Emily St. John Mandel, Station Eleven

At Amazon, Emily St. John Mandel, Station Eleven: A Novel.

Kate Steinle Case, the Acquittal of Garcia Zarate, Makes Mockery of Rule of Law

As usual, Heather Mac Donald offers the best commentary on the Kate Steinle case, and the decline and fall of both law and order, and the once-Golden State of California.

At City Journal, "San Francisco's Shame."

Today's Shopping

At Amazon, Today's Deals.

And, Save on Etekcity Products.

Plus, Save on Digital Cameras.

Also, REGAL 50" x 70" Sherpa Luxury Throw Blanket - The Woods' Natural Camo.

More, Murray's Superior Hair Dressing Pomade, 3 Ounce (Pack of 4).

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BONUS: Thomas Fleming, The Strategy of Victory: How General George Washington Won the American Revolution.

More Lily Aldridge

Following-up, "Lily Aldridge Takes You Away to Her Turks and Caicos Paradise (VIDEO)."

Here's more Lily, via Vogue:

Lily Aldridge Takes You Away to Her Turks and Caicos Paradise (VIDEO)

She's always been one of my faves, but has been out of the limelight of late.

No matter. Enjoy her while she's hot.

William Jacobson at Vassar College

This is from last month, but there was quite the controversy, naturally.

Here's William, at USA Today, "My pro-free speech views made me the target of a smear campaign at Vassar College."

My lecture against squeezing out free speech from colleges got me smeared. The students who smeared me got a safe space complete with coloring books and markers.

(More at Legal Insurrection.)

Cool Courtney

It's Courtney Friel, who's a KTLA news anchor these days, and a smokin' babe.

See u in two!!!! pic.twitter.com/3Ct1fjNt3d

— Courtney Friel (@courtneyfriel) December 2, 2017

Flashback: "Courtney Friel, Political Scientist."

It's Brian Ross, Again

Why, oh why, does this guy still have a job?

At the Hill, "ABC News faces criticism after correcting bombshell Flynn-Trump report."

ABC News faces criticism after correcting bombshell Flynn-Trump report https://t.co/iW0t98jW4i pic.twitter.com/GMglUAREzW

— The Hill (@thehill) December 2, 2017

And Dana Loesch:

Yeah, that’s a big *correction,* not a clarification. Flynn erred for lying about it, not for making inroads during transition like literally every other admin prior, including Obama admin. https://t.co/WvVtmXB2dI

— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) December 2, 2017

Leftist Misogyny

The left has really ratcheted up the hatred toward Sarah Sanders. The cool thing, the amazing thing, is how she bats it off like a pro, heh.

At Instapundit, "WHY ARE LEFTY MEDIA OUTLETS SUCH CESSPITS OF MISOGYNY?"

When Will They Outlaw Pickup Trucks?

I was over at the Dodge dealer in Anaheim the other day, and they had a diesel Ram 250 one-ton pickup, way jacked up, all black, and looking meaner that sh*t. I almost wanted to trade my Challenger back in for that thing, lol.

In any case, see Dr. Helen, at Pajamas.

Take charge.

Photo Credit: Nick B. pic.twitter.com/XyoQKuYltg

— RamTrucks (@RamTrucks) December 2, 2017

Ready to do work in #RamCountry.

Photo Credit: Lucas W. pic.twitter.com/t9yeMWEWIm

— RamTrucks (@RamTrucks) November 30, 2017

Diesel tough.

Photo Credit: @sick7_dually pic.twitter.com/pQtjvDPz0i

— RamTrucks (@RamTrucks) November 28, 2017

Viktor E. Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning

At Amazon, Viktor E. Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning.

Terry Goodkind, Wizard's First Rule

At Amazon, Terry Goodkind, Wizard's First Rule (Sword of Truth, Book 1).

Fiona Mozley, Elmet

At Amazon, Fiona Mozley, Elmet: A Novel.

Mohsin Hamid, Moth Smoke

*BUMPED.*

Mr. Hamid has a new novel out, Exit West, about the plight of refugees fleeing poverty and terror, which I'm sure will please leftist audiences.

But I cracked up at the description of Hamid's first novel at Wikipedia, "Hamid's first novel, Moth Smoke, told the story of a marijuana-smoking ex-banker in post-nuclear-test Lahore who falls in love with his best friend's wife and becomes a heroin addict."

At Amazon, Mohsin Hamid, Moth Smoke.

Trump's Justice Department Considers New Charges Against Kathryn Steinle's Killer

There are no words. Seriously, I'm upset about this.

At the San Francisco Chronicle, and Twitchy:

Conservatives let SF have it over verdict in #KateSteinle case. https://t.co/EvRLHAtuza via @jfwildermuth @rachelswan pic.twitter.com/Oui2YaabSz

— San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) December 1, 2017

#BREAKING: #KateSteinle trial verdict: Jose Ines Garcia Zarate acquitted of murder and manslaughter in killing at Pier 14 in S.F. https://t.co/j88ocGJ6Ll pic.twitter.com/5eI2tG8FtD

— San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) December 1, 2017

Chronicle editorial: Justice not served in trial of Kate Steinle's killer https://t.co/71K643dlgK pic.twitter.com/6GP1HhrDdH

— San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) December 1, 2017

INFURIATING: Illegal alien acquitted of murder, manslaughter in shooting death of Kate Steinle https://t.co/c0vmbaZr7P

— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) December 1, 2017

Awful: Dan Bongino lays out MADDENING 'mockery of justice' timeline in Kate Steinle death https://t.co/gfxdmLluPT

— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) December 1, 2017

BOOMAGE --> Guy Benson ZINGS California over #KateSteinle verdict and it's PERFECT https://t.co/iYEZ2UmBNN

— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) December 1, 2017

'Damning indictment'! Michelle Malkin NUKES Pelosi & open borders pols after Kate Steinle verdict https://t.co/yKMnzoWQa8

— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) December 1, 2017

Top House Democrat John Conyers Hospitalized Amid Harassment Allegations

He's the longest serving member of the House of Representatives, now being thrown under the bus, lol.

I've talked to several people who say Rep. John Conyers is super stressed out and this is taking a toll on him. Now, Mr. Conyers is in the hospital while still maintaining that he did nothing wrong. https://t.co/P0xYdw4Zdm

— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) November 30, 2017

NEW: Longtime Rep. John Conyers has been hospitalized for stress-related illness, his spokesperson says. Conyers has faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, and recently stepped aside as ranking member of House Judiciary Committee. pic.twitter.com/sDxNONyjnD

— ABC News (@ABC) November 30, 2017

Democrats throwing him under the bus now:

NEW: Longtime Rep. John Conyers has been hospitalized for stress-related illness, his spokesperson says. Conyers has faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, and recently stepped aside as ranking member of House Judiciary Committee. pic.twitter.com/sDxNONyjnD

— ABC News (@ABC) November 30, 2017

'Rope. Tree. Journalist. Some Assembly Required'

Now that's some t-shirt, heh.

At NPR, "Walmart Pulls T-Shirts That Hint at Lynching Journalists" (via Memeorandum).

Walmart just pulled a T-shirt that said: ‘‘Rope. Tree. Journalist. SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED.’’ pic.twitter.com/WPPHFfNlBu

— Marie Connor (@thistallawkgirl) November 30, 2017

"Rope. Tree. Journalist. SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED." T-shirt has been removed from @Walmart's website at RTDNA's urging. https://t.co/lA8FGCUnHt pic.twitter.com/qnDiVGIwTN

— RTDNA (@RTDNA) November 30, 2017

T. H. White, The Once and Future King

At Amazon, T. H. White, The Once and Future King.

Shop Amazon

Thanks for your support. It's awesome and greatly appreciated.

Here's today's deals, at Amazon.

Also, AmazonBasics AA Performance Alkaline Batteries (48 Count) - Packaging May Vary.

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BONUS: Roger Kimball, ed., Vox Populi: The Perils and Promises of Populism.

Christina Hoff Sommers Discusses 'Sex Panic' on Tucker Carlson's (VIDEO)

Following-up from last night, "The Great Sex Panic of 2017."

Watch:

The Great Sex Panic of 2017

We're in confusing times right now, that's for sure.

Here's Christina Hoff Sommers, "A panic is not an answer: We’re at imminent risk of turning this #metoo moment into a frenzied rush to blame all men."

(RELATED: "Beware the Rape Allegation Bandwagon.")

More on Matt Lauer

Following-up, "Matt Lauer Fired."

See this doozy of a piece at Variety, "Matt Lauer Accused of Sexual Harassment by Multiple Women (EXCLUSIVE)."

Omg this variety story on Lauer. Oh my god. https://t.co/Itzw15cuY6

— Hadas Gold (@Hadas_Gold) November 29, 2017

Shop Today's Deals

At Amazon, New deals. Every day. Shop our Deal of the Day, Lightning Deals and more daily deals and limited-time sales.

See especially, Destiny 2 - PlayStation 4 Standard Edition.

And, Transformers: The Last Knight -- Knight Armor Turbo Changer Optimus Prime, and Transformers: The Last Knight -- Knight Armor Turbo Changer Bumblebee.

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

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Plus, Philips Norelco Electric Shaver 8900, Wet & Dry Edition S8950/91.

BONUS: James Agee, A Death in the Family.

8 Million Could Die in Nuclear War with North Korea

That wouldn't be good.

At the National Interest:

8 Million People Could Die in a Nuclear War with North Korea https://t.co/mobYHD0AC3

— National Interest (@TheNatlInterest) November 29, 2017

Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2017

At London's Daily Mail, "Fallen Angel! Ming Xi bursts into tears backstage after taking a tumble during the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in Shanghai."

Also, "Making moves after The Weeknd! Bella Hadid puts on flirtatious display with singer Miguel during Victoria's Secret show in Shanghai...after that run-in with her ex at last year's catwalk," and "Ravishing in red! Bella Hadid flaunts her ample cleavage as she matches Taylor Hill and Sara Sampaio in crimson dresses at Victoria's Secret Fashion Show viewing party."

Plus, "Bra-vo! Candice Swanepoel teams lingerie with sheer sequinned pantsuit as she reunites with VS Angels for fashion show viewing party."

Matt Lauer Fired

Well, Charlie Rose. Now, Matt Lauer. If we could just get George Stephanopoulos fired we'd be cooking.

At Politico, "Longtime 'Today' host Matt Lauer fired from NBC for 'inappropriate sexual behavior'."

Also at Memeorandum, "NBC Fires Matt Lauer Over Sexual Misconduct Allegations."

Today's Deals

At Amazon, Shop Today.

See especially, GreenWorks 2600502 13 Amp 20-Inch Corded Snow Thrower.

And, Intex Raised Downy Airbed with Built-in Electric Pump, Queen, Bed Height 22".

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Plus, XCSOURCE 2x Car Vehicles 9LED Daytime Running Light DRL Kit Fog Lamp Day Driving Daylight.

And, Meguiar's G18211 Ultimate Paste Wax, 11 oz.

Still more, Mothers 05500 California Gold Brazilian Carnauba Cleaner Wax - 12 oz.

Here, Turtle Wax T-49R1 F21 Tire Foam and Shine - 18 oz., and Turtle Wax 50733 Complete ICE Premium Car Care Kit, 8-Piece.

BONUS: Joseph Heller, Catch-22 (50th Anniversary Edition).

Genevieve Morton 2018 Calendar Shoot

At Taxi Driver, "Genevieve Morton Topless for her 2018 Calendar Shoot."

Use code “Blackfriday” to get 15% off on https://t.co/Smq8FeWAAB today!! pic.twitter.com/x7kjCfGVAj

— genevieve morton (@genevievemorton) November 24, 2017

Head to https://t.co/Smq8FeWAAB to order your 2018 calendar pic.twitter.com/5FoBd2VpLP

— genevieve morton (@genevievemorton) November 26, 2017

Believe All Women?

Within limits.

Here's Bari Weiss, at NYT:

“Believe all women” is a powerful war cry, but it can be turned into a weapon to hurt us. Exhibit A: Roy Moore’s false accuser. My latest: https://t.co/TlpopSzH9m

— Bari Weiss (@bariweiss) November 28, 2017

The Old Man and the Sea

I spent the day with my young son yesterday, cruising around for books, going out for pizza, and then topping off the afternoon with a stop in Newport Beach. My son was so excited to walk around the pier, see the fishermen and examine their catch, and, most of all, rekindle some memories of previous visits down to the water.

We've taken away my son's digital items for a couple of weeks, because he's been having issues. No cell phone. No iPad. No tablet. He can watch television, but there's no inter-connectivity, which is good. It's amazing how much fun it is to just unplug. He was joyous. You talk. You communicate. You reminisce about the good times and you create new memories. I love my son so much and want him to be healthy and happy. Disconnecting helps.

More later. Have a wonderful day.

Just got home from the beach. Hey, that’s the old man and the sea! #NewportBeach #California pic.twitter.com/QIHEwrppy3

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) November 27, 2017

Neil Postman and Charles Weingartner, Teaching As a Subversive Activity

I teach to subvert the leftist narrative, and it works!

At Amazon, Neil Postman and Charles Weingartner, Teaching As a Subversive Activity.

Awesome Amazon Deals

For Cyber Monday.

At Amazon, All-New Fire HD 10 Tablet with Alexa Hands-Free, 10.1" 1080p Full HD Display, 32 GB, Black - with Special Offers ($99.00).

Also, All-New Fire 7 Kids Edition Tablet, 7" Display, 16 GB, Blue Kid-Proof Case ($69.99).

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More, Kindle Paperwhite E-reader - Black, 6" High-Resolution Display (300 ppi) with Built-in Light, Wi-Fi - Includes Special Offers ($89.99).

Still more, Kindle Essentials Bundle including Kindle 6” E-Reader, Black with Special Offers, Amazon Cover for Kindle – Black, Power Adapter, and special eBooks offer - $15 credit ($99.97).

Here, All Amazon Accessories Link.

BONUS: Steven Hill, Raw Deal: How the "Uber Economy" and Runaway Capitalism Are Screwing American Workers.

Mexico's Slums

No wonder migrants flee Mexico like the plague.

At LAT, "Mexico promised affordable housing for all. Instead it created slums":

Take a highway out of any Mexican city and you'll see rapidly-decaying slums, even though they're only a few years old. What went wrong? My LA Times investigation. https://t.co/JWPmnpjC8O

— Richard Marosi (@RichMarosi) November 26, 2017

Sixteen years ago, Mexico embarked on a monumental campaign to elevate living standards for its working-class masses.

The government teamed with private developers to launch the largest residential construction boom in Latin American history. Global investors — the World Bank, big foundations, Wall Street firms — poured billions of dollars into the effort.

Vast housing tracts sprang up across cow pastures, farms and old haciendas. From 2001 to 2012, an estimated 20 million people — one-sixth of Mexico’s population — left cities, shantytowns and rural ranchos for the promise of a better life.

It was a Levittown moment for Mexico — a test of the increasingly prosperous nation’s first-world ambitions. But Mexico fell disastrously short of creating that orderly suburbia.

The program has devolved into a slow-motion social and financial catastrophe, inflicting daily hardships and hazards on millions in troubled developments across the country, a Los Angeles Times investigation has found.

Homeowners toting buckets scrounge for water delivered by trucks. Gutters run with raw sewage from burst pipes. Streets sink, sidewalks crumble, and broken-down water treatment plants rust. In some developments, blackouts hit for days at a time.

Inside many homes, roofs leak, walls crack and electrical systems short circuit, blowing out appliances and in some cases sparking fires that send families fleeing.

The program cost more than $100 billion, and some investors and construction executives reaped enormous profits, hailing themselves as “nation builders” as they joined the ranks of Mexico’s richest citizens.

Meanwhile, the factory workers, small-business owners, retirees and civil servants who bought the homes got stuck with complex loans featuring mortgage payments that rose even as their neighborhoods deteriorated into slums.

The Times visited 50 of the affordable-housing developments from Tijuana to the Gulf of Mexico. It also reviewed thousands of pages of government and industry documents, and interviewed hundreds of homeowners, municipal leaders, housing experts, civil engineers, construction workers and government officials.

The American housing crisis and recession a decade ago also were marked by regulatory failures, and the U.S. economy eventually recovered. But the crisis in Mexico has been deepening.

Conditions at the developments vary widely. While some meet basic standards, rapid decay is evident at developments in or near every major city: Failed water systems. Unfinished electrical grids, wastewater systems and other infrastructure. Parks and schools that were promised but never materialized.

Many developments were built far from employment centers on marginal land — wetlands, riverbanks and unstable hillsides — with scarce access to water. Local officials rewrote zoning laws and approved developments with little or no review.

Developers downsized homes — building about 1 million one-bedroom units as small as 325 square feet, which is smaller than a typical two-car garage in the U.S. Many families of six, seven or more live in these postage-stamp dwellings, sleeping in laundry nooks and hallways.

Builders have all but abandoned hundreds of developments without completing infrastructure, resulting in a patchwork of public services.

In developments without working streetlights, youngsters wield flashlights to navigate pitch-black streets. In those without trash-hauling, people burn garbage in vacant lots to deter rats.

Tree stumps are placed in open manholes to alert children to the hazards of poorly maintained streets. Residents of water-parched neighborhoods lock the lids of rooftop cisterns to keep thieves from siphoning water.

The unfinished developments blight cities across the country. An estimated 300,000 people live in more than 40 incomplete tracts in the fast-growing Baja California cities of Tijuana and Ensenada.

In Mexico state, which surrounds Mexico City, developers have completed only 36 of the 235 developments started between 2005 and 2012, leaving 200,000 to 500,000 people in limbo, according to state records.

“It was a world of corruption,” said Alberto Uribe, the mayor of Tlajomulco, a suburb of Guadalajara. His predecessors in the city approved developments where the well water has run low for an estimated 300,000 people, he said. Water is now rationed, and many families receive water only every other day...

More.

Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters Crowned Miss Universe 2017

She's a beauty.

At USA Today:

#MissSouthAfrica Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters is crowned #MissUniverse 2017 https://t.co/khfcCxIdp4

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) November 27, 2017

Congratulations to Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, the winner of the 2017 #MissUniverse competition! pic.twitter.com/JYuQYc3Lvo

— Miss Universe (@MissUniverse) November 27, 2017

The face you make just before you take the @MissUniverse stage.

RT if you're tuning in to watch #MissUniverse on @vuzutv tomorrow morning? #SouthAfrica pic.twitter.com/WffMU2bMJ7

— Demi-LeighNel-Peters (@DemiLeighNP) November 26, 2017

Top 5.🇿🇦 #MisssUniverse #SouthAfrica pic.twitter.com/2XpflbDdso

— Demi-LeighNel-Peters (@DemiLeighNP) November 27, 2017

In Greenwich and Manhattan, Tax-Hike Fears Fuel Talk of Exodus

The poor, wealthy babies --- and all Democrats too. I feel terrible for them. (*Eye-roll*)

At Bloomberg, "Tax-Hike Fears Trigger Talk of Exodus From Manhattan and Greenwich":

Fears of a tax hike are fueling talk of an exodus in Greenwich and Manhattan https://t.co/EI8reC8OBj pic.twitter.com/IFp50a7VLB

— Bloomberg (@business) November 27, 2017

Even Bruce McGuire, founder of the Connecticut Hedge Fund Association, understands if wealthy Northeasterners flee the region due to changes in the tax code.

“It would almost be irresponsible if you weren’t thinking about moving,” he said.

The problem for the Connecticut hedge-fund set -- and, more broadly, for a lot of the Wall Street crowd -- is that Republican proposals in both the House and Senate would drive up taxes for many high-earners in the New York City area. By eliminating the deduction for most state and local taxes, an individual making a yearly salary of $1,000,000 -- a figure not uncommon in the financial industry -- would owe the Internal Revenue Service an additional $21,000, according to a preliminary analysis by accounting firm Marcum LLP.

Billionaire hedge fund managers have blazed the trail south in recent years. David Tepper, Paul Tudor Jones and Eddie Lampert are New York-area transplants to Florida, which has no personal income tax.

A final bill could still do away with the hike, but so far there are no signs coming out of Washington that will happen. Financially struggling New Jersey had the sixth-highest individual income rate this year, according to the Federation of Tax Administrators. New York ranked eighth and cash-strapped Connecticut 12th. Nine of the 10 states with the highest individual taxes, including Washington, D.C., voted Democratic in the 2016 presidential election.

Tax Refugees

No one interviewed for this story would talk openly about making plans to move, but Goldman Sachs Group Inc. is estimating that New York City alone could lose as much as 4 percent of its top earners if the bill becomes law. In Florida, where there’s no state income tax, there’s the sense that this is a great opportunity to lure disgruntled tax refugees.

The Miami Downtown Development Authority is throwing a party next month during the annual Art Basel show, and Nitin Motwani, a real estate developer, has invited wealthy Northeasterners who’ve expressed interest in moving to the area. Because the proposed tax changes are practically begging them to relocate, Motwani expects a crowd.

State and local taxes, also called SALT, “can and should be a major catalyst,” said Motwani, a development authority board member. Tax reform will “certainly be something we’re highlighting” at the party, in the Perez Art Museum. “Inertia is a tough thing, but you add on another tax bill and maybe that pushes you over the edge.”

Jennifer Delacruz's Cooler Sunday Forecast

She's so amazing. I could watch her weather forecasts all day.

At ABC News 10 San Diego:

Best-Selling Deals

*BUMPED.*

Okay folks, thanks for shopping my Amazon links for the holidays. I really appreciate it!

More, Today's Deals.

And, a best-seller, Philips Hue White Smart Bulb Starter Kit (4 A19 Bulbs and 1 Bridge, Compatible with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit and Google Assistant).

Also, Nest Learning Thermostat 3rd Generation, Stainless Steel, Works with Amazon Alexa.

Plus, Ring Wi-Fi Enabled Video Doorbell in Satin Nickel.

More, Bluetooth Headphones, VAVA MOOV 28 Wireless Sports Earphones in Ear Earbuds with 8 Hours Playtime (IPX5 Splashproof, aptX Stereo, Magnetic Aluminum Design, Noise Cancelling Mic).

Here, Roku Streaming Stick+ | 4K/HDR/HD streaming player with 4x the wireless range & voice remote with TV power and volume (2017).

Still more, TP-Link Smart Plug, No Hub Required, Wi-Fi, Control your Devices from Anywhere, Works with Alexa and Google Assistant (HS100).

BONUS: Brandon Sanderson, The Way of Kings.

ICYMI: George Saunders, Lincoln in the Bardo

At Amazon, George Saunders, Lincoln in the Bardo.

Kendall Jenner Tops the List as the Highest Paid Model in 2017

At Forbes:

Announcing the world's highest-paid models of 2017:

1. Kendall Jenner
2. Gisele Bundchen
3. Chrissy Teigenhttps://t.co/hgRXVPBCez pic.twitter.com/1fBqmsEV3E

— Forbes (@Forbes) November 21, 2017

Kendall Jenner Nips in See Through White Top - https://t.co/nq6XcTDOM9 - pic.twitter.com/x6i7AXd2TN

— Taxi Driver (@TaxiDriverMovie) November 22, 2017

Gail Z. Martin, The Summoner

I'm on a fantasy posting jag, lol.

Here's more, at Amazon, Gail Z. Martin, The Summoner (Chronicles of the Necromancer, Book 1).

Vita Sidorkina

At Sports Illustrated Swimsuit:

😎 https://t.co/7EbO1kouSe pic.twitter.com/69ngKMGIEV

— SI Swimsuit (@SI_Swimsuit) November 25, 2017

Tori Praver Topless (VIDEO)

At Sports Illustrated Swimsuit:

Raica Oliveira Keeping Things Simple (VIDEO)

At Sports Illustrated Swimsuit:

Nancy Pelosi Defends John Conyers on Meet the Press (VIDEO)

Folks were tweeting about this like crazy.

Pelosi defends Conyers as 'an icon' https://t.co/uZwWdV3uXr via @kelseytam pic.twitter.com/HnCq8STgPH

— POLITICO (@politico) November 26, 2017

Zero tolerance for alleged sexual predation ... unless you've done good things in your life and you're in the right partyhttps://t.co/hh59Z8Y9xO

— Alex Burns (@alexburnsNYT) November 26, 2017

.@NancyPelosi: Accused Congressman Conyers is an "icon" in our country. #MTP pic.twitter.com/4QlKKJTIJP

— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) November 26, 2017

Nancy Pelosi: John Conyers is "an icon in our country" and "deserves due process."

Also Nancy Pelosi: Roy Moore is a "child molester!" https://t.co/B4KWvJXJ9q

— Nick Short 🇺🇸 (@PoliticalShort) November 26, 2017

Hard for Ds to claim moral high ground on sexual harassment when they respond like this to one of their own https://t.co/VIbTihKOoF

— amy walter (@amyewalter) November 26, 2017

Nancy Pelosi on MTP was pathetic and partisan regarding sexual harassment/assault.

— jeremy scahill (@jeremyscahill) November 26, 2017

#NancyPelosi proves that this so-called “accountability” moment we’re having, on sexual assault and harassment, is completely partisan. #MeetThePress

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) November 26, 2017

Cyber Monday is Going to be Yuge!

Lol.

Online shopping has really taken off. I love it, heh.

At USA Today:

Cyber Monday is forecast to be huge. The reason: can't shake a shopping habit https://t.co/YS8sDmqLKS

— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) November 26, 2017

Stephen Kotkin, Stalin

*BUMPED.*

At Amazon, Stephen Kotkin, Stalin: Waiting for Hitler, 1929-1941.

Radicalism on the Rise in American Politics

From Joel Kotkin, at the Orange County Register:

The Republican Party’s road to the 2018 mid-terms looks increasingly like Pickett’s Charge, the Confederate assault on fixed Union positions that marked the high-water mark for the southern cause. After achieving its greatest domination of elective office in 80 years, the GOP seems likely to get slaughtered.

As at Gettysburg, bad generalship, an unpopular, clumsy Donald Trump, constitutes one cause for the imminent Republican decline. But the officer corps is also failing, as the congressional delegation seems determined to screw its middle class base in favor the remnant of those corporate plutocrats who finance their campaigns and the Goldman Sachs crowd to whom Trump has outsourced his economic policy. Steve Bannon’s support for demagogues like Roy Moore can only further weaken the party’s appeal, rapidly turning much of the business community, out of sheer embarrassment, into de facto Democrats.

Only one thing can save the Republicans from themselves: the Democrats. Although they have shown remarkable unity as part of the anti-Trump resistance, the Democrats themselves suffer deep-seated divisions. Most critically they are moving left at a time when more voters seek something more in the middle. Certainly this progressive tilt has done little to reverse their own declining popularity; public approval of the party has sunk to the lowest levels in a quarter century.

The rise of the radical base

“Who the goods wish to destroy, they first drive mad.” Today this old Greek adage seems particularly applicable to the Democrats. In the past the party produced leaders, and endorsed positions, that appealed across a broad swath of the population. With the Republicans forced to defend Trump, and ally with the marginalized far-right, a more centrist approach seems almost guaranteed to create success, as we saw recently in the Virginia elections.

But, sadly, the much heralded “resistance” to Trump has radicalized the party’s grassroots, giving enhanced power to militant groups like Black Lives Matter, as well as the most extreme green and gender fundamentalists. Clustered increasingly in large urban centers, Democrats are moving more quickly to progressive extremes than the GOP is shifting to the right; the percentage of Democratic voters tilting left since 1994 has grown from 30 percent to 73 percent. Moderates in the party, argues Wall Street investor Steven Ratner, face a “freight train coming at us from the left.”

The centrist approach used in Virginia should show the way, and succeeded largely by winning moderate voters from the affluent D.C. suburbs. But in California or New York rank and file, suburban Democrats have little voice against the organized and strident habitués of the core cities. The various cultural imperatives of the media, the universities, the progressive non-profit and well-funded community groups wash out all other voices.

Positions that threaten a Democratic resurgence

Three critical positions threaten a national Democratic resurgence. The first, and the most divisive, is immigration policy. Most Americans do not embrace the xenophobia of the Trump base, but they also do not favor such things as sanctuary cities, even here in California. They are not likely to celebrate immigrant law-breaking as does state Senate Leader Kevin de León, now challenging the more centrist Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s bid for re-election.

The second vulnerability revolves around a strong move to a single-payer federal system, a position endorsed by increasingly powerful groups like the Democratic Socialists of America and New York’s Working Families Party. To be sure, this may be more attractive to most Americans than GOP attempts to scuttle the current Obamacare system, but it would require a massive tax increase that would alienate moderate, middle-income voters. A plan to impose this system on California was deemed so expensive — essentially more than doubling the state budget — that Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon had to table it to the chagrin of the progressive lobby.

The third, and perhaps most critical, policy area relates more broadly to culture. Just as the antediluvian stances of a Roy Moore may make middle-of-the-road voters gag, many Americans also would have a hard time embracing such things as reparations, race and gender quotas, transgender issues, campus speech codes and even football protests celebrated by progressives. This aversion to identity politics appears particularly true for the middle American voters who swung in 2016 to Trump and the GOP.

We live in interesting times, that's for sure.

Still more.

Patrick Rothfuss, The Wise Man's Fear

More of the best fantasy, at Amazon, Patrick Rothfuss, The Wise Man's Fear.

Black Friday Mayhem

Following-up, "Black Friday Crowds Not So Bad, As Online Shopping Attracts More Holiday Consumers."

Turns out there was some of the usual mayhem this year, although not as bad as in the past. People still getting crazy out there.

At London's Daily Mail:

Black Friday mayhem: One shot outside Missouri mall as brawls close Alabama shopping center https://t.co/ksMNqiknfW pic.twitter.com/tZZE6lWHoy

— Daily Mail US (@DailyMail) November 24, 2017

Black Friday Crowds Not So Bad, As Online Shopping Attracts More Holiday Consumers

Well, I picked up my toaster yesterday, and the line was around the store at my local Kohl's (below). Turns out that was mostly shoppers hunting down the "doorbuster" deals. I went back a little later and it wasn't so bad.

In any case, at LAT, "Black Friday mayhem may be a thing of the past":

The line at Kohl’s in Irvine. All the way to the back of the store. *SMH* #BlackFriday pic.twitter.com/3VqHSnxyOp

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) November 24, 2017

Chae Woong Bae and his girlfriend had steeled themselves to brave the Black Friday shopping chaos they’d watched on TV back home in South Korea.

But when the pair arrived at 4:30 a.m. Friday at a Target in North Hollywood for their first Black Friday outing, they were the only ones in line. No one else joined the queue for an hour, ahead of the store's opening at 6 a.m.

"On the TV, we see people fighting each other, so at first, we were a little scared to come today," said a disappointed Bae, 22. "I didn't expect it to be so quiet."

Once known for frenzied crowds that jostled for deals in packed stores, Black Friday in Southern California has become a more subdued scene. The rise of e-commerce has made savings available to anyone, anywhere — at any time.

To compete with online sellers, and each other, brick-and-mortar retailers have pushed discounts days and even weeks before the day once considered the critical barometer of the holiday shopping season.

The result: Consumers said stores and malls were less packed and more relaxed. It was a welcome change for some.

"If I had walked in and there was a massive crowd, I would have walked right out," said Amanda Solomon, 25, as she shopped with her mother at the Macy's at Westfield Century City mall.

"It wouldn't be worth the savings," her mother, Irene Castaldo, 63, chimed in.

National retail chains that open on Thanksgiving have largely moved doorbuster deals to Thursday night, making Black Friday a calmer shopping experience.

To get the same type of crowd "you've got to have the same type of early-bird specials on Friday as Thursday," said Britt Beemer, chairman and founder of America's Research Group, who has tracked holiday sales trends for 30 years. "And nobody does that."

Though stores may not seem as busy on Black Friday as in years past, analysts expect holiday retail sales to jump in 2017, a result of higher consumer confidence and gains in employment and disposable income.

The National Retail Federation predicts that retail sales in November and December could total between $678.75 billion and $682 billion, up from $655.8 billion last year.

Meghan O'Sullivan, Windfall

This looks awesome!

At Amazon, Meghan O'Sullivan, Windfall: How the New Energy Abundance Upends Global Politics and Strengthens America’s Power.

Robert Jordan, Wheel of Time, Boxed Set

Great for under the Christmas tree.

At Amazon, Robert Jordan, "The Wheel of Time," Boxed Set I, Books 1-3: The Eye of the World, The Great Hunt, The Dragon Reborn.

Also, "The Wheel of Time," Boxed Set II, Books 4-6: The Shadow Rising, The Fires of Heaven, Lord of Chaos.

Jennifer Delacruz's Cyber Saturday Forecast

It's the big shopping weekend --- tomorrow's "Cyber Saturday." I'll be hanging out, working on my car, shopping for books and stuff, and otherwise dawdling around.

More later.

Here's the lovely Ms. Jennifer, for ABC News 10 San Diego:

Shop Best Deals

In Electronics and Accessories, at Amazon.

Also, Shop Home and Office Printers.

More, Videos and Electronics.

And, GPS and Navigation Systems.

Still more, Deals on Televisions.

Here, Black Friday Deals.

Plus, Shop Selection of Drones.

More here, Cameras and Accessories.

And, Shop Watches.

BONUS: Jessica Bruder, Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century.

Black Friday Shopping

*BUMPED.*

I actually need a new toaster, lol. Mine blew out yesterday so I need to head out into the Black Friday scrum, heh. Probably going to head over to Kohl's here in a bit. Might be fun, for some shopping combat experience at least. Other than that, I'm going to buy some Christmas presents online. I hope you are too, and that's awesome if you're using my Amazon links for some of that.

Thanks again.

At Amazon, Today's Deals.

And especially, Instant Pot DUO80 8 Qt 7-in-1 Multi- Use Programmable Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Sauté, Yogurt Maker and Warmer.

Save on Robot Vacuums, and especially, ECOVACS DEEBOT N79 Robotic Vacuum Cleaner with Strong Suction, for Low-pile Carpet, Hard floor, Wi-Fi Connected.

More, BLACK+DECKER 2-Slice Toaster, Red, TR1278RM, and Hamilton Beach Brushed Stainless Steel 2-Slice Toaster (22910).

Here, Amrapur Overseas | Goose Down Alternative Microfiber Quilted Reversible Comforter / Duvet Insert - Ultra Soft Hypoallergenic Bedding - Medium Warmth for All Seasons - [Queen, Coral Blue/Oatmeal].

And, Naukay - Business Travel Backpack,Durable Slim Laptop Backpack for Women & Men,College School Computer Bag Daypack with USB charging Port，Anti Theft Water Resistant backpack for 15.6 inch Laptop and Notebook.

More here, Craftsman 230-Piece Mechanics Tool Set, 50230.

Finally, LG Electronics OLED55B6P Flat 55-Inch 4K Ultra HD Smart OLED TV (2016 Model).

BONUS: E.L. Doctorow, Billy Bathgate: A Novel.

Robert Jordan, The Great Hunt

You'll get hooked once you sink into Robert Jordan's "Eye of the World" series.

Fantastic reading.

Here's the second volume, at Amazon, Robert Jordan, The Great Hunt (The Wheel of Time, Book 2).

Joy Villa: I'm Standing for the National Anthem (VIDEO)

She's so great!

For Prager University:

Hottest Bo Krsmanovic (VIDEO)

At Sports Illustrated Swimsuit:

Oleg V. Khlevniuk, Stalin

At Amazon, Oleg V. Khlevniuk, Stalin: New Biography of a Dictator.

Laura Ingraham, Shut Up and Sing

I posted Laura Ingraham's Billionaire at the Barricades a while back.

She's been pounding the populist hammer for some time, though.

See also, at Amazon, Laura Ingraham, Shut Up and Sing: How Elites from Hollywood, Politics, and the Media are Subverting America.

Marriage and Kids vs. Dogs and Netflix

I'd like to see actually statistics on this, but if it's anywhere near majority opinion, we can be relieved that humans will die out by self-extinction over the near few generations.

My god, what is wrong with these people?

It's Lauren Southern, in the U.K.:

Hundreds Dead in Egypt Mosque Massacre (VIDEO)

Well, that's not going to be good for those Thanksgiving memories.

At the Telegraph U.K., "Egypt mosque attack: At least 235 killed as militants shoot at fleeing worshippers after detonating bomb":

Egypt was last night reeling from the bloodiest terror attack in its history after suspected Isil fighters slaughtered at least 235 people during prayers by detonating explosives inside a Sinai mosque and then killing the worshippers in a hail of gunfire.

The terrorists struck a mosque in the remote town of Bir al-Abed in northern Sinai where hundreds of people had gathered for traditional Islamic prayers on Friday afternoon.

The attack began with a powerful explosion at the al-Rawdah mosque and gunmen leapt out of four off-road vehicles to kill people as they fled. Security officials and witnesses said the attackers used their vehicles to cut off escape routes and opened fire on ambulances as they reached the scene. More than 100 were wounded.

The gunmen appear to have escaped from the scene after the massacre before Egyptian security forces could arrive.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack but suspicion fell on the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant's (Isil) affiliate in the Sinai desert, which has waged a bloody insurgency against the Egyptian military and the country’s Christian minority.

The worshippers at the al-Rawdah were mainly Sufis, who adhere to a mystic form of Islam. Isil considers Sufis to be heretics and has threatened them in the past.

The town of Bir al-Abed is home to around 2,500 people, all members of the Sawarka tribe. In conservative rural areas of Egypt it is usually only men who attend Friday prayers. With an attack so large it is believed that a significant portion of all the men in the village were either killed or wounded on Friday.

Abdel Qader Mubarak, a man originally from the village, said his entire family had been killed in the slaughter. "I can't talk, all my family are gone," he told The Telegraph.

The massacre is the worst terrorist attack on civilians in modern Egyptian history, and its death toll outstripped the 224 deaths caused when suspected Isil militants blew up a Russian airliner shortly after it took off from Sharm el-Sheikh in 2015.

Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Egypt’s president, promised to respond with “brutal force” against the attackers.

“We will remain steadfast and will fight back with an iron fist. This attack will only add to our persistence on overcoming the tragedy and we will win the battle against the forces of evil,” Mr Sisi said.

"The army and police will avenge our martyrs and return security and stability with force in the coming short period.”

Despite Mr Sisi’s pledge, the security forces have struggled to contain the jihadist insurgency in Sinai and suffered heavy casualties...

More.

Here's Jennifer Delacruz's Black Friday Forecast

She usually works the holidays, but the video wasn't up last night in time for my blog weather report.

Any time's good for me, though.

Here's the lovely Ms. Jennifer, for ABC News 10 San Diego:

Kyla Grogan's Black Friday Forecast

Ms. Kyla's the new on-air meteorological talent at CBS News 2 Los Angeles.

It's been record Thanksgiving heat today, not to complain, of course.

Temperatures will be subsiding over the next few days, but it's still going to be lovely.

What It's Like to Be the Only Trump Fan at Thanksgiving

You gotta read this. The best, heh.

From Mark Bauerlein, at Politico:

Heh. This Is What It's Like to Be the Only #Trump Fan at Thanksgiving Dinner. https://t.co/iBBTsZ9Sxu pic.twitter.com/yw3i483L5D

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) November 23, 2017