What's in the news?

[Sara Nilsson]

Footage released of US Navy jet pursuing UFO....its actually little creepy.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/video/wonder/moment-ufo-spotted-by-us-navy-jet/vi-BBH16H2?ocid=HPCOMMDHP15


We need to start funding Xcom!

I for one welcome our new Snekmen overlords.

[Missy]

I for one welcome our new Snekmen overlords.

They can't be worse than Donald Trump

[TheVillain]

They can't be worse than Donald Trump

Or at least they’d have to be trying on purpose, like they’d have to have a liver-harvest-then-eat-in-front-of-you program.

[Lustful Bride]

Unless he is a lizard man and is weakening us for the invasion!

[Arianna]

Unless he is a lizard man and is weakening us for the invasion!

All of the sudden it all makes sense...

[Lustful Bride]

Saudi Air defense shoots down missile over the royal palace.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/missile-fired-at-palace-highlights-ratcheting-saudi-iran-tensions/ar-BBH2dAF?ocid=HPCOMMDHP15

[Oniya]

Or at least they’d have to be trying on purpose, like they’d have to have a liver-harvest-then-eat-in-front-of-you program.

Fun fact - the liver can regenerate if enough of it is left. [/randomness]

[Missy]

Or at least they’d have to be trying on purpose, like they’d have to have a liver-harvest-then-eat-in-front-of-you program.

well that is my best conflict resolution strategy, I mean I used to fight with everybody all the time, but ever since I started eating my friends livers I haven't fought with a single person more than once

. . .

so maybe that would be okay.

[WindFish]

For those who say that one vote doesn't matter:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/democrat-wins-va-house-seat-in-recount-by-single-vote-creating-50-50-tie-in-legislature/2017/12/19/3ff227ae-e43e-11e7-ab50-621fe0588340_story.html?tid=pm_local_pop&utm_term=.55c6ec820b1a

[Beorning]

Footage released of US Navy jet pursuing UFO....its actually little creepy.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/video/wonder/moment-ufo-spotted-by-us-navy-jet/vi-BBH16H2?ocid=HPCOMMDHP15

We need to start funding Xcom!

Wait, so this is not a fake? The video made its way back here, but I assumed it's another of those videomanips found on YT...

[Lustful Bride]

Wait, so this is not a fake? The video made its way back here, but I assumed it's another of those videomanips found on YT...

Nope, its the real deal. Its the camera footage from a jet pursuing a UFO. (I assume its the Gun Camera but I don't know planes that well)

[Oniya]

Nope, its the real deal. Its the camera footage from a jet pursuing a UFO. (I assume its the Gun Camera but I don't know planes that well)

It looked like there was some kind of targeting info on the video - it kept bracketing the UFO as it changed orientation.

[Beorning]

I see... Hm. I wonder what that thing was, then...

In another news, Poland's conflict with the rest of the EU deepens, as the European Commission decides it's time to trigger Article 7:

http://www.dw.com/en/european-commission-triggers-article-7-against-poland/a-41873962

Of course, the pro-government media here claim that it's all because the EU doesn't like the independent Poland, wants to pressure us into letting the Middle-Eastern refugees in etc.

[Arianna]

I see... Hm. I wonder what that thing was, then...

In another news, Poland's conflict with the rest of the EU deepens, as the European Commission decides it's time to trigger Article 7:

http://www.dw.com/en/european-commission-triggers-article-7-against-poland/a-41873962

Of course, the pro-government media here claim that it's all because the EU doesn't like the independent Poland, wants to pressure us into letting the Middle-Eastern refugees in etc.

The article does make it sound like the Prime Minister has the best intentions... I somehow doubt that is as simple as they make it seem. I also saw discussion about Polexit? That is huge...

[Oniya]

The article does make it sound like the Prime Minister has the best intentions... I somehow doubt that is as simple as they make it seem. I also saw discussion about Polexit? That is huge...

The statement from the EU seems to be focused around the new 'mandatory retirement ages' for judges, and the gender bias inherent in it (female judges must retire at 60, male judges have to retire at 65.)  There are also concerns that the actions involving the judiciary for the past two years are intended to 'politically interfere in the composition, powers, administration and functioning of the judicial branch.'

(As I recall, Beorning has posted numerous accounts of what the PiS has been doing, with a similar amount and direction of concern.)

[Arianna]

The statement from the EU seems to be focused around the new 'mandatory retirement ages' for judges, and the gender bias inherent in it (female judges must retire at 60, male judges have to retire at 65.)  There are also concerns that the actions involving the judiciary for the past two years are intended to 'politically interfere in the composition, powers, administration and functioning of the judicial branch.'

(As I recall, Beorning has posted numerous accounts of what the PiS has been doing, with a similar amount and direction of concern.)

Thank you, Oniya, I must have missed those. Definitely have to catch up on EU news in general.

[Beorning]

The article does make it sound like the Prime Minister has the best intentions... I somehow doubt that is as simple as they make it seem.

Well, don't be fooled by what our new PM is saying... And yes, it *is* that simple: our current government is well on its way on creating n authoritarian dictatorship here.

I also saw discussion about Polexit? That is huge...

And, sadly, possible. Our government cares only about the money the EU gives us - aside from that, they'd really be happy to cut our ties with the Union. Heck, some commentators are saying that a covert Polexit is what's happening right now...

[ShadowFox89]

Well, don't be fooled by what our new PM is saying... And yes, it *is* that simple: our current government is well on its way on creating n authoritarian dictatorship here.

And, sadly, possible. Our government cares only about the money the EU gives us - aside from that, they'd really be happy to cut our ties with the Union. Heck, some commentators are saying that a covert Polexit is what's happening right now...

Join the authoritarian club

[elone]

Never stay home on election day. Get out and vote. One may make the difference.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/court-tosses-out-one-vote-victory-in-recount-that-had-briefly-ended-a-republican-majority-in-virginia/2017/12/20/ed979a70-e5b9-11e7-a65d-1ac0fd7f097e_story.html?utm_term=.002ff4cb5497

[Oniya]

Thank you, Oniya, I must have missed those. Definitely have to catch up on EU news in general.

They're fairly scattered over the last two years - don't feel too bad for missing them.  Everyone has different topics that catch their eyes.

[Missy]

In regards to poland, I wouldn't be surprised if one day we learned just how many pies putins got his fingers in.

[Arianna]

They're fairly scattered over the last two years - don't feel too bad for missing them.  Everyone has different topics that catch their eyes.

I've moved to the US a few years back, from Romania, and since then, I have forced myself to get up to speed with all things socio-political here and slacked on what is going on in my homeland; so when you said that, it reminded me that I am running behind... 

Well, don't be fooled by what our new PM is saying... And yes, it *is* that simple: our current government is well on its way on creating n authoritarian dictatorship here.

Oh no, I was being sarcastic... or more like pointing out the irony of the way the article is written - in a not very realistic point of view. I know that type of political figure too well.

[Cassandra LeMay]

The statement from the EU seems to be focused around the new 'mandatory retirement ages' for judges, and the gender bias inherent in it (female judges must retire at 60, male judges have to retire at 65.)

I think the 60/65 difference is in line with general retirement ages in Poland, i.e. the age when men and women can start receiving an old age pension. There are quite a few countries where retirement age differs for men and women. Not that I agree with what the PiS is doing, but at least it puts a veneer of justification on the meassure.

[Oniya]

I think the 60/65 difference is in line with general retirement ages in Poland, i.e. the age when men and women can start receiving an old age pension. There are quite a few countries where retirement age differs for men and women. Not that I agree with what the PiS is doing, but at least it puts a veneer of justification on the meassure.

Possibly for that part, but the remainder of their actions have less of a leg to stand on.

[Beorning]

Some context here: the real problem is not with the gender bias, but with the "mandatory retirement" idea. Yes, people in Poland *can* retire at the age of 65 / 60, but it's not mandatory in any way. Even if they start getting the old age pension, they can basically continue with their jobs (for example, my father is over 70, is getting the retirement pension and still has a nearly-full-time job). Meanwhile, the new rules for judges make it obligatory for them to quit when they hit the set age... Many commentators say (and I agree with them) that these rules are being put in place to get rid of the most experienced and accomplished judges, especially those from the Supreme Court, so that PiS could install some young stooges there.

They've been using this strategy from the beginning. For example, a few months ago a new law was passed that allowed for the Minister of Justice to appoint the heads of individual courts. And what's been happening since then? A veritable purge of court heads, with even the heads of most effective courts in the country having been fired. And who is the Justice Minister replacing these people with? Well, they've been a few cases were the appointed new heads were judges with *disciplinary charges*. I guess such judges are easier to control...