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Please Post All Political Comments On This Posting For the Weekend

Cory
January 19, 2019

Since we do not have a weekend show political posting this weekend I am posting this to help keep the comments segregated. I will be very busy this weekend preparing for the conferences in Vancouver so please keep all political comments on this posting.

Thank you very much everyone and I hope you all have a great weekend!

Discussion
135 Comments
    Jan 19, 2019 19:09 AM

    The left will pull out all the stops to impeach Trump soon as they fear Ruth Ginsberg is a goner, and they are terrified that Amy C. Barrett will replace her.

      Jan 19, 2019 19:28 PM

      They may not “pull out all the stops” but what ever happens it will be a real circus.

      CFS
      Jan 19, 2019 19:19 PM

      RGB is reported now to be suffering from pneumonia in a weakened post-op condition and hanging on to life by a very thin thread.

    CFS
    Jan 19, 2019 19:11 AM

    Thank you for posting this segment separately, for at this point in time, I believe the recent traitorous behavior of US leaders over the last few decades is finally being understood. I will omit for now, much of the pure self-serving corrupt issues of the military-industrial complex, which, to some extent continues to this day, and focus on the treachery to the country of Obama, Hillary Clinton and Brennan.
    First the characters:
    President Obama, born of a white Marxist women and probably a black Islamic Kenyan, who died two years or so after his (probably illegitimate) son’s birth. Obama’s mother then married an Indonesian and Obama was raised by his Communist grandparents after several years in Indonesia in Islamic schools.
    Hilary Clinton; a greedy person, appointed by Obama as Secretary of State, for the most part without moral values, wife of an ex-President,who was corrupted by CIA drug-running through Mena, Arkansas.
    John Brennan, Muslim, appointed by Obama as head of CIA in 2013.
    Motivations for all these characters were power, greed, and Islamic faith (except for HRC, where greed and power motivation was dominant).
    The traitorous behavior was dominated by two sets of actions.
    Throughout his Presidency, Obama was determined to help Islamic expansion.
    He ran guns an other armaments to Al Qaeda to Create the terrorist group that became known as ISIS. (He allowed the murder of Americans to occur at Benghazi to cover up these actions)
    Obama gave pallets of US Dollars to Iran (some of which went to finance Hezbollah terrorism). He allowed Iran to obtain nuclear materials and possibly gave Iran both missile and nuclear technology. (If not technology, then the money to buy same from Pakistan.)
    Then in 2015 and even possibly before, Obama, in order to retain power for himself and HRC, conspired with John Brennan and Democrat-leaning operatives in the FBI to illegally spy on many US citizens….. opposition Presidential candidates, politicians and judges. Certainly wire-tapping and surveillance of all electronic communications by Presidential candidate and then President Trump is now well established. But that is merely the tip of the iceberg, and probable surveillance occurred of literally hundreds of politicians up to even Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, John Roberts. (The leverage upon whom allowed for Obamacare.)
    It is these unconstitutional acts by Rosenstein, Peter Strzok, Lisa Page, James Comey, etc. that is now being covered up by Rosenstein cohort Robert Mueller.

    https://www.theepochtimes.com/exclusive-in-closed-door-testimony-papadopoulos-identified-alleged-spy-in-trump-campaign_2766153.html

      GH
      Jan 19, 2019 19:15 AM

      That largely passes the smell test for me, CFS.

      The area we’d disagree would be the same as always. I admit I am not particularly knowledgeable about Islam. But that because I’ve never seen evidence incriminating enough to lead me to believe that they are the driving force behind all that is going wrong, and therefore worth more scrutiny. That Muslim groups have been built up does seem to be true. But that is a signature technique of the Talmudist/Masonic mafia–build up opposing forces, incite conflict between them, take advantage of the resulting chaos. I.e. they use their enemies to destroy each other. The prime example, of course, being the World Wars of the last century. The American War Between the States (so-called Civil War) being another likely instance.

      Which influence on Obama is more important. Communism, or Islam? I understand the Pritzkers sponsored his rise to President. Are they Islamic? I understand Citigroup largely dictated the composition of his cabintet. Is Citigroup Islamic?

      https://observer.com/2016/10/obama-makes-first-appearance-in-wikileaks-receives-admin-list-from-big-banker/

        GH
        Jan 19, 2019 19:25 AM

        It is said that major banking institutions with the word ‘City’ in their name trace back to the Rothschilds in the City of London.

        This book may be of interest (I haven’t gotten to it yet).

        https://www.1215.org/lawnotes/misc/the-empire-of-the-city.pdf

        CFS
        Jan 19, 2019 19:38 AM

        GH,
        I don’t believe there is a fully-organized structure, but rather a group of many individuals that are largely sympathetic to each other for various reasons.
        I believe Obama’s motivations were two-fold:
        First. Islamic sympathy. Second, hatred of colonial Britain and US power related to British colonialism.
        Evidence leading to the above: Pro-Islamic behavior….giving arms to terrorists, money to Iran. Removing many US forces upper officers, allowing decline of military, cancelling military programs.
        Obama is highly intelligent, very eloquent, and rose to power by hooking into the Illinois-Chicago Democrat machine, when the Daley power was waning.
        There is some indication from school/university contemporaries and from his Presidential time that Obama was fairly lazy (as Presidents go)
        Obama was clearly a strong Socialist-leaning Democrat, highly pro-unions, but how Marxist, other than early pre-Presidential candidate associations, it is difficult to ascertain.
        With HRC, the motivation is pure selfish greed for money and power, an amoral woman, who would do almost anything for money and the power which gave her more money.
        She would tolerate any sexual misconduct of her husband to retain power and money. She stole things from the White House when Bill left at the end of his Presidency.
        She had an illegal computer system so she would not be subject to scrutiny, or FOIA requests, as she sold out the US for financial gain.
        She did and authorized many illegal acts for power and financial gain…..from selling intelligence to uranium. HRC does not seem to be Muslim, although she is clearly influenced by a decades long friendship with Huma Abedin, who became her righthand woman.

          CFS
          Jan 19, 2019 19:56 AM

          GH,
          I believe most of the other players are substantially politically motivated.
          Brennan as CIA chief by dirty money for covert CIA operations and also by retaining power in order to continue to cover up his illegal misdeeds.
          Similar motivations appear to apply to the upper echelons of FBI officials. First they are motivated by political considerations to act illegally or unconstitutionally, then they are motivated by the need to cover up there acts.
          Comey, McCabe, Rosenstein, Mueller et al, (the list is very long) are all now mostly motivated by trying to hide their previous illegal acts, including leaking of classified information and confidential information, unconstitutional surveillance of US citizens, and projection of their own activities onto President Trump in falsely claiming Russian collusion.

            CFS
            Jan 19, 2019 19:03 AM

            It is not surprising their have been attempts to nullify the election of President Trump and there will be further attempts to remove him by impeachment, both for political reasons AND to cover up the earlier illegal activities.
            Never has politics been so divided and abusive by virtue of power in this country.
            It may take decades to drain the swamp of corruption that is so prevalent in DC.

          GH
          Jan 19, 2019 19:10 AM

          Again, that all sounds plausible.

          But we’re talking about two different levels here–the array of crooks centered around Obama and Clinton, versus the bigger picture into which they fit.

          I agree with you that there is likely not a ‘fully-organized structure’. Rather, there are various players, factions, and coalitions. But that does not mean there is no structure, no hierarchy. Bit players may unconsciously serve a purpose by doing that which they want and are empowered to do. Some are surely even sincere and well-intentioned.

          One needs to think about the systemic structure, and what are the strategic levers of control. I can’t think of any more important levers than control of 1) finance; and 2) information, aka ‘hearts and minds’, via mass media and education.

          To understand what is going on today, and where we will be pressured to go tomorrow, it is key to understand the history of control of institutions of money/finance and information. Also, but I would suggest second tier, MIC (or MIICC), legal system, energy, transport, medicine, food. Maybe there are other key levers I’m missing?

            Jan 19, 2019 19:25 AM

            GH: “The hardest thing to explain is the glaringly evident which everybody has decided not to see.”
            ― Ayn Rand

            CFS
            Jan 19, 2019 19:30 AM

            The more youdig, the more you find…..
            The amount of collusion in spying is enormous.
            e.g. even the smallest member of five eyes….
            https://consortiumnews.com/2019/01/18/exclusive-they-spy-with-their-little-eye/

            CFS
            Jan 19, 2019 19:48 AM

            President Trump will be making a major “wall” announcement today (Saturday) at 3 p.m. from the White House.

            CFS
            Jan 19, 2019 19:03 AM

            Correction:
            Trump is due to speak at 1 p.m.

            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LMKwsayAZE

            (I do not know if this is corrected from an earlier tweet for 3 p.m. But suspect it is.)

            CFS
            Jan 19, 2019 19:21 AM

            GH,
            I think I understand what you are suggesting.

            However, it all depends on whether you think the power lies with an amorphous power structure, the “deep State” or One World Order, or Illuminati, OR WITH INDIVIDUALS.

            I tend to believe while the DS or NWO might influence individuals, that it is individuals that wield their own power. i.e. I place blame with Obama, primarily as President, the most powerful position, or Soros, rich enough to bribe any and all corrupt enough to accept. Then covertly people like Brennan (the current J Edgar Hoover) with enough illegally-gained knowledge to blackmail others into line. Then others with political leverage, Secretary of State, Leaders of political parties or houses of Congress.
            Never forgetting lobbyists representing power via bribery.

            GH
            Jan 19, 2019 19:54 PM

            CFS,

            Certainly we all have individual power.

            [And though I’m not so much one to talk about religion or spirituality, I recently came across the interesting and, to me, valid perspective of Worldly power vs Spiritual power, that in terms of Spirit we have all the power we could want or need; Worldly power is vanishingly small, even of the most powerful person, whose ambitions could be cut short right now by a virus, aneurism, assassin’s bullet, etc.]

            But just as certainly, as individuals we all live within a system that exercises vast power and, particularly for those who live unconsciously and go with the flow, appropriates individuals’ power. Some individuals wield more power within that system than others, like Obama or Soros. But obviously there are others who wield far more power than anyone you list. Take the recently deceased David Rockefeller, for instance, or the families that created the Federal Reserve. But even individuals much more powerful than Obama–how much power do they have, if they stop serving the system that empowers them? So in an ultimate sense, do they have any power at all, if they are just servants to a system?

            [Reminds me of William Blake’s phrase ‘Satanic mills’…Maybe this is where these servants’ psychosis comes from, that in sacrificing all for power they reduce themselves to nothing.]

            Deep State is a fuzzy term. I would propose that the sensible meaning of that term is that it is the managerial class who runs the government in the service of certain interests regardless of the wishes of voters.

            But how are these managers selected? The example of Citigroup picking Obama’s cabinet couldn’t be clearer. And who empowers those at Citigroup who sent Obama that list?

            These powers, could also be called the deep state. But again, that starts to conflate very different levels in the system, and precision in language is important for clarity in thought. Some call them Illuminati. I’d suggest Shadow Rulers, though Shadow Lords has more of a ring to it.

            Tolkien in a different light.

            GH
            Jan 19, 2019 19:57 PM

            Matthew — That’s for sure!

            Jan 19, 2019 19:36 PM

            Two more great ones:
            “Devotion to the truth is the hallmark of morality; there is no greater, nobler, more heroic form of devotion than the act of a man who assumes the responsibility of thinking.”

            “A creative man is motivated by the desire to achieve, not by the desire to beat others.”
            ― Ayn Rand

            Then there’s this:
            “I don’t want a nation of thinkers, I want a nation of workers.” – John D. Rockefeller
            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtHKI93W_eg

            CFS
            Jan 19, 2019 19:27 PM

            There are many unknowns.

            That is why I always try to get all pieces to fit together, always asking why, how, what if….
            Even the smallest fact has a place in the big picture.

            GH
            Jan 20, 2019 20:45 AM

            I agree, many unknowns. But there are also plenty of ‘knowns’ and ‘high-probabilities’.

            Thus the importance of building up knowledge of historical context.

            The more puzzle pieces that one fits together, the more certainty one can have predicting what the missing puzzle pieces look like.

            Yes there are and always will be gaps in evidence, but there are a limited number of *viable* hypotheses. Identifying them shows us where to look for more information to reduce the territory of unknowns as much as possible.

            On the other hand, if one places certain hypotheses off-limits a priori–as, in my view, you do–then the search for understanding is doomed to failure.

            GH
            Jan 20, 2019 20:14 AM

            “That is why I always try to get all pieces to fit together”

            That, CFS, is a bald-faced lie. I wonder if you believe it.

            The proof? You simply refuse to trace the roots of the problems that you go on and on about.

            On many of these issues you and I are actually in agreement, but you present a very limited and incoherent understanding which seems to fall well short of your intelligence.

        CFS
        Jan 19, 2019 19:33 AM

        Trump spoke today as he leaves for the Southern border:

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_u5jRMC9rc

      Jan 19, 2019 19:17 AM

      CFS: On live T.V (C-Span) President Obama referred to his wife as Michael and said “One day we will make it out of low Earth orbit” This just blows my mind.

    Jan 19, 2019 19:10 AM

    –Three Geese Flying–
    From JFK to Bldg 7

    The Deep State connection to the University of Alaska Fairbanks Dr Leroy Hulsey’s debunking of the collapse of Building 7 funded by Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth.

    Chapter 1: Jimmy and the JFK Limo
    Chapter 2: A&E and The 9/11 Truth
    http://www.threegeeseflying.com (still not ready)

      Jan 19, 2019 19:36 AM

      Chapter 3: The 3 Biggest Lies

      ______________________________________________________________

      The 3 Biggest Lies

      Charles Goyette – January 27, 2012

      > Lie #1: The Federal Reserve Is a Bank

      “Practically everything the government says about banking is a lie. Central banks are not banks. The Federal Reserve, the central bank of the United States, is not a bank.”

      “A bank is a company in the free economy that competes with other banks offering willing customers a safe place to make deposits and earn an interest rate return, while also competing to offer loans from those deposits to willing borrowers.”

      “Central banks are government-created bureaucracies that do nothing of the sort.”

      > Lie #2: War Lies

      “Governments and politicians lies incessantly about war. They lie about the cause of war. They lie about the threat of war. They lie about the cost of war. And they lie about their lies about war.”

      > Lie #3: The Real U.S. Debt

      “Washington acts as though that is the real debt of the nation. Politicians posture for weeks at a time about it, devoting long debates to raising the ceiling on this visible portion of the national debt.”

      “And yet the real federal debt is much, much larger and like an iceberg below the water line, most of it is hidden out of sight. And like the Titanic, Republicans and Democrats have the country headed for a tragic collision with economic reality.”

      “Each year the federal government makes new promises and takes on trillions in new financial obligations that do not show up in the visible, official national debt. The persistent growth of these hidden debts each year far outpaces the increases in the visible debt. ”

      https://www.lewrockwell.com/2012/01/charles-goyette/the-3-biggest-lies/

    Jan 19, 2019 19:20 AM

    President Trump Signs Bipartisan Nuclear Energy Legislation into Law

    January 14, 2019 – US Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW)

    “I applaud President Trump for signing this significant nuclear energy legislation into law,” said Chairman Barrasso. “This law will make sure the United States remains a leader of nuclear energy innovation. Nuclear energy not only creates jobs but is critical if we are going to reduce carbon emissions in a meaningful way. The law will bring greater transparency and accountability to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s spending. Additionally, it will establish a licensing process for advanced nuclear reactors and other new technologies. I want to thank members of Congress for coming together to pass this important legislation.”

    “Nuclear power serves as our nation’s largest source of reliable, carbon-free energy, which can help combat the negative impacts of climate change and at the same time, foster economic opportunities for Americans,” said Ranking Member Carper. “If we are smart, we will replace our aging nuclear reactors with new technology developed in this country that is safer, produces less spent fuel and is cheaper to build and operate. I want to thank Senator Barrasso for working with me on this important bipartisan legislation that supports advanced nuclear reactors and ensures the United States remains on the cutting edge.”

    https://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2019/1/president-trump-signs-bipartisan-nuclear-energy-legislation-into-law

      GH
      Jan 19, 2019 19:42 AM

      Good news, I hope.

      I just did a quick search for EROI for nuclear power, and came up with a wide range of results, from 5 (dismal) to 75 (fantastic)…I guess it’s another instance where BS obligates serious homework just to get to a basic understanding of a key aspect of this technology.

      E.g., the following article (referencing an article from Scientific American that I can’t access) says, “It’s worth noting, however, that the range of estimates for nuclear’s EROI is very large indeed, ranging from an estimated 40 to 60 – from the World Nuclear Association – to less than one. Inman tells us he used a paper that reviewed many studies, which puts nuclear’s EROI at five.”

      https://www.carbonbrief.org/energy-return-on-investment-which-fuels-win

        Jan 19, 2019 19:46 AM

        Energy Return on Investment(Updated November 2017)

        “The economics of electricity generation are important. If the financial cost of building and operating the plant cannot profitably be recouped by selling the electricity, it is not economically viable. But as energy itself can be a more fundamental unit of accounting than money, it is also essential to know which generating systems produce the best return on the energy invested in them. This energy return on investment (EROI), the ratio of the energy delivered by a process to the energy used directly and indirectly in that process, is part of life-cycle analysis (LCA). Since any energy costs money to buy or harvest, EROI is not divorced from economics. An EROI of about 7 is considered break-even economically for developed countries, providing enough surplus energy output to sustain a complex socioeconomic system. The US average EROI across all generating technologies is about 40. The major published study on EROI, by Weissbach et al (2013, since the early editions of this paper) states: “The results show that nuclear, hydro, coal, and natural gas power systems (in this order) are one order of magnitude more effective than photovoltaics and wind power,” particularly when any energy storage is factored in for intermittent renewables.”

        http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/energy-and-the-environment/energy-return-on-investment.aspx

          Jan 19, 2019 19:48 AM

          Here is a chart showing the EROI of different Energy inputs. Typically Nuclear is on the top of the heap.

          http://rameznaam.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/EROI-of-Solar-Wind-Nuclear-Coal-Natural-Gas-Hydro.png

            Jan 19, 2019 19:07 AM

            How much it costs to produce energy is also a component of our food supply. Rice is widely consumed in Asia because it takes 30% of human energy to grow and harvest rice, and it in turn gives back 70% more energy when consumed. DT

            Jan 19, 2019 19:15 AM

            Excellent point DT.

            There is also the energy that animals need to receive from their food that effects the energy we receive when we eat them. Of course it takes energy to provide the food stuffs to furry, feathered, or scaled critters that head to the slaughter house.

            Energy…. it’s what’s for dinner…..

            Energy in Beef Cattle Diets
            11 October 2008

            “Energy is often referred to as digestible energy, net energy for maintenance (NEm), net energy for gain (NEg), net energy for lactation (NEl), and total digestible nutrients (TDN). ”

            http://www.thebeefsite.com/articles/1653/energy-in-beef-cattle-diets/

            Jan 19, 2019 19:19 AM

            “Here’s a figure that compares different food production systems based upon the ‘energy return’ that we get on our investment of fossil fuel – basically, it shows the percentage of our energy investment that we get back. ”

            http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ioGTg-HpVXE/TIvFBsV4CCI/AAAAAAAAAFg/aXzjaWdb14E/s1600/EROI+of+various+foods.jpg

          Jan 19, 2019 19:19 AM

          Plant based protein made to look like roasts, steak, and hamburger will be the norm to feed a growing world population.

            Jan 19, 2019 19:40 AM

            I’d rather have plant-based proteins than Insect-based proteins in the future. 😉

            Edible Insect Farming in Blade Runner 2049

            by Josh Galt | Entomophagy, Food Security, Pop Culture

            https://entovegan.com/edible-insect-farming-blade-runner-2049/

            Jan 19, 2019 19:41 AM

            Will we all be eating Blade Runner-style insects soon?

            The new film predicts a future of insect grub protein farms – did they get that from our book On Eating Insects?

            https://www.phaidon.com/agenda/food/articles/2017/october/03/will-we-all-be-eating-blade-runner-style-insects-soon/

            Jan 19, 2019 19:47 AM

            The movie scene that really got to me in the very under-rated movie Snowpiercer about a post-apocalyptic vision of humans surviving on a large train but the second-class citizens being fed power bars made of ground up insects may not be that far from reality in the future. If the population continues swelling, resources run low, usable farmland shrinks, topsoil continues to erode on a massive scale like it is currently, then insects may be what’s for dinner.

            ____________

            Snowpiercer – The Truth About Protein Blocks

            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ol2WJIoE0A

            Jan 19, 2019 19:13 AM

            Ex, great point about feeding the population insect protein, that too is definitely in the cards. DT

            GH
            Jan 20, 2019 20:50 AM

            I’m not saying that bug burgers won’t happen, but in my view it’s not necessary, nor desirable.

            Well…maybe inside the circle on this map…

            https://www.fastcompany.com/1682915/infographic-majority-of-earth-s-population-resides-in-this-one-relatively-small-circle?partner=ps04101creativitynumbers

            The notion that we need to eat bugs sounds to me like the idea of someone who doesn’t know how much food a small garden plot can produce.

            GH
            Jan 20, 2019 20:52 AM

            Prepper Backyard Farming 1/4 Acre = TONS of Food

            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfnzV4n1_xk

            GH
            Jan 20, 2019 20:02 AM

            My bro is an engineer, and seems quite taken with the idea of synthetic edible proteins.

            https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultured_meat

            Sometimes I wonder about engineers… 🙄 🤨

            Jan 20, 2019 20:30 AM

            GH – I’m with brother. I’d much rather focus on sustainability through proper permaculature growing, teaching people to make compost and re-energize their local soil, terrace farming, urban farming, and creating edible walkways & community gardens over the bugs. However, if people get desperate enough, and continue destroying things with GMOs, insane chemical pesticides, and destroying the available topsoil, then they’ll get food where they can.

            I was posting those sci-fi movies half in jest, and half as a cautionary note….

            Jan 20, 2019 20:31 AM

            P.S. – Yes, sometimes I wonder about engineers as well, but glad their minds work as they do.

            Jan 20, 2019 20:33 AM

            GH – That should have said – “I’m with YOU brother…”

            I didn’t want it to seem like I’m with my brother, or behind your brother’s idea of synthetic proteins, as most synthetic vitamins or nutrients are not properly absorbed or utilized by the human body. They need the intelligence in nature of plants converting rock into bio-available nutrients, that we either ingest, or we ingest the animals that ingest them. There is an obvious intelligence and interlinking of the food chain as it has evolved on our humble little planet Earth. 🙂

          CFS
          Jan 19, 2019 19:43 AM

          The subject of energy production and transmission is very interesting. A well-informed individual can hardly ignore the more recent efforts of Green New Power, GNP, including those of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in promoting solar and wind power….solely Renewable Energy.
          One hears mention of Free energy; either hidden technologies in Antarctica or suppressed technology of Tesla.
          I would remind folks that nothing is actually free, since there is cost in construction of machines and continuing maintenance, even if there is “free” output of energy.
          I have been studying the concepts of Tesla in extracting energy from the earth’s magnetic fields and believe I now understand the true physics of the process.
          What also surprised me is that during my research, I found that energy generation by this process is now starting commercially in Europe.
          http://www.zotloeterer.com/welcome/gravitation-water-vortex-power-plants/reference-plants/
          The main problem with conventional solar and wind-power is, of course, storage of power for when the sun is not shining or the wind not blowing. Here much research into magnetic storage is occurring in China and Japan.

          GH
          Jan 19, 2019 19:48 AM

          Thanks for the feedback, Ex and DT.

          Sorry to quibble, but these nuclear EROI #s reflect what I saw. How does one decide who is honest and who is presenting self-interested info?

          Full cost accounting studies are simple in concept, but in execution there are many a slip twixt the cup and the lip. I’d love to see an article where someone has cut through this confusion with a clear and convincing analysis, because it’s not a small bit of work to do it for oneself. I would have hoped that Scientific American would have done that and cut through the confusion, rather than averaging a bunch of different viewpoints into an EROI of 5.

          Likewise, I see a wide range of #s for the EROI necessary to sustain ‘modern industrial civilization’…I saw 7 today looking for EROI for nuclear. But Charles Hall, who I believe did a lot of the pioneering work on EROI, estimates ~11, iirc. 11 is 57% more than 7… maybe that’s just due to wiggle room in terms of what one considers essential to ‘modern industrial civilization’. E.g. in the US switching from mcmansions back to the square footage per person and bathrooms/person of 70 years ago would likely be a boon rather than a death knell to civilization.

          R.e. agriculture #s…An EROI of 492 for soy? Inconceivable. If that were the case, we’d just grow soy for all our energy needs. So again, many a slip twixt the cup and the lip with these #s.

          Much of it has less to do with the crop than with the technique and distribution system. For instance, I have seen #s suggesting that much industrial-style agriculture requires 10 units of energy input to produce 1 unit of food energy for the consemer, for an EROI of 0.1. Whereas, at the opposite extreme, permaculture may achieve an EROI of up to 10.

          My personal bias is that a system based on permaculture, with far more people independently employed in it, is the path to a positive future. A view highly subject to modification in light of additional info.

          DT’s theme of artificial intelligence and automatization is certainly an interesting and pressing one. But I am skeptical that AI and automatization can produce healthy food, the healthy soils/ecosystems this requires, and ultimately healthy people and communities, at a viable EROI.

          Which connects back to where this started, the question of what will be the EROI of our energetic base, and what kind of systems and civilization will we realistically be able to build on that base?

          And a lead-on question from there, what sort of coherent answer to the above puzzle will also lend itself to a society with decentralized power that respects the individual, rather than the ever-tighter pyramid of centralized power and collectivism toward which powerful interests are trying to herd us?

            GH
            Jan 19, 2019 19:50 AM

            wow, lots of new entries while I was typing that up…will have a look at them and see how they reflect on this post…

            Jan 19, 2019 19:09 AM

            GH good points on energy, crops, and AI.

            I also agree with you regarding permaculture being a helpful approach to assist in feeding humanity, the management of water, building & home design and helpful tool on the path forward for the human species.

            https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=permaculture&qpvt=permaculture&FORM=IGRE

            GH
            Jan 19, 2019 19:11 PM

            In case anyone wants a deep dive,

            Mark Shepard on Restoration Agriculture (160 minutes)

            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kb_t-sVVzF0

            Jan 19, 2019 19:15 PM

            Another group that has the right idea is William McDonough and his upcycling one things waste to be another things fuel in his “Cradle to Cradle” approach. I learned about him a decade aga when he was constructing smart buildings that filtered their rain water for potable water, grew plants on rooftops, utilized building materials and windows/mirrors to heat commercial buildings more efficiently, and redesigned many large factories to be more optimum utilizing some of the permaculture concepts on a massive scale.

            https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=cradle+to+cradle&qpvt=cradle+to+cradle&FORM=IGRE

        Jan 19, 2019 19:53 AM

        GH – Yes I agree that overall it is good news for US Energy sector, for US Uranium miners, and for cleaner air. Nuclear energy suffered under the Obama administrations decision to ignore it in favor of funding a number of failed Solar companies, and spiked the supply by dumping DOE nuclear fuel into the spot market long after it was supposed to be curtailed and far over the legal limits, and this was kicking the Uranium sector when it was down.

        It’s nice to see some common sense coming back into the energy discussion.

    Jan 19, 2019 19:24 AM

    Dozens Killed in Blast After Illegal Tap on Mexican Pipeline

    By Dale Quinn – January 18, 2019

    https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-19/explosion-kills-20-in-mexico-at-illegal-tap-on-pemex-pipeline?srnd=premium

    Jan 19, 2019 19:35 AM

    I use to own stock in a Driller in Nigeria that was paid in a % of the oil that was sold. They use to write off about 18% to the locals stealing it. If you really want to see some horrendous pictures take a look. The company turned out to be my first ten bagger and the CEO was later convicted of failing to file form 4 when he sold shares before his divorce to start a bathing suit line for his transvestite girlfriend.
    Snowbirds top ten ways the stock is probably a sell.
    Number 4: CEO on internet in compromising pictures with transvestite girlfriend.

      Jan 19, 2019 19:36 AM

      I follow the comments here. I have a question for you snowbird.You talked about bitcoin purchases early on and i remember you sold some or all. Question how do you feel about bitcoin right here right now as a value propostion

        Jan 19, 2019 19:49 AM

        Hi Space : In todays Investing environment I look at Bitcoin as I would any other Financial instrument attached to Wall Street. Bitcoin no longer represents the decentralization and freedom from the tyranny that is our financial system. Blockchain on the other hand is where the future lies.
        As a value proposition, now this is speaking for myself, I would not look to Bitcoin. At this point instead of Bitcoin I would be buying Physical Silver or depressed Real Estate if you can find it.

          Jan 19, 2019 19:07 AM

          Thanks snowbird.

            Jan 19, 2019 19:13 PM

            I will agree with you that nothing is safe. I know all to well about the bust and booms of Texas as I have lived it. When the dust settles people are still going to need a place to live gas for their cars and Nat Gas to heat their homes.
            You will notice that Sam Zell also he said he was buying Oil. This is a terrible environment for investing as the hardest part is knowing how to deal with not knowing. I like Carl Ichan’s take,find a problem and provide a solution.

          Jan 19, 2019 19:18 AM

          Fixed in Location…….Real Estate is a Target…..going forward………local real estate taxes are going to be a nightmare…..the politicians are not going to let anyone escape.
          Until the police powers and the 3rd. Amendment is understood by the sheeple , you will just be a sucker, waiting to be sucked into the need for greedy politicians , who like BIG TARGETS.
          Depress Real Estate…….there is a reason it is Depressed.

            Jan 19, 2019 19:26 AM

            Hi Jerry: When I say depressed I’ll clarify. Areas that have new potential due to recent developments with Government policy. The real estate I like is rental property.

            Jan 19, 2019 19:28 AM

            But, just stay one step ahead of the sheeple, and real estate is a good investment….
            BUt, get a deep discount going in……………….jmo

            Jan 19, 2019 19:29 AM

            Have you ever owned rental real estate………

            Jan 19, 2019 19:32 AM

            THere are a hundred ways to play the rental real estate game…..all different…..
            You did read……………SAM ZELL is buying GOLD>…….(was on zerohedge two days ago.

            Jan 19, 2019 19:36 AM

            I have and still do. I know we all have our nightmare stories about tenants.
            It’s not for everybody. The best stuff has a Gold mine next door and no taxes.

            Jan 19, 2019 19:39 AM

            The CYCLE for real estate is changing , and what worked the last few time , will be challenging work going forward…………
            A tenant , renter, needs a JOB…….or INCOME from welfare, Section 8, and those numbers …..Welfare people are hard to collect from….Collection is a Hard Job, but your mortgage on the property still continues…plus taxes and insurance.
            THe demographics have changed.

            Jan 19, 2019 19:41 AM

            Nice thing about real estate ,…..is people need shelter……but, some just do not want to pay their share………. 🙂

            Jan 19, 2019 19:45 AM

            Hi Jerry, I know your in Indiana.I was amazed at how many Commercial Strip malls were vacant around Indy. It was an eye opener. The only thing worse I’d say is Detroit, Michigan. Texas is where the action is and it’s all connected to Oil,Nat Gas and the Deep Water Port.

            Jan 19, 2019 19:49 AM

            It is amazing………what is funny we have one of the largest Mall builders here in Indy…
            the Simon Group….over 220 Malls the last count, as I remember, …I have a lot of stories ,with the group….but, that is for another day…..

            Jan 19, 2019 19:53 AM

            You do know, my background is real estate…..schooled at Inidana Univ….with a BS.
            and that was back when you had to know something in order to get a license, ..today, all you need to do , is be able to fog a mirror…….So, I know a lot of BS…… 🙂

            Jan 19, 2019 19:04 AM

            I Love it Jerry, Mirror Foggers and Window Lickers.

            Jan 19, 2019 19:55 AM

            Strapped for Cash……….real problem going forward……’
            DEBT…….car, credit card, school loan…..then house payment or rent.
            What worked before , is a lot different today…the Student Loan Payment, without relief, will certainly, have effects on real estate
            https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-01-19/rising-credit-card-use-shows-consumers-are-strapped

            Jan 19, 2019 19:03 PM

            Texas Tea……is surrounded with booms and bust……better check your history….real estate in Texas….is fine, until it isn’t…….NO place is safe , with the govt. we have in place…………..JMO

            Jan 19, 2019 19:11 PM

            I have said this before……but, I think there is still about 29 Million vacant units on the market in the USA……IF , you have a loan , you are a target for the banksters…..
            remember , you do not own it, until you have the deed in the vault., but you never totally own real estate, because of the REAL ESTATE TAX…..and banks and govt work in concert.

            Jan 19, 2019 19:15 PM

            On January 19, 2019 at 12:13 pm,
            snowbird says:
            I will agree with you that nothing is safe. I know all to well about the bust and booms of Texas as I have lived it. When the dust settles people are still going to need a place to live gas for their cars and Nat Gas to heat their homes.
            You will notice that Sam Zell also he said he was buying Oil. This is a terrible environment for investing as the hardest part is knowing how to deal with not knowing. I like Carl Ichan’s take,find a problem and provide a solution.

            Jan 19, 2019 19:27 PM

            Good statement…..on Carl…..
            Best thing …..is your experience……and next is timing……..

            Jan 19, 2019 19:32 PM

            I have said, many times…..I like real estate……and I agree….Two things necessary for humans………..FOOD AND SHELTER………. 🙂

    Jan 19, 2019 19:38 AM

    To date 12 people have been killed and 170 have been injured in the Yellow Vest Protests.
    Bob Moriarty 321 Gold.
    http://www.321gold.com/editorials/moriarty/moriarty011819.html

      Jan 19, 2019 19:44 AM

      That was a well-written editorial from Bob M.

      “As long as there have been groups gathered together for protection the elite have ruled. It didn’t matter if it was the head of a clan, a Pope, a king or eventually presidents and prime ministers. The elite ruled and the peasants could stuff themselves with cake if they didn’t like the lack of bread. But the elites have always been out of touch with what the people, the mob, the masses want.”

      “When the peasants went hungry for long enough because of mismanagement of government, they manned the barricades and sharpened their pikes. In the end after every revolution all they managed to accomplish was change one group of elites with a different group of clueless elites.”

      http://www.321gold.com/editorials/moriarty/moriarty011819.html

      CFS
      Jan 19, 2019 19:33 PM

      To some extent Moriarty is right, when he says that direct authorization via CIR, Citizens Initiative Referendum, is an efficient way to have a more direct rule via the Citizenry. Jim Rogers has being advocating this for decades.

      It suffers, however, still from the problem that usually ends democracy; namely, that given the power, the masses will vote for themselves largess from the public treasury…..and bankruptcy will eventually occur, leading to an economic collapse.

      It matters not whether the vote comes directly from the people or by way of those in power buying votes through excessive spending, the result is the same.

      Listening to and speaking with people in France, despite the Gilets Jaune being loosely organized, I do believe the leadership understands that the problem is not who controls Government, but the size of Government and taxation, and bureaucracy in general.

      Perhaps, just perhaps, this time the result will be a diminution of the power and control in Government, more freedom for the masses and lower Government spending and taxation, but, as Mr. Moriarty suggests, I’m not holding my breath.

    Jan 19, 2019 19:08 AM

    Ok……..Trump Tweeters……..Want the WALL
    Here is the math.
    There are 57 Million people on Trump’s tweeter account
    Cost of wall…….$57 Billion……….
    THen chip in a $100……….
    and WALLA ……….complete………. 🙂

    Jan 19, 2019 19:39 AM

    Trumpty Dumpty sat on a wall…

    Jan 19, 2019 19:06 AM

    How America’s resurgence is shaping The World. This is a great read about something positive coming out of The US Presidency. It is written by Conrad Black, I believe Conrad Black paints a positive picture about American politics which is hardly ever acknowledge by the main stream media. Black is a very articulate and well read person who presents a side to what is happening that most of the media ignores and trashes. It is well worth the short but to the point read. DT
    https://nationalpost.com/opinion/conrad-black-americas-resurgence-is-reshaping-the-world

    Jan 19, 2019 19:32 AM

    Insys CEO pleads to kickback scheme on Opioids. The CEO has agreed to cooperate with the Government.
    Much like the Clinton Hustle, Doctors were paid kickbacks in the form of speaking fees. Drug companies killing Americans for profit with the blessing of Congress.

      GH
      Jan 19, 2019 19:20 PM

      White Overdose Deaths 50% Higher than Blacks, 167% Higher than Hispanics

      https://www.acsh.org/news/2018/04/05/white-overdose-deaths-50-higher-blacks-167-higher-hispanics-12804

        GH
        Jan 19, 2019 19:21 PM

        Suicides Outnumber Murders 6 to 1 for Whites; Murders Outnumber Suicides 3.5 to 1 for Blacks

        https://www.acsh.org/news/2018/04/19/suicides-outnumber-murders-6-1-whites-murders-outnumber-suicides-35-1-blacks-12861

          GH
          Jan 19, 2019 19:24 PM

          Rising morbidity and mortality in midlife among white non-Hispanic Americans in the 21st century, by Anne Case and Angus Deaton

          https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/early/2015/10/29/1518393112.full.pdf

            GH
            Jan 19, 2019 19:31 PM

            Temporal trends in sperm count: a systematic review and meta-regression analysis

            https://academic.oup.com/humupd/article/23/6/646/4035689

            “This comprehensive meta-regression analysis reports a significant decline in sperm counts (as measured by SC and TSC) between 1973 and 2011, driven by a 50–60% decline among men unselected by fertility from North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.”

            GH
            Jan 19, 2019 19:31 PM

            Trends in Fertility and Mother’s Age at First Birth Among Rural and Metropolitan Counties: United States, 2007–2017

            https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db323-h.pdf

            GH
            Jan 19, 2019 19:32 PM

            In light of all this, ‘white genocide’ may not be as ridiculous as it seemed to me when I first came across the term.

            https://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2019/01/14/identity-politics-white-genocide/

            Jan 19, 2019 19:46 PM

            Hi G.H:
            Could you give us a couple of books you think would be a worthwhile read.

            GH
            Jan 19, 2019 19:47 PM

            Not enough reading for you already? Ha ha

            Um, books on what?

            On this issue it’s more just articles I’ve been reading than books. I came at this subject by slowly awakening over the last ~5 years to the culture wars (stuff I never cared to pay attention to)–cultural marxism and its race, gender, and sexuality aspects, as well as the disconcerting, unspeakable, yet undeniable prevalence of Jewish activists in this culture war. So I just brainstorm all the different prongs of the New Left’s attacks and follow up on them online, mining for gold nuggets–feminism, race-baiting, normalizing sexual deviance, attacks on familial stability, gun control, unlimited immigration and multiculturalism; initiatives like hate speech/crime legislation or affirmative action; and their invention of new terms or twisting of old ones in furtherance of their agenda of deconstructing Western Civilization–white privilege, male privilege, toxic masculinity, “decentering whiteness”, ‘phobias’, etc.

            It’s a horrifying picture that I never imagined possible, and most Americans still don’t.

            You know Unz.com. Also check out theoccidentalobserver.net, amren.com, vdare.com…authors Paul Craig Roberts, Kevin MacDonald, Andrew Joyce, Jared Taylor, Jordan Peterson, Stephen Baskerville, Hugh Davis Graham, Warren Farrell, Christina Hoff Summers, Karen Straughan (youtube), Diana Davison (youtube)…I’m sure there are many others.

            I suppose this gets into what some people call the ‘alt-right’. After Excelsior said that KER had become a sounding board for alt-right views I looked up the meaning of the term at, where else, wikipedia. Here’s how they start:

            “The alt-right, or alternative right, is a loosely connected and somewhat ill-defined grouping of American white supremacists/white nationalists, white separatists, anti-Semites, neo-Nazis, neo-fascists, neo-Confederates, Holocaust deniers, conspiracy theorists and other far-right fringe hate groups. The alt-right intersects with, and partially emerged from, the ideas and rhetoric of men’s rights activists, many but not all of whom have come to embrace the alt-right’s platform.”

            But then scroll down a bit and you will see that this is “Part of a series on Anti-Semitism”, so you know whose view this is. Probably not a fair description of the alt-right, and certainly doesn’t seem to apply to KER. It would be impossible for anyone to speak honestly about issues today without running afoul of their definition.

            If you talk to a a Lefty who has swallowed all the cultural marxist stuff you will find that they unconsciously hold very hateful views while believing they stand against Hate. I asked one, for instance, about the notion that only whites can be racist. Said Lefty affirmed that notion, and explained why: because of the dominant power of whites as a group in society. Yes, people of other races may be prejudiced, or bigots, but Racism is about group power, apparently. Never mind the kind of stats I posted above. Much less crime stats, discrimination against whites for jobs and university admissions, etc.

            Likewise, I asked, “it’s a good thing if minority groups get together to build group consciousness and pride?” “Yes.” “But if whites do that…is that White Supremacism?” “…No…but it’s…stoooopid!!”

            Many years ago another told me that Henry David Thoreau didn’t deserve any credit or recognition because he was just a ‘privileged white man’ (this person was white in appearance).

            Most of us couldn’t make this garbage up, and in the case of these two individuals, I’m sure they got it from the Leftist indoctrination centers that Universities have so largely become.

            Anyway, I believe that of necessity whites will wake up to their interests. But it’s late in coming and I see no simple solution. I believe it’s very important to keep a clear focus on the instigators of this time bomb, rather than to blame those they have made their pawns.

            GH
            Jan 19, 2019 19:49 PM

            I haven’t read this yet, but MacDonald is great, and I imagine this is a key book to read on cultural marxism:

            https://archive.org/details/TheCultureOfCritiqueKevinMacDonald1998

            GH
            Jan 19, 2019 19:50 PM

            This one is probably worthwhile:

            The New Politics of Sex: The Sexual Revolution, Civil Liberties, and the Growth of Governmental Power

            http://ebook-dl.com/book/96550

            GH
            Jan 19, 2019 19:30 PM

            Paul Craig Roberts offers a useful explanation of Cultural Marxism in a recent video interview he did:

            “”The whole notion of class conflict has been replaced by gender conflict, race conflict, sexual preference conflict. The Liberal-Left has created a new victim group and a new exploiter. This exploiter is now “the white heterosexual male”. The new victim class is everyone else. It’s the women, the blacks, the Hispanics, the homosexuals. Anybody but the white heterosexual male.

            We now have a situation in which you have new forms of diversity, such as homosexuals, straight, gender differences, racial differences and these have taken the place of the class difference. So, the whole thing has been turned around.

            With the new victim group being white heterosexual males who are defenseless and not protected by quotas, prohibitions against hate speech or hate crimes, you can say anything about a white heterosexual male. Which is peculiar if they are the dominant group. But you can’t say the slightest thing about blacks, or a homosexuals or women.

            This has the population in each other’s throats. It used to be the capitalist worker against the capitalist owner. Not it is everybody against everybody, and we get more and more diversity.

            This is not a framework for a peaceful society. It is not a framework for a society that can come together and deal with problems as a collective society.

            It’s not a society that can exercise constraint over its government because its split and not united. Therefore, it’s very easy for the very powerful interest groups to dominate. It becomes almost impossible to constraint the powers of government.”

            paulcraigroberts.org/2019/01/18/hatred-of-the-white-hetero-male/

            ——-

            The history, as I understand it. Classical Marxism preached that communism is the inevitable evolution from capitalism, as the proletariat would join together in revolution against the bourgeoisie. But after the Bolshevik Revolution, other attempts at communist revolution in Berlin, Bavaria, and Hungary failed. Workers weren’t interested, and placed national loyalty above some theoretical working class solidarity with international revolutionaries.

            Since the working class did not play the desired role in the world revolution, the Marxists regrouped and redefined the oppressors and oppressed as PCR describes above.

            Kevin MacDonald says that the abandonment of the working class by the crypto-marxist Democrats in the US was already becoming apparent in the 1960s. Before my time. But it certainly squares with Bill Clinton going to the mat for NAFTA in 1992, as well as Hillary’s wonderful ‘deplorables’ gaffe.

            So the working class has been replaced with a diverse array of resentment-motivated ‘victim groups’ who can be goaded and bribed into supporting policies that will achieve the global revolution.

            Sounds nuts, but who ever said these utopian revolutionaries are sane?

            It all seems to go back to an ambition of Talmudist financiers and partners to destroy the existing power structure standing between them and global hegemony. The same ones who provoked and prolonged WW1, imposed the unjust peace that led to WW2, and financed the Bolsheviks and the rise of Hitler. (see, e.g. Antony Sutton)

            In that light, traditional white, Christian American culture, which values individualism and limited government, is a primary obstacle which remains to be destroyed.

            So should we believe that the statistics that I cited at the beginning of this commentary, and the widespread lack of awareness of them much less ability thus far to respond to them meaningfully as a society, are just an accident?

            https://torontonews.wordpress.com/2008/03/18/roots-of-political-correctness/

            GH
            Jan 20, 2019 20:33 AM

            Henry Makow is another valuable source on this constellation of issues, worth checking in with regularly. Here he pulls together the same ideas I am getting at above, and does a better, bolder job of it.

            https://www.henrymakow.com/2019/01/goy-guide-to-social-change.html

            Makow is a Jew who has the background and has put in the effort to have a deep understanding of what is going on, and the courage to speak forthrightly about it.

            I showed this website to a Jewish friend, who rejected it outright without giving any real consideration to Makow’s message. Anyone who seriously engages with a few of his articles will know that his is the farthest thing from a message of hatred.

            b
            Jan 20, 2019 20:44 PM

            Interesting how much and what leads to the Talmud.

    Jan 20, 2019 20:58 AM
    Jan 20, 2019 20:20 AM
      Jan 20, 2019 20:06 PM

      Al Franken said nothing substantive other than he didn’t think 911 was an inside job.

      You really have a 1 track mind on this truther obsession.

      Jan 22, 2019 22:25 PM

      Crackpot calling kettle black.

      On January 22, 2019 at 10:55 am,
      snowbird says:

      “CFS: Your mindless posting of videos with no commentary is getting old. I’m calling you out.” – Snowbird

      ________________________________________________________

      Thank goodness you would never do that…. Oh wait, you do it. Look in the mirror before you start casting stones at others.

      On January 20, 2019 at 9:20 am,
      snowbird says:
      What did you say?

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmGQedEAxfk

    Jan 20, 2019 20:16 PM

    Brett Farve “Don’t ever forget the USS Liberty and the men who died that day”
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3QNqDTxA3Q