The Case for Spending More to Help Israel (VIDEO)

This is excellent.

It's U.S. Gen Chuck Wald, for Prager University.

Bari Weiss and Eve Peyser

They scheduled a meet-up to see if they could get along in real life.

At NYT, "Can You Like the Person You Love to Hate?"

Bari Weiss and Eve Peyser wondered: If we had met at a dinner party rather than on Twitter, would we have liked each other? Was social media creating a sense of intense conflict where there might be intense conversation? So they decided to meet. https://t.co/czJpRyfcjQ

— NYT Opinion (@nytopinion) December 3, 2018

BARI WEISS: Everything sucks. That’s the overwhelming feeling I get when I spend too much time on Twitter. It makes me feel anxious and angry and amped up. And that’s on a day when I’m not even trending as a Very Bad Person.

This fall I read Jaron Lanier’s book “Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now.” He helped me see that these feelings were the inevitable result of being manipulated by this behavioral modification machine.

I didn’t delete my account — yet! I know! I am full of shame! — but I did change the way I use it (no looking at my mentions; far less tweeting; aiming to highlight the work of people I like rather than criticize the work of those I don’t). It also made me think about how I saw other Twitter users, like Vice’s Eve Peyser. She was clever and often funny — and I disagreed with her about just about everything. Sometimes she jabbed at me. I watched her posts with a suspicious side-eye.

But I wondered: If we had met at a dinner party rather than on Twitter, would we have liked each other? Was social media, as Mr. Lanier’s book suggested, creating a sense of intense conflict where there might be intense conversation? Did we actually dislike each other, or was Twitter just making us think we did?

This is the story of how we went from being enemies to friends.

EVE PEYSER: In the woke world of New York digital media, the worst person in the world is Donald Trump, but you, Bari Weiss, are a close second. You’re the perfect target for media leftists because you look like you’d be one of us, but in fact, you have contrarian views on subjects like Israel and #MeToo.

Hating you was the natural position for me to adopt. After all, I’m a social democrat who eagerly voted for Bernie Sanders in the 2016 primaries and has contemplated purchasing a “Free Palestine” T-shirt.

So I proceeded as one does these days: tsk-tsking various columns of yours, occasionally snarking about you on Twitter, and ascribing to the belief that The New York Times’s decision to hire you was most likely bad for America and the future of liberal democracy.

But I always had this nagging feeling that the Bari Weiss cyber outrage was overblown. Then, we became friends, and every tender thought I’d had about you was confirmed...

I doubt anything remotely like this would happen to me in real life. One exception: My students. I cut them slack because they're young, and of course I try to teach down the middle ---- on the one hand, and on the other hand ---- except for those times I just come out and show a Prager University video, or something, and I don't even tell them it's a conservative production. Students have to figure it out. Sometimes I even criticize President Trump from the left, and it confuses them, lol.

But keep reading.

Innocence and Wonder

So lovable and adorable.

I’ve watched this a hundred times. His little innocent face! And his sweater says “GENIUS!” So unbelievably adorable. pic.twitter.com/OjiMVVE3n0

— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) November 21, 2018

Simpler Times

I found another "American Power" guy on Twitter, lol.

Simpler times . . . we could use a little more straight talk in America. pic.twitter.com/hkQN4zh9Ui

— AMERICAN POWER!! (@_Pax_Americana_) December 3, 2018

Heather Mac Donald Interview (VIDEO)

On Fox News, on "Life, Liberty & Levin."

And check out Mac Donald's book, at Amazon, Heather Mac Donald, The Diversity Delusion: How Race and Gender Pandering Corrupt the University and Undermine Our Culture.

Fantastic Iggy Azalea

At I Like Breasts, "NSFW – Iggy Azalea."

Robin Holzken in Wet Sand (VIDEO)

At Sports Illustrated Swimsuit:

Leftists Use Death of Former President George H.W. Bush to Bash President Trump (VIDEO)

First, check out AoSHQ, "The View's Joy Behar Flips Out on Meghan McCain For Saying that Tributes to G.W.H. Bush Ought to be Genuine Tributes to Him, and Not Barely-Disguised Attacks on Trump," which block quotes Kurt Schlichter's latest at Town Hall, "The Only Good Republican Is a Dead Republican."

And watch the awesome Ms. Laura, at Fox News:

Penthouse Magazine Culture Warriors

I don't see the link to the actual article, but I'll post it if I find it.

Meanwhile, on Twitter:

Featured on the cover of @penthouse magazine w/ fellow culture warriors @clairlemon @toadmeister @jordanbpeterson @Cernovich & Dennis Hof. pic.twitter.com/brTYQBaj1X

— Dr. Debra Soh (@DrDebraSoh) December 1, 2018

Gigi Hadid Transforms Into Debbie Harry

At W Magazine.

And at Drunken Stepfather, "GIGI HADID TITS OUT FOR FASHION OF THE DAY."

Celebrate! Ring in the holidays with a festively fierce @GigiHadid. On the cover of our final volume of the year, the supermodel opens up about her family, Zayn, and wanting to be invisible: https://t.co/MssNGOGWJo pic.twitter.com/GzorLNpZQk

— W magazine (@wmag) December 3, 2018

Shop Deals

Thanks for the support everyone. Your purchases through my Amazon links are greatly appreciated, and as you can tell, I continue to have a lot of fun with book blogging.

Thanks again.

At Amazon, Today's Deals. Save on our top deals every day.

And see, Bosch 12-Volt Max Brushless 3/8-Inch Drill/Driver Kit PS32-02 with 2 Lithium-Ion Batteries, 12V Charger and Carrying Case.

Also, DeWALT Portable 4 Gallon Wet/Dry Vac.

More, Columbia River Knife & Tool: CRKT M16-10KSF EDC Folding Pocket Knife: Special Forces Everyday Carry, Black Serrated Edge Blade, Tanto, Frame Lock, Dual Hilt, Stainless Steel Handle, Reversible Pocket Clip.

Here, Ingersoll-Rand 231HA-2 1/2-Inch Impact Wrench with 2-Inch Extended Anvil.

Plus, Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener Ken Onion Edition - Precision Sharpening from 15° to 30°, Premium Flexible Abrasive Belts, Variable Speed Motor, Multi-Positioning Sharpening Module.

Still more, Lasko 755320 Ceramic Space Heater with Digital Display and Remote Control - Features Built-in Timer and Oscillation.

BONUS: Guy Debord, Society of the Spectacle.

Jennifer Delacruz's Sunday Forecast

Today's weather, and forecasts into the week, from the fabulous Ms. Jennifer, for ABC News 10 San Diego:

Paris Riots

These are called the "yellow jacket" riots, because French citizens are required to keep reflectorized vests in their vehicles, and the jackets are universally available, apparently.

At the Guardian U.K., "Paris riots: PM to meet protest groups after worst unrest in decade: Shops and cars set alight after peaceful gilets jaunes protest turns violent":

Macron to hold emergency meeting after worst unrest in a decade in central Paris https://t.co/qxHxmA97gt

— Angelique Chrisafis (@achrisafis) December 2, 2018

The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has instructed his prime minister to hold talks with protest groups after anti-government demonstrations led to the worst violence in central Paris in a decade, with more than 100 people injured as cars and buildings were set alight.

Macron is facing his biggest crisis since taking office 18 months ago after the violence erupted on Saturday following weeks of street protests that began against fuel taxes and have turned into an anti-government movement.

The Élysée and key ministers appeared to rule out imposing any kind of state of emergency after thousands of masked protesters from the gilets jaunes – named for their fluorescent yellow jackets – fought running battles with riot police, torched cars, set fire to banks and houses and burned makeshift barricades.

Macron, who had said he would “never accept violence”, instructed the prime minister, Édouard Philippe, to meet what he has called legitimate protest groups and opposition politicians this week in an effort to calm tensions and stop “professional” rioters from infiltrating street demonstrations.

The Paris prosecutor Remy Heitz said 378 people were in custody, including 33 under the age of 18. He said many of those arrested in battles with police were men aged between 30 and 40, often from regions far from Paris, who had “come to fight police while claiming to be part of the gilets jaunes movement”.

The interior minister, Christophe Castaner, and his head of staff will be questioned by a senate committee on Tuesday over how thousands of protesters were able to play cat and mouse with police through central Paris for hours.

Macron flew back from the G20 summit in Argentina on Sunday and went straight to inspect damage at the Arc de Triomphe. Graffiti all over the base of the 19-century monument read: “We’ve chopped off heads for less than this” and: “Topple the Bourgeoisie.” Scores of used teargas canisters filled the gutters.

Near the Champs Élysées there were splashes of paint on buildings after protesters had paint-bombed police. Used bottles of eye-drops on the ground indicated that some protesters – many of whom wore ski-masks and breathing equipment – stood their ground despite the teargas fired from rows of police behind shields.

Along the Avenue Kléber near the Arc de Triomphe on Sunday morning, passersby peered at scorched pavements where the burnt-out carcasses of cars had been towed away, and where a private residence had been set alight. Graffiti read: “Babylon is burning.”

The far-right leader Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Mélenchon, head of the leftwing party La France Insoumise, both called on Macron to dissolve parliament and hold elections.

The violence started on Saturday in broad daylight on the edges of a peaceful demonstration by the gilets jaunes movement, which began two weeks ago in protest at rising fuel prices and a new green fuel tax.

After three successive Saturday citizens’ marches in Paris organised on social media, the security forces seemed at a loss to stop the rioting, with groups of masked men spilling into nearby streets, ripping up benches and traffic lights and hurling bits of paving stones from roadworks...

Warnings of latest crisis facing Macron were in plain sight https://t.co/dHeRWQsE1i

— Angelique Chrisafis (@achrisafis) December 2, 2018

Hailey Clauson Gets Creative (VIDEO)

At Sports Illustrated Swimsuit:

Friedrich Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra

At Amazon, Friedrich Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra: A Book for Everyone and No One (Penguin Classics).

Albert Camus, The Stranger

At Amazon, Albert Camus, The Stranger.

Sunday Cartoons

At Flopping Aces, "Sunday Funnies."

And at Theo's, "Cartoon Roundup..."

And at Legal Insurrection, "Branco Cartoon – Yes They Can."

John Barth, Giles Goat-Boy

*BUMPED.*

Picking up from yesterday earlier, "David Foster Wallace, Infinite Jest."

I wasn't planning on a "postmodern literature" jag, but Thomas Pynchon's got me going. I have Infinite Jest on order, and this is my Barth copy below.

At Amazon, John Barth, Giles Goat-Boy.

Insane Kelly Brook

Via Taxi Driver:

Kelly Brook Insane Cleavage in Red Dress - https://t.co/dXGHwQ9RD4 - pic.twitter.com/PvHDJxjG81

— Taxi Driver (@TaxiDriverMovie) December 1, 2018

Richard Powers, The Overstory

At Amazon, an amazing book, Richard Powers, The Overstory: A Novel.