Tuesday, February 08, 2022

A CNN vocabulary guide by Mike Huckabee

 If leftists burning down cities, assaulting police and looting businesses is “mostly peaceful protest,” then what is it called when working people stage a genuinely peaceful protest of a leftist government that’s destroying their businesses and violating their rights?


(A.) “Sedition”

(B.) “A threat to democracy.”

(C.) “Insurrection driven by madness”

(D.) All of the above.

Click here to see the answer (as if you don’t already know):

https://www.foxnews.com/media/cnn-freedom-convoy-protest-sedition-threat-democracy

Fentanyl poisoning

It's not an "overdose," or an "addiction," it is poisoning and some people should be held accountable.. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, and up to 50 times more potent than heroin. Even tiny doses, as little as two milligrams, the size of two grains of salt, is a fatal dose for most people. Teen don't have a fully developed brain for the problems of risk taking, and are accidentally poisoned. And the origin is China, just like Covid. Why does the president not act?

https://www.rand.org/blog/2019/09/tackle-fentanyl-like-a-poisoning-outbreak-not-a-drug.html

https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/teens-tragic-tales-meet-some-of-children-who-died-from-fentanyl-poisoning


Fentanyl, Covid-19 and Public Health   https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/wmh3.355

Putin and Biden and sanctions



Presidents Clinton and Obama set the stage to weaken Ukraine, so there's no reason for Putin to fear Biden who bugged out in shame from Afghanistan. Why is Biden waiting to shut down the Nord Stream pipeline (a system of offshore natural gas pipelines in Europe, running under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany)? Why did he shut down our Keystone pipeline making us dependent on others and unable to export energy to European countries at risk of Russian terrorism?

Biden has a REAL Russia, Russia, Russia scandal on his hands, and not a phony baloney good times fake story passed along to the Clinton campaign in 2016. Will the legacy media remain true blue?

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2020/03/17/crimea-six-years-after-illegal-annexation/

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-01-11-mn-10675-story.html

Biden ended 3 Trump measures that protected Europe from Russia and which allowed U.S. energy superiority and independence. "MedEast is the second major pipeline that the Biden administration has put a damper on: the first being the Keystone XL pipeline that would bring oil from Canada and North Dakota to the Gulf States. Canadian oil is heavy oil needed for U.S. refineries that retooled decades ago when U.S. light oil production was declining. Keystone XL would also provide more oil to the United States from an ally rather than being dependent on OPEC and Russia for oil. For several months since the pandemic began, Russia was the number 2 supplier of oil to the United States, competing with Mexico for that distinction. When Biden blocked the Keystone XL pipeline by canceling its Presidential permit, he blocked a project that went over and above existing standards to address issues such as carbon emissions, safety standards, and cooperation with indigenous people impacted by the pipeline.

Biden’s Keystone XL and MedEast pronouncements both overturn decisions made by President Trump. When Joe Biden agreed to set aside U.S. objections to the controversial Russian undersea Nord Stream 2 pipeline, he reversed former President Trump’s policy of opposing the project due to security concerns. The 760-mile Baltic Sea pipeline allows direct Russian natural gas supply to Germany and other western European countries and allows Russia to dominate the European energy market, making Putin a power player in continental Europe, where Russia already supplies over 40 percent of its natural gas." https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/international-issues/biden-anti-energy-onslaught-continues/

The Joe Rogan hypocrisy and double standard "scandal"

I'm waiting for all the bleeding heart blue media to count the number of times rappers have insulted and demeaned women, particularly black women, for money and then try to remove them from their platforms. Crickets. And how about a senator and former vice president and now president using the N-word in public speeches and putting down the race of candidate Obama and trying to smear Justice Thomas? Crickets x2. Why is that acceptable but a talk show comedian with a potty mouth isn't? Crickets x3. And oh, the black face on Democrat governors and comedians, just for fun, and an outspoken, nasty, mean View host? Crickets x4.
 
It's an old truism--if it weren't for double standards Democrats would have no standards at all.

Monday, February 07, 2022

Trafficking in Persons Report, 20th

As this 20th anniversary report is released, we and our allies and partners find ourselves confronting a crisis that has reached previously unimagined proportions. While urgency has always marked the fight against human trafficking, the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic have magnified the need for all stakeholders to work together in the fight more than ever. We know that human traffickers prey upon the most vulnerable and look for opportunities to exploit them. Instability and lack of access to critical services caused by the pandemic mean that the number of people vulnerable to exploitation by traffickers is rapidly growing. (2020)

https://bd.usembassy.gov/release-of-the-20th-annual-trafficking-in-persons-report/

https://sharedhope.org/2020/07/13/20th-anniversary-of-trafficking-in-persons-report/

https://www.insidernj.com/press-release/rep-smith-20th-annual-trafficking-persons-tip-report-released/

The link to the report was down and archived.

Change in focus under Biden--climate change, various "vulnerabilities" and discrimination.

This year’s Trafficking in Persons Report sends a strong message to the world that global crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and enduring discriminatory policies and practices, have a disproportionate effect on individuals already oppressed by other injustices. These challenges further compound existing vulnerabilities to exploitation, including human trafficking. We must break this inhumane cycle of discrimination and injustices if we hope to one day eliminate human trafficking. (2021)

Natural immunity superior to vaccinated immunity

This is clear indisputable evidence that natural immunity is far more durable than vaccinated immunity: The Covid protection lasted for 650 days with no noticeable decline.

"Prevalence and Durability of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies Among Unvaccinated US Adults by History of COVID-19" Jennifer L. Alejo, MD1; Jonathan Mitchell, MBBS1; Amy Chang, MD1; et al JAMA Network
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2788894

In this cross-sectional study of unvaccinated US adults, antibodies were detected in 99% of individuals who reported a positive COVID-19 test result, in 55% who believed they had COVID-19 but were never tested, and in 11% who believed they had never had COVID-19 infection. Anti-RBD levels were observed after a positive COVID-19 test result up to 20 months, extending previous 6-month durability data.5

Study limitations include lack of direct neutralization assays, the fact that antibody levels alone do not directly equate to immunity,4,6 the cross-sectional study design, a convenience sample with an unknown degree of selection bias due to public recruitment, self-reported COVID-19 test results, the study population being largely White and healthy, and lack of information on breakthrough infections. Participants were given only 1 month to complete antibody testing, which may have contributed to the 52% rate among those invited to test.

Although evidence of natural immunity in unvaccinated healthy US adults up to 20 months after confirmed COVID-19 infection is encouraging, it is unclear how these antibody levels correlate with protection against future SARS-CoV-2 infections, particularly with emerging variants. The public health implications and long-term understanding of these findings merit further consideration.

Saturday, February 05, 2022

Trump on Truckers

"Facebook and Big Tech are seeking to destroy the Freedom Convoy of Truckers. The Freedom Convoy is peacefully protesting the harsh policies of far left lunatic Justin Trudeau who has destroyed Canada with insane Covid mandates. Now, thankfully, the Freedom Convoy could be coming to DC with American Truckers who want to protest Biden’s ridiculous Covid policies. Facebook is canceling the accounts of Freedom Convoy USA, and GoFundMe is denying access to funds that belong to the Freedom Convoy. This is unacceptable and extremely dangerous in any country that values free expression. TruthSocial is announcing today that we are welcoming the Freedom Convoy with open arms to communicate freely on TruthSocial when we launch – coming very soon! TruthSocial will fight back against Big Tech so we can protect our rights to free expression. Also, on top of everything, it is big news that Facebook daily users went down for the first time ever, people are tired of biased social media like Twitter and Facebook, and it’s showing in their numbers!" Donald Trump

Friday, February 04, 2022

Do as I say, not as I do--how progressive are Democrats

https://youtu.be/hNDgcjVGHIw

When Democrats have the power, just how progressive are they?

Start with housing.  The vote down low income housing--but they say they want it.

Then tax codes.  The wealthiest pay the lowest tax rate--but they are Democrats.  Texas is more liberal than Washington state on taxes.

What about education?  World class in every zip code? 140 districts in one county--Cook in Illinois. So there is great inequity in funding schools.  Same in wealthy Connecticut.  Liberals don't want to share. Than blame Republicans for the crises in blue states.

This video had about 6 million view when I watched it.


Wednesday, February 02, 2022

A squirrley tail--noticed on Facebook

The Presbyterian church called a meeting to decide what to do about their squirrel infestation. After much prayer and consideration, they concluded that the squirrels were predestined to be there, and they should not interfere with God’s divine will.

At the Baptist church, the squirrels had taken an interest in the baptistry. The deacons met and decided to put a water-slide on the baptistry and let the squirrels drown themselves. The squirrels liked the slide and, unfortunately, knew instinctively how to swim, so twice as many squirrels showed up the following week.

The Lutheran church decided that they were not in a position to harm any of God’s creatures. So, they humanely trapped their squirrels and set them free near the Baptist church. Two weeks later, the squirrels were back when the Baptists took down the water-slide.

The Episcopalians tried a much more unique path by setting out pans of whiskey around their church in an effort to kill the squirrels with alcohol poisoning. They sadly learned how much damage a band of drunk squirrels can do.

But the Catholic church came up with a more creative strategy! They baptized all the squirrels and made them members of the church. Now they only see them at Christmas and Easter.

Not much was heard from the Jewish synagogue. They took the first squirrel and circumcised him. They haven’t seen a squirrel since.

Year of the Tiger

I saw this painting by Narasimma Balaji, Artist, at Watercolour Sketchers on Facebook. Since this is the year of the Tiger, I asked him if I could post it here on my blog. The Lunar New Year is rung in Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022, with festivities celebrated by nearly 2 billion people worldwide that can go on for more than two weeks.

  
My college roommate at the University of Illinois is Chinese--her family moved to Brazil to escape the Communists, then she came to the United States as did most of her siblings (I think there were 12).  We still write at Christmas and she and her husband (also an architect and watercolorist like my husband) just recently moved to a retirement apartment after more than 40 years in a beautiful old house.

  

Tuesday, February 01, 2022

Mask mandates and research

Anyone can make mistakes, but when I think of the people who had their lives and careers upended it really makes me angry. I mean, how many people would have been saved (or made worse) if those in power hadn't been so greedy and denied them therapeutics like Ivermectin and HCQ.

Read about the ten myths and misinformation that turned out to be false. 10 COVID-19 'Truths' That Weren't True (dailysignal.com)

Even today, even against their governor's orders, there are schools preventing children from attending if they don't wear masks in classroom, on the bus, on the playground. They want to punish the parents--but are hurting the kids. There's not a shred of peer reviewed research that shows masks work, and particularly not the flimsy flopsy ones made in China from fossil fuel (polypropylene) that are littering our streets, malls and yards. God only knows what's going into their lungs. Now Biden says he'll roll out 400 million N95's (because those being worn for 2 years did nothing to protect us except start fights by Karens and snowflakes). More damage to children.

Monday, January 31, 2022

Is Biden playing with a full deck?

Lots of you think Biden is demented. I don't. I suspect he's a Chinese mole or maybe a tool of Soros. Think about it. He's scaring away President Zalensky's investors in Ukraine's economy--and Zalensky has asked him to just shut up! (That transcript won't be released to NYT and CNN.) He won't shut down the oil pipeline to Russia, but will shut down ours making us dependent again on the middle east. He's talking about an invasion of Ukraine (scaring the world) and ignores the invasion of millions more people unvaxxed and unvetted across our border! Even Russians and Ukrainians are coming through our southern border.  Apparently, they don't want to be in the fight. Does that sound demented or just demonic?

Sunday, January 30, 2022

Down the rabbit hole with grandma's Bible

I wanted to check a different translation today for the sermon, so I tried to find my old KJV from 1946, which I received for Christmas that year as a first grader in Forreston, IL. Instead, I pulled out my grandmother's Bible, dated 1901, which was the year of her marriage. Big mistake to read the preface on how this Bible came to be (too long to explain but there was definitely a big battle between the British committee and the American committee in 1885). Then I opened it to the passage I was looking for in John and found a 4-leaf clover pressed at the beginning of the New Testament (another preface with additional information I stopped to read), a purple ribbon to mark the place (which practically crumbled when I tried to straighten it. Then I found an old newspaper clipping from 1934, probably the Gospel Messenger of the Church of the Brethren (I only know this because one of my articles published when I was working was about my grandparents' library and all the journals/magazines they had, and I learned how to read the clues.)

The clipping was a poem "Teach me to live" which begins "Teach me to live! 'tis easier far to die--/Gently and silently to pass away--" and ends with "Teach me to live, and find my life in Thee/ Looking from earth and earthly things away:" On the verso in perfect alignment was the death notices from November 1932 to January 1934 of Brethren probably sent by their home church, and a list of offerings from North Dakota (there may have been all states, but that's what fit on the clipping).

There was no author for the poem, so I went to the internet, and found it, in several versions, often used with funeral notices. I found one reference from 1865, but it still didn't give the author, although I stopped to read the article (a Bible study). Then I found a sad story about a young Jamaican man who died in 1916, with separate notices by both his wife and his parents. The wife continued to post this memorial poem for another 10 years after his death. The editor, who was apparently researching the archives, speculated that the wife and the parents didn't get along and so published separate notices and thank yous to friends of the family and deceased.

I checked "Find a Grave" for a few of the names on the list, but even those names I found which matched the state, didn't have the right year. Oh, and the Jamaican newspaper had a Facebook page, and I noticed FB reminded me it is my niece Jenny's birthday, so I had to look through her page.

This is why it takes so long to do a short Bible study about Nicodemus.

Friday, January 28, 2022

Second best seller of all times--Imitation of Christ

"Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be." ~ Thomas a Kempis (Born: 1380, died: July 25, 1471) "The Imitation of Christ. Book I, ch. 16". 1418.

Advice that's still good today. His book "The Imitation of Christ" is the 2nd best-seller and 2nd most translated and most influential book of all times. The Bible is number one.

What's going on in Kazakhstan?

I was watching Israeli TV this morning while cycling in place (my office). They are loving the snow in Jerusalem--a new event for many. Wait until it's dirty and slushy--they won't be so thrilled--all the drivers looked like they learned how to drive in snow in Columbus, Ohio.

Also, I watched the Arabic French special feature discussing the latest threat to world peace in Kazakhstan. Thirty years of the USSR boot off their necks and they are unhappy with the free market. Seems there are too many rich people. We don't see a lot about Kazakhstan on our TV channels. Their elderly (my generation born and raised in the 1940s and 50s) are as mind-warped as our college students. They want the old USSR style communism back so they can have their pensions. Nostalgia instead of fantasies about socialist equity.
 
One thing doesn't change from nation to nation, from riot to lockdowns. The academics and the journalists are there to stir things up and go on TV to talk about "our values" and "risks." A brand-new capital without charm or history is being built outside the old one. But the man they named it for has already fallen from grace, so there will be a name change (it's the socialist way). They seem to be leaning toward an OK for Putin to interfere. One thing missing is all the woke nonsense we have on every channel and every ad--they are all white, educated, well-off and Muslim. Still, there are lots of men running around in the streets throwing things. Could pass for Portland.

Thursday, January 27, 2022

Google owns us

Thirty-five years ago, I was librarian of the Veterinary Medicine Library at Ohio State. A great job. By 1991-92 we were just learning about a strange thing called the WWW. Went to workshops where it was demonstrated, learned to write html and I began showing my students. I still remember the day in the late 90s another veterinary medicine librarian, I think she was at the University of Tennessee, said she'd found something new she liked better than Yahoo and I should try it. Google. Today Google owns us. Master of surveillance and manipulation. Now there are about 2 billion websites. Big Tech is more powerful than the President of the United States, the Congress, and the Supreme Court. What looked like freedom is now a prison and even if they opened the doors, no one would leave.





Wednesday, January 26, 2022

A second opinion: video of Senator Ron Johnson's invited panel

On January 24, 2022, Senator Ron Johnson (Wisconsin) invited a group of world-renowned doctors and medical experts to the U.S. Senate to provide a different perspective on the global pandemic response, the current state of knowledge of early and hospital treatment, vaccine efficacy and safety, what went right, what went wrong, what should be done now, and what needs to be addressed long term. This 38 minute video highlights the 5-hour discussion. https://rumble.com/vt62y6-covid-19-a-...

(My paraphrase) https://youtu.be/9jMONZMuS2U

Foundational principles have been ignored, and possibly 500,000 needlessly died. Public health has been politicized. Dr. Aaron Kheriaty said he formerly supported both Obama and Biden, but the current events have changed that. We have strategies to treat this but have created enormous damage by our current treatment and the government has tried to destroy reputations and careers. 2 years in and we still don't know how many Americans have had it and recovered, which is a crime in itself. People with natural immunity are the safest people to be around--not one case reported where they have transmitted the virus. 

Zero evidence that masks stop it. It's peeing in a swimming pool. Early treatment WORKS, but you have to find a doctor. Pharmacists refuse to fill some of the safest medicines known because they have been brainwashed by the drug companies. The "adverse results" these doctors have experienced is not dying patients, but careers "cancelled" and being attacked for being a good doctor. First 72 hours are critical, and it is late start that causes failures. FDA and CDC should have never been the sponsor of the vaccine--it's been a terrible mistake.

One doctor, Paul Marik, started to cry when telling about his dying patients because he wasn't allowed to use the drugs he knew would work. He's had 35 years experience.  When he sued, the hospital ended his career by using a sham peer review. One nurse who was fired said her unit had been using HCQ for 2 months with success early in the pandemic until the hospital disallowed it. Another nurse testified that doctors refused to even see vaccine injured patients.

Why are drug companies and government bureaucrats doing this? Dr. Pierre Kory says profits. 

In my opinion that's a good answer for Big Pharma, but for government it's power.













Tuesday, January 25, 2022

Democrats have their wish

Democrats wanted an alternative to mean tweets and the art of making deals. And they got their desire. They hated Trump's style and could never give a reason why strong border security and energy freedom were bad for Democracy. So, they elected an elderly "moderate" with Big Tech manipulation of the vote, mainstream media lies and a worldwide pandemic stoking fear.

So now we have ISIS resurgence in Syria after Trump practically wiped them out and new ground troops from U.S. stepping up to "advise." How'd that work out the last 3 decades? Then there's the pesky border civil war between Ukraine and Russia and 8500 U.S. troops on alert. Our friends and enemies around the world know how weakened by his advisors Biden is--they saw it in the Afghanistan withdrawal disaster. They see his inability to negotiate with Mexico or follow Trump's plan to stop the millions pouring over our own border. They know he's Obama 2.0 and they remember the red lines and lines in the shifting sand for 8 years. Add to this miserable record, the military leaders Biden has chosen for guidance are more concerned about woke soldiers than skilled and trained troops. How helpful is a Marxist social theory when the Russians and Ukrainians, two former Communist states, are the same race, culture and religion, and the Syrian fighters are all some version of Islam?