LNN

When the 3,280-feet-tall (1,000-meter-tall) Jeddah Tower, in Saudi Arabia, opens in 2020, it will knock Dubai's iconic Burj Khalifa off its throne as the tallest skyscraper in the world by 236 feet (72 meters). The most viable reasons for his detention are due to political and or economic problems. However, there is no clear answer to why? When will it resume? When will it end? To be continued?

Yes... Ford is axing thousands of jobs across Europe in a cost-cutting effort aimed at offsetting falling profits on the continent. It's also shutting down a factory in France, considering scrapping low-profit models, reviewing a Russian joint venture, and planning to consolidate its HQ in Britain. Why all the self-reflection? Tougher emissions rules and shrinking demand have weighed heavily on Ford in Europe, where it claims 6.4% of the new car market. From January to November, Ford sold 2.3% fewer cars in the European Union YoY. But auto problems span the globe: In the U.S., car sales have slowed as the promise of low-interest loans fades. In China, car sales tanked 19% in December for the steepest decline on record. In Europe, the Brexit deadline (and the higher auto tariffs it might bring) is coming up fast. Which means Ford isn't alone in its troubles. Also yesterday, Britain's Jaguar Land Rover announced plans to cut its global workforce by 4,500 due to "multiple geopolitical and regulatory disruptions."

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro probably didn't get a standing ovation yesterday following his inauguration to a second term—one already marked by severe political, economic, and humanitarian issues (many of which arose on his watch). Here's a small sampling of what he's dealing with: An annual inflation rate of 1,400,000%. Think that's bad? It's forecast to hit 10,000,000% by year-end. Venezuela owes international creditors about $150 billion. Venezuelans lost an average of 24 lbs in 2017 (with the government restricted from importing food or medicine) and suffer from a 90% poverty rate. Asking yourself how Maduro won a second term? So are a lot of people. His May re-election has been labeled both "illegitimate" and a "sham"—and many have accused his party of vote-rigging and strong-arming. The U.S. and 13 other countries in the Americas have said they will not recognize Maduro's presidency. Give us the bottom line, Axios: "While many nebulously blame 'socialism' for Venezuela's dire condition, the truth is that the country's problems are a result of corruption and wide-ranging economic incompetence from Maduro's government."

Beer has calories? LOL They must think that beer drinkers will actually care?

This is also helping her popularity

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. might now have a loss on its stake in Apple Inc., which fell Thursday after the iPhone maker lowered its fiscal first-quarter revenue forecast. This conclusion is based on the number of shares Berkshire has bought each quarter since its initial purchase three years ago and Apple’s average quarterly closing share price. Combining the two gives an estimated cost of $146.02 a share for the 5.4 percent holding, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Apple’s shares closed at $142.19 Thursday after tumbling 10 percent, its steepest drop since January 2013.

Cosmetics companies mount huge marketing campaigns to sell overpriced cosmetics to women. The man driving a ridiculous $75,000 money-pit of a pickup truck is a considered to be a regular old consumer. But a woman spending $50 on a bottle of shampoo is considered a victim of the white patriarchy. How about if we ALL sober up a little and stop laying the blame for all of our own human pride and weakness and folly on other people? Maybe we would all get along that way?

Holy shit! Dogs are ..... smart

Faux news fawning over the Bushes! No mention of his families role in 9/11 No mention of his role in the Kennedy Assassination. (He couldn't remember where he was when Kennedy was shot by the way_)

Are you ready to get your mind blown? Let me introduce you to a legal, yet highly addictive, drug called BETEL NUT. I've seen it being widely consumed all around the Southern parts of Asia and the Pacific islands (where it naturally grows)... but here in Papua New Guinea, they take it to another level. And they chew it differently than anyone else (with a mustard seed + lime + dried seashells). More than half the population of PNG chew betel nut daily, or "buai" as they call it in the local language." Over the last 3 days as I've been around the country, I've seen everyone from little kids (under 10) to grandparents in their 90s spitting this red stuff out of their mouths. This video will educate you a little bit about betel nut -- what it is, how it's used, what it does to your health, how the epidemic is effecting the local economy, and if you watch until the end, you'll see my reactions as I try it for the first time. Have you ever tried betel nut before? Or seen people chewing it? What are your thoughts on the drug?

This continues to happen sadly.

20 FEET!!!

The UN sounds a little scary when they word it like this... "Resistance is Futile!"

Wow!

pizzlies or grolars? Wow....

Almost prophetic!

This post was almost prophetic....

This is a little weird.

Talk about inciting the mobs!!! This video is very scary.

Friday afternoon, the Trump administration (aka 13 federal agencies) released a 1,656-page report describing the potentially disastrous effects of climate change on the U.S. economy. And while this report wasn't the first edition of the U.S. National Climate Assessment (the government is required to publish one every four years), it sounds the loudest alarm. The main takeaway? "With continued growth in emissions at historic rates, annual losses in some economic sectors are projected to reach hundreds of billions of dollars by the end of the century." In fact, the losses are already piling up. Here's a quick look at three different sectors profiled in the National Climate Assessment. Supply chains Big picture: "Current and projected climate-related impacts on our economy include increased risks to overseas operations of U.S. businesses, disruption of international supply chains, and shifts in the availability and prices of commodities." Real-world example: Flooding in Thailand in 2011 cost U.S.-based Western Digital $199 million (it makes hard drives in Thailand). Ford was also forced to pause production there. Ocean ecosystems Big picture: "The Nation's valuable ocean ecosystems are being disrupted by increasing global temperatures through the loss of iconic and highly valued habitats and changes in species composition and food web structure." Real-world example: Sea surface temperatures on the Northeast Continental Shelf experienced a dramatic increase in 2012. That extended the lobster fishing season, leading to oversupply and a "severe price collapse." Vulnerable infrastructure Big picture: "Sea level rise (SLR) is progressively making coastal roads and bridges more vulnerable and less reliable." Real-world example: U.S. Route 17 in Charleston, SC currently floods more than 10x a year. By 2045? It could experience up to 180 floods annually (and each flood costs the city $13.75 million in 2015 dollars). Zoom out: The administration's report is also noteworthy because it contradicts the administration's own climate-related economic policies (like rolling back environmental regulations). Just last week, the president mocked the threat of climate change in a pre-Thanksgiving tweet. But there was so much we didn't get to, such as climate change's effects on agriculture, transportation, and tourism. Check out the full report while you pass the time in a car, train, plane, or buried in a sofa today.