Michele Kearney's Snuffysmith's Blog: September 2019

Monday, September 30, 2019

John Durham’s Ukrainian Leads - WSJ

John Durham’s Ukrainian Leads - WSJ: What the prosecutor has found may be quite different from what the Democrats are looking for.

As Biden falters, Hillary attacks Trump and positions herself to enter presidential race

As Biden falters, Hillary attacks Trump and positions herself to enter presidential race: Hillary Clinton remains shackled to her lust for power and revenge�and now is signaling that she may enter the Democrats' presidential contest when ex–vice president Joe Biden withdraws and serves as the fall guy for Ukraine's collusion with her 2016 presidential campaign.

Putin could decide for the world on CRISPR babies

https://www.technologyreview.com/f/614450/putin-could-decide-for-the-world-on-crispr-babies/?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_campaign=site_visitor.unpaid.engagement&utm_medium=tr_social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR29l4pf38oLpy0MODBhlI6u8iS7eXa59_XVW1MBGoKLPHvu0-Xz1iQNHN0#Echobox=1569877089

Inside the shady private equity firm run by Kerry and Biden’s kids

Inside the shady private equity firm run by Kerry and Biden’s kids: By Peter Schweizer

Message From a Proud Island: ‘We Need Your Help’

Dorian devastated this place, but hope keeps washing ashore.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/28/opinion/sunday/dorian-hurricane-ocracoke-island.html

Impeachment Coup Analytics – American Greatness

Impeachment Coup Analytics – American Greatness: Aside from the emotional issue that Democrats, NeverTrumpers, and celebrities loathe Donald Trump, recently Representative Al Green (D-Texas) reminded us why the Democrats are trying to impeach the president rather than just defeat him in the 2020 general election.

“To defeat him at the polls would do history a disservice, would do our nation a disservice,”

Beware the Global Do-Gooder Democrats | The American Conservative

Beware the Global Do-Gooder Democrats | The American Conservative: Collective amnesia has given rise to another generation of humanitarian interventionists and liberal internationalists.

At St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis unveils sculpture dedicated to migrants--Aleteia

Mourning father anonymously pays for another little girl’s birthday cake

https://aleteia.org/2019/09/30/mourning-father-anonymously-pays-for-another-little-girls-birthday-cake/?utm_campaign=NL_en&utm_source=daily_newsletter&utm_medium=mail&utm_content=NL_en

NATO’s robot navy hints at the future of warfare - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

NATO’s robot navy hints at the future of warfare - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: A NATO military exercise deployed an unmanned vehicle navy to conduct various maneuvers, a sign that the world is inching closer to warfare that doesn't involve so many people on the battlefield.

How the Koch brothers got us here - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

How the Koch brothers got us here - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: Whether through highly-coordinated attacks on federal tax credits or interventions in arcane state-level proceedings, or through public and covert efforts to spread disinformation, the beneficiaries of the Kochs’strategic funding are working to preserve the market demand for the refined petroleum products the Koch empire is selling.

An “undeclared phaseout” of the nuclear industry - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

An “undeclared phaseout” of the nuclear industry - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: An annual report that takes stock of nuclear power finds the industry growing too slowly to guarantee survival.

The gas tycoon and the vice president’s son: The story of Hunter Biden’s foray into Ukraine - The Washington Post

The gas tycoon and the vice president’s son: The story of Hunter Biden’s foray into Ukraine - The Washington Post: Then-Vice President Joe Biden’s son joined the board of an obscure Ukrainian gas company as its owner, a former minister, looked to navigate the threat of prosecution and changing political winds.

The secret tapes of Jamal Khashoggi's murder - BBC News

The secret tapes of Jamal Khashoggi's murder - BBC News: The audio tapes that recorded the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman denies ordering Jamal Khashoggi murder, but says he takes responsibility for it - 60 Minutes - CBS News

Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman denies ordering Jamal Khashoggi murder, but says he takes responsibility for it - 60 Minutes - CBS News: Saudi Arabia's crown prince also discusses the impact of a September attack on Saudi oil facilities, and responds to allegations that a female Saudi activist has been tortured in prison

Saudi Arabia: King Salman’s bodyguard shot dead in ‘personal dispute’ with friend, reports say | The Independent

Saudi Arabia: King Salman’s bodyguard shot dead in ‘personal dispute’ with friend, reports say | The Independent: A prominent bodyguard to Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has been shot dead in a “personal dispute” with a friend, according to state media. Another Saudi national and a Filipino worker were also injured along with five members of the security forces when a gunfight erupted as they arrived to investigate.

America’s Final Patriots: An Interview + Book Review of Crisis of Conscience: Whistleblowing in an Age of Fraud by Tom Mueller (Riverhead Books, 2019) | naked capitalism

America’s Final Patriots: An Interview + Book Review of Crisis of Conscience: Whistleblowing in an Age of Fraud by Tom Mueller (Riverhead Books, 2019) | naked capitalism: A new, "brutally researched" book on whistleblowers describes their importance and the price they often pay.

PRC Turns 70: Five Elements of its Grand Strategy | RSIS

What’s the new CA law allowing college athletes to get paid? | The Sacramento Bee

What’s the new CA law allowing college athletes to get paid? | The Sacramento Bee: California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new law allowing college athletes to be paid for their name, image and likeness. The NCAA is threatening to prevent the state from hosting championships.

America First, Actually – LobeLog

America First, Actually – LobeLog: by Annelle R. Sheline In his speech at the United Nations General Assembly on September 24, Donald Trump declared, “The future does not belong to globalists, the future belongs to patriots.” The st…

iPhone 11 review: The best iPhone for most people Review | ZDNet

iPhone 11 review: The best iPhone for most people Review | ZDNet: It's clear the iPhone 11 is the iPhone for the masses.

How the diplomatic pros lost Ukraine to Trump - The Washington Post

How the diplomatic pros lost Ukraine to Trump - The Washington Post: To save an unraveling situation, they decided to set up a phone call between Trump and Ukraine’s president.

Syria demands withdrawal of all American, Turkish forces

Syria demands withdrawal of all American, Turkish forces: Syria’s top diplomat on Saturday demanded the immediate withdrawal of American and Turkish forces from the country and said his government reserves the right to defend its territory in any way necessary if they remain.

The other Ukraine scandal: Trump’s threats to our ambassador who wouldn’t bend - The Washington Post

The other Ukraine scandal: Trump’s threats to our ambassador who wouldn’t bend - The Washington Post: The president’s politicized assault on the Foreign Service is destroying diplomacy.

The Worst China Trade Idea - WSJ

The Worst China Trade Idea - WSJ: Banning investment would hurt the U.S. and reformers in Beijing.

Bishop Barron's Gospel Reflection September 30, 2019

Monday, September 30, 2019

Memorial of Saint Jerome

Luke 9:46-50

Friends, in today’s Gospel Jesus presents a child as the model for his disciples. Jesus has just laid out for his disciples what is going to happen to him in Jerusalem, how he will be rejected, tortured, and killed. Oblivious to this, the disciples are discussing who among them is the most important. For Jesus, the path to greatness lies on the road to Calvary, to self-forgetting love; for the disciples—and for most people of most ages—it lies along the road to ego inflation.

What is the antidote? A child is proposed as a kind of living icon to these ambitious disciples. We notice first how Jesus physically identifies with the child by placing him by his side. It is as though he is saying that he himself is like a child. How so? Children don’t know how to dissemble, how to be one way and act another. They are what they are; they act in accordance with their deepest nature.

Why was this story of Jesus’ identification with children preserved by all of the synoptic Gospels? Somehow it gets close to the heart of Jesus’ life and message.

Memorial of Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Lectionary: 455

Reading 1 Zec 8:1-8

This word of the LORD of hosts came:

Thus says the LORD of hosts:

I am intensely jealous for Zion,
stirred to jealous wrath for her.
Thus says the LORD:
I will return to Zion,
and I will dwell within Jerusalem;
Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city,
and the mountain of the LORD of hosts,
the holy mountain.

Thus says the LORD of hosts: Old men and old women,
each with staff in hand because of old age,
shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem.
The city shall be filled with boys and girls playing in its streets.
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
Even if this should seem impossible
in the eyes of the remnant of this people,
shall it in those days be impossible in my eyes also,
says the LORD of hosts?
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
Lo, I will rescue my people from the land of the rising sun,
and from the land of the setting sun.
I will bring them back to dwell within Jerusalem.
They shall be my people, and I will be their God,
with faithfulness and justice.

Gospel Lk 9:46-50

An argument arose among the disciples
about which of them was the greatest.
Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child
and placed it by his side and said to them,
"Whoever receives this child in my name receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
For the one who is least among all of you
is the one who is the greatest."

Then John said in reply,
"Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name
and we tried to prevent him
because he does not follow in our company."
Jesus said to him,
"Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you."

Federal election commissioner posts foreign interference memo on Twitter - The Boston Globe

Federal election commissioner posts foreign interference memo on Twitter - The Boston Globe: Ellen Weintraub on Friday took the dramatic step of using Twitter to release the entire draft of a memo addressing foreign election interference.

On Being Tired - The Catholic Thing

On Being Tired - The Catholic Thing: Brad Miner: Learning that I may have to go through cancer treatment again, I’m at peace again. After all, I was born (or, rather, born again) for heaven.

Rosh Hashanah

This is the Jewish New Year, celebrating what Jewish tradition considers the birthday of the universe.

Unlike the American New Year, which is observed with parties and celebrations, Rosh Hashanah is a time of contemplation, repentance, and spiritual purification.

This afternoon, Jews will go to a body of water to perform the Tashlikh ceremony during which they ceremonially cast their sins into the water. They will spend much of the day in their synagogue, followed by special feasts in the evening.

Observant Jews will then mark the following days as the Ten Days of Repentance, concluding with Yom Kippur, when they gather in their synagogue for twenty-five hours of fasting and prayer. This entire period is known as the High Holidays.

As one Jewish website notes, “The season of the High Holidays is a time for an epic journey for the soul, and Rosh Hashanah is where it all begins.”

As the Jewish people spend this week in contemplation and repentance, we would be wise to join them, for their sake and for ours as well.

The hour is urgent. Tomorrow is promised to none.

Seasons of Creation September 30, 2019

A30zIMG_3718.jpg

Photo used with permission | PMcLoughlin

Take a moment to ponder the photo.

The words "awe" and "wonder" are employed at least fourteen times in the pope's encyclical. Echoing the teaching of Rabbi Heschel that without awe the universe becomes a marketplace for us, the pope teaches that "if we approach nature and the environment without this openness to awe and wonder … our attitude will be that of masters, consumers, ruthless exploiters."

So long as we are in touch with "wonder and awe" we recognize a "continuing revelation of the divine" in the smallest and largest forms within nature.

We must first honor and cherish all creation as an expression or mirror of the Divine Beauty. "This, then, is salvation, when we marvel at the beauty of created things and praise the beautiful providence of their Creator," wrote Meister Eckhart.

— Matthew Fox, Daily Meditations May 2019

Next week begins the Vatican's Synod: "The Amazon: new paths for the Church and for integral ecology on the Amazon." Bishops from around the world will discuss the Amazon and its people. This will be the first bishops' meeting where integral ecology will be applied to a specific place in creation, a landmark for the church. The synod runs Oct. 6-27.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Solomon: These once-secret memos cast doubt on Joe Biden's Ukraine story | TheHill

Solomon: These once-secret memos cast doubt on Joe Biden's Ukraine story | TheHill: Hundreds of pages of never-released memos and documents – many from inside the American team helping Burisma to stave off its legal troubles – conflict with Joe Biden’s narrative about the controversy in Ukraine.

Whistleblowers sounded alarm about nuclear deal pushed by Trump advisers: Report - ABC News

Whistleblowers sounded alarm about nuclear deal pushed by Trump advisers: Report - ABC News: Multiple whistleblowers sounded alarms about a plan backed by close advisers to President Donald Trump to transfer sensitive nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia.

FDD's Long War Journal | A Project of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies

FDD's Long War Journal | A Project of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies: Yemen's Houthis claim that the operation is the largest in nearly four years of conflict with Saudi Arabia and its allies.

State Dept. intensifies email probe of Hillary Clinton’s former aides - The Washington Post

State Dept. intensifies email probe of Hillary Clinton’s former aides - The Washington Post: As many as 130 officials have been questioned in recent weeks by State Department investigators.

US-Japan trade deal is victory for Abe, not Trump - Nikkei Asian Review

US-Japan trade deal is victory for Abe, not Trump - Nikkei Asian Review: Donald Trump may be famous -- among other things -- for his book "The Art of the Deal." But last week Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe schooled the

Nuclear power can play a major role in fast-tracking decarbonisation - The Economic Times

Nuclear power can play a major role in fast-tracking decarbonisation - The Economic Times: A report titled United in Science concluded that cuts in greenhouse gas emissions need to increase by between three and five times to limit the damaging effects of climate change.

In St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis Unveils Life-size Sculpture of Migrants Throughout History & World

https://zenit.org/articles/in-st-peters-square-pope-francis-unveils-life-size-sculpture-of-migrants-throughout-history-world/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=In%20St%20Peters%20Square%20Pope%20Francis%20Unveils%20Life-size%20Sculpture%20of%20Migrants%20Throughout%20History%20%20World%20on%20World%20Day%20of%20Migrants%20%20Refugees%201569767274%20ZNP&utm_content=In%20St%20Peters%20Square%20Pope%20Francis%20Unveils%20Life-size%20Sculpture%20of%20Migrants%20Throughout%20History%20%20World%20on%20World%20Day%20of%20Migrants%20%20Refugees%201569767274%20ZNP+CID_5c9d721c1df40e470f58b0a724681495&utm_source=Editions&utm_term=In%20St%20Peters%20Square%20Pope%20Francis%20Unveils%20Life-size%20Sculpture%20of%20Migrants%20Throughout%20History%20%20World

Did Jared Kushner benefit from a White House scheme to sell nuclear power plants to Saudi Arabia? | Salon.com

Did Jared Kushner benefit from a White House scheme to sell nuclear power plants to Saudi Arabia? | Salon.com: Top officials, including former national security adviser H.R. McMaster, reportedly warned against doing so

Donald Trump rushing to sell Saudi Arabia nuclear technology | USA News | Al Jazeera

Donald Trump rushing to sell Saudi Arabia nuclear technology | USA News | Al Jazeera: Experts worry tech transfer will allow Saudi Arabia to produce nuclear weapons, contributing to Middle East arms race.

Bishop Barron's Gospel Reflection September 29, 2019

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Luke 16:19-31

Friends, today’s Gospel focuses on the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man "dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day," while lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, "who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table."

God is not pleased with this kind of economic inequality, and he burns with a passion to set things right. This theme came roaring up out of the Bible and into the Christian tradition, and it echoes up and down the centuries. Even though it makes us uncomfortable—and God knows it does, especially those of us who live in the most affluent society in the world—we can’t avoid it because it’s everywhere in the Bible.

St. Thomas Aquinas says that we must distinguish between ownership and use of private property. We have a right to ownership, through our hard work, through our inheritance. Fair enough. But with regard to the use of those things—how we use them, why we use them—then, says Thomas, we must always be concerned first for the common good and not our own. This especially includes Lazarus at our gate: those who are suffering and most in need.

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 138

Reading 1 Am 6:1a, 4-7

Thus says the LORD the God of hosts:
Woe to the complacent in Zion!
Lying upon beds of ivory,
stretched comfortably on their couches,
they eat lambs taken from the flock,
and calves from the stall!
Improvising to the music of the harp,
like David, they devise their own accompaniment.
They drink wine from bowls
and anoint themselves with the best oils;
yet they are not made ill by the collapse of Joseph!
Therefore, now they shall be the first to go into exile,
and their wanton revelry shall be done away with.

Gospel Lk 16:19-31

Jesus said to the Pharisees:
"There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen
and dined sumptuously each day.
And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps
that fell from the rich man's table.
Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.
When the poor man died,
he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.
The rich man also died and was buried,
and from the netherworld, where he was in torment,
he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off
and Lazarus at his side.
And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me.
Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,
for I am suffering torment in these flames.'
Abraham replied,
'My child, remember that you received
what was good during your lifetime
while Lazarus likewise received what was bad;
but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.
Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established
to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go
from our side to yours or from your side to ours.'
He said, 'Then I beg you, father,
send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers,
so that he may warn them,
lest they too come to this place of torment.'
But Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets.
Let them listen to them.'
He said, 'Oh no, father Abraham,
but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'
Then Abraham said, 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'"

At the border, lawmakers see a broken system and little common ground - The Boston Globe

At the border, lawmakers see a broken system and little common ground - The Boston Globe: EL PASO, Texas — The delegation of Democratic lawmakers jostled for space in the cramped room in the border processing center, straining to hear over the sounds of crinkling mylar blankets and a crying baby, as a Venezuelan migrant told her grim story.

Diversion of funds for wall puts Guam projects on hold - The Boston Globe

Diversion of funds for wall puts Guam projects on hold - The Boston Globe: President Trump is raising a large chunk of the money for his border wall with Mexico by deferring several military construction projects slated for Guam, a strategic hub for U.S. forces in the Pacific.

Trump’s fixation on revenge for Mueller probe leads him back into impeachment zone - The Boston Globe

Trump’s fixation on revenge for Mueller probe leads him back into impeachment zone - The Boston Globe: Once again, the president is in the crosshairs of a congressional investigation into whether he solicited aid from a foreign nation for his own political gain.