Russian trolls are back in the news. Not because of any new election meddling, but because of a new Senate report based on a research team led by the New Knowledge cybersecurity firm.
Ho, ho, ho. Time for my annual ek'smas visit where I find out who's been naughty or nice.
Sometime around December 23rd, but canonically any time between December and May, we celebrate Festivus.
Symbolically represented by the Festivus Pole (seen at right) an unadorned aluminum pole between 3' to 6' high stuck in some drab and out of the way corner. It can be used as a weapon and frequently is. Traditionally it is stark and entirely unadorned and the stand crudely fashioned. Under no circumstances should any 'presents' be placed near it unless they're of the sort a too long ignored pet would leave.
There are several rituals that accompany the celebration of Festivus.
I think I'll spare you the feats of strength, though if you think I'm dead you can poke me with a stick and see.
Several days ago the c99p Monkey Team was assembled (see photo below), with apologies, please ignore that the Team are actually apes, but that is another tail, err tailess, err tale. With an important commission in mind, the Team and myself were locked in a undisclosed location for three days, a store of libation including a 50 gallon drum of coffee for the Team leader and several drums of banana smoothies for the coalition of the willing, willing that is, as long as the smoothies flowed freely.
In his Dec. 18 column at venezuelanalysis.com, Nino Pagliccia asks: ‘Have the Russian Military Aircrafts in Venezuela Breached the Door to “America’s Backyard”?’
Today, I would like to look at the Middle East Melee and Israel's undue influence on US policy. This week I had two trucks get stuck in the mud on my place and I think it is a good analogy for our situation. Then I want to end on a more upbeat note of recognizing and making use of our gifts. My partner of 40 years was a teacher of the gifted. Our teaching careers both confirmed everyone is gifted. The trick is in recognizing and using those gifts.
Nate Silver is a loyal establishment Dem, BUT he can also do simple math.
What set off Silver was articles like this:
Russians launched pro-Jill Stein social media blitz to help Trump win election, reports say
It's no wonder folks got a "kick" out of this. It won first prize by a landslide. #TrumpResign pic.twitter.com/Uydw8gKZ4j
— Dave Smith (@Dave_catch22) December 21, 2018
Third installment of the Winter Holiday version of Something Old, Something New!
From the Guardian, Dec. 21: ‘Trump portrait: you couldn’t create a creepier Yuletide scene if you tried’; The formal smartness of the US president and the first lady adds to the emotional numbness of the scene
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/21/trump-portrait-you-could...
