DISCOURAGING: ‘Conspiracy Theories’ are not longer imaginary rantings of loonies, but warning signs of a downward trajectory

Tuesday, April 30, 2024

https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2024/04/conspiracy_theories_aren_t_theoretical_anymore.html

‘Conspiracy Theories’ Aren’t Theoretical Anymore
By John Green

*** begin quote ***

The national mood in the mid-twentieth century was very different from now.

  •     The United States was respected around the world — even if not necessarily liked.
  •     Technology was advancing faster than at any time in human history.
  •     Our cities were mostly orderly, safe, and clean.
  •     We believed there were few hardships which couldn’t be overcome with hard work. Opportunities seemed endless, as was our optimism.
  •     We were completely naïve about the danger posed by our own government.

Not everything was sunny. We had problems that needed attention. That is the nature of human existence after all. But when Ronald Reagan said, “Government is not the solution to our problem, government is the problem,” we just thought he was promoting self-reliance and highlighting government inefficiency. As I said, we were naïve.

*** and ***

As we watch all this unfold, we know that vast government criminal conspiracies are no longer theoretical. There is nothing demented or delusional about believing our government would willingly facilitate the murder a political threat. The actions of the DoJ in conjunction with the legislation proposed by the Democrats makes that perfectly clear.

The plot to place Donald Trump at the tender mercies of a prison’s “genpop” is not the only evidence of government criminal conspiracy.

*** and ***

Things have changed a lot since the mid-20th century. The children of the 21st century have a completely different worldview.

  •     The United States is a corrupt and impotent international laughingstock.
  •     We’ve become technically stunted. Replacing the Francis Scott Key bridge is expected to take three times longer than building the Golden Gate bridge almost a century ago.
  •     Our cities are becoming unlivable post-apocalyptic hellscapes.
  •     “Living the American dream” is no longer a middle-class expectation.
  •     We know that fear of our own government is a prudent mindset.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. doesn’t sound so crazy now that the conspiracies are no longer theoretical.

John Green is a retired engineer and political refugee from Minnesota, now residing in Idaho. He spent his career designing complex defense systems, developing high performance organizations, and doing corporate strategic planning. He is a staff writer for the American Free News Network and can be reached at greenjeg@gmail.com.

*** end quote ***

And lest we forget that JFK was killed by the Deep State to prevent him from ending the Vietnam War and sending LBJ to prison.

Can the USA ever return to its former greatness?

Not very likely,  Argh!

—30—

 


HEROIC: Good Samaritans save driver from buring car

Monday, April 29, 2024

https://nypost.com/2024/04/21/us-news/good-samaritans-save-driver-trapped-inside-car-engulfed-in-flames-on-minnesota-highway/

Good Samaritans save driver trapped inside car engulfed in flames on Minnesota highway
By Fox News  — Published April 21, 2024, 10:32 a.m. ET

*** begin quote ***

A group of good Samaritans saved a driver in Minnesota after he crashed and became trapped inside his car as the vehicle burst into flames along I-94 on Thursday.

The crash happened around 6:30 p.m. near Snelling Avenue in St. Paul, when a Honda SUV went off the road and hit a light pole before catching fire, the Minnesota Highway Patrol said.

Kadir Tolla, one of the good Samaritans who ran toward the spurting flames to help, told FOX9 Minneapolis that he was on his way to meet clients when he passed the burning wreck.

*** end quote ***

“… … and this is a weaker argument that is stronger than it appears. Chinese Obligation. The Chinese have a saying that saving a life incurs a two way debt. The one saved owes their life to their savior; doing less would be ungrateful. The one saving owes the saved their continued help lest the save be in vain; doing less would be wasteful of the original act.” — brainy character “Brian” in CHURCH 10●19●62 Volume 1 Page 223

I always admire those that can disregard their own safety to save a fellow human being, 

I don’t understand why every driver doesn’t have a window punch on their keyring.  For a couple of bucks it enables you to punch out a window and cut a seat belt.  Seems a life saving essential.

I hope that the Karmic wheel rewards these brave people.

—30—


SECURITY: PASSKEYS appears to be NOT the secuirty “silver bullet””

Sunday, April 28, 2024

https://fy.blackhats.net.au/blog/2024-04-26-passkeys-a-shattered-dream/

*** begin quote ***

The Enshittocene Period

Since then Passkeys are now seen as a way to capture users and audiences into a platform. What better way to encourage long term entrapment of users then by locking all their credentials into your platform, and even better, credentials that can’t be extracted or exported in any capacity.

Both Chrome and Safari will try to force you into using either hybrid (caBLE) where you scan a QR code with your phone to authenticate – you have to click through menus to use a security key. caBLE is not even a good experience, taking more than 60 seconds work in most cases. The UI is beyond obnoxious at this point. Sometimes I think the password game has a better ux.

The more egregious offender is Android, which won’t even activate your security key if the website sends the set of options that are needed for Passkeys. This means the IDP gets to choose what device you enroll without your input. And of course, all the developer examples only show you the options to activate “Google Passkeys stored in Google Password Manager”. After all, why would you want to use anything else?

A sobering pair of reads are the Github Passkey Beta and Github Passkey threads. There are instances of users whose security keys are not able to be enrolled as the resident key slots are filled. Multiple users describe that Android can not create Passkeys due to platform bugs. Some devices need firmware resets to create Passkeys. Keys can be saved on the client but not the server leading to duplicate account presence and credentials that don’t work, or worse lead users to delete the real credentials.

The helplessness of users on these threads is obvious – and these are technical early adopters. The users we need to be advocates for changing from passwords to passkeys. If these users can’t make it work how will people from other disciplines fare?

Externally there are other issues. Apple Keychain has personally wiped out all my Passkeys on three separate occasions. There are external reports we have recieved of other users whose Keychain Passkeys have been wiped just like mine.

Now as users we have the expectation that keys won’t be created or they will have disappeared when we need them most.

In order to try to resolve this the workgroup seems to be doubling down on more complex JS apis to try to patch over the issues that they created in the first place. All this extra complexity comes with fragility and more bad experiences, but without resolving the core problems.

It’s a mess.

*** end quote ***

So this ends my interest in “passkeys”.  Too bad.  It had a lot of promise.

Argh!

—30—


HEALTH: Novo Nordisk stops making Levemir

Sunday, April 28, 2024

https://www.foxnews.com/health/utah-mom-fights-daughters-access-discontinued-diabetes-medication-life-saving

Utah mom fights for her daughter’s access to discontinued diabetes medication: ‘Life-saving’

  • Family found the ‘ideal’ drug for managing diabetes — then it was abruptly discontinued

By Melissa Rudy Fox News
Published April 19, 2024 5:00am EDT 

*** begin quote ***

Smart has now made it her mission to convince Novo Nordisk to continue making Levemir — or to find a pharmaceutical company to create a biosimilar (generic) alternative.

Levemir is a long-acting basal insulin that’s injected once or twice a day to control high blood sugar in adults and children with diabetes, according to Novo Nordisk’s website.

For Smart’s daughter, an active athlete who plays on the tennis team at Woods Cross High School, Levemir has enabled her to continue with her regular activities while controlling her diabetes.

While there are a couple of other types of basal insulin on the market, Smart said Levemir is best suited to her daughter’s needs.

“Levemir is unique in that it is a relatively shorter-acting basal insulin, making it ideal for those with fluctuating basal insulin needs, including teenagers, menstruating women, pregnant women and athletes,” she said.

*** end quote ***

Doesn’t Novo Nordisk’s decision make Levemir an “orphan drug”?

If it’s not worthy of the Federal Gooferment’s support, then at least it should become unpatentable and free to generic makers.

I don’t understand how patent and copyright holder can hold things “hostage” and still get “protection”?

Sorry, society’s grant of these privileges is subject to them being made reasonably available.

IMHO 

Argh!

Gooferment is always at the root of problems.

—30—


POLITICAL: Defund NPR — it’s only “fair”

Saturday, April 27, 2024

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2024/04/17/npr-liberal-bias-media-uri-berliner/73345296007/

NPR editor quit after telling the truth about liberal bias in media. It’s time to defund them.

  • NPR in recent years has gone from being something I enjoy to something that more often than not leaves me shaking my head.

Ingrid Jacques USA TODAY

2024-04Apr-17

*** begin quote ***

Here’s a solution: Defund NPR

NPR – National Public Radio – isn’t just another media outlet. It’s funded in part by taxpayers, which places it in a different position than say The New York Times, The Washington Post or even my news organization.

Private publications are free to do what they want, although I think more are waking up to the need for more viewpoint diversity. It’s simply a smart business decision to reach a broader audience.

While Berliner argues that NPR still deserves public funding, I disagree. 

He writes: “As the country becomes more fractured, there’s still a need for a public institution where stories are told and viewpoints exchanged in good faith.”

Yet, NPR is offering no confidence that it will embrace anything close to the viewpoint diversity that it now lacks. Its new CEO, Katherine Maher, is getting attention because of social media posts she made before she was hired, including calling former President Donald Trump a “racist sociopath” and boasting of wearing a Joe Biden campaign hat in public.

That doesn’t bode well. 

If NPR wants to double down on its woke mission, fine. But it shouldn’t do it on my dime – or that of other taxpayers. 

NPR claims that “federal funding is essential to public radio’s service to the American public and its continuation is critical for both stations and program producers, including NPR.”

*** end quote ***

#DefundNPR

I don’t want to pay for much of what the Gooferment does.  So let’s start here!

—30—


INSPIRATIONAL: WWOBD is the exemplar of “be the change you want to be”

Saturday, April 27, 2024

https://nypost.com/2024/04/17/entertainment/mariska-hargitay-helps-lost-child-find-her-parent-while-filming-law-and-order-svu-in-nyc/

 ‘Law & Order: SVU’ star Mariska Hargitay mistaken for real-life cop by lost child

  • Mariska Hargitay helps lost child find her parent while filming ‘Law and Order: SVU’ in NYC

By Jack Hobbs
Published April 17, 2024, 3:06 p.m. ET

*** begin quote ***

Shortly before the 25th season premiere, Hargitay told People how the show has impacted her.

“We’ve been on a parallel journey,” she said. “There’s a thing: WWOBD, ‘What would Olivia Benson do?’ The fans would always talk about it, and one day it hit me. I also have those moments where I’ve sort of slipped into her.”

“If there’s a crisis, I just take over and lead like that. Being strong and fearless. It’s sort of this perfect feminist story.”

*** end quote ***

Life imitates art or visa verso.

The lesson is that if you pretend to be “strong and fearless”, then you can become “strong and fearless” IRL.

Interesting and inspirational to have this concept echoed in a beautiful story.

WWOBD. WWJD.  What Would <insert your personal hero> Do.

Maybe “What Should I Do” that would make my Mom proud?

Only you can answer.

—30—

 

INSPIRATIONAL: WWOBD is the exemplar of “be the change you want to be”

Saturday, April 27, 2024

https://nypost.com/2024/04/17/entertainment/mariska-hargitay-helps-lost-child-find-her-parent-while-filming-law-and-order-svu-in-nyc/

 ‘Law & Order: SVU’ star Mariska Hargitay mistaken for real-life cop by lost child

  • Mariska Hargitay helps lost child find her parent while filming ‘Law and Order: SVU’ in NYC

By Jack Hobbs
Published April 17, 2024, 3:06 p.m. ET

*** begin quote ***

Shortly before the 25th season premiere, Hargitay told People how the show has impacted her.

“We’ve been on a parallel journey,” she said. “There’s a thing: WWOBD, ‘What would Olivia Benson do?’ The fans would always talk about it, and one day it hit me. I also have those moments where I’ve sort of slipped into her.”

“If there’s a crisis, I just take over and lead like that. Being strong and fearless. It’s sort of this perfect feminist story.”

*** end quote ***

Life imitates art or visa verso.

The lesson is that if you pretend to be “strong and fearless”, then you can become “strong and fearless” IRL.

Interesting and inspirational to have this concept echoed in a beautiful story.

WWOBD. WWJD.  What Would <insert your personal hero> Do.

Maybe “What Should I Do” that would make my Mom proud?

Only you can answer.

—30—

 

INSPIRATIONAL: WWOBD is the exemplar of “be the change you want to be”

Saturday, April 27, 2024

https://nypost.com/2024/04/17/entertainment/mariska-hargitay-helps-lost-child-find-her-parent-while-filming-law-and-order-svu-in-nyc/

 ‘Law & Order: SVU’ star Mariska Hargitay mistaken for real-life cop by lost child

  • Mariska Hargitay helps lost child find her parent while filming ‘Law and Order: SVU’ in NYC

By Jack Hobbs
Published April 17, 2024, 3:06 p.m. ET

*** begin quote ***

Shortly before the 25th season premiere, Hargitay told People how the show has impacted her.

“We’ve been on a parallel journey,” she said. “There’s a thing: WWOBD, ‘What would Olivia Benson do?’ The fans would always talk about it, and one day it hit me. I also have those moments where I’ve sort of slipped into her.”

“If there’s a crisis, I just take over and lead like that. Being strong and fearless. It’s sort of this perfect feminist story.”

*** end quote ***

Life imitates art or visa verso.

The lesson is that if you pretend to be “strong and fearless”, then you can become “strong and fearless” IRL.

Interesting and inspirational to have this concept echoed in a beautiful story.

WWOBD. WWJD.  What Would <insert your personal hero> Do.

Maybe “What Should I Do” that would make my Mom proud?

Only you can answer.

—30—

 

POLITICAL: Seems like religious discrimination to me?

Friday, April 26, 2024

https://thenationalpulse.com/2024/04/15/judge-blocks-orthodox-jews-who-overwhelmingly-back-trump-from-trial-jury/

Judge Blocks Orthodox Jews, Who Overwhelmingly Back Trump, from Trial Jury
Ed Kozak  — April 15, 2024

*** begin quote ***

“Orthodox Jews to be excluded from [Manhattan District Attorney Alvin] Bragg’s jury pool. The NYC demographic group most strongly supportive of Trump is the orthodox Jewish community,” Schneider posted on X. “So, no surprise that the very biased judge in Bragg’s case scheduled the trial to include Fridays instead of Wednesdays. Very unusual, but understandable since this switch will necessarily exclude all orthodox Jews from the jury pool. Democrat operatives are very clever.”

*** end quote ***

I’m not lawyer.  (Thank God!)  But this seems to be blatant religious discrimination.  I would think that the Orthodox Jewish community would object.  I would.  And, it seems like automatic grounds for appeal.  (Maybe DJT’s lawyers are already drafting the appeal.)

Argh!

—30—


POLITICAL: Seems like religious discrimination to me?

Friday, April 26, 2024

https://thenationalpulse.com/2024/04/15/judge-blocks-orthodox-jews-who-overwhelmingly-back-trump-from-trial-jury/

Judge Blocks Orthodox Jews, Who Overwhelmingly Back Trump, from Trial Jury.
Ed Kozak  — April 15, 2024

*** begin quote ***

“Orthodox Jews to be excluded from [Manhattan District Attorney Alvin] Bragg’s jury pool. The NYC demographic group most strongly supportive of Trump is the orthodox Jewish community,” Schneider posted on X. “So, no surprise that the very biased judge in Bragg’s case scheduled the trial to include Fridays instead of Wednesdays. Very unusual, but understandable since this switch will necessarily exclude all orthodox Jews from the jury pool. Democrat operatives are very clever.”

*** end quote ***

I’m not lawyer.  (Thank God!)  But this seems to be blatant religious discrimination.  I would think that the Orthodox Jewish community would object.  I would.  And, it seems like automatic grounds for appeal.  (Maybe DJT’s lawyers are already drafting the appeal.)

Argh!

—30—