News, Entertainment, Enlightenment
Hannity Assange Interview 1-3-17 — For those who missed it, here is Sean Hannity’s interview with Julian Assange at the Ecuadorian embassy in London.
Great job, Sean. Wished you’d asked if Assange’s source was still alive, though.
Tarzan Fighter Pilot — Tarzan was not just an ape man, he was also a fighter pilot with the R.A.F. In Tarzan and the Foreign Legion, written in 1944, he is shot down over the jungle where he reverts to using his jungle skills to fight the Japanese. It was the last work by Edgar Rice Burroughs to be published during his life.
Megyn Kelly NBC Bound — The New York Times is saying that Megyn Kelly is leaving Fox News for NBC.
This is excellent news as this will significantly improve both networks.
Ms. Kelly was reportedly offered her own daytime news and discussion program, along with anchoring an in-depth Sunday night news show and taking a regular part in the network’s big-event coverage.
House GOP Guts Oversight — Chalk this up under why it is OK to hate Republicans too.
In a bizarre tone-deaf move, the GOP controlled Congress will vote today Jan. 3, on whether to gut the Office of Congressional Ethics. It will be one of the first acts in the new reign of Republican power in D.C.
Way to prioritize.
An amendment by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va6) passed the GOP caucus, yesterday that will change the body’s name to Office of Congressional Complaint Review, strip it of its independence, block it from investigating any wrongdoing that occurred prior to 2011, and prevent it from releasing its findings to the public, without the authorization of the House Committee on Ethics. It would also prevent the panel from alerting law enforcement to criminal activity without the approval of the House committee.
What are these people thinking? In the eight years, it has been in existence it has unveiled shady doings by pols including powerful Dems Charles Rangle and Maxine Waters.
Congratulations Goodlatte, you are making Nancy Pelosi look good, a frankly amazing feat.
UPDATE: After a tweet from President-elect Trump condemning the idea, the House Republicans have scrapped the stupid plan. Thank you, President-elect Trump.
Japan’s Kimigayo has the oldest lyrics of any national anthem dating to at least 1,000 A.D.
The last spots on Earth to move on to 2017 will be Baker Island and Howland Island in the middle of the Pacific. They are the only named places in the time zone UTC 12:00.
Independence Hall Foundation Honors Scott Garrett — The conservative Independence Hall Foundation has chosen Congressman Scott Garrett (NJ-5) as its 2016 Frederick Muhlenberg Legislator of the year.
The Award is named in honor of Pennsylvania Congressman Frederick Muhlenberg, the first Speaker of the US House of Representatives and is awarded annually to a legislator from the tri-state region.
Congressman Muhlenberg, born January 1, 1750 in Trappe, Montgomery County, PA, served in the Continental Congress and the Pennsylvania House of Representatives before representing the Keystone State’s At-Large and 2nd Congressional Districts from 1789-1797. As House Speaker, Congressman Muhlenberg had the distinct honor of being the first signer of the Bill of Rights.
Previous Foundation Legislator of the Year award recipients are Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-8), 2015; Congressman Jim Gerlach (PA-6), 2014; and Pennsylvania State Representative Steve Barrar, 2013.
“This year’s recipient, Congressman Scott Garrett, a staunch defender of religious liberty and the Bill of Rights, was a natural choice for this award,” said Foundation spokeswoman, Teri Adams.
“A consistent conservative over the years, outgoing Congressman Garrett, who represents a portion of Northern New Jersey, has a lifetime rating of 99.3 from the American Conservative Union.
“A founder of the House Constitution Caucus and the House Freedom Caucus, Congressman Garrett is also a member of the Republican Liberty Caucus,” said Ms. Adams.
“While serving on the House Budget Committee, the Congressman fought for accuracy in government accounting by introducing the Budgetary and Accounting Transparency Act of 2014.
“Among a myriad of other concerns, the Congressman also fought against government earmarks and for the First Amendment Defense Act. In 2007, he sponsored legislation supporting United Nations Membership for the island of Taiwan.”
Born in Englewood, NJ, Congressman Garrett spent most of his life in the Garden State–serving in the New Jersey State Assembly from 1992-2003. The Congressman received a BA in Political Science from Montclair State College and a JD from Rutgers School of Law, Camden.
He and his wife, Mary Ellen, have two adult daughters.
Oil spread on water can stop small waves. Benjamin Franklin knew this. His walking stick had a special compartment in which he would keep cooking oil. He would wave it over ponds in Philadelphia, calm the waters and mess with people’s heads.
Pennsylvania Gas Tax Hike Kicks In Jan. 1 — Pennsylvania’s gasoline tax rises 8 cents, Jan. 1. It’s a consequence of the the 2013 bill that doomed Gov. Corbett because the state legislature couldn’t find money via increased efficiencies to fund infrastructure improvements — a feat easily accomplished by even a blind squirrel assuming the squirrel had a spine.
So Pennsylvanians, fill up today or tomorrow to save some dollars and don’t be surprised if you find yourself scheduling more shopping trips to sales-tax free Delaware for replenishing the tank.
Most Americans will get cancer, research indicates. Chalk it up to the benefit of living to an old age. Autopsy studies suggest that 80 percent of American men in their 80s have small amounts of cancer in their prostate. Most of this went undiagnosed, though, because it never caused any problems.