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Tag: #Politics
A Shot Across The Bow of the USS SCOTUS
In case you missed it, the incoming congress just fired another warning shot across the bow of the United States Supreme Court. This warning specifically targeted the most vulnerable member of the court, at least in the eyes of the hypocrite extremist left. Funneled through a less than unbiased newspaper as a 'breaking news' story, it is another blatant attempt to influence litigation before the Court. It also presents a compromise scheme for forcing political control of the Supreme Court to those who are a little squeamish about packing the Court. Either way, this highlights the importance of the Senate runoff elections in Georgia are for the future of an independent Judicial branch.
This latest attempt to influence the court comes from a New York Times review of a book – by two New York Times staffers – that contains "new" allegations of sexual misconduct by Justice Kavanaugh while he was in college. The "new" allegations, introduced in the 11th paragraph of their story, involves a woman who declined to be interviewed by the Times reporters and has through friends indicated she did not recall the event. It's important to know that this incident, the supposed witnesses and the woman's denial of it occurring, were all known to the reporters in 2018, during Justice Kavanaugh's hearings. The story resurfaced briefly in 2019 during the Democratic Presidential primaries but did not result in any action. Now, in 2020, it surfaces again as a "new" story.
It's not as if his Democratic party detractors haven't done their level best to destroy Justice Kavanaugh's reputation and life based on the unsubstantiated accusations leveled against him during his confirmation hearings.
Of his coaching his daughter's high school basketball team, a Time magazine reporter wrote: "Ford's charge shattered Kavanaugh's carefully crafted tableau, calling into doubt the image he projected. The row of young girls, legs bare in their private-school skirts, looked different now."
Of his teaching at Harvard, a letter from staff, students and alumni organized by friends and family of Congressional Democrats was sent that said: "We believe that Judge Kavanaugh's appointment as an HLS lecturer sends a message to law students, and in particular female students, that powerful men are above the law, and that obstructive, inappropriate behavior will be rewarded."
With this "new" allegation resurfacing yet again, members of the new administration's transition team are calling for a congressional investigation into the matter. "If accurate, this would represent a big mistake on the part of the FBI. Without the truth, a cloud will hang over Kavanaugh's head and an asterisk will accompany his decisions. The only way to repair the damage is for Congress to pick up where the FBI left off." Note that Congressional investigation in this context of course means impeachment proceedings.
Having members of the Democratic party threaten the United States Supreme Court is nothing new. Remember the Senate Democrats who sent the "Heal Thyself" letter threating to pack the Court if it ruled incorrectly in the case of New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Inc. v. City of New York. That letter is widely credited with flipping Chief Justice John Roberts to the liberal wing in an attempt to save the structure of the Court. Of course, that threat has now been revived into an action plan should the Democrats retake the Senate.
In this situation, there does not appear to be one case to be influenced but rather a series of cases now under consideration and likely to be taken up by the Supreme Court regarding the 2020 elections. The not-so-subtle implications are for Justice Kavanaugh to vote 'correctly' or face impeachment. But as anyone can see from the "Heal Thyself" letter, voting correctly won't make this threat go away.
There's also another side of this "new" accusation and call for Congressional investigations. It represents an alternative plan to take over the Supreme Court. The well-advertised threat to pack the Court with liberal appointed justices to "reduce the influence of politics" has been unpopular with many non-extremists in the Democratic party. This plan, removing just one originalist Justice, one that has been demonized by the Party, and allowing a liberal appointee would cement a solid 5-4 liberal majority.
If you're wondering what the big deal is with the Senate runoff elections in Georgia, this is it. A Democrat win of both seats results in a 50-50 tie in the Senate which would be broken by the (possible) new Vice-President who is the most extremist left politician to ever be elected. This is a grandstanding, elitist politician who has already stated her position on Justice Kavanaugh as being "He must be impeached."
What else is at stake? Only the ability to have free and fair elections, the Electoral College, the future of the First, Second, Fourth and Fifth Amendment and the independence of the Judiciary branch.
Simply look at what campaign promises have been made and ask yourself what will happen if the final check and balance of power, the Constitution and Bill of Rights, were no longer a hinderance? What if every law that brazenly infringes on your Constitutionally protected natural rights was deemed fully Constitutional in the name of the new socialist agenda by a Court more interested in social reengineering than Constitutional rights?
If you have a few bucks to spare, sending it down to support the Republican candidates in Georgia might be in all of our best interests.
#oddstuffing, #Constitution, #BillOfRights, #FirstAmendment, #SecondAmendment, #SCOTUS, #Politics, #Georgia, #2020Elections, #mewe, #medium, #parler, #oddstuffing.com
Author BobPosted on December 7, 2020 December 6, 2020 Categories Weekly PostTags #2020Elections, #BillOfRights, #Constitution, #FirstAmendment, #Georgia, #medium, #mewe, #oddstuffing, #oddstuffing.com, #parler, #Politics, #SCOTUS, #SecondAmendment
Can't Win? NO PROBLEM! Change The Rules!
In any contest there is a set of rules to ensure fair play and equal competition. The rules are long established and understood by both sides. But what if one side is having a problem winning under the rules? That's when you start hearing complaints that the rules are wrong and give the other side an unfair advantage, even if they've won under the same rules in the past. Am I speaking of games? Of course not. I'm talking about the uncivilized blood sport of United States politics where truth is relative and the only thing that matters is winning. This is what is behind the push to pack the United States Supreme Court and eliminate the Electoral College are all about.
The latest and greatest version of Change The Rules is playing out right now with the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the United States Supreme Court. Should she be confirmed, and the Democrats win the White House and Senate in November, they have promised to pack the court with additional liberal appointed justices to "reduce the influence of politics" in the court.
If that rational makes any sense at all to you, you're one of the first. Appointing left wing advocate justices to "reduce the influence of politics" is like serving donuts to your family to make their breakfast healthier. This is all because with Judge Barrett's appointment, there will be a 5-4 majority of "conservatives" to "liberals" on the Supreme Court.
Some argue it will actually be 6-3, but they forget Chief Justice John Roberts was already flipped during the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Inc. v. City of New York case when Senate Democrats issued their "Heal Thyself" letter threatening to pack the Supreme Court if it didn't moot the case. Chief Justice Roberts must have believed that was a one-time threat and giving in to it would protect the future of the Court. It was not.
The whole idea of political leanings for any judge is an abomination to the bench, but that has become the norm in many areas. Extremist politicians appoint activist judges to rubber stamp their social justice agenda laws and expect them to legislate for them from the bench. The Constitution, Bill of Rights, rule of law and precedent are not considered obstacles in reshaping society to someone's utopian vision.
So why is changing the rules for the Supreme Court so important to them? Because all those draconian gun control laws they've crafted are in jeopardy. Even with the claims that "lifesaving policies has repeatedly withstood legal challenges in the lower courts" (see previous paragraph), a hearing before Supreme Court that would actually take the Constitution into account would undeniably invalidate them. Instead of passing laws that pass Constitutional muster, you change the rules and make it so nobody can invalidate your unconstitutional laws.
The Electoral College is facing the same threat in an attempt to change the rules to make it easier to win the White House. In short, the Electoral College was put in place to elect the President by our founders who were afraid of democracy, hence why our country is a Republic not a pure Democracy. They were concerned about "the tyranny of the majority" and created the Electoral College to preserve "the sense of the people".
What we see today is a balance between urban and rural areas. Urban areas are predominately liberal / Democrat and rural areas tend to be conservative / Republican. With a direct, popular vote, a handful of urban areas in our country would determine the President in every single election. 538 electors chosen by their states award all their votes according to the winner of the popular vote in their own state, except Maine and Nebraska who have a slightly different system.
As with every election loss, we saw a renewed call to abolish the Electoral College following the Democrat candidate's loss in the 2016 elections. The election was "stolen" and the "will of the people" was ignored because the candidate with the most votes didn't win the most votes from the Electoral College.
The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact is an attempt to nullify the Electoral College without actually abolishing it. Participating states would award their Electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote, regardless of who won the popular vote in that individual state.
Following the 2016 elections, there were increased drives across the country that were being courted to join the Compact. Popular themes included "one person one vote" and "make your vote count". People were promised that politicians would be forced to campaign for votes in every state not just the most populous areas. Of course, that's not true.
A true popular vote election would see the candidates trying to appeal to the handful of urban population centers that currently make up the majority of the popular vote. A few swing states might be in play as a counter to an unwinnable urban center for a candidate, but the rest of the country would have no say or influence on the presidential election. Their votes, their opinions, their needs, would be too small to matter.
So why is eliminating or nullifying the Electoral College so important to them? Because playing by the rules would require coming up with a candidate, platform and strategy that appeals to the entire country instead of one that is supported by just the handful of urban population centers where furthest-from-center message is better received.
Rules matter, especially when it comes to our Constitution and Bill of Rights. When you look at the checks and balances our Founding Fathers built into the establishment of our country, understand they did this for a reason. They looked at world history and knew what had worked and what had failed. Our country is what it is today because we have held true to the Constitution and Bill of Rights, not in spite of it.
When someone is advocating changing the rules of the game to benefit a political purpose, you can bet your life you will not be the one that wins.
Vote wisely,
#oddstuffing, #Constitution, #BillOfRights, #SecondAmendment, #GunControlFails, #Politics, #Rules, #SCOTUS, #ElectorialCollege, #2020Elections, #VoteWisely, #EatMoreBacon, #mewe, #medium, #parler, #oddstuffing.com
Author BobPosted on October 19, 2020 October 18, 2020 Categories Weekly PostTags #2020Elections, #BillOfRights, #Constitution, #EatMoreBacon, #ElectorialCollege, #GunControlFails, #medium, #mewe, #oddstuffing, #oddstuffing.com, #parler, #Politics, #Rules, #SCOTUS, #SecondAmendment, #VoteWisely
Expand vs. Defend the Second Amendment?
Senate confirmation hearings for Judge Amy Coney Barrett's appointment to the Supreme Court begin this week and it is sure to be a spectacle of epic proportions. As a preview of the line of questioning we'll see regarding the Second Amendment, the billionaire bankrolled "grass roots" "community organization" gun control group released a statement opposing Judge Barrett's nomination on the grounds she "would dramatically expand the Second Amendment"
Dramatically expand… A better and more accurate description would be Judge Barrett would actually defend the Second Amendment. But their description should give you some idea of how the gun control extremists view the Second Amendment as a second-class right.
Let's be clear about what the Second Amendment is. The twenty-seven words read:
The reason for the gun control extremists' concern is quite simple and outlined in their statement. They are afraid Judge Barrett will vote to overturn their so called "gun safety" laws by "invalidating gun control measures around the country".
Gun control measures around the country are an utter failure and continue to target only law-abiding citizens. The cities and states with the strictest, most draconian gun control laws in this country are also the most violent, least safest places. They constantly blame other non-gun controlled areas for their own crime rates while refusing to hold the actual perpetrators of violence accountable for their actions. As always, they claim they are just one gun control law or one closed loophole away from their citizens being safe.
The article claims that these "lifesaving policies has repeatedly withstood legal challenges in the lower courts".
These lower courts where they have withstood legal challenges are the ones where left extremist politicians have appointed like-minded political activist judges who will ignore the rule of law, legal precedent and rules of evidence to rubber stamp blatantly unconstitutional gun control laws.
They also point to Judge Barrett's "dangerous views" through her dissent on a case involving a man convicted of a "serious felony" appealing for restoration of his firearms rights.
Of course, this "serious felony" was a single count of mail fraud and Judge Barrett's dissent was that nonviolent felons should not be subject to the same gun restrictions that apply to violent criminals.
Keep in mind these are the same zealots who believe the District of Columbia v. Heller and McDonald v. City of Chicago decisions granted an individual right to own a firearm for the very first time in United States history. In reality, it simply took until 2008 for a government entity to create an unconstitutional law, have that law successfully challenged AND have that case appealed to the United States Supreme Court. The individual right to keep and bear arms always existed.
Just as the Second Amendment does not grant the right to keep and bear arms – it restricts the government from infringing upon what is considered a Natural Right – the Supreme Court DOES NOT have the ability to expand, dramatically or otherwise, Second Amendment rights. The court may ONLY rule on the constitutionality of existing laws that have been appealed to them.
So, while the gun control extremists and their hand selected politicians claim the appointment of an originalist, constitutionalist jurist to the Supreme Court will somehow dramatically expand Second Amendment rights, what they are really concerned with is that their ineffective, unconstitutional laws may be overturned and simple, basic natural, constitutionally protected rights will again be available to their citizens. The People with their Second Amendment protected rights means government control over whom they chose to provide basic safety and security to will be lost forever.
If we've learned anything from Justice Kavanagh's hearings, these confirmation hearings will feature the worst behavior, accusations and insinuations politicians can muster. We've already seen lies, smears and exaggerations along with gloom-and-doom predictions about how our very democracy is at stake if Judge Barrett is confirmed.
What can we do as ordinary, everyday citizens? We can let our Senators, the people WE elected to represent US, know we want them to support the confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the United States Supreme Court.
If you live in a blue state like me and think your opinion won't matter in what will undoubtedly be a party line vote, I say BUNK! If we don't let our representatives know what we want them to do and remind them that they are accountable to us, NOT their political party, then the ONLY voice in their ear will be from the political party. It's time to be clear and loud about what WE THE PEOPLE demand from them.
A list of United States Senators and their contact information may be found here: https://www.senate.gov/senators/contact
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Author BobPosted on October 12, 2020 October 11, 2020 Categories Weekly PostTags #2020Elections, #BillOfRights, #Community, #Constitution, #GunControlFails, #medium, #mewe, #Nation, #oddstuffing, #oddstuffing.com, #parler, #Patriots, #Politics, #SCOTUS, #SecondAmendment, #VoteWisely
It's The End Of Democracy!!! (And Other Supreme Threats)
With the sudden passing of Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, a whole new dimension has been added to this year's elections. Completely dismissing any resemblance of respect for the Justice's life or service, the vile political rhetoric began almost immediately following the news of her death. Lies, exaggerations, hypocrisy, threats of violence and political consequences are the new norm – even more so, if you can believe it, than we've seen so far in this election. The future of the United States Supreme Court (SCOTUS) is being determined and the results are critical for every American.
I'm going to start off with painfully obvious elephant in the room, politics on the bench. The whole three equal and separate branches of government thing our country was built on relied on the courts being the non-political, independent arbitrator of fact, the Constitutional and rule of law. However, that seems to be a wildly outdated notion. At the local, state and federal level, the litmus test for judges is now their political party affiliation and wiliness to rule favorably on issues brought before them by the political masters who appoint them. That is absolutely wrong.
Judges should be guided by the Constitution and the law, period. Yes, there may be different interpretations of how the law should be applied but that's the whole function of the appeals process up to United States Supreme Court. There should NEVER be situations like we have now where the Constitution and the rule of law is viewed through a political lens in order to progress a social agenda.
We are being told filling the vacant judicial seat with a nominee from the current administration will be catastrophic for the nation. We're told it will delegitimize the court itself and cause irreparable damage. Lives and liberty will be lost. Really??
The SCOTUS is now pretty equally divided politically. The Chief Justice had been considered a conservative and swing vote, but it's widely accepted now that he capitulated to the threats from the extreme left Senators last year that threated to restructure and stack the court if it didn't "heal thyself".
"Perhaps the Court can heal itself before the public demands it be 'restructured in order to reduce the influence of politics.'"
The irony of course is adding a 'conservative' justice now would tip the court just slightly to the right, something the left just cannot tolerate. It's not the reduction of the influence of politics they seek, it's the reduction of the influence of politics THEY don't agree with. Interestingly enough, it was a Second Amendment case that had the potential to define standards for Second Amendment cases around the country the brought the threats by the Senate Democrats.
If the Senate attempts to fill the seat before the elections, we are being told there will be violence and riots like we've never seen before. Arson in the form of "burn Congress down" and "burn it all down". The Democratic party has promised retaliation in the form of eliminating the filibuster in the Senate and restructuring and stacking the SCOTUS as soon as they retake the Senate, presumably to reduce the influence of politics. The Speaker of the House of Representatives has come out to say she won't rule out impeachment of the President or the Attorney General as an option to prevent filling the seat, as well as other options. One of the more likely options is attempting to impeach Associate Justice Kavanaugh, a threat made during the "heal thyself" intimidation campaign by the Senate Democrats.
A friend recently posted a definition that bears repeating: Terrorism: The use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for political purposes.
Of course, hypocrisy and politics go hand in hand. The people who are demanding the seat be left vacant until after the elections are the VERY SAME ones who demanded the Senate fill a vacant seat in 2016. It seems fulfilling constitutional responsibilities is only important when it serves a certain political need.
The political focus has already shifted to the most vulnerable votes from Republican Senators in Alaska, Maine, Utah and Arizona to block a nomination. Expect the political posturing, campaign contributions and no holds barred back room bargaining to be at historic levels in these states.
Whomever is nominated by the President to fill this vacancy is sure to face excessively hostile confirmation hearings in the Senate. Much like the Kavanaugh hearings, we can expect the rudest, most obnoxious behavior from the Senate Democrats along with demands for delay after delay after delay for 'just discovered' surprise information. In the end, whenever a vote is called, expect grandstanding from both sides of the aisle.
If you're wondering why filling this seat is so important, simply look at how this election is being set up to be the most litigated in history. With mandated mail in voting and the potential for widespread voter fraud, the final result will very likely be decided by the United States Supreme Court. Assuming a split along Justice's political lines, an appeal by either campaign will fail to a four-to-four split.
Based on what has happened in the two days since Associate Justice Ginsberg passed away, what do you expect to see in the 43 days leading up to the 2020 elections?
Vote wisely.
#oddstuffing, #Constitution, #BillOfRights, #SecondAmendment, #2020Elections, #SCOTUS, #Terrorism, #PoliticalTerrorism, #Lies, #ElectionTheater, #Corruption, #VoterFraud, #HealThyself, #Patriots, #Responsibility, #Community, #Nation, #Politics, #VoteWisely, #RIPRBG, #mewe, #medium, #parler, #oddstuffing.com
Author BobPosted on September 21, 2020 September 20, 2020 Categories Weekly PostTags #2020Elections, #BillOfRights, #Community, #Constitution, #Corruption, #ElectionTheater, #HealThyself, #Lies, #medium, #mewe, #Nation, #oddstuffing, #oddstuffing.com, #parler, #Patriots, #PoliticalTerrorism, #Politics, #Responsibility, #RIPRBG, #SCOTUS, #SecondAmendment, #Terrorism, #VoterFraud, #VoteWisely
A Warning For Semi-Free Americans
California defending its unconstitutional gun control laws is nothing new. They write laws intended to strip law-abiding citizens of their Second Amendment rights while simultaneously writing laws to keep criminals from being punished and releasing those who are already in jail. When these laws are challenged, activist judges put in place by extremist politicians rubber stamp them with some of the most outrageous legal rational to ever come out of a court.
After having their laws against so-called large capacity magazines (LCMs) ruled unconstitutional at the District Court and with a three-judge panel on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in the case of Duncan v. Becerra, California has requested a hearing by an en banc panel. Nothing new here, it's the state just prolonging the fight and running up the bills for the opponents. But what might have gone unnoticed is the 18 Attorneys General who sent a friend-of-the-court in support of California's law. While some of these states already have a form of magazine restrictions in place, others do not. If you live in one of these states, what do you think this means for the future of your standard capacity magazines?
Attorneys General from Washington D.C, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington all signed onto the brief.
Of the states with magazine restrictions, most limit them to 10 rounds, a couple are 15 or mixed 10 & 15 for rifle & handgun. Others, like New Jersey, were at 15 and recently cut that to 10. A couple of these states have "grandfathered" clauses which allow those who possessed them to keep them after the law change. Of course, we all know that "grandfathered" just means deferred confiscation as California residents found out when the state changed its mind on legally possessed "grandfathered" magazines and decided they were now illegal.
The other states, Delaware, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington do NOT have laws against so-called large capacity magazines. BUT… their Attorney General supports them. What do you think this means for the future of magazine capacity laws? It means sooner or later, like it or not, these states WILL restrict magazines to 10 rounds.
Why 10 rounds? There really isn't any rhyme or reason to it. 15 was apparently too many and seven as implemented and ruled unconstitutional in New York was too few. There certainly isn't any science or research to support it. If you read the rational from extremist gun control think tank & quasi law center, you see how careful wording is used to justify it. It explained how few self-defense shootings "needed" more than 10 rounds and how many firearms from unlawful shootings were found with "large capacity magazines". No mention of the fact that more rounds HAVE in fact saved the lives of law-abiding citizens or the ACTUAL number of shots fired by criminals, just the capacity of their magazines. Facts matter, unless you're trying to infringe on constitutionally protected natural rights.
California argues to the Court that the majority of citizens voted for Proposition 63 which, among other gun control measures, outlawed magazines with a capacity greater than 10 rounds, and as such should be considered valid. Of course, this has ZERO bearing on the legality of this case, and that's a very good thing.
Despite the popular misconception, the United States is not a democracy, it is a republic, or better known as a democratic republic. The distinction is critical. In a democracy, the majority rules on every issue and there are no protections for the minority opinion. If 51% of the population decides there is no right to free speech, then there is no right to free speech, period.
In a republic, there is a constitution which protects certain inalienable rights that cannot be taken away by the government, even if a majority of the population votes for it. So even if 99% of the population votes there is no right to free speech, then the law is unconstitutional and invalid.
The Attorneys General friend-of-the-court brief is much the same argument. 18 party loyal extremist prosecutors who don't believe the Second Amendment right to a standard capacity magazine exists for the average citizen believe their opinion should sway the court. Guess what, it means DIDDLY SQUAT!! But then again, this is the 9th Circuit, so any extremist view will likely be taken into consideration.
Where do these Attorneys General opinions matter? In your home state. These are the people who will help draft the anti-standard capacity magazine legislation and give it their stamp of approval. These are people who will lobby the legislature from within to get this law on the books. These are the people who will ensure law-abiding citizens who defy them are prosecuted to the full extent of the law as an example to others. This is YOUR Attorney General.
Why am I directing this as a warning to semi-free Americans? Because if your state has already started down the gun control path, this is in your future. Gun control starts slowly with the least objectionable, easiest to pass infringements like universal background checks. After all, who could object to something that will keep firearms out of the hands of criminals? It doesn't matter that the universal background checks have been shown to be completely ineffective means of curbing crime or violence, it's a toe in the door to more infringements.
While the Duncan v. Becerra directly relates only to California's magazine ban, it would provide precedent for other western states to appeal their magazine bans, and indirectly those in the rest of the country. While this is important, I'm going to repeat what I've said time and time again.
It's a fool's errand to believe that once a law has been enacted, it can successfully be drawn back. Of the thousands of gun control laws passed around the country, precious few are successfully appealed and reversed. The best way – the ONLY way to stop them is to prevent them from being enacted in the first place. And the only one who can do that is you.
If you live in Delaware, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia or Washington, your Attorney General has already cast his vote on your Second Amendment rights. It's time for YOU to cast your vote to stop them.
#oddstuffing, #Constitution, #BillOfRights, #SecondAmendment, #GunControlFails, #CaliforniaGunControlScheme, #California, #GunVote, #Patriots, #Responsibility, #Community, #Nation, #Politics, #GunControlFails, #VoteWisely, #Delaware, #Illinois, #Michigan, #Minnesota, #NewMexico, #Oregon, #Pennsylvania, #Virginia, #Washington, #mewe, #medium, #parler, #oddstuffing.com
Author BobPosted on September 15, 2020 September 20, 2020 Categories Weekly PostTags #BillOfRights, #California, #CaliforniaGunControlScheme, #Community, #Constitution, #Delaware, #GunControlFails, #GunVote, #Illinois, #medium, #mewe, #Michigan, #Minnesota, #Nation, #NewMexico, #oddstuffing, #oddstuffing.com, #Oregon, #parler, #Patriots, #Pennsylvania, #Politics, #Responsibility, #SecondAmendment, #Virginia, #VoteWisely, #Washington
Election Theater Act 2, The Candidates
Way WAY back on May 6th, 2019, I wrote Election Theater Act 1, The Lightning Rods. At that time, I placed my first and second choices for the official Democratic Party candidates in an envelope, sealed in a mayonnaise jar on Funk & Wagnalls' back porch to be opened following the 2020 Democratic National Convention. The convention is over, we have nominees and direct descendants of both Funk & Wagnalls have delivered my jar. My guesses at the time were: First choice: Kamala Harris. Second Choice: Hillary Clinton. I'm claiming a "damn close" with a big honk'n asterisk for things to come.
I'll repeat my previous warning: What follows is my opinion and my opinion alone. It is based on my observations of far too many elections and the political process as I currently see it.
That Joe Biden is the Democratic nominee for President is shocking, to say the least. With the Party focus on the vote from youth, minority, immigrants, progressives and the newly "woke", the Democratic party has chosen an elderly white male millionaire establishment candidate with 47 years in the D.C. political swamp. A candidate who has already failed twice as a Presidential hopeful and at age 78 would be the oldest President to ever take the oath of office.
Somewhere along the line, the plan seems to have gone astray. And not for trying either. The nominee has made more gaffes than can even been listed. Things so serious any other candidate would have been tossed to the side like yesterday's fish wrapped newspaper. These include sexual misconduct allegations that seem to have been swept away along with his involvement in his family's misdeeds and his own history of racism and questionable cognizance.
Which brings us to his choice of running mates, Kamala Harris. A former Presidential hopeful herself who crashed and burned badly during the Democratic debates. Yet Biden's made a promise to choose a black female candidate to fill his Vice President slot and he chose the former top law enforcement official of California during the Defund The Police movement supported by the Party.
As you can see from my predictions, I always thought Harris would be the nominee. She had all the right supporters and backers but was never able to get over her own poor showing or her highly dubious history as a prosecutor and politician.
Now here's my big honk'n prediction asterisk. Should Biden be elected and not be able to fulfill his full term as President, Harris would become the President, a reality many now believe as a given.
But what of my second choice, Hillary Clinton? My prediction backup was the leading candidate would fall from grace so badly that a demoralized Democratic party would turn to her as their savior and, bypassing all scrutiny of the pre-election theater, nominate her as their Presidential candidate once again. It's still not outside the range of possibilities but early voting is starting soon, time is running out fast.
Clinton has recently said she would be open to serving in a Biden administration. But what position would someone who to this day still thinks she was robbed of the presidency be willing to take? Certainly not something subordinate to the President, it would have to be something decidedly superior. The only thing I can think of would be an appointment to the United States Supreme Court. It's not outside the realm of possibility, and extraordinarily terrifying.
So let's take a preview of what will certainly be Election Theater Act 3, The Elections.
With COVID-19 still making it too unsafe to vote in person – even though mass riots are perfectly safe – mail in voting will be the key to making this election the most hotly contested and litigated in United States history.
Those of you who are old enough will remember the absolute CF that was the 2000 Presidential elections, how long it took to resolve and the intervention of the Florida Supreme Court and the United States Supreme Court in determining the end result. 2020 is going to make that look like a walk in the park.
Imagine late ballots, non-postmarked ballots, boxes upon boxes of lost then mysteriously found ballots, defective but still certified ballots, ballots from the dead and many, many ballot recounts – in every state around the country. This election is being set up to be contested for MONTHS by armies of lawyers on both sides. Which brings up the nightmare scenario where the Electoral College is unable to declare a winner by January 20, 2021.
In that case, the election would go to the House of Representatives for a vote by state, with each state voting on their own, independent of their state's election results. Whatever candidate (and it could be anyone) has a majority of 26 states would become president until Jan. 20, 2025.
If you think the elections have been nasty and stupid so far, you haven't seen anything yet.
Of course, this is only MY opinion.
#oddstuffing, #Constitution, #BillOfRights, #2020Elections, #BaitAndSwitch, #ElectionTheater, #Corruption, #VoterFraud, #Patriots, #Responsibility, #Community, #Nation, #Politics, #VoteWisely, #mewe, #medium, #parler, #oddstuffing.com
Author BobPosted on September 8, 2020 September 5, 2020 Categories Weekly PostTags #2020Elections, #BaitAndSwitch, #BillOfRights, #Community, #Constitution, #Corruption, #ElectionTheater, #medium, #mewe, #Nation, #oddstuffing, #parler, #Patriots, #Politics, #Responsibility, #VoterFraud, #VoteWisely
Un-Happy Labor Day
Today is Labor Day in the United States, a time we should be taking to celebrate the American worker. We should be, but this year is a very different. With the twin plagues known as COVID-19 & election politics in full bloom, millions of Americans are out of work, their "non-essential" businesses shut down or only able to open at a small fraction of their capacity. In my state, today is day 180 of the mandatory Two Weeks to Flatten the Curve of COVID-19 economic shutdown. Businesses closed, many forever, means workers idled, dependent on emergency government assistance to provide them with enough money to simply survive. Too many businesses are closed, families broken, and lives lost for not being able to endure the anguish. This is not the way to celebrate Labor Day.
I don't believe for a moment American workers want to be dependent on the government for their existence. American workers want to work. They want to provide for their families themselves. They want to be independent and make their own choices about the safety of their families, but they are not allowed to.
A little reminder on what Labor Day is.
The modern observance of the holiday seems to have forgotten the roots that brought Labor Day into being. Following the Pullman Strike of 1894 where 30 workers died and 57 were injured at the hands of the United States Army and Marshals Service, Congress approved Labor Day as an official holiday. It was an attempt by President Grover Cleveland to gain support among the trade unions following the strike. While it is disputed who first proposed the holiday, Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners or machinist Matthew Maguire, the intent was to create a "workingmen's holiday".
Recently the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) revised their numbers to show the number of sick and dead from COVID-19 were never as bad as they had been reported. Also revised has been the guidance for travel indicating the mandatory 14-day quarantines are not necessary. Still further evidence shows the economic shutdowns have been overly broad and unnecessary. Yet extremist governors refuse to revise their shutdown orders and let people go back to work. Those who attempt to defy these orders have been issued shockingly excessive fines for simply opening their businesses.
The longer this pandemic shutdown goes on, the more we see it has not been a health-related emergency but a political exploitation. The purpose has been crystal clear, to cause as much economic disruption as possible to influence people to vote against an administration THEY blame for the economic turmoil and promise to rebuild the economy THEY themselves are responsible for destroying.
When the U.S. Congress comes back into session this week, we'll see if they are willing to work towards helping those who have been shut out of their jobs or holding them hostage until they can pass a full agenda of socialist reform measures.
Better yet, how about some encouragement to the states to get them to reopen their economies. Perhaps if the politicians who have yet to go without a paycheck from the economic shutdown lost their income too it would prompt them to action. Perhaps a complete shutdown of all federal dollars to any state that hasn't reopened would get them to take a fresh look at the economic impact vs. their political positioning under the pretext of a health emergency.
American workers deserve the opportunity to work and celebrate their Labor Day as actual workers.
#oddstuffing, #constitution, #2A, #SecondAmendment, #LaborDay, #MadeInTheUSA, #COVID, #Politics, #SmokeAndMirror, #Vote2020, #GunVote, #Responsibility, #Community, #Nation, #Politics, #VoteWisely, #mewe, #medium, #parler, #oddstuffing.com
Author BobPosted on September 7, 2020 September 6, 2020 Categories Weekly PostTags #2A, #Community, #Constitution, #COVID, #GunVote, #LaborDay, #MadeInTheUSA, #medium, #mewe, #Nation, #oddstuffing, #parler, #Politics, #Responsibility, #SecondAmendment, #SmokeAndMirror, #Vote2020, #VoteWisely
Not Well-Suited for Self-Defense?
As expected, the State of California filed an appeal of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit three-judge panel that upheld the ruling that the State's ban on Large Capacity Magazines (LCM) was unconstitutional in the case of Duncan v. Becerra. Nothing about the request for a rehearing by an en banc panel was a surprise, from the arguments being made to the appeal being filed on the final day. California will do anything and everything to protect one of its signature gun control measures and bleed the opposition dry while doing it. And just because you're not from People's Republik of Kalifornistan doesn't mean this case shouldn't be important to you.
All of the materials, filings and rulings on this case are available at the link below. It's worth your time to read and understand what is going on since California likes to export its bad, expensive and unconstitutional policies to the rest of the country.
There are a few things I found particularly interesting in the State's Petition for Rehearing En Banc.
First, the State sees no reason or need for any civilian to have so-called large capacity magazines. In fact, the filing indicates "The record here demonstrates that LCMs are not well-suited for self-defense." It rationalizes that Californian's can have as many 10 round magazines as they want, and (currently) as much ammunition as they want.
The photo that accompanies this article is from a home security system in a Fremont, CA home invasion burglary on August 28, 2016. It shows five armed men coming into the house, at least one carrying a handgun with a magazine extending below the pistol grip, a LCM. Fortunately, the residents were not home at the time. Even if the resident was armed with a California 10 round magazine, he would most certainly have been killed in this encounter. In this burglary the homeowner was able to call the police while watching the burglary on his home cameras remotely. Unfortunately, the armed home invaders left before the police arrived and were not caught.
The State has never explained why a so-called LCM is not-well suited for self-defense, but it's the exact opposite of the training and advise of every reputable self-defense instructor I've ever known, including my own. It has also never offered any explanation why 10 rounds is the magic, safe enough for civilians number, but 11 is way too dangerous.
Let's also keep in mind that in some places like New York City, firearms that simply have the capability to accept a so-called LCM are banned. So, if even one magazine is made for it with a capacity over 10 rounds, the firearm itself is banned.
The State also references the Fyock v. Sunnyvale, a local California ordinance banning magazines with a capacity of more than 10 rounds, which was upheld by a three-judge panel, as a binding precedent.
There are several issues that come from Fyock, not the least of which is that California does not have a preemption law banning local jurisdictions from passing their own more restrictive firearm regulations. As we've seen in states without preemption, this results in a patchwork of laws throughout the state that are impossible for any law-abiding citizen to understand or comply with. Virginia recently removed its preemption for firearm regulations and now anti-gun cities are drafting unique and highly confusing laws regulating use and possession within its borders.
Fyock was also decided under what is known as Intermediate Scrutiny, which is what the State believes is the correct level for Second Amendment cases. Duncan's ruling utilized Strict Scrutiny.
A quick note on Rational-Basis, Intermediate Scrutiny, and Strict Scrutiny
Under Rational Basis the government must have a legitimate interest and the law must be "rationally related" to the interest.
Under Intermediate Scrutiny, the government must have an important interest and the law must be substantially related to the interest.
Under Strict Scrutiny, the government must have a compelling interest and the law must be narrowly tailored to the interest.
Note that the likelihood of a law being overturned increases as the level of scrutiny increases. Few government laws survive a Strict Scrutiny test since they are generally far broader than need be.
The argument for the use of Strict Scrutiny review of Second Amendment cases has been going on for years. Government agencies don't like that because it severely restricts their regulatory powers, something most of us would argue is appropriate in a case involving the Bill of Rights.
For the next step, the 11-member en banc panel to hear this will be randomly drawn from the Nineth Circuit Court of Appeals. While there has been significant progress in helping to balance the court with justices appointed by the current Presidential administration, it still has a 16 to 13 liberal slant. Of course, that ANY judge should be considered liberal vs. conservative is absolutely asinine. The law, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights should be interpreted by every judge each and every time WITHOUT regard for political party platforms, but that's a topic for another time. For this case, the outcome will likely be decided by the draw instead of the legal arguments in the case.
Why is this case important? A successful appeal by the State reverses the initial District Court ruling and magazines with a capacity higher than 10 rounds are once again illegal in California. The only hope for a reversal comes from the United States Supreme Court which has not been willing to hear Second Amendment cases.
In the unlikely event of Duncan being upheld, the State will have to decide if it wants to risk an unsuccessful appeal to the Supreme Court where it has the potential to impact magazine bans around the country or find another way to restrict them in California.
However, in my opinion the most important thing this case points out is the importance of our local and state elections. Laws like this are enacted by the people we elect to office. When we elect gun control politicians, we enable them to restrict our Second Amendment protected rights and the only recourse we have is to have them overturned in the courts.
And guess what, you and I are paying for both sides of this fight. Our taxes pay for the lawyers to defend the laws that take away our rights and our dues and donations pay for the lawyers to try to get them back. The only ones who win regardless of the outcome are the lawyers.
Vote wisely this year.
Duncan v. Becerra
#oddstuffing, #Constitution, #BillOfRights, #SecondAmendment, #GunControlFails, #CaliforniaGunControlScheme, #California, #GunVote, #Patriots, #Responsibility, #Community, #Nation, #Politics, #GunControlFails, #VoteWisely, #mewe, #medium, #parler, #oddstuffing.com
Author BobPosted on September 1, 2020 August 31, 2020 Categories Weekly PostTags #BillOfRights, #California, #CaliforniaGunControlScheme, #Community, #Constitution, #GunControlFails, #GunVote, #medium, #mewe, #Nation, #oddstuffing, #parler, #Patriots, #Politics, #Responsibility, #SecondAmendment, #VoteWisely
Gun Buys vs. Gun Votes
It's election season and everyone is trying to predict how people will vote. Now mix in COVID-19, a near complete national shutdown of the economy, millions of people thrown out of work, business and lives destroyed and lost, violent criminals being released from prison 'for their safety', police departments being defunded and services cut, and the ongoing "peaceful protests" a.k.a. riots around the country. It's no wonder we've seen absolutely unprecedented firearms and ammunition sales around the country, many of them by first time buyers. But does this mean more votes for or against gun control politicians as some are predicting? Sadly no, but you know what, that's not what is important.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 spread, and the politically motivated shutdown that has lasted MONTHS beyond the initial "two weeks to flatten the curve", there has been a run on firearms and ammunition unseen in this nation's history. NICS (National Instant Criminal Background Check System) inquiries, the federal background checks used to estimate firearms sales, have broken records for months with no signs of letting up.
But there's something different about this spike vs. previous ones. Most of the time firearm purchases increase after a horrific event and there is fear of political knee-jerk reaction laws to limit access to firearms and ammo. The fears are of course well-founded as gun control extremists and their political allies realize they can cram through otherwise unobtainable laws under the mantra of "never let a crisis go to waste", even if it means politicizing the victims while they are still bleeding and acting before the cause is actually known.
This spike has been different. With COVID-19 national shutdown of the economy, convicts being released en masse into the community, law enforcement services being curtailed, daily riots and destruction around the country and random, unchecked violence everywhere, people are genuinely and rightfully concerned for their safety and the safety of their families. In many places, the fear of not being able to get a law enforcement response for hours, if at all, to a plea for help in a crisis has many who have never before owned firearms flocking to gun stores.
I've seen estimates around the country of anywhere between 40% to 70% of purchasers are new to firearms. They come from all walks of life, races, ages, religions and political affiliation. Far more than the normal amount are women. Many of these new purchasers also have no idea what it really takes to purchase a firearm leading to a host of amusing, yet very sad, stories from around the country.
So, what does this mean politically? Do all of these new firearm owners mean a sweep for Republican or anti-gun control Democrat candidates? No. It means absolutely nothing. And, that's okay.
Purchasing or owning a firearm has very little to do with political party affiliation. During my time in the firearms industry, managing a firearm retailer, gunsmithing and operating a small private shooting club and range, I've met firearms owners from every point on the political spectrum from off the scale left to the hardest of hard-core right. Just because you own firearms, doesn't mean you don't support gun control. I've met people you would think to be anti-gun control such as law enforcement, ex-military, a gun range operator and even the owner of a firearm manufacturer who are very pro-gun control. At the same time, one of the biggest anti-gun control advocate I know is a Democrat.
Modern political party affiliation, especially in urban areas, generally means you have bought onto the full party platform. For Democrats, that means you support gun control. For a politician, if you don't support the party platform, you'll very quickly find your Party support and money gone and a new Party supported Democrat running against you. In rural areas, where there is less focus on the national party platform, politicians from both the major parties are more reflective of their constituents.
The other thing to remember is very rarely does the citizenry directly vote on gun control measures. There are exceptions, but for the most part we vote for representatives, who then vote for or against gun control. As we've seen, many politicians run on a very strong anti-gun platform, at least during the normal campaign season. Then, in the final run up to the elections, gun control is purposefully faded to the background so as not to discourage those who may hold strong firearm rights views. Sadly, as the State of Virginia found out, once elected, gun control becomes the primary focus with politicians claiming their victory is a mandate for gun control.
What this all boils down to is firearm purchases are going to mean very little, if anything at all, to the elections. People are going to vote for the party or person they feel best represents their values. Gun rights and gun control is a part of that, but it is very unlikely to switch someone from a blue to red vote.
My take on this is that's okay. While I wish more people would place the Second Amendment and firearm rights higher up on their priorities, it is not a requirement for firearm ownership. Second Amendment protected rights apply to EVERYONE equally, no matter their political party affiliation, just as it should be. People owning and using firearms makes them and their families safer, just as it should be.
So what do we do? We welcome new firearm owners into the community. We help them with training, places to shoot, competition, hunting, sports and self-defense information. We invite them into our clubs and associations so they can be the best and safest firearm owners they can be. If we can also help them to see how important their Second Amendment protected rights are at the same time, then maybe sometime, someday, somewhere, they'll bump that a little higher up on their priorities. In the meantime, we simply welcome them.
#oddstuffing, #Constitution, #BillOfRights, #FirstAmendment, #SecondAmendment, #GunVote, #Patriots, #Responsibility, #Community, #Nation, #Riot, #Politics, #Police, #Justice, #AllLivesMatter, #BackTheBlue, #GunControlFails, #mewe, #medium, #parler, #oddstuffing.com
Author BobPosted on August 24, 2020 August 22, 2020 Categories Weekly PostTags #AllLivesMatter, #BackTheBlue, #BillOfRights, #Community, #Constitution, #FirstAmendment, #GunControlFails, #GunVote, #Justice, #medium, #mewe, #Nation, #oddstuffing, #parler, #Patriots, #Police, #Politics, #Responsibility, #Riot, #SecondAmendment
Re-fund The Police
For two months we've heard the call to "Defund The Police" and "Reimagine Public Safety" from extremist city councils, mayors and governors who have labeled all law enforcement agencies and every officer a racist. Police budgets are being 'defunded' while some cities are actively working to completely abolish their police departments. In the meantime, the remaining officers are being prevented from doing their jobs. While many of the budget cuts have yet to go into effect, we are already seeing the result in these American cities. Every category of crime has skyrocketed. Brutal, random violence has become commonplace.
Maybe it's time to stop living in this fantasy dreamland and recognize that evil will always exist and if you don't have the police, that progressive model of a community love is going to be a war zone. Maybe it's time to stop experimenting with people's lives and re-fund the police.
The numbers speak for themselves. Chicago homicides have increased 50%, 139% in July alone. Atlanta 240%. New York City 277%. Houston, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Portland and Seattle have all seen significant spikes in homicides and shootings. And this is ONLY homicides and shootings!
Yet contrast these numbers with areas of the country that have NOT given in to the ludicrous accusations of systemic racism within their law enforcement agencies and you find no increases. Amazing. It's almost as if giving the mob what it wants makes life for every citizen in that city worse.
But it's not just the act of crime, it's the fact that some people now feel it's perfectly acceptable to simply beat the crap out of anyone, or just outright kill them, if they disagree with the current mob position.
What kind of violence have these "defund the police" politicians enabled? Shooting and killing a man walking across the street with his daughter holding his hand. Beating a pregnant woman and head stomping her toddler daughter. Shooting and killing a woman who had the nerve to say "All Lives Matter". Killing an eight-year-old passenger in a car driving through a BLM controlled intersection. Beating airline employees because a flight was delayed. This is to say nothing of the extortion demanded out of stores and restaurants who don't give into the social and economic demands of the mob movement.
Why is this happening? Because there is nobody there to stop them. Criminals, anarchists and thugs are able to do whatever they want because there are no consequences. Even if the police are allowed to apprehend them, they know there is little chance of being charged or held as extremist prosecutors have been dropping charges against rioters as quickly as they are arrested. Should they ever find their way into a courtroom, as long as they say "systemic racism in the justice system" they will never have to pay for their crimes.
But now there's an interesting trend happening. Citizens in these ultra-liberal cities are fed up with the violence, the extortion, the discrimination and the disruption caused by these social justice warriors and the governments that support and sponsor them. They are starting to demand their police departments be re-funded and re-enabled to actually fight crime in the streets.
New York City residents are demanding the NYPD anti-crime unit be reinstated. Seattle residents are demanding their police department not be abolished. Minneapolis residents are demanding police protection in their neighborhoods. These people, along with others around the country, have already seen what happens when the police are pulled back just a little bit and they don't want anything to do with it.
For whatever problems any law enforcement agency has, sacrificing the safety of the general public for some false utopian vision of an ideal society is not the way to solve it. Law enforcement has made incredible progress from where it began in this country, and it will continue to do so. Allowing the very same city councils, mayors and governors who have always been responsible for these departments to suddenly declare them as being too systemically racist to continue to exist is not the answer.
And for anyone who missed it the last time, I'll say it again:
Just in case you're thinking that because I was a law enforcement officer, I'm going to support officers no matter what, you need a reality check. Nobody hates bad cops worse than other police officers. Each and every professional officer out there wants nothing more than to see bad cops stripped of their badges and held accountable for their unlawful actions. Period.
It's time to support the good men and women of law enforcement and enable them to do their job. It is NOT acceptable to kill, rape, assault, burn, steal or extort others in your community. If you make the conscious choice to break the law, you should be apprehended and face the full consequences of the law. It doesn't matter your race, gender, nationality, religion, vocation, status, wealth or appearance. If you break the law, you should pay the price.
It's time to let justice be revered in our country once again. It's time to re-fund the police.
#oddstuffing, #Constitution, #BillOfRights, #FirstAmendment, #SecondAmendment, #Re-FundThePolice, #Patriots, #DefendThePolice, #BackTheBlue, #NoMoreMobRule, #Responsibility, #Community, #Nation, #Riot, #Politics, #Police, #Justice, #history, #AllLivesMatter, #mewe, #medium, #Parler, #oddstuffing.com
Author BobPosted on August 3, 2020 August 2, 2020 Categories Weekly PostTags #AllLivesMatter, #BackTheBlue, #BillOfRights, #Community, #Constitution, #DefendThePolice, #FirstAmendment, #history, #Justice, #medium, #mewe, #Nation, #NoMoreMobRule, #oddstuffing, #oddstuffing.com, #parler, #Patriots, #Police, #Politics, #Re-FundThePolice, #Responsibility, #Riot, #SecondAmendment


text:
Q: why is clickhouse writing batch records slowly? I use clickhouse-jdbc to write data to a distributed "all" table of clickhouse(3 hosts for 3 shards 1 replica).
5000 batch commit using PreparedStatement for 1000000 records costs 6280s.
...
                ps.setString(68, dateTimeStr);
                ps.setDate(69, date);

                ps.addBatch();
                System.out.println("i: " + i);

                if(i % 5000 == 0 || i == maxRecords) {
                    System.out.println(new java.util.Date());
                    ps.executeBatch();
                    System.out.println(new java.util.Date());
//                  ps.execute();
                    conn.commit();
                    System.out.println("commit: " + new java.util.Date());
                }
...

Is there any better way for inserting one hundred million records a day?

A: Yes, inserts into a Distributed engine could be potentially slow due to the whole bunch of logic needed to be done on each insert operation (fsync the data to the specific shard, etc).
You can try to tune some settings, which are described in the link above.
However, I found it much convenient and faster to write into the underlying table directly. But it requires you to care about sharding and spreading the data across all of your nodes, ie distributing your data to your own taste.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Rob Knaggs
Brisbane avant-cellist Rob Knaggs is fast gaining a reputation for his atmospheric walls of sound and live performances that transport audience to the northern reaches of his adopted home in the Canadians sub-arctic. In the last five years, he's performed concerts for beluga whales and beneath the northern lights, collaborated with throat singers, played support to Montreal sound wizard Tim Hecker, represented Manitoba at travel conferences across North America, and captivated audiences at the renowned Woodford Folk Festival.
Taking influence from the allusive ethereality of Bjork and the epic orchestrations of Arcade Fire, with the aggressive delivery of punk and metal, Knaggs runs his cello through an array of effects and loop stations to compose his spine-tingling works. Recorded at Collector Studio in Winnipeg, MB and mastered at Sigur Ros' home studio Sundlaugin by Birgir Jon Birgirsson, Rob's latest EP, Foreshore, showcases a performance of cinematic soundtrack and shimmering post-rock, from the bittersweet lilts of Kallie, the rumbling abrasion of Ghosting, to
the final haunting textures of A Natural Response. Knaggs' evocative performance is enhanced by a stunning visual display of Canada's north, recounting his years spent living in the Polar Bear Capital of the World; Churchill, Manitoba.
Captured by Tomas Taylor and Elbert Bakker, the footage of Churchill's otherworldly ecology provides a context to the vast landscapes and isolation reflected in Rob's brooding live set that has mesmerised audiences across Australia and North America Knaggs' evocative performance is enhanced by a stunning visual display of Canada's north, recounting his years spent living in the town of Churchill, Manitoba. Captured by Tomas Taylor and Elbert Bakker, the footage of Churchill's otherworldly ecology provides a context to the vast landscapes and isolation reflected in Rob's brooding live set that has charmed audiences across Australia and North America.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Born in Los Angeles but bred in Milwaukee, I hold a PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I currently teach at Cardinal Stritch University.
I am a multi-award-winning teacher, and have developed courses on race and ethnicity in the US, marriage and family, the sociology of the body, deviance, and undergraduate qualitative methods.
My current research project focuses on how we conceive of, and attempt to control, "the obesity epidemic," especially for children.
When I'm not teaching, I love to sing, and have done so professionally on and off since I was a teenager. Check out some of my latest recordings!
I am also an avid knitter, and will probably make you a hat and scarf if you ask nicely. My Swedish meatballs have won awards.


A follow-up to Dog On It finds the human-and-canine investigative team endeavoring to rescue an abducted show dog, a case that is complicated by reporter Susie Sanchez's disappearance and Chet's separation from Bernie.
The human-and-canine investigative team of Chet and Bernie endeavors to rescue an abducted show dog, a case that is complicated by reporter Susie Sanchez's disappearance and Chet's separation from Bernie.
Following the acclaimed Dog On It, the second mystery in the Chet and Bernie series featuring an irresistible canine narrator.
As with the first book in the series, I found myself laughing out loud a few times in the break room, while reading this book. I am not a frequent reader of mysteries, but so enjoy the voice of the canine narrator that I am once again reaching for the next book in the series. These books are wonderfully funny, exciting, and truly joyful reads!
As a mystery, it was rather "eh" - but that's not really why people read these books. The real draw of this series is Chet, our faithful canine narrator.
There is something so compelling to dog lover's (like myself) about imagining what a dog's inner voice sounds like. And Spencer Quinn scratches that itch with perfection. Chet is so charming and loyal and goofy and forgetful and well-trained (until he's not) that it's clear that the author has bonded with a dog or two in his lifetime.
Light, humorous, and easy, these are delightful books to pull out at those times when real life has become complicated and stressful.
I enjoy the way Chet rates humans by their kindness to dogs. What a hoot! In this book, Spencer Quinn teases the reader with too many of Chet's side stories. He needs to have Chet digress into the side stories because they are as interesting and funny as the main story line.
I fell in love with Chet in Dog On It, and this is more of the same. I think Mr. Quinn just might be part dog. A very enjoyable, entertaining read. Can't wait for more.


text:
Kaleo returns with "Break My Baby – Live from Þrídrangar"
Norman van den Wildenberg | February 13, 2021 | News | No Comments
With additional music, content and news on the horizon, Grammy-nominated Elektra/Atlantic band Kaleo are readying their long-awaited return with the release of special live audio, along with a live music video, for their current single "Break My Baby," written solely by frontman, singer and songwriter JJ Julius Son. The album version from highly anticipatedSurface Sounds was delivered to Triple A Radio earlier this week, and to celebrate, the rock band has released "Break My Baby – Live from ÞRÍDRANGAR," an exclusive version recorded and filmed atop the iconic remote lighthouse in their native Iceland. Watch the video HERE and the track is available everywhere now.
"It's a privilege to be able to play at this rare location so few have visited," shares Julius Son. "We have wanted to do this for quite some time, but it requires the perfect weather conditions for safety, and we finally had the time needed back in our home country given the circumstances during the pandemic."
Filmed in the North Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Iceland, Kaleo performs "Break My Baby" at the Þrídrangar (three rock pillars) lighthouse. In 1939, three of the Westman Islands mountaineers built a lighthouse on the highest of the three rocks, climbing a 120-foot near-vertical cliff face, and stayed on the rock in tents for a month during construction. The lighting equipment was installed three years later, and on July 5, 1942, the lighthouse was completed. Exactly 78 years later on July 5, 2020, Kaleo made their way to the picturesque landscape to capture "Break My Baby – Live from Þrídrangar."
"It should speak so loudly being shot in one of the most isolated places in the world in the middle of pandemic," Julius Son continues.
"It was quite extreme and anything but easy using two generators behind the lighthouse to run electricity and a sound engineer inside the lighthouse for the live recording," Julius Son says. "We are thankful to the team that helped make this possible and are all excited to be releasing new music and fresh content finally this year."
"Break My Baby – Live from Þrídrangar" follows two additional live videos shot in a similar style featuring the natural landscapes of Iceland, such as the Double-Platinum "Way Down We Go (Live in a Volcano)" and "Save Yourself" from Fjallsárlón.
"Break My Baby" was released alongside "I Want More," which reached No. 6 on Billboard's Triple A Airplay chart. Both tracks were delivered as the first taste of new music since 2016's RIAA Gold-Certified A/B, with Loudwire calling "Break My Baby" "hooky and groovy, showcasing the range of [Julius Son's] vocal and a gritty, bluesy approach," while Texas Monthly praised "I Want More" as a "tender-yet-tough-anthem."
Following the dual release, Kaleo dropped "Alter Ego," which Julius Son calls "probably the most classic rock and roll song" on the album, and brooding ballad "Backbone."
After amassing over 2.5 Billion global streams, 39 international certifications and countless sold-out headline shows spanning from London to Moscow, Kaleo wrapped a nearly non-stop 3-year touring schedule in support of A/B in October 2018. Since then, Julius Son was in the studio through 2020 working on the highly-anticipated follow-up, due out later this year on Elektra/Atlantic, and every bit of that lived experience is packed into Kaleo's next big step: their sophomore album Surface Sounds.
That combination of globe-trotting and meticulous tinkering resulted in a spectrum of sounds recorded around the world – in North America, South America and across Europe. Refreshingly free of calculation, with Julius Son allowing each tune to dictate its path while simultaneously leaning-in to his blues, folk and rock inclinations.
The studio is a place Julius Son feels at home, fine-tuning his vision. "I've been writing the songs for such a long time and some of them I've lived with for a while," he says. "But for me, the recording process is challenging. Some songs, you come in and you know exactly what to do. But others, you need the freedom to explore and see what happens. Sometimes you have to go the wrong way before you can take the right direction."
Rogue Records America Announces Signing of UK Melodic Tech Metal Band Subversion
Prog Legends FLASH Featuring Peter Banks anounced "In The USA Live 1972-73"
"RAM ON: A 50th Anniversary Celebration of Paul & Linda McCartney's RAM" Out on 14th May
No Comments | Apr 5, 2021
Arjen Lucassen honoured as Virtuoso at the Progressive Music Awards 2014


text:
Evra Vs Suarez: People Noticed This Strange Thing
By Rich3125 (self media writer) | 2 months ago
Previous Manchester United star Patrice Evra has uncovered that he once needed to attack Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez when he ran into him in the city in England.
Resigned French protector Evra was racially manhandled by Suarez during a match between the Reds and United at Anfield back in 2011.
The now-Atletico Madrid striker was hit with an eight-game boycott and a £40 000 (R810 000) fine from the FA for his offense.
Upon their next experience in a match, Evra scandalously would not warmly greet Suarez, and the Frenchman has now uncovered that he was likewise harmed by Liverpool's demonstration of help for the player when the club wore warm-up T-shirts with a photograph of the then-blamed forward ahead for a game against Wigan Athletic.
Truth be told, so annoyed was Evra with the entire circumstance that he was enticed to assault the Uruguayan when he later saw him out in the city of England.
"One day I was strolling in Manchester in Deansgate, and my sibling said: 'Gracious, it's Luis Suarez around there.' I was with two of my siblings," Evra told the Diary of a CEO podcast
"I checked out him and I resembled: 'That is it, this is the occasion.'
"Furthermore, he strolled, and behind him I saw his children and his significant other. Furthermore, I turned my back.
"I resembled: 'If you do something to him, you can't do this before his family.'
"So, I don't think twice about this is on the grounds that I figure it would have wound up awful. I didn't do anything that day."
https://www.kickoff.com/news/articles/world-news/classes/news/world-news/patrice-evra-I-was-prepared to-thump luis-suarez/708311
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Deansgate Evra Luis Suarez Manchester United Patrice Evra
Crazy Jokes That Can Make You Laugh And Forget Yourself
Watch: people on social media were left in stitches after this happened in a petrol station
Orlando Pirates will benefit from their international lethal striker
MacG advices William Last KRM To Do A DNA Test for his daughter


Register for this seminar by February 26, 2019 to learn about data visualization. It is a very powerful tool when interpreting large amounts of data.
Several tools are available, among which ParaView. This is a 2D and 3D visualization tool that can read a large variety of data formats to create high-quality images or videos. It features many tools to manipulate the data and the visualizations. The Python interface also allows for more advanced control.
In this seminar, Jarno van der Kolk will show how to use ParaView and how to import and analyze data to create compelling visualizations of your research.
We will also discuss how to do the rendering of the images and videos on the computational resources provided by Compute Canada, where you have access to systems with many GPUs.


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Rolls Royce cheer as results beat forecasts
Library image of the Rolls Royce logo. The engine maker has said its annual underlying earnings outlook will now come in the upper half of its guidance range after a better-than-expected first half. Photo: Leon Neal/PA Wire
Greg Wright
Engine-maker Rolls-Royce has increased its annual earnings outlook after it delivered better-than-expected half-year results.
The group reported underlying pre-tax profits of £81m for the first half of 2018 against losses of £126m a year earlier.
It swung to a £141m underlying operating profit, from operating losses of £84m a year ago. It said it now expects to post an underlying operating profit of around £450m for 2018, plus or minus £100m.
This comes despite the group revealing a £554m hit due to problems with its Trent 1000 engine, which powers the Boeing 787.
Its full-year profit upgrade comes after the group dealt the latest major blow to its workforce in June, when it said around 4,600 jobs would be cut under plans to save another £400m a year.
Most of these job cuts will affect the UK workforce and will be made over the next two years, with around a third expected by the end of 2018.
It is the largest reduction in the company's headcount since 2001, when it announced plans to shed 5,000 jobs, plus 1,000 contractors, which at the time was around 12 per cent of the workforce.
Chief executive Warren East said: "Financial results were ahead of our expectations, with strong growth from civil aerospace and power systems, and we achieved a number of operational and technological milestones.
"Reflecting our progress to date and growing confidence for the full year, we now expect both underlying profit and cashflow for 2018 to be in the upper half of our guidance range."
But he added that the group continues to be "impacted by the challenge of managing significant Trent 1000 in-service issues".
The £554m writedown follows a raft of technical issues with its engines, having uncovered durability problems with hundreds of its Package C Trent 1000 engines and in June revealing further issues with a small number of its Package B Trent 1000 engines.
It said: "The Trent 1000 in-service engine issues have caused significant disruption for a number of our customers, which we sincerely regret.
"We continue to work hard to remedy this situation and have made further good progress on the implementation of long-term solutions in the first half of the year."
Burberry shifts work from New York to Yorkshire
Rolls-Royce employs several hundred people at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham where it produces single crystal turbine blades.


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Boys Varsity Soccer's Hot Start
David Rios, Writer
Independence boys' varsity soccer has been exceeding expectations the few past years, and they don't look like they are slowing anytime soon. The boys have qualified for the state playoffs in the past three years and all three of those years have resulted in semi-final appearances. Not to mention, they have been completely dominating their region.
So far this season, the boys have been outstanding, recently having a great performance at the Moon Valley Invitational Tournament making it all the way to the semi-finals. This was very promising given they fell short in the sixteenth round last year. Currently, the boys have won 5 games and lost two in the regular season. Senior Diego Delgado said, "We are on a good track right now and we're not looking to stop." The varsity team's main focus is to win state, and are so far proving it. Senior Alex Mata said, "We're not holding back this season we're giving it our all."
The boys' soccer team is off to one of their best starts in years and are ramping up excitement around campus. They've worked extremely hard in the offseason and truly believe they can become state champions. With the rest of the school supporting them, it only adds to their confidence for this season. This year's varsity soccer team is a force to be reckoned with.
What are you most excited about for summer?
Netflix/ games
Independence High School 17 - South Mountain 3
Independence High School 4 - Agua Fria 1
Independence High School 62 - Verrado 47
Independence High School 2 - Verrado 1
Independence High School 4 - Barry GoldWater 3
Independence High School 43 - Barry GoldWater 38
NJROTC OCS
Mr. Peterson: The Fresh Face of Independence
Mr. Fitzgerald, the Man of Many Hats
Varsity Basketball Players Appreciate YOU!
Independence's Wonder Woman: Ms. Harrison
Meet the Captain of our Ship, Mr. Ambrose!
Elevate IHS
Interact works hard to serve the community.


We believe that children should enjoy their experience at the Apex Centre as much as their parent(s), so the Apex Centre provides safe, kid-friendly spaces that give your child options for play as you work out.
M-F - 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
M-F - 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Sat - 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.


text:
/*
 * Hibernate, Relational Persistence for Idiomatic Java
 *
 * License: Apache License, Version 2.0
 * See the LICENSE file in the root directory or visit http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
 */
package org.hibernate.sqm.query.expression;

import org.hibernate.sqm.SemanticQueryWalker;
import org.hibernate.sqm.domain.StandardBasicTypeDescriptors;
import org.hibernate.sqm.domain.TypeDescriptor;

/**
 * @author Steve Ebersole
 */
public class CountFunction extends AbstractAggregateFunction {
	public CountFunction(Expression argument, boolean distinct) {
		super( argument, distinct );
	}

	@Override
	public TypeDescriptor getTypeDescriptor() {
		return StandardBasicTypeDescriptors.INSTANCE.LONG;
	}

	@Override
	public <T> T accept(SemanticQueryWalker<T> walker) {
		return null;
	}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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Danny Mapes retires from Mansfield Sewer Department
Danny Mapes retires from Mansfield Sewer Department; Mapes plans to continue to serve as AFSCME Local 3088 president.
Danny Mapes retires from Mansfield Sewer Department Danny Mapes retires from Mansfield Sewer Department; Mapes plans to continue to serve as AFSCME Local 3088 president. Check out this story on mansfieldnewsjournal.com: https://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/story/news/2019/04/30/danny-mapes-retires-mansfield-sewer-department/3625030002/
Lou Whitmire, Mansfield News Journal Published 3:30 p.m. ET April 30, 2019
City worker will continue as president of AFSCME Local 3088
Danny Mapes, who retired Tuesday with the City of Mansfield Sewer Department, is congratulated by Ron Davis. (Photo: Lou Whitmire/News Journal)
MANSFIELD - Danny Mapes, president of AFSCME Local 3088, will still remain active in the labor union for the city until he decides to "hang his gloves up."
But Tuesday, he officially retired after 26½ years with the City of Mansfield Sewer Department, where employees' projects throughout the city are different each day and include pouring concrete projects such as sidewalks and catch basins.
Danny Mapes retires from City of Mansfield Sewer Department but remains as AFSCME Local 3088 president. Mansfield News Journal
Wearing his other hat as a union official, Mapes said some days involved grievance hearings or getting someone's job back, but he likes being involved.
Mapes, surrounded by family, city workers and local union representatives at the North Lake Park for a farewell luncheon on Tuesday, came to work for the city in October 1992.
Danny Mapes and Ron Davis, fellow union men, reminisce about days goneby during Mapes' retirement/farewell luncheon at North Lake Park Tuesday. He retired from the city sewer department after 26.5 years. (Photo: Lou Whitmire/News Journal)
He said he got his GED while working at the city, graduating from Madison Comprehensive High School.
A longtime union man, Mapes was affiliated with the unions at both Westinghouse and the steel mill prior to becoming a member of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees.
Danny Mapes, center, retired Tuesday from the sewer department at the City of Mansfield. Colleagues celebrated lunch with him at North Lake Park. Mapes is also president of AFSCME Local 3088. He plans to continue the union job. (Photo: Lou Whitmire/News Journal)
In his retirement, Mapes plans to spend time fishing. He and his wife Margaret couple are building a home in Oak Harbor. His wife, who is retired from Burner Systems, said she does not fish but likes Lake Erie and plans to spend a lot of time with her husband.
He joked to his wife that she can learn to clean fish, making her laugh.
His daughters Angel and Melissa were on hand, along with grandchildren Ethan and Riley, the latter who are avid fishing enthusiasts.
Daughter Angel said her dad is her Superman.
"He's amazing and he does so many things for so many people and doesn't expect anything in return," she said. "He worked and worked and worked and took care of us and when times were slow he was collecting cans and working on cars and it's just great to see the progression from my mom and dad having nothing to seeing all their dreams come true," she said.
"He does a lot of things people don't know about, including 16 years working with the Rehab Telethon," she said.
Mapes barely took time to eat the catered meal of barbecued chicken, mashed potatoes and more, as he visited with friends.
"Reality has not sunk in," he said, amid the handshakes and hugs. In his second elected term as president of the Local 3088, Mapes said he likes representing his coworkers and the union work comes with getting to know so many personalities.
"I have absolutely no regrets. The city has been good to me," he said.
As for his union accomplishments, he said not everything went his way, but he is most proud of drafting legislation against the "Right to Work" measure.
Norm Shoemaker, president of the Mid-Ohio Area Labor Council, said Mapes has been instrumental in the local labor movement.
"He brought two pieces of legislation against right to work to the Mansfield City Council that were passed, making Mansfield the first in Ohio to pass such legislation," Shoemaker said.
Mansfield Mayor Tim Theaker said he knows that Mapes is an avid fisherman and he wishes him well in his retirement.
"I hope he is able to relax and fish and enjoy his family," Theaker said.
Turning 65 this Sunday, Mapes also has a soft spot for the Mansfield community and always makes sure to represent the union in local parades.
He is currently working with the committee on getting a Gold Star Families Memorial built on the lawn of the Richland County Courthouse. He said he was able to get the concrete work donated.
Twiter: @LWhitmir
Read or Share this story: https://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/story/news/2019/04/30/danny-mapes-retires-mansfield-sewer-department/3625030002/
Richland County's Most Wanted
Here's how Ohio Senators voted Jan. 17-23


Jewellery design experienced a revolution in the 1920s and 30s, reflecting the age of machine technology and the new Bauhaus inspired Modernist movement. Postwar, a plethora of styles of costume jewellery brightened the austere 1940s but, in the 1950s, the world immersed itself in all things Atomic.
Soviet atomic tests from 1949 ushered in the anxious 40-year Cold War, designers seemed more inspired by the zippy graphics of whiz- zing sub-atomic particles than daunted by the bigger picture. A surreal and bizarre period of optimism quickly infused an entire culture with promises of the wonders of a nuclear future! This collective obsession with the alluring atom found its way into virtually every aspect of popular culture; architecture, industrial design, advertising, fine arts, film, furniture and of course fashion.


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What happens if you win 9 placement matches r6?
This topic has 0 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 3 months, 1 week ago by Aman Sutherland.
Aman Sutherland
Where would you end up in the standings if you won nine out of ten of your placement matches? no, it doesnt. Since Siege uses the Glico rating system rather than the elo rating system, your rank in the game is determined only by the number of games you win and lose. At the beginning of the season, everyone begins at an arbitrary MMR value of 2500, and with each placing, their MMR either increases or decreases.
What ranks can play together r6?
For a group of friends to be able to compete against one another in a party setting, the MMR spread between the highest and lowest ranked players must be larger than 700. Players with an MMR greater than 4000 are able to compete against any player with an MMR greater than 3300. Players with an MMR of 1300 or lower can compete against any player with an MMR of 2000 or lower.
What level should I be to play unranked siege?
The Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege addition, Operation Ember Rise, added a new playlist to the game called Unranked. Players can now choose to play in this mode. The playlist can be accessed by any player who has a Clearance Level of 10 or higher. Players can use this playlist to hone their skills in preparation for the Ranked Playlist, which is the ultimate goal of the playlist.
Can you kick in unranked r6?
In order to kick, you will need the support of the majority of your squad. If it's match point, then you can't kick anyone else out of the game. Coming across toxic players is a source of frustration due to the fact that their primary objective in the game is to spoil the experience for everyone else.
Do you lose MMR if you abandon R6?
The Rainbow Six Siege Twitter account has announced that players will not suffer any form of MMR penalty if a match is canceled.
What can you get banned for in R6?
Ubisoft's code of conduct prohibits, among other things, the use of any language or anything that may be seen as illegal, dangerous, threatening, abusive, obscene, vulgar, libelous, bigoted, racial, sexist, ethically offended, or as constituting harassment.
Do you get banned for leaving unrated?
You run the risk of getting kicked out of the game if you leave or quit a match. If you leave a death match or spike rush, everything will be OK, but if you leave a competitive or unrated match, you will be subject to a ban that lasts for a significant amount of time. After I left a competitive match, I was kicked out of the game for one hour. Also, as soon as I left the unrated match, I received a five-minute ban.
Can you get banned for AFK Valorant?
A player is immediately kicked out of the game if it is discovered that they have committed a violation that has zero tolerance for it. The Valorant patch 2.05 brings with it the final piece of new content, which consists of some minor tweaks to the Competitive Matchmaking system.


This is one of our strongest points. Each of the gearboxes reaching Karvan's is disassembled, analyzed the millimeter, repairing and replacing each possible failure. But we were not there ... We advise on how best to promote the development of the same, obtaining the best performance and adapting to the latest innovations in engine.
Exchange offer boxes to stricken banks, as have stock of this product, besides being distributors of components for repair.
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The Middle East and beyond
"Even though the construction of the future and its completion for all times is not our task, what we have to accomplish at this time is all the more clear: *relentless criticism of all existing conditions*, relentless in the sense that the criticism is not afraid of its findings and just as little afraid of the conflict with the powers that be."
Hamas - Eyewitness Lebanese journalist
Middle East Panorama radio show on Resonance FM 104
or http://www.resonancefm.com/
Every Friday 14.00 - 15.00 London time (GMT)
"The U.S. views Hamas as a terrorist organisation. Yet, to the great surprise of many, Hamas swept to victory in the 2006 Palestinian Authority elections. Hamas is now a democractically elected political party." Khaled Hroub is a Palestinian, born into a refugee camp in Bethlehem, and now part of the diaspora of educated intellectuals. Joins Middle East Panorama to give A Beginner's Guide to Hamas. Hroub is currently director of the Arab Media Project at Cambridge University, hosts a weekly book review programme for Al-Jazeera TV, and has written three previous books. The show was featured in the Independent newspaper (UK), 25 August 2006 ("Another of Nadim Mahjoub's takes on life in the Middle East. Here, he interviews Khaled Hrub about his new book, 'Hamas - A Beginner's Guide'.) >> Listen here
Lebanon: Omar Nachabe, senior journalist of Beirut newspaper Al-Akhbar and eyewitness to Israeli attack in southern Lebanon. A public meeting at Friends Meeting House, London.
"As Israelis and Arabs continue their debate over who won and lost in Lebanon, one outcome already seems clear: America lost. Washington's decision to back Israel's military campaign unconditionally and refusal actively to seek an early ceasefire may have had some marginal benefits for the US, such as the destruction of some of Hizbollah's military capability. But in the broader scheme of things, Washington's support of this war and tolerance for the way it was fought have been a disaster.
America's stance on the Lebanon war has had a wide range of negative consequences for America. It has driven Sunni and and Shia Arabs together in an anti-US front, at a time when potential US allies among Sunni Muslims were themselves worrying about the rise of Hizbollah and Iran. It has provoked and empowered the Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, just as Washington is deploying more troops to Baghdad to try to quell the violence there. It has distracted attention from the Iranian nuclear issue, just as the United Nations Security Council was coming together to threaten sanctions on Tehran. It has destroyed whatever remaining hope there was for the US to be perceived as an honest broker between Israelis and Arabs in the search for peace in the Middle East. It has undermined US allies and democratic reformers in Arab states. It has also created a new crisis of confidence with America's European allies just when transatlantic relations were starting to improve." (Financial Times, 20 August 2006)
- Friday, August 25, 2006
"The good thing about the developments of the past two or three years is that most demonstrations have avoided using sectarian slogans...
The Global Political Economy of Israel (a book)
The Qarmatians (Al-Qaramita)
Nadeem Mahjoub, 2008 Documentary film-makers G. Troeller and M. C. Defarge once asked a cabinet minister in South Yemen, why s...
by Nèdeem al-Mahjoub نديم المحجوب
"The Middle East has often been represented as an area in the world where one cannot speak about classes and where class analysis is least relevant…A survey of leading historical studies of the Middle East reveals a surprising reliance upon the class approach. Such prominent Orientalists and Islamic historians as Hamilton A.R. Gibb, W. Montgomery Watt, Bernard Lewis, Gustav E. von Grunbaum, S.D. Goitein, Roger Le Tourneau, Reuben Levy, and Jacques Berque have sporadically analysed the Middle East in terms of class. Yet, none of these scholars have endeavored (1) to examine systematically the meaning and relevance of this concept within the Islamic setting; and (2) to define rigorously and reshape the concept according to the area under consideration and the problems at issue."(James A. Bill) "The West won the world not by the superiority of its ideas or values or religion (to which few members of other civilizations were converted) but rather by its superiority in applying organized violence. Westerners often forget this fact; non-Westerners never do." Samuel P. Huntington, The Clash of Civilisation and the Remaking of the World Order, 1996, p. 51
Mai Ghoussoub - Bahrain - Writers on Tour
Ishmahil Blagrove
Books: The Arab World by Halim Barakat, The Blood Never Dried by John Newsinger, Passages to Modernity in Europe and the Middle East [Mashreq] by Isam al-Khafaji, Liberalism - A Counter-History by Dominic Lesurdo, Envisioning Real Utopias by Erik Olin Wright, The People Want by Gilbert Achcar, Revolution without Revolutionaries by Asef Bayat, The Communist Manifesto, Islam in Liberalism by Jospeh Massad, Inglorious Empire by Shashi Thahroor, Bury the Chains by Adam Hochschild, Endless War: Hidden Functions of the "War on Terror" by David Keen, Capital Vol. 1, Tin Drum by Günter Grass, What is Islam? by Shahab Ahmed, Desiring Arabs by Joseph Massad, Spies, Soldiers and Statesmen by Hazem Kandil, The Man Who Loved Dogs by Leonardo Padura, La Condition Humaine by André Malraux, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, Imagined Community by Benedict Anderson, Culture and Imperialism by Edward Said, The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon, The Richness of Life by Stephen Jay Gould, Children of the Alley by Naguib Mahfouz, The Mass Psychology of Fascism by Wilhelm Reich, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, 1984 by George Orwell, Noli me Tangere by José Rizal, The Age of Extremes by Eric Hobsbawm, ذهنية التحريم لصادق جلال العظم, Karl Marx by Francis Wheen, وليمة لأعشاب البحر لحيدر حيدر, Candide by Voltaire, النزعات المادية في الفلسفة العربية الإسلامية لحسين مروة, Listen Little Man by Wilhelm Reich ...
Films: The Nokdu Flower (a South Korean drama), Alexanderplatz by Rainer Fassbinder, Clockwork Orange, Apocalypse Now, The Battle of Algiers, films by P. P. Passolini, Persepolis, Midnight Express, 1984, Papillion, Gangs of New York, Sophie Scholl, Life of Brian, Ivan the Terrble, Battleship Potemkine ...
Syria Untold
Leila's blog
Verso blogs
Yassin al-Haj Saleh
Voices of MENA
Michael Roberts Blog
Aljazeera Middle East
Middle East Research and Information Project
Against the Grain show
الاشتراكيون الثوريون
Anger against the oppressor