My favorite chocolate bar is the red colored wrapper for the Nestle chocolate bar, which is not sold in Alaska. We get the Nestle Crunch, but that's not the same. So, if you see any of these bars, grab me some and I'll reimburse you. "I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a Nestle chocolate bar today." Okay, you have to be old and a Popeye the Sailor-man cartoon fan. But, his friend's line was for a hamburger...I think his name was Droopy, but not sure.
I was given the movie "Dunkirk" for Christmas and watched it the other night. Now it was not how I figured it would be, but I really enjoyed it and do recommend it. I now have a new 32-inch monitor in my bedroom, hooked up to a VCR. This allows me to watch all my old VHS tapes, for which I have over a hundred VHS tapes that survived the torrential rains of last summer. Lost about 100 movies and almost that man book. Winds blew the tarps off the boxes. We threw all the damaged ones into the bonfire. I'm now replacing the damaged VHS with DVD. Susan got me "Patriot Games" with Harrison Ford (Great book), and "Eddie and the Cruisers 1 & 2, also some really cool music in these two movies.
Well, I'm on the countdown now, I have 5-months until I turn 65 years old and sign up for Social Security. We're due to receive about $500 a month, because I'm already on the State of Alaska retirement plan, which opted out of Social Security for police officers and other municipal and state employees. That $500, if I get it all, will come in handy. Feeding this household can be interesting, but everyone chips in with funds or labor, or both.
Special note to my son, James and his beautiful wife Becca, "We found it!!!!!" Well, I should say you mom did. The box will go out the end of this month. Sorry, it took so long.
Here is the news, and also my official disclaimer: There may be propaganda in some of these news reports and for that I apologize. But, I take the bad with the good when I'm able to check out English speaking news sites in Russia, Mainland China, Iran and other Arabian lands. As I have said many-many times, I try to provide you with stories you'll probably not find in your regular news papers. I provide the source and you can find them online and read the whole story. I have learned to trust Gatestone Institute News, Jerusalem Post and Jerusalem Online, most of the Telegraph news sites from Europe. As to the Global Times, which is put out by Mainland China, I try to research their stories to find back-up, but often they are the only source. So, please take that site and the Arabian news sites as...possible propaganda or even fake news. Like anything out of Washington D.C.
Jerusalem Online: Palestinian Authority (Their government) claims United Jerusalem Law to be a direct attack on Palestinians. (PA has been at war with Israel since late 1940's, when they were recognized as a country by the USA and eventually the United Nations, and they blame Israel for nearly all their problems. But in actuality, they've been treated as a bastard-child by the surrounding Arab League countries. Their fellow Muslim states have provided little in support and not a piece of desert to make their home. Israel fought for their land in the 1940's and in the 1967 war. President Obama tried to take that land back and Israel simply said "No", which made Obama look like a bully and a fool on national TV.) ALSO- Israeli doctors are teaching Ethiopian surgeons to perform modern surgeries & procedures. ALSO- South Africa offers to hold talks with North Korea ahead of Winter Olympics.
Gatestone Institute News: "For the past several days, Iranians have demonstrated against the government in Tehran, Iran, that has not delivered on promised economic improvement, and against a Regime whose ruling clerical class they appear to now despise. ( Some might be wondering where all the money went the USA had paid them under the deal President Obama made. These demonstrations are unlike earlier ones in that instead of Tehran, the initial demonstrations and protests began in Mashhad, Iran, center of the wealthiest and most powerful religious foundation in Iran. Still, these protests need to be watched as Iran could be using them in much the same way the Greeks used the Trojan Horse against Troy. This could be real, or fake, to cover up for some of Iran's illegal activity. The medium earthquakes continue around Iran, are they natural or nuke tests. We certainly gave them the funds to advance into the nuclear race.)
The Daily Signal Morning Bell News: The New York Times has reportedly have said, "The founders ( of the NY Times) saw that while it was tempting to censor fake stories, ultimately the truth was more likely to be abused by an all-powerful government arbiter than the filter of unimpended popular debate". ALSO: "Of 17-cents on every dollar. (Good example to show why we are in such debt.)
Washington Free Beacon: "Secret Document Reveals China Covertly Offering Missiles, Increased Aid to North Korea." (This and the oil sales show another move by China to violate the UN Sanctions on North Korea.
Washington Insider: "Obama says he felt "Serenity" during Trump Inauguration."
Front Page Patriot: In their Conservative Zone- Canada's Health Care System is reportedly an example of a single-payer model, every citizen in the "Country has access to the government-sponsored plan and they do not pay a bill when seeing a doctor, have medical tests or even surgeries." Now this sounds great, and it is being recommended by Bernie Sanders and his fellow Democrats. BUT, "Single-payer Plan for all U.S. citizens will undoubtedly be rationed to cut costs". "Canada has a serious problem with efficiently meeting its people's needs for medical care under their current system. Canadians state waiting periods have been 'excruciating' and 'insane'." An example given showed a patient had to wait "4-years to see a neurologist." Canada's Institute of Health Information said"Canada has the most extended wait times for non-emergency surgeries and specialists." "Reportedly dead last of 11-developed countries" "Average wait times to see a specialist in Canada is just over 9-weeks." "A 2016 report by the Frasier Institute found that Canadian Health Care leads to many negative consequences, such as increased suffering, mental anguish and pain. Also results in poorer medical outcomes for chronic diseases and turns reversible illnesses into irreversible conditions. ( This whole single payer plan needs a lot more research before Congress considers changing our whole system.) ALSO- "Disgusting : Feminist Group 'SILENT' as Women Protest Real Oppression in Iran." " The Women's March, AAUW, National Now, Mom's Rising and others are mum on real Women's Rights Protests." ALSO- Actress Debra Messing Praised Her Son, 13, For Protesting National Anthem, Gets Completely, Utterly, Devastatingly Destroyed By Wounded Vet's Mom.
(Short break- quote by Britain's Prime Minister Winston Churchill, during the war years of WWII...."Courage is what it takes to stand-up and speak, courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen." A good man, in place at the moment and hour Britain needed such courage.)
Alaska Family Action- Anchorage, "Operation-Nobody Asked Me." A new social media platform by concerned women and girls who have been impacted by a law that violates their privacy, safety and dignity. The Anchorage Assembly forced an ordinance upon residents to allow gay men and trans-sexual people to enter public restrooms, locker rooms and public accommodations, including those in churches and non-profit ministries and space designated for women. ( This allows men, who only have to say they are gay or transsexual, and now women to use these facilities. BUT, this will now allow stalkers and pedophiles a place to attack their prey. Didn't anyone think about that or did they care? I know that when Mona and I go to Anchorage, which we seldom do accept to see doctors, I'll be outside protecting the door. With all my experience I can look into the eyes and see a predator and they can recognize my look too. I've dealt with these sort before and I'll be nice and simply ask them to wait.)
Global Times: "China-U.S. medical project improves medical treatment in Tibetan areas" ALSO: Spain alleges Catalan Crisis has cost them $1 Billion Euros. ALSO- "France vows urban crackdown after shocking footage shows a woman police officer being beaten on New Years Eve. ALSO- China has launched its 34th Antarctic expedition on Jan 1. ALSO- India and Pakistan set to join the "Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO and very similar to ASEAN- Association of South East Asian Nations). SCO is made up of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. They have joined to advance security needs and economic issues, and founded in 2001. ALSO- China's most advanced UAV is now Combat ready. Wing Loong II UAS is a high speed recon-strike unmanned aerial system. ALSO- 21 church goers were killed in a mass-shooting following a midnight Christian service in Nigeria. ALSO- Libya to recruit 500 diplomatic-security personnel for protecting foreign embassies. ALSO- Two more Coptic Christians gunned down in Egypt. ALSO- Palestine recalls their envoy from Washington D.C. in latest move following the US moving its embassy to Jerusalem. ALSO United Kingdom may impose higher taxes on tech giants to fight radical extremism- taking down material from Facebook and Google to combat this radicalization problem. ALSO- Istanbul police arrest 20- suspected ISIS, 15 of who were shown to be foreign nationals- (countries not listed.) ALSO 5.9 earthquake hit south of the Fiji Island- (no reports of damages, tsunamis and injuries). ALSO- North Korea expresses a willingness to join 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea (Could be a good time for them to launch an attack?) ALSO- Women's Groups of the Philippines "Slam Japan for Demanding Removal of Comfort Women Statue in the Philippines." ( Japan insists that it be removed. Comfort Women is what the Japanese called their female prisoners from Southeast Asia, China, Korea and the Philippines. Also from the various island in the Pacific Ocean. These women became slaves and a lot of them were sexual-slaves forced to work in houses visited by soldiers, non-coms and officers. Far too many of them were killed as the Japanese retreated during World War II. Wow, had to take in a breath after typing that. Some of these women are still alive today...) ALSO- Over 1,700 people fined for drunk driving in Delhi. ALSO- India and Pakistan exchange a list of their nuclear installations. (Maybe there can be peace between these two countries?)
BLAZE News: "California Better Hold On Tight!" ICE Director slams this new "Sanctuary State" and their new state law. ALSO- A Gay Couple was reportedly kicked off a UBER bus in Texas and onto a freeway for kissing. (Being Texas, they were lucky they were not beaten or even shot. Texas is a rough state for a homosexual to be in.) ALSO-"Federal Judge: School Districts Can't Force Football Players to Stand for the National Anthem." (So, we're now into the schools with our NFL protests and only one man was responsible. I'm a Vet and an American, I will always stand for my National Anthem. I respect all the men and women who have fought and died under this flag. Seeing someone disrespect my flag really tests my Christian beliefs, so I pray)
Washington Free Beacon: "Students For Justice in Palestine (American students) report their membership is down in numbers, but they also say their members are increasingly radicalized and anti-Israel. ALSO- $1.6 billion unemployment insurance benefits paid to individuals who did not seek work. ( Back in the old days I carried around a federal card that had to show the three businesses I sought employment at and to have a phone number for the government to call to check and make sure I did go there. Maybe we should go back to that.) ALSO- "Liberal Super Pac Gave Lisa Bloom $200,000 to Fund her Sexual Misconduct case Against Trump."
"France News: France makes bold move with plan to put telephones in every prison cell. ALSO- Over 1,000 cars were torched across France as New Years Eve arrests rise.
Spain-the Local: "Outrage as Madrid chooses drag queen for the traditional "Three Kings", (Also known as the Three Wise-men of Christmas). ALSO - More than 480 people drowned in Spain during 2017. ALSO-Vandals convert Madrid Town Nativity into Porn Scene. (Had I been a cop over their my lead suspects would be radicalized Muslims. Please remember I typed out radicalized. I feel Muslims in America are covered by our Constitution, like all of are other religions. The key word here is "radicalized", this is a word associated with murder and terror.)
Greece-The Local: "Greek Professional to pay up to 75% of income in taxes and contributions in 2018. ( This will cause alot of professional to leave Greece, just as it happened in England 20-years ago. My old office partner was born and raised in England, he was a geologist and still is for the State of Alaska but he told me had he stayed comes to the states to avoid the stiff 70-75% taxes on professional. His mum still lived there and he'd go back to visit. It is the same for the entertainment business, which has caused a lot of actors and actresses to move to the states. ) ALSO- a 4.8 earthquake struck near Kilkis, Greece. No further reports. ALSO- 173 migrants arrive by crowded boats at the Greek Islands of Lesvos and Samos. ALSO- Another point 5 magnitude earthquake struck near Athens- no further report. ALSO- 4,152 refugees and migrants left the Greek Islands for Mainland Greece in Nov and Dec 2017.
Moscow Times: Russia out to shrink their armed forces to 1.9 million soldiers/sailors/airmen. ALSO- India to pay $197 million for Russian-made precision bombs.
Iran Herald: Ten people killed overnight in street protests in Tehran, Iran.
Thailand News: 200-hurt in Philippine News Year's revelry. (Some of the beer they have over there makes ours feel like we'd been drinking water, but most of ours taste better. Yes, I might have sampled a few during my time in Asia, just to show the American spirit. But that was the old me and I killed him on November 8th, 1981.)
Egypt News: 230,000 Security Forces on alert during Christmas weekend. ALSO- masked gunmen ambush caravan of Coptic Christians in Egypt- killing 9. ALSO- Coptic church attacked south of Cairo. ALSO- Russia to build a nuclear facility in Egypt at a cost of $21 Billion, for which Russian will loan them 85% funds for the project- to be completed by 2029.
Asia Times: Japan considering deployment of their F-35 B Fighter onto a helicopter carrier. This is the first flattop Japan has had since WWII. ALSO- Turkish President Erdogan strikes a deal with Sudan to develop the Historical Port Island of Suakin, which could become a Turkish military base and on the Red Sea. Egypt is none too happy about this deal and this move also puts them very close to Israel. (Israel could quickly find itself surrounded by Russia, Turkey and their Arabian neighbors. A possible replay of the 6-day War, when Israel cleaned up Egypt's, and two other major armies. But it was rumored that Israel was prepared to go nuclear if God had not intervened.) ALSO- As China advances , US retreats in Southeast Asia. ALSO- Taiwan warns China, "Pay a Very High Price" if China was to invade. ALSO- Beijing complicates Washington's Afghan strategy. China has a commitment to extend China-Pakistan economics, a corridor into Afghanistan. (This could turn into a serious problem). ALSO report of ISIS numbers growing fast near China's new Silk Road, says Russia.
The Daily Signal Morning Bell: Canada- Alberta's Child and Family Services bars a Christian couple from adopting a child because of their religious views about sexuality were incompatible with the official position of the Alberta Government. (How long before this begins in the USA. Remember the two bakers, a married couple who were told by the court to pay $130,000 to the gay couple they refused to bake a cake for. There were other bakeries, but they targeted this bakery. Now they are out of business. What happened to our right to just say "NO".). ALSO- California: a planned legislative bill would mandate that community colleges and public universities will provide women with abortion pills for up to ten weeks of pregnancy so they don't face the "burden" of traveling to obtain an abortion. (Take a bill- kill a child sounds so easy. But do they also get a pill to help them handle the mental health angle for having to deal with what she had just done. Some people go as far as attempting suicide- is there a pill for that?)
Gatestone: "Palestinians -always on the Wrong Side" Story by Bassam Tawil 1/3/2018. Palestinians also took to the streets to celebrate the 9/11 attacks carried out by the al-Qaeda. Palestine also supports North Korea. This has awakened India, who sent now see Israel as their ally in the war on terrorism. Palestine has a long history of siding with tyrannical rulers and their regimes. This has cost them greatly in the past. Last week the Palestinian Ambassador to Pakistan shared the stage with UN designated terrorist Jamat-ul-Hafiz, leader of the terrorist group, "Saeed" . This was a rally against the United States move of its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. ALSO - "Pay Attention to Latin America And Africa Before Controversies Erupt". Story by John Bolton 1/3/18. "Latin America and Africa rarely rated as top US foreign policy priorities in recent years. (Well, not since our military troops were in North Africa fighting the drug wars with local militias). But, 2018 may change all that. Political instabilities and the collapse of national governments , international terrorism and its associated financing and great power, competition and natural resources and political influence could threaten significant American National Security interests in 2018-2019. If several simmering controversies erupt simultaneously Washington D.C. could find itself facing these crises with little or no strategic thinking to guide our response. (Both Russia and China have shown a key interested in these southern continents, while we might just be sitting on our hands.)
BLAZE News: "Google" now being accused of paying women, who taught worker's children, at lower wages than the males taking over the women's positions with far less experience. ALSO: Report- Sessions to end his "hands-off" policy that allowed pot legalization to flourish. This is expected to give the feds and federal District Attorneys the opportunity to charge people under federal laws, especially in states that have made both medicinal marijuana and recreational marijuana legal. 29-states legalized medicinal marijuana, while 5 or maybe it is 6 who now allow recreational usage. The taxes being raised through marijuana use is significant. (In Alaska the Feds might have a fight on their hands, especially after the Governor has already warned the federal officers they could be placed under arrest if they try to remove firearms from the homes of non-criminals.) ALSO- NFL ticket sales still going down as football players continue to honor the National Anthem protests. ALSO- "Atheist flag now flies next to a 'Ten Commandments Monument' in New Hampshire, as proof of tolerance."
Global Times: China plans "unprecedented 40 spaces launches in 2018" . ALSO- Libya reports it cannot handle the illegal immigration, states the Prime Minister. ALSO - Libya reports "Over 5,000 soldiers killed in war against terrorism in City of Benghazi . ALSO- EU stands with Cuba, despite US policy changes. ALSO- Belgium reports having seized nearly 7 tons of cocaine, found in container of bananas at port of Antwerp. Also- Australia now planning to legalize medicinal marijuana in hopes to "score a piece of the estimated $55 Billion Global Market." ALSO - New York City plans to install 1,500 new security barriers in high-profile locations to guard against vehicle attacks.
Telegraph-Germany: "Failed asylum seekers blamed for the rise of violent crime in Germany." ALSO- "German doctors stand against invasive age testing of asylum seekers."
Manila Times: "Taiwan demands immediate halt to China new flight routes." Which have them close to their Island of Taiwan, accuses China of being "reckless" and a "politically motivated move". Taipei says it was not consulted, saying Beijing "ignores flight safety and disrespects Taiwan." ALSO Taiwan businessman under investigation for suspicion of selling oil to North Korea- in violation of UN Sanctions. (If the the man is guilty then send him over to North Korea. He wants to keep these people warm, let him cut firewood. No, better yet, send him here, I need the firewood.) ALSO- Myanmar to raise their minimum raise wage to $3.60 A DAY. This is a 33% raise...(and we complain. My lowest pay was minimum wage of $1.15 an hour in 1967. I could still get a hamburger, fries and a soda, plus get change....at McDonald's. )
Spain News: Report that Spain and the US were finalizing the return of Puerto Rice to Spain jurisdiction. (We took it from Spain 119 years ago. (Now, if this is real, has Puerto Rice involved? Do the citizens know? Has congress even behind this event or is this another fake news story. I'll keep following it. I have heard that Guam might be given back to Japan or granted its Independence. But the military is concerned with losing our bases on that island. Maybe we can lease them back as part of the deal. Question, why would we give up this island...the last storm? Let me know if you've heard anything on this and I'll keep you updated. Besides, could this be leading us the point we will give Arizona and New Mexico back to Mexico...save on the cost of a wall, but might lead to another war. Besides I have a war down there in my book series Fire & Ice, I'd hate it if those politicians in Washington messed with my story....your supposed to laugh here. But the news story was there, so I will keep you posted.)
Russian Herald: Russia warns the US to stay out of Iran's affairs.ALSO- Russia accuses the United States of training former ISIS troops to fight with the rebels in Syria, to destabilize Syria and possibly Iran.
Okay, I saved this for last to help you realize the government is seriously making an effort to take good care of your tax money. This is a report from the Washington Free Beacon: "Feds Spend $50,400 studying American's 'poor Posture'."
I wish you a great week-end, a happy January and please, watch that posture. God Bless, BILL
Hello: to the Brady Family and a special hello to Bella Sue. Love, Appa.