It All Started With Horrific Videos of Chinese People Walking Down the Street…

 …groceries in hand, and basically stopping, and falling straight down, never to move again. I remember those, widely circulated during the first days of the Wuhan infections, but since hard to find online. 

Here’s one of them 

Now, I can hardly believe that we took the Chinese government’s word for the truthfulness of these rather obvious pieces of propaganda. The many lies that came out of that region, coupled with the lies of much of our own government, have changed the ways that citizens view official sources.

Where We Are Today:

• Masking is less common, but many will NOT give up the covering. Masked "Peaceful Protesters" are common, despite public safety concerns about not being able to identify those committing crimes.
• Kids are back in school, but too few school systems have been forced to back off on CRT and DIE education. This is despite both literacy and math scores hitting the lowest point in years. Too many teachers are more concerned about pushing their personal agenda, than in teaching the subjects/grades they are being paid to teach.
• Social Media is as awful as ever. Blatant bans/deplatforming/abuses are probably down, but the undercover squashing of 1st Amendment rights continues. Project Veritas is doing an extraordinary job in exposing abuses, but many more underhanded actions are escaping notice.
• The recent midterm elections were, in some states, a not-funny joke. The outright fraud was in-your-face, unapologetic, and unashamed. And that fraud was made possible by the massive increase in absentee ballots, 'justified' by COVID. If not for that, there would have been some other excuse, however, the fears of the American public made is easier.
• Welfare, EBT, housing subsidies, and other forms of government support of allegedly not working adults and their minor children have skyrocketed. What might have been expected - people flooding the job market to apply for jobs that were now available in abundance - did not happen. Those who were given money to sit on their a$$, continued to do so. A FEW took advantage of increased opportunities - kudos to them - but most did not.

And, Trump has announced he is running.

Eh. 

It's a long time until the next election, and I don't believe that his presence - or absence - will make the difference in the 2024 election.

What WILL make a difference is tightening up the election infrastructure:

• No more absentee ballots, without a doctor's note on file at the election board. That excuse is ONLY good for 1 year. After that, another note will be needed. The exception will be for serving military and their families. Other than that, a person who will be out of town on election day may vote - in person, with ID - at the election office, not more than 1 month early.
• Any resident in institutional care must have a DOCTOR willing to swear that person is mentally competent to vote. No votes may be collected from any person without that certification on file at the election office.
• Votes must be counted at the location they were cast. If there is a discrepancy between the voter book/ballots, votes from that precinct will not be counted without an audit, on site, in front of observers of any party that chooses to participate.
• No ballot may be scanned except at the local election site. Any absentee ballots must be scanned and counted before being moved to another location. All signatures must be verified before being scanned.
• If rejection rates exceed at certain percent, the ballots must be hand-counted before poll observers.
• No counting site may close down, or eject observers, before the final count is complete. No person may leave and return to the site. No vehicles may approach the site before the count is complete.

These are just a few ideas. The point is, this needs to be changed at the local level. No more transporting ballots before counting them/scanning them, or otherwise giving nefarious people access to them.

With the state-level GOP having made inroads into government, this should be a priority. Rather than enact "comprehensive" changes, it would be better to do it a few changes at a time. Better to get a few improvements through the legislative process than to make compromises that water down the effect of the changes.

The Left Can't Find Nazis? They'll Provide Their OWN!

The bizarre sight of Biden going all Demagogue Hitler on a dark, red-light stage has to rank as one of the strangest events of the year. And, it's been a VERY strange year.

The Left is ready - nay, EAGER - to fight 'The Nazis/Fascists' among us. They don't let the fact that there are only a miniscule number of Americans who are even SLIGHTLY attracted to that philosophy stop them from smearing the entire group of American Dissidents.

So, they keep trying, harder and harder, to take out those Dissidents who they have chosen as Example Fascists, and throwing all the power of an overstuffed government on 'those people'.

To no avail.

What they don't realize is that the Dissidents are largely self-organized and use shared leadership structures that divide the power and responsibility among its members.

Ultimately, we - individually - are responsible for the continuance of the Constitutional Republic. We need to push back from within our communities, and stop the Power Overreach.

The 'Sleepers' Among Us

I'm referring to this new twist on RINOs - the people who are flat-out NOT a Republican, but is lying about their past - with the copious assistance of social media 'scrubbers'.

Now, I'd planned on putting this post on Liberty's Torch. However, difficulties with loading the dashboard led me to put this here. I'm hoping that the issues will be resolved soon.

But, back to the issue - what do we do about this takeover of the GOP apparatus?

Third party always SOUNDS good - but, as we've seen in the past, that's a high barrier to success. The rules for getting on the ballot in every state have deliberately made very unfriendly for those attempting to accomplish that goal.

We've TRIED to reform the GOP. A lot of good that's done us. With the timeline so short for the midterms, we're probably stuck with the GOP, for now.

But, there is time before 2024.

There are, to my knowledge, no third party organizations that appear on all 50 states - with the exception of the Libertarian party.

The actual votes for that party, in local, state, and national elections, is quite low. The hard-core members are NOT on board with the mainstream GOP. I expect that any attempt to do to them what the RINOs/sleepers have done to the GOP are doomed.

And, for me, that's OK.

I don't want to co-opt them.

I want to affiliate with them.

I want to establish a working relationship with them; we'll put up our most electable candidates under their umbrella, with their agreement, and, in return, we'll work out a platform that allows BOTH groups to get the top 5 of their most urgent concerns, RELATED TO NON-SOCIAL/CULTURAL ISSUES, addressed after 2024. This can be a time-limited affiliation.

I think it's likely that the hard-core GOP members for whom social/cultural issues are paramount will resist. I would expect getting their cooperation would be a hard-sell.

However, there are many unaffiliated voters Leaning Libertarian, who could be persuaded.

Do I think keeping the Dobbs status is worth fighting for? Sure. It's a workable decision that returns those laws to the states. And, to be fair, it would probably be worth it for Libertarians as well, as it allows local organizations to have a larger impact - although, for many of them, completely getting government out of the process is better.

I do believe that most of the LP would agree with that plan. In that, perhaps I'm optimistic, but I have to believe that working out a way to have a larger influence on national affairs would appeal to the members of the LP.

Whatever the answer, it's clear that the GOP is - or should be - dead to us. Their record is black with betrayal of principle.

Shunning the Non-Compliant, AND Those Who Would Stand Up for Them

 This is a powerful series of posts on the social dynamics of the Vaccine Wars. I’d not read much of this guy’s work before, but I’ve put him on my Must Read List. 

Keep an Eye on This...

...it will be the Canary in the Mine case.

If the Justice Dept./SEC don't act to stop Google and Facebook's blatantly illegal actions - Google acting as a monopoly, and Facebook facilitating it - it will be clear to the Thinking Person that the USA is bought and paid for by Big Tech/Big Money.

Well, it HAS been, that's obvious (except to the Stupid/Left). But, I expect that the enforcement divisions of the Federal government and the SEC will promptly take all evidence, put it "Under Investigation", refuse to talk about it, as an ongoing case, and, eventually, deliver a Stinging Slap on the Wrist to the offending companies and their leadership. Perhaps with a token fine that amounts to less than 0.1% of a day's profit.

BAD company!

At that point, they will move into their "THAT is already adjudicated, and is yesterday's headline!" phase. A brief period during which prominent politicians carefully avoid taking DIRECT money from the offenders, then back to normal.

[That Direct Money thing? The companies will donate to "good works" as part of their "We're SO sorry, and here's some money to ease our 'conscience' schtick. That money will then trickle down to the politicians that it was always intended for, without DIRECTLY having their fingerprints on it. See the links to and from the Tides Foundation, on Discover the Left,which explains the laundering process.]

The main trouble with these complicated schemes is that the average person, hearing about them, has a MEGO Moment (My Eyes Glaze Over). It's not rocket science, which I actually know a little about, being a former physics teacher, but it requires sufficient attention and brain activity to follow a multi-step process (I would LOVE for the guy who wrote The Big Short to explain this, using a video presentation).

I am lucky enough that I actually took some business classes, including accounting, marketing - my professor included some basic stock market background, and I was interested enough to learn more, and business law. The UCC had just come out with a revision, so I had the textbook that included it. Much of it is actually readable and comprehensible - as many laws are, if you take the time to read them. 

I got sufficient knowledge of the stock market and the SEC that I understood the basics. At least enough to realize, when Martha Stewart got indicted by the SEC, that she had been hit with a sketchy case, and, if not a celebrity, wouldn't have faced more than a small fine.

So, I have long been aware of the political dimensions to prosecution, and the extent to which the press would gladly cover it up, if they could just be fed the information ahead of other reporters, and get to cover a perp walk. That was during the Bush-Cheney administration, lest we forget that the Dims aren't the only villains here.

Behind the Hype of China's Military Capability

I'm not gonna say it's IMPOSSIBLE that China does have a nuclear capability that is far above what we have in the USA.

But, it sure is unlikely.

Think about skirmishes on the China-India border in 2020-2021. Troops of both countries fought to defend their own country's claim to territory. As you can see from the video, it was a no-guns battle that showed how clubs, swords, and spears still have a use in border disputes (as they do in many neighborhood brawls).

Why no guns?

Neither China nor India want a "hot" war. Such a conflict level would be hugely damaging to their economies. Even though both countries have extensive land armies, they do not want that conflict to turn so kinetic as to trigger all-out war.

Now, with that in mind, I'm gonna go out on a limb and state that I don't believe China is eager for, nor prepared for, an actual war. The "news" about their hypersonic capabilities, and the belligerence they have recently shown towards both America, and their allies in the South Pacific, is merely designed to influence the Nervous Nellies in the Biden administration.

IRL, China is weak. They have real opposition, both with their own people, and with Taiwan and Hong Kong, as well. When protests start up, China will step in and threaten, use stealth methods for eliminating opponents, and use technological means to cut off communications. All of which can be done at little cost, and low risk of tipping off a kinetic action.

But, America's Left being, well, LEFT, the Biden-Harris administration will likely fold quickly, and put the USA in a bad position.

Same Old, Same Old.

Some Random Things That Caught My Eye

The Nazi efforts to neuter the genuine voice of the Christian church.

Funny how the Not-Left gets accused of unlawful insurrection, but the Actual-Left engages in that regularly, without any notice by the Media (I'm using the Capitalism to denote the "Official Media").

I just checked, and NO MEDIA, other than the Dissident Media, has this story.

From MSNBC, a search for Austin:

Narrowing the search to Austin City Hall:

From FoxNews (same search):

At least the Fox search acknowledges that the police department has had their budget cut. But, nothing about the takeover of the area around City Hall (an autonomous zone, so to speak).

CNN? Nada. On and on.

I do watch (a little, as my husband starts every morning with tv, and always has the evening news on - generally, the channel with the best-looking female newscasters). I've seen nothing about the Austin City Hall 'insurrection'.

Funny - you would THINK that would be news, wouldn't you?

That "NIH Funded the Wuhan Lab" story?

It's complicated. What happens is, the original provider of grants funds another entity, which acts as a slush fund for those organizations the original provider WANTED to fund, but wasn't legally able, or didn't want to have that grant on record.

The intermediary entity is the one that does the funding (sometimes, taking it through yet another NGO in between, before passing it onto the intended organization). Yes, this does increase the cost - if nothing else, in accounting for the moving donation in paperwork. However, even the Mafia, when they move their dirty money through subsequent organizations to launder the cash, expects to pay a price. And, for the 'cleaners', it is quite lucrative.

Now, you know why so many organizations are cropping up - many of them were designed to be bland 'pass-through' entities for the eventual recipients.

That brief introduction I had to accounting and business practices in Cuyahoga Community College? It's been priceless in understanding the strategies of the Core Left.

Don't Listen to What They SAY, Look for the 'Tells'

Good advice from Nitzakhon, over at Liberty's Torch.

I have to agree. There are so many out there who are flat-out lying/attempting to deceive - in business, in government, in the media. You just can't trust them to not use their access to push their agenda - and, that agenda is usually hidden.

At Last!

First, a little Etta James!

And, now - the moment I've been waiting for!

The House on Wednesday passed a bill that would make it easier to fire employees at the Veterans Affairs Department.

Despite a veto threat from the White House and widespread opposition from federal employee advocates, lawmakers approved in a 256-170 vote the 2015 VA Accountability Act, which would give the VA secretary much more flexibility to demote and fire corrupt or poor-performing employees, not just top officials.

The bill essentially would expand to the entire VA workforce the authority of the 2014 Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act, which made it easier to get rid of senior executives engaged in wrongdoing at the department.

But WAIT!  That's not ALL!

Something I've LONG said should be done:

The chairman of the top House investigative panel introduced a measure Wednesday to censure IRS Commissioner John Koskinen -- and remove him from office without a pension -- in the latest bid by Republicans to pressure him into being more cooperative in their probe of the 2013 IRS targeting scandal.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, head of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, is seeking Koskinen’s resignation or removal for what he calls an alleged “pattern of conduct inconsistent with the trust and confidence placed in him as an officer of the United States.”

If censured, Koskinen, who became commissioner in 2013, would also forfeit his government pension and other federal benefits.

'Bout time the FedElite started learnin' that THEY work for US!

Or should.

And, So It Begins

Actually, it started a long time ago, with the fringe monthlies that didn't kowtow to the Established Thinking.  There have always been those, largely mimeographed sheets of paper staples together, circulated by the convicted.

Don't know what a mimeograph is?  Ask your granny - maybe your great-grandpappy.

Or, just Google it.

The Samizdats did it, even earlier, with their revolutionary documents re-typed, from one to another.  Think of the work it would take to reproduce a book by re-typing it, or copying the book into longhand.

I teach American kids for whom cut-and-paste is too much work.

The trend accelerated with the introduction of fax machines.  What, they're lame technology?  Tell that to the Chinese youth that spearheaded the Tiananmen Square revolution.  They did that armed largely with fax machines to spread the word.

Oh, sorry, you probably CAN'T tell them - they are dead, in prison, or cowed into submission.  A few are still under house arrest or living abroad.

Fast-forward to recent times.

Today's kids use their cell phones to organize their social and political activity.  There is a downside to their method.  It is ephermal - lasting but a short time, and with no quick way to archive the conversation.

However, the videos/Vimeo/Snapchat means they most like to use have been mastered, and used to spread the memes of the Left.

Where does this leave blogs?

You are unlikely to make a financial killing with political blogs.  Sorry, that's just the way it is.  If money is your prime motivator, get a sales job.

The real effect of the political/cultural blogs is to Spread the Learning.  To provoke thought, to educate younger people about historical events that they have MIS-learned, and to build coalitions.

Alternative Ways to Spread the Learning:

• Pass on videos - on Facebook, on Google+, on your and others' blogs.  They should be SHORT, memorable, and educate the viewer.  Think of Andrew Klavan, Bill Whittle, and other Conservatives who currently dominate the media.  You could try producing your own, if you are inclined.  If so, send me a message, and I'll respond.


• Circulate static media - someecards, LiberalLogic101, photos with captions, etc.  To the above places to circulate, try SnapChat - the under 21 crowd ALL use it.  Your objective is simply to provide an alternative voice/meme for people to pass on.  Remember, the goal is to Spread the Learning.


• Read HARD copies of political/cultural books, and pass them on to your friends/library/school.  By doing so, you will maximize the effect of your buying dollar.


• Continue to educate yourself.  Read, discuss, take notes.  Try meeting with others in a book club, if you can.  If that's not possible, try the Ace of Spades online book club.  It's primarily for fiction, but you can also look around to find a like-minded group of readers for political/cultural discussions.  Try Joining Conservative Mentors, or another group - they exist in a wide range of philosophies.  I've also joined the Bible-a-Thon, which is set up to complete reading the entire Old and New Testament in a year.


• Right now, Facebook is experiencing a pushback from those on the Right who are concerned about its evident Leftist bias.  But, let's get real - Conservatives skew older, and FB serves to keep up with the kids and grandkids.  There have been rumblings about an alternative FB, but I haven't seen it happening yet.  There are some things we could try:
  
  
  
  • Migrate to Google+
  
  
  • Try to set up a No Facebook Day - pick a date at least 2 months in the future, and publicize it via - I love this - Facebook.  For 24 hours, set your picture to the logo, and refuse to use FB.
  
  
  • If successful, try setting one day a week - Sunday would be appropriate - to NOT use FB.  Again, make your reason clear with a picture logo, and a statement about your decision.
  
  
  
  

Feel free to add any further idea to this list.

Saturday Randomness

I was reading Fred on Everything (he is interesting - an ex-cop with a jaundiced view of some of them, an expatriate living in Mexico, who contradicts many of the stereotypes about Mexicans, etc.), and he posted on a hot topic - police presence in Black neighborhoods.  His take is - refreshing.

Another column of his that is worth reading is his analysis of how America is already in the dumps - BEFORE Trump.  We've already been taken over by special interests, and no longer live in a democracy (or republic).

If, like me, you want to return to a time of more freedom, pre-Federal-government-runs-everything, we might want to start planning how to take the Feds down - NOT with warfare, but with resistance, tactical refusal to give them our money, and state-by-state resistance.  I'm NOT talking revolution - that's a dead idea.  Instead, let's work incrementally, to chip away at Leftist strongholds.

Some starting points:

• Stop sending them money.  Find work that can be done under-the-table.  No taxes, no Social Security.  That last part would be difficult, but COULD be made up by the local authorities, who could collect at that level what is needed by people with no other resources.  The fact is, most people have other resources (and, when they don't have to pay Federal taxes, they have more).  Stick your extra money under the mattress - you don't want to leave it in banks, where it is vulnerable to being confiscated.


• Refuse to give ONE penny to any college for worthless degrees.  Tell your kids - "I'll pay for you to get a trade".  That's likely to be the best thing you'll ever do for that kid - it's a way of earning a living that is less likely to be outsourced.


• Maine is one of the states that reduced its welfare rolls by insisting on able-bodied people actually looking for work, enrolling in job programs, or working at part-time unpaid activities.  Surprise, surprise, as Gomer Pyle would say - almost all said, "Not worth it", and dropped off the rolls.  Other states could do this.


• Return the Federal lands to the people.  In several states, this could be a new Settlement Rush.  If there are FEMA-type trailers stored in the state, let them be re-purposed (NO complaints about their condition - the receivers fix them up themselves, and Caveat Emptor).


• Take back the schools - clear out much of the administration, turn them over to local organizations, who are responsible for finding the funding.  Except in the poorest sections of town, schools should be fully funded by the LOCAL neighborhood.  Yes, I'm talking breaking up the big city schools.  With the administration gone, costs should drop, while STILL allowing the teachers to get paid reasonably.  Replace the assistant principals with recently retired military - the AP's are mostly used for muscle to control the students, so let's get in people who know how to keep people in line.  Actually TEACH reading - anyone who cannot read at grade level should spend 1/2 their day in disciplined phonics-based reading programs - reading content-rich practical text, or NON-dystopian literature.  Anyone who cannot do math at grade level should be spending the class time on old-fashioned programs, like Saxon Math.  What little time remains should be spend on civics education that actually teaches about the Constitution and other foundational documents and principles, and practical science.

This is a link to a VERY pessimistic column.  I'm not so sure they are right - while the young seem to embrace the Socialist Revolution, at this point, it's theoretical, and their "enlightened" attitudes don't cost them.  Once the impact of the price exacted comes home, I doubt they will continue their "yeah, let's spread money around" thinking.

One MAJOR reason that the country has changed is that there are a whole lot of women who are supported by government, whether directly, with welfare or government employment, or indirectly, in nonprofits and niches like Human Resources, which are required to be so bloated because of governmental regulations.  Take away the regs, and many women in these staff positions will find themselves on the street.  At that point, they MAY come to their senses.  Either way, citizens will no longer be funding their hectoring.

I'm thinking divide & conquer:

• Use legal means to reduce government.  Fewer regulations, liberation of federal lands (with encouragement to settle on them, we might reduce the numbers in the cities), reduction of administrative bloat in government.


• Write GOOD curriculum for all ages, to explain what good government looks like, and what limitations on the federal government already exist.  Offer it, free, to schools, along with e-books telling stories that reinforce those ideas.

Lastly, here is a link to someone who, like me, supported Cruz.  Now, she has to decide which candidate will do the LEAST damage to the USA.

I've been getting rosy economic stories from Liberal/Progressive friends.  Apparently, thinking that Obama's disastrous economic policies have created a hollowed-out economy is blatant racism.

Mea culpa.

Of course, there is this, and this.  BTW, that last stat?  Straight from the Labor Dept.



 

Apparently, no matter how you massage numbers, the damned things just keep adding up to the same conclusion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOST Again

UPDATE:  Almost forgot to credit Bastion of Liberty, who first alerted me to this.

The Law of the Sea Treaty (LOST, for short) never did get ratified, despite SERIOUS efforts by the various Progressive/Liberal/Leftist/Socialist/Etc. groups.  What is LOST?  (Admittedly, the source at the link REALLY doesn't like the treaty, but it is a fair summary of it, and its potential consequences).

The Law of the Sea Treaty calls for technology transfers and wealth transfers from developed to undeveloped nations.  It also requires parties to the treaty to adopt regulations and laws to control pollution of the marine environment.  Such provisions were among the reasons President Ronald Reagan rejected the treaty in 1982.  As Edwin Meese, U.S. Attorney General under President Reagan, explained, "...it was out of step with the concepts of economic liberty and free enterprise that Ronald Reagan was to inspire throughout the world."

In additional to the economic provisions, the treaty also establishes specific jurisdictional limits on the ocean area that countries may claim, including a 12-mile territorial sea limit and a 200-mile exclusive economic zone limit.

Well, the LOST-pushers - um, LOST.  But, like any good vampire, the backers don't give up - they rise from their coffins, and again attack!

This time, they're using the high-minded Protection of the Environment angle.  (Link is to the UN resolution).

an international legally binding instrument under theUnited Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea1 on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction.

The parts about resource-sharing (i.e., those that DIDN'T spend a dime obtaining those resources still have a claim to the $$$$$), technology-sharing (oh, how WELL other countries share with us; unfortunately, much of our "sharing" is involuntary).

But, will it pass?

Not to worry, as the British used to say!  The Obama administration won't let pesky things like Separation of Powers stop them from implementing their Very Good Ideas (VGIs).  For example:

The Administration has already anted up domestically on some of the big-ticket possibilities under discussion, with, among other things, its huge expansion by executive order in September 2014 of the Remote Pacific Islands National Marine Monument in the central Pacific Ocean into a half-million-square-mile oceans preserve.

U.S. environmental groups are lobbying now for additional marine monument areas off the coast of New England, site of some of the U.S.’s most important Atlantic fisheries.

Such preserves—known as marine protected areas or MPAs, in Law of the Sea jargon—are a major focus of attention for the U.S.-based Pew Charitable Trusts, which has been lobbying governments around the world for years to create them.

In other words - you silly states and commonwealths, you think you control the areas given to you?  Na-nah.  Big Daddy Fed is in charge of it ALL.

A New Term for an Old Concept

Anarcho-Tyranny

I was introduced to this idea by Francis Porretto of Bastion of Liberty (and Outlaw Bloggers).

It perfectly explains why the government is so obsessed with micro-managing the Libertarian impulses of the American people, but refuses to deal with ACTUAL crimes.

In short,

Sam Francis's most enduring, as well as trenchant, political insight may have been his perception of what he caustically described as "the unique achievement of the political genius of the modern era." Francis dubbed this "anarcho-tyranny"-"a kind of Hegelian synthesis of two opposites," he explained, in which the failure of the state to enforce protective law is coupled with the enforcement of oppressive law by the state to tyrannical ends. Under anarcho-tyranny, the underclass-rampaging blacks, illegal aliens invading from south of the border-is by and large tolerated or ignored in its behavior, while the law-abiding middle classes and that part of the upper class that is not directly incorporated into the ruling elite is criminalized through unfair taxation, social engineering, anti-gun legislation, "hate crime" statutes, and other forms of legislative and judicial harassment. Anarcho-tyranny is the strategy by which a dictatorially-minded ruling class exploits the lower orders for the purpose of grinding the middling majority between upper and nether millstones.

Bold text defined by me.

This is one concept that Conservatives and Libertarians need to become familiar with.  We also need to develop strategies to deal with it.

How People Choose Their Leaders

Actually, it's a LOT like they choose their bands, shoes, cars, and spouses.

Emotion.

In all of the above, they like how their choice makes them FEEL.

I was having a discussion with a friend who is passionate about rock bands.  I said, "My husband likes his 1950's singers for the same reason you like your bands."

He started to argue with me, pointing out all of the reasons why HIS bands ruled - the lyrics, the instrumental virtuosity, the unforgettable music.

Nope, I said.  You chose them for the same reason.

They make you FEEL like you were young again.  They remind you of how it was to be young, at the peak of your physical powers, and attractive to potential partners.

You love the FEELING, not the music.

Many people pick their shoes the same.  I've long been puzzled by the many celebrity women, who, judging from the deformations of their feet, will wear tremendously uncomfortable shoes, that cause their foot and toe structure to undergo permanent damage.

When you ask them why they wear those shoes, they exclaim that the shoes are SO comfortable.

Their own body tells the lie.

So, why do they choose those shoes?

Because when they wear them, they FEEL glamorous, sexy, stylish.

It's about the FEELINGS.

That's a major reason why Ted Cruz - some say the MOST qualified person in the presidential race - cannot gain traction.

True, he is also handicapped by a (until recently) crowded field.  But, that doesn't tell the entire story.  He is appealing to our reason, our logic - but, that's NOT how most people make their choice.

Cruz is not gifted with the ability to touch people's emotions.  I'm not sure that it's a teachable skill - it my be one of those things you either have, or have not.

______________________________________________________

I think I figured out WHY Rubio was so slow to quit the race.  He had to realize that the numbers were not his friend.  So, it makes sense that winning was not, after the first few primaries/caucuses, his motivation.

I think he stayed in deliberately to tank Cruz's chances.  I think his ego was involved.

Why Cruz?

Because only Cruz could block him from being the FIRST Hispanic President.

And, therefore, being in the history books for all time.

Anyone else wouldn't keep him from realizing his dream.  Only Ted stood in the way.

Where Are The Feminists on E-Mail Scandal?

If I read ONE more time about how Hillary - a woman only a few brief years older that I am - is just an out-of-touch-with-technology WOMAN, I'm gonna hurl.

For crying out loud, I'M a woman, and I not only use that technology, I read about it, am aware of security needs, and know that she was:

1. Either so clueless that she is thereby declaring herself incompetent for the job she's seeking, or


2. Lying her overstuffed a$$ off

I tend to believe (2), but - as it happens - there is no absolute need to consider (1) ALSO an option, simultaneously.

Her serial lying is a problem, but not for the reason you'd think.

She's REALLY bad at it.

Today's national leaders have to be GOOD liars.  Her husband was the Gold Standard in this aspect.

The ignorance thing is a concern.  If she genuinely is that clueless, it's hardly a Feminist Triumph to make such a Dingbat the next President.

I see no need for that level of what Steve Allen called "Dumbth".  Yes, I realize that she didn't major in computers in college.  Neither did I.

But - despite having gone to a local college, not a prestigious Ivy like Hill - I realized that a working knowledge of such an integral part of our economy was essential to understand its future.

So, I took the time to learn about technology.  It paid off, big time, over the last 28 years.  I'm too old to be considered a "Digital Native", but, over time, I acquired an understanding that allows me to participate in this Brave New World.  Hillary could have done the same - but didn't bother.

She now presents herself as a ditzy WOMAN, who just "cain't figger out them fancy new-fangled thingies".

She is a profound embarrassment to all American women.

Home Sick, Waiting for Meds to Kick In

So, I'm catching up on the news - both on the computer, and with some "news" show in the background.

Congress has shown a spine - a little late, but nonetheless, welcome.  They have passed a resolution applying the term "genocide" to the systematic elimination of Christians in the Middle East.

Is there anyone who has a single doubt that Obama will fail to act?  Oh, he'll mouth some mealy-mouthed words, probably blaming Christians for the Crusades (Hey, O-man, at SOME point, a defensive action - which the Crusades largely were - should stopped being used to justify present-day slaughter, rape, enslavement, and torture).

The "Trial of the Century" is being exploited for ratings on TV, with a heavily-slanted, pro-defense series.  The Goldmans were just on to register their strong opposition to the fictionalizing of the story.  People magazine did a nice piece about Ron Goldman, who they called "the forgotten victim".

I've been reading about money - in the form of laws, regulations, and fiscal policy.  One of those posts that might be of value to you is about the Puerto Rican default, and how this sets a precedent that could, eventually, bring down our money system.

Bonds are special - those that lend money to corporations or governments expect less that they might get from stock purchases.  In return, they have a solid claim on the assets of in the event of a default - they are FIRST in line for what money remains.  Unsecured debtors have to take what is left over.

The Obama administration plans to throw that out of the window.  It's similar to what they did to the auto industry secured debtors - they arbitrarily moved them from first paid back, to the end of the line, instead, and illegally, moving the unions - UNsecured debtors - to the front.

Big surprise, that Leftists will shaft investors in favors of their political cronies.

Read more about the Obama administration is planning on doing the same for Puerto Rico's investors, in favor of pensions for government employees.

Lots more to write about, but no time at present.

Beautiful, But - The PRICE!

The gowns are lovely (although that dress that Shasha is wearing is a LITTLE too mature for a 14-year old).

But - almost $20,000 for a dress for a TEEN?  When the economy is tanking fast?

NOT good political thinking.

Unless you're Marie Antoinette.

Too Busy, Too Hard to Post

I haven't had a lot of extra time lately - grading, exercising, working on catching up on housework and financial papers - and, on top of that, actually teaching full-time.

Work is SUCH a hindrance to blogging regularly.  In part, this is because I can't access many sites at work, even on my lunch break.  Also, our network is locked to prevent us from using our own wifi devices - my iPad, alas, will not connect.  Right now, I've got at least 2 posts I haven't had time to upload from that iPad.

I truly can't complain.  My work is mostly congenial.  I'm blessed to be able to afford a gym, and Gold's hours are more convenient than the Y's were.  I'm privileged to have a house, however messy.

Last weekend, we attended a baby shower for my son and his girlfriend (I know, I'm not thrilled about their situation, but - not going to cut them off, either).  The trip took about 18 hours, more or less, with stops.  So, we started the week more than a little tired and achy.

I'm just not that into the election right now - can't influence the vote, don't want to waste time speculating about the outcome.  It's time to rest up, clear up the rest of my life, and trust to God.

Sunday Leisure to Worry

This is my last day of the weekend, during which I usually prepare for my next week's classes.

Today, I've been looking at the news and analysis of that news, and it's not a calming scenario.

We have a "Progressive" administration that believes in re-writing history (shades of 1984 and NewSpeak!).

Central Command has been under investigation by the Pentagon's inspector general since last year when scores of CentCom intelligence analysts complained to the watchdog that their findings were being selectively edited to paint a far rosier picture in 2014 and 2015 about the U.S. campaign against the Islamic State than the facts warranted.

The New York Times reported in November that military officials alleged that important e-mails and files that should have been turned over to the inspector general had instead been deleted. But that report also said the Pentagon's inspector general could not verify the files had been deleted. At the time, Nunes himself queried the inspector general about these deletions.

Well, at least the "Progressives" are getting good information about the Energy Crisis!, and can make their plans, sure that the mass transit they are committing the American Taxpayer to pay for will, at least SAVE us money.

Eh, not so much.  In fact, not at all.

Why you should stop bargaining with your principles - if you just read ONE thing this month, read this.

Ben Carson - a Virtual ATM for his money people.

Speaking of scams...

Oh, I'm SURE that NONE of that money that was released will go to fund terror operations!

Sanders' money problems - of course, he will NOT face charges about his violations, unlike D'Souza.

On My Last Nerve

I'm pretty well worn out today, by a combination of things:

• House(s) issues - they seem to drag on forever, and, just when you think it's over, another problem pops up.


• Money issues - my husband and I disagree on spending.  He has declared, for the last 5 years, that THIS SUMMER, we will take a cruise.  Each time I hear that, I say, "as long as we don't put it on a credit card", which is the match lighting for a good fight.  I think we have WAY too much stuff; he thinks of shopping as a recreational activity.


• I've been trying to work out on a regular basis - life keeps handing me a curve ball.  Sometimes, I have gotten injured; other times, I'm so overloaded with meetings and grading, I just don't have the energy.  I'm still stuck at the same weight I have been for 3 years.


• Politics - I never thought I'd say this, but I'm sick of it - BOTH Democratic and Republican.  Trump is on a roll, in great part to the ego problems of people who wouldn't get out of the race until the last 2 weeks.  Neither Cruz nor Rubio will budge (although I think they should meet, and show their hole cards - what do they have on the other, that would make their loss in November a virtual certainty.  I'm personally guessing that Rubio has a woman problem - no evidence, but that's my gut feeling.  For that reason alone, I think he should gracefully bow out, and support Cruz.)  At this point, I just think whoever drops out should cede their support to the other, and beat Trump.  The more the public learns about him, the less they like him.


• Whoever wins the election, I'm going to be working to:
  
  
  
  • Get out of debt
  
  
  • Diversify my assets
  
  
  • Stockpile a WTSHTF go-box
  
  
  • Get the rest of my life in order
  
  
  
  

Folks, this disruptive time is NOT just about your personal survival - it's about the survival of our civilization.  Pray for America, but also work for its survival.