified the source code itself, thwarting efforts for    criminal discovery in more than 100 Playpen-related cases that remain    pending. In June 2016, prosecutors began the appeals process to the 9th    US Circuit Court of Appeals, but they ultimately decided to abandon    Michaud at the higher court.
Survival/Preparedness
This Underground Survival Community Proves Preppers ï¿½Donï¿½t Just      Survive, They Thriveï¿½
Amanda Froelich - In an unsuspecting location exists the worldï¿½s      largest survival community, where doomsday preppers can invest      in an eco-friendly bunker for just $25,000. In one of the most      unassuming locations exists the worldï¿½s largest survival      community, complete with 575 off-grid doomsday bunkers. Near the      southern edge of Edgemont, South Dakota (population 740), the      Vivos xPoint community can be found. Survivalists who wish to      prepare for the worst can lease an off-grid bunker in a      high-security area for $25,000. Additionally, there is a $1,000      per year ground lease that extends for 99 years. The survival      community was once an Army depot that used to store ammunition      and bombs from 1942 to 1967. Now, it exists as a potential      refuge located about 100 miles from the ï¿½nearest known military      nuclear targets.ï¿½ In the case of WWIII, a zombie apocalypse, or      (more likely) an economic collapse, at least 5,000 people can      find security while the world falls apart. According to Vivos,      each bunker can endure a 500,000-pound internal blast ï¿½ just to      be safe. Each bunker, which is approximately 1,800 to 2,400      square feet, is covered by a berm. Inside, residents will find      life-sustaining resources, including water which can be acquired      via two wells and is stored in reinforced concrete tanks. The      company claims 10 to 20 people can subsist in a bunker for an      entire year. And, those who lease a spot in the community can      hire a contractor to outfit the shelter however they please.
Health
Why Are Nurses and Healthcare Workers Across the U.S. Refusing      Mandatory Flu Vaccines?
Health Impact News - Dr. Meryl Nass, M.D., a 36-year career      board certified internal medicine practitioner in Maine, has      written extensively about vaccine safety and vaccine policy. She      is most well-known for her work with hundreds of Gulf War      Veterans who became ill after receiving the anthrax vaccine. Her      most recent research has uncovered new information about a      nationally imposed flu vaccine policy for healthcare workers.      This policy also affects patients at hospitals and in pediatric      practices, and general practitioners who are being lobbied,      cajoled and sometimes deceived into getting flu vaccines. Dr.      Nass discovered that the Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs)      established by Medicare and organizations like the National      Quality Forum, a federally established, public-private health      quality assessment organization are created for the purpose of      enforcing policies that are selected as ï¿½quality improvementï¿½      measures, whether or not they improve care or lower costs. They      are surrogate measures that can then be used to get institutions      to either comply or lose millions of dollars in reimbursements      (up to 4% of acute care hospitalsï¿½ total Medicare      reimbursements). The more employees and patients vaccinated, the      higher the reimbursement rateï¿½. This is evidently not so much a      health policy, but a transactional policy: mandates are being      forced upon employees so that hospitals will reap financial      gain. Simply put, your practitionersï¿½ health and autonomy are      being used as a bartering tool to increase Medicaid and Medicare      reimbursements, which can determine whether a hospital has a      profit and loss when margins are slim.
Groundbreaking Study Shows Roundup Herbicide Causes Liver      Disease at Low Doses
Sustainable Pulse - This study is unique in that it is the first      to show a causative link between consumption of Roundup at a      real-world environmental dose and a serious disease condition.      Dr. Antoniou stated Monday; ï¿½The findings of our study are very      worrying as they demonstrate for the first time a causative link      between an environmentally relevant level of Roundup consumption      over the long-term and a serious disease ï¿½ namely non-alcoholic      fatty liver disease. Our results also suggest that regulators      should reconsider the safety evaluation of glyphosate-based      herbicides.ï¿½ The results of this study demonstrate that      long-term consumption of an ultra-low, environmentally relevant      dose of Roundup at a glyphosate daily intake level of only 4      nanograms per kilogram of body weight per day, which is 75,000      times below EU and 437,500 below US permitted levels, results in      non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD currently      affects 25% of the US population. Risk factors include being      overweight or obese, having diabetes, high cholesterol or high      triglycerides in the blood. Rapid weight loss and poor eating      habits also may lead to NAFLD. However, some people develop      NAFLD even if they do not have any risk factors. Symptoms      include fatigue, weakness, weight loss, loss of appetite,      nausea, abdominal pain, spider-like blood vessels, yellowing of      the skin and eyes (jaundice), itching, fluid build-up and      swelling of the legs (edema) and abdomen (ascites), and mental      confusion. NAFLD can progress to the more serious condition      non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
Medicinal mushrooms boost immune function and prevent cancer
(NaturalHealth365) The main way medicinal mushrooms fight cancer      is through their ability to boost your immune system. In fact,      reishi extract from the reishi mushroom contains known      anti-cancer compounds, and it is registered with the government      for its anticancer abilities. Three decades of research have      substantiated medicinal mushrooms as having cancer-fighting and      tumor-shrinking properties. Cancer cell growth and tumor growth      seems to be inhibited by the compounds that medicinal mushrooms      contain. The extract of reishi mushrooms has been studied      extensively for its properties as an immune system booster. It      is believed it enhances immune functioning due to its ability to      increase the bodyï¿½s production of the compound interleukin 1 and      2. Medicinal mushrooms like the reishi also lower blood      pressure, protect the liver, reduce inflammation and pain, and      naturally kill viruses. Cordyceps is another medicinal mushroom      that can help boost your immune system and prevent cancer.      Cordyceps mushrooms are stimulating to the immune system and      help to raise levels of natural cancer killing cells including T      cells. The long tradition of Chinese medicine considers      cordyceps mushrooms enhancing to the longevity of white blood      cells, which are instrumental in fighting and preventing cancer.      Other beneficial medicinal mushrooms include shitake mushrooms,      sometimes called ï¿½Elixir of Life.ï¿½ These mushrooms are used in      miso soup and are known to help reduce cholesterol levels when      eaten regularly. Shitake mushrooms contain lentinan, a known      immune system booster and virus inhibitor. Shitake mushrooms      also contain AHCC, a glucan which can treat and prevent cancer      by boosting the immune system.
5 Headache-Curing Herbs Your Ancestors Used
Off the Grid News - Here are the top 5 herbs that have been used      for ages to stop headaches, before pharmacies, before pills, and      certainly before your boss was born! 1. Willow - The bark from      willow trees has a long history of pain relief, and not just for      headaches. Extracts from white willow bark was used by the      pioneers in the 1800s, but the Native people of America used it      well before that. Willow bark contains a compound, salicin,      which your body will convert into salicylic acid, known to you      and I as aspirin. 2. Ginger - It can be purchased in capsule      form, but the quickest way to relieve headaches ï¿½ and the one      our ancestors used ï¿½ was to put a half dozen thin slices of      fresh ginger root in two cups of water and boil it as a tea.      Simmer for 20 to 30 minutes and drink after it has cooled a bit.      3. Feverfew - This ancient herb, best known for reducing fevers,      is a terrific choice for migraines as it not only reduces pain      but is known to help alleviate nausea and sensitivity to light.      The leaves and flowers contain a compound that cause the blood      vessels to dilateï¿½.
Monday - January    9, 2017
1793 - Jean-Pierre Blanchard made the first successful balloon flight in    the U.S.
1788 - Connecticut became the 5th state to join the United States.
1799 - British Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger introduced income    tax, at two shillings (10p) in the pound, to raise funds for the    Napoleonic Wars.
1848 - The first commercial bank was established in San Francisco, CA.
1861 - The state of Mississippi seceded from the United States.
1929 - The Seeing Eye was incorporated in Nashville, TN. The company's    purpose was to train dogs to guide the blind.
1936 - The United States Army adopted the semi-automatic rifle.
1940 - Television was used for the first time to present a sales meeting    to convention delegates in New York City.
1951 - The United Nations headquarters officially opened in New York    City.
1986 - Kodak got out of the instant camera business after 10 years due    to a loss in a court battle that claimed that Kodak copied Polaroid    patents.
1991 - U.S. secretary of state Baker and Iraqi foreign minister Aziz met    for 61/2 hours in Geneva, but failed to reach any agreement that would    forestall war in the Persian Gulf.
2002 - The U.S. Justice Department announced that it was pursuing a    criminal investigation of Enron Corp. The company had filed for    bankruptcy on December 2, 2001.
2003 - Archaeologists announced that they had found five more chambers    in the tomb of Qin Shihuang, China's first emperor. The rooms were    believed to cover about 750,000 square feet.
2007 - Steve Jobs, Apple Inc.'s CEO, announced the first generation    iPhone.
World News
100ï¿½s of US tanks, heavy equipment flows into Europe to counter      ï¿½Russian aggressionï¿½
RT - The Resolve cargo ship arrived on Wednesday, while two more      vessels ï¿½ Freedom and Endurance ï¿½ are expected in Germany on      Sunday, Deutsche Welle reported. The unloading of the ships      began on Friday, with the heavy equipment to be transported to      Poland via rail and road. The US plans to deliverer a total of      87 Abrams M1A1 tanks, 20 Paladin artillery vehicles and 136      Bradley fighting vehicles to Eastern Europe, according to      Reuters. Four thousand American troops will reportedly be spread      across Poland, the Baltic States, Bulgaria and Romania where      theyï¿½ll remain on rotation basis. Polish and US troops are      scheduled to hold joint ï¿½massingï¿½ drills in Poland later this      month, which NATO says is aimed at reassuring its European      allies in the face of what it calls aggressive Russian behavior.      The 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, with 50 Black Hawk      helicopters, 10 CH-47 Chinook helicopters and 1,800 personnel,      as well as a separate aviation battalion with 400 troops and 24      Apache helicopters are also scheduled for deployment in Eastern      Europe.... NATO calls it military buildup near Russiaï¿½s borders      a defensive measure, claiming it is justified after Moscowï¿½s      reunion with Crimea in 2014 and its alleged involvement in the      Ukrainian crisis. Russia views the military blocï¿½s actions      aggressive and said the massive military is undermining the      security balance on the European continent.
Turkey let ISIS get bomb supplies, former counterterror official      says
Washington Times - Although Ankara denies it ever allowed      private companies to supply the terrorist group, Ahmet S. Yayla,      who held high-level Turkish law enforcement posts from 2010 to      2014, said the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had      a clandestine policy to facilitate cross-border transfers of      explosive materials to the group. ï¿½Police were told to close      their eyes when large shipping container trucks rolled across      the Syrian border with Turkey,ï¿½ Mr. Yayla told The Washington      Times. ï¿½The protocol was that if national intelligence was      arranging the movement, there was [no] stopping for inspection.ï¿½      Mr. Yayla, an adjunct professor at George Mason University and      an outspoken critic of the Turkish government, made the      assertions amid growing scrutiny of Ankaraï¿½s suspected role in      arming the Islamic State... Turkish diplomats strenuously denied      the charges during a half-hour meeting at the Turkish Embassy      late last month.... In a national address this week after the      New Yearï¿½s massacre at an Istanbul nightclub claimed by the      Islamic State, Mr. Erdogan strongly rejected charges that his      government aided the jihadi terrorist group operating in      neighboring Iraq and Syria.... But a report last month by the      Britain-based tracking group Conflict Armament Research said      terrorists operating out of numerous workshops and factories in      the Mosul area produced tens of thousands of mortar rounds,      rockets and improvised explosive devices using precursor      materials originating in Turkish factories.
Turkey agrees to withdraw its troops illegally stationed in Iraq
Almasdar News - Following the announcement of a meeting between      Turkey's Prime Minister Binali Yildirim and Prime Minister      Haider al-Abadi, the two counterparts have agreed for the total      withdrawal of all Turkish soldiers illegally stationed in the      Bashiqa region near Mosul. Iraqi television quoted al-Abadi      confirming an agreement reached with Turkey on the withdrawal of      Turkish troops from northern Iraq.Turkish Prime Minister Ben Ali      Yildirim is expected to also meet President Fuad Masum and      Parliament Speaker Salim al-Jubouri following his meeting with      Abadi, as well as community leaders of Iraq's Turkmen minority.      The deployment of Turkish troops near Mosul caused a political      showdown between the two states, with the Iraqi Popular      Mobilization Units vowing to rid Iraq of Turkish troops after      defeating ISIS. Iraq also considered its options of attacking      the illegally stationed Turkish troops.
US State Dept. wants Gambia Embassy families to evacuate as      president refuses to give up power
RT - The US has ordered the evacuation of embassy personnel      families from Gambia, as tensions heat up ahead of the end of      President Yahya Jammehï¿½s term.... A statement from the US State      Department also warned Americans not to travel to Gambia,      ï¿½because of the potential for civil unrest and violence in the      near future.ï¿½ Advising families of embassy staff to leave the      country, the statement said that those who choose to stay should      ï¿½prepare for the possible deterioration of security.ï¿½ The      long-time president lost his position to opposition candidate      Adama Barrow on December 1. While Jammeh had initially accepted      the result, he later called for a new vote, leading to      widespread international criticism. The transition of power is      set to take place on January 19, as Jammehï¿½s cabinet failed to      get the Supreme Court to declare the election results null and      void. A final ruling is expected on January 10, with everyone      bracing for possible violence.... This was supposed to be the      first peaceful transition of power in West Africa since 1965,      after the British gave up the former colony.
Truck Rams Into Pedestrians In Jerusalem Killing Four, Wounding      15; Driver Shot (Video)
Zero Hedge - A truck rammed into a group of Israeli soldiers who      were disembarking from a bus in Jerusalem on Sunday, killing      four people and wounding 15 others, AP reported citing Israeli      police and rescue services said. Police spokeswoman Luba Samri      said the truck veered off course and rammed into the group on      the street at the Armon Hanatziv promenade overlooking the      walled Old City of Jerusalem.... Israel's rescue service MDA      said the four casualties were in their 20s and included three      women and a man. Of the 15 wounded, one was in serious      condition.... An Israeli bus driver who witnessed the incident      said on the radio the truck plowed into a group of soldiers, and      that they fired on the driver, who reversed direction and ran      over them again. "They shot him, until they neutralized him," said the bus driver, who gave his name only as Moshe....      Israel's police chief Roni Alsheich told reporters the attacker      was from an Arab neighborhood in east Jerusalem and forces had      no advance warning. He refused to elaborate and a gag order was      placed on further details pending an investigation. According to      a Times of Israel reporter, Hamas's Qassam brigades say      Jerusalem attacker, Fadi al-Qanbar, was a released prisoner.      Call him a "Mujahid." The Sunday attack, reminiscent of the      recent truck-ramming at the Berlin Christmas market which took      place in December and was perpetrated by an ISIS-supporter,      would rank as one of the deadliest in a more than yearlong wave      of Palestinian shooting, stabbing and vehicular attacks against      Israelis that had slowed of late. Sunday's incident marks the      first Israeli deaths in three months.
Gunman shoots, wounds US consular official in Mexico
AP - The Attorney General's Office said the official was wounded      in the attack Friday in Guadalajara. The city is the capital of      Jalisco state, which is dominated by the hyper-violent Jalisco      New Generation cartel. There was no immediate evidence of any      cartel link to the attack.... Surveillance video of the attack      shows the gunman following the official in a parking garage. The      official, whose name was not released, was dressed in shorts.      The attacker doesn't appear to try to approach the official      while he is walking, but instead waits for him to exit the      parking garage in his vehicle and fires a round into the car's      windshield. The consulate said on its Facebook page that the FBI      is offering a $20,000 reward for information on the attacker.      Guadalajara is Mexico's second largest city and is not      specifically singled out for any special precautions in the      latest U.S. travel warning updated on Dec. 8. The U.S. Embassy      in Mexico City said that for privacy reasons no further      information would be made available on the victim, including his      condition.
Government Will Not Request Prison Sentence for 'Child Migrant'      Who Raped 5 Year-Old Boy
Breitbart London - The Attorney-Generalï¿½s Office (AGO) will not      request a prison sentence for a [15-year-old] ï¿½child migrantï¿½      who raped a 5 year-old boy in late 2015, Breitbart London has      established. The migrant, who told the boy he would ï¿½break him      into piecesï¿½ if he told anyone about the attack, was handed a      non-custodial, three-year rehabilitation order by Judge Jonathan      Bennett.... Any member of the public can request that the Law      Officers of England and Wales appeal sentences of this nature      under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. Breitbart London      reported last November that at least one unknown member of the      public had done so in this case. However, the AGO has since told      Breitbart London that Tory MP Robert Buckland, the      Solicitor-General, has ï¿½carefully reviewed the papersï¿½ and      ï¿½concluded that if the sentence imposed on the offender was      referred to the Court of Appeal, the Court would not increase      the sentenceï¿½.... The original sentence was just one of a series      of rulings which have encouraged accusations that the judiciary      are ï¿½out of touchï¿½ with the ordinary public, with some calling      for judges to be subject to retention elections, as in Japan and      several American states.... Criticism of the judiciary reached      fever pitch following a controversial ruling in the High Court      which deemed that MPs should have the final say over whether or      not the UK leaves the European Union (EU), a move which saw      senior judges branded ï¿½enemies of the peopleï¿½. Furthermore, the      courts have proven keener to resort to imprisonment for offenses      which are seemingly much less serious but judged to be ï¿½racially      or religiously-motivatedï¿½ in character.
Norwegian Murderer Of 77 Wins Verdict For "Inhumane" Prison      Treatment
Gateway Pundit - Anders Breivik, the most prolific murderer in      Norwayï¿½s history, was imprisoned after killing 77 people in a      gun attack in 2011. In April of 2016 Breivik won an ï¿½inhumane      conditionsï¿½ verdict for being kept in ï¿½inhumane and degradingï¿½      conditions. What exactly were the ï¿½inhumane and degradingï¿½      conditions that Breivik was experiencing? Cold coffee, Frozen      microwave dinners, Plastic cups and plates, Regular use of      handcuffs, ï¿½humiliatingï¿½ strip searches, Being denied      opportunities to meet other Nazis, Being denied a chance to      marry a Nazi, Being banned from publishing books he has written.      From Yahoo: "A Norwegian court will on Tuesday examine the      stateï¿½s appeal against a ruling that right-wing extremist and      mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik has been treated inhumanely      since being jailed for killing 77 people nearly six years ago. A      lower court made waves in April when it found that Breivikï¿½s      human rights were violated as he was subjected to ï¿½inhumaneï¿½ and      ï¿½degradingï¿½ treatment in prison ï¿½ a decision that disturbed many      families of the victims, mostly teenagers at a summer island      camp.".... Perhaps the most outrageous part of this case is the      actual prison sentence that Anders Breivik received. Breivik is      serving only a 21 year sentence for murdering 77 people and      injuring over 300 in a bombing and shooting attack.
U.S. News, Politics & Government
You're fired!' Donald Trump to sack Obama's diplomats
The Duran - Reports coming out of Washington say that Donald      Trump has unilaterally told all Obama US ambassadors abroad,      ï¿½youï¿½re firedï¿½. This comes after Obamaï¿½s expulsion of Russian      diplomatic officials and their families just prior to western      Christmas. The New York Times first reported that a State      Department cable was sent to all ambassadors on December 23      informing them they have to vacate their posts by Jan. 20      ï¿½without exceptions.ï¿½ Trump has been taking to Twitter to      express his consternation over Obamaï¿½s campaign of hatred      against Russia in his final weeks in power. By sacking many      Obama appointed diplomats, Trump is both symbolically and      materially taking the wind out of the foreign policy sails of      the Democrats. The move however has implications beyond the tit for tat psychological war being waged between a lame-duck Obama      and the President-elect. Trump had long derided Obama for      rewarding important diplomatic positions to those who gave      substantial financial contributions to his campaign. Famously,      Trump mocked Obama for making Caroline Kennedy the US Ambassador      to Japan because ï¿½she was boredï¿½.
In Stunning Last Minute Power Grab, Obama Designates Election      Systems As "Critical Infrastructure"
Zero Hedge - The statement from DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson      defines ï¿½election infrastructureï¿½ as ï¿½storage facilities,      polling places, centralized vote tabulations locations, voter      registration databases, voting machinesï¿½ and all "other systems" to manage the election process...so pretty much everything....      Of course, itï¿½s likely not a coincidence that the DHS made this      announcement just hours after the "intelligence community" declassified their "Russian Hacking" propaganda which basically      noted that RT has a very effective social media distribution      platform while once again providing absolutely no actual      evidence. Johnsonï¿½s statement goes on to note that while many      ï¿½state and local election officials are opposed to this      designationï¿½ he went ahead with his decision anywayï¿½. Of course,      one of the most vocal opponents of this move has been Georgia      Secretary of State Brian Kemp who recently told Politico it is      nothing more than an attempt to "subvert the Constitution to      achieve the goal of federalizing elections under the guise of      security.ï¿½ During an earlier interview with the site Nextgov,      Kemp warned: "The question remains whether the federal      government will subvert the Constitution to achieve the goal of      federalizing elections under the guise of security." Kemp told      POLITICO he sees a ï¿½clear motivation from this White Houseï¿½ to      expand federal control, citing Obamaï¿½s health care law, the      Dodd-Frank financial-reform legislation and the increased role      of the Education Department in local schools. To some election      officials, this sounds like the first stage of a more intrusive      plan. ï¿½I think itï¿½s kind of the nose under the tent,ï¿½ said      Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos, a Democrat. ï¿½What I think      a lot of folks get concerned about [is] when the federal      government says, ï¿½Well, look, weï¿½re not really interested in      doing that, but we just want to give you this,ï¿½ and then all of      a sudden this leads to something else.ï¿½
Trump Demands Investigation into Potentially Classified NBC      Leaks
LifeZette - Late Friday morning, Trump tweeted: ï¿½I am asking the      chairs of the House and Senate committees to investigate top      secret intelligence shared with NBC prior to me seeing it.ï¿½....      The leaks to NBC first caught Trump's eye on Thursday night,      when he asked how the organization was reportedly getting the      names of Russian hackers who allegedly hacked Democratic email      accounts. "How did NBC get 'an exclusive look into the top      secret report he (Obama) was presented'?" Trump asked on      Twitter. "Who gave them this report and why? Politics!".... It      would be a serious violation of federal law if such classified      information were leaked to the media, especially by government      officials. By Friday, almost at noon, Trump had had enough, and      asked Congress to investigate leaks.
5,000 National Guard troops will be deployed for Trump swearing      in
Washington Examiner - Mayor Muriel Bowser said despite increased      security concerns, the city is prepared and ready for the event,      she said Friday at a press conference with U.S. Secret Service      and other security forcesï¿½. In addition to the 5,000 National      Guard troops being deployed in the city, 3,000 security officers      from multiple jurisdiction will also be on the ground, according      to security officialsï¿½. The city's interim police chief, Peter      Newsham, said the city is ready for all contingencies and is      monitoring social media to track activists and others looking to      disrupt the 58th inauguration. "Some folks that are indicating      on social media that they're coming to shut down the      inauguration or the events," Police Chief Newsham said. "[It] is      something that we will be prepared for." The inauguration will      cost the city $30 million, with $19 million appropriated by      Congress, according to the mayor. Bowser expects the remainder      to be reimbursed by the federal government.
Jill Stein's Recount Effort Was A Failure, But Not A Financial      One
Western Journalism - Stein used an online campaign to raise more      than $7 million to help pay for the recounts.... The state of      Wisconsin estimated it would need $3.5 million to pay for the      recount. But because each of Wisconsinï¿½s 72 counties were      allowed to determine whether they wanted to use machines to      recount votes as opposed to hand tallies, most used the faster      machine counts. As a result, the cost of the recount was closer      to $2 million. So Stein will receive a refund of approximately $1.5 million from Wisconsin. The cost to recount the votes in      Michigan was paid up front by Stein. Michigan charged $125 per      precinct for each of the states 7,786 precincts, for a total of      $973,250. But by the time the recount was stopped by the court,      a little more than 3,000 precincts had been recounted at a cost      of $381,250. This means Stein is due a reimbursement in Michigan      in the amount of $592,000.... Stein said she plans on using the      reimbursements to fund a new ï¿½voter integrityï¿½ group.
CNN Sara Ganim caught laughing at Chicago torture video
Media Circus - At first, CNN simply ignored the Chicago torture      of a special needs white man by four black leftist thugs. Then,      they had to report on it because the story and outrage grew      bigger and bigger. Now, it appears CNN is laughing at the      special needs man being tortured by four leftist black thugs. At      least Sara Ganim of CNN is laughing at it. Check out this video      of Ganim caught laughing when she thought the camera was off      here, then regaining composure when she realizes she on live      with Wolf Blitzer.
Ft. Lauderdale shooting suspect said US intelligence forced him      to watch ISIS videos
Fox News - Estaban Santiago, the 26-year-old airline passenger      accused of shooting up a baggage claim area at the Ft.      Lauderdale-Hollywood airport Friday, leaving five dead and eight      injured, visited the FBI Anchorage field office and told      officers he was being forced to watch ISIS videos, law      enforcement sources told Fox News. The visit took place last      November. The sources said Santiago told agents that US      intelligence had infiltrated his mind and were forcing him to      watch ISIS propaganda videos. ï¿½In November 2016, Esteban      Santiago walked into the Anchorage FBI Field Office to report      that his mind was being controlled by a U.S. intelligence      agency,ï¿½ a senior federal law enforcement official said. ï¿½During      the interview, Santiago appeared agitated and incoherent, and      made disjointed statements. Although Santiago stated that he did      not wish to harm anyone, as a result of his erratic behavior,      interviewing agents contacted local authorities who took custody      of Santiago and transported him to a local medical facility for      evaluation. The FBI closed its assessment of Santiago after      conducting database reviews, interagency checks, and interviews      of his family members,ï¿½ the official added. The sources also      said the November interaction with Santiago prompted the FBI to      open an investigation on him that led to interviews with family      members, database checks and an interagency review. The sources      told Fox that the FBI found no connections to foreign terror      organizations. At a late night news conference Friday, George      Piro, special agent in charge of the FBI's Miami divison, said      authorities were pursuing all leads and had not ruled out      terrorism - or anything else. Santiago's past has included a      series of run-ins with the law in recent years. Almost exactly a      year ago, he was charged with fourth-degree assault and damage      of property in Anchorage, Alaska where he lived from 2014 to      2016. One of the charges was dismissed by the local prosecutor      two months later, according to records found by Foxnews.com.      Santiago's involvement in a domestic violence case was      confirmed.
CNN LABELS Fort Lauderdale AIRPORT SHOOTER ï¿½WHITE HISPANICï¿½
International Business Times - After Esteban Santiago, the      alleged shooter who killed five people at the Fort      Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport Friday, was labeled ï¿½white      Hispanic,ï¿½ Twitter discussed the meaning of the termï¿½. The label      ï¿½white Hispanicï¿½ describes a person who physically appears      white, but is of ï¿½Latin American or Hispanic birth or heritage,ï¿½      the Huffington Post wrote in 2013. So, a person can be white and      Hispanic because white is a race and Hispanic is an ethnicity.      The discussion over Santiagoï¿½s race versus ethnicity is similar      to the one that happened with George Zimmerman, the man who      fatally shot Trayvon Martin Feb. 26, 2012, in Sanford, Florida.      CNN came under fire after they labeled him a ï¿½white Hispanic,ï¿½      with many claiming the term was about political bias.
Baltimore in 'Crisis' Due to Officer Shortage After Months of      Anti-Police Policies
Breitbart - As officers retire, others quit, and as budget cuts      and policy changes affect still more, it appears that few new      recruits are lining up as replacements.... Police morale is also      at an all-time low in the city as officers have quit in droves      even as the murder rate soars. Baltimore ended 2016 with the      second-highest number of murders per capita in its history,      reports say. Meanwhile, the number of officers dropped another      6.1 percent in 2016. Since 2014, the force has seen hundreds of      officers leave the job. At the end of 2014, the city had a      2,805-officer force, but there were only 2,634 officers at the      end of 2015. By the closing days of 2016, that number had fallen      to 2,445 officers, according to Yahoo News. Not only has      political pressure due to various department prosecutions hit      morale hard, but budget cuts, even in the face of rising crime,      have also put a crimp in the department. With the political and      media scrutiny, Baltimore officers have felt like they are      ï¿½walking on eggshells.ï¿½.... The worst pressure began after the      death of suspect Freddie Gray in 2015. The manï¿½s death while in      police custody sparked months of riots and property destruction,      all masking a sharp rise in crime rates, including murder.
Kathryn Steinle's Family Gets Go-Ahead to Sue Federal Government
Breitbart - U.S. Magistrate Joseph Spero said Steinleï¿½s parents      can sue but stressed that the suit may be dismissed if there is      no evidence that the illegal alienï¿½Juan Francisco      Lopez-Sanchezï¿½stole the gun from a federal agent. The gun in      question came from the car of a federal agentï¿½a car from which      the gun was stolen. On August 28, 2015, Breitbart News      previously reported that the .40 caliber round that killed      Steinle was fired from a Sig Sauer handgun that had been stolen      from a Bureau of Land Management agent. However, it appears the      case will turn on whether Lopez-Sanchez stole the gun      himself.... But the San Francisco Chronicle reports that Spero      said the Steinle family ï¿½can sue the federal government for      negligence because a ranger allegedly left the gun used in the      shooting in his unlocked car.ï¿½ He added, ï¿½Leaving a gun loaded      makes (its) capability for harm readily accessible in the same      way as leaving the key in the ignition of a vehicle.ï¿½ Spero      dismissed Steinleï¿½s parentï¿½s suit against the City of San      Francisco, even as he gave the go-ahead for the suit against the      federal government. He ï¿½rejected [her parentï¿½s] claims that the      city was legally responsible for releasing Lopez-Sanchez without      contacting the federal government and that federal immigration      officials, who had known the city was holding him, had a duty to      pick him up and deport him.ï¿½
Illinois School District Bars Students From Announcing Prayer      Gatherings on Facebook Page
Wayne City Community Unit School District 100 in Illinois has      barred students at Wayne City High School from using the      school's public Facebook page to encourage their peers to      participate in prayer gatherings and religious events after the      Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation complained      about a Facebook post announcing a prayer gathering during a "Bring Your Bible to School Day" event in October. The post,      which was published on the Wayne City High School Facebook page      by a student on Sept. 30, invited students to bring their Bibles      to school on Oct. 6 and advertised a meeting in the school      library at 7:50 a.m. "to pray over the day." "Everybody is      welcome to join in on this activity," the post read. "We will be      carrying our Bibles around school this day. This is not just a      Wayne City thing, it's happening nationwide." Needless to say,      such an advertisement of religion on the school's official      Facebook page drew the ire of at least one local resident, who      complained to the FFRF, an atheist legal group that pressures      public schools around the nation to crack down on any perceived      endorsement of religion. FFRF attorney Ryan Jayne sent a letter      to the school district's Superintendent, Jeff Mitchell, on Oct.      5 arguing that such a posting violates the Establishment Clause      of the First Amendment.
Illinois      law enlists hairstylists to prevent domestic abuse
(AP) - An Illinois law that takes effect Sunday aims to take      advantage of the trusted relationship between hairstylists and      their clients to prevent domestic violence. Stylists, barbers,      cosmetologists, estheticians, hair braiders and nail technicians      in Illinois will receive an hour of mandated abuse-prevention      training as part of the licensing process. The law does not      require them to report any violence, and it shelters them from      any liabilityï¿½. Hairstylists are well situated to notice signs      of abuse, said Vi Nelson, spokeswoman for the industry group      Cosmetologists Chicago. Abusers "tend to try to find places      where it could be an accident or it's not as visible," Nelson      said. "They may hit them in the back of the head, and there's a      bruise or a bump. The hairdresser is touching you and can see      things that cannot be visible to the casual observer." Clients      and stylists often develop yearslong relationships, said Karen      Gordon, who owns J. Gordon Designs salon in Chicago. "We get      very close with our clients, even so far to say we love our      clients," she said. "You know people through life's ups and      downs. When people come into a safe environment like a beauty      salon, they tend to open up."
Economy & Business
Manufacturing Jobs Declined by 45,000 in 2016; Government Jobs      Increased by 183,000
CNS News - Jobs in manufacturing in the United States increased      by 17,000 in Decemberï¿½the first post-election monthï¿½climbing      from 12,258,000 in November to 12,275,000 in December, according      to data released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Even      so, over all of 2016, manufacturing jobs declined by 45,000...      At the same time, jobs in federal, state and local government      increased not only from November to December, but over the      course of the entire year.... Last December, government jobs in      the United States outnumbered manufacturing jobs by 9,720,000.      This December, government jobs outnumbered manufacturing jobs by      9,948,000.... The 22,223,000 who now work for federal, state or      local government in this country, according to the BLS, is more      than ever worked in manufacturing. Manufacturing employment      peaked in June 1979 at 19,553,000. Since then, manufacturing      employment has declined by 7,278,000ï¿½or 37.2 percentï¿½to its      current level of 12,275,000.
Bernie Sanders Supporters Launch Glass-Steagall Drive
Wall Street On Parade - Northwest Ohio supporters of Senator      Bernie Sanders in his run for President have launched a      nationwide push to enlist other organizations to send it letters      and take to social media to endorse a demand that      President-elect Donald Trump fulfill a campaign pledge. Trump      made the pledge on October 26 of this year in a speech he      delivered in Charlotte, North Carolina, promising to enact a      21st Century Glass-Steagall Act to reform Wall Street. Such      legislation has been sitting dormant in both the House and      Senate for years. If enacted, it would separate the      deposit-taking, taxpayer-insured commercial banks from the      globe-trotting, high-risk trading casinos known as investment      banks on Wall Street. The 1933 Glass-Steagall Act kept the      financial system of the United States safe for 66 years until      its repeal in 1999 during the Bill Clinton presidency. It took      only nine years after its repeal for Wall Street to blow up the      financial system in a replay of 1929. All that prevented another      Great Depression was a massive, secret money drop by the Federal      Reserve.... Sandersï¿½ supporters have good reason to be holding      Trumpï¿½s feet to the fire on his pledge to restore Glass-Steagall....      Trump has nominated Steven Mnuchin, a 17-year veteran of Goldman      Sachs to be his Treasury Secretary; named Stephen Bannon,      another former Goldman Sachs banker, as his Chief Strategist in      the White House; and nominated Gary Cohn, the current President      of Goldman Sachs, to head the National Economic Council. Just      this week, Trump nominated a Goldman Sachs outside lawyer, Jay      Clayton of Sullivan & Cromwell, to serve as Wall Streetï¿½s top      cop as Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. In an      added insult to the publicï¿½s sensibilities, Claytonï¿½s wife      currently works as a Vice President at Goldman Sachs.
Energy & Environment
Climate Scientist Resigns Over Climate Change
PJ Media - Former chair of the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences    at Georgia Tech Judith Curry announced her resignation in a blog post on    Tuesday. While her resignation is technically "a retirement event," and    she is "cashing out" to get her pension, Curry explained that "the    deeper reasons have to do with my growing disenchantment with    universities, the academic field of climate science and scientists.ï¿½    Curry is known for her scientifically astute explanations of the    uncertainties in climate science. Indeed, she has been attacked as "anti-science" by other researchers who repeat the rote "scientific    consensus" that man-made global warming is a catastrophic threat to    humanity. In a cruel sort of irony, the universities ï¿½ ostensibly the    bastion of academic freedom ï¿½ have become unsafe for those who, using    good scientific methods, are skeptical of the received wisdom on climate    change. "A deciding factor was that I no longer know what to say to    students and postdocs regarding how to navigate the CRAZINESS in the    field of climate science," Curry wrote. "Research and other professional    activities are professionally rewarded only if they are channeled in    certain directions approved by a politicized academic establishment ï¿½    funding, ease of getting your papers published, getting hired in    prestigious positions, appointments to prestigious committees and    boards, professional recognition, etc."
Health
First of Its Kind Study Shows that Change in Diet Alone ï¿½ Not      Drugs ï¿½ is Curing Diseases
(NaturalHealth365) Dr. David Suskind, a gastroenterologist at      Seattle Childrenï¿½s, is breaking the mold. Suskind has produced      the first clinical evidence that food can indeed be medicine. In      a first-of-its-kind-study led by Suskind, published today in the      Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, diet alone was shown to      bring pediatric patients with active Crohnï¿½s and [ulcerative      colitis] into clinical remissionï¿½ In the small, prospective      study, patients were put on a special diet called the specific      carbohydrate diet (SCD) for 12 weeks as the sole intervention to      treat their Crohnï¿½s or UC. SCD is a nutritionally balanced diet      that removes grains, dairy, processed foods and sugars, except      for honey. The diet promotes only natural, nutrient-rich foods,      which includes vegetables, fruits, meats and nuts. At the end of      the 12 weeks, eight out of the 10 patients who finished the      study showed significant improvement and achieved remission from      the dietary treatment aloneï¿½. Food as medicine may prove to have      applications outside of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), as      many diseases may be related to chronic inflammation. For      example, the charred meat prevalent in American diets is      associated with prostate inflammation which can lead to prostate      cancerï¿½. This approach to treating illness is anathema to Big      Pharma, which thrives as people pop more pills. Diet, exercise      and being fully informed have no value to the corporatocracy.
This One Mineral Reduces Oxidative Stress, Repairs DNA, And      Leads To Mechanisms Which Extend Life
Mae Chan - One of the biggest mineral deficiencies in the world      is Zinc, with as many as two billion people around the world      being in a daily deficit. A modest 4 milligrams of zinc extra      every day in the diet may reduce DNA strand breaks and improve levels of proteins involved in DNA repair, oxidative stress, and      inflammation. A study published in the American Journal of      Clinical Nutrition, is said to be the first to show that a      modest increase in dietary zinc reduces damage to DNA which      extends life. Dietary shortages of crucial minerals like zinc      may be keeping almost a third of the world's people from      optimizing their immune system. Studies at Oregon State      University and elsewhere are raising concerns about the health      implications this holds for infectious disease, immune function,      DNA damage and cancer.
Splenda Suppresses Thyroid Function, Promotes Weight Gain
Green Med Info - A concerning new study published in the      European Journal of Nutrition entitled, "Type of sweet flavour      carrier affects thyroid axis activity in male rats,ï¿½ is the      first study of its kind to evaluate the effects of Splenda (Sucralose)      on mammalian thyroid function and metabolism. Their findings      reveal that sucralose has endocrine disruptive properties on the      hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis (HPA axis), resulting in      thyroid hormone suppression, increased appetite, and weight      gain.
Pet News
Live in This State? Your Pet Can Now Be Treated by EMTs and First    Responders
Dr. Becker - If you can believe it, until very recently it was against    the law for a firefighter or first responder to give cats or dogs the    basic first aid care they needed after being rescued from a house fire,    car crash or other emergency that might be life threatening to the    animal. This was the case in Ohio and still is in several other states.    The reasoning was that only licensed veterinarians were deemed    qualified. But fortunately, a new law was passed in mid-2016, making the    Buckeye State one of the first in the union to have this law passed, in    effect protecting first responders who acted as Good Samaritans to    helpless animals who might die or suffer debilitating injuries without    their aid. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals    (ASPCA), Ohio Voters for Companion Animals, Inc. (OVCA), the Ohio Fire    Chiefsï¿½ Association (OFCA) and Ohio Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA)    all supported the bill, passed unanimously out of the General Assembly,    and subsequently signed by Gov. John Kasich. ï¿½The bill simply allows    animals to receive critical care at the earliest possible moment, which    is in the best interest of the animal,ï¿½ said Jack Advent, executive    director of the OVMAï¿½. According to AP News, fear of liability was an    issue because pet owners have sued first responders who treated animals    that ended up dying. ï¿½The law will allow first responders to, without    fear of liability, provide oxygen, perform mouth-to-snout resuscitation,    try to stem bleeding, bandage and even administer the overdose antidote    naloxone to dogs or cats that have ingested opiates.ï¿½
Video: When You Buy Pet Food, Are You Being Pet Fooled?
Dr. Becker - How much do you really know about what goes into those cans    or bags of pet food you buy for your furry family member? 'Pet Fooled'    is a documentary film for pet owners that strips away some of the    secrecy surrounding commercial pet food and the industry that produces    and promotes it.
 
1720 - The Committee of Inquiry on the South Sea Bubble published its    findings.
1759 - George Washington and Martha Dandridge Custis were married.
1838 - Samuel Morse publicly demonstrated the telegraph for the first    time.
1900 - Off of South Africa, the British seized the German steamer    Herzog. The boat was released on January 22, 1900.
1912 - New Mexico became the 47th U.S. state.
1930 - The first diesel-engine automobile trip was completed after a run    of 792 miles from Indianapolis, IN, to New York City, NY.
1942 - The first commercial around-the-world airline flight took place.    Pan American Airlines was the company that made history with the feat.
1942 - The National Collegiate Football Rules Committee abolished the Y    formation.
1945 - The Battle of the Bulge ended with 130,000 German and 77,000    Allied casualties.
1967 - U.S. and South Vietnamese forces launched a major offensive,    known as Operation "Deckhouse V", in the Mekong River delta.
1982 - William G. Bonin was convicted in Los Angeles, CA, of being the "freeway killer" who had murdered 14 young men and boys.
1994 - Figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was clubbed on the right leg by an    assailant at Cobo Arena in Detroit, MI. Four men were later sentenced to    prison for the attack, including Tonya Harding's ex-husband.
1998 - The spacecraft Lunar Prospect was launched into orbit around the    moon. The craft was crashed into the moon, in an effort to find water    under the lunar surface, on July 31, 1999.
1999 - The 106th U.S. Congress opened. The first item on the agenda was    the impeachment proceedings of U.S. President Bill Clinton. The trial    was set to begin January 7, 1999.
2004 - In the United Arab Emirates, construction began on the Burj    Khalifa skyscraper. Upon completion it was the world's largest building.
World News
Turkey car bomb and gun attack on courthouse in Izmir
BBC News - Two attackers, a policeman and a court worker have      been killed in a car bomb and gun assault on a courthouse in the      Turkish city of Izmir, state media say. Officials blamed Kurdish      militants for the attack. A third attacker is reportedly still      being sought. The attackers drove a car to the courthouse      entrance, sparking an exchange with police and then detonating      the car bomb. A number of people were wounded in the explosion,      some critically.... Izmir's Governor Erol Ayyildiz the attackers      were armed with Kalashnikov rifles and grenades. Deputy Prime      Minister Veysi Kaynak added that, judging by the weapons found      following the raid, a much larger attack was being planned.      Images from the scene showed two cars ablaze. The governor said      that the second had been destroyed in a controlled explosion.
US Reaffirms Extending Nuclear Deterrent to Protect South Korea,      Japan
Sputnik News - On Thursday, U.S. Blinken, Japanese Vice Minister      for Foreign Affairs Shinsuke Sugiyama, and Korean First Vice      Minister of Foreign Affairs Lim Sung-nam met in Washington, DC,      for the sixth round of Trilateral Vice Foreign Ministerial      consultations. ï¿½Blinken underscored that the United States      remains steadfast in its defense commitments to Japan and the      ROK [Republic of Korea]ï¿½ providing extended deterrence, backed      by the full range of its nuclear and conventional defense      capabilities,ï¿½ the statement, issued by the State Department on      Thursday, noted. The trilateral series of meetings began in 2016      following North Koreaï¿½s nuclear tests and missile launches in      defiance of UN Security Council resolutions that year, the fact      sheet noted.
'All those terror attacks': Sweden's nuclear sites to get armed      guards
RT - Sweden has decided to tighten up security around nuclear      plants by requiring guards to be armed. The measures will be      introduced following recent terrorists attacks across the globe. "Just look at all the terror attacks, for example in Istanbul      recently. We have to keep up and protect our operations as best      we can," Anders ï¿½sterberg, spokesperson for OKG AB, a Swedish      corporation which owns and operates the country's Oskarshamn      Nuclear Power Plant, said, according to Sveriges Radio on      Thursday. Starting from February 4, guards at three Swedish      nuclear plants ï¿½ in Ringhals, Oskarshamn, and Forsmark ï¿½ will be      equipped with guns, ï¿½sterberg later told TT news agency. Under      new regulations, security officers are required to use guard      dogs for patrolling nuclear power sites. Until now, the guards      were only allowed to carry batons.
Japanese company replaces office workers with artificial      intelligence
The Guardian - ... at an insurance firm in Japan...more than 30      employees are being laid off and replaced with an artificial      intelligence system that can calculate payouts to policyholders.      Fukoku Mutual Life Insurance believes it will increase      productivity by 30% and see a return on its investment in less      than two years. The firm said it would save about 140m yen (ï¿½1m)      a year after the 200m yen (ï¿½1.4m) AI system is installed this      month. Maintaining it will cost about 15m yen (ï¿½100k) a year.      The move is unlikely to be welcomed, however, by 34 employees      who will be made redundant by the end of March.... The system is      based on IBMï¿½s Watson Explorer, which, according to the tech      firm, possesses ï¿½cognitive technology that can think like a      humanï¿½, enabling it to ï¿½analyse and interpret all of your data,      including unstructured text, images, audio and videoï¿½. The      technology will be able to read tens of thousands of medical      certificates and factor in the length of hospital stays, medical      histories and any surgical procedures before calculating      payouts, according to the Mainichi Shimbun.... Japanï¿½s      shrinking, ageing population, coupled with its prowess in robot      technology, makes it a prime testing ground for AI. According to      a 2015 report by the Nomura Research Institute, nearly half of      all jobs in Japan could be performed by robots by 2035.
U.S. News, Politics & Government
Hyped Up Senate Hearing on Russian ï¿½Hackingï¿½ Ends Up Being a      Flop
Sputnik News - No evidence was presented during the Senate Armed      Services Committee hearing on Thursday to support allegations      that Russia hacked the US Presidential electionï¿½ The      highly-anticipated hearing was expected to lay out the basis for      US intelligence agency claims of Russian interference, but that      was not the case. Instead, it was two hours of unsubstantiated      statements, calls for aggression towards Russia, and hyperbole.      Testifying before the committee were Director of National      Intelligence James Clapper and National Security Agency chief      Michael Rogers. "I don't think that we have ever encountered a      more aggressive or direct campaign to interfere in our election      process," Clapper told the committee, while refusing to provide      evidence to back up his claims. Committee chairman and      Republican Arizona Senator John McCain used strong language      during the hearing, including saying that the alleged hack was "an unprecedented attack on our democracy.ï¿½ When questioned by a      Sputnik reporter following the hearing about the debunking of      the Joint Annual Report by security experts, including the      finding that 43 percent of the IP addresses attributed to      ï¿½Russian hackersï¿½ were generic web-browser Tor exit nodes, the      Senator responded by saying that he had ï¿½no ideaï¿½ what she was      talking about. As Sputnik previously reported, a whopping 367 of      the IPs addresses that were claimed to be ï¿½proofï¿½ of Russians      hacking into the Democratic National Committee network, were      simply Tor exit nodes, according to recent expert analysis. This      means anyone using a Tor web browser, whether in Ireland,      Nigeria, Alaska, or in momï¿½s basement in Ohio, could leave an IP      trace that would apparently reveal them to be crï¿½me de la crï¿½me      Russian computer hackers, according to the logic of the US      intelligence communityï¿½s report.
Report: Trump Set To Overhaul ï¿½Politicizedï¿½ Intelligence      Agencies - UPDATE
Steve Watson - The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that      Trump is seeking to overhaul at least two major intelligence      agencies, one being the CIA, and the other being the Office of      the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). The view from the      Trump team is the intelligence world [is] becoming completely      politicized,ï¿½ an inside source commented. ï¿½They all need to be      slimmed down. The focus will be on restructuring agencies and      how they interact.ï¿½ Sources close to Trump say that the new      president believes that the ODNI, which was another fallout of      the 9/11 attacks, has become overtly politicized, and needs to      be restructured. The agency was established to build better      communication between the different intelligence agencies and      encourage more information sharing. However, Trump and his      advisors believe it has become too ï¿½bloatedï¿½ and wieldy,      according to the report. The report indicates that retired Lt.      Gen. Michael Flynn, Trumpï¿½s nominee for security adviser, as      well as Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Ky.), Trumpï¿½s pick for CIA director,      are heading up the intelligence re-vamp.
GOP Plans 'Pre-Emptive' Law Crackdown On Liberal City Agendas
Zero Hedge - ... as The Hill points out, the consolidation of      power in state capitals as a result the 2016 election has many      Republican state legislatures looking to fight back against      their rogue bastions of liberalism. "Republican state      legislatures are planning so-called preemption laws, which      prevent cities and counties from passing new measures governing      everything from taxes to environmental regulations and social      issues. Republican legislators around the country say liberal      cities and counties vastly overstepped their bounds by      implementing new taxes on sodas and sugary beverages, by raising      local minimum wages or through strict new environmental      regulations.".... In fact, in the last month alone both Michigan      and Wisconsin passed state laws preventing individual cities      from banning plastic grocery bags. Moreover, the state of Ohio      overturned Cleveland's effort to raise its minimum wage....      Meanwhile, rather than addressing new rules and regulations      individually, other states are considering "blanket preemption" laws that would automatically cut off state funding for cities      that pass legislation that runs contrary to state law.... And      Trump has been quite clear that he intends to pursue a similar      strategy when it comes to withholding federal funding from      states that refuse to enforce federal laws, like harboring      illegal immigrants.
Video: Michelle Obama Tells Oprah: ï¿½People Donï¿½t Understand How      Hard This Isï¿½
The GatewayPundit - Michelle and Barack Obamaï¿½s family travels      cost Americans over $96 million. Her wardrobe cost American      taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars. The Obama White House is      notorious for late night parties with Hollywood stars and music      legends. On Wednesday Michelle Obama whined to Oprah about how      hard itï¿½s been. ï¿½People donï¿½t really understand how hard this      is. And itï¿½s not something you just cavalierly just ask a family      to do againï¿½ Let me just tell America, This is hard.ï¿½ï¿½ Americans      are out of work, paying five times the amount they used to for      insurance, eating soup and noodles because of her husbandï¿½s      failed policies and sheï¿½s whining about HOW HARD ITï¿½S BEEN on      her and her family?
Legal Weed is Killing Cartels and Corporate Media Is Trying to      Say that's a Bad Thing
The Free Thought Project - According to a video segment on Fox      News, seizures of marijuana flowing out of Colorado into      neighboring states has risen from 58 in 2008, to 394 in 2015....      Mason Tvert, of the Marijuana Policy Project, told FNC, ï¿½If      anything, whatï¿½s happening is no different than it was before.      People are still using marijuana, itï¿½s just that theyï¿½re more      likely to be using marijuana that didnï¿½t come from a Mexican      drug cartel.ï¿½ According to FNC and University of San Diego      professor David Shirk, that fact has now been confirmed. It      seems, as marijuana proponents asserted, the Mexican cartels are      getting out of the illegal marijuana trade. Shirk says the      cartels are turning their backs on marijuana in favor of other      ï¿½more predatory criminal activitiesï¿½ such as, ï¿½kidnapping,      extortion, larcenyï¿½stealing petroleum from petroleum lines,ï¿½....      Had drugs not been illegal in the US, the cartels would have      been extremely hard pressed to amass the money and power they      now have. Rest assured, however, that kidnapping and larceny are      not nearly as sustainable as the drug industry as it is much      easier for politicians to look the other way on drug smuggling      than it is for them to ignore children being stolen from      parents.... FNC concluded their marijuana segment by saying      President-elect Donald Trump doesnï¿½t seem to have a problem with      medicinal marijuana but added he does not approve of      recreational marijuana. Whether or not Trump will allow the      continuation of progress in the legalization of marijuana is yet      to be seen. Certainly, Colorado will put up a fight if the newly      named Attorney General Jeff Sessions seeks to overturn COï¿½s      legal weed business as itï¿½s now providing millions of dollars to      help fund the educational system in that state.
Texas Leaders at Odds Over Subsidized Tuition for Migrants
Breitbart - Texas House Speaker Joe Straus (R-San Antonio) told      the San Antonio Express-News the current law is ï¿½perfectly      acceptableï¿½ in an interview published on Thursday. The statement      comes in stark contrast with the position of the stateï¿½s Lt.      Governor, Dan Patrick, who leads the Texas Senate and opposes      the current law. ï¿½Why do we charge an American student, maybe a      Mexican-American student, maybe who lives in Oklahoma, who wants      to come to a school in Texas ï¿½ why would we charge him three or      four times as much as the illegal student who is here in Texas      who wants to go to college?ï¿½ Patrick asked in an interview with      Fox News in December.
Uber Accuses NYC Of Snooping On Its Passengers: "They Want Full      Details Of Every Trip You Ever Take"
Zero Hedge - ... Uber got in trouble with privacy advocates when      it was revealed that the ride-hailing company can now track its      passengers' locations after they are dropped off and even when      their app has been closed. As revealed in a new update to Uber's      app, the global taxi service could collect passenger data up to      five minutes after a journey has finished.... And while mobile      apps tracking every habit of its users is hardly new, a new      twist emerged this morning, when Uber sent out a notification to      its users, accusing none other than New York City of demanding      that it hand over all its "sensitive" passenger info data,      including "where youï¿½re dropped off, as well" in an attempt to "to piece together the full details of every trip you ever      take," a move which creates "serious privacy risks." From the      email sent to clients: Today, New York City requires Uber and      other companies to hand over a lot of sensitive personal      passenger data, including where you're picked up on every trip.      Now, New York City wants more. They're trying to force companies      to tell them where youï¿½re dropped off, as well. In other words,      they want to piece together the full details of every trip you      ever take. Several independent privacy experts have said this      policy creates "serious privacy risks." And that it would give      the government "and anyone else who accesses this information a      comprehensive, 360-degree view into the movements and habits of      individual New Yorkers."
Itï¿½s Happening: Tucker Carlson To Take Over Megyn Kellyï¿½s Prime      Time Slot
Adan Salazar - On Thursday, Fox News announced it would be      rearranging its prime time lineup after it was revealed Kelly      would be leaving the conservative network for NBCï¿½. Carlson will      leave his current 7pm time slot following a rise in ratings in      recent months after he broke out as one of the mediaï¿½s and the      networkï¿½s few outspoken supporters of President-elect Donald      Trumpï¿½. Carlsonï¿½s knack for debating liberals has earned him      respect from much of the Trump-supporting online community,      where videos of his intense, often-humorous arguments are      regularly shared and celebrated. On the other hand, Megyn      Kellyï¿½s popularity among Trump supporters has been declining      since her public spats with the president elect, stemming from      the first US presidential debate where served as a moderator. On      a related note, Carlsonï¿½s was one of the only programs Wednesday      to report on and air footage of the Facebook beating of a white      Trump supporter by a group of black teens, as pointed out by      Infowarsï¿½ Paul Joseph Watson.
Chicago torture video: 4 charged with hate crimes, kidnapping
CNN - Four suspects have been charged in connection with the      attack on a special-needs teen that was streamed on Facebook      Live. Jordan Hill, 18; Tesfaye Cooper; 18; Brittany Covington,      18; and Tanishia Covington, 24, have each been charged with a      hate crime, felony aggravated kidnapping, aggravated unlawful      restraint and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Hill,      Cooper and Brittany Covington also face charges of residential      burglary. Hill also faces charges of possession of a stolen      motor vehicleï¿½. The teen was tied up for four or five hours,      Cmdr. Kevin Duffin of the Chicago Police Department told      reporters. The victim will recover from his injuries and is at      home with his parents, police said.
Economy & Business
World-Renowned Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Reducing      Workforce by 1,000
Breitbart - The cancer hospital has had $110 million in      operating losses from September through November this year,      reported the Houston Chronicle. Approximately 800 to 900 will be      laid off, and the remainder of the five percent planned for      staff reductions will occur through attrition and retirements,      Dan Fontaine, MD Andersonï¿½s chief financial officer confirmed to      the Chronicle. Doctors at the hospital will not be affected by      the cuts. In all, the center has about 20,000 workersï¿½. KPRC in      Houston reported in December that the institution was facing the      issue of how to fund its quality research programs with a      decreasing number of patients.
Is Your Sears Or KMart Store About To Close?
Zero Hedge - One day after Macy's announced it would fire more      thousands of workers after another holiday spending debacle, and      will shut down dozens of stores as the overhyped consumer      recovery fails to materialize for the 7th consecutive year,      today struggling Sears Holdings, owner of K-Mart announced that      the near-insolvent, anachronistic retail chain has obtained some      more last-second liquidity after selling its Craftsman brand to      Stanley Black and Decker for $900 million. That was not enough      however, as Sears needed another billion dollar which it got      courtesy of its controlling shareholder Eddie Lampert who gave      the company a $1 billion loan. The company, which has been near      death for years and years, issued the latest dire warning about      its holiday business on Thursday, when it announced same-store      sales fell as much as 13% in November and December, compared      with a 2.1% drop at Macyï¿½s Inc.... Meanwhile, it now appears      that instead of a long-overdue "big bang" bankruptcy, Sears will      continue instead melting away with periodic closures of its      thousands of badly run, inefficient stores. And indeed, this      morning Sears said it would continue to shrink by closing 108      Kmart and 42 Sears stores, including the original Kmart location      that opened in Garden City, Mich., in 1962. Over the past      decade, the company has closed or sold more than 2,000 stores,      or two thirds of its locations. So is your neighborhood Sears or      KMart store one of the 150 that are about to shut down as the      heat around the melting Sears ice cube is raised by one more      degree? [List at link]
Energy & Environment
This Wondrous National Park ï¿½ Brought to You By McDonaldï¿½s?
Natural Blaze - Despite outcry from citizens, documented in public    testimony and hundreds of thousands petition signatures, the director of    the National Park Service Jonathan B. Jarvis announced on December 28    that he had signed an orderï¿½officially titled Order #21 on Donations and    Philanthropic Partnershipsï¿½which, among other changes, ends an outright    ban on commercial advertising and lifts restrictions on naming rights in    parks. ï¿½It is disgraceful that the parks service plans to sell our    national parks to the highest bidder despite overwhelming public    opposition to increased commercialism in our national parks,ï¿½ said    Kristen Strader, campaign coordinator for Public Citizen, which    organized against the proposed reforms. Strader cited more than 215,000    petition signers and hundreds of individuals who submitted official    objections to the NPSï¿½. ï¿½Now that this policy has been finalized,ï¿½    Strader warned, ï¿½park visitors soon could be greeted with various forms    of advertisements, like a sign reading ï¿½brought to you by McDonaldï¿½sï¿½    within a new visitorï¿½s center at Yosemite, or ï¿½Budweiserï¿½ in script on a    park bench at Acadia.ï¿½ï¿½ This order, Strader concluded, is ï¿½a dangerous    shift toward opening our parks up to an unprecedented amount of    commercial influence.ï¿½
Science & Technology
Pentagonï¿½s DARPA Develops Kit Turning Aircraft Into Drones
Sputnik News - The Pentagonï¿½s Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA)    envisions a future in which aircrew members are obsolete and    high-powered aircraft are autonomous, a concept that was recently    successfully demonstrated. DARPAï¿½s Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation    System (ALIAS), a technical toolkit that transforms US military aircraft    into drones operated by robotic pilots, was announced just days before    Christmas. The accomplishments include flight demonstrations of two    Cessna 208 planes, a 44-foot Sikorsky S-76 helicopter, and a twin    piston, four-seater Diamond DA-42 aircraft. The fleet responded    successfully to simulated mid-flight crises, including system failures.    Installing and taking out the kit did not impact "airworthiness," DARPA    noted.
Hacker breaches FBI for the second time, calls their security ï¿½lazyï¿½
RT - The latest hack revealed personal data on 155 agents in the FBI,    including their names, passwords, and email accounts. [the hacker]    CyberZeist warned other agencies that are currently using the Plone CMS    that they too are vulnerable to a similar attack, including the EU    Agency for Network & Information Security, Intellectual Property Rights    Coordination Center, and Amnesty International.... CyberZeist breached    the FBIï¿½s site and found they were running an old version of the open    source operating system (OS) FreeBSD. While the most recent version,    11.0, was released in October 2016, the FBI is still using version 6.2,    which was released in January 2007. While exploiting the code,    CyberZeist discovered that the FBIï¿½s webmaster had ï¿½a very lazy attitude    as he/she had kept the backup files (.bck extension) on the same folder    where the site root was placed (Thank you Webmaster!)ï¿½ Authorities in    the US have not yet responded to the CyberZeist hacks. CyberZeist claims    that they did not discover the vulnerability in the CMS. ï¿½I was assigned    to test out the 0day vulnerability on FBI and Amnesty website,ï¿½ because,    as they claim, the vendor was ï¿½too afraid to use it against the FBI    website.ï¿½
The Entire Internet Will Shut Down For 24 Hours In 2017, Major Company    Predicts
Off the Grid News - LogRhythm, headquartered in Boulder, Colo., released    its seven predictions for 2017 just before the New Year and said it    believes the ï¿½internet will be shut down for up to 24 hours.ï¿½ ï¿½Weï¿½ll see    a rise in attacks on fundamental protocols of internet communications.    We already started seeing it with DNS,ï¿½ the company said, referencing a    Domain Name System attack that brought down Amazon, Netflix and Twitter    in 2016. ï¿½In 2017, weï¿½re going to see it hit big sometime, somewhere. If    the internet goes down, financial markets will tank.ï¿½ James Carder,    LogRhythmï¿½s chief information security officer and vice president, said    the attacks that brought down Amazon ï¿½were really just tests.ï¿½ If you    can prove that you can take down massive sites and a large chunk of the    US internet for a few hours, a 24-hour outage seems pretty easy to do,ï¿½    Carder told Business Insider. LogRhythm also predicted that ï¿½portions of    the U.S. power grid will be shut down.ï¿½ ï¿½If portions of the power grid    go down, there will be lack-of-confidence and trust issues with the    government, which will have long-lasting ripple effects,ï¿½ LogRhythm    said. The company has offices in the United Kingdom, Singapore, Mexico,    France, Germany, Brazil, Australia, Hong Kong and the United Arab    Emirates.
White House Releases Strategy in Case of ï¿½Killer Asteroidï¿½
Sputnik News - The White House has published a 25-page report on    ï¿½National Near-Earth Object Preparedness Strategy,ï¿½ detailing    preparations in the event that a celestial object such as a ï¿½killer    asteroidï¿½ is found to be on a collision course with Earth. The report    was written by the Interagency Working Group (IWG) for Detecting and    Mitigating the Impact of Earth-bound Near-Earth Objects (DAMIEN)ï¿½. It    outlined seven strategic goals, including to improve the detection and    characterization of NEO's, to improve modeling and predictions of their    behavior, to develop methods to deflect and disturb them, to develop    emergency procedures in an impact scenario, to establish impact response    and recovery procedures, to leverage and support international    cooperation in the event of a potential NEO impact, as well as to    coordinate communications of related US government agencies and    establish a series of procedures if a potential NEO impact is detected.
Self-Driving Cars Already Are Deciding Who Lives & Dies
Off the Grid News - For example, an autonomous vehicle would decide who    lives and who dies if it swerved to avoid a pedestrian but, by doing    that, put its on-board passengers in danger. Or, it could keep its    passengers safe by running over the pedestrian. The decision would be    made by the computers and sensors in the vehicle ï¿½ and by extension, the    computer programmers. ï¿½On one hand, the algorithms that control the car    may have an explicit set of rules to make moral tradeoffs,ï¿½ Iyad Rahwan,    a scientist at MIT, told Business Insider. ï¿½On the other hand, the    decision made by a car in the case of unavoidable harm may emerge from    the interaction of various software components, none of which has    explicit programming to handle moral tradeoffs.ï¿½ Rahwan added, ï¿½Every    time the car makes a complex maneuver, it is implicitly making trade-off    in terms of risks to different parties.ï¿½ Google X founder Sebastian    Thrun in 2014 said the companyï¿½s automated car would hit the smallest    object in the road if it could not find a clear path. ï¿½If it happens    that there is a situation where the car couldnï¿½t escape, it would go for    the smaller thing,ï¿½ he said.
 Gardening, Farming & Homesteading
The Cheap Mini-Greenhouse That Makes Seed-Starting Easier
Off the Grid News - ï¿½ I was excited to stumble across the idea      of winter sowing. In a nutshell, winter sowing is planting seeds      in repurposed plastic containers, which act as mini-greenhouses.      Once planted, the containers should be put outside ï¿½ even in      freezing temps, and even in the snow. As the temperature warms      up, the seeds will germinate, and the seedlings will stay toasty      in their little greenhouses. The containers will naturally      collect moisture through their various openings. The plants      should chug along on their own, and naturally harden off. You do      have to do some work, though: Once the temperatures stay above      freezing, the seedlings should be transplanted into your garden.      Since it all sounds logical (and easy!), Iï¿½m going to give it a      whirl. Tall translucent or clear plastic containers work best so      that sunlight reaches the plants. Containers need to hold 3-4      inches of soil, and still allow room for seedlings to grow.      Consider using containers like these: ï¿½ Milk jugs ï¿½ Distilled or      filtered water jugs ï¿½ Large vinegar bottles ï¿½ Family-size juice      bottles ï¿½ Soda/pop bottles ï¿½ Rotisserie chicken deli containers      ï¿½ Clear tote boxes. All containers will need holes drilled or      cut into the bottom, both for drainage and so that seedlings can      suck up available water. Additionally, the containers will need      at least one hole in the top so that moisture can get in that      way, too. Vessels like milk, water and juice jugs already have      that hole built in. A bonus is that if you live in an area that      experiences heavy rains, you can use the jug lid as a way to      moderate moisture levelsï¿½.
Health
Groundbreaking Study Shows Prescription Painkillers Prolong      Chronic Pain
Natural Blaze - A research team out of University of      Colorado-Boulder (CU-Boulder) has found that prescription      opioids may actually worsen chronic pain. The study also      discovered that these drugs may in fact prolong the condition      that they are supposed to help placate. This may explain why in      the U.S., prescriptions of opioids, such as methadone, oxycodone      (such as OxyContinï¿½) and hydrocodone (such as Vicodinï¿½), have      quadrupled since 1999ï¿½. During the opioid study, morphine      treatment in rats resulted in opioids sending repeated signals      to the glial cells. This increased the activity of these nerve      cells in the spinal cord, resulting in intensified chronic pain      that continued for several months. We are showing for the first      time that even a brief exposure to opioids can have long-term      negative effects on pain. We found the treatment was      contributing to the problem. ~ Peter Grace, CU-Boulder Assistant      Research Professor and Faculty Member in the Department of      Psychology and Neuroscience.
13 Ways to Uncover Cancer Causing Toxins In Your Home
Natural News Blogs - 1- Your cloths may be tox-sick. Research      states synthetic materials, thermoplastics and wrinkle free      cloths can be filled with formaldehydes. Formaldehyde is viewed      as a carcinogen for humans and respiratory cancer. Additionally,      exposure to paint, lacquer, glue and cleaning products which      contain formaldehyde can increase risk for nasal cancer. If you      live next to a fracking facility, they can increase your      exposure to unsafe amounts of formaldehyde. Volatile organic      compounds (VOCs) are chemicals causing liver damage, kidney      damage, and central nervous system damage. 2- Electromagnetic      frequencies can harm brain cells, eyes and neurotransmitters.      Avoid EMF blue light from computers, wifi, cells phones,      televisions and other electrical devices in or near where you      sleep, such as smart meters. EMFï¿½s can not only disrupt our      sleep and hormones they can be linked to disrupted DNA. 3- Make      sure your mattress isnï¿½t treated with a flame retardant which      can impact thyroid disease and thyroid cancer. 4- A professional      dry cleaner may put your health at risk. Trichloroethylene is an      organic chemical that has been used in dry cleaning and linked      to liver and kidney cancer. There are non-toxic sustainable ways      of dry-cleaning your cloths. 5- What pesticides are you spraying      on your lawn? Environmental endocrine disrupting chemicals      including pesticides have been linked to cancer, especially      breast and prostate cancer. Atrazine is one of the most widely      used herbicides in the U.S., and is sprayed on our lawns, golf      courses and found in our water supply. Atrazine is also sprayed      on conventional foods including corn, sugarcane, and wheat. It      helps to know your farmerï¿½.
Weekend Watching
Video: Now you can HEAR chemistry: Health Ranger translates molecules    into music in stunning video demonstration that will blow your mind (and    your ears)
(NaturalNews) In the video below, I demonstrate what I now call    ï¿½Elemonicsï¿½ ï¿½ the science of translating chemistry and molecules into    audible music by sequencing elements using the inverse of their atomic    mass units (i.e. frequencies) as documented in the Table of Elements.    (The video explains it in more detail.) In essence, I have discovered a    way to map the elements to a standard 88-key keyboard using their    documented atomic masses. Hydrogen is mapped to 3,520 Hz (high A7 key on    the keyboard) as the only arbitrary choice in this mapping, and the rest    of the elements are mapped in relation to Hydrogen. Since Carbon has a    mass of 12, for example, it gets mapped to 3,520 / 12 which equals 293.3    Hz. That corresponds to the D4 key on an 88-key keyboard. Using this    translation, I was then able to play molecules as musical sequences,    allowing the world to HEAR nutritional chemistry for the first time. In    this video demonstration, I play the musical sequences for many    different molecules of life, including water, oxygen (O2), carbon    dioxide, magnesium oxide, calcium carbonate and even progesterone. Using    the same mathematical translation of physical elements into musical    tones, I was also able to sequence organophosphate pesticides and toxic    herbicides such as glyphosate. In the video below, you can now ï¿½hearï¿½    toxic pesticides, fluoride and even toxic heavy metals like mercury,    lead and cadmium. What youï¿½ll notice in experiencing all this is that    highly toxic elements like Fluorine, commonly used in psychiatric drugs    and toxic pesticides, sound disturbing and destructive. This is not mere    coincidence.
Thursday - January    5, 2017
Today In History:
1781 - Richmond, VA, was burned by a British naval expedition led by    Benedict Arnold.
1885 - The Long Island Railroad Company became the first to offer    piggy-back rail service which was the transportation of farm wagons on    trains.
1896 - It was reported by The Austrian newspaper that Wilhelm Roentgen    had discovered the type of radiation that became known as X-rays.
1914 - Ford Motor Company announced that there would be a new daily    minimum wage of $5 and an eight-hour workday.
1925 - Mrs. Nellie Taylor Ross was sworn in as the governor of Wyoming    She was the first female governor in the U.S.
1933 - In California, construction of the Golden Gate Bridge began.
1940 - The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) got its very first    demonstration of FM radio.
1944 - The London "Daily Mail" was the first transoceanic newspaper to    be published.
1948 - Warner Brothers-Pathe showed the very first color newsreel. The    foota1956 - In the Peanuts comic strip, Snoopy walked on two legs for    the first time.
1972 - U.S. President Richard M. Nixon ordered the development of the    space shuttle.
1987 - U.S. President Ronald Reagan underwent prostate surgery.
1998 - U.S. Representative Sonny Bono died in skiing accident.
2002 - A 15 year-old student pilot, Charles Bishop, crashed a small    plane into a building in Tampa, FL. Bishop was about to begin a flying    lesson when he took off without permission and without an instructor.
World News
US sends special forces to Russian Border as Nato is poised to      strike back against Vladimir Putinï¿½s ï¿½aggressionï¿½
The Sun - President Obama has deployed US special forces troops      along Lithuaniaï¿½s border with ï¿½aggressiveï¿½ Russia. Tensions      between Washington and the Kremlin have reached Cold War levels      amid reports Vladimir Putin is deploying nuke-ready missiles in      the Russian province of Kaliningrad ï¿½ which borders Poland,      Belarus and Lithuania. And Lithuanian Defence Ministry      spokeswoman Asta Galdikaite confirmed America has offered      additional military support following Russiaï¿½s annexation of      Crimea. She said: ï¿½The United States was the first to offer      additional safety assurance measures to the Baltic countries      following the deterioration of the security situation in the      region after the annexation of the Crimea.ï¿½ She added: ï¿½US      Special Operations Forces presence in Lithuania is one of the      deterrentsï¿½ against military threats by Putinï¿½s aggressive      regime, reports the Expressï¿½. The US and its Nato allies will      send battalions of up to 1,200 to each of the three Baltic      states ï¿½ Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia ï¿½ and Poland by spring      this year, reports the New York Times.
US coalition spared ISIS oil production facilities in Syria ï¿½      Russian MoD
RT - The US-led international coalition did not bomb oil      production facilities captured by Islamic State (IS, formerly      ISIS/ISIL) militants in Syria, Russian Defense Ministry      spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov has stated.      ï¿½Miraculously, only oil fields, captured by ISIS allowing the      militants to earn tens of millions of dollars every month on      illegal oil sales and recruit mercenaries from all over the      world, did not come under the US bombardment,ï¿½ Konashenkov said.      CIA Director John Brennan stated earlier that Russia is using a      ï¿½scorched-earth policyï¿½ in Syria. ï¿½What the Russians have done      in Syria in terms of some of the scorched-earth policy that they      have pursued that have led to devastation and thousands upon      thousands of innocent deaths, thatï¿½s not something that the      United States would ever do in any of these military conflicts,ï¿½      Brennan told PBS on Tuesday. The CIA head ï¿½should have known and      rememberedï¿½ history, Konashenkov said, pointing out the US      nuclear bombings of Japan during WW2, as well as its later      military operations in Vietnam and Laos, ï¿½for which no one in      the US has been punished yet.ï¿½ ï¿½I would also like to remind      [John Brennan] that international wars of the past decades      unleashed by the US thanks to false CIA data in Yugoslavia,      Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya have all been started, continued,      and finished with a destroyed economic infrastructure of these      states by the US Air Force,ï¿½ Konashenkov said. It was      ï¿½doubtfully a coincidenceï¿½ that American companies close to the      CIA and the Pentagon had ï¿½alwaysï¿½ been among the first to      receive contracts to rebuild damaged infrastructure, he added.      ï¿½John Brennan is perfectly aware of the real results of Russiaï¿½s      actions in Syria. Specially for the CIA and special services      alike, we announced them during the Russian Defense Ministryï¿½s      final board meeting,ï¿½ Konashenkov stated on Wednesday.
What Mainstream Media Wonï¿½t Show You: Life in ï¿½Fallenï¿½ Aleppo      Returns to Normal
Sputnik - Last month, the brutal four year battle for Aleppo      ended, and the Syrian government began the enormous task of      rebuilding the city. Toward the end of the battle for the city,      much of the mainstream media spent so much time covering the      ï¿½fallï¿½ of Aleppo that they forgot what happens afterward:      rebuilding, restoration, and most importantly, peace. Sputnik      has obtained footage of the effort now underway to rebuild the      completely ruined eastern portions of the city, most of them      held by militants for four years until the sudden and unexpected      victory of government forces last month. Residents are shown      rebuilding their homes, while small factories (those that hadnï¿½t      been disassembled, looted and taken across the border to Turkey)      are shown humming once again, producing what appear to be      textiles and other goodsï¿½. Last month, Aleppo Province Governor      Hussein Diab told Sputnik that the damage caused by the fighting      was ï¿½terrible.ï¿½ Nevertheless, he stressed that life in the city      is ï¿½gradually returning to normal life.ï¿½ He explained that the      government is doing everything possible to get people to return      to their homes in the liberated areas, thus alleviating the      strains of internally displaced persons currently living in      makeshift government-administered shelters outside the city.
France: Muslim Men Ban All Women from Public Spaces (Video)
Information Liberation - In the new France, a country now      occupied by over 6 million Muslims, women are effectively banned      from public spaces in majority Muslim suburbs and subject to      threats if they dare step into a cafï¿½. In this report aired on      state TV channel France 24, the lying media hilariously spends      three minutes acting like itï¿½s a ï¿½genderï¿½ issue before      reluctantly acknowledging itï¿½s a result of hostile Muslims      working to impose Islam. Rather than demand these hostile      foreigners go back their home countries where this the norm,      womenï¿½s groups are organizing dine-ins where they go to these      Muslim owned businesses and give them their money in order to      ï¿½take backï¿½ these public spaces. It really doesnï¿½t get any      clearer that this mass migration is in fact a hostile invasion,      one which is likely to end in civil war.
Learn ï¿½terrorism first aidï¿½ in case of an attack, public told
RT - Britons are being urged to learn ï¿½terrorism first aidï¿½ in      the event they are caught up in an attack. Military medics from      CitizenAID have developed a phone app and pocketbook designed to      coach people in how to provide potentially life-saving treatment      before the arrival of emergency services. Its creators say it      will be effective in the aftermath of an attack when emergency      services may be concerned with removing a threat, rather than      treating victims. They say it could take some time before it is      deemed safe for paramedics to arrive on the scene after an      attack. The idea is supported by counter-terrorism police.      Security services say a UK terrorist attack is ï¿½highly likely.ï¿½      Developers of CitizenAID say it is a good idea for people to      have a plan in place in case a terrorist attack occurs, even      though the chance is smallï¿½. Brig Tim Hodgetts, medical director      of the Defence Medical Services, told the BBC, said: ï¿½We donï¿½t      know when the next incident will be that involves blasts or      gunshots so we need a critical mass of the general public to      learn these first aid skills.
Angry protests erupt across Mexico after 20% hike in gasoline      prices
The Guardian - Demonstrators have blockaded highways, looted      shops and forced service stations across Mexico to close in a      wave of angry protest triggered by a hike of more than 20% in      the government-set price of gasoline. The announcement of the      price increase came on 1 January ï¿½ when long queues of cars were      already forming at pumps because national oil giant Pemex was      unable to supply all gas stations due to problems with oil      refining and fuel shortages caused by theft. The so-called      gasolinazo ï¿½ as the price hike is known ï¿½ added insult to      injury, and since then, protests have spiraled. Truckers, taxi      drivers and irate individuals have blocked the main highways      into Mexico City and major thoroughfares in the capital,      prompting bus lines to cancel service. The timing of the      protests could prove particularly troublesome as Mexico prepares      for the impact of US president-elect Donald Trump and his      promises to pull out of the North American Free Trade Agreement      (Nafta) and build a wall on the northern border ï¿½ moves      economists warn will throw the country into recession.
U.S. News, Politics & Government
Obama Shown With Rows of Empty Seats Behind Him at Farewell      Speech to Military
The GatewayPundit - President Barack Obama gave a farewell      address to the military Wednesday afternoon at Henderson Hall at      Joint Base Myer in Arlington, Virginia just across the Potomac      River from Washington, D.C. Live video of the speech showed      Obama speaking with row after row of empty seats behind him      leaving the impression of less than enthusiastic support for the      outgoing Commander-in-Chief. It was oddly inept staging given      the hundreds who were there to say goodbye to Obama. After the      speech, cameras panned the hall to show full rows of seating      extending around a good part of the hall but with many sections      empty. The floor itself was kept open for military marching      bands to perform and for the Obama farewell ceremony. The speech      was attended by Vice President Joe Biden, Defense Secretary      Ashton Carter and other dignitaries.
California Hires Eric Holder to Lead Legal Fight Against Trump
Breitbart - Democratic leaders of the California legislature      have hired former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to represent      the liberal state in future legal battles with the Trump      administration. ï¿½With the upcoming change in administrations, we      expect that there will be extraordinary challenges for      California in the uncertain times ahead,ï¿½ California Senate      President pro Tempore Kevin de Leï¿½n and California Assembly      Speaker Anthony Rendon wrote in a statement Wednesday. ï¿½The      Legislature will work with the Governor and our next Attorney      General to protect Californiaï¿½s economy and our sensible      policies on climate change, health care, civil rights and      immigration,ï¿½ the statement says. ï¿½The Legislature has retained      the services of an expert legal team from the      nationally-renowned Covington & Burling law firm, led by former      United States Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr.ï¿½ï¿½ Holderï¿½s      tenure in the Obama White House was plagued by scandal, a fact      not lost on one California lawmaker. ï¿½It is not surprising that      California Democrats would hire someone with a record of      lawlessness to represent them,ï¿½ Assemblyman Travis Allenï¿½s wrote      in a statement, responding to what he called the California      Democratsï¿½ ï¿½Fast and Furiousï¿½ hiring of Holder.
Rand Paul Reintroduces Legislation To "Audit The Fed"
Zero Hedge - Having been pursued, unsuccessfully, many times by      his father in previous years, today Senator Rand Paul, together      with Rep. Thomas Massie re-introduced legislation to ï¿½Audit the      Fed", after a similar effort stalled in the last Congress. While      in the past such a proposal, which has been vocally opposed by      Janet Yellen and Wall Street for obvious reasons, was quietly      shut down it may face its best odds ever of becoming law in the      current Congress according to the Hill. With both chambers      controlled by Republicans long critical of Fedï¿½s policies, the      legislation could end up being a test of Donald Trump stated      resolve to putting the Fed to heel. In the past, the president      elect has heaped scorn on the central bank, and demanded      accountability from the "independent" Fed. To that end, Paul      specifically mentioned Trump in a statement about the bill      Wednesday, making clear the measureï¿½s proponents believe they      have an ally in their cause coming to the White House.
Boulder Becomes Sanctuary City to ï¿½Defy Trumpï¿½
Breitbart - The affluent region of Boulder, Colorado has      declared itself a ï¿½sanctuary city,ï¿½ to shield illegal immigrants      from federal agents ahead of President-Elect Donald Trumpï¿½s      inauguration. Boulder city council members said their effort to      reaffirm their sanctuary status was intended to reassure illegal      immigrants in the area that they would be protected, according      to the Daily Cameraï¿½. Boulder is so persistent on shielding      illegal immigrants from the law that it has configured exactly      how the City would operate, should a President Trump cut federal      funding for noncomplianceï¿½. Under the Boulderï¿½s city council      sanctuary policy, officials are prohibited from cooperating with      federal immigration officials and local law enforcement is not      allowed to hold suspects solely based on their immigration      status.
New Hampshire Bill Would Require Courts to Inform Juries Of      Their Right to Nullify
Activist Post - House Bill 133 (HB133) would require courts to      ï¿½inform the jury of its right to judge the facts and the      application of the law in relation to the facts in controversy.ï¿½      An unusually short and concise bill by modern standardsï¿½ HB133      is an important piece of legislation, as it would bring to light      the indispensable right of last resort for regular people      sitting in the jury box to stand up against laws that violate      their rights. Jury nullification is the ability to declare      someone not guilty in a case, even when it is clear he has      violated the law in question. Juries use this power to defend      people against laws that are unjust, immoral, or      unconstitutional. This power is one of the most untapped,      unknown, and powerful of any at the disposal of ordinary people      to stand up to tyrannyï¿½. Last year, the full house passed a      similar bill by a 184-145 margin, but the bill was ultimately      killed in the Senate. HB133 will first be assigned to a House      committee, where an ï¿½ought to passï¿½ recommendation will greatly      influence the chance of passage in the full House.
Economy & Business
Federal Debt Climbs $1,054,647,941,626.91 in 2016
CNS News - The federal debt climbed by more than a trillion      dollars during 2016, according to data released today by the      U.S. Treasury. On Dec. 31, 2015, the last business day of 2015,      the federal debt was $18,922,179,009,420.89. On Dec. 30, 2016,      the last business day of 2016, it was $19,976,826,951,047.80.      The one-year increase in the federal debt during calendar year      2016 was therefore $1,054,647,941,626.91. That increase in the      debt equaled $8,860.65 for each of the 119,026,000 households      the Census Bureau estimated there were in the United States as      of September.
Macy's, Kohl's Crash After Reporting Abysmal Holiday Sales; Cut      Guidance; Announce Mass Layoffs, Store Closures
Zero Hedge - First, it was Kohlï¿½s, which announced it was      slashing its full year forecast, and now sees FY2017 adjusted      EPS of $3.60-$3.65, down from $3.80-$4.00 less than two months      ago, in the day after the election (ironically). It wasn't just      the future: the company revealed that comp sales were also down      2.1% y/y in fiscal months November and December combinedï¿½. But      an even greater surprise was revealed moments later by retail      bellwether Macy's, which not only reported a drop in same store      sales, not only slashed guidance, but also announced it would      close 68 stores and lay off over 10,000 workers.
Energy & Environment
Diablo Canyon nuclear plant cited for cooling system problem
PennEnergy (San Luis Obispo, CA) - Federal regulators have cited the    Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant for a problem that may have knocked    out a reactor cooling system for a year-and-a-half. The Tribune of San    Luis Obispo reported that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a "white finding" on Thursday...During a test in May, workers found that    an emergency cooling system for one of the two reactors wasn't working    -- and may not have been operating since it was last checked in October    2014.
BLM Pushes Sage Grouse Protection By Restricting Mining on 10 Million    Acres in 6 States
CNS News - As the Obama Administration comes to a close, the Bureau of    Land Management (BLM) is pushing ahead with its plan to restrict more    federal land from future mining operations by putting 10 million acres    in six states off limits. ï¿½As part of its continuing efforts to conserve    habitat vital to healthy populations of the Greater Sage-Grouse in the    West, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) today announced the draft    proposal to withdraw a subset of lands that are sage-grouse strongholds    from future mining claims,ï¿½ read a press release posted on the BLM    website on Thursday. The announcement about the restrictions on land in    Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming, which was published in    the Federal Register on Friday, said a 90-day public comment period will    take place until March 30, 2017 and that the agency will host eight    public meetings in the West next monthï¿½. The agency said the move is    part of its effort to protect the Greater Sage-Grouse even as it decided    not to list the bird under the Endangered Species Act. But Luke Popovich,    vice president for external communications at the National Mining    Association, said the move by the agency is not only not necessary, but    also is destructive to the mining industry and to the larger national    economy.
 Gardening, Farming & Homesteading
Paraquat - Banned in EU While US Increasing Use of This Toxic      Killer
Dr. Mercola - In the U.S., farmers dependent on genetically      engineered (GE) Roundup Ready soybean crops are increasingly      running into a problem. Weeds are quickly becoming resistant to      Roundup herbicide, leaving the farmers desperate for an      effective chemical alternative. Paraquat is being marketed as      one such alternative, but this pesticide is highly toxic to      humans, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency      (EPA), to the extent that just one sip can be fatal.1 Sadly,      it's become an herbicide commonly used for suicide attempts, but      in countries that have banned its use, such as South Korea,      suicide rates dropped significantlyï¿½. Europe is ahead of the      game, as they've already prohibited the use of paraquat. In all,      32 countries have banned the chemicalï¿½. Paraquat is banned in      Europe not only because of its highly lethal nature but also      because it's linked to Parkinson's disease. The EPA is aware of      the issue, and reported "a large body of epidemiology data on      paraquat dichloride use and Parkinson's disease.ï¿½ They're      currently reviewing whether to allow continued use in the U.S.,      but not with the urgency one would expect; a decision isn't even      expected until 2018. In the meantime, its connection to      Parkinson's disease growsï¿½. Paraquat is often applied in the      same areas as another pesticide, maneb, and it's believed the      two have synergistic effects. One study published in the      American Journal of Epidemiology revealed that exposure to both      pesticides within 500 meters of the home increased the risk of      Parkinson's disease by 75 percentï¿½. Paraquat is not approved for      household use in the U.S., but it is sprayed on more than 100      crops globally, including coffee, almonds and oranges. Its use      in food crops may be particularly problematic when used as a      pre-harvest desiccant, such as on cereal grains.
Health
Paleo-type diet reversing Crohnï¿½s and ulcerative colitis
What Doctors Don't Tell You - Crohnï¿½s disease and ulcerative      colitis are being reversed solely by dietï¿½essentially a Paleo      diet. The non-drug approach has been successful in 80 per cent      of children whoï¿½ve been put on the special diet. The dietï¿½called      the specific carbohydrate diet (SCD)ï¿½has been pioneered by Dr      David Suskind, a gastroenterologist at Seattle Childrenï¿½s      Hospital. The diet excludes grains, dairy, processed foods and      sugars, other than honey, and promotes natural, nutrient-rich      foods, including vegetables, fruits, meats and nuts. hildren are      going into complete remission after just 12 weeks on the diet, a      new study has discovered. Ten children with inflammatory bowel      disease (IBD)ï¿½an umbrella term for Crohnï¿½s and ulcerative      colitisï¿½were put on the diet, and eight were completely      symptom-free by the end of the study.Suskind started exploring a      dietary approach to IBD because he became convinced that the      standard medical treatment of steroids or other medication was      inadequate. ï¿½For decades, medicine has said diet doesnï¿½t matter,      that it doesnï¿½t impact disease. Now we know that diet does have      an impact, a strong impact. It works, and now thereï¿½s evidence,ï¿½      he said.
You Will Never Eat McDonaldï¿½s Again After You Read These      Horrifying Facts
Natural Blaze - Here are some of the most disgusting additives      youï¿½re eating when you hit the drive-thru: 1.) Ammonium Sulfate      - Nothing helps mass-produce bread like ammonium sulfate.      Unfortunately, nothing fertilizers soil or kills bugs like it      either. 2.) Silicone Oil - Chicken McNuggets are full of      dimethylpolysiloxane, a silicone oil that is often used for      making contact lenses and other medical items. 3.) Cysteine-L -      Fast food restaurants use Cysteine-L, an amino acid synthesized      from human hair or duck feathers, to flavor their meat and      soften their breads and pastries. 4.) TBHQ - This additive can      be found in 18 McDonaldï¿½s menu items. Itï¿½s potentially lethal, but donï¿½t worry, the FDA says itï¿½s generally regarded as safe      (GRAS). 5.) Propylene Glycol - Propylene glycol is a chemical      compound that can be found in anti-freeze, e-cigarettes, and      thatï¿½s right! Fast food! 6.) Prescription Drugs - By testing      feathers, researchers from Johns Hopkins University found some      very interesting characteristics of factory-farm-raised poultry.      And you thought the pink slime scandal was bad? Anti-depressants      as well as other prescription drugs are added to chicken feed      for fast food ï¿½poultryï¿½ items. Thatï¿½s right, those McChicken      sandwiches and McNuggets come from chickens that were raised on      a steady diet of prescription, over-the-counter, and even banned      drugs. 7.) Dimethylpolysiloxane - Youï¿½ll find this in almost any      fried fast food menu item and also in silly putty, contact      lenses, caulking, shampoo and conditioners, cosmetics, polishes,      heat resistant tiles, and the list goes onï¿½
Pet News
Possible Evangerï¿½s Pet Food Recall
Susan Thixton - From our anonymous friend that has provided numerous    recall alerts in the past (prior to public notice), I am being told    Evangerï¿½s Pet Food will be recalling canned Hunk Of Beef dog foodï¿½. A    Washington woman says her 4 pugs became gravely ill after eating    Evangerï¿½s ï¿½hunk of beefï¿½ and another died. Recall is: Manufactured June    2016. Lot Number is 1816E06HB13. The information of the sick dogs can be    confirmed by clicking here .
Four Children Die Linked to a Commonly Used Pet Food Fumigant
Susan Thixton - In a lawsuit brought against Mars Petcare we learned    about a commonly used fumigant used on food/pet food ingredients ï¿½    aluminum phosphide. This same fumigant was recently responsible for the    deaths of four children. How dangerous is aluminum phosphide to our    pets? In Amarillo Texas on New Years Day 2017, someone used a chemical    fumigant (aluminum phosphide) under a house. Four children in that house    died the next day. ï¿½When Aluminum Phosphide is mixed with water or any    moisture, it produces a toxic Phosphine gas, which is what took the    lives of these occupants. One resident of the east Amarillo home was    trying to kill mice and placed the pesticide underneath their home, then    applied water. They were already getting an odor and they were trying to    suppress the vapors.ï¿½ Aluminum phosphide is directly linked to pet food    (and human food). Thanks to bits and pieces learned from a lawsuit filed    against Mars Petcare, we know that aluminum phosphide is commonly used    to fumigate pet food ingredients. The 2012 lawsuit claimed phoshine    gases ï¿½were allowed to accumulate and disburse into the Mars plant at    unsafe levels.ï¿½ An anonymous employee of the pet food plant stated ï¿½We    know there was stuff coming in that was fumigated and was not listed as    being fumigated that went straight into making pet food.ï¿½ In other    words, this anonymous employee claimed that a deadly fumigate was added    directly into the pet food. A statement made by Mars Petcare to KOAM TV    seems to confirm that it is common practice for aluminum phosphide to be    added into pet food. Julie Lawless (interesting last name) of Mars    Petcare provided KOAM TV with a statement, declaring ï¿½Our products are    tested by various state and federal agencies for phosphine.ï¿½
Wednesday - January    4, 2017
1885 - Dr. William Grant performed the first successful appendectomy.    The patient was Mary Gartside.
1896 - Utah became the 45th U.S. state.
1936 - The first pop music chart based on national sales was published    by "Billboard" magazine.
1944 - The attack on Monte Cassino was launched by the British Fifth    Army in Italy.
1948 - Britain granted independence to Burma.
1951 - During the Korean conflict, North Korean and Communist Chinese    forces captured the city of Seoul.
1958 - The Soviet satellite Sputknik I fell to the earth from its orbit.    The craft had been launched on October 4, 1957.
1962 - New York City introduced a train that operated without conductors    and motormen.
1965 - The Fender Guitar Company was sold to CBS for $13 million.
1965 - In his State of the Union address, U.S. President Johnson    proclaimed the building of the "Great Society."
1974 - U.S. President Nixon refused to hand over tape recordings and    documents subpoenaed by the Senate Watergate Committee.
1991 - The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously to condemn Israel's    treatment of the Palestinians in the occupied territories.
1999 - Former professional wrestler Jesse Ventura was sworn in as    Minnesota's 37th governor.
2007 - Nancy Pelosi became Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.    She was the first woman to hold the position.
2010 - In Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the Burj Dubai (Dubai Tower)    opened as the world's tallest tower at 2,625 feet.
World News
UK Wonï¿½t Deport Bin Laden-Linked Terror Suspect
Breitbart - An Algerian who entered the UK illegally will be      allowed to stay in the country, despite being a terror suspect      with alleged links to Osama Bin Laden, because his fight against      deportation damaged his ï¿½mental healthï¿½. The man has been      fighting deportation for 21 years, after entering the UK with a      fake French passport, and is thought to have sent young British      Muslims to terror training camps abroad. According to The      Telegraph, the judge ruled that the alleged jihadistï¿½s      two-decade long deportation battle had affected his mental      health, such that he could not be deported in the end. The man,      who cannot be named, is also reported to be a father and uses a      wheelchair. Home Secretary Amber Rudd has repeatedly vowed to      change the law to make it easier to deport foreign criminals or      those thought to be a security risk, and this ruling is just the      latest blow to the governmentï¿½s aims. The Home Office previously      refused to grant the migrant the right to remain in the UK and      had imposed restrictions on him, insisting he stayed at his home      address and report to a police station every month. However,      thanks to the judge, he will now also be allowed to study for a      degree in Algebraic Thinking at the Open University.
German interior minister wants federal ï¿½departure centersï¿½ to      speed up deportations
RT - Germany is considering setting up special federal centers      to help speed up deportation process of rejected asylum-seekers.      The initiative, as suggested by Interior Minister Thomas de      Maiziere, forms part of general security shake-up inspired by      Berlin Christmas market attack. De Maiziereï¿½s proposal was      released in a guest article in Germanyï¿½s Frankfurter Allgemeine      Zeitung (FAZ) on Monday. Anis Amri, the prime suspect in the      Christmas market attack that killed 12 people, is a Tunisian      asylum-seeker whoï¿½se application was rejected. He was supposed      to be deported from Germany but the process stalled because the      man reportedly didnï¿½t have documents that could have confirmed      his identity. Islamic State later claimed responsibility for the      attack. De Maiziere put forward the idea of creating federal      ï¿½deportation centresï¿½ near airports where people who have been      told to leave Germany could live before being deported. German      state authorities are currently handling deportations, but De      Maiziere wants to give more powers to Berlin and is calling for      a ï¿½reorganizationï¿½ of Germanyï¿½s security structures.
Czech Interior Ministry seeks right for citizens to use arms      against terrorists
RT - The Czech Republic is considering amending its constitution      to allow citizens to use legally obtained arms for defense      against terrorists following the attacks in Berlin and Niceï¿½.      The Interior Ministry plans to submit a proposal for a      respective gun law amendment before the countryï¿½s general      elections in October this year. ï¿½The possibilities of state      bodies to quickly and efficiently prevent casualties and other      damage are limited during such attacks,ï¿½ according to the      Ministry as reported by the CTK news agency. This requires that      citizens who officially obtained their weapons get legal advice      in the event that they have to protect themselves against      terrorists, the Ministry said. Officials note that this would      increase the protection of peopleï¿½s fundamental rights and      freedoms, CTK reports. The proposed amendment would apply only      to Czech citizens and not to people from other EU countries      staying in the Republic, the news agency writes.
ï¿½Israeli shoot-to-kill policy belongs to western movie lawsï¿½ ï¿½      HRW official to RT
RT - Human Rights Watch has urged top Israeli officials to      publicly denounce the excessive use of lethal force against      Palestinians. A HRW representative told RT that Israel is not      governed by Biblical or western movie laws to employ such      extreme policies. HRW has condemned Israelï¿½s ï¿½shoot-to-kill      policyï¿½ and has accused some senior Israeli officials of openly      supporting and encouraging the practice. A new HRW report      suggested that some senior Israeli officials openly encourage      the Israeli Defense Force and police to deliberately kill      Palestinians who they suspected of attacking Israelis, even if      the threat of attack has passed. The report takes in statements      made by top officials since October 2015, including Israelï¿½s      defense minister Avigdor Lieberman, who not only failed to      condemn cases of excessive lethal force, but even encouraged it.
Greece bans cash: Tax-allowance possible only through payments      via plastic money
Keep Talking Greece - Greece is banning the use of cash the soft      way. As of 1.1. 2017, taxpayers will be granted tax-allowance      and tax deduction only when they have made payments via credit      or debit cards. The new guidelines refer to employees,      pensioners, farmers but also unemployed. Accepted expenditure      will be: purchases for food and supermarket products, electronic      and electric devices, household equipment, footwear, clothing,      fuel, furniture, cigarettes*, drinks. Restaurants, cafeterias,      bars and hotels. Services like by hairdressers and beauty      parlors, gyms and dance schools, car repair, plumbers,      electricians, painters, carpenters, lawyers and accountants. For      doctors and pharmacy the same practice will be valid as in last      year. The tax office will accept the expenditure only if      payments are made per credit card or bank transfer. Expenditure      for utility bills, landlines and mobile phones, heating, rent,      loan repayments that in fact swallow the largest amount of      monthly expenditure for private households will not be accepted.      Also not accepted is expenditure for toll and transport      ticketsï¿½. Should a taxpayer will not be able to spend the      necessary percentage of the annual income according to the      guidelines, the punishment will be a penalty of 22% imposed on      the missing differenceï¿½. Exempted from the compulsory usage of      credit/debit cards are seniors over 70 years old, residents of      remote areas and people with disability over 80%.
Silver Company CEOs Prepare For War On Big Banks: Class Action      Lawsuit For Price Rigging
Activist Post - ï¿½Deutsche Bank has agreed to turn over documents      implicating other banks in related schemes, major mining      companies are preparing lawsuits of their own. Straight-shooting      First Majestic Silver CEO, Keith Neumeyer, who in 2015 was the      first mining company head to issue a public statement on the      manipulation of precious metals prices by a small concentration      of players, has said that the companyï¿½s legal team is closely      monitoring the situation. Citing loss of revenue, jobs and      shareholder value Neumeyer said in an interview with SGT Report      that his company will likely be preparing legal action against      the bullion banks involved in the rigging of prices.
France Bans Pesticides in Public Green Spaces
Sustainable Pulse - French children will soon be able to frolic      in the grass without risk of intoxication. Pesticides will be      banned in all public green spaces from Sunday (January 1 2017)      while non-professional gardeners will no longer be able to buy      pesticides over the counter. The new measure is part of a larger      green program adopted by French lawmakers that also includes a      ban on plastic bags for vegetables. The pesticide ban covers      public forests, parks and gardens, but local authorities are      still allowed to use pesticides in cemeteries. The new law also      stipulates that pesticides will be prohibited in private gardens      from 2019.
Massive quake off Fiji triggers tsunami warning within 300km      radius
RT - A powerful earthquake has struck off the coast of Fiji,      triggering a tsunami warning within 300km of the epicenter. The      USGS downgraded the quake to 6.9 while the PTWC measured it at      7.0, warning that waves up to 1 meter might hit the island      nation. The quake, initially measured at 7.2 magnitude, was      centered some 221 km southwest of Nadi at a depth of 15.2 km,      the USGS said. A series of strong aftershocks measuring between      4.9 and 5.8 struck the same area within an hour after the      initial quake. ï¿½The tsunami threat from this earthquake has now      passed,ï¿½ the PTWC said in their latest update after the Center      warned that waves of up to 1 meter could hit the coast of Fiji.
U.S. News, Politics & Government
Trump Tells DHS To Prepare For Border Wall Construction
Zero Hedge - In a wide-ranging request for documents and      analysis, President-elect Donald Trump's transition team asked      the Department of Homeland Security last month to assess all      assets available for border wall and barrier construction. The      requests were made in a Dec. 5 meeting between Trump's      transition team and Department of Homeland Security officialsï¿½      The document offers a glimpse into the president-elect's      strategy for securing the U.S. borders and reversing polices put      in place by the Obama administrationï¿½. The transition team also      asked for copies of every executive order and directive sent to      immigration agents since Obama took office in 2009, according to      the memo summarizing the meeting. Trump has said he intends to      undo Obama's executive actions on immigration, including a 2012      order to allow children brought to the U.S. illegally by their      parents to remain in the country on temporary authorizations      that allow them to attend college and work. The program, known      as DACA, collected information including participants' addresses      that could theoretically be used to locate and deport them if      the policy is reversed. Another request of the transition team      was for information about whether any migrant records have been      changed for any reason, including for civil rights or civil      liberties concerns, according to the internal memo seen by      Reutersï¿½. One program the transition team asked about, according      to the email summary, was Operation Phalanx, an aerial      surveillance program that authorizes 1,200 Army National Guard      airmen to monitor the southern border for drug trafficking and      illegal migration. The program once deployed 6,000 airmen under      President George W. Bush but was downsized by Barack Obama, a      move blasted by some conservatives who argue the surveillance is      vital to border security.
Feds Continue to Drop Migrants at Texas Bus Stops
Breitbart - Bus station employees are reporting that illegal      immigrants continue pour into the Texas border town of Laredo.      They have seen a holding center for Immigration and Customs      Enforcement (ICE) carrying between 20 and 40 undocumented women      during at least five bus trips. The local NBC affiliate,      8KGNS-TV first heard that 400 migrants were headed to the border      city but it has been difficult to get a concrete number of      released individuals from the agency. Officials report that      these women meet certain release eligibility requirements set by      the federal government. Local officials say that federal      representatives did not notify anyone in the City of Laredo, and      that a similar problem was created in 2014 when there was a      surge of Central Americans in the Texas border town. What is      adding to the flood of migrants crossing the border from Central      America is the fact that some countries are refusing to      repatriate their own.
Senate Begins Process To Repeal Obamacare
Zero Hedge - ï¿½the Senate Budget Committee Chairman Mike Enzi      released a 2017 budget resolution setting up the process to      partially repeal Obamacare early in President-elect Donald      Trumpï¿½s administration. The Senate will consider the bare-bones      budget on the floor starting this week with votes expected next      week. Once the House and Senate agree on a resolution a      reconciliation bill repealing parts of Obamacare could proceed.      Of course, using the reconciliation process allows Republicans      to avoid a Democratic filibuster in the Senate which is the same      process that Democrats used to pass the controversial      legislation in the first place. Of course, as we pointed out      last week, Obama has summoned top Democrats to a meeting on The      Hill tomorrow to "strategize" on how they might fight Trump's      repeal efforts. Unfortunately for Dems, given that Republicans      will control all three branches of government in about 17 days      and only a simple majority vote will be required to repeal the      law in the Senate through the reconciliation process, they're      pretty much powerless.
Trump Wins Again: House GOP Reverses On Ethics Office Overhaul
Zero Hedge - Following House Republican's vote to strip the      Ethics Office of independence, Trump lashed out with a tweet      suggesting Congress' time be better spent on other things... and      just minutes ago, following an emergency meeting, Republicans      have confirmed the amendment has been pulled. As a reminder,      House Republicans abruptly voted on Monday night to eliminate      the independence of the Office of Congressional Ethics, the      chamberï¿½s nonpartisan ethics board which investigates lawmakers'      alleged misconduct, largely stripping it of its power, leading      to pushback from Democrats and government watchdog groups. House      Republicans, meeting as a group Monday night, approved an      amendment from House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte      that would place the office under the oversight of the      lawmaker-run House Ethics Committee.
Face to Face Once More: Bill & Hillary Will Attend Trumpï¿½s      Inauguration
Breitbart - New York magazine cited ï¿½well-placed sourcesï¿½ to the      Clintons saying they ï¿½decided to do so out of a sense of duty      and respect for the American democratic process.ï¿½ Former      President George W. Bush and his wife Laura Bush will also      attend the inauguration. In a statement, the Bushes said they      were ï¿½pleased to be able to witness the peaceful transfer of      power ï¿½ a hallmark of American democracyï¿½ by attending the      ceremony in Washington, D.C.
WikiLeaks Hints At Huge Upcoming Revelations: "2017 Will Blow      You Away"
Blacklisted News - Ahead of Jullian Assange's interview tonight      on Fox News with Sean Hannity, in which as we previewed last      night the Wikileaks founder will again deny on the record that      Russia was the source of hacked Democratic emails, stating that "our source is not the Russian government and it is not a state      party", Wikileaks decided to engage in some creative marketing      and, on Monday afternoon promised that 2017 will be an even      bigger year for leaks than 2016, which saw the whistleblowing      site publish thousands of documents exposing the dirty laundry      of the Clinton campaign, US political secrets, covert trade      deals and private communications from global leaders.
Economy & Business
Ford cancels Mexico plant. Will create 700 U.S. jobs in 'vote of      confidence' in Trump
CNN Money - The $700 million investment will go to the Flat      Rock, Michigan plant to produce more electric and self-driving      cars. Ford believes electrified vehicles will outsell      gas-powered vehicles within the next 15 yearsï¿½. This is a major      U-turn for Ford. Trump repeatedly slammed Ford on the campaign      trail for shipping U.S. jobs to Mexico (a claim the company said      was wrong). The president-elect has kept up the pressure. Just      hours before the Ford announcement, Trump criticized GM (GM) for      producing cars in Mexico. All of the big car manufacturers      currently have some production in Mexico. Last year, Ford      announced it would invest $1.6 billion in Mexico to transfer      production of the Ford Focus from Michigan to Mexico to save      costs. Now the Focus will be built at an existing plant in      Hermosillo, Mexico, and Ford will instead expand its plant in      Michigan. Trump threatened to slap a 35% tariff on Ford vehicles      made in Mexico and sold in the U.S., although experts say it is      not possible for Trump do that to a single U.S. company. The      president-elect reiterated that threat again to GM Tuesday,      tweeting, "Make in U.S.A. or pay big border tax!" Ford's CEO      tried to walk a delicate line on how much Trump influenced this      major change in the company's plans. He praised Trump for his      vows to cut taxes and scale back regulations on businesses, but      stressed Ford's decision was "done independently" of the      president.
Mexico Responds To Ford's Decision To Scrap Its New Plant
Zero Hedge - Mexico "regrets" Ford's decision to scrap the plan      to build a plant in the central Mexican state of San Luis      Potosi, the Economy Ministry said on Tuesday, adding that it has      made sure Ford will reimburse any costs and expenses from the      state government to facilitate the now defunct investment. [ï¿½]      Mexico vowed to maintain its commitment to making Mexico a      competitive nation to attract investment, and reiterated its      commitment to modernizing NAFTA in a way that strengthens      competitive capacity of North America.
Science & Technology
Appleï¿½s FaceTime blamed for girlï¿½s highway crash death in new lawsuit
Ars Technica - According to the latest figures available, US highway    deaths increased by more than 10 percent year-over-year during the first    half of 2016. One big reason? Distracted driving with mobile phones.    Apple, maker of the ever-popular iPhone, is being sued on allegations    that its FaceTime app contributed to the highway death of a 5-year-old    girl named Moriah Modisette. In Denton County, Texas, on Christmas Eve    2014, a man smashed into the Modisette family's Toyota Camry as it    stopped in traffic on southbound Interstate 35W. Police say that the    driver was using the FaceTime application and never saw the brake lights    ahead of him. In addition to the tragedy, father James, mother Bethany,    and daughter Isabella all suffered non-fatal injuries during the crash    two years ago. The Modisette family now wants Apple to pay damages for    the mishap. The family alleges the Cupertino, California-based    technology company had a duty to warn motorists against using the app    and that it could have used patented technology to prohibit drivers from    utilizing the app. According to the suit filed in Santa Clara County    Superior Courtï¿½ The patent referenced, issued by the US patent office in    April 2014, is designed to provide a "lock-out mechanism" to prevent    iPhone use by drivers. The patent claims a "motion analyzer" and a "scenery analyzer" help prevent phone use. The reliability of such    lock-out services, however, has come into question.
New human organ discovered, purpose of ï¿½mesenteryï¿½ unknown
RT - A new human organ has been discovered hiding in the human digestive    system. The mesenteryï¿½s purpose isnï¿½t fully understood, but its presence    could hold the key to treating digestive diseases. It was previously    thought that the organ was an unimportant group of structures, but it    has now been classified as one single organ, which connects the abdomen    to the intestine. The discovery that the mesentery was a single    structure was first made by Irish researcher J Calvin Coffey at    University Hospital Limerick in Ireland in 2012. Since then, he and his    team studied the mesentery to prove it should be classified as an organ. "When we approach it like every other organ,ï¿½ Coffey explained, ï¿½we can    categorise abdominal disease in terms of this organ." The organï¿½s    reclassification findings have been published in ï¿½The Lancet    Gastroenterology & Hepatologyï¿½. "In the paper, which has been peer    reviewed and assessed, we are now saying we have an organ in the body    which hasnï¿½t been acknowledged as such to date," Coffey said. "The    anatomic description that had been laid down over 100 years of anatomy    was incorrect. This organ is far from fragmented and complex. Itï¿½s    simply one continuous structure.ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½The next step is the function,ï¿½    Coffey explained. ï¿½If you understand the function you can identify    abnormal function, and then you have disease. Put them all together and    you have the field of mesenteric science ï¿½ the basis for a whole new    area of science."
 Gardening, Farming & Homesteading
Texas Wineries Worry EPA Approval of Monsanto, Dow Herbicides      Will 'Kill' Industry
EcoWatch - Wineries in Texas are worried that federal approval      of two highly volatile and drift-prone herbicides used on      neighboring genetically modified (GMO) cotton fields will cause      widespread damage to their vineyards, The Texas Tribune details.      The herbicides in question are Monsanto's dicamba-based      XtendiMax with VaporGrip Technology, which was approved in      November by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and      Dow AgroSciences' 2,4-D-based Enlist Duo, which the EPA also      proposed to register for use on GMO cotton seeds. Enlist Duo is      already used on GMO corn and soybean crops in 15 states. "The      approval of these formulations will wind up affecting every      vineyard up there," explained Paul Bonarrigo, a Hale County      vintner who believes that his withering grapevines have been      damaged by the illegal spraying of dicamba and 2,4-D on nearby      cotton farms. Bonarrigo believes that the state's $2 billion      wine industry is in jeopardy. The debacle is yet another chapter      in the expanding issue of herbicide-resistant weeds, or      superweeds, that have evolved to resist the herbicide glyphosate,      or Roundup. In response to weeds such as pigweed that have      infested farms across the U.S., agribusinesses such as Monsanto      and Dow have developed ever stronger weedkillers to help      farmers.
Health
Video: France to Ban People with Down Syndrome from Smiling
Health Impact News - Another big step was taken towards the mass      persecution of children with Down syndrome. On November 10th,      the French ï¿½State Counselï¿½ rejected an appeal made by people      with Down syndrome, their families and allies to lift the ban on      broadcasting the award winning ï¿½Dear Future Momï¿½ video on French      television. The ban was previously imposed by the French      Broadcasting Counsel. Kids who are unjustly described as a      ï¿½riskï¿½ before they are born, are now wrongfully portrayed as a      ï¿½riskï¿½ after birth too. The video features a number of young      people from around the globe telling about their lives. Their      stories reflect todayï¿½s reality of living with Down syndrome and      aims to reassure women who have received a prenatal diagnosis.      Their message of hope takes away the fears and questions these      women may have, often based on outdated stereotypes. The video      was produced in 2014 to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day. A day      created by Down Syndrome International and officially recognized      by the United Nations for the promotion of the human rights of      people with Down syndrome. The State Counsel said that allowing      people with Down syndrome to smile was ï¿½inappropriateï¿½ because      peopleï¿½s expression of happiness was ï¿½likely to disturb the      conscience of women who had lawfully made different personal      life choicesï¿½ï¿½. Women must continue to believe in the myth that      society and medical professionals portray; that Down syndrome is      a life of suffering, a burden to their family and society.      Obviously, if the truth gets out that 99% of people with Down      syndrome are happy with their lives, society may start to      question the systematic screening and deliberate mass      elimination*) under the pretense of health-care and womenï¿½s      rights.
Video: Sailor Jumps to Safety in Rough Waters ï¿½ And Saves His Pet Cat!
The Catington Post - The US Coast Guard released a video showing the    dramatic moment when a man jumped from his 30-foot sailboat onto a    rescue ship in rough seas while holding his cat. According to the Coast    Guard, Manu Wattecamps activated his emergency beacon when his sailboat    lost its rudder, leaving him helpless and his boat battered by 20-foot    seas about 400 miles south of Cold Bay, Alaska. A nearby oil drilling    vessel was able to rescue the sailor, and the Coast Guard monitored the    rescue by airplane, where they captured this video, in which you see the    Frenchman tuck his pet cat into his clothes before making a daring leap    onto the rescue boat to safety.
 
Tuesday - January    3, 2017
Today In History:
1777 - The Battle of Princeton took place in the War of Independence, in    which George Washington defeated the British forces, led by Cornwallis.
1823 - Stephen F. Austin received a grant from the Mexican government    and began colonization in the region of the Brazos River in Texas.
1833 - Britain seized control of the Falkland Islands in the South    Atlantic. About 150 years later, Argentina seized the islands from the    British, but Britain took them back after a 74-day war.
1938 - The March of Dimes was established by U.S. President Franklin    Delano Roosevelt. The organization fights poliomyelitis. The original    name of the organization was the National Foundation for Infantile    Paralysis.
1947 - U.S. Congressional proceedings were televised for the first time.    Viewers in Washington, Philadelphia and New York City saw some of the    opening ceremonies of the 80th Congress.
1959 - In the U.S., Alaska became the 49th state.
1961 - The U.S. severed diplomatic relations with Cuba.
1962 - Pope John XXIII excommunicated Cuban prime minister Fidel Castro.
1967 - Jack Ruby died in a Dallas, TX, hospital.
1988 - Margaret Thatcher became the longest-serving British Prime    Minister in the 20th century.
1993 - U.S. President George H.W. Bush and Russian President Boris    Yeltsin signed the second Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) in    Moscow.
1995 - WHO reported that the cumulative total of officially reported    cases of AIDS had risen to 1,025,073 in 192 countries as at the end of    1994.
2001 - The ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) charged the "Texas 7" with weapons violations. An autopsy showed that Office Aubrey    Hawkins, killed by the convicts, had been shot 11 times and run over    with a vehicle.
2004 - NASA's Spirit rover landed on Mars. The craft was able to send    back black and white images three hours after landing.
World News
Islamic State claims responsibility for New Yearï¿½s Day attack at      Istanbul nightclub
Long War Journal - The so-called caliphate says that its ï¿½hero      soldierï¿½ assaulted one of Turkeyï¿½s ï¿½most famous nightclubs,ï¿½      because it is a location where ï¿½Christians celebrate their      polytheistic [pagan] holiday.ï¿½ The jihadist group also attempts      to justify the attack by portraying Turkey as a ï¿½protector of      the crossï¿½ and accusing Recep Tayyip Erdoğanï¿½s government of      spilling the ï¿½blood of Muslimsï¿½ with its planes and guns. This is likely a reference to Turkeyï¿½s military operations in      northern Syria, where its forces and allied rebel groups fight      Abu Bakr al Baghdadiï¿½s men on a daily basis. Of course, most of      the Islamic Stateï¿½s victims are Muslims, meaning its accusation      against Turkey is hollow. Many of the victims at Reina were      likely Muslims as well. Amaq News Agency, a propaganda arm of      Baghdadiï¿½s enterprise, released its own statement hours after      the Islamic Stateï¿½s first claim was posted online.... Initial      reports indicate that at least one gunman assaulted Reina. Some      local accounts claim that he was dressed like Santa Claus, or in      similar holiday garb. However, that detail and many others      remain unconfirmed. Turkish authorities have arrested several      people suspected of being tied to the Islamic Stateï¿½s network      inside Turkey, but the terrorist responsible for the killings      has not yet been identified or detained.
Syrian refugee who asked ISIS for ï¿½180,000 for bombings in      Europe detained in Germany
RT - A Syrian asylum seeker has been detained in Germany on      suspicion of asking ISIS for money to buy and booby trap cars to      kill a large number of "non-Muslim" people in ï¿½Germany, France,      Belgium and the Netherlands,ï¿½ German authorities say. The      38-year old man was detained early Saturday by German special      forces in his flat in the city of Saarbrucken in the Federal      State of Saarland. Official confirmation of the operation and      further details emerged only on Monday. The Syrian refugee was      arrested after Saarland police received a tip off from the      Federal Criminal police. According to the Prosecutorï¿½s office,      the man in custody is suspected of having reached out to an      Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) terrorist groupï¿½s contact      person in December ï¿½who he knew was in a position to obtain IS      money for terror financing.ï¿½ The asylum seeker apparently ï¿½asked      him [IS contact person] to provide ï¿½180,000 so he [the suspect]      can use the money to buy vehicles, which he planned to bobby      trap with explosives,ï¿½ a statement by the Prosecutorï¿½s office      reads. The Syrian asylum seeker allegedly planned to buy eight      cars - ï¿½22,500 each - booby trap the vehicles and drive them      into the crowds to ï¿½kill a large number of non-Muslim people.ï¿½      He reportedly said 400 to 500 kilograms (882 to 1,100 pounds) of      explosives would be placed in each car.
1000+ Migrants Attempt to Break Into Spanish Territory
Breitbart - Footage has emerged of the ï¿½extremely violent and      organizedï¿½ attempt by over one thousand would-be African      migrants to break into Spainï¿½s North African territory of Ceuta      on Sunday. Five Spanish policemen and around 50 members of the      Moroccan forces were injured during the massive border raid,      including one who lost an eye. The army of migrants used weapons      including metal bars as they attempt to breach gates and double      fences to enter the small piece of Spanish territory.... Both      Spanish and Moroccan authorities have responded with aggressive      rhetoric, promising to punish and deport those responsible....      Spain is keen for its small enclaves in Africa not to become      easy entry points into Europe. Once inside the fenced off areas,      migrants can claim asylum and are often transported to mainland      Europe. To stop this, Spain has built substantial fences and      actively works to keep the exact location of the official border      secret so migrants can be removed even if they cross the      barriers.
Bedlam: Video Shows Migrants in Sweden Aiming Fireworks at      People
Paul Joseph Watson - This is the perfect illustration of the      ï¿½cultural enrichmentï¿½ that has invaded Malmo, a city that has      been besieged by arson attacks on a routine basis, with cars      regularly being torched by Muslim migrants. The terror group      ISIS even claimed one of the attacks. The scenes are      disturbingly reminiscent of what happened Cologne last year      before the mass molestation of hundreds of German women. The      only difference here is that there appear to be no native Swedes      in attendance, with virtually everyone in the clip appearing to      be of Middle Eastern or North African origin. At one point in      the clip, a woman appears to have been injured by a firework as      she ducks behind a vehicle, holding her face. Migrants are seen      picking up boxes of fireworks that are shooting vertically into      the sky and aiming them horizontally to target people down the      street. A toddler is also being held high on the shoulders of      one of the migrants, despite the clear danger of fireworks being      shot off in all directions. The fireworks are also placed in the      middle of the road despite cars attempting to pass through.      Police vehicles are seen driving through the melee but speed off      and make no attempt to stop the insanity. Reports suggest that      similar scenes were witnessed in other Swedish towns and cities,      with ï¿½rocketsï¿½ and ï¿½firecrackersï¿½ being ï¿½directed against      peopleï¿½ as well as police officers, houses and apartment blocks.
More than 250 rioters smash kebab shop after 'group of Arab men      stab young local to death'
Expess- A staggering 300 rioters stormed the streets in a      peaceful suburban town after a group of Arab men allegedly      stabbed a lone local to death near a kebab restaurant, according      to reports. The rioters descended on the town of Elk, Poland,      after a group of Arab -- reportedly of Morocco, Algeria and      Tunisia descent -- chased a young man out of a restaurant in the      town and repeatedly stabbed him. The man, known only as Daniel      R, was stabbed last Saturday around 11pm local time, got into a      brawl with four other men after reports suggest he threw a      firecracker inside a kebab diner.
France sees 650 cars torched on New Year's Eve
The Local - New Year's Eve "went off without any major incident" but "saw some troubles with public order", the Interior Ministry      has said in a statement.... Meanwhile, in something of a      tradition for the French, vandals torched a whopping 650 parked      cars. While the figure is worse than the 602 the year before,      the ministry was quick to point out that there has been a 20      percent drop over the last five years. Meanwhile, Le Monde      newspaper accused the ministry of deflating the figures,      reporting that 945 cars were actually on fire during the night -      an increase on the 804 that it reported were torched the year      before. The paper said that the government was only reporting on      the cars that were "directly" torched, ignoring those that      caught fire nearby from leaping flames. A ministry spokesperson      responded that the figures released were the "most pertinent and      the most coherent".... The custom of setting vehicles alight on      New Yearï¿½s Eve reportedly began in the east of the country,      around Strasbourg, in the 1990s, in the the cityï¿½s poorer      neighbourhoods. It was then quickly adopted by youths in cities      across the country.... Authorities have previously refrained      from reporting on the number of torched cars on New Year's Eve      after it was discovered that a district-by-district breakdown      was fuelling destructive competition between rival gangs.
France introduces opt-out policy on organ donation
The Guardian - France has reversed its policy on organ donations      so that all people could become donors on their death unless      they join an official register to opt out. The new law presumes      consent for organs to be removed, even if it goes against the      wishes of the family. Until 1 January, when the legislation took      effect, unless the person who had died had previously expressed      a clear wish for or against donation, doctors were required to      consult relatives who, in almost a third of cases, refused.      Those who do not want all or any of their organs to be used must      now put their name on a ï¿½refusal registerï¿½ ï¿½ so far 150,000      people have signed up. The authorities have promised to make it      easier for those who wish to refuse by allowing them to join the      register online instead of by registered post. Alternatively,      those vehemently opposed to their organs being used can leave a      signed document with their next-of-kin or transmit their wish      orally to relatives who must make a written declaration of      non-consent to doctors at the time of death.
U.S. News, Politics & Government
DC Appeals Court: Law Required Kerry to Ask AG to ï¿½Initiate      Enforcement Proceedingsï¿½ to Retrieve Clinton Emails
CNS News - A federal appeals court judge ruled on Tuesday that      under the Federal Records Act (FRA), Secretary of State John      Kerry was required by law to ask Attorney General Loretta Lynch      to ï¿½initiate enforcement proceedingsï¿½ to help him and U.S.      Archivist David Ferriero recover emails that his predecessor,      Hillary Clinton, kept on her private accounts. The ruling by      Senior Circuit Judge Stephen Williams for the D.C. Court of      Appeals for the District of Columbia pointed out that not only      does the FRA ï¿½strictly limit the circumstances under which      records can be removed from federal custody or destroyed,ï¿½ the      statute also gives agency heads ï¿½no discretion to determine      which cases to pursue.ï¿½ The decision was the result of a lawsuit      filed by Judicial Watch in May 2015 that sought to compel      Kerryï¿½s compliance with the FRA after he refused to ask Lynch to      help him retrieve tens of thousands of emails sent by Clinton      and her top aides while she was secretary of state that had not      been turned over to the State Department.... The appellate      ruling ï¿½rejects the Obama State Departmentï¿½s excuses justifying      its failure to ask the attorney general, as the law requires, to      pursue the recovery of the Clinton emails,ï¿½ Judicial Watch      president Tom Fitton also said. ï¿½This ruling means that the      Trump administration will have to decide if it wants to finally      enforce the rule of law and try to retrieve all of the emails      Clinton and her aides unlawfully took when they left the State      Department.ï¿½
Obama could still force Merrick Garland onto court during      ï¿½intersession recessï¿½
Washington Times - President Obama will have one last chance to      force Judge Merrick Garland onto the U.S. Supreme Court on      Tuesday ï¿½ but itï¿½s a legal gamble and one that has so many      pitfalls that even those who say he could get away with it      believe it isnï¿½t worth the fight. Mr. Obamaï¿½s moment will come      just before noon, in the five minutes that the Senate gavels the      114th Congress out of session and the time the 115th Congress      begins. In those few moments the Senate will go into whatï¿½s      known as an ï¿½intersession recess,ï¿½ creating one golden moment      when the president could test his recess-appointment powers by      sending Judge Garland to the high court. A smattering of      activists has asked him to give it a try, but Mr. Obama has      given no indication that heï¿½s thinking about it. The White House      didnï¿½t respond to a request for comment for this story. The move      would be a legal gamble under the high courtï¿½s last ruling in      2014 on recess appointments. That 9-0 decision overturned a      handful of Mr. Obamaï¿½s early 2012 picks, saying the Senate was      actually in session when the president acted, so he couldnï¿½t use      his powers.
Sanctuary cities free more than 2,000 illegal immigrants rather      than cooperate with feds
Washington Times - The Obama administration has made significant      headway in cutting down the number of sanctuary cities, but 279      municipalities are still holding out, refusing to cooperate with      federal authorities on at least some cases involving illegal      immigrants.... Those sanctuary communities released more than      2,000 illegal immigrants back onto the streets rather than turn      them over to federal authorities in fiscal year 2016, and were      on pace for even more in the first two months of fiscal year      2017, which began Oct. 1.... Last year, ICE caught 114,000      illegal immigrants, the lowest number in Mr. Obamaï¿½s tenure.      That represented only 1 percent of the estimated 11 million      illegal immigrants believed to be at large in the U.S. More than      90 percent of those ICE apprehended had criminal convictions,      had gang ties, were deemed national security risks, were new      illegal arrivals or were defying active orders of deportation.      Security analysts say that makes the number of people released      by uncooperative sanctuary cities even more troubling. The Obama      administration wouldnï¿½t be asking for them unless they were      priorities for deportation, either as convicted criminals,      national security risks or people who are ignoring recent orders      of deportation.
1,565 Refugees Diagnosed with Active TB Since 2012, Three Times      More Than Previously Reported
Breitbart - In October, Breitbart News reported that 476 cases      of active TB among refugees have been reported in the fifteen      states that made that data available. Thirty-five states did not      make the data available, even though they had apparently      reported it to the CDC: At least eight cases of active TB were      diagnosed among refugees upon their arrival in Minnesota in      2015, bringing the total number of cases of active TB among      refugees in Minnesota over the past six years to at least 304.      That also increases the number of active TB cases diagnosed      among refugees over the past six years in the fifteen states in      which Breitbart News has been able to obtain data to 476, broken      down as follows: Minnesota (304), Wisconsin (27), Nebraska (21),      Louisiana (21), Michigan (19), Vermont (17), Colorado (16),      Florida (11), Ohio (11 in one county), Idaho (7), Kentucky (9 in      one county), North Dakota (4 in one county), Indiana (4),      California (3), and Tennessee, where two refugees have been      diagnosed with the very dangerous, multi-drug resistant (MDR)      TB. Until Breitbart News discovered the public, but effectively      hidden, CDC reports, the scale of the TB problem among refugees      was underreported by more than 1,000 cases over recent years ï¿½      off by a factor of more than three.
Nevada's universal gun background check law deemed      unenforceable, put on ice
Washington Times - At issue with the Nevada ballot initiative,      which 50.4 percent of voters approved on Nov. 8, is who would be      responsible for conducting background checks during gun      transactions between private citizens.... Under the initiative,      transactions are subject to federal screenings through the      FBI-run National Instant Criminal Background Check System. But      the FBI on Dec. 14 alerted the Nevada Department of Public      Safety that it would not conduct the checks. The bureau said in      a letter to state officials that it is the stateï¿½s      responsibility to facilitate the checks and that the ballot      measureï¿½s approval ï¿½cannot dictate how federal resources are      applied.ï¿½ Nevada is one of 12 ï¿½points of contactï¿½ where states      handle their own gun background checks.... But the      Bloomberg-backed initiative specifically prohibits private sales      checks from being run through the stateï¿½s central repository,      leaving the state with no authority to perform checks for      private sales, according to an opinion issued by Nevada Attorney      General Adam Laxalt, a Republican. ï¿½It is manifestly unjust to      criminally penalize someone for failing to perform an act that      is impossible to perform,ï¿½ Mr. Laxalt wrote in an opinion      Wednesday deeming the ballot initiative unenforceable.
Shane Ralston, Penn State professor: Stop 'coddling the young      adult mind'
Washington Times - An associate professor at Penn State      University Hazleton recently argued that colleges are treating      young adults like infants and setting them up for a lifetime of      failure. Shane Ralston, an associate professor of philosophy,      wrote in an article for Intellectual Takeout last week that      university trends like instituting ï¿½safe spacesï¿½ and ï¿½trigger      warningsï¿½ are to blame for young adults failing to ï¿½develop      perseverance and grit,ï¿½ The College Fix reported.... ï¿½How are      safe spaces, trigger warnings, parental health coverage until      age 26 and living at home into oneï¿½s thirties signs of living in      bad faith?ï¿½ he asked. ï¿½In college, administrator-designed safe      spaces create a false sense of security, denying young people      the opportunity to experience the worldï¿½s uncomfortable      realities (e.g. hate, sexism, racism, and homophobia) and make      life choices accordingly. Trigger warnings about shocking or      controversial class topics and materials, usually shared with      students by professors, have the same effect: coddling the young      adult mind. ï¿½Parental coverage of health insurance until age 26      and living at home into oneï¿½s thirties create more cocoons that      inhibit free choice,ï¿½ he wrote. ï¿½Thereï¿½s even a euphemism for      living with the parents past an acceptable age: failure to      launch. One out of three young adults (18-35 year olds) fail to      launch, rely on mom and dadï¿½s generosity far too long and      deceive themselves into believing that they couldnï¿½t choose to      do otherwise.ï¿½
California lawmakers advance bill to decriminalize prostitution      for minors
LA Times - [California Senate bill] SB 1322, authored by Sen.      Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles), would make the crimes of      solicitation and loitering with intent to commit prostitution      misdemeanors inapplicable to children younger than 18. It also      would allow law enforcement to take sexually exploited children      into temporary custody if leaving them unattended would pose an      immediate threat to their health or safety.... SB 1322 drew the      support of a large coalition of advocates who said the bill was      a step further in that direction, taking young victims entirely      out of the juvenile justice system. But law enforcement      officials oppose the move, saying the state's child welfare      system is woefully low on resources.... But while supporters of      the bill argued that it would provide a better way to connect      young victims with social services, opponents countered that it      would prevent law enforcement from helping vulnerable children      who often donï¿½t see themselves as victims, run away from      unsecured shelters and remain tied to their traffickers through      complicated psychological and emotional bonds.
Economy & Business
The GatewayPundit - Now a $3 pack of sugary soda will cost you $6. Customers are already feeling the impact of the new sugary      drink tax. The new law adds 1.5 cents per ounce on most drinks.
Energy & Environment
Oregon Couple Told They Have No Water Rights, Forced to Destroy Their    Own Pond
Natural Blaze - The Jackson County Watermasterï¿½s office has told Jon and    Sabrina Carey to destroy their 2-acre pond ï¿½ built 40 years ago, long    before they bought the 10-acre property off Butte Falls Highway two and    a half years ago ï¿½ as they donï¿½t have any water rights. ï¿½I basically    bought a lemon. Thatï¿½s how they explained it to me.ï¿½ The county had no    issues with the pond until Jon sought to grow legal medical cannabis on    his property. He was then required to produce proof that he had a viable    source of water for cannabis cultivation. Although the county records    clearly show the pond, the Watermasterï¿½s Office claimed the previous    owners had not received a permit for the pond so the Careys were now in    violation of Oregon regulations ï¿½ and they would have to shoulder the    cost of draining the water. As a result, the Careys stopped using pond    water and resorted to trucking in water from Butte Falls for their    household and garden needs.
Science & Technology
White House fails to make case that Russian hackers tampered with    election
Ars Technica - While security companies in the private sector have said    for months the hacking campaign was the work of people working for the    Russian government, anonymous people tied to the leaks have claimed they    are lone wolves.... Sadly, the JAR, as the Joint Analysis Report is    called, does little to end the debate.... "This ultimately seems like a    very rushed report put together by multiple teams working different data    sets and motivations," Robert M. Lee, CEO and Founder of the security    company Dragos, wrote in a critique published Friday.... The sloppiness,    Lee noted, included the report's conflation of Russian hacking groups    APT28 and APT29ï¿½also known as CozyBear, Sandworm, Sednit, and Sofacy,    among othersï¿½with malware names such as BlackEnergy and Havex, and even    hacking capabilities such as "Powershell Backdoor." The mix up of such    basic classifications does little to inspire confidence that the report    was carefully or methodically prepared.... The writers showed a similar    lack of rigor when publishing so-called indicators of compromise, which    security practitioners use to detect if a network has been breached by a    specific group or piece of malware. As Errata Security CEO Rob Graham    pointed out in a blog post, one of the signatures detects the presence    of "PAS TOOL WEB KIT," a tool that's widely used by literally hundreds,    and possibly thousands, of hackers in Russia and Ukraine, most of whom    are otherwise unaffiliated and have no connection to the Russian    government.
Fridges and washing machines could be vital witnesses in murder plots
The Telegraph - High-tech washing machines and fridges will soon be used    by detectives gathering evidence from crime scenes, experts have    forecast. The advent of ï¿½the internet of thingsï¿½ in which more devices    are connected together in a world of ï¿½smart workingï¿½ could in future    provide important clues for the police. Detectives are currently being    trained to look for gadgets and white goods which could provide a    ï¿½digital footprintï¿½ of victims or criminals. Mark Stokes, the head of    the digital, cyber and communications forensics unit at the Metropolitan    Police told The Times: ï¿½Wireless cameras within a device, such as    fridge, may record the movement of owners and suspects. ï¿½Doorbells that    connect directly to apps on a userï¿½s phone can show who has rung the    door and the owner or others may then remotely, if they choose, to give    controlled access to the premises while away from the property. ï¿½All    these leave a log and a trace of activity. The crime scene of tomorrow    is going to be the internet of things.ï¿½ The new Samsung Family Hub    Fridge has cameras that carry a live feed of its contents, so shoppers    can tell what they need when they are out at the shop. The dates and    times that people logon to the fridge, therefore could provide alibis or    prove people were not were they said they were. Mr. Stokes said    detectives of the future would carry a ï¿½digital forensics toolkitï¿½ which    would allow them to analyse microchips and download data at the scene,    rather than removing devices for testing. However the police could come    up against opposition from companies making the gadgets, who are    concerned about the privacy of their customers.
Health
Hidden Side Effects: Medical Studies Often Leave Out Adverse      Outcomes
Scientific American - Approximately half of studies published on      new medical treatments leave out at least some of the adverse      effects they uncovered, according to a recent analysis in PLOS      Medicine. A team of British researchers conducted the review      after coming across individual cases of missing side effects in      medical literature, which includes studies from pharmaceutical      companies, hospitals and academics. To determine how widespread      the problem was, they analyzed 28 journal articles that together      cross-checked the published data from more than 500 clinical      studies with their original data sets. The review's results      quantitatively confirm that some drugs may have side effects not      even doctors know aboutï¿½which means treatments may not be as      safe as they appear, says Yoon Loke, a physician and lecturer at      the University of East Anglia in England.... Starting this      month, U.S. investigators conducting clinical trials will have      to make all their findings publicly availableï¿½no matter what      outcome a study hasï¿½thanks to a new rule from the U.S.      Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. National      Institutes of Health. Meanwhile the Evidence-Based Medicine Data      Lab at the University of Oxford released a new online tool      called TrialsTracker that reveals exactly who is withholding      data.
At $125,000 Per Dose, Will This Be the Most Expensive Drug in      the World?
AllGov -The FDA has approved Spinraza, the first drug to treat      patients with spinal muscular atrophy, a disease that can kill      infants before they turn 2. Biogen, which is licensing it from      Ionis, said one dose will cost $125,000--equaling up to $750,000      to cover the the first year, and about $375,000 annually after      that. Patients presumably take it the rest of their lives. The      pricing could put it in the cross hairs of lawmakers and perhaps      discourage insurers from covering it.
Why You Should Take Your Apple Cider Vinegar at Night
Dr. Mercola - No doubt, youï¿½ve seen them ï¿½ lists touting the      amazing curative power of apple cider vinegar for an amazing      number of ills. ï¿½ACVï¿½ (as itï¿½s sometimes referred to in studies)      has been praised for its ability to balance you pH, increase      good gut bacteria and help control your weight, as well as many      other beneficial things. Hereï¿½s the kicker: All those are true,      and more besides. One of the most sensational is its ability to      balance your blood sugar. A study1 at Arizona State University      tested 11 volunteers with type 2 diabetes (diagnosed by a      doctor) who werenï¿½t taking insulin but continued taking their      prescription medications. Each participant took 2 tablespoons of      apple cider vinegar with a snack ï¿½ an ounce of cheese ï¿½ before      bedtime. The researchers demonstrated that in the morning, the      study subjects had lower blood sugar readings than when they had      the same snack with 2 tablespoons of water. This is important      and potentially life-changing news for half of the American      population, as NBC News reports that half the country suffers      from either high blood sugar or full-blown diabetesï¿½. Another      thing apple cider vinegar provides is detoxification of your      lymphatic system, which then helps optimize homeostatic function      in your body. This may be as a result of the antioxidants in ACV      reducing oxidative damage by free radicals, while improving both      your blood and organs.
The iodized salt scam. And why You SHOULD NOT Buy this Type of      Salt
Living Traditionally - During the past hundred years the      industry has made the unfortunate move towards increased      processing and fortification (albeit often with good intentions      such as decreasing Iodine deficiencies). However, heavy      processing during the production of conventional table salt,      strips out the other minerals aside from Sodium Chloride.      Natural salt contains 85.62% Sodium Chloride and 14.38% other      minerals (often; sulphate, magnesium, calcium, potassium,      bicarbonate, bromide, borate, strontium and fluoride). So, by      heavily processing the salt (in an effort to produce it in mass      quantities at low cost) 15% of the nutritional value from salt      is eliminated, some of these minerals are hard to replace in a      conventional diet. In addition to removing valuable minerals      from salt, the processing used to produce conventional table      salt includes introducing man made additives (US law allows for      2% additives in table salt). These are usually bleaching, drying      and anti-clumping agents. Also added is Iodine. However, the      levels of Iodine needed to overcome the Iodine deficiencies      mentioned above would require a unhealthy level of salt intake.      In addition, Iodine is present in sufficient quantities and form      in sea food, cabbage, brussels sprouts, kale and other fruits      and vegetables.
Monday - January    2, 2017
Today In History:
1788 - Georgia became the 4th state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
1882 - The Standard Oil Trust agreement was completed and dated. The    document transferred the stock and property of more than 40 companies    into the control of nine trustees lead by John D. Rockefeller. This was    the first example of what became known as a holding company.
1892 - Ellis Island opened as America's first federal immigration    center. Annie Moore, at age 15, became the first person to pass through.
1893 - The first commemorative postage stamps were issued.
1900 - U.S. Secretary of State John Hay announced the Open Door Policy    to prompt trade with China.
1935 - Bruno Richard Hauptmann went on trial for the kidnap-murder of    Charles Lindbergh's baby. Hauptmann was found guilt and executed.
1942 - The Philippine capital of Manila was captured by Japanese forces    during World War II.
1953 - "The Life of Riley" debuted on NBC-TV..
1960 - U.S. Sen. John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts announced his    candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination.
1968 - Fidel Castro announced petroleum and sugar rationing in Cuba.
1971 - In the U.S., a federally imposed ban on television cigarette    advertisements went into effect.
1974 - U.S. President Richard M. Nixon signed a bill requiring all    states to lower the maximum speed limit to 55 MPH. The law was intended    to conserve gasoline supplies during an embargo imposed by Arab    oil-producing countries. Federal speed limits were abolished in 1995.
1991 - Sharon Pratt Dixon was sworn in as mayor of Washington, DC. She    was the first black woman to head a city of that size and prominence.
2004 - NASA's Stardust space probe collected samples from the comet Wild    2. The samples returned to Earth on January 15, 2006.
2008 - The price of oil hit $100 per barrel for the first time.
World News
Gunman in New Year slayings at Istanbul club still at large
CNS News - Turkish police struggled Sunday to track down an      assailant who gunned down New Year's Eve revelers at a popular      Istanbul nightclub in an attack that killed at least 39 people,      most of them foreigners. The attacker, armed with a      long-barreled weapon, killed a policeman and a civilian outside      the popular Reina club at around 1:15 a.m. before entering and      firing on people partying inside.... Close to 70 others were      injured.... There was no immediate claim of responsibility for      what authorities immediately called a terrorist attack....      Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said the gunman, who has not      been identified, remains at large. [Prime Minister Binali]      Yildirim said the attacker left a gun at the venue and escaped      by "taking advantage of the chaos" that ensued.... The U.S.      Consulate General in Istanbul on Sunday warned American citizens      to keep their movements in the city "to an absolute      minimum.".... The U.S. Embassy in Ankara said in a statement      that "contrary to rumors circulating in social media, the U.S.      Government had no information about threats to specific      entertainment venues, including the Reina Club."
War in Syria: Ceasefire holds despite government air strikes
Sydney Morning Herald - Syrian government planes carried out air      strikes and low-level clashes persisted, but a ceasefire      brokered by Russia and Turkey has largely held on its third day,      a monitoring group and rebels say.... But opposition groups did      not follow through on threats made on Saturday to abandon the      truce altogether, raising hopes for an end to almost six years      of fighting. A military news outlet run by Lebanese group      Hezbollah, an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, said the      Syrian army had destroyed an armoured vehicle belonging to the      former Nusra Front in southern Aleppo province. The army has      said the group, previously al-Qaeda's Syria branch, is not      included in the ceasefire deal but rebels say it is. The latest      truce agreement is the first not to involve the United States or      the United Nations ï¿½ a reflection of Moscow's growing diplomatic      influence after a long campaign of Russian air strikes helped      Assad recapture the northern city of Aleppo last month. The      truce was endorsed by the United Nations on New Year's Eve.
U.S. Special Operations Numbers Surge in Africaï¿½s Shadow Wars
The Intercept - In 2006, just 1% of commandos sent overseas were      deployed in the U.S. Africa Command area of operations. In 2016,      17.26% of all U.S. Special Operations forces ï¿½ Navy SEALs and      Green Berets among them ï¿½ deployed abroad were sent to Africa,      according to data supplied to The Intercept by U.S. Special      Operations Command.... As recently as 2014, there were      reportedly only about 700 U.S. commandos deployed in Africa on      any given day. Today, according to [chief of U.S. Special      Operations Command Africa, Brigadier General Donald] Bolduc,      ï¿½there are approximately 1,700 [Special Operations forces] and      enablers deployedï¿½ at any given time. This team is active in 20      nations in support of seven major named operations.ï¿½ Using data      provided by Special Operations Command and open source      information, The Intercept found that U.S. special operators      were actually deployed in at least 33 African nations, more than      60% of the 54 countries on the continent, in 2016.... According      to data provided to The Intercept by Special Operations Command,      elite U.S. troops are also deployed to Sudan, one of three      nations, along with Iran and Syria, cited by the U.S. as ï¿½state      sponsors of terrorism.ï¿½
Putin: Russia 'will not expel anyone' in US diplomatic row
EuroNews - ...Moscow ï¿½will not expel anyoneï¿½ in response to      Washingtonï¿½s expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats over alleged      cyber hacking to interfere with the US election.... Following      the US move to kick out 35 Russian diplomats, [Russian Foreign      Minister Sergei] Lavrov said ï¿½we cannot leave such steps      unansweredï¿½. The foreign minister said he had asked President      Putin to declare 31 US embassy staff in Moscow ï¿½persona non      grataï¿½, as well as four consulate staff in St Petersburg. But      reports then quickly emerged quoting Vladimir Putin saying      no-one would be expelled in response to the US sanctions. The      president went further, inviting the children of American      diplomats to New Year parties at the Kremlin.... Writing after      Obamaï¿½s order on Thursday and before the Russian response, US      President-elect Donald Trump said ï¿½ without mentioning Russia      directly ï¿½ that it was ï¿½time for our country to move on to      bigger and better thingsï¿½, adding that he would meet with      intelligence leaders next week.
Russia Proposes Clear GMO Labeling for Eurasian Economic Union
Sustainable Pulse - Russia has officially proposed clear GMO      labeling on all food products that contain genetically modified      ingredients in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEC), starting in      2017. Russiaï¿½s Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer      Protection and Welfare (Rospotrebnadzor) announced last week      that it is inviting all EAEC countries to apply an additional      ï¿½GMOï¿½ icon on the packaging of food products that contain      modified organisms. The Rospotrebnadzor and the Eurasian      Economic Commission confirmed the proposed amendments to the      technical regulations on the labeling of food products in the      EAEC, despite objections from some European Union food      manufacturers, who claimed that the new GMO icon will cause      problems for international trade. According to the new      regulations the basic size of the GMO icon label must not be      less than 5 mmï¿½. The Russian Government has stood strong in the      face of increasing pressure from U.S. biotech companies and they      have also managed to see through the Russian pro-GMO forcesï¿½      misleading claims and pseudoscience.
Alexandrov choir sings 'God bless America' in tribute posted by      Russian Embassy in US (Video)
RT - Mourning the victims of Sundayï¿½s Tu-154 plane crash in      Russia, in which 92 people died, including 64 members of the      renowned Alexandrov Ensemble, the Russian Embassy in the US      posted on its official Twitter feed one particular song      performed by the artists. In the video, the choir and its      soloist Grigory Osipov, who was on board the fateful Tu-154      flight, sing the classic patriotic anthem ï¿½God Bless America.ï¿½      ï¿½. Written and revised in the first half of the 20th century by      the Russian-born American composer and lyricist, Irving Berlin,      the song was performed by the Russian choir at an international      music festival in Quebec, Canadaï¿½. The world-famous Alexandrov      Ensemble was en route to Syria to perform at the Latakia airbase      for Russian servicemen ahead of the New Yearï¿½s holiday      celebrations.
India money mess
Business Insider - [India Prime Minister] Modi's announcement      that 500 and 1,000 rupee bills ï¿½ making up 86% of India's      currency ï¿½ were no longer legal tender has posed an enormous      hardship for millions of people who use cash for everything from      salaries to cellphone charges. Almost immediately, serpentine      lines appeared at banks and ATMs as people waited hours to      deposit or exchange old currency notes for new bills.... Daily      commerce in essentials including food, medicine, and      transportation screeched almost to a halt. Worst affected were      the country's hundreds of millions of farmers, produce vendors,      small-shop owners and daily-wage laborers who usually are paid      in cash at the end of a day's work. Many lost their jobs as      small businesses shut down, compounding their poverty.... Real      estate, tourism, transportation, and gold and gems have been hit      the hardest, along with informal sectors that rely mostly on      cash. Prices are forecast to rise since the cash crunch is      pinching supplies of all sorts of goods. The country's banks,      however, are seeing banner business. The central bank said old      notes worth 13 trillion rupees ($191 billion) had been deposited      as of December 10, with many more expected by Friday's deadline.      That should improve bank liquidity and in turn encourage more      lending to boost economic growth.
Venezuela Military Trafficking Food as Country Goes Hungry
Epoch Times - With much of the oil country on the verge of      starvation and malnourished children dying in pediatric wards,      food trafficking has become big business in Venezuela. And the      military is at the heart of the graft, according to documents      and interviews with more than 60 officials, company owners and      workers, including five former generals.... ï¿½Lately, food is a      better business than drugs,ï¿½ said retired Gen. Cliver Alcala,      who helped oversee border security.... In large part due to      concerns of graft, the three largest global food traders, all      based in the U.S., have stopped selling directly to the      Venezuelan government.... Officials sometimes keep ships waiting      at sea until they are paid off, according to a stevedore who      spoke anonymously because he feared losing his job. After the      cargo is unloaded, customs officials take their cut, refusing to      even start the process of nationalizing goods without a payment,      four customs workers said.... The demands for bribes delay      shipments, and state officials sometimes neglect to distribute      what they import.... The corruption doesnï¿½t stop once cargo      leaves the port, according to truck drivers. The military has      set up checkpoints along highways to catch food traffickers, and      truck drivers say they have to pay bribes at about half of them.      At the end of the food chain, some soldiers partake in selling      food directly to citizens, according to business owners. Bakery      owner Jose Ferreira cuts two checks for each purchase of sugar:      one for the official price of 2 cents a pound and one for the      kickback of 60 cents a pound. He keeps copies of both checks in      his books, seen by the AP, in case he is ever audited.
U.S. News, Politics & Government
Obama Quietly Signs The "Countering Disinformation And      Propaganda Act" Into Law
Zero Hedge - ï¿½ while the passage of the NDAA - and the funding      of the US military - was hardly a surprise, the biggest news is      what was buried deep inside the provisions of the Defense      Authorization Actï¿½. Long before the "fake news" meme became a      daily topic of extensive conversation on such discredited      mainstream portals as CNN and WaPo, H.R. 5181 would task the      Secretary of State with coordinating the Secretary of Defense,      the Director of National Intelligence, and the Broadcasting      Board of Governors to ï¿½establish a Center for Information      Analysis and Response,ï¿½ which will pinpoint sources of      disinformation, analyze data, and ï¿½ ï¿½develop and disseminateï¿½      ï¿½fact-based narrativesï¿½ to counter effrontery propaganda. In      short, long before "fake news" became a major media topic, the      US government was already planning its legally-backed crackdown      on anything it would eventually label "fake news.ï¿½Fast forward      to December 8, when the "Countering Disinformation and      Propaganda Act" passed in the Senate, quietly inserted inside      the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Conference      Report. And now, following Fridayï¿½s Obama signing of the NDAA on      Friday evening, the Countering Disinformation and Propaganda Act      is now lawï¿½. And so, with the likes of WaPo having already      primed the general public to equate ï¿½Russian Propagandaï¿½ with      ï¿½fake news"..., while the US media has indoctrinated the public      to assume that any information which is not in compliance with      the official government narrative, or dares to criticize the      establishment, is also "fake news" and thus falls under the "Russian propaganda" umbrella, the scene is now set for the US      government to legally crack down on every media outlet that the      government deems to be ï¿½foreign propaganda." Just like that, the      US Ministry of Truth is officially born.
Clinton Foundation CEO Declared 'Missing' By the Internet After      Going Public Saying 'Follow the Money'
The Free Thought Project - Twitter users have started the      hashtag #WheresEric in reference to Eric Braverman, the former      CEO of the Clinton Foundation, because some think he has been a      possible missing person since before the November 2016 U.S.      election. Bravermanï¿½s last public activity, accessible via the      internet, was an October 12 retweet. A common understanding of      the events surrounding Bravermanï¿½s possible disappearance      centers around his abrupt resignation from the Clinton      Foundation in January 2015, which many thought was caused by his      discovery of internal corruption at the non-profit organization.      Braverman named was CEO in July 2013 during the immediate      aftermath of Hillary Clintonï¿½s tenure as Secretary of State      which ended February 2013.... Hillary Clintonï¿½s campaign      chairman John Podesta thought Eric Braverman was the source of      information leaks to the media, according to a leaked email sent      March 8, 2015, which was published on October 22 of this year by WikiLeaks. This email was one week after a March 1 POLITICO      article which detailed his struggle against the tenured Clinton      staff, titled ï¿½Eric Braverman Tried to Change the Clinton      Foundation. Then He Quit.ï¿½ The article was described as ï¿½Not a      pretty readï¿½ and forwarded to Podesta less than 24 hours after      it was published. While these events occurred in 2015, many      believe that the ongoing FBI investigation of the Clinton      Foundation may be a factor in Eric Bravermanï¿½s lack of public      activity.
Washington Post Caught Spreading More Fake News About "Russian      Hackers"
Zero Hedge - The opening paragraph of WaPo's story directly      linked the "hack" of the Vermont utility to the same "Russian      hacking operation dubbed Grizzly Steppe" that the Obama      administration has blamed for the DNC and John Podesta email      hacks. Vermont's Governor, Peter Shumlin, told WaPo that "Americans should be both alarmed and outraged" by these actions      perpetrated by "one of the worldï¿½s leading thugs, Vladimir      Putin," before seemingly calling for further retaliatory actions      from the Obama administration. Moreover, Vermont Senator Patrick      Leahy took the rhetoric to a whole new level by asserting a      diabolical Russian plot to shut down the U.S. electrical grid in      the middle of winter... Of course, it didn't take long for the      New York Times and ABC to latch on to the story since it fits      their "2016 election hacking" narrative so perfectly. Alas,      there was just one minor problem, namely that the entire article      was completely fabricated. Apparently the esteemed "journalists" of the Washington Post didn't even bother to contact the      Burlington Electric Department to confirm their bogus      story...and why should they...it fit the "Russian hacking" narrative so perfectly therefore it must be true, right? Well,      apparently not. The quick spread of WaPo's "fake news" story      forced the Burlington Electric Department to issue a clarifying      statement assuring worried residents that, indeed, their      electricity grid had not been hacked, but rather a single "laptop not connected" to the grid had been found to have a      malware virus.
Trump Hints At "Russian Hacking" Revelations In Coming Days: "I      Know Things Other People Don't"
Zero Hedge - During a brief, informal exchange with reporters on      New Year's Eve at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Donald      Trump questioned the official version of the "Russians hacking      the election", saying it was possible "somebody else" compromised the Democratic campaignï¿½s servers, adding that he      will reveal some previously undisclosed facts in the coming days      by hinting that "I also know things that other people donï¿½t      know, we they cannot be sure of the situation." Asked what that      information included, the Republican President-elect said, "You      will find out on Tuesday or Wednesday." .... Trump also      reiterated his belief that others might be responsible for the      cyberattacks: ï¿½I know a lot about hacking. And hacking is a very      hard thing to prove. So it could be somebody else. And I also      know things that other people donï¿½t know, and so they cannot be      sure of the situation.ï¿½ ï¿½I think itï¿½s unfair if we donï¿½t know.      It could be somebody else,ï¿½ Reuters cited Trump as telling the      media.... The President-elect said he wanted to press U.S.      intelligence agencies to make sure they are correct in asserting      that Russia was behind a cyberattack aimed at disrupting the      2016 presidential race, asserting that the US intelligence      community has been wrong before. He made reference to a      government assessment before the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003      that the countryï¿½s former leader, Saddam Hussein, possessed      weapons of mass destruction. ï¿½And if you look at the weapons of      mass destruction, that was a disaster and they were wrong,ï¿½ Mr.      Trump said, according to the press pool report. ï¿½And so I want      them to be sure. I think itï¿½s unfair if they donï¿½t know.ï¿½
Video: Media Freaked Out By Trump Using Twitter to Have a Direct      Conversation With Americans
Breitbart - Sunday on ABCï¿½s ï¿½This Week,ï¿½ while defending      President-elect Donald Trumpï¿½s use of Twitter, the incoming      White House press secretary Sean Spicer said,ï¿½I think it freaks      the mainstream media out that he has this following of over      45-plus million people that follow him on social media, that he      can have a direct conversation. He doesnï¿½t have to have it      funneled through the media.ï¿½
Obama seizes Bundy Ranch area in massive last minute land grab
IntelliHub - Startlingly, the area in Nevada includes the site      of the infamous Bundy Ranch standoff as well as land very close      to the Bundy Ranch itself. With this move Obama has possibly      triggered another armed standoff while also heading off any      moves set to be made by incoming president Donald Trumpï¿½. A      ï¿½fact sheetï¿½ put out by the White House reads:[in part] "Located      in Clark County, Nevada just northeast of the outskirts of Las      Vegas, the Gold Butte National Monument spans nearly 300,000      acres and will protect significant cultural resources, important      geological formations, and vital plant and wildlife habitat.ï¿½ï¿½.      Right now it is extremely difficult to confirm exactly how much      of the land in and around the Bundy Ranch is now a national      monument but a map put out by the Las Vegas Review seems to line      up directly with the Bundy grazing allotment. Vocativ is      reporting that multiple individuals involved with the original      Bundy standoff have already made it clear that they plan to      stand up to this latest federal tyrannyï¿½. One has to wonder what      exactly are the reasons for this new land grab by President      Obama in the last days of his presidency. Itï¿½s extremely hard to      imagine that it is not at least partially connected to the      Bundyï¿½s and the standoffs in both Nevada and Oregon. More      importantly, this area may actually include land that has      documented precious metals throughout it as detailed in the      video report below.
The City Told Her To REMOVE Her God Bless America Sign, What She      Did Next Is Amazing! (Video)
Q Political - [6 months ago] 5 Mile Cafe in Penfield, New York      is a family-owned restaurant known not only for serving      breakfast any time of the day, but also their patriotism. The      establishment is covered in American flags and patriotic decor      365 days a year, making it a truly inspiring sight to see. When      owner Jennifer Aquino was forced to take down her ï¿½God Bless      Americaï¿½ banner, she responded in the best way ever. Hereï¿½s what      happenedï¿½ Jennifer requested a town permit so she could display      a ï¿½God Bless Americaï¿½ banner on the front of her restaurant. A      proud patriot, Jennifer was hoping to hang the banner from      Memorial Day through Independence Day. However, there was just      one HUGE problem. The town of Penfield has a strict banner      allotment policy that prohibits businesses from displaying      banners for more than a total of three weeks out of the year ï¿½      and Jennifer had already used up her allotment, so her request      was declinedï¿½. Jennifer refused to feel defeated, so she decided      to post the ï¿½God Bless Americaï¿½ banner inside of the restaurant      instead of the outside. Shortly after Jenniferï¿½s courageous act      of patriotism, she received an email from the town telling her      to remove the banner with threats to face a possible fine for      violating the ordinance. What Jennifer did next restored my hope      for America ï¿½ this really blew my mind. ï¿½I didnï¿½t take it down      and I was willing to pay the fine,ï¿½ Jennifer said. Despite the      town boardï¿½s disapproval, many locals seem to agree with      Jenniferï¿½s sentiment. However, Jennifer revealed she never      imagined there would be a day like this in America ï¿½ where you      can be punished for simply being patriotic.
Houston Homeless 2016 (Photos)
Rolling Thunder Texas Chapter 2 would like to thank all The      Power Hour Team Members for EVERYTHING they did to help make      this possible....!!!
Economy & Business
Trump says Sprint will bring 5,000 jobs back to the US; OneWeb      will create 3,000 jobs
CNBC News - President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday took      credit for Sprint's decision to keep 5,000 jobs in the United      States, as well as OneWeb's plan to add 3,000 jobs in the U.S.      President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday took credit for      Sprint's decision to keep 5,000 jobs in the United States, as      well as OneWeb's plan to add 3,000 jobs in the U.S. While Trump      made a point to announce the Sprint job creation, those      positions are part of the previously-announced deal with      SoftBank, a Sprint spokesman told NBC News.
Virginia Bill Would Take a Step Towards Supporting Sound Money
Tenth Amendment Center - A Virginia bill prefiled for the 2017      session would remove sales taxes from some purchases of gold and      silver, a first step towards encouraging its regular use as      currency and breaking the Federal Reserveï¿½s monopoly on money.      Sen. Frank Wagner (R-Virginia Beach) prefiled Senate Bill 934      (SB934) this week. The legislation would exempt some bullion or      currency purchases from state sales tax. The official bill      summary reads, in part: Exempts legal tender coins whose total      transaction sales price exceeds $1,000 from sales and use tax.      Under the proposed legislation, the exemption would remain in      place until June 30, 2022. Imagine if you asked a grocery clerk      to exchange $1000 in cash for smaller bills and he charged you a      $53 tax. Silly, right? After all, you were only exchanging one      form of money for another. But thatï¿½s essentially what      Virginiaï¿½s sales tax on gold and silver does. By removing the      sales tax on some exchanges of gold and silver, Virginia would      move towards treating specie as money instead of a commodity.      This represents a small step toward reestablishing gold and      silver as legal tender and breaking down the Fedï¿½s monopoly on      money.
Energy & Environment
EPA hid planned radiation exposure 1,000s of times Safe Drinking Water    Act limits
Blacklisted News - In the last days of the Obama Administration, the    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is about to dramatically increase    allowable public exposure to radioactivity to levels thousands of times    above the maximum limits of the Safe Drinking Water Act, according to    documents the agency surrendered in a federal lawsuit brought by Public    Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). These radical    rollbacks cover the ï¿½intermediate periodï¿½ following a radiation release    and could last for up to several years. This plan is in its final stage    of approval. The documents indicate that the planï¿½s rationale is rooted    in public relations, not public health. Following Japanï¿½s Fukushima    meltdown in 2011, EPAï¿½s claims that no radioactivity could reach the    U.S. at levels of concern were contradicted by its own rainwater    measurements showing contamination from Fukushima throughout the U.S.    well above Safe Drinking Water Act limits. In reaction, EPA prepared new    limits 1000s of times higher than even the Fukushima rainwater because    ï¿½EPA experienced major difficulties conveying to the public that the    detected levelsï¿½were not of immediate concern for public health.ï¿½
Attorneys General of 15 States Plan Court Action if Trump Scraps Clean    Power Plan
AllGov - Unveiled in August 2015, the plan envisioned a 32 percent    reduction of carbon-dioxide emissions from power plants across the    nation by 2030, relative to 2005 levelsï¿½. When the Environmental    Protection Agency published its guidelines months later, West Virginia    and Texas led roughly two dozen states in a lawsuit that went up to the    U.S. Supreme Court, which temporarily blocked Obamaï¿½s plan until the    courts had resolved itï¿½. But New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman,    together with 14 other states and four localities, promised litigation    should Trump choose that pathï¿½. Other attorneys general signing the Dec.    28 letter represent California, New Mexico, Oregon, Hawaii, Rhode    Island, Illinois, Vermont, Iowa, Virginia, Maine, Maryland,    Massachusetts, Washington and the District of Columbia. City attorneys    and mayors of Boulder, Colo., New York City, South Miami and Broward    County, Fla., also signed onï¿½. Despite promising to keep an ï¿½open mindï¿½    on climate change, Trump has long attacked rising global temperatures as    a hoax, and he has appointed fossil fuel executives and environmental    opponents to top cabinet posts.
EPA To Alaskans In Sub-Zero Temps: Stop Burning Wood To Keep Warm
The Federalist - Smoke from wood-burning stoves increases small-particle    pollution, which settles in low-lying areas and can be breathed in. The    EPA thinks this is a big problem. Eight years ago, the agency ruled that    wide swaths of the most densely populated parts of the region were in    ï¿½non-attainmentï¿½ of federal air quality standards. That prompted state    and local authorities to look for ways to cut down on pollution from    wood-burning stoves, including the possibility of fining residents who    burn wood. After all, a declaration of noncompliance from the EPA would    have enormous economic implications for the region, like the loss of    federal transportation funding. The problem is, thereï¿½s no replacement    for wood-burning stoves in Alaskaï¿½s interior. Heating oil is too    expensive for a lot of people, and natural gas isnï¿½t available. So    theyï¿½ve got to burn something. The average low temperature in Fairbanks    in December is 13 degrees below zero. In January, itï¿½s 17 below. During    the coldest days of winter, the high temperature averages -2 degrees,    and it can get as cold as -60. This is not a place where you play games    with the cold. If you donï¿½t keep the fire lit, you die. For people of    modest means, and especially for the poor, that means you burn wood in a    stoveï¿½and you keep that fire lit around the clock.
Swarm of earthquakes hit California on New Yearï¿½s Eve
RT - Brawley, California residents had a shaky end to 2016, though not    on account of any over-exuberant festive celebrations but instead a    swarm of earthquakes of between 1.1 and 3.9 in magnitude striking off    the coast. The quakes stretched from San Francisco to Las Vegas and    along the border with Mexico. The first quake, with a magnitude of 1.1,    struck at 3.30am local time on December 31 in the Californian town of    Brawley, with over 100 aftershocks reported afterwards throughout the    early morning hours. The area was struck by a magnitude 5.4 earthquake    in 2012, although the strongest quake of this latest swarm was recorded    as magnitude 3.9. Scientists have said a stronger quake is still a    possibility in the coming days, however, according to KABC. No injuries    or serious damage has been reported at this stage. The swarm comes only    days after another series of 200 tremors rattled the California Nevada    border on Wednesday, which followed an earthquake measuring 5.7 early in    the morning, reported the LA Times.
Science & Technology
Anonymous Just Hacked Bilderberg & Issued Ominous Threat --      'Work for Humanity' Or Lose It All
The Free Thought Project - Since the mainstream media refuses to      shed light on this secretive and power-hungry group, an      anonymous hacking group appears to have taken action. The      bilderbergmeetings.org website has been taken down by hackers      and the group has been issued a warning that they need to work      for the benefit of humanity - or their assets will be hacked      next. ï¿½Dear Bilderberg members, from now on, each one of you      have 1 year (365 days) to truly work in favor of humans and not      your private interests,ï¿½ the hackers, who identified themselves      as the ï¿½HackBack movement and Anonymous,ï¿½ said in a message      posted at bilderbergmeetings.org. ï¿½Otherwise, we will find you      and we will hack you,ï¿½ they threatened the ï¿½Wealthy Elitico-Political      1 percent.ï¿½ ï¿½Mind the current situation: We control your      expensive connected cars, we control your connected house      security devices, we control your daughterï¿½s laptop, we control      your wifeï¿½s mobile. We tape your secret meetings, we read your      emails, we control your favorite escort girlï¿½s smartwatch, we      are inside your beloved banks and we are reading your assets.      You wonï¿½t be safe anywhere near electricity anymore,ï¿½ the      hackers said.
iPhone manufacturer Foxconn plans to replace almost every human      worker with robots
The Verge - The first phase of Foxconnï¿½s automation plans      involve replacing the work that is either dangerous or involves      repetitious labor humans are unwilling to do. The second phase      involves improving efficiency by streamlining production lines      to reduce the number of excess robots in use. The third and      final phase involves automating entire factories, ï¿½with only a      minimal number of workers assigned for production, logistics,      testing, and inspection processes,ï¿½ according to [general      manager of Foxconnï¿½s automation committee, Dai] Jia-peng....      There is, however, a central side effect to automation that      would specifically benefit a company like Foxconn. The      manufacturer has been plagued by its sometimes abysmal worker      conditions and a high rate of employee suicide. So much so in      fact that Foxconn had to install suicide netting at factories      throughout China and take measures to protect itself against      employee litigation. By replacing humans with robots, Foxconn      would relieve itself of any issues stemming from its treatment      of workers without having to actually improve living and working      conditions or increase wages.
Health
Drug Companies Flooded W.V. with more than 780 Million Pain      Pills
Natural Society - The United States is embroiled in a fierce      battle against opioid abuse. In 2014, there was a 3.4-fold      increase in the number of opioid overdose deaths in America. The      state hit hardest by the opioid crisis is West Virginia, where      drug companies pumped 782 million pain pills into the state over      the last 6 years. In 2015, West Virginia had the highest rate of      opioid overdose deaths in the country. Since 1999, overdose      deaths have quadrupled in the state. The Charleston Gazette-Mail      obtained previously confidential drug shipping sales records      sent by the DEA to West Virginia Attorney General Patrick      Morriseyï¿½s office. The paper used the records to disclose the      number of pain pills sold to every pharmacy in the state, as      well as the drug companiesï¿½ shipments to all 55 counties in West      Virginia between 2007 and 2012. Their findings, both astounding      and infuriating, were documented in a report published in the      paper on December 17. One drug company shipped nearly 9 million      hydrocodone pills to a single pharmacy in Mingo County over the      course of 2 years. The rural, impoverished county has the      4th-highest prescription opioid death rate of any county in the      U.S. In Wyoming County, which has the highest overdose rate in      the entire nation, shipments of OxyContin doubled. One      privately-owned pharmacy in the town of Oceana received 600      times as many oxycodone pills as the Rite Aid pharmacy only 8      blocks away. In total, from 2007 to 2012, drug companies shipped      224,260,980 oxycodone pills to West Virginia. Wholesalers      flooded the state with 555,808,292 hydrocodone pills during the      same time period. That comes to about 433 pain pills for every      man, woman, and child in West Virginiaï¿½. The majority of the      painkillers came from the nationï¿½s 3 largest prescription drug      wholesalers: McKesson Corp., Cardinal Health, and AmeriSource      Bergen Drug Co.
13-Year-Old Boy Permanently Disabled From Chicken Pox Vaccine      Wins His Case in Vaccine Court
Natural Blaze - A young man was recently awarded compensation in      the United States Court of Federal Claims Vaccine Court, for      injuries he sustained after being administered the hepatitis A      and varicella vaccinations in 2009. After five long years of      litigation, Health and Human Services (HHS), the Respondent in      all vaccine injury cases, conceded xthat the varicella      vaccination did in fact cause RDï¿½s vaccine injury, transverse      myelitis, which has left him a tetraplegic. In November 2014,      HHS conceded that the vaccination caused RDï¿½s injuries. Even      with this concession, his case continued for another year in the      damages phase, during which time the parties continued to      negotiate the amount of damages that RD would receive for his      injuries [The maximum amount a family is entitled to for pain      and suffering is $250,000.]ï¿½. RD was only 13 when his life      changed forever. At a routine well-child visit in 2009, the      doctor informed RDï¿½s parents that he was due to receive the      hepatitis A and varicella vaccinations. His parents complied      with the doctorï¿½s order and RD received the vaccinations. RD was      only 13 when his life changed forever. At a routine well-child      visit in 2009, the doctor informed RDï¿½s parents that he was due      to receive the hepatitis A and varicella vaccinations. His      parents complied with the doctorï¿½s order and RD received the      vaccinations. About 14 days later, RD began to experience      excruciating pain shooting through his body along with tingling,      numbness and paralysis of his limbs. After extensive testing and      many invasive procedures, RD was diagnosed with transverse      myelitis.
Can Milk Thistle Help Heal Breast Cancer?
Natural News Blogs - Milk Thistle has been studied for years for      its anti-tumor effects on several types of cancer, especially      prostate, lung and liver. Milk Thistle has been studied for      years for its anti-tumor effects on several types of cancer,      especially prostate, lung and liver. This year (2016), however,      was the year for this bristly-looking herb to prove its      effectiveness on breast cancer. In 2016 alone, there were 9      separate studies which verified Milk Thistleï¿½s activity against      many forms of breast cancer, including ER positive and Triple      Negative. Silibinin is the active constituent in the flavonoid      called silymarin and the main reason why Milk Thistle is such a      healing herb. Silibinin has proven in scientific studies to      prohibit cancer cells from reproducing while also reducing the      life cycle of existing cancer cellsï¿½. What also makes Milk      Thistle so effective against breast cancer and other cancers of      the reproductive system, such as cervical and prostate, is its      detoxifying effect against xenoestrogens. The daily lives of      most individuals are filled with exposure to toxic chemicals in      food, the air, the water and home products. Some of these toxins      convert into ï¿½fake estrogensï¿½ in the body, which can build up      and overpower the system, leading to cancers of the reproductive      system. Milk Thistle has the ability to metabolize excessive      amounts of aggressive estrogens such as estradiol (which      xenoestrogens tend to mimic)ï¿½. Milk Thistle helps take the      burden off an over-taxed liver. One study found that workers      exposed to toxic chemicals for up to 20 years were able to      improve their overall liver function after being given Milk      Thistle extract (80 % silibinin) for just one monthï¿½. The      standard for a reputable source of Milk Thistle is between 70 to      80% silymarin. Be sure to investigate the source of your Milk      Thistle supplement to avoid toxic fillers and verify that the      herb comes from an organic source.
Pet News
Court Rules Police Can Legally Execute Your Dog if It Does Anything But    Sit Silently
Activist Post - The incident occurred on April 17th, 2013, when police    were attempting to execute a search warrant on the home where the Browns    were living because a police informant reported another man, Vincent    Jones, was distributing heroin, cocaine, and marijuana from the    residence. Jones was apprehended before police arrived on the sceneï¿½.    The Browns dispute the claims by police that the dogs were barking.    Officer Klein said the larger dog was barking and ï¿½lungedï¿½ at him, but    later admitted the pet ï¿½had only moved a few inches.ï¿½ Despite there    being no attack, Klein fired a round at the dog. Both dogs ran away from    the officers to the basement, obviously fleeing in fearï¿½. There, the two    dogs were shot and killed by the officers who felt that they could not    properly clear the room and effectively execute the search warrant on    the home, explaining they ï¿½did not feel [the officers] could safely    clear the basement with those dogs down there.ï¿½ï¿½. Going further, the    officers stated the ï¿½basement was loaded. Youï¿½ve gotta look under beds,    youï¿½ve gotta do everything, and [the dogs] basically prevented us from    doing that, and they were protecting that basement.ï¿½ Klein testified the    smaller pit bull was ï¿½just standing thereï¿½ when it was shot and killed.    In spite of these sadistic admissions, the appellate court ruled in    favor of the officers, the police department, and the other defendants.    They agreed with the lower court ruling that the police officers were    covered under ï¿½doctrine of qualified immunityï¿½ and were therefore not    liable for compensating the plaintiffs in the case.The precedent has now    been set.
Check For This Ingredient Before Feeding Your Dog Peanut Butter -- It    Could Kill Them
ViralNova - Peanut butter is the perfect food to fill a bone with to    keep your furry friend entertained during the day while you're at work    or to keep them from jumping all over your guests. Your dog might not    ever stop loving peanut butter, but some companies are using a new    ingredient that could be deadly. Here's what you need to know to keep    your pup safe. Some peanut butter companies are now using a sugar    substitute called xylitol. Xylitol is about 100 times more toxic for    dogs than chocolate. It can cause seizures, hypoglycemia, and even    death. The best way to protect your pet is to make sure you're using    all-natural peanut butter. Peanut butter brands that use xylitol include    Go Nuts, Co., Krush Nutrition, Nuts 'N More, and P28 Foods. It's always    best to check the list of ingredients just to be sure the brand you buy    won't hurt your best friend.