The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations has been two hundred years.
These nations have progressed through this sequence:
From bondage to spiritual faith;
from spiritual faith to great courage;
from courage to liberty;
from liberty to abundance;
from abundance to selfishness;
from selfishness to complacency;
from complacency to apathy;
from apathy to dependence;
from dependency back again into bondage.
– Sir Alex Fraser Tyler: (1742-1813) Scottish jurist and historian.

Reuters

TOKYO, Dec 22 (Reuters) – Japan’s liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) imports from the United States are expected to double in 2017 to a record and account for around for around half of its total purchases, government and shipping data showed.

The surge comes as shale oil and gas output lifts overall U.S. production to rival that of Saudi Arabia and Russia.   Continue reading “US LPG exports to Japan seen setting record in 2017”

Global Research – by Eric Zuesse

The Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s main evidence thus far in his “Russiagate” probe is not actually about possible Russian collusion with Trump to win the Presidency, but instead about definite Israeli collusion with Trump after Trump had already won the Presidency but before he became inaugurated. As a lawyer explained on the day when Trump’s former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn was indicted in a plea-deal: “Mr. Flynn has just become the prosecution’s star witness.” What Flynn had pled to was his trying to obtain Russia’s support for Israel’s Government, against the Palestinians. Russia said no; Putin said no to Flynn’s request, which had been made on behalf of Israel.   Continue reading ““Russiagate” Is Actually “Israelgate”: Trump as “Agent of Israel”, Not of Russia?”

Zero Hedge – by Tyler Durden

Do you ever feel like you’re being watched when there’s nobody else around?

Decades ago, if the answer to that question was ‘yes’, doctors might’ve advised you to see what they called a headshrinker. But technological progress has a funny way of turning situations on their head. For example, at the turn of the 20th century, everybody had horses – but only the wealthy had cars.

Today, everybody has a car: but only rich people have horses.   Continue reading “Is Facebook Using Your Phone’s Camera And Microphone To Spy On You?”

Fresno Bee – by Jim Guy

Fresno and Madera County law officers are now investigating up to 10 shootings in which drivers are randomly fired upon, officials said Thursday.

Detectives are looking for a dark-colored, four-wheel-drive pickup with oversize tires and an extended or crew cab, Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims said during a news conference Thursday morning. She was joined at the conference by Madera County Sheriff Jay Varney and California Highway Patrol Capt. Eric Johnson, commander for the Fresno area. Valley Crime Stoppers also upped the reward to $3,000 for anyone who provides information leading to an arrest.   Continue reading “Someone driving a big pickup is believed to be randomly shooting at drivers”

Free Thought Project – by Matt Agorist

Schertz, TX — An unnamed 7-year-old boy, who had just begun his Christmas break this week, was killed by fearful police who opened fire on an unarmed woman.

According to police, they were searching for a suspect wanted for an alleged car theft. Their target was a woman in her 30’s who had fled into a nearby mobile home park.

The family is now in shock after their 7-year-old boy was shot in the abdomen by police as they opened fire on the female suspect. Sadly, the little boy would not survive his wounds.  Continue reading “Cops Kill 7-Year-Old Boy While Executing Unarmed Woman in a Neighborhood Full of Kids”

Axios – by Mike Allen

Sean Parker, the founding president of Facebook, gave me a candid insider’s look at how social networks purposely hook and potentially hurt our brains.

Be smart: Parker’s I-was-there account provides priceless perspective in the rising debate about the power and effects of the social networks, which now have scale and reach unknown in human history. He’s worried enough that he’s sounding the alarm.

Continue reading “Sean Parker unloads on Facebook “exploiting” human psychology”

CBC News

Former U.S. secretary of state John Kerry was on the Aga Khan’s private island at the same time as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s ill-fated family vacation last Christmas break, CBC News has learned.

After almost a year of opposition attacks, Trudeau was forced to apologize on Wednesday for the way he handled the trip, after the federal ethics watchdog determined he violated some provisions of the Conflict of Interest Act when he vacationed on Bell Island in the Bahamas and took the Aga Khan’s private helicopter to get there.   Continue reading “John Kerry vacationed on Aga Khan’s private island during Trudeau visit”

CBC News

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has apologized for his actions after the federal ethics watchdog found he violated some provisions of the Conflict of Interest Act when he vacationed on a private island owned by the Aga Khan last Christmas season and took a private helicopter to get there.

He also promised to check with the ethics commissioner before booking holidays.   Continue reading “Trudeau ‘sorry’ for violating conflict laws with visits to Aga Khan’s island”

CBC News

You cannot get any closer to power in Canada than standing beside the prime minister’s desk.

That is where an accused Russian spy was during the recent bilateral meeting between Justin Trudeau and Ukraine Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman.

Stanislav Yezhov, a key aide and interpreter for Groysman, found himself in a different place Wednesday night.   Continue reading “Accused Russian spy was in the room for Trudeau talks with Ukrainian PM”

KFOR 4 News – by Katrina Butcher

NEWKIRK, Okla. – Congressman Ron Estes made the announcement via Twitter Thursday afternoon that chemical testing near an Oklahoma town has been suspended.

Rep. Estes says the Department of Homeland Security suspended the plan for chemical testing at Chilocco Indian School.   Continue reading “Department of Homeland Security suspends chemical testing near Oklahoma town”

Intellihub – by Shepard Ambellas

HAGERSTOWN (INTELLIHUB) — Over 50 heavily armored United Nations vehicles and various pieces of equipment (generators, etc.) sufficient enough to support a small company of ‘peacekeeper’ troops are sitting on the deck behind a U.S. government-owned warehouse and appear to be ready for some type of rapid domestic deployment.

The vehicles are parked in the rear parking lot of a warehouse building located at 11841 New Gate Blvd. They are all painted white and bear the letters “U.N.”   Continue reading “Heavily armored company of U.N. vehicles and equipment staged behind Maryland warehouse and are ready for rapid domestic deployment”

Activist Post – by Derrick Broze

In an attempt to avert government shutdown, the Trump administration is calling for vote on a “spending bill” which includes a temporary reauthorization of the controversial section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

On Thursday President Donald Trump tweeted out his support for a so-called spending bill and his disdain for Democrats, who he accuses of attempting to shut down the government. “House Democrats want a SHUTDOWN for the holidays in order to distract from the very popular, just passed, Tax Cuts,” Trump tweeted. “House Republicans, don’t let this happen. Pass the C.R. TODAY and keep our Government OPEN!”   Continue reading “Trump Administration Is Trying To Push Through an Extension of Controversial Spying Measure”

Nextrush Free

There was word from Washington late Wednesday that Attorney General Jeff Sessions has ordered an expert on discovery evidence to review the Bunkerville case and advise the next step or steps.

A spokesman for the Justice Department says “the Justice Department takes this issue very seriously”.   Continue reading “Bunkerville Standoff: Attorney General Sending Expert To Advise Next Step”

Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate on Thursday approved a bill to fund the federal government through Jan. 19 and avert agency shutdowns as a Friday midnight deadline neared.

By a vote of 66-32, the Senate approved the money to keep most agencies funded at current levels, giving Republicans and Democrats in Congress more time to negotiate a bigger fiscal 2018 spending bill that would run through next Sept. 30.   Continue reading “Senate backs stop-gap bill to avert government shutdown”