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Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Post #4205 M: Money and Political Speech. Woods on Dem Debate 2A; Tariffs Are Bad For the Economy

Quote of the Day

I always advise young people to dream small dreams, 
because small dreams can be achieved, 
and once you achieve a small dream and a small success, 
it gives you confidence to go on to the next big step.
John H. Johnson  

Money and Political Speech



Tom Woods and Lew Rockwell on Dem Debate 2A



DEAD WRONG: Tariffs Are Good For the Economy



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Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Robert Ariail via Townhall


Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists

Frankie Valli and the Four Season, "Opus 17"

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Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Post #4204 M: Stossel on Dem Free Stuff; Rand Paul on Whether Sanctions on Iran Are a Mistake

Quote of the Day

Love all, trust a few. Do wrong to none.
William Shakespeare  

Stossel on Dem Free Stuff



Are Economic Sanctions on Iran a Mistake? [Yes]



Ron Paul: Budget Hawks are Foreign Policy Doves



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Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Gary Varvel via Townhall


Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists

Frankie Valli and the Four Season, "Working My Way Back to You"

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Monday, July 29, 2019

Post #4203 M: The Green New Deal IS the Existential Threat; Kibbe and Rand Paul on Iran

Quote of the Day

It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.
Edmund Hillary  

The Green New Deal IS the Existential Threat



Kibbe and Rand Paul on Iran



Is Healthcare Insurance a Right? [No]



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Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Steve Kelley via Townhall


Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists

Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, "Don't Think Twice It's Alright"

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Sunday, July 28, 2019

Post #4202 M: Tom Woods on the Syrian Conflict, Bob Murphy on the Green New Deal

Quote of the Day

One's first book, kiss, home run, is always the best.
Clifton Fadiman  

Tom Woods on the Syria Intervention



Bob Murphy on the Economics of the New Green Deal



Tom Woods on the Yemen Tragedy



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Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Gary Varvel via Townhall


Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists

Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, "Let's Hang On"

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Post #4201 Social Media Digest

Because of abysmal Chrome performance, I accidentally deleted the original post, and so I'm having to rewrite it.

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Saturday, July 27, 2019

Post #4200 M: A Google Engineer on Big Tech and Politics; Housing and College Bubbles

Quote of the Day

To the world you may be just one person, 
but to one person you may be the world.

A Google Engineer on Big Tech and Politics



Trump's Attack on Cummings

I lived in Cummings' district during the first 5 years or so of this blog, and let's be clear: I have not supported Cummings' politics, but this scapegoating Cummings for failed local/state policies in parts of his district is bullshit. This is a defensive reprisal because Cummings harshly criticized migrant treatment in federal detention on Trump's watch.



College and Housing Loans



Choose Life

What if you kept your pregnancy a secret...








Political Cartoon

via FB


Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists

Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, "Girl Come Running"


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Friday, July 26, 2019

Post #4199 M: Kibbe on Why It's Never Been Easier to Succeed; Ron Paul on Bipartisan Spending Conspiracies and the Enabling Fed

Quote of the Day

If you press me to say why I loved him, 
I can say no more than because he was he, and I was I
Michel de Montaigne  

Kibbe: It's Never Been Easier to Succeed


Ron Paul on Spendthrift Bipartisan Congressmen and The Enabling Fed




The Mueller Hearing

I have to say there is much here with which I disagree. First of all, Mueller did not necessarily author everything in the report; he worked with a team of prosecutors. Keep in mind the Congressmen had weeks to prepare detailed NIGYYSOB questions. So it's not surprising that Mueller failed to respond to detailed questions. That hardly makes him the feeble-minded straw man Carlson attacks. Second, Carlson is once again trying to attack the investigation based on the Trumpkin obsession with the Steele dossier. The fact of the matter is that Trump himself seemed to encourage Russian intervention and Trump was definitely trying to squash the investigation in which he had a direct, vested interest, similar to Nixon in Watergate. Third, this whole disingenuous"exoneration" nonsense that Carlson discusses is basically a Trump talking point.



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Political Cartoon


Courtesy of Midhael Ramirez via Townhall


Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists

Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, "Bye Bye Baby"

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Thursday, July 25, 2019

Post #4198 M: Amash: Happiness as an Independent; New FreedomToon

Quote of the Day

An army of sheep led by a lion would defeat 
an army of lions led by a sheep.
Arab proverb  

Justin Amash Happiness as an Independent



Ron Paul on Trump'a Nuclear Threat to Iraq



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Best Father's Day gift ever!







Political Cartoon


Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists

Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, "Big Man in Town"

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Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Post #4197 M: De Blasio vs. Charter School; Free Speech for Freelancers

Quote of the Day

One man with courage makes a majority.
Andrew Jackson

De Blasio Hates Education Competition



Free Speech for Freelancers?



Ron Paul on Spending and Criminalizing Whistleblowers



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Political Cartoon


Courtesy of the original artist via FB

Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists

Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, "Save It For Me"

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Post #4196 J The Wonderful World of Generic Presriptions

Prescriptions and Pet Peeves

I've touched about this mini-rant in the past. I'm currently taking 3 generic tablet medications (one of them for a sluggish thyroid). I've also occasionally used a prescribed medical cream for other health reasons (there's a reason why I'm mentioning this).

So, if you're not aware, Walmart offers many generics for $4/month or $10/3 months. It so happens all 3 of my oral prescriptions are in this program. But there is a nuance when your healthcare/pharmacy plans are involved, which drives me crazy. And none of this is ever discussed in common sense language to the customer. For example, you might get your plan to go along with picking up a one-month supply at Walmart, but they might balk at your getting a 3-month supply--because they might want to have you subscribe to their home delivery subscription model.

So here's the point I made a few months back: The exact same monthly supply per prescription that costs $4 at (for-profit) Walmart is being sold for $10 via their home delivery subscription. So I ended up paying $90 for a 90-day supply for 3 meds which would cost me $30 at Walmart. And keep in mind if and when I buy those meds at Walmart, I'm paying the full Walmart cost--it's not like they're picking up any of the cost I'm paying. So not only are they getting Walmart profits, but a 200% markup on top of the Walmart price. This is insane. I get these mailings telling me I must use their home delivery program. The only "value" I get is free delivery. But Amazon Prime gives me free delivery (not for prescriptions--yet).

I ran into paperwork issues when I went onto COBRA over the end of March that ended up delaying a planned outpatient procedure until early May. My overpriced prescriptions ordered during my last job ran out somewhere in late June; when I went to access their home delivery service, it was all screwed up; I didn't even see prices or ways to reorder my 3 main ones.

So my personal doctor is at an urgent care clinic; when I tried to get my prescriptions refilled, I get forwarded to a message that effectively says, have your pharmacy fax us the prescription. I think I ordered the 3 meds plus some cream/ointment. I had registered to get text notifications from Walmart. But somehow I never got notified that my order was waiting at Walmart. I think I had gotten some pushback on the cream resupply. The clinic called me to come in to see my physician. He's basically wanting to do some new blood tests. I get him to concur and write a prescription for the cream. (The only question was if I also needed some antibiotics.)

So when I went back to Walmart I discovered he had authorized like 15-day supplies. Then the Walmart clerk told me that the insurance folks refused to cover the cream (even though I had apparently 2 granted prescriptions, including the original doctor!)  My doctor doesn't like the lack of progress on one of the medications, wants me to consult with a specialist. (I'm still waiting for a callback.) I do get a callback from a nurse on the latest blood workup. She doesn't even talk about my thyroid test. She said something like no big deal: I'm in the normal range. Well, they raised my dosage last blood test, so this was a big deal--they finally hit on the right dosage.

So I was down to less than a week's supply of the first two medications and last weekend I dropped by during my grocery run and ordered the first two tablets (including my thyroid medicine).  I eventually get a text that a $10 refill was available. Now what? Was the doctor rejecting one of the prescriptions?

I dropped by after work Tuesday--and find the $10 prescription was NEITHER tablet, but a tube of cream WHICH I HADN'T ORDERED. What the hell? What happened to my two meds I ordered, including the thyroid one, which ran out Monday night? Oh, my insurance company vetoed that (not the doctor). I could get a 30-day, but not 90-day supply. (OK, why wasn't anyone telling me this crap?)

So I'm fuming that the insurance company, which isn't paying any of the cost of my Walmart prescriptions, is vetoing a validated prescription. I explain to the clerk this sucks, because it means I have to pay triple price for the same meds going through the home subscription program. I'm asking if there's a way to work around the insurance company on this. (Yes.) And for the first time at Walmart I got my prescriptions filled within 15 minutes.

BEB Update

For those who are not aware, Bruce Breeding, my UH office mate, had 2 strokes, the second a major one, around the beginning of June. He had finally recovered enough to move to a rehabilitation center, but there were some fluid discharge issues, among other things, which led to a return to the hospital and another brain surgery.

Spouse Susan had gone to attend her son-in-law's ordination in Chicago this past weekend but didn't blog until Monday. While at the hospital, they finally got a formula that Bruce's body tolerates; his stitches were removed, he's returned to the rehabilitation center, and most notably he is now vocalizing some words and phrases, including responding to greetings. Still a long road ahead, but 5-6 weeks back, Susan was despairing he showed no signs of emerging from his coma. Apparently some things he's saying are not intelligible, but he is recognizing people and saying some understandable things. I know Susan was concerned whether the stroke and operations had affected memories, etc.

WWE Notes

Well, there have been some promising notes of interest:

  • WWE put the Universal belt back on Lesnar after having booked him as the Money in the Bank winner. There were some weird bookings in the interim, especially one where then champ Rollins had been beaten to a pulp on Raw, but Lesnar refused to cash in his guaranteed shot, preferring to postpone the cash-in for a minor PPV. I've not been much of a fan of how they've booked Lesnar on limited Raw appearance, almost never wrestling but mostly standing there grinning while Heyman cuts a promo. So now they're booking the inevitable rematch for Summer Slam: been there, done that. WWE is limited in booking Lesnar because they risk damaging his invincible character by having him job the title. You are almost tied to something like a rumble match or a triple threat match where the others gang up against Lesnar or he loses the title without taking the pin. Maybe you book him into a handicap match against AJ Styles and his reunited Club faction.
  • They turned AJ Styles as a heel in a feud over new star Ricochet's minor US title. They had teased a Bullet Club-like reunion for a couple of years but never did anything with it. One has to wonder if Balor at some point joins the super faction. It's been a while since we've seen a super faction like the Four Horsemen or the NWO. I wonder if they might form a Samoan one with the USO's, Roman Reigns, and Samoa Joe. 
  • They have finally put Bray Wyatt into action as the Mr. Hyde-like The Fiend in-ring character while the affable Dr. Jekyll Funhouse gimmick stands in contrast. They hinted at the split personality at the end of a recent promo where Wyatt's voice took on a menacing, dark turn. They introduced the Fiend taking on Balor who had been seemingly booked into a feud over the Intercontinental title dropped to Nakamura. Whereas Balor's Demon character is an obvious match against the Fiend, it's more interesting where they book Wyatt after the Balor program. 
  • As just discussed, they FINALLY put the Intercontinental title on Nakamura as a newly rebuilt invincible heel. Not clear where they are going next, but Roman Reign is a babyface without a title.Perhaps Kevin Owens.
  • I'm not a fan of Kofi Kingston booked as underdog WWE champion, while also continuing in a pancake-throwing, cereal-promoting New Day gimmick faction. They have finally booked former champ Randy Orton into a feud; Orton has been basically MIA in booking for some time now. I thought maybe they were flirting with the idea of turning the New Day heel or breaking up the faction, say, with Big E wanting a shot at the title after carrying Kingston. Obviously heel Nakamura is a credible challenger to babyface Kingston. 
  • Finally, Kevin Owens has switched back to populist babyface as a challenger to tiresome conceited heel Shane McMahon, previously booked into long, boring feuds with the Miz and Roman Reigns. They've add Steve Austin's Stunner finisher to Owen's character. Maybe they finally reintroduce him as a devastating character who takes out McMahon. I recall Owens some time back flirted with the idea of feuding with Lesnar. They could also resurrect HHH to feud with Owens if Owens takes out Shane.
The new "wildcard" rule is just an excuse to feature top talent, like Roman Reigns, on each weekly show. Still, some of the booking is ridiculous. For example, Shane McMahon booked his two more recent babyface opponents, Roman Reigns and Owens, into a match while assigning himself and his 2 cronies (McIntyre and Elias) into roles (like referee and timekeeper) for the match. You knew from the get-go that the McMahon faction would attack the babyfacesl
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Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Post #4195 M: Stossel on Minimum Wage v Young, New Workers; DiLorenzo on Sanders' Scandinavian Myth

Quote of the Day

The greater danger for most of us is not 
that our aim is too high 
and we miss it, 
but that it is too low 
and we reach it.
Michelangelo 

Stossel on Minimum Wage v Young, New Workers



DiLorenzo on the Sanders' Scandinavian Myth



Choose Life








Political Cartoon



Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists

Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, "Rag Doll". #1

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Monday, July 22, 2019

Post #4194 M: DiLorenzo on 10 Things About Socialism; Why American Infrastructure is Cost-Prohibitive

Quote of the Day

Have more than thou showest, speak less than thou knowest.
William Shakespeare  

Leftists vs. Cost-Efficient Infrastructure



DiLorenzo on 10 Things About Socialism



Kibbe on AOC




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Political Cartoon

Courtesy of AF Branco via Townhall


Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists

Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, "Ronnie"

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Sunday, July 21, 2019

Post #4193 M: Leftist Intolerance on Campus;

Quote of the Day

If there is light in the soul, 
There will be beauty in the person. 
If there is beauty in the person, 
There will be harmony in the house. 
If there is harmony in the house, 
There will be order in the nation. 
If there is order in the nation, 
There will be peace in the world.
Chinese proverb

Campus Leftists and an Intolerance for Christian/Conservative Voices



Ron Paul and Rickards on the Post-Recession Depressed Growth



Tom Woods on the 1920's


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Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Steve Kelley via Townhall


Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists

Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, "Dawn (Go Away)"

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Post #4192: Rant of the Day: Jesus and Abortion

It has been a while since I've published one of my rant format essays. For those who have reviewed my recent social media digest tweets, you may have caught a brief skirmish over one of my pet peeves, an attempt to use Jesus Christ in rationalizing the modern-day practice of elective abortion.

 It's no secret to my familiar readers of this blog or social media content that I'm pro-life (not just abortion, but capital punishment, euthanasia, war, etc.) And, yes, I was brought up Roman Catholic, but no, my religion, beyond a general moral context, really didn't influence my position on abortion. Abortion is not explicitly mentioned in the New Testament and I had not heard the subject discussed during military (USAF) sermons. As I've written elsewhere, I stumbled across the word while reading a newspaper and asked me what it meant. Mom gave a very clinical, nonjudgmental definition and I recoiled in horror at the very thought. "But, Mom, that's MURDER. What does the Church say? The Church has to be against it."

For me, it starts with the scientific fact that human life begins at conception. Your DNA signature is present then as now; as adults or born persons, we are simply at a later stage of development. Many leftist Catholics-in-Name-Only, e.g., Biden, Pelosi, and Cuomo, rationalize their "pro-choice" position as not imposing their faith on others. (Abortion is a moral teaching, not dogma.)

"Progressives" have sought to redefine Christ to fit their ideology. Let's make a few things clear:

  • Christ was a strict moralist, not an appeaser. This is seen particularly on the question of the indissolubility of marriage. He does not accept Moses' embrace of divorce. When His disciples argue that His words are too hard for prospective/current followers to follow, He answers "Many are called; few are chosen."
  • Christ was not a Statist; in fact, He was executed by the State/Romans. Many of his religious adversaries were seen trying to paint Him as an insurrectionist. This is directly seen in the incident on whether He should pay taxes to Caesar. 
  • Christ forgives sins, but He does not rationalize them. When the men get ready to stone the adulteress, Jesus pointedly doesn't dispute the charge or its sinful nature; He doesn't argue that the woman was trapped in a bad marriage. After stopping the stoning, Jesus pointedly tells her to go and sin no more He is not excusing her sin, but forgiving it.
So one pro-abort troll on Twitter triggered me with a disingenuous observation that Jesus did not speak on abortion; if it was an issue, why isn't it recorded? Well, first of all, only a fraction of the things Jesus said or did during His 3-year ministry is recorded. Second, it is my contention that elective abortion was rarely practiced or debated. Third, as one of my sources cited below points out, Jesus did not speak out on pedophilia, elderly abuse, or 101 other abominations. Does that mean Jesus tolerates such evil?

The first point to this is the Didache, one of the earliest Church writings (most scholars point to the late first century). Chapter 2 (Gross Sin Forbidden: "you shall not murder a child by abortion nor kill that which is begotten". Note that the young Church was expanding into the ancient worlds of Rome and Greece where abortion and infanticide were accepted. Hence, where did this originate? Obviously from Christ and/or prevailing Judaic concepts. 

We find other sources as well, E.g., Roman historian Tacitus' History of the Jews 5,5:

 "However, the Jews see to it that their numbers increase. It is a deadly sin to kill a born or unborn child"

And this is from Romano-Jewish historian Josephus:

"The law moreover enjoins us to bring up all our offspring: and forbids women to cause abortion of what is begotten; or to destroy it afterward. "

For additional Jewish/other references, see here. 

The disingenuous pro-abort trolls tend to bring up 2 Old Testament quotes:
  • Exodus 21:22 allegedly claims that if a man's violence leads a women to "miscarry", he is subjected to a fine; the death of a woman capital punishment. This seems to be a matter of Biblical interpretation. The actual word for miscarriage varies with other texts, and other interpretations seem to suggest premature delivery. In this context, if no further harm comes to the women or her child, a fine is prescribed. Capital punishment is relevant to the loss of life to the mother, child or both.
  • Numbers 5:11-31. Again, this is the dubious question of Biblical translation and the use of the term "miscarry". The context is of a husband who suspects his wife has been unfaithful but doesn't have the prescribed multiple witnesses, and we have a ritual having the women ingest some holy water potion; if the spouse has been unfaithful, there will be a curse with certain physical effects (like infertility); the pro-aborts suggest an abortion. Pregnancy is not listed as a supplemental fact to the adultery allegation. Moreover, holy water is not an abortifacient. "According to the ancient Jewish tradition recorded in the Mishnah, a woman who was pregnant or was nursing a child was not to undergo the ordeal at all!" Long story short, more conventional interpretations are that the unfaithful spouse may be cursed with infertility
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Saturday, July 20, 2019

Post #4191 M: DiLorenzo on the Myth of Market Failure; Public Choice Theory

Quote of the Day

The world belongs to the enthusiast who keeps cool.
William McFee  

DiLorenzo on the Myth Of Market Failure



Kibbe on James Buchanan



Youtube on Censoring Prager U. Content

Let's get this straight: churches and schools are filtering out content on the Ten Commandments and the history of Israel?


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Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Gary Varvel via Townhall


Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists

Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, "Alone"

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