The second-highest official at the DOJ, Todd Blanche rose to prominence as Trump's personal defense attorney. His actions violated the federal conflicts of interest law and his ethics agreement, experts told ProPublica. read more
This weekend conservatives across the coalition descended upon Phoenix, Arizona to pay tribute to the late activist at Turning Point USA's (TPUSA) marquee event, one of them being the second-in-command. read more
Carr used to insist on FCC independence. Now he uses FCC to fight Trump's battles. read more
San Francisco was affected by a massive power outage over the weekend. It started with a fire at a substation in the city on Saturday afternoon, causing a blackout that at times affected as much as a third of the city, leaving more than 130,000 homes without power. Among the city's affected critical systems were the traffic lights, which paralyzed Waymo's fleet of robotaxis, stopping them in their tracks and clogging traffic.
The U.S. has been conducting intelligence-gathering flights over large parts of Nigeria since late November, according to flight tracking data and current and former U.S. officials, in a sign of increased security cooperation between the countries. Reuters could not determine what information the flights are meant to obtain.
Jeffrey Epstein apparently wrote letter to Larry Nassar referencing Trump
www.theguardian.com
... A disturbing letter that appears to have been written by Jeffrey Epstein and sent to Larry Nassar, the US Olympics gymnastics team doctor convicted of sexual abuse, is included the latest batch of Epstein-related documents released by the US government.
"As you will know by now, I have taken the short route' home," the letter, which appears to have been signed from Epstein to Nasser, reads. "Good luck! We shared one thing ... our love & caring for young ladies and the hope they reach their full potential."
The letter continues: "Our president also shares our love of young, nubile girls.
When a young beauty walked by he loved to grab snatch', whereas we ended up snatching grub in the mess halls of the system." ...
@#7 ... You tell me. Is there even such a thing? ...
From what I've heard, there do exist such American-made vehicles (GMC, Ford and such) but they were quoted to be so much more expensive than the BMW X5 sports cars that Dir Patel wanted.
That raises some questions ...
For starters, is Dir Patel blatantly saying that US car manufacturers are unable to provide a competitive vehicle to the one supplied by a German manufacturer?
And, perhaps as a follow-up question, I might ask ... WTF does Dir Patel need a vehicle like this for?
There's this ...
Kash Patel Purchases New Fleet of Luxury Armored BMWs to Be 'Less Conspicuous' During Outings
people.com
... FBI Director Kash Patel is flouting tradition by traveling in a luxury car instead of the department's standard-issue SUVs.
MS NOW reported on Monday, Dec. 22, that Patel, 45, pressured the FBI to purchase him a special, armored BMW X5, with sources saying he felt it made him "less conspicuous on his outings."
While the State Department contracts similar vehicles to transport foreign dignitaries in high-risk environments around the world, FBI personnel have traditionally been driven in a Chevrolet Suburban.
FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson confirmed the purchase of the X5s for Patel's use, saying, "Government agencies, including the FBI, routinely evaluate, replace and update vehicle fleets based on usage, security needs or budgetary decisions. The specific decisions referenced in this article were evaluated partly as a way to save taxpayers millions by picking cheaper selections or making cost structures more efficient."
The FBI did not, however, provide documents showing the cost of the new vehicle, prove that it was more cost-effective than using the pre-existing fleet of Suburbans, or explain why a new vehicle was needed. Public information about a fully-armored X5 isn't available online; however, Car and Driver noted that a similarly outfitted Cadillac Escalade went for $350,000 in 2019. ...
So I ask once again ...
Why?
@#2 ... From an investor perspective, not prosecuting crypto fraudsters has the effect of taking the bloom off of crypto. ...
I do not agree with that opinion at this point.
Not prosecuting crypto fraudsters would make crypto more valuable because of how it might be used.
Binance Still Processed $144 Million in Suspicious Crypto Payments After Plea Deal: Report
gizmodo.com
... The crypto exchange has been under scrutiny for its links to terrorist group payments. ...
A song that I can feel with (understatement ...)
Cascades - Rhythm of the Rain (1963)
www.youtube.com
Lyrics excerpt ...
...
A one hit wonder (1963) that kept the band and the songwriter's (John Claude Gummoe) well known 50+ more years.
Per Gummoe "
the lyrics began while I was serving in the U.S. Navy aboard the U.S.S. Jason AR8. I was standing a mid watch on the bridge while we were underway to Japan. We were sailing up in the north pacific and it was raining heavily and the seas were tossing.
[Verse 1]
Listen to the rhythm of the falling rain
Telling me just what a fool I've been
I wish that it would go and let me cry in vain
And let me be alone again
[Verse 2]
The only girl I care about has gone away
Looking for a brand-new start
But little does she know that when she left that day
Along with her, she took my heart
[Chorus]
Rain, please tell me now does that seem fair
For her to steal my heart away when she don't care?
I can't love another when my heart's somewhere far away
she took my heart
...
@#50 ... Lewzer tried to ban a book and now everyone wants to read it. That's what usually happens. ...
Really?
I found this ...
Between 2021 and 2022, more than 1,600 titles were removed from U.S. schools and libraries at the behest of parents, advocacy groups, elected officials, etc. The paradox? Banning these titles often dramatically increased readership interest in the circulation of banned books.
business.gmu.edu
... What began as banning a book over specific themes -- race, gender, or sexuality -- has turned into a widespread and successful unintended promotional tool for lesser-known authors and politicians.
In a forthcoming paper for Marketing Science, Sabari Rajan Karmegam, assistant professor of information systems and operations management at the Costello College of Business, found a 12% rise in circulation for the top 25 most-banned books. ...
Michael Stanley - Midwest Midnight (Live) (1977)
www.youtube.com
Lyrics excerpt ...
genius.com
...
With thirteen lovers I hid beneath the covers
Got staples in my hands for my time
With the radio low so the folks don't know
I proceed with my passion of crime...
And though somewhat obtuse, I've been told this abuse
Will more than likely make me go blind
But with a heart that's aching, it's a risk worth taking
'cause true love, they say, is so hard to find...
Why can't she see what she's doing to me
If that bandstand girl only was here
And I'm living the dream, getting lost on the screen
Doing Presley in front of the mirror...
Hanging around, getting high on the sounds
Of the ladies and electric guitars
Cross a double yellow line to who knows where
With six sets of glory a night in some bar
...
MSB is obscure. Rightfully so?
Even the area FM station that plays obscure songs has not yet played this tune.
Yet, back in the day, the area college FM stations were playing this tune.
Interesting.
Another view ...
Trump announces new Trump-class battleship' as part of Golden Fleet'
breakingdefense.com
... The new vessel, coming in around 30,000 tons, will be capable of carrying surface-launched nuclear missiles, creating what Navy Secretary John Phelan called a new nuclear deterrent.
President Donald Trump today announced the Navy would pursue a new class of "battleships" as part of the White House's "Golden Fleet" concept.
"They'll be the fastest, the biggest and by far, 100 times more powerful than any battleship ever built," Trump said at his Mar-A-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla. "Battleships are the largest, sturdiest and most heavily armed vessel built specifically for naval combat. While America has built many new warships over the years, they've tended to be smaller, much smaller, and not conducive to where we are and where we're going " peace through strength."
Trump, flanked by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Navy Secretary John Phelan and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also said the Navy would aim to quickly start building two battleships, but that the class could ultimately have between 20 and 25 ships. Photos on display on each side of Trump suggested at least one of the "Trump class" ships would be named "USS Defiant."
The new "battleship" is planned to be around 30,000-40,000 tons -- considerably larger than the Navy's current fleet of destroyers -- and capable of using a variety of future weapons, such as electromagnetic railguns and hypersonic munitions. Trump said the new ships would also carry nuclear-armed sea-launched missiles, creating what Navy Secretary John Phelan amounted to a new nuclear deterrent. ...
Another view ...
Robust consumer spending boosts US third-quarter economic growth
www.reuters.com