RECOMMENDED: Netflix’s ‘Number 24’ asks you the question “what would you do”?

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

https://www.netflix.com/title/81664509

Netflix’s ‘Number 24’

*** begin quote ***

Netflix’s ‘Number 24’ transports the audience to 1940s Norway, where the German occupation incites the Norwegians to form a resistance. While a lot of people join it to fight the Nazi regime and free their country, Gunnar Sønsteby is one of the few who leaves an indelible mark in history with his many acts of sabotage. The film begins with a 90-something Gunnar appearing for a lecture to the youth, who have several questions about his story, which has now become somewhat of a legend in the country. He starts with the times before the war and how drastically everything changed once the Nazis set foot on the streets of Norway.

*** end quote ***

I’m not sure I could have done a fraction of what he did.   I can understand how after the war his comrade became an alcoholic and eventually suicided. 

Watch this if yo9u want to understand what true patriotism means.

Can’t imagine being in those circumstances.

Can you?

—30—

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PEACE: MLK was Correct about a lot of things — we just didn’t listen

Monday, January 20, 2025

https://www.lewrockwell.com/lrc-blog/mlks-courageous-antiwar-speech/

MLK’s Courageous Antiwar Speech

Joshua Shoenfeld 

<< EDITOR ADDED DATE 2025-01-20>>

*** begin quote ***

One year prior to his assassination, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his powerful antiwar speech, “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence” decrying the United States’ genocidal war on the people of Vietnam. King eloquently linked the state-sanctioned oppression of blacks with the suffering that the Vietnamese were enduring in the face of a genocidal onslaught at the hands of the US national-security state. The mainstream media denounced King for speaking out against the war when they should have praised him for speaking truth to power.

*** end quote ***

MLK, Gandhi, various moral philosophers, and religious leaders continue to urge peace.

What the US Gooferment has done in foreign policy is nothing short of war crimes, and foolish interventions.

When will we ever learn?

No money or weapons given away to allow killing and worse.

Argh!

Dona Nobis Pacem

—30—

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FINANCIAL: Not so sure about ‘Super Catch-Ups’ for 401(k)s

Monday, January 20, 2025

https://www.barrons.com/articles/401k-retirement-super-catch-up-contributions-e2358dd8?mod=past_editions

How to Make the Most of the New ‘Super Catch-Ups’ for 401(k)s
By Elizabeth O’Brien
Updated Jan 09, 2025, 8:53 am EST / Original Jan 09, 2025, 2:30 am 70EST

*** begin quote ***

Savers in their early 60s can sock away nearly $35,000 in their 401(k) account for retirement in 2025, thanks to the new “super catch-up” rules. The higher contribution limits aren’t a slam dunk for everyone, though, and you may need to make adjustments to other retirement accounts to maximize your savings.

*** end quote ***

Unfortunately behind a paywall.

I’m not so sure that if I was 60 and had 35k$ to spare that any tax deffered savings plan would be the course I would chose.

Tell me what the inflation rate will be between now and say age 70 and that might be a case of getting out “depreciated dollars”.  For the very rich in a high tax bracket, the tax savings MAY offset the loss of “purchasing power”.  Everyone else has to guess what reality will have to offer.

I’m no Warren Buffet By far, I’ve made some great trades and some terrible decisions.

YMMV

I am a firm believe that you can’t trust the Gooferment, its politicians and bureaucrats, or any “celebrity spokesman”.   If you see it on TV, hear it on radio, or read it on the net, then ask “cut bono”.  Who’s paying for the advertisement?  Even if you can see it, some one is getting a cut.

I’m old enough to remember lessons from a family friend who lived thru the Weimar Republic inflation. Wife would go to the old man’s office at lunchtime every day, take whatever he earned that morning, and run out an buy something,  Anything!  When she spoke of it, her hands trembled in fear almost 50 years later.  Who she buy the “right thing”, or anything. Or be left with a handful of worthless paper.  Made a big impression on me.

So where ever you put that “extra” 35k$, make sure it’s money well spent.

I’d select gold rounds, silver rounds, bitcoin, or goldbacks.  Probably some mix of the four.  Take the tax hit now and avoid the “inflation tax”.  Probably be some complex math to say that is “bad advice”, but that would be my choice. 

As always YMMV and faiwwypfi (Free Advice Is Worth What You Pay For It! ?zero?)

See you on the other side to decide if I was more right than wrong.

—30—

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VOCABULARY: ‘future-faking’ — making promises to their partner that they have no sincere intent on making true

Sunday, January 19, 2025

https://nypost.com/2025/01/12/lifestyle/psychologist-warns-future-faking-is-subtle-narcissistic-behavior/

Beware ‘future-faking’ — this common relationship behavior is actually narcissistic manipulation: expert
By Eric Todisco 
Published Jan. 12, 2025, 12:49 p.m. ET

*** begin quote ***

Partners who do this should be left in the past.

Los Angeles-based psychologist Dr. Ramani Durvasula made a YouTube video with a dire warning about “future-faking,” a common manipulation tactic used by narcissists in romantic relationships.

Future-faking involves a person making promises to their partner that they have no sincere intent on making true.

*** and ***

She noted that society “didn’t talk about narcissism until relatively recently in the way that we do now,” so many people who are in their 40s and older “are tolerating toxic relationships but didn’t have any word or model for it.”

*** end quote ***

Interesting that not having word or model for a behavior prevents humans from recognizing it.  Never thought of that concept.  It’s like another “window” in the Johari window Quadrant 3  — “what I can’t see that others can”.  

Have to think about that?

—30—

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RANT: Seems just a tad hypocricial

Saturday, January 18, 2025

https://www.amren.com/news/2025/01/vatican-cracks-down-on-illegal-entry-into-its-territory/

Posted on January 16, 2025
Vatican Cracks Down on Illegal Entry Into Its Territory
Almudena Martínez-Bordiú, Catholic News Agency, January 15, 2025

*** begin quote ***

The Vatican City State has toughened sanctions for those who try to illegally enter its territory in areas where free access is not allowed.

In a decree issued last month by the Holy See, the monetary sanctions and prison sentences for those who violate the strict security regulations of Vatican City have been considerably increased.

The document, signed by Cardinal Fernando Vérguez Alzaga, president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, provides for monetary fines ranging from 10,000 to 25,000 euros (about $10,200 to $25,700) and prison sentences ranging from one to four years.

*** end quote ***

Are you kidding me?

Seems very “good for thee, but not for me”.

If the childmolesting clergy wasn’t enough of a turn off, then surely this is!

—30—

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FUN: Cute — a little dumb — what if she said no?

Saturday, January 18, 2025

https://nypost.com/2025/01/11/sports/knicks-fan-proposes-to-girlfriend-at-thunder-game/

Knicks fan proposes to girlfriend at Thunder game in OKC: ‘I could have gotten booed’

By Angela Barbuti 

Published Jan. 11, 2025, 9:01 a.m. ET

*** begin quote ***

Diehard Knicks fan Joseph DeSimone popped the question to his girlfriend Erica Vann on the Kiss Cam in Oklahoma City as the team took on the Thunder in a clash of NBA heavyweights last Friday. 

*** end quote ***

I thought this was funny.  Clearly she might have said “no”.  Not sure what you do then.  Propose to each and every cheerleader.  Even the male ones?  Maybe the mascot.

Anyway it all worked out for the happy couple and I hope they have a long and great life.  One can only hope.  

Maazel Toff!

—30—

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: AT&T “cancels” NY State internet service

Friday, January 17, 2025

https://www.androidauthority.com/atnt-exits-new-york-home-internet-aba-3517417/

AT&T shuts down its home internet service in New York to avoid new broadband law
New York’s affordable broadband act comes into effect this week.
By Rashid Agrawal
13 hours ago << EDITOR ADDED DATE 2025-01-17>>

*** begin quote ***

TL;DR

  •     AT&T has announced it will end its home internet service in New York, effective January 15.
  •     The decision comes in response to the state’s Affordable Broadband Act.
  •     The law requires internet providers to offer low-income households broadband plans priced at $15 and $20.

AT&T has announced that it will cease offering its 5G home internet service in New York State. This drastic decision, first reported by CNET, comes in direct response to the state’s landmark Affordable Broadband Act (ABA), which mandates that internet service providers offer low-income households significantly cheaper internet plans. (h/t: Ars Technica)

*** end quote ***

Pepuls Republik of Nu Jerk strikes a blow for cheap internet for “the poor”.

One problem: AT&T picked up their tech and moved out.  Big middle finger to the Comunists who think their diktats have power.  Nah, nah, de nah.  

Did the politicians and bureaucrats expect this?

More and more businesses are pushing back.  I cite PornHub’s departure from certain southern States.

Finally, Ma Bell grew a set.  Where were they when Judge Green and DOJ were breaking up the finest phone system in the world?  The casualties were Bell Labs, a million employees, and untold numbers of investors who lost their collective shirts.

Argh!

Time to squeeze Gooferment back in a very very small box.

It really only has a few limited Constitution duties  —  protect against external aggression, foreign relations, and keep the States from interfering in interstate commerce.

States have more lattitude, but no guarantee that they won’t do stupid <synonym for excrement> like this.

What’s next the Pepuls Republik of Nu Jerk “diktat” that AT&T phones can’t handle calls in NY?

Argh!

—30—

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NEWJERSEY: “We”, the middle and working-class families, need to keep the politicians and bureaucrats focused on our priorities

Friday, January 17, 2025

https://nj1015.com/california-fire-disaster-wake-up-call-new-jersey-is-next-without-action/?lh_aid=84349&lh_cid=01rk6ndmqt&di=668253fd18d5308e2c5357c98b931ee1

California fire disaster wake-up call: New Jersey is next without action
Bill Spadea
Published: January 10, 2025

*** begin quote ***

The bottom line is that we need to keep the environmental wackos in check so that we are managing our forests, keeping our reservoirs filled and stopping overdevelopment, which has a negative impact on water pressure and infrastructure potentially making it much harder for firefighters to do their jobs.

The state needs to encourage and empower local fire departments to recruit young people into the departments and eliminate harmful mandates that keep recruiting down.

All firefighters, both volunteer and career, should receive free cancer screening and Chapter 78 pension reform should be struck down until overall insurance costs are brought down.

*** and ***

Politicians in Trenton want to pit public workers against the private sector as if it’s us vs. them. What they have completely wrong is the “us” in the equation are all middle and working-class families, whether you’re working the public or private sector. The “them” in the equation are the back-room Trenton insiders who have been profiting on our backs for far too long. It is the real us vs. them and it’s time we hold them accountable and take back Trenton government for us.

*** end quote ***

I think that Bill Spadea is absolutely correct about the “us vs. them”.  Too long we have allowed politicians and bureaucrats to pit us against each other.

In this particular case, the Pepuls Republik of Nu Jerzee can learn from the California fires without having to experience them personally.  Same as floods, let’s take “lessons learned” and transform them into positive actions.

We have fires here in New Jersey every year.  (Remember the Garden State Parkway being closed by smoke recently.)  Where is the plan to mitigate and control.

We have floods here in New Jersey every year.  (Remember the town named Bound Brook. It’s for a reason.)  Where is the plan for that.

We have an “insurance cancellation” problem here in New Jersey every year.  (Remember the various harror stories about being cancelled for a stained roof or dilapidated shed?). Where is our plan for eminent domaining properties that are repeatedly flooded?  Or no coverage to rebuild in disaster zones. And, certainly not rebuilding mansions at the shore repeatedly covered by flood insurance. How about state wide “insurance pools” run like credit unions?

Let’s not let the politicians and bureaucrats lull us back to sleep with vague promises only to be reawakened by disasters.

Argh!

—30—

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HEALTHCARE: Hospitals are deadly; never forget it

Thursday, January 16, 2025

https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2024/12/13/hospitalization.aspx?ui=f9839516412491bb1e06c9e47058c6fb81b9b9b6acedf03e65e93dfdb263c1b9&sd=20210317&cid_source=dnl&cid_medium=email&cid_content=art1ReadMore&cid=20241213&foDate=false&mid=DM1672472&rid=183055644

What Makes Hospitals So Deadly and How Can We Fix It?
Analysis by A Midwestern Doctor

December 13, 2024

  • Throughout COVID-19, abysmal hospital care and the suppression of effective off-patent therapies killed approximately a million Americans. Much of this originated from Obamacare pressuring hospitals to aggressively treat patients so they could quickly leave the hospital and reduce health care costs
  • More frail patients respond poorly to aggressive protocols, resulting in them frequently being pushed into palliative care or hospice. Sadly doctors are no longer trained to gradually bring their patients back to health, and hence view many of those deaths as inevitable
  • During COVID-19, hospitals enforced rigid protocols centered around remdesivir and ventilators while denying alternative treatments, even in cases where patients were likely to die — in one striking example, patients who received court-ordered ivermectin had a 95% survival rate compared to just 5% for those denied it
  • Current medical training emphasizes following standardized protocols rather than practicing individualized medicine, with younger doctors being trained to execute procedures rather than critically examine cases and adjust treatment plans for each patient
  • In this article, we will review some of the forgotten medical therapies that dramatically improve hospital outcomes and highlight some of the key strategies patients and lawmakers can use to reduce hospital deaths

*** begin quote ***

During COVID-19, we witnessed something previously unimaginable. A national emergency hospitalized thousands of Americans, where they were cut off from their loved ones and inevitably died. It soon became clear that the hospital protocols did not work, but regardless of how futile conventional care was, patients in our hospitals could not get the alternative therapies they needed.

This led to a sobering realization throughout America — what many of us believed about our hospitals was utterly incorrect. Rather than help patients, hospitals effectively functioned like assembly lines that ran disastrous protocols (e.g., remdesivir), denied patients access to their loved ones and refused to use alternative therapies even when it was known the patients were otherwise expected to die.

This was best illustrated by a travel nurse who was assigned to the New York hospital with the highest death tolls in the nation and realized something very wrong was happening throughout the hospital so she covertly recorded it:

{Extraneous Deleted}

*** end quote ***

It’s hard to imagine that a system that is based on “first do no harm” can deliver such an abominable result.

A plague on all their houses,

Clearly, the system needs to dismantled  and reassembled.

And, some trials and tribunals to assess blame and punishment.

Surely, McDonalds needs fry cooks.

—30—

 

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ENCOURAGING: Getty Museum team had their game plan payoff

Thursday, January 16, 2025

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14268629/Getty-museum-fire-prevention-karen-bass.html

Simple steps taken to prevent Getty Museum burning down. Why didn’t Karen Bass do the same?
By BRITTANY CHAIN FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
Published: 18:44 EST, 9 January 2025 | Updated: 19:10 EST, 9 January 2025

*** begin quote ***

While most of the Pacific Palisades has been reduced to ash and rubble after it was caught in the path of the devastating California wildfires, the iconic Getty Museum is still standing after implementing a simple routine. 

The museum’s successful efforts to keep the fire at bay begs the question: why didn’t Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass use similar tactics to protect homes and land? 

*** end quote ***

Sounds like the Getty Museum leadership had their game plan and worked it.

All the politicians and bureaucrats are scrambling to blame someone else.  Just once, I’d like someone stand up and say: “I made a mistake but we will not make that one again.”  Maybe they won’t get praised for the mistake, but they can serve as an object lesson.

The Getty Museum team demonstrated that if you do the job, excuses are not needed.

Impressive. Easy to succumb to complacency until it’s too late. Wonder if any lessons are being learned anywhere else?

Old maxim is: “You don’t have to pay for EVERY lesson yourself.  You are allowed to learn from the mistakes of others.”

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