BrainPop - Leftist Resource for Teachers

They definitely LEAN Left.

The site's offerings hit all the high notes:

• Systemic Racism
• ALL the Black Dead were Honor Students, Good Fathers, and Just Average, Law-Abiding Folks - Honest!

The linked animation shows a robot listening to an explanation of these issues - ALL from one perspective (that of a young Black girl). It's assume that ALL normal people will be on her side - and, that this understanding comes from "getting Woken up about racism".

Hmmm. Woke. Where have we heard that before?

The BLM leadership was mentioned - although not quoting any of their fiery rhetoric (Oooops, is that triggering to use the adjective "fiery"?). Some of the incidents that led to its founding are mentioned - Travon Martin, Michael Brown, George Floyd. ALL were completely innocent Black people whose death was STRICTLY for racist reasons.

The initial link to Brainpop was found on The Gateway Pundit.

I Have to Admit I Like This - Turn the Tactic Around on Them

Tucker Carlson suggested this:

Carlson noted that masks were “purely a sign of political obedience like Kim Il-Sung pins in Pyongyang” and that the only people who voluntarily wear masks outside are “zealots and neurotics.”

He then asserted that the tables should be turned on Biden voters who have been harassing conservatives for almost a year for not wearing a mask in public.

“The rest of us should be snorting at them first, they’re the aggressors – it’s our job to brush them back and restore the society we were born in,” said Carlson.

“So the next time you see someone in a mask on the sidewalk or on the bike path, do not hesitate. Ask politely but firmly, ‘Would you please take off your mask? Science shows there is no reason for you to be wearing it. Your mask is making me uncomfortable,” he added.

“We should do that and we should keep doing it until wearing a mask outside is roughly as socially accepted as lighting a Marlboro on an elevator.”

DO it! 

This Study Isn't Surprising, But May Not Show What it Says

This study shows more stops and arrests by White police than by Black police.

The author seems to think this means that the Black police are more sensitive to the Black community's needs, and that would indicate that they are more effective officers. Few arrests, better community relations, right?

Well, maybe not.

What it does show is that Black police are more likely, when the suspect is engaging in 'Iffy' behavior, to ignore it and not challenge it.

Do they do it because they have a better 'sense' that it's just a random cultural difference, and - for the good of community-police relations - they should accept the different norm, and move on?

Possibly.

Or, perhaps, they value being accepted by the community more than they want to uphold order.

Can't tell from this study - it may be all some, all, or none of the stops/arrests were valid. It might be that the Black police officers were ignoring 'petty crimes' - precisely the type that have gotten many officers into a major confrontation, and subsequent community uprising.

This isn't new. Many of the riots of the past were touched off by a relatively small incident, that, when the officer pursued his investigation, resulted in widespread rejection of the right of the police to do their job. In Watts, it was a minor traffic stop on a car that lit the flames of outrage. In that case, a resisting offender, rather than quietly go, fanned the crowd to widespread outrage.

Some of that was because the resistant suspects were popular in their neighborhoods. Arresting a guy with friends/allies is dangerous (as it was with many of the Italian mobsters of the 1930s). For that reason, the current practice of stop & frisk can lead to arrests, but when many people are on the streets, and their potential allies are around, this is dangerous.

Like it was when the Federal government insisted on making their confrontation with Koresh at HIS place. Or, Randy Weaver. Or countless others.

Should we ignore crime?

No. But, when in 'Da Hood, it pays to make that arrest quietly, with minimal disruption, and not hang around. Such a prolonged process gives local activists time to gather, the fellow's relatives time to show up and make a fuss, and video that will be used in a damaging way to be collected.

It's not the video of the incident that always causes the problem, it's the vocals accompanying it. Anguished cries of "Let him go! He didn't do anything" and "She's a woman! Don't hurt her!" - doesn't matter that she tried to eviscerate that Black girl, she's an Honor Student! (who spent much of this year avoiding school, and whose grades did not bear out that claim).

Fortunately, the community didn't go gonzo on that officer. But, the activists TRIED to make it Yet Another Flashpoint for Riots (YAFR).

The initial incidents aren't manufactured completely - there is always a base confrontation.

It's just that tactics have to be revised, to minimize the public confrontations. Sweep in, grab the guy, and remove him from the scene. Handle it without giving the crowd a chance to gather. And, for God's sake, don't have multiple cops just standing around. Detail them to gather information from bystanders - including checking their IDs. A few of them will have outstanding warrants or other issues that will persuade them to leave without a fuss. More importantly, get them off the sidewalk/street, and work on defusing their outrage/getting their side of the story.

Biden's Speech - the "Worst Attack on Our Democracy"?

Not even. Here's a link to a list of just SOME of the prior attacks. And, pretty much ALL committed by Leftists.

It Always STARTS as an "Option"

When a "compromise" is reached, those who started the whole fight, and continue to dissent NEVER lose. Instead, the Will-Not-Be-Appeased agree - grudgingly, and only after a lot of drama, hurling of Hate Words (Hater, Racist, Sexist, Homophobic, Transphobic, etc.), and publicity that puts THEM in the position of Officially Injured Party - to be given a Separate (but Equal?) organization.

Paid for, BTW, with the same funds that only official organizations have access to.

That's just the first step in the long fight.

You see, they have now gotten the funds, and official recognition, to fuel their continued Long March. That phrase, BTW, is taken from the story of Chinese Communists, when, after defeat on the field, the rebellious forces retreated to their new headquarters, from whence they began to plan their final takeover.

The New Long March, through the institutions of the opposing side, has been ongoing for a long time. The person who came up with the slogan was influenced by the Italian Communist, Gramsci, (see my work on explaining Gramsci, Part I, and Part II).

 a slogan coined by Communist student activist Rudi Dutschke around 1967 to describe his strategy for establishing the conditions for revolution: subverting society by infiltrating institutions such as the professions. The phrase "long march" is a reference to the prolonged struggle of the Chinese communists, which included a physical Long March of their army across China.^[1]

 Dutschke also got support from Marcuse:

Herbert Marcuse corresponded with Dutschke in 1971 to agree with this strategy, "Let me tell you this: that I regard your notion of the 'long march through the institutions' as the only effective way..."^[4]

 And, as I said, a major part of the grab for public funds is intentional subversion, and eventual control, of those institutions.

The long march includes the concerted effort to build up counterinstitutions. They have long been an aim of the movement, but the lack of funds was greatly responsible for their weakness and their inferior quality. They must be made competitive. This is especially important for the development of radical, "free" media. The fact that the radical Left has no equal access to the great chains of information and indoctrination is largely responsible for its isolation.

Now, how will this happen at UT?

Note that the Left has pressured the university to set up an Alternative Power Center - the "alternative" band.

From that publicly-funded power base, the students - and their Leftist leaders - will grow in size. They will do that through a variety of ways:

• They will suggest different insignia on their uniforms - a badge, an armband, a scarf - and conspicuously wear it in performances. They will also use it to try to gain 'allies'
• Allies are those who aren't ready to commit to directly working with the organization, or who actually have no interest in their aims. But, by asking for a small commitment, such as wearing the same color, periodically, or putting a button/sticker on (it doesn't matter that it's not on the official band uniform, it matters because, once they buckle on one little matter, they are on the slippery slope).
• They will join with other organizations to provide public support, and further marginalize the UT band.
• Eventually, the band members will find themselves shunned by other UT students. Particularly for the women, this is a profoundly uncomfortable position. Some will cave.
• Eventually, the pressure will mount for a joint performance - "in the interests of Unity". Funny, that unity never involves THEIR making compromises - they are obdurate. All change must come from the other side. Their only assent to Unity will be their "gracious" acceptance of the other side's words of "Unity". Unity, my A$$.
• This may well be a multi-year project. It doesn't matter how long it takes, it just matters that the Left never give up.

And, speaking of Never Giving Up, I understand the the Dodder-in-Chief was able to stay awake long enough to deliver a speech to Congress.

I didn't watch it. Forcing that kind of torture on an old lady is some kind of Human Rights violation, I'm told.

For those who care, here's a synopsis of the speech.

It's worth reading the report from Fox News, that mentions a telling phrase that relates to the tactics I mentioned at the start of this post.

 He got a rather icy response from Republicans when he pushed for bipartisan negotiations on his "American Jobs Plan," a spending plan the White House is selling as an infrastructure effort. 

"I'd like to meet with those who have ideas that are different, they think are better. I welcome those ideas," Biden said. "But the rest of the world is not waiting for us. I just want to be clear, from my perspective, doing nothing is not an option."

In other words, we are Fine with Compromise, as long as you accept that the line is moving - in OUR direction.

Little by little, like a horny teen edging his hand further and further into the Forbidden Zone.

Until - SUCCESS! 

Something to Think About

When we think about the 2nd Amendment, do we consider that, without strategic control of resources, it may be worthless?

This commenter got me thinking:

Start looking at where you could get food, clean water, and power/fuel, should the State decide to play Dictators and Citizens.

There is a Reason that Free Speech is in the FIRST Amendment

And, a good place to start learning out why, and how that right is under threat, is here.

Threats against those using that right to say things you oppose is just ONE of the actions that is designed to make sure that, even if the Right to Speak Freely is not officially stricken from the Constitution, it is neutered.

I strongly suggest that you view the actual video of the event. It has so often been reported to be a White Supremacist, Nazi-supporting speech, that the truth will astound you.

The fact that the leadership of this Cancel Culture is female is deeply painful to me. We have come a long way - down a very dark and dangerous road - from the days when women seeking to empower themselves sang "I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar".

For Modern Women, it is "I am a TERF (But Don't Hate Me Because of That), Hear me Whimper".

Interesting Idea from the Z-Man

Here.

It's not the first time it's been said that the Left - at least it's various movements - are a religious cult.

But, this is the first time I've seen this explicit comparison to the way that changing rulers also meant that their subjects had to change their religion, too.

And, from what I can see, it's a valid idea. Those who become incensed at the NLDs (Non-Leftist Dissidents) refusal to buy into the new 'theology' do seem to be treating this refusal as a form of heresy. And, the subsequent punishments for this offence are in line with other reprisals for failing to fall in line with the King's New Religion.

I don't always agree with this blogger - but he is on my regular reading list.

Because, I am not a Wimpy Little Baby, who is "triggered" by hearing speech that doesn't affirm my preconceived notions completely.

I Already Linked to the Full Text, But...

...this is important enough to make sure that EVERYONE in the USA understands what is at stake.

Our Country.

Our Freedom.

Our Lives, Our Fortunes, Our Sacred Honor.

When You Are Talking to Someone Who Just Does Not 'Get' Your Arguments

Take a minute, and read this first. Only after, talk to that person.

We've all been in conversations in which the other person completely distorts what you say. Sometimes, we actually think this is malicious.

Could be - but, probably not. The above link explains why.

The Dems are Making the American People into Frogs in Boiling Water

That is, they have removed the ability of many Americans to work for a living, and hooked them on the "free" money of the COVID handouts.

It's a process:

• Whip up fear of contagion. Initiate the first Lockdowns, just to slow the growth.
• Continue it, as the alleged numbers rise. Supply the media with pictures, interviews with health care workers, and videos of the pandemic. Make sure that they, and the people in authority that are on camera, speak with one voice - and that voice better be frightened of the coming catastrophe, but reassuring about the public's chances of continued survival, as long as they scrupulously follow every OCD recommendation.
• Ridicule the opposition. Demonize them. Threaten any dissenters with financial ruin and even jail time.
• Keep the carrot extended - FREE money if ONLY you will stay home.
• "Luckily", and Completely Coincidentally, Zoom and other teleconference services become widely available - for FREE!!!! I'll keep to myself my darker suspicions about the oversight of Big Brother (even as I do take advantage of it for business and family contacts).
• The lackluster performance of Biden/Harris is negated by the scripted appearances and previously recorded interviews and speeches. The compliant media is given opportunities to be a part of the media circus that surrounds the campaign, as long as they never mention the Potemkin Foundations of the Joe/Hoe campaign.
• What you read/view becomes a part of you. The gloom and doom televised COVID updates, both semi-reassuring (you PROBABLY won't die, as long as you stay home), and horrifying (the numbers, the numbers!!!). Has anyone else noticed that, as one year bled into the next, there was never a scorecard re-set, as is customary with seasonal infections? Instead, all reporting is cumulative.
• The talk shows threw themselves into this, full time, featuring:
• COVID coping strategies
• Online buying - LOTS of buying!!!
• Wine
• More Wine
• Crafts for the homebound
• Ways for the women of the house to pamper themselves (the men were generally working)
• Mask patterns
• Women who labored to cover the world in masks
• Women who made money making masks (not as sainted as the above)
• Women who sacrificed - nurses, mothers, caring for aging parents, teachers - ALL who are Truly Suffering, unlike the trucker who does the same without making a line dance of it all
• Younger patients with COVID - all with co-morbidities, most often Major Obesity
• The occasional death of an under-60 - again, all with co-morbidities. Almost every one not only overweight, but FAT (I am FAT. I can call it what it is)
• The rise of the Screaming Karens!!!!! People tisk-tisk at that, and suggest that GENTLE reminders - accompanied with stern, VERY disapproving looks - are more appropriate

What's next?

Well, we know what's next. Withdrawal of the financial subsidies, coupled with regulations still limiting restaurants and bars - two of the businesses most likely to have jobs for the less-educated, making unemployment in the underclasses a perma-problem.

Followed by the onset of Spring/Summer riot season. Helpfully designed to destroy whatever remains of Free Enterprise in the cities. As well as to "teach" the vulnerable young how to make themselves unemployable.

For a colorful and engaging introduction to the future, don't forget to visit Wilder, Wealthy, Wise every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Changing Education for Anti-Wokeness

Think of Anti-Wokeness (AW) as an immunization. One that targets a more deadly viral infection than COVID - MUCH more deadly.

To understand just how Wokeness came to be the default in education, here's a link about the history of "Enlightened Education".

When I was in teacher training - in 1988 - Cleveland State University was just in the early days of the "Education Revolution". The most enthusiastic proponents of this initiative were the Elementary Education students. That's not surprising - those are precisely the students who had the fewest classes outside of the Education Dept. cocoon. They also were the students with the LEAST life experience, the most conforming, and the most heavily female.

That last is critical. Women can generally be coaxed - it doesn't have to rise to the level of coercion - to go along with the pronouncements of authority figures. They were the kids in school whose first response, when the class veered towards expressing opposition to the status quo, was to say (in a properly censorious voice), "Teacher SAID --".

No Nazi had a more compliant capo than little Lisa GoodStudent.

So, when the college instructors began to lay down the Newest of Educational Testaments, those were the first to start vigorously nodding assent at the most asinine ideas.

In my year of teacher education (AFTER I'd already graduated with a degree), I had my first experience with masses of Elementary Pre-Teachers. You could quickly sort them into groups:

• The Elementary Ed students were bright-eyed, on the edge of their seats, eagerly taking notes, and always nodding in an unconscious "YES!" of agreement with whatever the authority figures said.
• The Secondary would-be teachers were swigging their coffee, slouching back, with a distinct WTF expression on their pusses.
• Those with some life experience - military, substitute teaching, or other occupation - even if Elementary Ed students - would look around knowingly, shake their head, and quietly bring the rest of us up to speed about the cr@p they'd had to pretend to buy into over the course of their college years. All for the desire to teach the little buggers. Those guys were saints in the making.

I saw it first on my second day in Certification Training.

The first day had been paperwork, introduction of the team that would be in charge of the process, syllabus dispersal, and the like. It was pre-PC, for the most part, which meant that part of the time was devoted to making sure that they had the background info they needed, and we could be ready for our certificate at the end. Some of that was state-mandated.

The second class was the surprise.

As usual, I'd prepared. I'd read the assigned handouts, and sat down, ready for another college-level class.

Was I wrong - wrongity, wrongity, wrong!

First, the person running the show was an Elementary Ed professor. She was perky, soft-spoken, and - well, she treated us like not-very-bright 3rd graders.

"I want you to pick up your pens in your right hand, and prepare to take notes on all of this."

The sing-song intonation was more than a little jarring, but I looked around, and the Elementary Ed students were just nodding along. So, I figured it was just long years of teaching that put that tone in her voice.

Now, mind you, during her short intro, she had aides circulating through the room (it held around 250 students), distributing papers. When I looked at it, they were the very same handouts that I'd received yesterday. I shrugged, figuring that they'd made a mistake somewhere.

Wrong.

She put a copy of the handout on the overhead (yes, I'm THAT old), and proceeded to read it - word for word - aloud.

Was I in the wrong room? Were these other teachers Special Ed - not TEACHING Special Ed (those teachers are generally quite smart) - but ACTUAL Special Ed Students?

Nah.

Just the way that the instructors usually taught - as though their class was composed of Morons (NOT the name of the sub-sub-atomic particles, but a special group of government employee who composed the mass of the educational system).

When the class took a short break, the Secondary students all gathered together to try to process what just happened. Most of us didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

It was the beginning of our Awakening - not Wokeness, but the realization that the institutions we were preparing to enter were gonna be filled with people like that.

Would THIS be Insurrection?

Oh, no. Of course not.

Only White People engage in insurrection.

Other Peoples engage in "peaceful protest".

Totes different.

A Book on My Immediate Reading List

And, by that, I mean I stopped what I was doing, to start reading it right now.

It's called Victoria, and available here. Or, if you don't mind reading it in your browser, you can find it here.

The story captivated me right from the start. Try it, I think you'll agree.

Some Thoughts on Conservatives, Libertarians, and Others

First, one on Libertarians - there's a lot of truth to this for ALL of those in the title above.

I find myself humming "When You're a Jet, You're a Jet All the Way..." I just can't. Can't imagine how this woman thinks.

Just one question:

What the hell is the POST OFFICE doing monitoring social media posts? Looks like what we all knew was true for some time - that the Post Office truly is filled with employees that don't do diddly - is finally being admitted.

So, the NBA is putting it's continued existence in jeopardy. Well, I'm SURE that employment opportunities will just flood in for extremely tall guys with - for many of them - too many kids, criminal records, substance abuse issues, and pretty much an educational level that would cause them to fail 6th grade.

The ones that will be all right - those that actually worked in school, stayed out of trouble, and didn't act 'street'. 

The rest - unemployable and broke within 1-2 years.

This is probably the most important post I've read in years. I've always jumped around in genre. Oh, I enjoy the crime/mystery genre, but I can't say that I identify with the criminal - I've always seen myself as the detective/amateur sleuth. For that reason, I've only a slight interest in true crime.

And, British mysteries have changed - they used to be filled with slightly eccentric but basically happy people. Now they are so bitter, angry, and unable to function that I cannot 'get into' that mindset. This also explains why the George Smiley books were so difficult for me to get involved with - I just had no desire to spend time with those people.

Which, if you accept the premise of this writer, may be a very good thing.

I read romance, but just have never gotten into the more descriptive sexually-oriented ones.

I like thrillers, particularly when part of the plot is to follow along with the protagonist, who is trying to stop a disaster. Tom Clancy, Jack Reacher, et al.

And, I enjoy history. Science. Science fiction (the more dreary focus on "we're all going to die after excruciating agony" type is NOT appealing). The Martian was one of my favorites - the struggle to survive, which focused on how one sole person was able to keep his drive to live alive, and overcome all challenges, was uplifting.

I'm reading Louis L'Amour's Last of the Breed right now (my brother and I are reading it, and plan to discuss it when we next talk). It's set during the Cold War period, and follows an Indian Air Force pilot, captured by the Soviets, who is trying to escape through Siberia. Very exciting, and filled with setbacks, which he works to overcome before he is captured again.

So, the theme of the individual, pitting his will and his brain against a cruel enemy is one that much of my reading is about. Which is not bad thing to fill your head with.

What is the life view of someone who keeps their reading content to horrifying or dystopian books? Can they possibly maintain a positive attitude? Will they succumb to despair, depression, and jaded resignation?

And, last - a test that most of the people I know would fail. Read it all, including the comments.

Virtue - Not What You THINK it is

Virtue is on of those attributes/values that gets people wrinkling up their nose. They look askance on anyone who suggests that it should be promoted, because they conflate Virtue with Priggish Insistence on Public Display of Superiority.

They only think of sexual chastity a Virtue. Actually, they DON'T think of Chastity, which involves corralling one's sexual appetites within pre-determined bounds.

Instead, they assume that we are referring to Virginity - not a bad thing, but not what Virtue entails.

From a Bing search:

Nothing in that list of descriptors to be embarrassed about - "High moral standards", "Morally good or desirable quality". Even the last - regarding angelology (which I'm not all that interested in, although many people, particularly women, are VERY engaged with) - isn't a bad or twisted thing.

And, yet, many people start smirking when Virtue is introduced into the conversation. The very same people who intone "Black Lives Matter" with a earnest stare.

This is because their understanding of Virtue is limited to the way that Society discusses it - not at all. At most, they may hear the word when sex is part of the conversation.

And, in fact, sex is the LEAST of Virtue.

Classical teaching about Virtue centers on the 4 Natural Cardinal Virtues:

Fortitude (Courage)

Prudence

Temperance

Justice

To those, are added the Supernatural Virtues of Christianity:

After reading of Carlson's show on morality, I decided to check out the book mentioned. As always, I FIRST check online booksellers to see if the cost is moderate. If the book is pricey, I use the Library Extension to my browser, which searches libraries that I'm a member of, and finds the book, if possible.

And, as it was, I made my TBR pile even higher (if that is possible when referring to Kindle books).

Many in the Left engage in Cheap Virtue. 

They sanctimoniously uphold the rights of those who live a life of predation upon their neighbors. 

Then, when those same neighborhoods are depopulated by all those who can afford to leave, they blame the middle-class for leaving - even though many have escaped at a considerable cost to their life savings.

They insist that mining, logging, or harvesting must cease in America.

Then, they turn around and buy products Not-Made-in-America, that use child labor, slave labor, and turn those 3rd World countries black with pollution.

They pit one group against another - men against women, Black against white, Black against Hispanics, Blacks against Asians - see how often they USE Black people as their shock troops?

But, they never say: I have a place in this Elite school. I insist that MY place be given to a poor person, that would qualify to attend, if it weren't for lack of money.

That might actually cause them personal pain. And, it would be a personal demonstration of Virtue.

Round-Up of Miscellany - April

There are many things that caught my eye lately, but didn't justify a full post. 

My Church, with barriers between pews removed.

In no particular order:

1. The Conservative Treehouse is having to pay for the cost of self-hosting its blog. There's a post (scroll down for it) about this dilemma, and a plethora of comments about how to handle it. Join the conversation, and do bookmark the site for regular check-ins.
2. Both the pResident-in-Chief (also known as FICUS) and Mad Maxine Walters chose to insert themselves into a state judicial matter. I dunno - wasn't that same action considered The Worst Thing EVER when Richard Nixon commented on the Manson trial? The NY Times seemed to think so, then. How things do change, when the party involved does!
3. If you haven't seen the Sean Hannity interview with Trump, I'd suggest you do.
4. Something I've never seen/read before - a letter from Paul Revere, describing the events surrounding his famous ride. One of these years, I'm going to travel to Boston for Patriot's Day (preferably before the Woke make it illegal, and a Hate Crime).
5. Liberty's Torch has a list of recent Rebellious Activities, and - judging by the length of the list, and the severity of the incidents - it's hard to make a case that this is NOT open Insurrection. CW 1.0 was not as open and obvious as this.
6. Can't argue with this. BTW, when are we going to find out the name - and employer - of the person that shot Ashli Babbitt? 
7. I really do love this compromise - How to Handle the Defund the Police Movement.
8. I distrust the validity of Pew's polling. One chart, in particular, got my attention. According to Pew's survey, Black and Hispanic people were much more likely to know someone who had contracted, and died, from COVID. I seriously doubt that. It's more likely that non-Whites had a more flexible interpretation of "Knowing". I do know, from experience, that non-White people claim acquaintanceship with a wider group than Whites do. Are Whites less friendly? Have fewer friends? Unlikely. What is common is for the non-White population to claim they "know people" who they have only the most passing acquaintance with. Same as the idea of being related to someone. For most Whites, that's actual genetic/legal connections they're claiming, not "well, that guy is the child of the sister of the guy my cousin used to date". Which, by that standard, would mean that "guy" would be claimed as a cousin. (No, I'm NOT kidding - that is a near quote of the explanation of a former student of mine).
9. This occurred in a part of SC that I am familiar with - the area near Ft. Jackson (I formerly taught in a school that had about 1/3 of the students living there). I do realize that families have members with what people politely call "issues" - whether perceptual/sensory impairments, or mental retardation/developmental disability. I also realize that MOST of them are not maliciously harmful. However, they can cause problems for others, outside of their families. That might be inappropriate contact with children (apparently, this person had picked up a baby without permission - what would normally be called kidnapping), or sexualized behavior towards others, without consent. They might not MEAN wrong; that still doesn't make their behaviors right. The man who confronted the offender has been hounded from his home, lost his Army position, and may face jail time, if the Leftist scolds screaming "Race Hatred" get their way.
10. Last, and the one that will get me to wind this up - solely for the purpose of getting this thoughtful essay in front of your eyes - About Gun Control Stupidity.

The Ultimate Sign of Corruption

VoxDay says it true - the multimillion dollar book deals are the tell.

Any politician/celebrity that publishes their "story" in return for ridiculous-sized advances is just advertising that they have Sold Their Soul.

Sad to think that Pence and Barrett could ignore a lifetime of Christian teaching to cash in. I WON'T be reading those books - they have nothing to teach me.

BLM: Quick! Let's Protest this Victim of Police Brutality! Oh, Wait---

Never Mind!

He's a WHITE Male - TOTES OK to kill him!

Years ago, I used to wonder at the Tribal Mentality of those who assessed the morality of an action, based on what groups the perp and vics were allied to. I have to confess my automatic thought was: Thank God I live in the USA, where this is not a common practice!

Yeah.

Not anymore.

A lot of the thinking of the Left is based on a skewed idea about what propelled the Civil Rights cause to be picked up by average Americans.

They're under the mistaken idea that White People know, and like, the Black people that live in their area. That would be wrong.

Oh, sure, we do know SOME Black people - often, those who live in our neighborhood or are associated with at work, church, or school.

Much like the White people we know, those who we consider friends generally share our values, lifestyle, and outlook on life. We may share a common religion (I'm a Catholic, and have felt most kindly towards other Catholics, no matter what ethnicity they are. My first doctors in SC were a Columbian immigrant, and, later, when I moved, an African immigrant. Both Catholic, and both excellent). My church is filled with different ethnicities, and our yearly fall International festival is a marvel, with representatives from Europe, South America, Central America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia. All are members of our church.

That church, in the period after the fall of Saigon, welcomed Vietnamese refugees to SC. Many families still worship with us. Likewise, the many Spanish-speaking members of our church are a vital part of our parish.

But, not surprisingly, the strongest friendships we've made were co-workers and neighbors. They shared our middle-class values.

That was true of the early Civil Rights leadership - they were clergymen, doctors, nurses, teachers, millworkers, retailworkers - the same range of middle-class job holders, stable families, and responsible citizens as the people they sought to make aware of the need for Civil Rights.

And, it worked. People responded to the publicity surrounding the arrest of Rosa Parks. They made their support of CR known by contacting legislators, talking about the issues to friends and family, and otherwise publicly allying with that cause.

The Left hoped to use similar tactics to generate support to the tipping level. However, the people in their example cases weren't middle class, conventionally appealing, nor those with shared values and lifestyles.

They were - generally - thugs. Layabouts, leeches on family and society. People with drug abuse and mental issues.

Not appealing.

So, the Left sought to whip up support by flat-out lying about their story. Every "kid" on the street in the wee hours was there SOLELY to pick up some chips and a soft drink for their baby sister/brother. Or, to look for something lost. Or find a friend who was inexplicably missing.

NEVER wandering around looking for trouble. NEVER trying to score/deal drugs. NEVER breaking into cars and houses.

Just a college-bound, hard-working (with no job), church-attending (always with Grandma in tow) GOOD kid.

Trust them. They wouldn't lie.

They're shooting themselves in the foot. Their insistence on pushing 'the narrative' about their 'victims' is causing even originally sympathetic White people to reject their agenda.

This will not end well.

Not a Gun Person, But...

 ...this video seems to have raised some questions.

The person speaking does seem to have some knowledge of guns, so I hope those that have some background in weapons will enlighten me. I simply don't have the ability to evaluate his claims.

Beware the Ides of April

This should be a National Day of Mourning - the day that taxes are due (normally - I realize that this year is special, and the government will "allow" us to delay filing for another month).

BTW, have you considered that the federal government's 'generosity' in providing that tax filing delay may just be their way of hanging on to your money longer? Particularly since MOST people get "refunds" - actually, your OWN money, returned to you (without interest), by a not-so generous government.

But, yeah, I do have to finish some paperwork today, to get a ballpark estimate of my taxes owed for my business activities. There's a stiff fine for not sending the money on time - and THAT deadline has not been delayed.

Other than that:

• Local news is less exciting/horrible - the sixth person in a local murder has died. Rock Hill is generally not a scary dangerous place, but this has shaken people greatly. Dr. Lesslie was well-known, as was the man who killed him, his wife, two grandchildren, and the two men who were innocent bystanders working on the doctor's home.
• Local COVID restrictions have lessened - city rules about masking have expired, leaving that decision up to citizens and the places where they go. Most stores/businesses are still asking for masks to be worn; however, enforcement is lax. Church is back to using all pews, although attendance is still down. I've not flown since last August, nor driven much unless it was absolutely necessary.
• At this point, in both NC and SC, the immunization rush has slowed. About 40% are resistant to getting the shots; the local government and health departments are working to coax the unwilling. Schools, even without all being immunized, are (mostly) back in session, although some have reduced in-person class sizes.
• The Chauvin trial continues. I'm mostly following sporadically, via web reports. The evening news has been giving scant coverage, unless it's bad for Chauvin (not biased at ALL). If any trial could fairly be called a lynching, this is it (figuratively - the death penalty will not be imposed). The jury clearly, in their pre-trial interviews, expressed fear of reprisal for not finding him guilty of murder. This is an almost Shakespearean drama.

Friday, April 16

I'm tired. I got enough sleep, I'm just psychically exhausted. I've been running on empty for a long time:

• Too much time without the connection to people, other than the one person I live with (who is also frazzled - he feels the reduced contact even more than I).
• The house is beginning to seem like a cage.

I spend too much time failing to do things because "why bother?" The chores are piling up, my disinclination to get out of my chair is rising.

3:20 pm - I'm up from a nap - yes, I've been napping lately. My sleep patterns are ll over the place. When I did get up, I stumbled across this, which I thought bore reading.

For a slightly rambling, very endearing look at Traveling in the Slow Lane, go here. Completely worth the time it takes.

Saturday, 4/17

Censorship continues to be a growing problem. Adherents of it, and those that (often privately) denounce it, but murmur vaguely conciliatory phrases such as "it isn't TECHNICALLY censorship if it's not OFFICIALLY the government doing it", are narrowing the ability of the Dissident Media to get their message out.

The Passive Voice, a blog dedicated to the publishing industry, seems to agree with  that idea. He deplores it, but stands on the principle of private entities acting as they want with their businesses.

One of the more tiresome canards from the courtiers is that entities like Amazon and Bookshop are private companies and therefore that they can choose to sell, or not sell, whatever they want.

This is true, but also irrelevant. What we are witnessing are not the prerogatives of the free market but the clashings of a culture war. Those clashings may adopt, as camouflage, the rhetoric of free enterprise, but their end is control and obliteration of opposing points of view.

 I disagree. When the effort to restrict viewpoints is so omnipresent, and so consistent across so many businesses, it amounts to a Conspiracy in Restraint of Trade or Commerce - what the Sherman Act and other Antitrust legislation sought to stop.

As such, the governments - local, state, and federal - have the right, and the obligation, to step in and act to nip this Regressive Denial of Free Speech in the bud.

Now, to end this all on a lighter note, I went to my WW meeting this morning, and am down an additional 0.8 pounds. That's two weeks in a row for weight loss, after a disappointing month of either no loss, or even small gains. 

Baby steps. I didn't put in on suddenly - it took years. Losing it should take some time, as well.

Is the "Belief" That the Dems Stole the Election REALLY So False?

I don't like the word "Belief". It is tainted by the nearness to a religious 'belief' - one that cannot be proven or disproven by logical or scientific means.

Rather, I use the word "Suspicion". That is one that means "I haven't the evidence to definitely prove/disprove my hypothesis, but the probabilities seem to line up with that as a good explanation for the known facts".

In fact, there is NO amount of evidence that would persuade someone of the BELIEF that the election was fair and incontestable to change their mind. The extreme lengths that the Left is going to keep any evidence from surfacing - shredding ballots, trying to hide the actual machines that were used in the election tallying, until they can be re-programmed for the next election, thereby rendering it impossible to find any proof, running sufficient ballots to change the lead from Trump to Biden - all in the middle of the night, without GOP or non-Dem observers, and with trucks, vans, and cars delivering boxes of ballots - all without any chain of custody (contrary to state laws) - well, MAYBE it all has an innocent explanation, but gamblers tend to call that a fixed game.

Really, so many of the "MUST-BELIEVE" notions of the Left - that shady doings in a few states that HAPPENSTANTIALLY favor only one party, that men are "really" women (with penis and other danglies intact), and that women are EVERY BIT AS STRONG as men (evidence to the contrary readily available) - force us to "ignore the science" - and math, and logic, and all of the other ways that RATIONAL people put their beliefs to an impartial test.

Sorry for the CAPS!!!!

The Left has many beliefs (with no proof), and yet they continue to think of themselves as the Rational Side:

• That the louder you scream, the more true and right your cause - unless you oppose the Left's cause, in which case you are a Nazi!
• That Womyn are just exactly the same as men, except for the 'fact' that they are Better, and Braver, and More Worthy. Ignore all that 'icky' stuff about impartial fitness tests that say otherwise.
• That emotional displays prove the righteousness of your side. The greater the display of emotionalism, the more righteous you are.
• That questioning anything a Womyn says is worthy of banishment from all public and private places.
• That if two equally drunk/impaired people make the idiotic choice to engage in sex, the one that is Female is completely without blame for it; the Male is a sexist, evil, soulless bastard who deserves to lose his job, education, and money, as well as any hope of a future. Whether or not the act was initiated by the Womyn. Whether or not there is evidence that puts the Womyn's accusations in doubt (other people's testimony, admission by the Womyn, video, text).

I'm a big believer in the power of memes. A punchy graphic gets the point across better than any number of words. Feel free to copy and paste the meme below into any social media account you like (I'd appreciate your mentioning RAU - TNG, and including the URL - https://rau-tng.blogspot.com)

Believing in the value of Due Process gets you fired.

Folks, if that, alone, is not reason to conclude that the United States of America is OVER, nothing will. We are Officially in a Banana Republic.

Note: the above linked article about Banana Republics thinks TRUMP is the problem - oh, Brother! As Biden would say:

Marlakey! Corn Pop! It's all about the TRRWAFTDFGmrenffdpsif[rtgtgbodg!

TRANSLATION: Yep! I like Bananas, and anyone who disagrees needs to be put up against a wall and SHOT!

IN - Or OUT?

The Introvert/Extrovert split is way too simplified. Some Introverts do veer toward the hermit-like existence, particularly as this pandemic had become a year-long imposition.

But, even Introverts like being around other people - at least, in measured doses. I like to socialize - just not ALL the time. Giver me that 'Alone Time' regularly, and I'm happy to also spend some time with others.

Ann Althouse has some similar thoughts on this, that sparked this post - worth reading.

Most worktimes should have a blend of activities - some quiet and contemplative, some interactive, some 1-on-1, and others perhaps involving a lecture/presentation-type communication, with time and ability to take some questions for clarification.

That includes school, as well. Too often, the move away from desks in rows, recitation and rote learning, and quiet practice of skills, has lead to not much more productive lessons. Such new-style lessons involve a lot of group work, writing - whether journaling, essays, or questions for later follow-up, and "projects" and slideshows. Not necessarily more creative, nor even all that conducive to learning.

Just different. And, catering to the idea that ALL students will benefit from activities designed to appeal to those who are more extroverted. And, more chatty.

At this point, it's anathema to suggest that some time for quiet work alone, or time to think/write/reflect might be useful or productive. But, for some, that's the best part of their day.

And, so, it has been found with the year-long experiment in social/work/life activities.

When there is NO social life, people miss it intensively - even the Introverts.

When there is NO opportunity to talk to a co-worker during a break in work, people REALLY hate it.

When there is ONLY Zooming for meeting choices, people hate it. Many people, even the Extroverts, hate Zoom.

And, I say that, even though I belong to a radio group that has had to learn to meet that way, since last year (we skew hard into the demographic that is most affected by this illness). We've adapted. Some will not soon return to in-person meetings - and, the club can, and will, adapt to that. But, many are eager to benefit from the intrapersonal, direct communication that can only be experienced IRL.

I've Decided to Dust Off This Site

Blogs come and blogs go. Sometimes, group blogs work well, and, well, sometimes they seem to fall apart in contentious bickering.

I am, despite a sometimes prickly post (nice alliteration, that), not all that fond of fighting. That, I suspect, is part of being a woman. We are capable to working from several aspects of thought - logical and emotional. We respect both. And, if someone's feathers get ruffled, or are rather deliberately kerfluffled, well, my instinctive response is to want to wade in, saying, "Now, dears, let's just settle down and play nice".

That doesn't generally work in the blog world, particularly in that portion inhabited by the politically oriented places. There, combat - often to figurative death - is the mode of the day.

I like the people on both sides, and think it's unfortunate that they couldn't step back from the ignition point. But, I also want to continue my blogging without making their fight MY fight, so I'm going to be posting here (with some linkage and cross-posting, as well).

This site will be Switzerland - Neutral territory. If you can't abide by the rules - no name calling, no insults to other commenters - then you won't be permitted to comment.

My place, my rules.

Now, on to some things that have caught my attention:

My reading tastes have changed. I'm reading relatively more nonfiction, of specific topics - prep, technology, and home finance. Apparently, I'm interested in preparing for any likely future scenarios.

I'm not reading as much 'fluff' content as I was last year. Even a few months ago, I had difficulty sustaining attention on more serious subjects. Now, I find that I can focus on more complex storylines. That's a refreshing change, and it has impacted my writing significantly.

The "Gotta Change Things in Politics RIGHT NOW" concerns seem to have settled down over the last few weeks. No, that's NOT because pResident Biden has proven to be such a good administrator or leader. He is NOT.

The decisions he has made are proving to be an unprecedented disaster; we should let him continue, as he is shooting himself in the foot.

But, but, but...won't America be over-run with all of those illegal trespassers?

Perhaps not. I remember the last time the economy tanked, and jobs were scarce in the Charlotte area. With so little work in construction and other jobs primarily filled by illegals, most of them did what all the experts said that they would NEVER do.

They self-deported - left, going back to their home country. I know, because the school I was teaching at suddenly experienced a sharp drop in enrollment of Spanish-speaking kids.

The average person is in a re-grouping mode. The Elite are still trying to agitate up outrage and action - both on the Right and the Left.

However, most of us - the 'regular' people - are working to shore up our personal lives - financially, emotionally, and spiritually - and working to ensure that we will not be left standing unarmed, should the Leftstapo appear on our doorstep. It's also that you just can't sustain a high state of emergency for any length of time. Eventually, you become exhausted from the adrenaline drain.

We're getting back to work. We're re-joining family events. We're - most of us - getting the vaccine. I recently got the 2nd Moderna shot, and I have to say, neither dose caused any reaction. No allergic attack, no sickness on subsequent days, no ongoing lassitude or odd symptoms.

So, that's a relief.

At home, my husband and I are doing taxes; in that endeavor, our major goal is to finish without a fight involving the word "divorce". Sometimes, we manage it.

Like this year. Fortunately, we have only a few hours of work ahead of us - I started this some time ago. My husband handles the "didjas" - didja remember to enter that business trip? Didja deduct the plane trips for conferences?

He also has to calculate the mileages - business, medical, charity.

So far, so good.

The house could use some cleanup. Unfortunately, I'm once again sidelined with a painful knee. Painful enough to put in a call to the ortho guy, as I cannot put weight on that leg.

But, in general, life is improving. We're both immunized, with 2nd shots. We can look forward to seeing the family in the next few weeks. No one is in dire medical or other crisis, and we will have another great-grandchild - a girl this time, within the next few months.

And, it's spring - nicer weather, but not so warm that it encourages the rioters to start gathering.