Drawing, left: Aztec women are handed flowers and smoking tubes before eating at a banquet, Florentine Codex, 1500.   Everyone's rooting for Harry Siegel to be able to quit smoking.
 
JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW
 
Guest-host: Francis Rose, francisrose.com
Co-hosts: Gordon Chang, Forbes.com. Dr. David M. Livingston, The Space Show.
 
Hour One
Wednesday  30 December 2015  / Hour 1, Block A: Scott Harold, deputy director, Center for Asia-Pacific Policy, Rand Corporation, in re: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/the-times/defection-delivers-beijings-nuclear-secrets-to-washington/news-story/1499c6fa05af7037c823b721760bca5b
Wednesday  30 December 2015  / Hour 1, Block B: Rick Fisher, senior Fellow, International Assessment and Strategy Center, in re: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/stealth-wars-china-rolls-j-171200961.html
Wednesday  30 December 2015  / Hour 1, Block C: Hotel Mars, Episode n. Dr. David Livingston, The Space Show, in re: his listener/reader selections for the most important space issues of 2015.
Wednesday  30 December 2015  / Hour 1, Block D: Gordon Chang, Forbes.com, in re: possibility for more defections from China to US.
 
Hour Two
Wednesday  30 December 2015  / Hour 2, Block A: Greg Scarlatoiu, executive director, Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, in re: http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/29/world/north-korean-official-kim-yang-gon-dies/index.html http://www.bbc.com/news/world-34485830
Wednesday  30 December 2015  / Hour 2, Block B:  Chris Harmer, Senior Naval Analyst, Institute for the Study of War, in re: http://www.dw.com/en/are-south-china-sea-tensions-triggering-an-arms-race/a-18927467
Wednesday  30 December 2015  / Hour 2, Block C: Paul Shinkman, US News and World Report, in re: top five things to watch about ISIS in 2016. http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015-12-28/5-things-to-look-for-with-isis-in-2016
Wednesday  30 December 2015  / Hour 2, Block D: Michael Ledeen, Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, in re: Iranian transfer of nuclear materials to Russia doesn’t mean a thing.
 
Hour Three
Wednesday  30 December 2015  / Hour 3, Block A: Harry Siegel, New York Daily News, in re: the feud between Ray Kelly  (former NYPD Commissioner) and Bill Bratton (current NYPD Commissioner) turns ugly.  Bratton, who's 70, is not likely to run for mayor.  Suggestion that an impartial outsider arbiter come in to have a look at the actual statistics.  http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/deadly-serious-charges-ray-kelly-bill-bratton-article-1.2480381
Wednesday  30 December 2015  / Hour 3, Block B: Harry Siegel, NYDN, in re: Unusual novel; protagonist/narrator; his New Year’s resolution - and we all hope he keeps it.  Harry's New Year's plan is to give up all other matters and finally quit smoking.
Wednesday  30 December 2015  / Hour 3, Block C: Capt. Jerry Hendrix (USN-ret.), Center for a New American Security, in re: Iran’s dangerous maneuvers near the USS Harry S Truman. http://www.ibtimes.com/iran-attacks-us-aircraft-carrier-iranian-missile-shot-within-1500-yards-uss-harry-s-2243437
Wednesday  30 December 2015  / Hour 3, Block D: Capt. Jerry Hendrix, in re: Littoral Combat Ships are about to grow bigger fangs. http://www.navytimes.com/story/military/2015/12/28/lcs-anti-surface-missiles-2016-mayport-freedom-coronado/77308144/
 
Hour Four
Wednesday  30 December 2015  / Hour 4, Block A: Bob Zimmerman, Behind the Black, in re: a Russian success in space – they’re not happening very much right now. http://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/proton-successfully-launches-satellite/
Wednesday  30 December 2015  / Hour 4, Block B: Megan McArdle, Bloomberg View, in re: Bernienomics 101, understanding the numbers behind Bernie Sanders’s economic complaints. http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-12-28/bernienomics-101
Wednesday  30 December 2015  / Hour 4, Block C: Sarah Westwood, Washington Examiner, in re: the two VA employees whom the VA Inspector General referred to the Justice Department will not face criminal charges. http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/no-charges-for-pair-that-bilked-va-out-of-400000/article/2579226
Wednesday  30 December 2015  / Hour 4, Block D: Kristina Wong, The Hill, in re: the Obama administration wants to create a “new narrative” about the fight against ISIS. http://thehill.com/policy/defense/264219-us-military-drafting-new-narrative-for-isis-war