The Monday buZZ 12 DEC 2016

Vladimir Putin setting his sights.

THIS WEEK’S WEATHER OR NOT

Looking pretty swell through Friday - you know the drill...Make hay while the sun shines!

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HEARD ON THE STREET

"Aw, Johnny - we hardly knew ya."  At a time when American has never needed its heroes more, we lost a great one last week. John Glenn (1921-2016) In 1962 he became the first American to orbit the Earth, circling three times. In 1998, while a sitting senator (R-OH), he became the oldest person to fly in space.  In 2012, Glenn was awarded The Presidential Medal of Freedom.  FYI:  10 years ago, as the ranking minority member on the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Glenn looked into illegal foreign donations  to U.S. political campaigns (for the 1996 election).

STRANGE BEDFELLOWS. Rex Tillerson and Vladimir Putin - it's official, the Exxon CEO is also an FOP (Friend of Putin). He even has a certificate -The Order of Friendship-  to prove it. Reports of the possible nomination of Tillerson for Secretary of State stirred criticism even among some Republicans, including two members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Marco Rubio and Rand Paul. “Being a ‘friend of Vladimir’ is not an attribute I am hoping for from a Secretary Of State,” Rubio said on Twitter. 

NOTE TO DIARY: "To do business in Russia—both for Exxon Mobil and for Tillerson’s own massive retirement fund, whose fortunes would rise significantly if a Trump White House lifted sanctions—you have to dance to Putin’s tune, and take whatever favors and humiliations he sends your way. Putin may act a friend and pin state medals on your breast, but he is, ultimately, a cynic. And to play ball with him, you have to be a cynic, too. Forget your honor, your rule of law, your independent judiciary, your human rights, your international law, and focus on the gold coins he throws to your feet. And forget looking dignified as you gather them up."  (Source: POLITICO)

The New York Times reported American intelligence agencies have "high confidence" that Russia intervened in the later stages of the 2016 election to help Trump win the presidency. Meanwhile, PEOTUS dismisses concerns as "ridiculous."

What do Rock 'n' Roll and Military Dictatorships have in common? When they go high, tango goes low - CLICK TO LEARN MORE

STUFF TO CONSIDER - Insomniacs Want to Know

Which way is the wind blowing?

Name two endangered species in the picture above

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WHAT TO DO IN THE DUKE CITY

Get thee to The Bosque del Apache! I think the early morning has it all over the Fly-in, but you can't lose - an extraordinary flight of fancy. Now until early January for peak numbers.

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LUMINARIA WATCH - Christmas Eve in the Old Town and Country Club areas. If you have time: Rio Grande from Griegos up to about El Pueblo.

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iPICKS

iSEE :

THE GUILD CINEMA       Dec 15 to Dec 19 ONLY
Thursday to Monday 3:00, 8:15

Jacques Perrin & Jacques Cluzaud - 2016 - 95m - France - In French with English subtitles

After traveling the world alongside migrating birds and diving the oceans with whales and manta rays, Jacques Perrin and Jacques Cluzaud return to more familiar ground, the lush green forests and megafauna that emerged across Europe following the last Ice Age. Winter had gone on for 80,000 years when, in a relatively short period of time the ice retreated, the landscape metamorphosed, the cycle of seasons was established and the beasts occupied their new kingdom. It was only later than man arrived to share this habitat, first tentatively as migratory hunter/gatherers, then making inroads in the forest as settled agriculturalists, and later more dramatically via industry and warfare. SEASONS, with its exceptional footage of animals in the wild, is the awe-inspiring and thought-provoking tale of the long and tumultuous shared history that inextricably binds humankind with the natural world.

“Truly beautiful. Captures the poetry, humor and drama of wildlife.” - Deborah Young, The Hollywood Reporter 

“Stunning." - J.R. Jones, Chicago Reader

“Breathtaking.” - Catherine Vincent, Le Monde

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iHEAR:

The 2016 Winter Festival concert Northern Light: Carols and Lullabies from Around the World features music from the northern-most regions of the earth for the holiday season. You can hear this performed here in ABQ or in Santa Fe. CLICK HERE for details
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iYouTUBE :

Added to Netflix on December 2, Fauda follows a team of undercover Israeli operatives who work within Palestinian communities to bring down a Hamas terrorist kingpin. As the team integrates into its surroundings, the lines between the Israelis and the Palestinians increasingly blur. Lauded for its realism and sympathetic, humanizing portrayals of Palestinian characters—including terrorists—the show draws on the expertise of its creators, including Haaretz and Times of Israel correspondent Avi Issacharoff. Much of its dialogue is in Arabic. In June, Fauda won Best Drama Series at Israel’s Ophir Awards.
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iEAT:

Richie Bs Pizza - IMHO, the 2nd best cheesesteak in town and for many, better located at Louisiana and Montgomery

WHAT’S COOKIN’