December 08, 2015

It’s A Boy!

 
 
 
 

PNUT GALLERY


You’ve heard of TIME’s most influential person of the year? Well the Pnut is doing a list of the “least influential people” of the year. Which politician or public figure do you think left the least visible impact on the world in 2015? Submit your nomination here.

 

IN A NUTSHELL: MUST READ


Explained: The Coalition Against ISIS – One Massive Argument


ISIS probably feels smug right now as the “coalition of the willing” (i.e. everyone trying to bomb them) seems more willing to fight each other than against ISIS. In fact, they might be so bored that they are now baiting China to join the fight.  On a more positive note, Paris rebounded with the Eagles of Death Metal returning to preform in the city at a U2 concert last night.

Russia and Turkey
Turkey complained to Russia about a Russian soldier aiming a missile toward Istanbul as a Russian naval ship sailed through the Bosphorus. Things have been testy between the two countries since Turkey shot down a Russian plane for allegedly violating its airspace.

Turkey and Iraq
Russia wasn’t the only country peeved at Turkey. The Iraqi government threatened to go to the Security Council over hundreds of Turkish troops that were stationed in northern Iraq. Turkey claims the troops are there to help the Kurds take back Mosul. Iraq gave Turkey less than 24 hours to withdraw.

US and Syria
The Syrian government accused the US-led coalition of bombing a Syrian base during its campaign against ISIS. This would be the first time the Syrians have been bombed by the anti-ISIS coalition. The US has denied it had anything to do with the bombing. Good luck figuring out who did it with all those planes buzzing overhead. 
 
 

NUTS AND BOLTS: SHOULD READ


Beijing Red Alert: Smogaggedon 


Yesterday Beijing issued its first ever “red alert” over smog levels. Schools, construction and other heavy industry will have to shut down until the air clears. Beijing is so polluted that if you go to your car and make out with the exhaust pipe chances are you will inhale less CO2. The order is expected to last until Thursday and represents a different form of disruption due to climate change (Bostonians might relate to the closures — remember snowmaggedon, snowpocalypse, etc.).

SMOGGY READ: Should China Switch More To Nuclear Power?
 


Marine Le Pen: The Return Of French Fascism


Marine Le Pen, leader of the far right National Front party, claimed victory yesterday after her previously fringe party got the most number of votes in regional elections. Le Pen has been “softening” the tone of the party after she took over from her Holocaust denying father in 2011. She has focused her energies on combatting immigration, the perceived rise of “multiculturalism” (aka Islam) in France and the “un-democratic” loss of sovereignty to the European Union. The far right just continues to rise and rise


THOUGHT-PROVOKING BOOK: Submission By Michel Houllebecq


Trump Offends 1.6 Billion People In One Day


Donald J. Trump, a surprising teetotaler and Republican Presidential candidate, has called for a total ban on all Muslims from entering the US until representatives can “figure out what’s going on”. This contrasts with his September statement “I love Muslims“. Unsurprisingly Republicans, Democrats, religious and civil groups were outraged saying his view was “dangerous”, “unhinged” and “unconstitutional“. This isn’t funny anymore.
 

MYTH-BUSTING FACTS: Islam And The West

 
 

Oil Price Slide Proves Slippery… Pun Intended


Prices of oil crashed to the lowest level since 2009 (financial crisis era) as investors took stock of the fact that OPEC (the oil cartel) had devolved into a free-for-all (also trying to crush US shale gas). Energy stocks were hammered as the industry braced itself for a prolonged period of cheap oil (and a prolonged period of Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings). In the words of the legendary Sarah Palin… “drill baby, drill!”
 


#pnut4prez: Cruz Missile Surges To First Place In Iowa


Ted Cruz’s strategy of being the tortoise against the combed over hare (aka Donald Trump) seems to pay off in Iowa as the Texas conservative rose to first place in the most recent Iowa poll. Cruz is loved by the Tea Party, Evangelical Christians and possibly his family (his old room-mate hates him) for his extreme stances on abortion and government spending (he routinely enjoys threatening to shut down the government). He has positioned himself to take over the right-wing mantle if/when Trump burns out.   
 


Keeping Our Eye On…

  • Colombia Shipwreck: While most of us only discover cool looking seashells while diving, the Colombian government has found the “holy grail of shipwrecks” worth $17 billion (or slightly more than LeBron’s latest contract). 
  • LeBron: King James of the Cleveland Cavaliars (basketball) signed a lifetime deal with Nike yesterday. The deal is supposedly the largest sponsorship deal for an athlete in history. 
  • San Bernardino: FBI officials have now learned that the couple who carried out the mass shooting were “radicalized” for a long time prior to the attacks. Yet they do not think that “forces beyond the nation’s border” (aka ISIS) were involved.
  • Strange But True: Estonian President marries Latvia’s cyber chief, Saint West, the new addition to the Kardashians (this is unfortunately news), North Korean rumors of assassination and did the Chinese President resign?
 

SPONSORED NUTS: MUSEXCARLY’S HOLIDAY PICKS

 

MuseXCarly’s Pick For The Bon Vivant: Marlo Laz

 
Marlo Laz, a New York based jewelry line, designed and founded by Jesse Lazowski, takes its collectors to distant corners of the globe. She creates effortlessly cool keepsakes with an opulent edge for bon vivants and aesthetes with a bohemian spirit. She’s got something for every personality type which makes for the perfect gift for a special someone… or a little self-indulgence if you so choose. Shop some favorites from her collection below.Follow @MuseXCarly for fun and check out her blogpost on Marlo Laz here.
 
 
Protesters interrupt Trump rally
Trump, just a tad thrown off guard, reacts to protestors interrupting his rally. 
 

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