Merry Christmas! Links for December 25th, 2023

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Each day at just after midnight Eastern, a post like this one is created for contributors and readers of this site to upload news links and video links on the issues that concern this site. Most notably, Islam and its effects on Classical Civilization, and various forms of leftism from Soviet era communism, to postmodernism and all the flavours of galloping statism and totalitarianism such as Nazism and Fascism which are increasingly snuffing out the classical liberalism which created our near, miraculous civilization the West has been building since the time of Socrates.

This document was written around the time this site was created, for those who wish to understand what this site is about. And while our understanding of the world and events has grown since then, the basic ideas remain sound and true to the purpose.

So please post all links, thoughts and ideas that you feel will benefit the readers of this site to the comments under this post each day. And thank you all for your contributions.

This is the new Samizdat. We must use it while we can.

For those interested, please check out https://vladtepesblog.substack.com/ as an another avenue of expression.

About Eeyore

Canadian artist and counter-jihad and freedom of speech activist as well as devout Schrödinger's catholic

29 Replies to “Merry Christmas! Links for December 25th, 2023”

  1. TO everybody here: A tremendously peaceful and happy Christmas Day, the Christian celebration of the birth of our Lord.

    AND a multitude of appreciation to Vlad and helpers for the great website that I check into every day, without fault, a few times a day. Although I’m quiet, I read the comments.

    We all know He, Jesus Christ, will have to come back to make things right again. And thus, let’s honor with joy the symbolic day of His Birth.

    Bedtime for me.

    • Thank you! – I was looking for a Christmas album. My three free-flying guy budgies love opera and Christmas songs. They are now partaking in the symphony. Amazing to hear them.

        • These budgies put their heart into it.
          Each budgie has its own voice and the singing notes complement each other. They can sing really loud, and so melodious.
          People who come to my home are transfixed at the doorway by the singing reverberating throughout the house.
          Magical stuff.

    • Thank you for posting the wonderful music by Andrea, and Matteo Bocelli.
      It made this Christmas eve very beautiful.

  4. rmx.news/crime/major-counter-terror-operation-across-europe-after-intelligence-revealed-plan-for-mass-attacks

    • Sequence of events that lead Israel’s decision-makers to ignore warnings about terror threat at concert:
      https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-12-25/ty-article/.premium/idf-allowed-rave-later-attacked-by-hamas-despite-key-officers-concern/0000018c-9d78-ddc3-a1bf-bf7edca30000 See https://archive.ph/9msVK
      This has names of people signing event permits, but does not mention how they will be held accountable (except by their conscience).
      There is a small mention of a religious and counter-religious subtext: one event ended just before the Jewish holiday/Shabbat and one started on the holiday. Imagine scheduling a Thanksgiving concert in gangland Chicago. Imagine the mindset of those attending.

      • Kumbaya-nikis blew it. The secular, woke cohort. Universal love, peace, utopia need not await the coming/return of the Messiah. Oozing virtue, casual about security. Anti-gun, tech superiority has made such crude devices obsolete.

        – – Palestinians and Israelis have the same hopes and dreams.
        [WE = secular, liberal Jews.]
        – – If Palis act out, it’s our fault.
        [OUR = Haredim, religious nationalists, “settlers”. BIBI].

        This set of Israelis has largely vanished. The tiny fringe of activist look like enemy operatives. Principled journalists I wrote off completely, like Avi Issacharoff, now grace my Bookmarks/Favorites list.

        Which has not happened amongst the elites of the security establishment – intel, IDF, ShinBet (police), plus the MSM. They’re not delusional, they’re POLITICAL.

        Get rid of Bibi – BAMN.

        Subordination to the USA (demonrats) is far better than sovereignty as the Nation-State of the Jewish people. Not much empathy for fellow Israelis who become victims in the process. They’re not enlightened, what a pity. _For them_.

        The opposition, like Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid, persists in undermining the democratically elected government. They say Bibi creates “manufactured disputes” with the USA.
        https://www.timesofisrael.com/gantz-swipes-at-netanyahu-criticizes-those-creating-manufactured-disputes-with-us/

  5. Thank you Vlad for all the work that you you do for us.
    I wish you a most Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.

  6. Best wishes to all on this Christmas Day.
    Thank you Vlad for all your non-stop dedication and hard work.

  10. Stand Up Comedian Dave Smith Explains Why Culture War is a Distraction Engineered by Elites (VIDEO)
    by Jim H?ft Dec. 25, 2023 10:00 am5 Comments

    In an eye-opening episode of the Patrick Bet-David Podcast, a diverse panel including comedian Dave Smith, finance expert Adam Sosnick, advocate Ricky Aguilar, and financial coach Matt Sapaula recently delved into a medley of pressing political and economic issues.

    Dave Smith, in the discussion, presented a compelling viewpoint. He argued that the growing cultural divide in America is not a random occurrence but rather the result of a deliberate social engineering effort.

    Smith shed light on a noticeable yet often overlooked trend. Combining his skills as an experienced comedian with the sharpness of a political commentator, he pointed out a significant increase in the usage of controversial terms like “racism,” “social justice,” and “transgenderism” in major media outlets starting from 2012. This observation was supported by various content analysis studies, suggesting a strategic emphasis on these issues in public discourse.

    “There are these nexus charts where you can map out words in major publications… Go track how many times the word “racism” was mentioned. And around 2012, it shoots up. Social justice shoots up. Transgenderism shoots up. This was forced on the American people.

    Why are we having these conversations now? The people did not wake up one day and decide they want to have a national conversation about chicks with d*cks. That didn’t happen, this wasn’t an organic movement. It was all of the most powerful people deciding this is what we’re going to talk about.”

    The purpose behind propelling such topics to the foreground of the national conversation, according to Smith, is a classic diversion tactic employed by policymakers.

    “Because when you’re failing on policy, you pivot to a culture war. You put people against each other so they’re fighting each other.

    We had in this country, an “Occupy Wall Street” movement where leftists were standing outside of big banks screaming, “We are the 99%.”

    Right-wingers had a populist movement called the “Tea Party” where they were outraged about the bailouts of big banks, unsustainable debt, and government spending.

    They don’t like that. That’s not what the powers that be like. You’re getting too close.”

    Smith suggested that those in power favor public engagement in culture wars over critical examination of monetary or foreign policies, which have broader implications.

    He stated that the public’s attention on transgender restrooms and abortion rights gives those in power a sense of relief.

    This approach, he posited, serves as a diversionary tactic to shift attention away from crucial policy failures.

    “Look, they like you fighting about issues like abortion. I’m not saying abortion isn’t a very important issue, it’s a very important issue. But us fighting about that issue doesn’t scare anyone at the Federal Reserve. It doesn’t care anyone at the CIA. They don’t care if you fight about that issue.

    They love you fighting over transgender bathrooms. And you can see this every day. They’re stoking this culture war because they have to to distract from the fact that they’ve completely failed on everything else.”

    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/12/stand-up-comedian-dave-smith-explains-why-culture/

  11. Disgusting: Pro-Palestinians Activists Storm Stage During Christmas Fundraiser for Blind Children
    by Margaret Flavin Dec. 25, 2023 9:15 am83 Comments

    In yet another act of self-indulgent virtue signaling by the Hamas-loving crowd, a Christmas charity event for blind children in Australia was ambushed by pro-Palestinian activists.

    Carols by Candlelight is the largest annual fundraiser for Vision Australia’s children’s services, which provides support to families and children who are blind or have low vision.

    A crowd of 10,000 gathered to enjoy the live broadcast, celebrate the Christmas holiday, and provide support for children in need.

    The event was disrupted, however, when pro-Palestine protesters stormed across the stage while children were performing and began ranting about Gaza and raising Palestinian flags.

    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/12/disgusting-pro-palestinians-storm-stage-during-christmas-fundraiser/

  12. Canadian PM Trudeau Is ‘Afraid’ That Second Trump Term Will Bring an End to Globalist Climate Policies
    by Paul Serran Dec. 25, 2023 10:20 am51 Comments

    Globalist poster boy, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is obsessed with his ‘flagship’ climate alarmist policies.

    Problem is, fewer and fewer seem to share this obsession.

    The population rejects his approach, as polls show the Conservative opposition, that rejects measures such as the Carbon Tax, with a significant lead.

    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/12/canadian-pm-trudeau-is-afraid-that-second-trump/

  14. Fire Breaks Out On Russian Nuclear-Powered Icebreaker
    Tyler Durden’s Photo
    by Tyler Durden
    Monday, Dec 25, 2023 – 07:45 AM

    A fire broke out on Sunday evening on a Soviet-era nuclear-powered cargo icebreaker ship docked at a port in northwestern Russia.

    Reuters said the Soviet-made Sevmorput vessel was docked in the northern Russian city of Murmansk when a 30 square meters (323 square feet) fire erupted in one of the cabins.

    Another report says the fire was extinguished an hour later, and there was no threat to the ship’s nuclear reactor.

    “There was no threat to crucial support systems or to the reactor plant,” Atomflot wrote in a statement, adding, “The fire was quickly liquidated” and “There were no injuries.”

    Atomflot is a unit of state nuclear corporation Rosatom that operates Russia’s nuclear icebreaker fleet to ensure military and commercial vessels can sail through the Arctic Ocean.

    Warming temperatures and thawing sea ice have made maritime routes through the Arctic region accessible to commercial vessels at certain times of the year. One of these routes, the Northern Sea Route, shortens shipping time from Russia to Asian economies.

    https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/fire-breaks-out-russian-nuclear-powered-icebreaker

  15. December 25, 2023
    Al Gore gives climate scare update—it’s absurdly ironic… and makes a case against mass migration?
    By Olivia Murray

    The village idiot was apparently ready to embarrass himself again, and he did not disappoint; of course, I’m talking about the one and only Al Gore. During a televised segment yesterday on CNN’s “State of the Union” show, anchor Jake Tapper asked Gore what would happen if the world failed to “react” to the impending climate doom—what sufficient “reaction” looks like is still unclear—and what the “worst-case scenario” would be. Below is Gore’s response, via a Breitbart report:

    Gore said, ‘The scientist who has warned us of these mega-storms and the floods and mudslides and droughts and the ice melting and the sea level rising and the storms getting stronger and the tropical diseases and climate and migrants crossing international borders in large numbers. They were dead right when they warned us about this, and so we need to pay more attention to them now.’

    He continued, ‘Here is one thing they say: if we don’t take action, there could be as many as 1 billion climate refugees crossing international borders in the next several decades. Well, a few million have contributed to this wave of populist authoritarianism and dictatorships and so forth. What would a billion do? We can’t do this. We could lose our capacity for self-governance.’

    As we all know from that Gore is reliably unreliable, so of course, those “facts” weren’t even accurate. These climate doomsayers are “dead right” despite a 100% fail-rate? Yeah, sure. (Last year, the American Enterprise Institute published a “18 Spectacularly Wrong Predictions” piece, and it’s worth a read.)

    First of all, glaciers are actually growing, and all signs point to a coming era of extreme cold. Furthermore, cold temperatures have caused (and continue to do so) far more death than “global warming” ever has; according to Bjorn Lomborg, a “high-profile Danish figure known primarily for his internationally-renowned book, The Skeptical Environmentalist”:

    Cold deaths vastly outweigh heat deaths. This is common knowledge in the academic literature and for instance the Lancet finds that each year, almost 600,000 people die globally from heat but 4.5 million from cold.

    But Gore doesn’t seem to grasp the true irony of his statement: although as I noted above that the sufficient “reaction” to temper the climate “emergency” isn’t really uniformly articulated (by the parasite class of leftist globalists pushing the agenda), we know it involves a complete and utter surrendering of personal liberties and national sovereignty to shadowy foreign bureaucracies.

    What Gore is really saying is that to save “self-governance” we have to give it up.

    “Give us your lives, your fortunes, and your liberty, and let amorphous unaccountable global agencies micromanage your existence from womb to tomb, OR YOU FORFEIT YOUR ‘CAPACITY’ FOR SELF-GOVERNANCE AND DEMOCRACY IS DEAD!”

    “They” tell us we can’t fly. “They” took our light bulbs and our freon, while gas stoves, air conditioners, water heaters, and dishwashers, walk up the gallow steps. “They” demand we give up our gas-powered cars, for our own good and safety of course. “They” want social credit scores that include carbon output as a mitigating factor. “They” tell us to murder the most vulnerable and precious among us, for the sake of humanity and compassion. “They” are beyond demented and evil.

    But, more absurdly, Gore noted that without mitigation, “climate refugees” will ultimately lead to the death of “self-governance” because by his (il)logic, it will invite more “populist authoritarianism” and “dictators” (read, President Donald Trump and anyone else that fits his mold), into the Western nations fixing to be overwhelmed by third world hordes. Ergo, doesn’t that make the Democrat case to curb the open borders policies they’ve championed for so long? If you don’t want Trump, or anyone like him, then why create a melee in which you anticipate losing? Like I said, village idiot, with (heavy, heavy) emphasis on the “idiot.”

    https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2023/12/al_gore_gives_climate_scare_updateits_absurdly_ironic_and_makes_a_case_against_mass_migration.html

  17. Armed Citizens Fight Back in Home Invasions
    By Cam Edwards | 7:01 PM on December 22, 2023
    Armed Citizens Fight Back in Home Invasions
    paulsbarlow7 / Pixabay

    Armed citizens defended themselves from violent intruders on at least two occasions in Georgia this week, leading to the death of one armed suspect and the arrest of two others.
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    The first incident took place in LaGrange, Georgia on Wednesday evening, when a homeowner shot and killed a suspect identified by police as 22-year-old Jonathan Daniel.

    The investigation by detectives revealed that Daniel and another suspect, Antonio Stephens, tried to rob a man at gunpoint. Police said Daniel pointed his gun at the victim, which is when the victim pulled out a gun and shot Daniel, killing him.

    Stephens was arrested on Thursday and charged with felony murder in the death of Daniel, police said.

    Less than 24 hours later, police in Statesboro, Georgia responded to reports of a shooting at an apartment complex, where they quickly determined that the shots were fired after a man wearing a mask and two female accomplices forcibly entered an occupied apartment and assaulted at least one of the tenants. The victim was able to draw his firearm and fired, sending the assailants scrambling out the door.

    SPD dispatchers called around to local hospitals trying to locate the injured suspect. They identified 21-year-old Zion Cornelius, of Savannah, who was being treated for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound at a hospital in Claxton. His girlfriend, Antania Sanders, of Savannah, had accompanied him.

    SPD said that based on evidence gathered from the scene, Flock camera footage and interviews, Cornelius and Sanders were both arrested and charged with first-degree home invasion and aggravated assault.

    The suspects were transported to the Bulloch County Jail where they remain pending further judicial action.

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    It doesn’t appear that the armed citizens are facing any charges in connection with either home invasion, though both incidents remain under investigation.

    We don’t have a lot of information on either incident at this point, and there a number of unanswered questions including whether the victims of the home invasions knew their attackers beforehand, or if these were random encounters with violent predators.

    The same is true of another violent encounter this week in the state of Connecticut, where police say an “elderly, handicapped person” in Bridgeport shot his attacker, though we have even less information about this case than either of the Georgia incidents.

    Akeim Thomas is charged with criminal attempt of first-degree assault of an elderly/disabled person, illegal discharge of a firearm, second-degree threatening, first-degree reckless endangerment, risk of injury to a child, disorderly conduct and second-degree criminal mischief, Bridgeport police Capt. Kevin Gilleran said in a news release.
    Thomas’ bail was set at $750,000, and he will be arraigned in state Superior Court in Bridgeport at a later date, according to Gilleran.
    Though details regarding the circumstances of the shooting were not immediately available, Gilleran said there was more than one shooter in the Sunday incident and that a 67-year-old person shot Thomas in self-defense.

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    Thomas was apparently able to leave the scene of the crime and make his way to a local hospital, where healthcare workers notified police that they were treating a man with a gunshot wound to his abdomen. As of the latest report, Thomas is still hospitalized and under police watch, while the senior citizen and the child who was present during the assault were unharmed.

    While there are still a lot of unknown details in each of these incidents, the most important fact is crystal clear: the lawful gun owners in question managed to get through their run-ins with violent attackers without suffering harm themselves, and without the ability to access and use their firearms in self-defense, the outcomes of these encounters could have been very different and far more tragic.

    https://bearingarms.com/camedwards/2023/12/22/armed-citizens-fight-back-in-home-invasions-n78725

  19. Joe Biden’s America: “Got-Away” Illegal Aliens Crossing Open US Border Are Caught on Camera CARRYING RIFLES
    by Jim Hoft Dec. 25, 2023 12:40 pm195 Comments

    Joe Biden’s America: He is working to take your firearms as illegal aliens walk across the open border carrying their own rifles

    FOX News correspondent Griff Jenkins posted photos this week of illegal alien “got-aways” crossing the open US border carrying rifles.

    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/12/joe-bidens-america-got-away-illegal-aliens-crossing/