2016 Failed Predictions; The Plausible ICBM; Attack Without Returns; The Peaceful UN Chief; Ok, Maybe Russia Didn't Do It; CA Exodus; Enabling Promiscuity; The 12-Sided Pound; Bank Oversight; White-Collar AI; Self-Assembled Complexity; and Mars Igloos

End of the World

7 Dumb Predictions For 2016 That Didn't Happen forbes

We broke a lot of new ground in 2016, and whether you think that path is leading us off a cliff or onward to newfound glory, hopefully we can at least agree that it's finally over. Before we start looking forward to 2017 and making all sorts of ridiculous predictions that probably won't come true, let's look back at what some of the more outlandish prognosticating charlatans saw in their crystal balls for the year now ending.

Added as a reminder that Jesus said that the Father alone knows the hour it all ends (Mark 13:32) and that until His final judgement, things will continue on continuing on (Gen 8:22).

Marriage-less State; Minimum Bandwagon; Rupee Lost; Money Thumb; Lingering Israeli Support; and Underwater Archaeology

Society

A lawmaker's solution for marriage debate: Remove the state host.madison

His bill, filed ahead of the 2017 legislative session, would make Missouri the first state to recognize only domestic unions for both heterosexual and gay couples, treating legal partnerships equally and leaving marriages to be done by pastors and other religious leaders.

Other states including Alabama, Indiana and Michigan failed to pass similar bills to limit the government's role in marriage, and Oklahoma representatives passed a bill that didn't make it out of the Senate.

Christmas Unity; Globalization Rally Cry; The Failing Justice League; EU's Grip; RT Swipe; Red Square Drill; Bomb Rain; Settling Outposts; New Order in Town; Programming Required; Alt-Right All Twittered Out; Big Gas; Animals See Again; Satellite Palooza; Smart Men Hit Asteroid; Space Engine; Faster Than Concorde; and Plant Robots Dreams

False Unity

Amazon Christmas advert 2016: Imam and priest push festive message of friendship independent.co.uk v

A spokesman for Amazon told The Independent: "Our casting reflects this: the gentleman playing the vicar is a practising vicar in London, the gentleman playing the imam is a devout Muslim and the principal of a Muslim school. We used an actual church and mosque for our scenes within the places of worship."

Oh, Amazon...

Closed Liberty; Church Bathrooms; Russia's Regress Begins; Aussies Block (ish) SSM; Drugged Out; Bio-Hacking at the Top; Censoring the Censors; Nod to Pay; Nano Transistor; Spacey Brain; Houthi in the Machine; and Drone Death

Society

Christian-owned bakery in Oregon closes after religious freedom fight results in steep fines christiandaily

On Sept. 29, the Christian-owned bakery Sweet Cakes thanked the people who prayed for and supported the business, but at the same time announced that the bakery has already closed. No explanation was provided on the Facebook statement, Catholic News Agency details.

According to Q13 Fox News, Sweet Cakes' storefront in Oregon has been closed since 2013. However, owners Aaron and Melissa Klein continued to operate their business from their home. Their legal representative Hiram Sasser explained that the bakery was closed "months ago" but the couple still received inquiries for possible orders, thus the Facebook announcement.

Obama and Netanyahu's Final Meeting; Syria Ceases Cease Fire; Merkel Admits It's Someones Fault; French Quarter for Sharia Law; Deported into Citizens; Tree Fuel; Lyft's Beyond; Self-Driven Canal; and The Blind Who 'See' Algebra

Israel

Obama And Netanyahu To Meet In New York On Wednesday jewishbusinessnews

The meeting was agreed upon following talks between the Prime Minister’s Office and the White House and was confirmed after the signing of the new US-Israel military aid package. It will be the first meeting between the two leaders since November 2015 and likely be the last as Obama approaches the conclusion of his presidency.

“The meeting also will be an opportunity to discuss the need for genuine advancement of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the face of deeply troubling trends on the ground,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said.

1st Amendment and Cakes; Rain Bomb; Fiery Manure; Australia Drifts Away; Dragon Ants; NK'n Hate in Bullet Point Form; The Anti-US War Game Party; Breaking Communication Chains; Get Turkey Out (of NATO); Israel's Red Pill, Blue Pill Choice; Shrinking Okinawan Stake; Another Gay Christening; 58 Years of NASA; Yahoo's Solution to Hate; and a Dead Man's Fingerprint

Society

Constitution Check: Does the First Amendment protect a wedding cake as an art form? blog.constitutioncenter.org

Lyle Denniston, the National Constitution Center’s constitutional literacy adviser, looks at a potential Supreme Court test case about religious beliefs, same-sex marriage and a Colorado bakeshop.

Also see Masterpiece Cakeshop petition to the Supreme Court adflegal pdf

Peace Peace!; Genocide Recognition; Withdrawing from NK; Be Cyborg or Be Obsolete; Bovine Johne's in AU; Trojan Horse Attack on Cancer; Instant, Global Trading; and Basic Income Test

Peace

Israel-Palestinian peace initiatives are suddenly popping up everywhere washingtonpost

Until a week ago, it seemed the Israeli-Palestinian peace process was a flat-liner. President Obama thought so. In March, he said he wouldn’t seek to jump-start talks — the two sides were too far apart; it was not in the cards.

Not All About State Recognition; Threatening Shield; Georgia Games; AU Backs US; China's Imploding Base; The Global Anti-Corruption Dream Team; ALawyer; Drilling for Cheese; Copyrights in a 3D Printing World; Inventory Management Swarm; SSM and Military Chapels; Superintendent's Personal, District-Wide Bathroom Policy; 1st National Gay Rights Monument; Liberal Demand for Unconditional Surrender; and Cheating Eyes

Two-State Solution

Gold: Israel opposes French plan even if it includes ‘Jewish state’ recognition jpost

“There are many problems with the French initiative, one of them is the lack of recognition of a Jewish state,” Gold said Thursday. “But even if that were changed, it wouldn’t alter many fundamental problems with the French initiative.”

Gold voiced anger at France’s vote last month at the UNESCO executive board meeting in favor of a resolution on Jerusalem that expunged any Jewish connection to the Temple Mount.