FROM M. C. A. HOGARTH:  Clays Upon the Sands (The Stone Moon Trilogy).

FROM NATHAN BRINDLE:  I’m the Beautiful But Evil Space Princess Who Rules A Galactic Empire But Really Wants To Leave People Ruthlessly Alone: Volume 2 (I’m The Beautiful But … Wants To Leave People Ruthlessly Alone!).

Princess Regnant Alice and her companions, after a trip to Prince Daniel’s world Xeros, and a visit to Lost Terra and a meeting with Michael, the mysterious, ancient human, have been directed by Michael to travel to Mahoukai — a world of magical beings who will be able to properly train and guide Prince Daniel’s sister Alouette in the use of her inborn magical powers.

But a nagging question continues to bug both Alice and her father, Roger; what is really going on, back on Capital? Is a revolution brewing? Is the Lord Chancellor, Rupert, somehow involved, and at what level? Eventually they must bid a reluctant farewell to the Mahoukaian Great Mages of Antiquity, and end Alice’s six month absence from her Throne.

And what they find on Capital is far, far beyond anything they might have imagined from 50,000 light years away.

The second volume of the BBESP light novel!

FUN:  A Most Illuminating Christmas. Another tale from Wyrd Row.

BEHOLD!  MY SHOCKED FACE!  Bombshell report: Companies did everything they could to avoid hiring “white millennial men” over the last decade.

BOLD MOVE, COTTON:  Venezuela Sends Two Supertankers to China Despite U.S. Blockade Threat.

MEANWHILE IN MASSACHUSETTS:   DOJ Indicts 2, Including Haitian National, in $7 Million Food Stamp Fraud Scheme.

ALSO PROBABLY GOOD:  Trump Admin, Major Drugmakers Make Agreement to Lower Medicaid Prescription Costs.

HOPEFULLY GOOD:  “Polaris Dawn” Hero Jared Isaacman Confirmed as NASA Administrator.

SORRY FOR LINK TO THE BEEBS:  New footage reveals how people tried to stop Bondi Beach shooting. (Video.)

NOTE HOW MANY VOTES THEY HAD TO FAKE FOR A PUNY MARGIN:  Fulton County admits it illegally certified 315,000 ballots in 2020 election.

IT IS THAT:  Brendan O’Neill on the Islamophobia racket.

HOPE FOR GREAT BRITAIN:  The strange rebirth of English patriotism.

FROM T. C. ROSS:   Blood Diamonds: Serial 1 (Boons and Banes).

In a cursed forest where gems tempt the bold and a ferocious beast guards ancient secrets, a cunning hunter must navigate treachery and enchantment to uncover a truth that could change everything.

WELL, THAT EXPLAINS  x&^%Yz* SAILORS. POPEYE FESS UP. IT WAS NEVER THE SPINACH:  Does swearing make you stronger? Science says yes.

THAT’S THE LAST THING THE POWERS THAT WOULD-BE WANT:  A line in the sand: Let’s be honest about the Bondi Beach blood bath.

WE KNOW:  Misha was right – politicians represent only themselves.

NO, HEAR ME OUT, YOU CAN BUILD A FACTORY FOR A NEW PROCESS IN 10 MONTHS:  China Is The Most Free Market Economy On The Planet. For a given meaning of “free market” of course.

Sure, it “helps” that they don’t care if millions of Chinese die from some unforeseen contamination, or their environment becomes (more) inhabitable but — hear me out — perhaps we’ve gone too far the other way?

THE FULCRUM OF SPACE EXPLORATION HAS MOVED FROM NASA:  New Trump executive order today guarantees major changes coming to NASA’s Moon program.

ALWAYS REMEMBER, IF THEY CAN DO THIS TO TRUMP, THEY CAN DO IT TO YOU:  Yet another reason I have trust issues.

JUST DO WHAT YOU CAN TO KEEP THE LIGHT BURNING:  Other People’s Children.

WELL, OF COURSE THEY DO:  Manhattan school district bans effective ABA autism therapy from classrooms.

UNFATHOMABLE LEVELS OF FRAUD:  Over $9 Billion Looted From Minnesota Medicaid Programs, Feds Say.

OH YES. RAN ACROSS IT:  Internet Zoologist Field Notes: TSCW.

ULTIMATELY PEOPLE WHO ARE DISARMED ARE AT THE MERCY OF THOSE WHO HATE THEM:  Bondi Beach, Gun Rights, and the Pew Pew Jew. (Video.)

FORTUNATELY WE HAVE THE SECOND AMENDMENT. WHERE HUNTING ISN’T MENTIONED:  “You can still hunt”.