FOREIGN AFFAIRS: “For three decades, French unemployment has hovered around ten percent. In 2016, almost 25 percent of those aged 16 to 24 and actively seeking work could not find a job, and many others were working part time or in jobs below their skill level.”

From a female friend on Facebook:

UPDATE: Macron Vows to Face Down ‘Very Violent’ Riots to Change France. “The problem for Macron is that having shown a flash of weakness in suspending a planned fuel-tax hike, his tough talk won’t carry the same weight as before.”

A GOOD WOMAN WITH A GUN: SC woman shoots, kills escaped inmate who broke into her home.

WELL, THIS IS THE 21ST CENTURY, YOU KNOW: In World First, Woman Gives Birth After Receiving Uterus Transplant from Dead Donor.

ANNALS OF LEFTIST AUTOPHAGY: Columbia University Students Apologize for Inviting SNL Comedian to Campus. Takeaway: “Patel deserved to get booted off because I was irritated by his performance.”

These students are horrible human beings, unfit to live in a free and democratic society. Of course, they know that, which is why they’re working to turn it into something else.

SCOTT ADAMS ON PARIS: Populations Are Reaching Their Maximum Tolerance on Taxes.

NEWS YOU CAN USE: Tested and Approved: The Best Wine Openers.

The winner — and this should come as no surprise — is nothing more complicated than a really well made waiter’s tool.

THIS MUST BE A BLUE ENCLAVE THING: When Did Infants and Pets Become Cocktail Party Accoutrements?

PRESEASON SUPER BOWL PREDICTIONS: Three Reasons Beto is the Democrats’ Candidate to Beat in 2020.

Read the whole thing — and welcome back Bryan Preston to PJM.

MORE PRACTICAL IN MOST APPLICATIONS THAN A .50: Barrett to Produce MRAD Rifles in .300 PRC for DoD.

A SMALL BUT SIGNIFICANT VICTORY: Republican Raffensperger Wins Georgia Secretary of State Runoff Election.

BEER. Beyond IPA: Doubles, Triples, Imperials, Old Ales and Danks.

In the warmer months I stick with easy-drinking ambers and pilsners, but when the weather turns cold sometimes I want something a little more… stout.

IT’S CALLED PHOTO EDITING: This Trend Has Gone Viral On Instagram, But It’s Actually Dangerous To Your Mental Health.

Related: Social Media As Social Disease.

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SATURDAY DECEMBER 8 IN AUSTIN, TEXAS: The Humanities Texas Holiday Book Fair. Book signing from 10 AM to 1 PM in the restored Byrne-Reed mansion, 1410 Rio Grande (corner of Rio Grande and West 15th Street). I’ll be signing copies of Cocktails from Hell: 5 Complex Wars Shaping the 21st Century.

VIDEO MONTAGE: Liberal Media Figures Bash Trump During Bush Coverage.

UPDATE (FROM GLENN): Somebody should do a mashup interleaving cuts from this video with cuts of liberal media figures bashing Bush when he was President.

MEXICO’S NEW PRESIDENT CONFRONTS VIOLENCE AND IMPUNITY.

CITY HALL VERSUS THE GIG ECONOMY: NYC sets first-of-its-kind minimum pay rate for Uber, Lyft drivers.

On Tuesday, the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission voted on a minimum pay formula to protect ridehailing drivers from being underpaid by companies. Under the new policy, drivers will earn a minimum take-home wage of $17.22 per hour. That’s the ridehailing equivalent of a $15 minimum wage, accounting for the fact that those drivers have to pay payroll taxes and do not receive paid time off, the TLC said.

The move, which will go into effect in 30 days, is expected to raise the average driver’s pay by $9,600 per year, according to the proposal.

The minimum pay floor is a first for the US ridehail industry and could mean rides in New York will get pricier.

Ya think?

They should call this decision what it really is: The Taxi Cartel Protection Act.

WELL, THAT’S THE DREAM: Gene-silencing drug may allow for exercise-free, dieting-free weight loss.

RETENTION: Dick’s CEO Ed Stack totals up how many employees quit over assault-style weapon decision.

According to CEO Ed Stack, 62 employees quit working for Dick’s Sporting Goods over the retailer’s decision to stop selling assault-style weapons, announced in February.

Stack spoke on the matter before the Wall Street Journal CEO Council and called the number “relatively small” in the context of a company that employs 40,000 people.

“We anticipated that there would be some people that would leave. We’ve got 40,0000 employees, and 2,500, or 2,6000 people working at our corporate headquarters,” said Stack, of the Findlay-based company. “We’re a cross-section of the country. We knew people would be upset.”

It’s the upset customers he needs to account for to his company’s shareholders.

SHOCKING NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF SCIENCE: Black males are more prone to gun death by homicide while white males are more likely to die by suicide, a study says.

YOU DON’T SAY: France Tops OECD Table as Most Taxed Country.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s annual review of taxes in its 36 members published on Wednesday showed the French government’s tax revenues were the equivalent of 46.2% of economic output, up from 45.5% in 2016 and 43.4% in 2000. The Danish government’s tax take, which was the highest among OECD members between 2002 and 2016, fell to 46% of gross domestic product from 46.2% in the previous year and 46.9% in 2000.

The U.S. government’s tax revenues also rose relative to the size of the economy as a result of a one-off tax on accumulated profits earned by American businesses overseas. But at 27.1% of GDP, only five countries had a lower tax take: Mexico, Turkey, Chile, South Korea and Ireland.

Why are we letting five whole countries beat us in the tax-cut race?

ANNALS OF LEFTIST AUTOPHAGY: New Oscar Host Kevin Hart Attacked in Record Time.

More importantly, why would anyone want to host the Oscars at this point? The show is consistently awful and preachy. Critics typically savage whoever does the honors. It’s weeks and weeks of work with little payoff beyond, apparently, a “low” six-figure check. The latter is consequential but not to stars who routinely cash those sized checks.

The worst part for Hart? He’ll be slimed for weeks, maybe months, following the announcement. If he survives what’s to come he’ll be forced to abandon his apolitical stance as the Oscars host.

A comic who rigorously avoids partisan humor will have to mock the GOP, President Donald Trump or both on Oscar night. It’s what we’ve seen from previous hosts for the past few years. Virtually every awards show doubles as a DNC ad.

Suddenly, all Harts’ efforts to nurture his bipartisan fan base will be gone. Maybe he’s better off bowing out now. The gig just isn’t worth it.

Star Wars: Rogue One recreated Peter Cushing and Carrie Fisher in CGI form. Holographic recreations of dead rock stars such as Roy Orbison are touring in increasing numbers. Perhaps the Oscars should simply task Industrial Light & Magic to create holographic or CGI versions of Bob Hope and Johnny Carson and have them host alternate years — and problem solved.

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YES. NEXT QUESTION? Did Fusion GPS lie to Congress?