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.

The Chilling Possibilities

Please read this article about SEME - Search Engine Manipulation Effect.  It might be the thing that 'flips' the election.

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.

Yes, I DO Remember Those Days

...and, I am NOT happy to be repeating that time period.

Keep this in mind as you think about your vote in the primaries.  It's PAST time to indulge in the luxury of "sending a message" or voting for someone with no chance in H--L of getting the nomination.  Instead, pick one of the leaders (Trump - please, NO!, Cruz, or Rubio), and get on board with their campaign.  Donate money, time, and support any way you can.

I do understand that many see Trump as one who will voice their concerns without prettying it up.  I do see that appeal.

But, we cannot afford to send in someone so uncommitted to principles or truth. It's basically Cruz or Rubio.

Whichever of those two wins, I'll support - all the way.

Commenting on a Site that Won't Accept my Comments

Don't know why - may have to do with the web browser, or the network blocks.  Found the link on Instapundit.

Here's what I wanted to post:

I don't know a SINGLE Conservative/Libertarian who doesn't know QUITE a few Liberals - many of them make their presence known by delivering their opinions in the most insulting terms possible. If Conservatives fail to swallow the insult placidly, they are accused of "starting" a fight. If in the workplace, Liberals have NO hesitation in airing their most wacko thoughts, and asserting that anyone who disagrees with them is a (pick one or more) racist/fascist/women-hater/homophobe/etc.

And, if that doesn't shut up opposition, they'll start a campaign to get opponents fired.

So, no, I don't think that BOTH Conservatives and Liberals need to get a wider social circle. I think that Liberals need to start acting civilly about disagreement - it is NOT a hate crime, it simply means that your passionate defense of your views hasn't persuaded us that you are right.

The fury expressed by Conservatives is largely limited to foaming at the mouth when - FINALLY - we are in a place that it is safe to unload our frustration, and on commenting, where the bile really does spill, in many cases.

Who is the oppressed here? The person/persons that will scream over opposing viewpoints, or the ones that are so cowed, they only feel free to say what they think anonymously.

 

Valentine's Day Love

OK, I'm a total Squish about mushy stuff - so much so, that I seldom express my feelings in words.

But, THIS is an EPIC ODE TO LOVE!

Pride Goeth Before A Fall

This was a devastating loss for a relatively young, and sometimes over-boastful man.  He clearly showed his anguish, by the emotional displays (verge of tears, pounding the ground, slumped posture), and suffered the humiliation of having to eat his boastful words in public.

Truly, I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

Others have noted that Cam Newton was a Fall Waiting to Happen.

However, if he is guided by older and wiser mentors, this could be the opportunity for him to have, in the future, a career comeback.

Failure can be a harsh teacher.  The worst part of failure is that many do NOT learn from it - they blame others, brush off the lessons with a disrespectful "tchh" (that sound you make when you suck your tongue against the roof of your mouth), and fail to learn life's most important lessons.

In the aftermath of the Iowa caucuses, Trump is at the same waystation.

He COULD learn from his mistakes.

But, given his response so far, it's not looking likely.

It's the Culture, Stupid!

Frankly, I intensely dislike that phrase (It's the --------, Stupid!).  But, in this case, it does seem appropriate.

I'd been mulling over this concept today, even before reading a post on TakiMag about how culture shapes us.

It's not a new thought.  But, which culture?

Black culture - it has become so pervasive as to dominate our music, clothing, dance, and conversational styles.  And, they have managed to do this with only about 10-14% of the population.

Liberal/Progressive culture - they are the prevailing culture on college campuses, and their supporters have managed to flex their muscle in many arenas - often with mobs shouting down opposition, threats of violence/actual violence, and efforts to have their opponents fired from jobs - often successfully.

Traditional American culture - largely European-based values - Christian/Jewish, pro-capitalism, tolerant of different opinions, pro-women's rights, pro-democracy, somewhat xenophobic (at least, when the tide of immigration threatens to affect their ability to earn a living).

This is not a new 'thang'.  George Orwell had seen similar situations in his time:

In his 1945 essay Notes on Nationalism, Orwell explored the effect of tribal loyalty on our capacity for reasoned judgment. What interested him was not nationalism in its narrow, literal sense, but a broader, figurative definition encompassing a commitment to “such movements and tendencies as Communism, political Catholicism, Zionism, Antisemitism, Trotskyism, and Pacifism.” A weakness for nationalisms of this kind, Orwell argued, was a characteristic of what he called “the intelligentsia”.

Thanks in part to ever-more fractional media programming, we are becoming Balkanized in our cultural differences.  It would not be impossible that, within a few years, the different ethnic groups have nothing in common, and little understanding of each other's cultural underpinnings.

For example, just one small difference - White Euros of Anglo-Saxon background consider "cutting into a line" to be terribly rude, and evidence of an attitude of superiority.  In other words, if an ethnic is given access to a spot that he did not wait for, but was "jumped" ahead of others who DID wait, those Anglo-Saxons will be PISSED.  It will not be OK, but will be hotly resented.  The Anglos will respond as they usually do to enforce a cultural norm, with angry looks at the offenders.

The offenders, not understanding just how rigid a taboo they have broken, will see the angry looks, and think - White people really hate us - and for absolutely no reason.

Other cultural expectations that differ:

• How respectable women should dress


• How children should be disciplined


• How children should act in public


• The proper sound level for a party or social gathering


• How to worship; WHO to worship

I foresee major problems getting different groups to work and live together in the future.

QUICK ADD-ON - From the American Digest 

One Thing at a Time Act

Mia Love has introduced this, and I would like to see more bloggers get the word out.

H. R. 4335

To end the practice of including more than one subject in a single bill by requiring that each bill enacted by Congress be limited to only one subject, and for other purposes.

Its current status:

01/06/2016 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Here's a link to their membership - look for names to urge to get this legislation OUT!  If you click on the link of their names it will take you to their page, where you can send a quick email.

 

Conservative Women's Magazines

It's an idea whose time has come.

Glenn Reynolds, of Instapundit, first suggested it, but the concept has been picked up by many, including Bookwormroom.

That idea?

That Conservatives should buy one or more women's magazines, and run right-leaning articles, in among the tips on weight loss, hair, etc.

I'm actually agnostic on whether they should buy an existing magazine.

• Pros
  
  
  
  • Ready-made structure
  
  
  • Existing audience
  
  
  • Can be implemented without huge expenditure - hey, the magazine field is under financial pressure, as is all the dead-tree media.
  
  
  
  


• Cons
  
  
  
  • More difficult to get existing staff to buy into the change - MANY are die-hard Leftists
  
  
  • A writers' boycott is a serious possibility - that could lead to advertiser flight
  
  
  • Uprooting the Leftist holdouts might be a long, draining process
  
  
  
  

Either way, I would be on board with this.

Most important part of this?

NOT making this a quasi-campaign vehicle.  The magazine would have to have independence from parties and pressure groups.