Katherine J. Cramer, The Politics of Resentment

At Amazon, Katherine J. Cramer, The Politics of Resentment: Rural Consciousness in Wisconsin and the Rise of Scott Walker.

David Patrikarakos, War in 140 Characters

At Amazon, David Patrikarakos, War in 140 Characters: How Social Media Is Reshaping Conflict in the Twenty-first Century.

Bruce Schneier, Data and Goliath

At Amazon, Bruce Schneier, Data and Goliath: The Hidden Battles to Collect Your Data and Control Your World.

Alexander Roy, The Driver

At Amazon, Alexander Roy, The Driver: My Dangerous Pursuit of Speed and Truth in the Outlaw Racing World.

Lisa Ko, The Leavers

*BUMPED.*

At Amazon, Lisa Ko, The Leavers: A Novel.

Jessica Biel in Workout Gear

At Popoholic and Twitter. Justin Timberlake's got a fine squeeze, heh:

Jessica Biel Leggy, Busty, And Curvalicious In Tight Workout Attire, Oh My! https://t.co/qaMFoOsOjA pic.twitter.com/aEPmfmi3An

— Popoholic (@Popoholic) January 3, 2018

Knee-high socks and blue steel gazes are BACK (amongst many other awesome retro styles!). Check out my New Year + New You picks launching on @amazon home in 2018! https://t.co/KorwILcsRR pic.twitter.com/thMtPRxV0w

— Jessica Biel (@JessicaBiel) December 30, 2017

Claudia Romani

At Egotastic! and elsewhere:

.@ClaudiaRomani ushers in 2018 with a fab photoshoot.
📷: https://t.co/CB0SJhb5mz pic.twitter.com/nQ7IAs4jIV

— Egotastic! (@egotastic) January 3, 2018

.@ClaudiaRomani is all woman, all Christmas, all curves.
See the pics: https://t.co/3A1mYxFWyh. pic.twitter.com/w70OvhcIwD

— Egotastic! (@egotastic) December 26, 2017

@ClaudiaRomani CR💜💜💜💜💜1 #WCF is just always the very perfect queen of curves always Claudia #1 CR💜💜💜💜💜1 pic.twitter.com/DpBGSJldNV

— Tom Elliott LE★💜★💍13 (@thomaselliott19) December 29, 2017

@ClaudiaRomani CR💜💜💜💜💜1 #WCT for the last time in 2017 the breathtaking Claudia #1 CR💜💜💜💜💜1 pic.twitter.com/yHb0LOSrNO

— Tom Elliott LE★💜★💍13 (@thomaselliott19) December 28, 2017

@ClaudiaRomani CR💜💜💜💜💜1 Claudia such amazing stunning beauty by the sea what a lady #1 CR💜💜💜💜💜1 pic.twitter.com/CEtpxyB9gD

— Tom Elliott LE★💜★💍13 (@thomaselliott19) December 28, 2017

@ClaudiaRomani CR💜💜💜💜💜1 #WCT is always the breathtaking Twitter queen Claudia #1 CR💜💜💜💜💜1 pic.twitter.com/bWvjmOfdgo

— Tom Elliott LE★💜★💍13 (@thomaselliott19) December 26, 2017

The View of the Blinkered

From VDH, at American Greatness:

Another brilliant column by my favorite columnist. How does he consistently top himself? https://t.co/Omvt6c9ahi

— Jane (@Jane00245086) January 3, 2018

The Next Revolution in Military Affairs

Eliot Cohen published the classic piece on the topic in 1996, at Foreign Affairs, "A Revolution in Warfare."

I don't worry about the U.S. being overtaken in the military technology realm anytime soon. But just in case, here's this at the National Interest, "The Next Revolution In Military Affairs: How America's Military Will Dominate":

The Next Revolution In Military Affairs: How America's Military Will Dominate https://t.co/PC4T8XPKVm

— National Interest (@TheNatlInterest) January 2, 2018

A Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA) is a theory about the evolution of warfare over time. An RMA is based on the marriage of new technologies with organizational reforms and innovative concepts of operations. The result is often characterized as a new way of warfare. There have been a number of RMAs just in the past century.

An example of an RMA is the mechanization of warfare that began in World War I with the introduction of military airpower, aircraft carriers, submarines and armored fighting vehicles. Out of these advances in technology came independent air forces, strategic bombardment and large-scale amphibious operations. Another occurred with the invention of nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic missiles leading to the creation of new organizations such as the now-defunct Strategic Air Command and new concepts such as deterrence. In the 1970s, the advent of information technologies and high-performance computing led to an ongoing RMA based largely on improved intelligence and precision strike weapons. The 1991 Gulf War and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 are considered to be quintessential examples of this RMA.

According to the theory of dialectics, all revolutions give rise to counter-revolutions. The counter to the precision strike revolution arose in the form of anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) capabilities. These included weapons systems such as sophisticated air defenses, long-range precision fires and unmanned vehicles. But more significantly, the A2/AD counterrevolution seeks to exploit new means of combat -- electronic and cyber warfare, in particular, and operations in domains such as outer space -- to attack the sensors, networks, and command and control systems on which the precision strike revolution was based.

A still new RMA could be imminent. It is a function, first and foremost, of the proliferation of sensors and so-called smart devices, the creation of increasingly large, complex and sophisticated information networks, and growing potential in automated systems and artificial intelligence. The first step in this revolution, now evident in the commercial world and our personal lives, is the rise of the “Internet of Things.” But it is the marriage of ubiquitous information collection, virtually unlimited data storage, advanced computational analytics and global, near-instantaneous communications that will truly revolutionize the world.

This emergent RMA is also driven by the need to address the A2/AD challenge and to more fully exploit the opportunities presented by new technologies and concepts of operations. Electronic and cyber “weapons” can be employed both offensively and defensively. Sensors and weapons in each of the domains of warfare (land, air, sea, outer space and cyberspace) can be employed in all others.

The current overarching concept encompassing the various aspects of the new RMA is Multi-Domain Battle (MDB). Although the MDB approach to future warfare is still evolving, one reasonable definition of it can be found in the U.S. Army’s Training and Doctrine Command draft document, Multi-Domain Battle: Evolution of Combined Arms for the 21st Century, 2025-2040: “a new, holistic approach to align friendly forces’ actions across domains, environments, and functions in time and physical spaces to achieve specific purposes in combat, as well as before and after combat in competition.” The key to the conduct of MDB is something called “convergence.” This is defined in the same document as...

U.C. Santa Cruz Can't Attract Enough Transfer Students

Now this is a surprise, since the entire State of California has gone to the dogs of social justice and political correctness. Seems like far-left U.C. Santa Cruz would be just the ticket for degenerate left-wing students looking to tune out and burn out.

Maybe all that social justice crap is a turnoff for regular people, after all.

At LAT, "U.C. Santa Cruz has offerings far beyond hippies and banana slugs. So why can't it draw more transfer students?":

UC Santa Cruz sits on an idyllic expanse of redwood groves and rolling meadows. World-class surf is just minutes away.

Its researchers were the first to arrange the DNA sequence of the human genome and make it publicly available.

About nine miles away, Cabrillo College in Aptos is the closest community college. But at a recent UC Santa Cruz sales pitch featuring University of California President Janet Napolitano, numerous Cabrillo students made it clear Santa Cruz wasn't their first transfer choice. Cal State is cheaper and classes are smaller, said one student. Santa Cruz housing is too expensive, said another. Several named UCLA or UC Berkeley as their dream schools.

"Santa Cruz life is too hippie for me." said Rachel Biddleman, a 21-year-old studying political science. "I'm more of a city person."

UC Santa Cruz recently launched a million-dollar effort to reach out to community college students around the state in an effort to change minds and boost its transfer numbers. The university is under pressure to meet state demands that eight of the nine UC undergraduate campuses enroll one transfer student for every two freshmen. Santa Cruz and Riverside both fall short, a failure Gov. Jerry Brown cited last year as one reason why he is withholding $50 million from UC's budget.

Last year, Santa Cruz enrolled about three freshmen for every transfer student. Of the campuses under state scrutiny, only Riverside did worse, with about four freshman per transfer.

State finance officials will decide this spring if the campuses have made sufficient "good faith efforts" toward meeting the ratio, which was set by Brown and Napolitano in 2015, said H.D. Palmer, the spokesman for the state finance department. He said one reason why Brown is pushing for increases is that they provide a more cost-efficient path to a four-year degree because transfer students complete their first two years of studies at the less expensive community colleges.

UC Santa Cruz Chancellor George Blumenthal, however, considers finance bureaucrats judging university enrollment actions "unbelievable micromanagement."

But he says the campus is trying hard — starting with correcting what he said were misperceptions. People still hear the name and picture the campus "Rolling Stone" once dubbed "the stonedest place on earth."

"Some people still think of us as a kooky place … as banana slugs, hippies and protests," he said. "We're also a serious university."

At Cabrillo College, Blumenthal talked up the work on the human genome project, as well as research in marine science and astronomy and astrophysics. Students got the chance to meet a Santa Cruz faculty member whose team won worldwide acclaim this fall for becoming the first to capture the light generated by a cataclysmic merger of two neutron stars. Last fall, the London-based Times Higher Education ranked UC Santa Cruz third in the world in research influence based on how many times scholars cited its work.

Blumenthal told students from four area community colleges about the university's undergraduate research opportunities, emphasis on social justice and leadership in environmental sustainability. He said a new summer academy could help them make the transition.

Napolitano pitched UC's generous financial aid, diversity and support for immigrants. "The doors to the University of California are open. ... Right next door is UC Santa Cruz!" she said.

More.

Emily Ratajkowski Talks Feminism

Being "sexualized" gives the finger to the patriarchy, or something.

At London's Daily Mail:

Emily Ratajkowski talks feminism and 'being sexualized' https://t.co/Mkk0d2F8Ai

— Daily Mail Celebrity (@DailyMailCeleb) January 3, 2018

'I think it's a very, very powerful and potent tool...'

Here's Michelle Malkin, on Fox News:

.@michellemalkin on @POTUS' use of Twitter: "The fact that @POTUS can say so much in 140 or 280 characters, & sum up what all of the moral cripples in the news media can't...I think it's a very, very powerful and potent tool. And he's used it to great effect." pic.twitter.com/cbyYdf7t9U

— Fox News (@FoxNews) January 3, 2018

Danielle Gersh's Wednesday Weather Forecast

We don't have much to complain about on the West Coast, except perhaps not enough rain.

I'm glad we're not having subfreezing temperatures like the East Coast.

Here's the beautiful Ms. Danielle, for CBS 2 News Los Angeles:

Danielle Gersh's Tuesday Forecast

I was up early this morning, reading and blogging.

I think I might go back to bed for a while, heh.

Meanwhile, here's the lovely Ms. Danielle.

More blogging later.

Shop New Year's Deals

At Amazon, Today's Deals.

And especially, Save Big on NordicTrack Equipment.

Also, Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Powder, Naturally Flavored Chocolate, 4.8 Pound.

Plus, CLIF BAR - Energy Bar - Blueberry Crisp - (2.4-Ounce Protein Bar, 12 Count).

Here, ProFitness Genuine Leather Workout Belt (4 Inches Wide) – Proper Weightlifting Form – Lower Back and Lumbar Support for CrossFit Exercises, Powerlifting Workouts, Deadlifts.

Still more, COWIN E7 Wireless Bluetooth Headphones with Mic Hi-Fi Deep Bass Wireless Headphones Over Ear, Comfortable Protein Earpads, 30 Hours Playtime for Travel Work TV Computer Phone - Black.

Finally, Samsung 65" 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV 2017 Model (UN65MU6300) with 2x 6ft High Speed HDMI Cable, Stanley 6-Outlet Surge Adapter, Screen Cleaner for LED TVs & 1 Year Extended Warranty.

BONUS: Chris D. Thomas, Inheritors of the Earth: How Nature Is Thriving in an Age of Extinction.

Demi Lovato Rocks Striped Swimsuit in Racy Instagram Photo

At London's Daily Mail, "Cheeky! Demi Lovato flaunts her pert derriere in racy Instagram snap while sporting striped bathing suit."

Plus, "How Lo(vato) can you go? Braless Demi Lovato shows off gravity-defying cleavage in VERY plunging sequined jumpsuit as she puts on sizzling performance in Miami."

Maria Menounos Gets Married

She just had brain surgery a few months ago, for cancer.

What a woman!

Aww! https://t.co/vx5EA8iSVh

— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) January 1, 2018

Our first issue of 2018 stars the incredible @mariamenounos! The TV host and entrepreneur is opening up about how her life-changing brain tumor diagnosis shifted her attitudes and actions on work, family, and especially her health: https://t.co/eSaxxf8clr On stands December 26! pic.twitter.com/eDDKmycHaX

— Women's Health (@WomensHealthMag) December 20, 2017

Logan Paul Apologizes

I've never heard of this guy, but he's stirred up an extremely angry nest of Internet outrage.

At Variety, "Logan Paul Apologizes for Posting Video of Apparent Suicide Victim: 'I Didn't Do It for Views'."

Also, at the Guardian U.K., "YouTube star Logan Paul has apologized after posting a video of the body of an alleged suicide victim he found in a Japanese forest; the video was removed."

And on Twitter, "Okay. Logan Paul is straight up retarded. You find a dead body in the Japanese Suicide Forest and instead of turning off the video and trying to get help for the dead guy, you vlog it? Seriously. You’re an idiot. I still find it hard to believe @YouTube still supports him."

And from iJustine:

@YouTube you CANNOT ignore this. You have so many incredibly talented content creators who strive to make this platform a better place. Stop promoting the trash that makes us all look bad.

— Justine Ezarik 🎉 (@ijustine) January 2, 2018

Samantha Hoopes Takes it Off (VIDEO)

At Sports Illustrated:

Gal Gadot: FHM's Sexiest Woman of 2017

Hey, she's a great choice!

#GalGadot is FHM's Sexiest Woman Of 2017! https://t.co/dMSsKpxHu4 pic.twitter.com/Xzu9hlmkog

— FHM (@FHM) January 1, 2018

Plus, she's topless here.

BONUS: At the Fappening, "Gal Gadot Topless and Sexy."