Let’s Start With Why 2018 Will Be Amazing
Ars Technica – Here’s the spaceflight stuff we’re most anticipating in 2018

North Korea Extends An Olive Branch As Trump Preens
Reuters – North Korea agrees to talk to South after U.S.-South Korea postpone drills

Iranian Government Begins Pointing Fingers; Is There Any Truth In What They Say?
New York Times – Iran Lashes Out at Its Enemies, at Home and Abroad, Amid Protests

Saudi Arabia Looks On As Its Sparring Partner Stumbles
Wall Street Journal – Iranian Unrest Draws a Notable Silence From Rival Saudi Arabia

Even More Reform in the Kingdom
The Guardian – Saudi Aramco takes key step towards $2tn flotation

ISIS On The Run; Isn’t It Grand What We Can Accomplish When We Work Together?
Reuters – Syrian govt. presses Idlib offensive as people flee homes in the cold

Chappaqua Is Burning
Washington Post – Fire breaks out on Hillary and Bill Clinton’s property in Chappaqua, N.Y.

Trump and Bannon Trade Punches; Is It Real or An Act?
Reuters – Trump breaks with Bannon, says former White House aide ‘lost his mind’
New York Times – Trump Breaks With Bannon, Saying ‘He Has Lost is Mind’
CNN – Read Trump’s official statement about Steve Bannon

Nothing To See Here, Folks
Politico – Roy Moore accuser’s home burns down in possible arson

Sessions on Sessions: States’ Rights, Except When We Say So
Associated Press – Sessions terminates US policy that let legal pot flourish

Quick Reminder: Marijuana/Cannabis Is Still a Schedule I Drug, According To the Federal Government
Drug Enforcement Administration – Drug Schedules

Californian Killed in Mexico
San Diego Union-Tribune – Shooting of Imperial Beach official a ‘priority case,’ say Guerrero officials

Looks Like We’re Back to Sarah Palin’s “Drill Baby, Drill!”
New York Times – Trump Moves to Open Nearly All Offshore Waters to Drilling

Some States Prepare For a Fight
National Post – California has ample weapons to fight Trump on drilling

Time To Update Your Devices – Apple Users Must Wait
Reuters – Security flaws put virtually all phones, computers at risk
Ars Technica – Meltdown and Spectre: Here’s what Intel, Apple, Microsoft, others are doing about it
Reuters – How a researcher hacked his own computer and found ‘worst’ chip flaw

Replacements For Senators Jeff Sessions and Al Franken Sworn In
Time – Democratic lawmakers Doug Jones of Alabama and Tina Smith of Minnesota are sworn into the U.S. Senate

The Curious Case of Bridgewater Associates
Reuters – Executive at top hedge fund among Costa Rica crash victims

What Is Bridgewater?
New York Times – At World’s Largest Hedge Fund, Sex, Fear and Video Surveillance