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Trump Finally Signs Transition Docs But Shuns Major Details President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team officially signed the necessary docs on Tuesday to commence the transfer of power with the Biden administration after more than a month, according to Trump’s chief of staff Susie Wiles. However, the team is still refusing to sign at least two major agreements that will allow for the smooth transition of sensitive and classified information. The New York Times reported that the transition team has rejected signing an agreement that would allow the FBI to conduct security clearances for transition members. Additionally, the team has refused to sign an agreement to obtain secure office space, email accounts, and other security cleared assets from the General Services Administration. According to a statement from Wiles, the rejections were done in the name of government efficiency. Wiles said Trump did not want his transition team to sign the agreement with the General Services Administration because he wants the team to “operate as a self-sufficient organization.” She added, “This organizational autonomy means a streamlined process that guarantees the Trump Administration is ready on Day 1.” Wiles also claimed that FBI security checks and clearances for transition team members won’t be necessary because they already have existing security and information systems, “which means we will not require additional government and bureaucratic oversight,” she said. Yet none of this rebuke of protocol should be surprising to anyone following the rumblings of Trumpland. The Project 2025 agenda called the FBI a “bloated, arrogant, increasingly lawless organization,” and there are rumors that Trump could shake up the organization by firing its current director and installing a MAGA loyalist, reported CNN. Then there is the Department of Government Efficiency, peddled into fruition by Trump’s right-hand billionaire Elon Musk, whose purpose so far seems to be solely regulated to talking about government inefficiencies. Trump was supposed to have signed the memorandum of understanding, with the GSA agreement for funding of secure office space and technology, by Oct. 1, a month before the election, reported NPR. The details of the transition are outlined in the Presidential Transition Act. Wiles claimed that not signing the GSA agreement will save taxpayer money, and the team has pledged not to accept donations from foreign nations. However, the team’s shunning of protocol could complicate operations in other areas. And yet without the proper documents signed, NYT reported that the Biden administration could be forced to provide security briefings only in person, in secure reading rooms, or submit documents to certify that nongovernment technology meets certain standards.

Trump Taps Financier and Art Collector With No Military Experience to Run the Navy President-elect Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he will nominate an art collecting Republican megadonor who works in finance and has no military experience to run the Navy. “It is my great honor to announce John Phelan as our next United States Secretary of the Navy!” Trump said, in a statement. “John will be a tremendous force for our Naval Servicemembers, and a steadfast leader in advancing my America First vision.” Phelan heads Palm Beach-based private investment firm Rugger Management and formerly managed the investments of billionaire Michal Dell. His sole qualification for the Navy job seems to be that he helped the Trump campaign raise a lot of money. One fundraiser he hosted for Trump at his $38 million Aspen, Colorado, home this summer cost $25,000 to $500,000 per couple. “Phelan has not served in the Navy. [Or] any other branch of military service,” tweeted Army veteran Paul Rieckhoff, the founder of the nonprofit Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America group. “But he is a big Trump donor. The least qualified and most overtly political cabinet in American history continues to expand.” “His Record of Success speaks for itself - A true Champion of American Enterprise and Ingenuity!” added Trump. “John’s intelligence and leadership are unmatched.” Politico reported that Trump picked him following interviews at Mar-a-Lago on Monday. Rep. Mike Garcia (R-CA), a retired naval aviator who deployed in Iraq, and Rep. Ronny Jackson, a retired Navy captain who was Trump’s chief medical adviser in his first administration, were also rumored to be in the running. Phelan and his wife Amy, a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, were named among the world’s top 200 art collectors by ArtNews earlier this year. Their collection was described by a Christie’s auction house curator as “a celebration of the sexual side of life with a sense of humor” in 2008. Among their Picassos, Dubuffets and Chagalls are many works of blonde women who look like Amy, including some that are of her, W Magazine reported. From 2006 to 2019, they hosted an annual wine tasting event WineCrush, as part of the Aspen Art Museum’s summer ArtCrush gala—admission to the museum has been free since 2009, according to its website, thanks to the Phelans' patronage. Among those drawn to the event over the years was wine-lover and Keeping Up with the Kardashians matriarch Kris Jenner and her partner, Corey Gamble. Another one of Trump’s leading picks to lead the military, Defense Secretary pick Pete Hegseth, has faced blowback after allegations he sexually assaulted a woman at a hotel in 2017 emerged. Hegseth denies the claims and says the encounter was consensual. Meanwhile, longtime Trump advisor Boris Epshteyn is under internal investigation for allegedly offering pay-to-play cash access to the President-elect, including seeking cash payments from would-be cabinet nominees. He denies the allegations. There is no indication Phelan interacted with Epshteyn. “No one can promise any endorsement or nomination except me,” Trump told Just The News earlier this week. “I make these decisions on my own, period.”

In Kew, eastern suburbs of Melourne there is the Kew Traffic School. Too bad the kid in this photo is on the wrong side of the road. When I was teaching my kids, (the youngest, my daughter, is 44), the shopping centres were closed on Sundays, so the carparks were virtually deserted, and made a good training area. Painted parking bays to fine tune parking, and Vermont South has a slope which was good for handbrake starts.

Not quite, it doesn't have the prize wedges.

Correct.

Ukrainian drones obliterate oil depot in Russia A Ukrainian drone attack in Russia’s central Kaluga region ignited fires at an oil depot and a weapons storage facility. The region's governor, Vladislav Shapsha, confirmed that the fire broke out at an industrial site but was eventually brought under control by firefighters. Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, stated that the strike hit the Typhoon Instrument Manufacturing Plant. The facility is under European Union sanctions for producing weapons for the Russian military, including Bal-E and Rubezh-ME missile systems. In addition to this long-range strike, Ukrainian intelligence also claimed responsibility for hitting a depot belonging to the Rosneft oil company. However, this information could not be independently verified. Meanwhile, Moscow reported shooting down several drones over the border regions of Kursk, Bryansk, and Belgorod.

Trump 'heading for a real horror show' and GOP 'will be held accountable': Dem senator Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) predicted that President-elect Donald Trump would not have a very long honeymoon while in office. Appearing on CNN, Blumenthal argued that Trump's threats to slap America's largest trading partners with massive tariffs should be taken very seriously and predicted it would cause immediate tension with his campaign promise to end inflation. "I think he's heading toward a real horror show where the consequences can't be squared with the promises he's made," Blumenthal said. He then pointed to Trump's decision to not only enact tariffs but also appoint X CEO Elon Musk to what he described as a "hit squad" that could target Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid for cuts in order to fund more tax cuts for the wealthy. "It is very hard to make those kinds of promises and fulfill them," he said. "Republicans will be held accountable. Not only the president-elect when he takes office, but also my Republican colleagues in the United States Senate if they go along with these irresponsible policies." Later in the interview, Blumenthal was asked about whether Trump's key cabinet picks could be confirmed without undergoing FBI background checks. Home Loan Comparison Made Easy Read more, watch video here

Russia is collapsing Russia’s economy has been showing signs of strain over the past two years, exacerbated by the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. According to Western-aligned Russian media outlet Current Time, the prices of basic goods such as potatoes, milk, and butter have skyrocketed, coinciding with a noticeable rise in theft-related crimes. Interest rates in Russia have surged to a record 21%, while inflation has reached historic highs. For nearly three years, the Russian economy has been heavily focused on supporting the war effort, prioritizing the mass production of missiles, tanks, and military uniforms. Recently, several top executives from major Russian companies warned that many businesses might permanently shut down due to the country’s dire economic situation. Although Russia is projected to experience economic growth in 2024, forecasts for the following year paint a much bleaker picture.

Correct

Spot on onetrack.

For Spacie and anyone else who got hung up on it, I found out on today's episode that Mr. Chips is the name of the yellow minion character in the images./videos. Back to the one above. Not that hard.

Earl Holliman, Angie Dickinson's boss in Police Woman, has died, aged 96. Also appeared in Twilight Zone, Giant, Wide Country, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.

This theme is supported by a strong thread through the comments of a paranoia about communism, and any social supporting of the disadvantaged is a communist trait. Helping out the poor and unemployed is met by the call "We don't share revenue, let them work for it." They believed the Dems were too generous to underpriveleged.

If you haven't spotted them yet, concentrate on the spot on any verticle as indicated by the red dot. The circles should appear as indicated.

Unfortunately, kids get access to devices at an early age.Mum and Dad update to a newer model, and pass the old one down so they can keep in touch with the kids while they are at school or on the way to and from. This allows the kids to explore the net while unsupervised, even when they are in their room. It's something we as older parents never had to deal with. Kids often know more about using these devices than their parents do. This makes policing their use extremely difficult.

The bill to ban social media access to those under 16 has passed the Lower House 102 to 13. PS: Watch the news tonight. an explosive outburst by Sen Payman accusing Pauline Hanson of racism.

I see lots of comments on Facebook from people who believe that Trump will save them from the financial problems they are facing, in other words, they voted through their pockets. Unfortunately for the Dems, a number of worldwide circumstances (Covid, Middle East wars, etc.), have caused inflation, and they are blaming the Dems for these effects. I think, when they realise that Trumps policies will increase these problems, not reduce them as he promised, those who jumped ship may change their mind at the midterms. Trump cannot be removed at the midterms, but he may lose control of the House, and possibly even the senate, which will tie his hands. I doubt they would use the 25th Amendment to get rid of him, as that would put Vance in charge. From Wikipedia: Midterm elections historically generate lower voter turnout than presidential elections. While the latter have had turnouts of about 50–60% over the past 60 years, only about 40% of those eligible to vote go to the polls in midterm elections. Historically, midterm elections often see the president's party lose seats in Congress, and also frequently see the president's opposite-party opponents gain control of one or both houses of Congress.

Here is an interesting little challenge which shows how the eye can be decieved. There are 16 circles in this image. Once you see them, you can't unsee them.

Actually Canadian born Australian.

Dad gave me a couple of lessons, then I took lessons through a driving school. I gave my 3 kids a few lessons (before the 100 hoour logbook rule came in) and they all finished off with a driving school to prepare for the licence test.

Keep going.

Not nLetterman. Myfirst thought when I saw it was Burgess Meredith, but it's not him. One clue - Australian.

Didn't have anywhere else to put this. Elon Musk is planning to send Tom Cruise into space on the the next Spacex launch.