Bears Ears National Monument and Gold Butte National Monument

The Obama regime is really going on an end-of-year administrative blitz, especially on the environment.

So craven and dishonest. Why not push these initiatives during the first administration, or before the 2014 midterms? Of course O's regime knew they'd be unpopular and the Democrats would face massive backlash.

Anyway, at Memeorandum, "Statement by the President on the Designation of Bears Ears National Monument and Gold Butte National Monument."

And at LAT:

President Obama designates two new national monuments in the West https://t.co/SYKbJj8aXF pic.twitter.com/2vslGHuwdJ

— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) December 28, 2016

More, at Western Journalism, "Utah Lawmakers Vow to Fight Obama’s Creation of National Monuments."

Bitches and Hoes and Feminism

At the Other McCain, linking to the Patriarch Tree, at Medium:

Don't preach ME any sermons! https://t.co/00077MJbeS @AmPowerBlog pic.twitter.com/AsH0cyMtqZ

— The Patriarch Tree (@PatriarchTree) December 29, 2016

Izabel Goulart at St. Barts

At London's Daily Mail:

Victoria's Secret model Izabel Goulart shows off her super toned in St. Barts https://t.co/c90yeG8jw9 pic.twitter.com/e7FuIdQ5Ac

— Daily Mail Celebrity (@DailyMailCeleb) December 29, 2016

Also, at WWTDD, "Izabel Goulart in a Bikini."

Plus, at Egoastic!, "Izabel Goulart Red Hot Bikini Paddle Ball and Other Fine Things to Ogle."

At the Crossroads Café

I'm visiting with my sister in Yucca Valley, and my cousin (Hillary) and her family are in town, so we mosied over to the Crossroads Café in Joshua Tree.

It's apparently very progressive around these parts, as can be seen from the signage on the windows. (Joshua Tree National Park is right there, which attracts all kinds of hippies and leftists.)

I doubt they're not going to serve Trump supporters, though. You've got the Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center just up the road a bit. Lots of folks are going to be anti-Obama, if not downright #MAGA enthusiasts.

At the Safe Spaces cafe, in 29 Palms. pic.twitter.com/1NFggqJUqt

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) December 28, 2016

RELATED: At RWN, "Outrage After Hawaii Cafe BANS Trump Voters." (Via Memeorandum.)

'Watership Down' Author Richard Adams Dead at 96

Well, that's a long and lustrous life.

I wish we all could live that long.

Still though, we're losing so many in 2016. It's a great year, actually, but the obits are mounting.

I read "Watership Down" for a book club at my college, and it was great. Adams declaims any larger moral to the story, but the moral is clearly to stand and fight for what you believe, and that good will prevail over evil.

At NYT:

Richard Adams has died at 96. He became one of the world’s best-selling authors with his debut, “Watership Down." https://t.co/7fgkGyzsq0

— The New York Times (@nytimes) December 27, 2016

Charlotte McKinney Dream Hotel Photo Shoot

I hope to be seeing more of Ms. Charlotte in 2017.

At Egotastic!, "Charlotte McKinney Dream Hotel Wicked Hot Lingerie Shoot."

Obama's Parting Betrayal of Israel

From Ambassador John Bolton, at WSJ:

"Obama's Parting Betrayal of #Israel" - read my latest op-ed in the @WSJ: https://t.co/y9yV45JFxK

— John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) December 27, 2016

The Midnight Push to Empty Out Guantanamo

From Congressman Ed Royce, at WSJ:

.@RepEdRoyce: The midnight push to empty out Guantanamo https://t.co/0piYOdDtPj via .@WSJ

— Montgomery Granger (@mjgranger1) December 27, 2016

Carrie Fisher Dead at 60

I'm not that big a "Star Wars" fan. I remember, back in 1977 when the original "Star Wars" came out, my Uncle Doug had rounded up a bunch of us kids in my family and took us to see the movie.

It was of course fabulous, and we all had a great time; and then I saw "The Empire Strikes Back" and "The Return of the Jedi" when they came out, as these were basically obligatory.

But that's about it. I don't have all the movies on CD, and haven't even seen all the more recent updates in the franchise.

It just seems like Carrie Fisher's death has some kind of social significance. It's weird, I guess.

At the Los Angeles Times, "Carrie Fisher, child of Hollywood who blazed a path as 'Star Wars' heroine, screenwriter and author, dies at 60."

And at the Other McCain, "CARRIE FISHER DIES AT AGE 60":

"Good-bye, Princess Leia — and may the Force be with you!" https://t.co/HhDIgt9wBF

— The Patriarch Tree (@PatriarchTree) December 27, 2016

Her death came while the latest film in the Star Wars saga, Rogue One, was No. 1 at the box office. She won critical praise for her performance in the original Star Wars film (“Episode IV: A New Hope”), which I first saw in 1977 at Atlanta’s Phipps Plaza theater immediately after its original release. Many of her best scenes were Princess Leia’s exchanges of sarcastic lines with the outlaw pilot Han Solo, memorably played by Harrison Ford, which recalled the classic romantic pairings of Hollywood’s Golden Age — Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, etc.

Baked Alaska

Well, apparently there's an "Alt-Right Civil War," which involves some apparently controversial headlining changes to the so-called "DeploraBall," which is some gala for the Internet cult of rightists supporting Donald Trump.

It's weird, whatever it is.

Here's the headline at Mediaite, via Memeorandum, "Alt-Right in Civil War After Prominent Leader Disinvited From Pro-Trump ‘DeploraBall’."

And see the Ralph Retort, "DEPLORABALL DUSTUP: Baked Alaska Out, MILO In, Accusations Flying From All Parties."

You know, once the Daily Stormer gets involved, I'm outta here.

These aren't my kind of folks, actually.

ICYMI: Epic tweets from @bakedalaska (before the fake/co-opted MAGA3X crew deleted them) https://t.co/wuBy4zdw5P pic.twitter.com/oZf78tCCCx

— ᴰᴶ TB • #AnimeRight (@TRIGGERBAITmk2) December 27, 2016

Israel Prepares to Build More Settlements

Heh.

I can dig it.

At the New York Times, "Defying U.N., Israel Prepares to Build More Settlements":

JERUSALEM — Undeterred by a resounding defeat at the United Nations, Israel’s government said Monday that it would move ahead with thousands of new homes in East Jerusalem and warned nations against further action, declaring that Israel does not “turn the other cheek.”

Just a few days after the United Nations Security Council voted to condemn Israeli settlements, Jerusalem’s municipal government signaled that it would not back down: The city intends to approve 600 housing units in the predominantly Palestinian eastern section of town on Wednesday in what a top official called a first installment on 5,600 new homes.

The defiant posture reflected a bristling anger among Israel’s pro-settlement political leaders, who not only blamed the United States for failing to block the Council resolution, but also claimed to have secret intelligence showing that President Obama’s team had orchestrated it. American officials strongly denied the claim, but the sides seem poised for more weeks of conflict until Mr. Obama hands over the presidency to Donald J. Trump.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has lashed out at Security Council countries by curbing diplomatic contacts, recalling envoys, cutting off aid and summoning the American ambassador for a scolding. He canceled a planned visit this week by Ukraine’s prime minister even as he expressed concern on Monday that Mr. Obama was planning more action at the United Nations before his term ends next month...

Still more.

Shop Today's Deals

*Bumped.*

At Amazon, Deals of the Day.

The deals include Up to 80 Percent Off on New York Times Best Sellers on Kindle.

Not bad.

BONUS: Ian Toll, Pacific Crucible: War at Sea in the Pacific, 1941-1942, and The Conquering Tide: War in the Pacific Islands, 1942-1944.

Bella Thorne Santa Costume

At London's Daily Mail, "'It was the happiest and saddest year!' Bella Thorne smiles through the pain in a Santa costume as she reflects on a tumultuous 12 months."

Obama's Disgraceful and Harmful Legacy on Israel

I'm just counting down the days 'till Obama's gone. It's going to be a beautiful new day on January 20th.

From Bill Kristol, at the Weekly Standard:

For all eight years of the Obama administration, Democrats have made believe that Barack Obama is a firm and enthusiastic supporter and defender of the Jewish state. Arguments to the contrary were not only dismissed but angrily denounced as the products of nothing more than vicious partisanship. Obama's defenders repeatedly used the trope that "Israel should not be a partisan issue," as if Obama's views and actions were beyond reproach. A whole corps of Jewish leaders, some at the major organizations and many from Chicago, showed far greater loyalty to Obama than to the tradition of true nonpartisanship when it came to Middle East policy.

All of those arguments have been ground into dust by Obama's action Friday allowing a nasty and harmful anti-Israel resolution to pass the United Nations Security Council. Just weeks before leaving office, he could not resist the opportunity to take one more swipe at Israel—and to do real harm. So he will leave with his record on Israel in ruins, and he will leave Democrats even worse off.

It's pretty clear that he does not care. Obama has gotten himself elected twice, the second time by a decreased margin (the only time a president has been reelected by fewer votes than in his first term), but he has laid waste to his party. In the House, the Senate, the state governorships, and the state legislatures, the Democrats have suffered loss after loss. Today's anti-Israel action will further damage the Democratic party, by driving some Jews if not toward the Republicans then at least away from the Democrats and toward neutrality. Donald Trump's clear statement on Thursday that he favored a veto, Netanyahu's fervent pleas for one, and the Egyptian action in postponing the vote show where Obama stood: not with Israel, not even with Egypt, but with the Palestinians. Pleas for a veto from Democrats in Congress were ignored by the White House...

RTWT.

Rep. Maxine Waters: I'm gonna fight Donald Trump 'every inch of the way...' (VIDEO)

She's a vile woman.

A spiteful, combative, and repulsive black bitch of a congresswoman.

Watch, at Free Beacon, "Rep. Waters Refuses to Meet With Trump to Find Common Ground on Policies."

Just wow.

Thomas Sowell's Final Column for Creators Syndicate

At 86, he's retiring.

See, "Farewell."

George Ciccariello-Maher Has 'Protected' His Twitter Account

This isn't the first time I'd heard of Professor George Ciccariello-Maher.

He's about as far-left as they come. I think I came across his page after trolling through Taryn Fivek's page. (Remember her? Emma Quangel?) She's always linking to the most crazy stuff happening on the left, for example, "J20 Resist! Protest Trump's Inauguration in Washington D.C."

Anyway, he's trying to weasel out of his comments calling for a "white genocide," although killing off the white race is pretty much standard fare for hardcore leftists. Drexel, his university, is right to distance itself from his commentary.

See Inside Higher Ed, "Drexel Condemns Professor's Tweet." (At Memeorandum.)

The dude's protected his tweets now, although I think just yesterday they were viewable. He's worried about getting fired. He should be.

More from Sierra Marlee, at RWN, "Drexel U RESPONDS to Prof’s Tweet “All I want for Christmas is White Genocide”."

Here's Mr. White Genocide, George Ciccariello-Maher, celebrating Fidel Castro. pic.twitter.com/5tjDvYxMy9

— Craig R. Brittain (@CraigRBrittain) December 26, 2016

And a sample of the dude's far-left commentary:

Dear Neoliberal Democrats: This is Your Mess, Own It https://t.co/2wOHsbwzIA pic.twitter.com/9LZvfI5yCQ

— US Uncut (@USUncut) November 9, 2016

Pipeline to America: When America's Doors Shut

Following-up, "Pipeline to America: Traversing the Rio Suchiate."

Here's the final entry in the series, published yesterday, Christmas Day, "They gambled, and lost: Dozens of migrants braved thousands of miles of jungles, seas and bandits to reach the U.S. Then they were sent home."

Dozens of migrants braved thousands of miles of jungles, seas & bandits to reach the U.S. Then they were sent home. https://t.co/xiHvdjmcH4 pic.twitter.com/xub7mRRRVH

— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) December 24, 2016

Pipeline to America: Traversing the Rio Suchiate

Following-up, "Pipeline to America: Crossing the Darién Gap."

Here's the third entry in the series, published on Christmas Eve, "Traversing the Rio Suchiate: Navigating the River of Dreams; Between Africa and the U.S., an illicit river crossing in Latin America."

The illicit journey from Africa to the U.S. runs through a Guatemalan river where risks are high https://t.co/z0KpKkZJy7 pic.twitter.com/oBBxuQZtJo

— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) December 23, 2016

Pipeline to America: Crossing the Darién Gap

I meant to post this full series at the Los Angeles Times.

Here's the initial entry from the 22nd, "Pipeline to America: Africans, Asians, Haitians — Migrants from Across the Globe Risk Everything to Cross Into the U.S."

Pretty extraordinary reporting. I'm blown away at the lengths --- the dangers --- to which migrants will go to get to the "promised land" of the United States.

Here's the second report in the series, "Crossing the Darién Gap: Migrants from around the globe are forging a grueling path to the U.S. — through the heart of the rainforest."

Migrants from around the globe are forging a grueling path to America — through the heart of the rainforest https://t.co/SvzhBUdtNv pic.twitter.com/qYPVf0FIsr

— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) December 23, 2016