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Post by artraveler on Mar 5, 2022 21:57:54 GMT -8
The world is full of Goldbergs, and all his hangers on. I don't think they started out to be intellectually corrupt and I'm not sure they recognize that they are now. Most, not all, are graduates of famous schools with degrees in journalism. And even if they haven't been to a J school they are influenced by the on going philosophy which is first leftist and second narcissistic. Let's face it not everybody wants to have their name out there in the light, regardless of how honest you are or interesting a writer.
Which brings me to the second part of the fall of journalism. Say, 100 years ago the primary element journalists sought was too be a good writer. Many of the best were frustrated novelists or even one hit wonders. Today the only writing done is to fit a two minute news segment. No substance, style and not much content. Newspapers, which used to dominate major cities with many papers, running morning and afternoon editions are lucky to have one paper and subscriptions are seeking the bottom of the birdcage level. Nobody reads newspapers any more.
Oh, the counter argument is the ever presence of online news and there is a case to be made for that. But is there an internet H L Menken, or Mark Twain? The age of great reporters and great writers has faded and doesn't seem to have much chance of returning. Andrew Britebart for a brief time appeared to have taken up the torch but his premature death left a hole where journalism used to be. VDH is an excellent writer and can be depended on to present his honest view as is Dennis Prager but neither is schooled as journalist but educators. But even they are influenced by their own bias. The difference being they recognize it and report it in their writing.
English as a method of communication is no longer taught in school at any level from kindergarten to grad school the trend is to be splashy and colorful with out offending any of the many traditional offended. Ask a high school senior how many books they read in the last year. I guarantee they will report a number less than the fingers on one hand. I wonder how many have read the Leatherstocking tales of James F. Cooper, The Scarlet Letter or Moby Dick? How can we expect our kids to construct intelligent sentences if their singular reading experience is the menu a McDonald's? I fear we are heading, eyes wide shut, into a new dark age where the written word is consigned to a few in their ivory towers and the bulk of mankind will be illiterate, stupid, blind, and sheepish, waiting for the morlocks to serve them up for dinner.
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Brad Nelson
Administrator
עַבְדְּךָ֔ אֶת־ הַתְּשׁוּעָ֥ה הַגְּדֹלָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את
Posts: 12,261
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Post by Brad Nelson on Mar 6, 2022 9:22:50 GMT -8
I do think that captures a yuge dynamic of it. Most news consumption is likely from TV or the internet rather than a newspaper. This has lead to what I would call "punchline" journalism.
Thoughtful analysis (even if one were not hamstrung by a Leftist point of view) is almost impossible in 15 seconds. Everything thus tends to be condensed to a soundbyte. And with Leftism dominating the "news," this is of further convenience because all that is required is to fit whatever is happening into one of the pre-packaged narratives. Analysis and truth-telling, which soundbyte news makes difficult even on a good day, makes it all but impossible if (as Dennis Prager notes regularly) truth is not a left wing value.
Government schools do a wonderful job of preparing people for punchline journalism. My many ventures on the internet have taught me one thing. And I'm not sure if this is an inherent example of human nature or a result of the dumbing-down of the culture. (Could be both.) But a lot of Internet Rangers I've run into think they have the truth to all things because of the few soundbytes they have been taught.
I'm not saying that truth can't be black-and-white and that "real" is thus all about sifting through endless shades of gray (leading inevitable to little understanding and almost the willfulness not to come to any conclusions). It's not wrong to learn soundbytes (factbytes), per se, if they are true: such as that there is "male" and there is "female" and the rest is a function of something other than biology.
People learn "White people are bad, black people are victims." It's a soundbyte and one that is wrong, and intentionally so. However, the smuggest SOB's I've ever run into aren't Progressives, per se. They are the "atheistic fundamentalists" that Mr. Flu has written about. These "secular" types have about four or five core ideas (all of them serious over-simplifications) that scramble their brains and turn their minds into stereotype-generation engines. But the advantage of these four or five ideological soundbytes is that they give one the feeling that one knows everything. This method attempts to turn ignorance into omniscience. And this could be said about nearly every Democrat politician who rises above the level of dog-catcher...and about quite a few Republicans as well.
From this whole Wuhan Flu thing we get a clear glimpse at where things are heading. The idea of rights being inalienable is being replaced (long so, by European countries) with the idea that government is in charge of telling you what your rights are. And without a foundation in anything deeper than being "splashy and colorful without offending," the sheeple have no other way to think about themselves in society other than that they are a client of the state.
We see that attitude of the masks that we exist for the state and not the other way around. As Reagan said, "We are a nation that has a government — not the other way around." I think there is still a fairly large core of people (probably most over the age of 60) who understand this. But they will fade away and be gone and the menu-reading yutes will take over. And their willingness to be both thoughtless and compliant during this entire Wuhan Flu travesty shows you that those in power have little to fear from the people.
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Russia
Mar 6, 2022 12:32:38 GMT -8
Post by kungfuzu on Mar 6, 2022 12:32:38 GMT -8
Biden and Poland are beginning to go crazy. If Poland or any other NATO nation starts supplying fighter jets to the Ukraine, we can look for a significant rise in the temperature of this conflict. At the minimum we ca expect "terrorists" to cross our unprotected Southern border in the near future. As much as I admire the Poles, they can be a bit crazy. Their historical hate of Russia is understandable, but its intensity can border on the irrational. I have little doubt that the Poles would be willing to sacrifice thousands to pull NATO into a war with Russia. Understand that the Poles have little love for the Ukrainians and vice-versa. Lvov, the largest city in Western Ukraine was long a center of Polish and Yiddish culture. The whole area is a ethnic mess which we need to stay out of. Let's give the children more guns to play with. What could go wrong? |
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Brad Nelson
Administrator
עַבְדְּךָ֔ אֶת־ הַתְּשׁוּעָ֥ה הַגְּדֹלָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את
Posts: 12,261
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Russia
Mar 6, 2022 13:57:42 GMT -8
Post by Brad Nelson on Mar 6, 2022 13:57:42 GMT -8
We should supply them. We should keep supplying them. We should make life difficult for this modern Hitler.
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Russia
Mar 6, 2022 15:51:29 GMT -8
Post by kungfuzu on Mar 6, 2022 15:51:29 GMT -8
I could have just as well posted this under the "How our Elites have sold out Americas," but since this disaster has been brought on by the unprecedented way our leaders have reacted to the Russian invasion of the Ukraine, I decided to post it here. To wage any war successfully, be it economic, cyber or kinetic intelligence is required of a country's leaders. This characteristic is glaringly missing from present Western governments. In any case, the end of the U.S. dollar as the primary reserve currency of the world has started. It will likely be, though this is not guaranteed, a slow process. But in the end, the U.S. economy will be badly hit and, we will no longer being able to hawk our dollars around the world that we do today. Inflation will rage. The present, and sure to grow, $30 trillion dollar budget deficit will be repaid, if we are lucky, with tremendously deflated dollars. Inflation will steal the people's assets, particularly those of whom are living on fixed incomes. We will probably end up like some South American banana republic with criminals ruling over our ever more corrupt country. Asean adopts currency swaps |
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Russia
Mar 6, 2022 17:23:38 GMT -8
Post by kungfuzu on Mar 6, 2022 17:23:38 GMT -8
May I suggest everyone take the time to read one of the great documents of our American nation, "Washington's Farewell Address to the People of the United States." " It is 32 pages long. In this address, Washington gives the most sage advice I have ever seen from anyone in public life. He lays out prescient suggestions as to how the people of the United States of America can best avoid problems and strengthen their union. How to avoid encroachments upon their liberty and manipulation by foreign powers. Of course, the country has disregarded President Washington's advice on a monumental scale. I guess that was to be expected as he was a wise and good man, who loved his country and understood human nature, thus could see some distance down the road of human folly. The majority of politicians who have followed him have been sadly lacking in these positive personal attributes. Here are a few of the gems of advice regarding foreign relations, which Washington gave us in his last presidential address to the nation. Today, we should listen to him. |
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Russia
Mar 6, 2022 17:37:21 GMT -8
Post by kungfuzu on Mar 6, 2022 17:37:21 GMT -8
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Russia
Mar 6, 2022 17:59:14 GMT -8
Post by kungfuzu on Mar 6, 2022 17:59:14 GMT -8
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Russia
Mar 6, 2022 18:08:46 GMT -8
Post by kungfuzu on Mar 6, 2022 18:08:46 GMT -8
Apparently, the Polish government is not, in fact, crazy and finds America's plan to fight Russia down to the last Pole somewhat distasteful. I believe the same sentiment will be found in the governments of Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova, all of which border the Ukraine. I would also bet the governments of Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands have similar feelings about the issue. Great Britain is the only country that appears to be as rabid as the U.S. in this matter, but that is probably because the U.K. planned on using the same modus operandi that the US does, i.e. fight until the last Pole, Slovak, Hungarian, Romanian, Moldovan or some other unfortunate falls. Blinken should be cashiered immediately. Poles call out Blinken's lie I just saw proof of how some Slovaks hold little truck with getting into this fight. Slovaks think of Slovaks first |
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Russia
Mar 6, 2022 18:43:06 GMT -8
Post by kungfuzu on Mar 6, 2022 18:43:06 GMT -8
Crude oil hits US$130 per barrel. Expect US$150 per barrel soon. Up, up and away |
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Russia
Mar 6, 2022 20:16:56 GMT -8
Post by kungfuzu on Mar 6, 2022 20:16:56 GMT -8
If this is genuine, and there are a number of people who post that they have been following this couple for over a year, then things look pretty normal in Russia. They are certainly quite different from the old Soviet days, which is the last time I visited Moscow. I watched all three videos, as I like to see different people around the world in their local environment. I found the last video, when they planted potatoes, to be the most interesting. It reminded me of things in the States about 60-65 years back. I have also been in a sauna like that one and being beaten with birch branches is not particularly fun. The first two videos showed prices of food and gasoline. These were pretty low so I wonder how well the US imposed sanctions will work? Time will tell. Mama, Papa and Baby make three |
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Russia
Mar 6, 2022 20:42:40 GMT -8
Post by kungfuzu on Mar 6, 2022 20:42:40 GMT -8
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Russia
Mar 7, 2022 14:09:05 GMT -8
Post by kungfuzu on Mar 7, 2022 14:09:05 GMT -8
A few facts on the economics involved in this fight. Russia, Belarus and the Ukraine control: 25-30% of world wheat 25-30% of world barley 35-40% of world potash 66% of world ammonium nitrate 50% of European's food Those are just commodities which are ag related. They are vital to feeding the world. The costs for all of these have risen drastically. Wheat has gone from about $6.20/bushel on Nov 3, 2020 to about $8.50/bushel and in futures it is up to $12.60/bushel. It jumped so much today on the exchanges that they had to temporarily stop trading it. Europe is reliant on Russia for 40% of its energy supply. Have a look at how the price of natural gas has jumped. We have long heard how horrible and what murderous regimes Iran and Venezuela are, but the idiot Biden administration is in talks with both to purchase crude to replace crude from Russia. But forget about the Keystone Pipeline and increasing US production. As to the sanctions the West has put on Russia's financial sector (hoping to destroy the ruble) Russia has announced that any country which has put sanctions on Russia will now have to pay for anything they buy from Russia in rubles. This will help counter-act the Western sanctions, support the ruble over the long term and weaken the dollar as a world currency. The West's actions have also strengthened communist China tremendously. The Russian and Chinese financial sectors are moving closer together. For example, the moment Mastercard and Visa stopped their use in Russia, Russia's largest bank announced possible new cooperation with Union Pay , the largest credit card system in China. Ya think maybe they game planned this? A little icing on the cake. The Saudi Prince in charge has mentioned that he wants to diversify out of the US$. |
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Russia
Mar 7, 2022 15:51:11 GMT -8
Post by kungfuzu on Mar 7, 2022 15:51:11 GMT -8
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Russia
Mar 7, 2022 21:02:56 GMT -8
Post by kungfuzu on Mar 7, 2022 21:02:56 GMT -8
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Post by kungfuzu on Mar 7, 2022 22:35:48 GMT -8
Have a look at the rise in prices of a number of important commodities over the last days. Get ready to pay much more for everything Frankly, I believe that there is a good chance that the idiots and criminals running this country and deciding our foreign policy are actually pushing for a collapse of the economy. They actually hate America that much. If that is not the reason then perhaps they are looking to gain politically in November by giving the foolish voters a "rally-round-the-flag" moment. Maybe it is a combination of the two. |
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Post by artraveler on Mar 8, 2022 6:14:56 GMT -8
foreign policy are actually pushing for a collapse of the economy. We have to ask ourselves, is there anything different that an enemy would do if they happened to get in charge? Frankly, mere stupidity, ignorance, or incompetence does not reach this level of malevolence. |
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Brad Nelson
Administrator
עַבְדְּךָ֔ אֶת־ הַתְּשׁוּעָ֥ה הַגְּדֹלָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את
Posts: 12,261
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Russia
Mar 8, 2022 9:45:59 GMT -8
Post by Brad Nelson on Mar 8, 2022 9:45:59 GMT -8
That both Putin and Biden would want to bring down the established order, if for different reasons, makes this situation complicated.
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Russia
Mar 8, 2022 11:12:42 GMT -8
Post by kungfuzu on Mar 8, 2022 11:12:42 GMT -8
For the first time in my life, I saw gasoline priced at over $4/gallon in Texas. It was $4.09/gallon for regular at a Race Track station.
Nickel, which is used in making stainless steel and numerous other items jumped to $100,000/mt for 3 month futures. They stopped trading in the hopes to cool the markets. The previous spot close was about $29,000/mt. Today it is about $43,000/mt. A couple of years ago it was about $15,000/mt.
This is the beginning of a disaster in the economy.
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Russia
Mar 8, 2022 11:39:18 GMT -8
Post by kungfuzu on Mar 8, 2022 11:39:18 GMT -8
Most of the work is being done by Biden and the globalists. Putin's invasion of the Ukraine is minor compared to the destruction done by the military-intelligence-security-foreign-service-financial-climate-change-industrial complex. I do however believe that much of the insanity we are seeing in the West has been helped along by CCP funding and elite-merger. They own too many of our rulers.
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