Go Nuts!

Food 7 Minutes

In their many variations, nuts are a superfood praised as rich sources of minerals, vitamins, amino acids, proteins, and other bioactive compounds. Chestnuts are champions for vitamin C, for instance. Pistachios contain the most vitamin A and potassium. Both are high in folic acid. Cashews enrich us with magnesium. The level of vitamin B3 (niacin) is the highest in peanuts, and vitamin E (tocopherol) is found in almonds. Walnuts are especially high in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a neuroprotective omega-3 fatty acid important for normal growth and development. It also has been shown to induce apoptosis (programmed death of cells) in breast cancer cells. Our bodies cannot produce ALA, hence, nutritional intake is a must, as is the case with many other key nutrients.

Research Supports the Benefits of Nuts

A 2023 review published in the journal Foods found mounting evidence that a nut-rich diet can potentially prevent numerous chronic illnesses. According to the report, “The ingestion of phytochemicals from nuts and their positive influence on several diseases (cancer, heart disease, stroke, hypertension, birth defects, cataracts, diabetes, diverticulosis, and obesity) are established.” In addition to the improvement of cardiovascular disease, depression, and cognitive function, nut consumption is correlated with lower cancer incidence and cancer mortality, and decreased all-cause mortality, states a 2021 review.

The Nut–Cancer Health Connection

The World Health Organization predicts a considerable increase in cancer, with a potential of 32.6 million cases worldwide by 2045. Effective strategies, such as increasing dietary fiber, eating more fruits and vegetables, and physical activity, could potentially reduce cancer risk factors by approximately 42 percent. The journal Chronic Diseases and Translational Medicine published a review in 2023 about the interrelation of nut consumption and different types of cancer, including women-related and gastrointestinal cancers.

Data suggests that eating nuts not only reduces “cancer-related risk and mortality,” but possibly prevents the occurrence of certain types of cancer and its advancement. Nuts contain active anticarcinogenic compounds such as “folate, phytosterols, saponins, phytic acid, isoflavones, ellagic acid, α-tocopherol, quercetin, and resveratrol,” according to the review. The research points to certain phytochemicals and their mechanisms as preventatives for cancer.

Accordingly, walnuts, pecans, almonds, and pine nuts contain polyphenols, which inhibit carcinogenesis that is chemically induced. Likewise, hazelnuts and Brazil nuts hold helpful properties, called isoflavonoids, to balance hormonal mechanisms. Most nuts are strong antioxidants that counteract oxidative stress and guard our DNA—the health benefits list of nuts is long.

Nuts at a Glance

Walnuts

A review published in the journal Nutrition outlines the cancer-preventative properties of walnuts, as researched in animal studies with mice. It summarizes the following points:

A diet enriched with walnuts prevented the increase of “human breast cancers implanted in nude mice by [approximately] 80%.”

Mammary gland tumors were reduced by approximately 60 percent through a diet containing walnuts in a mouse model.

“Walnuts slowed the growth of prostate, colon, and renal cancers by antiproliferative and antiangiogenic mechanisms.”

Another interesting fact was shared in the review. Comparing the intake of whole walnuts to a diet equally rich in n-3 fatty acids, the reduction of tumors in the mammary gland was greater when ingesting whole nuts. This reinforces the idea that active components in walnuts act synergistically to suppress cancer. Walnuts also proved their antitumorigenic qualities in an animal study in vivo in mice. Compared to the corn-oil-based control group, the walnut group featured two major improvements—the tumor growth rate was slowed by 27 percent, and the tumor weight was reduced by 33 percent. Reducing inflammation in the body benefits many health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, and cancer. Walnuts have proven valuable in all.

A randomized tested a daily intake of 56 grams of walnuts (366 calories) in 46 overweight adults. Another trial analyzed the same amount on diabetic patients. Both results showed that the increased nut intake improved endothelial function significantly, which is key for healthy blood and lymph vessels. In turn, endothelial cells are needed to protect from vascular malfunctions—the hallmarks of several types of malignant disorders.

Almonds

Contrary to common belief, regular almond intake does not lead to weight gain, although the nuts contain almost 50 percent fat. Instead, almonds “appear to promote weight loss,” affirms a research paper published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, which benefits obesity-related illnesses, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. However, almonds also contain the highly controversial and much-researched bioactive compound glycoside amygdalin. Its pharmaceutical development as an anti-cancer treatment continues to be a topic of discussion in the pharmaceutical world.

As a commercial drug, amygdalin is distributed under the name Laetrile but has since been shown to have serious side effects, such as damage to nerves and the liver, a lack of oxygen in the blood, and confusion. Furthermore, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved Laetrile and has said that the compound shows only little anti-cancer effect.

In contrast, a review in the Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics praises amygdalin’s few side effects, its low cost, and especially its excellent results in the battle against multidrug resistance. Furthermore, the compound can be easily naturally sourced as it occurs in the kernels of many fruits and is a compound in nuts.

A 2023 comprehensive review published in the International Journal of Molecular Science relates the same hopeful message: “Amygdalin seems to be a promising naturally occurring agent against cancer disease development and progression.” While Amygdalin has proven its anti-tumor qualities, it still is not recommended as an extensive remedy, as some challenges need to be overcome.

Its correct dosage heavily depends on the type of bacteria present in a person’s gut. Therefore, researchers have not been able to find an across-the-board therapy. “Unfortunately, there is currently no foolproof method for determining the microbial consortium and providing a safe oral dosage for every patient,” researchers stated in a 2022 review.

Scientists place their hope in modern nanotechnologies as they further explore the qualities of amygdalin in cancer treatment. “There are several pieces of evidence to support the idea that amygdalin can exert anticancer effects against lung, breast, prostate, colorectal, cervical, and gastrointestinal cancers,” researchers stated in the 2023 review. The compound “has been reported to induce apoptosis of cancer cells, inhibiting cancer cells’ proliferation and slowing down tumor metastatic spread,” they added.

A 2019 article published in Cancer Medicine that dials in on amygdalin, primarily found in bitter almonds, not only highlights its “antioxidative, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory activities,” but investigates the clinical value of the anti-cancer agent.

The compound introduces cytotoxicity and apoptosis in the body and balances the immune function, which affects especially “solid tumors” such as lung or bladder cancer and renal cell carcinoma. Despite limiting factors, such as the “primary stage” of both clinical and experimental research and the lack of high-quality publications on the topic, researchers still believe these studies to be promising regarding cancer treatments. Many may not be surprised that walnuts and almonds provide us with these health benefits. However, the following nut, which botanically speaking, is a legume, often gets a “bad rap” as a common allergen. Nevertheless, research shows its valuable qualities in cancer therapy.

Peanuts

A human study published in the journal Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation showed that “high consumption of peanuts, walnuts, and almonds appears to be a protective factor for the development of breast cancer.” The study group included 97 female patients suffering from breast cancer and a control group of 104 healthy women. Researchers analyzed their seed consumption via the Mantel-Haenszel test method and found a correlation between dietary nut intake and the development of breast cancer.

Peanuts once again portrayed their qualities as functional food in a study that investigated phytosterols (PS), a natural compound that lowers cholesterol levels and prevents cardiovascular diseases. This research suggests that their sterol beta-sitosterol, in particular, holds protective anticancer effects against “colon, prostate, and breast cancer.”

With 207 milligrams PS per 100 grams, unrefined peanut oil has the highest concentration of valuable beta-sitosterol—even higher than olive oil. Peanut butter “contains 144-157 mg PS/100 g.” Further refinement of the product results in lower rates of the active compound. Another healthy property of peanuts is the polyphenol phytochemical resveratrol—the target of a review focused on anti-cancer agents. In addition to peanuts, sources of resveratrol include grapes, red wine, and other berries.

Researchers point out that people benefit from the consumption of this powerful antioxidant, as it displays “strong anti-tumor activities through inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, inducing cell apoptosis, promoting tumor cell differentiation, preventing tumor invasion and metastasis, and further moderating the host immune system to kill tumor cells.” In fact, the nickname “French Paradox” was given to resveratrol’s impact on the health of the French people, as it seems that the compound counteracts the French diet, which is often high in fats, and protects consumers from cardiovascular disease and more.

Pistachios

Another inconspicuous nut with plenty of healthy properties comes from the cashew family. In comparison with other nuts, the health profile of pistachios is even more advantageous. They are low-fat, a good source of vegetable protein, contain a remarkable amount of minerals (potassium) and vitamins (C and E), and are high in dietary fiber.

Both in vitro and in vivo models have indicated significant regulatory properties in pistachios on oxidative stress, according to a 2022 review. Consequently, eating pistachios also positively affected the risk of chronic diseases, including cancer. Another 2022 review highlighted resveratrol in pistachios and its favorable role in breast cancer treatment. Unfortunately, the high cost of this nut often keeps people from regular intake, which would be beneficial for their health.

Diet, Inflammation, and Cancer

It has long been known that lifestyle and diet greatly impact our health. A 2010 review describes the multistage process of cancer as “initiation, promotion, and progression” and explains that oxidative stress plays a role in all three phases of tumorigenesis (the formation of cancer), as does chronic inflammation in the body—conditions fought by nuts. A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids supports cancer survival, according to a review published in the Journal of Nutrition that examined several animal studies. In addition, it can lessen side effects that come with chemotherapy and increase the treatment’s efficacy. The review goes as far as to state that the “consumption of omega-3 fatty acids might slow or stop the growth of metastatic cancer cells” after appropriate cancer treatment. Walnuts contain the highest amount of omega-3 fatty acids.

SOURCE: THEEPOCHTIMES.COM

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Published by pat frederick

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136 thoughts on “Go Nuts!”

    1. GOOD MORNING, Pat and Filly!!!

      Every Christmas, Mama bought bags of mixed nuts in the shell – and kept a bowl full of them with nut crackers and picks on a table in the living room. Oh man, they were good. I don’t see those bags of nuts around nowadays – I guess because it’s easier to buy nuts already shelled.

      We also used to have bags of oranges from Florida (before the blight killed many orchards)…big juicy navel oranges, smaller juice oranges… Oh man, they were so good.

      Mama used to buy whole unpeeled coconuts too and make a big fluffy 3 layer cake from the ground up coconut meat and the milk. Oh man, that was good!!!

      She also used to make ambrosia from all of the above – oranges, coconut and chopped pecans! Oh man, that was soooo good!

      Liked by 3 people

      1. PS – We got oranges, nuts and candy in our stockings….and were delighted with that!

        And – I did note all the anti-cancer properties of nuts…guess I’ll be buying a variety of nuts for Sally Q and the rest of us.

        Liked by 2 people

        1. we eat nuts here too–and anywhere i can sneak them in baking i do.
          and i JUMBO THANKS to you for introducing me to pecans!!! I loved them in turtles…but now in cookies? OMG!!!! they’re one of my favorites now!
          hubby introduced me to pistachios. that’s our evening snack sometimes. we sit and shell them and eat them.

          Liked by 2 people

          1. Pistachios are addictive! Love Macadamias too – but rarely buy them because of the cost.
            One Brazil Nut has all the selenium you need for the day!

            Liked by 2 people

      2. Morning GA!
        I kind of remember those nuts as well–I know I have my MIL’s nut crackers and set of nut picks–I just think i ever used them at all.
        but hubby has.
        that ambrosia sounds good!

        Liked by 2 people

        1. Ambrosia has to be made with what Mama called meat oranges – Navel oranges freshly ground coconut meat (can cheat and use frozen coconut, but not quite as good – never use that bagged dried sweetened shredded cocunut!!!) and add chopped raw, not toasted, pecans last just before serving or sprinkle on top.

          Liked by 2 people

      3. Good morning, GA! Every fall before the OK/NE annual game (either on Thanksgiving or the day after), the bowl of walnuts & pecans with nutcracker & picks was put out on the coffee table and stayed thru Xmas. And it was the same drill with the navel oranges – always at least one in my stocking! If we had extra $ (since they were more expensive), I’d even get some mandarin oranges.

        In parochial school for our Christmas Eve service, there were paper bags under the tree at church for all the children filled with nuts, fruit and candy. We would all line up and take one bag from under the tree. That was our program, where the children sang and recited quotes from the bible & prayers. Christmas morning service was the “adult” service with the adult choir performing and the children sitting with their parents.

        Liked by 2 people

        1. A beautiful memory! The fragrant tree, the oranges, nuts… my favorite part of Christmas now.

          Also loved the Lessons and Carols from the Cambridge choir on the radio late Christmas Eve.

          Liked by 2 people

          1. We rarely listened to the radio – Mom would put a stack of Christmas albums on the record player – I still have a stack of those albums. Perry Como was a given!

            I was always allowed to open one gift before the service and was directed to a gift that could be worn to church Xmas Eve. Usually a necklace or bracelet – one year, my Dad got me a mink collar & cuffs for my coat. I donated those to the museum but I still have the teardrop necklace, with a matching gold bracelet, that I got one year.

            I save EVERYTHING and I need to break that habit. I’ve hung onto all of it in hopes that one of my grands might appreciate it some day. Maybe Piper will come around yet….sigh…

            After the Xmas Eve service, my parents, grandma and I gathered in the Quiet Room near the tree to open our gifts. Xmas Day was when the entire family got together – the location was rotated yearly – for the morning service, the main meal & the gift exchange. After that, the adults settled in the LR to watch football, while I and my cousins played games or out in the barns, depending on the weather.

            The Thanksgiving meal was usually the entire family as well and that also rotated between locations every year.

            Liked by 2 people

    2. My Sis is going to have fun this morning – I e-mail these video links to her, especially the animal ones that she really enjoys.

      Liked by 2 people

    1. Good morning, Pat! 9 here this morning but w/o the wind, thankfully. We’ve got freezing rain, sleet & snow coming by this afternoon, possibly accumulating up to 1/4″ of ice. Yep – I definitely won’t be going anywhere….not that I planned to anyway! And by Tuesday, it will all be gone since the temps are predicted in the high 30’s/low 40’s! See-saw weather as usual. Partly cloudy at the moment but it’s supposed to move in by afternoon. This time the E/SE part of the state into IA will get the worst of it.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Morning again Filly!
        we are getting snow showers at the moment but the winds aren’t a factor.
        tomorrow hubby and i have to bring in firewood! get a Christmas tree and do a few errands–so i hope the weather cooperates.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. The thought popped into my mind that you live in the woods – just find one and cut it down….then I recalled the time my friend Mary and I did that. Oh, that was a hoot! Transporting the tree in the back of her Z28 w/the hatchback open and the tree hanging out….We didn’t think about the sap and had to spread sheets underneath the tree to keep it off the carpet. Lesson learned! Go to an Xmas tree lot! LOL

          Liked by 1 person

          1. we live in a mature woods with very few young trees of any kind. and yeah the sap would be a mess. but trying to find a young pine in and among all the other trees on the mountain? not happening–we’d have to trek UPHILL on snow…no thanks. a lot is easier…lol

            Liked by 1 person

  18. Eric Daugherty:

    BREAKING: Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick says he will buy the unused pieces of border wall the Biden administration is currently selling for $5 per piece.

    “We will buy it in Texas and we will give it to Donald Trump.”

    BREAKING: Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick says he will buy the unused pieces of border wall the Biden administration is currently selling for $5 per piece.

    “We will buy it in Texas and we will give it to Donald Trump.” pic.twitter.com/e7NzjRAWNK

    — Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 13, 2024

    Liked by 1 person

  20. Oh, my! The clouds are getting really dark to the west….I’m thinking this is going to start sooner than the weather report claimed. But, then, they do usually get that wrong! Haven’t seen Wheezer yet….

    Liked by 1 person

  21. EXCERPT: “Zachary Young, a former private contractor who facilitated evacuating individuals out of Afghanistan, brought a major defamation lawsuit against CNN. As we have been reporting, the case against the network for defaming Young’s work as “illegal” and “exploitative” by reporter Alex Marquardt and featured on Jake Tapper’s show was questioned within the ranks of CNN for lacking proper verification. Internal communications have indicated a strong slant towards provable malice, which the courts have agreed warrants a jury trial.

    In some of the latest rulings ahead of the January 6 trial date, CNN has suffered a series of setbacks in its bid to set the table in its favor. Understandably, the network lawyers have tried resisting turning over pertinent financial disclosures, as well as arguing to have an expert witness for the plaintiff on probable financial suffering and monetary figures dismissed from the case. The court denied CNN’s efforts in both instances, allowing the case to go before a jury for a ruling on punitive damages.

    At NewsBusters, Nick Fondacaro has been following the case closely and detailed how Jake Tapper – after failed efforts by CNN lawyers to block his deposition – had his testimony repeatedly halted by the lawyers. Numerous times, counsel intervened to prevent Tapper from answering questions, arguing they were not germane to the case. This included questioning the anchor on his prior coverage of the Fox News-Dominion defamation suit. In some reports following the Fox settlement, Tapper delivered derision about the rival, suggesting he thinks they are not a legitimate news outlet. “I’m sorry, this is going to be difficult to say with a straight face,” he said, ahead of reading the release from Fox News regarding the settlement.

    CNN has endured a series of legal setbacks over the past months with this case. One of the more desperate efforts was in its arguments about the use of the term “black market” to describe the implied illegality of Young’s work. CNN’s lawyers have at times argued the term is not an implication of illegal activity and then swung to suggest that the use of the term was accurate, as they argued it would apply, given the installation of new laws as the Taliban took control of the country.

    When you are relying upon Sharia Law to explain your case, you are already on shaky legal ground. But the argument is undermined in a number of ways. Based on CNN’s own reporting, Sharia was not installed in Afghanistan until at least a year after its reports on Zachary Young. But further, suggesting that its use of “black market” was appropriate in its reporting was in direct opposition to Jake Tapper issuing a correction on the report…..”

    https://redstate.com/bradslager/2024/12/11/movement-on-the-cnn-billion-defamation-case-network-loses-more-motions-ahead-of-a-january-court-date-n2183072

    Liked by 1 person

  22. “Who Do Pharmacy Benefit Managers Actually Benefit?”

    By RedState Guest Editorial | 7:00 AM on December 13, 2024

    AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File

    ENTIRE ARTICLE: “The medical industry is riddled with regulation and red tape. It breaks down into a medical benefit vs. pharmacy benefit, each with its own nuisances that make the medical industry complex feel like a scary corn maze during a bad dream. Interestingly, Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) were originally founded in the 1960s by pharmacists as a way to help insurance companies manage drug spending, negotiate prescription drug spending, manage a formulary (a list of drugs covered by the plan without prior authorization required), and lastly to establish a list of “in-network” pharmacies. 

    What was intended to streamline the pharma industry and help save costs has now caused an explosion and ballooning of costs to the American people. Three particular PBMs, CVS Caremark, ESI, and Optum, now dominate about 89 percent of the U.S. market. While three does not equal a monopoly, it sure does create a mafia. The main creation of these three PBMs arose from the responsibility to cover the cost of prescription drugs. Before insurance, the end payor was the patient. With these PBMs, they negotiate the prices they are willing to pay and hold the leverage in doing so. 

    These back alley negotiations are very complex and conflate any form of transparency. One example would be the hot drugs currently, the GLP-1 analogs. A PBM can go to the makers of Ozempic and its rival Mounjaro and state, “OK, for each drug we allow to be processed, we want a rebate.” The drug manufacturer who is willing to offer the best rebate will be allowed on the formulary. One way this increases costs to the consumer is that PBMs will often prefer brand name (i.e., more expensive) drugs as a higher tier vs. generics, which traditionally cost pennies. This is due to the rebates that brand-name drugs carry vs. the cheap generics. 

    As a patient in the complex pharma industry, the biggest advocate must be the patient. Most PBMs will cover the full cost for what is called “preventive medicine.” A flu shot, pneumonia shot, COVID shot — all of this is considered “preventing” further costs down the line if you acquire the disease, namely the tens of thousands of hospital costs should the disease inflict major harm. As an independent pharmacist, I see the “prior authorization” game played out daily on both necessary and unnecessary medications. Let’s use the GLP-1 drugs once again. Most plans do not cover the indication “obesity” or “overweight.”  

    PBMs and insurers only cover indications that the drugs were intended for in their clinical trials, namely diabetes in this case. Most obese patients are on their way to a diabetes diagnosis, yet the plans make it difficult to obtain. Rather than dealing with long-term complications of obesity before they develop, such as microvascular (neuropathy of the arms, fingers, eyes, and or kidney failure) or macrovascular (possible stroke, heart attack), the plans will pay for drugs for these issues separately vs. the eventual more serious issues that can occur down the line. Requiring prior authorizations and prohibiting patients from critical life-saving medications puts a strain on the pharmacies that are required to assist the patients, and especially the patients who don’t get access to the medications required for the illnesses. 

    Lastly, what is the strain on the pharmacies themselves? I’ve previously written about this topic here. The Biden administration proposed to address some of the fees these PBMs take at the point of sale vs. after the fact in an attempt to allow for clarity. However, the strain this action caused has actually allowed one-third of pharmacies across our nation to close their doors and has been considered a disaster.   

    During the Biden administration, they did negotiate for direct price drops on 10 drug classes, which will take effect in 2026. Some have happened early, such as insulin costs dropping, which has been crucial for those who are insulin-dependent, while some of these have benefits, such as Eliquis, which millions of Americans take, a drug on the list like Entresto will go generic in July of 2025, rendering the brand useless as plans will allow for payment for the cheaper generic. While these ten drugs were met with much fanfare and publicity from the White House, the overwhelming consensus is that the true impact of this legislation will not significantly reduce the rising costs of healthcare. 

    Come January 20th, it’ll be interesting to see if the Trump administration can tackle this industry, which has Washington’s arms embracing it.”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. just another pig at the trough.
      should be doctor-patient-insurance approval based on what you insurance you bought-medicine/procedure/whatever.

      all the freaking middle men have medical procedures and prescriptions a nightmare!

      Liked by 1 person

  23. EXCERPTS: “When is a man truly useless? 

    If I were to line up 100 people I’d probably get 100 answers, but for me, I think it’s when a man abandons his primary purpose as a male, and that’s to provide and protect. 

    To be clear, there are a lot of men out there who probably couldn’t hold themselves in a fight or couldn’t lift anything heavier than a golden retriever, however a man’s lack of strength and/or combat ability doesn’t mean he won’t protect. You can be a street fighter with arms the size of truck tires, and you’re still going to lose to a guy with spaghetti noodle arms, bad eyesight, and a 9mm SIG Sauer. 

    The will to fight and protect just has to be there. No one understands this better than the state. A government that wants more power is going to see to it that the public becomes way less dangerous first, and in order to do that it has to get the population to willingly give over its own power. In the United States, this often takes the form of convincing you to willingly act against your own rights, especially your First and Second Amendment rights. 

    However, what often doesn’t get talked about is the attack on men’s will to protect and defend. If there’s one thing the government fears, it’s men willing to fight….”

    “….But social engineering has its limits, and that’s where men come in. If diplomacy fails, we resort to — as Padmé Amidala calls it — “aggressive negotiations.” Triggers are going to have to get pulled to restore the peace and reestablish order. It’s here that men shine, and it’s here that authoritarians really start to sweat. If the men of the United States of America were truly motivated to, they could forcefully remove those in power, throw down corrupt leaders, and reestablish the United States with an updated and more airtight constitution in a matter of days. There’s nothing the state could really do about it. 

    Even when not in situations where violence is needed, men are excellent leaders and decision makers. They’re solution-oriented and effective at implementing these solutions, even in the midst of pushback. 

    So the key to control is to kick that will to fight out of men, and to do that, you have to have a multi-front assault on masculinity and the inherent drives of men. It’s something that has to be done over a long period of time, and if you look at our current situation in terms of the state of masculinity, you’ll see this very plan has been in motion for a while…..” 

    “….Our society, including our schools, have done a lot to both intentionally and unintentionally remove the fighting spirit and masculinity of men. Boys are treated like “defective girls” as psychologist Michael Thompson put it. Their natural energy and rambunctiousness is suppressed with rules and even drugs. Their preoccupation with action-based play, mock battles, and games that center on good vs. evil have become punishable offenses. 

    They tell young men that their masculinity is evil, and needs to be reduced if not eliminated entirely. It’s “toxic,” and needs to be reimagined to be softer, passive… and quiet. In media, the men are no longer displayed as strong, they’re not put into leadership roles, and if they are, then there’s always a female counterpart who is always better in every way that counts. Stars even go so far as to display themselves in women’s clothing, showing that masculinity is just a social construct and men should embrace this new softer side of themselves by acting like women…..”

    “….There were also legal punishments for being masculine, and you saw that recently in the form of Daniel Penny, a man who stood up for the innocent and took down a violent criminal, neutralizing him and saving others. Penny was thankfully found innocent in a court of law, but let’s not pretend this wasn’t an attempt to dissuade onlooking men from being a hero when the time came….”

    “….We have to start celebrating masculinity. We have to start encouraging boys to be boys. We have to make men dangerous again. 

    Because a free, stable society cannot exist if dangerous men aren’t there to protect and maintain it. There is no civilization if men aren’t willing to fight for it. There is no order if dangerous men aren’t willing to establish it.”

    https://redstate.com/brandon_morse/2024/12/12/dangerous-men-make-for-the-best-men-n2183133

    Liked by 1 person

  24. EXCERPT: “It’s no secret that one of the most exciting aspects of the incoming Trump administration is going to be what Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) uncovers and, hopefully, fixes. In reducing regulations, waste, and other useless expenditures of the federal government, there is the potential to save American taxpayers not millions, not billions, but possibly trillions of dollars. 

    Even better, Musk and Ramaswamy have promised transparency in their 18-month program, creating an official DOGE account on Twitter where Americans can both see and interact with their work. 

    Imagine an agency that doesn’t try to hide everything it is doing from the people. Crazy times. 

    Early this morning, the DOGE account put proof to the promise that it wants to hear from the American people by tweeting a call for recommendations of some of the worst and most wasteful government programs….

    “….Oh, you can bet your butt that Twitter let them know today. Boy howdy, did Twitter let them know! 

    Large ideas, small ideas, realistic ideas, pipe dream ideas, Twitter was full of all of them. Here are some of our favorites:”

    https://twitchy.com/grateful-calvin/2024/12/12/doge-asks-for-examples-of-government-waste-and-whoa-nellie-does-twitter-have-some-ideas-n2405080

    Liked by 1 person

  25. EXCERPT: “Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives appear to be alive and well in universities associated with the athletic Southeastern Conference (SEC), despite the fact that many of those schools belong in states that have enacted bans on the ideology.

    According to a report from CriticalRace.org, numerous SEC schools have worked to hide and embed their DEI initiatives within other departments, pointing to a deficiency in some of the bans on the ideology that have been passed statewide in the South.

    “I want legislators, I want policymakers, I want stakeholders in this particular world of policy and decision-making at the state level to know that one piece of legislation is not a magic wand that’s going to cure this ideology,” Kemberlee Kaye, managing editor of CriticalRace.org, told The Federalist. “I mean, we’re dealing with institutional capture. This stuff has been going on for decades under different names.”

    “A lot of these things are just being dispersed and rebranded,” she added. “Even though there’s been a little bit of effort to disband, I think much is being moved around and reshuffled.”

    Kaye noted that the reshuffling is particularly notable in SEC schools, and that the existence of DEI there should be a stark reminder that the ideology continues even in ostensibly conservative states.

    Despite the fact that many Republican-led states across the country have passed bans on DEI, some bans are more potent than others, and deceptively, some bans are not functional as bans at all, such as Wyoming’s. In another report from September, CriticalRace.org explored how universities are able to find loopholes in DEI bans simply by changing the name, as many laws amount to just banning the words “diversity,” “equity,” and “inclusion.”

    Kaye said that because of the secretiveness behind some of the retrenchment of DEI staff into the ether of other departments, it is difficult to know the extent to which the SEC schools are able to maintain the ideology behind closed doors. The report is based only on publicly available information, and Kaye said that the issue is likely much larger than the report might imply.

    Auburn University decided to comply with SB 129, the state law that blocked funding for DEI programs, after Gov. Kay Ivey, R-Ala., signed it into law. However, the staff members who made up the Office of Inclusion and Diversity were simply reassigned to other departments having to do with recruitment, admissions, and student organizations — many of the same areas DEI targets….”

    https://thefederalist.com/2024/12/13/dei-rot-at-sec-schools-shows-republicans-have-failed-to-eradicate-the-ideology/

    Liked by 1 person

  26. https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5036678-newt-gingrich-donald-trump-xi-jinping-inauguration-invitation/

    Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) responded to President-elect Trump’s invitation to Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend Inauguration Day in January, saying his acceptance would send a global “signal.”

    “Look, I think Trump believes in constant offense, constant momentum, keeping things going forward,” Gingrich told Fox New’s Jesse Watters in an interview Wednesday.

    “I think he gets up every day and tries to figure out, you know, ‘Let’s go to McDonald’s or let’s go to the garbage truck,’ whatever it takes, but he wants to be on offense,” he continued. “I suspect he woke up, looked around and thought, ‘Yeah, I think my good friend Xi Jinping, we haven’t been together in a long time, why don’t I?’”

    Trump extended the invitation to Xi last month, shortly after he beat Vice President Harris to win back the White House, but it wasn’t clear if the Chinese leader had accepted it, CBS News reported. The president-elect’s team has also raised the possibility of other global leaders attending the transitional ceremony, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

    Trump has often touted his relationship with Xi, even as he plans to introduce hefty tariffs on China in the upcoming term.

    The two have met before, including when Trump invited Xi to his Mar-a-Lago estate in 2017.

    Trump has threatened to impose new tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China on his first day in office. The Chinese tariff will be 10 percent on all goods, which is in addition to the existing tariffs imposed by the president-elect during his first term.

    It’s still unknown if Xi will head to Washington in the new year, but Gingrich said the invitation alone was a “tremendous move.”

    “I think there’s a 50/50 chance that Xi Jinping is going to show up, which you have to admit, in terms of sending a signal to the planet, would be pretty unbelievable,” he said. — The Hill

    Liked by 1 person

  28. “Hey, we’ve all driven beaters before, right?”

    “State Rep. Ellen Read, a Democrat from Newmarket, said the statue, which was placed near a Nativity scene, was toppled soon after it was unveiled on Saturday, Boston.com reported. Pictures show only the legs standing, with the head and torso toppled, and a tablet listing TST’s seven tenets cracked, with text missing. 

    The Salem, Massachusetts-based Satanic Temple received a permit to place their monument after Read encouraged them to join the scene to represent our “pluralistic society.” The state lawmaker is reportedly not officially involved with TST and did not design the display, but she did sign up as a member online.”

    Liked by 1 person

  29. “Briana Boston has been charged over a threatening call she allegedly made to BlueCross BlueShield about a rejected medical claim. Towards the end of the call, she allegedly told the operator: ‘Delay, deny, depose. You people are next.'”

    “A Massachusetts man got himself stuck inside a chimney while trying to evade cops Tuesday night in a failed attempt to channel Ol’ Saint Nick. Officers with the Fall River Police Department attempted to conduct a raid of the man’s Canal Street home in the small New England town — only to be led on a Christmas goose chase. As the cops knocked on the front door, they saw two men fleeing the home via the roof. One lept off the roof while the other, Robert Langlias, hopped down the chimney in a maneuver seemingly inspired by Father Christmas.

    Bodycam footage shared by the police department shows the moment the responding police officers scaled the roof and confronted Langlias who was deep in the flue.“You’re an idiot,” said an officer wielding a flashlight as the camera panned down to Langlias, 33, wedged inside the base of the chimney. 

    The officers confirmed that the suspect was in fact stuck, but able to breathe while they called for the fire department to come and rescue the wannabe Santa Claus.”

    Liked by 1 person

  31. Observer SC

    Observer SC

    December 13, 2024 11:36 am

    https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113642120976193077

    “Just finished a meeting with the International Longshoremen’s Association and its President, Harold Daggett, and Executive VP, Dennis Daggett.

    There has been a lot of discussion having to do with “automation” on United States docks. I’ve studied automation, and know just about everything there is to know about it. The amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers, in this case, our Longshoremen.

    Foreign companies have made a fortune in the U.S. by giving them access to our markets. They shouldn’t be looking for every last penny knowing how many families are hurt. They’ve got record profits, and I’d rather these foreign companies spend it on the great men and women on our docks, than machinery, which is expensive, and which will constantly have to be replaced. In the end, there’s no gain for them, and I hope that they will understand how important an issue this is for me.

    For the great privilege of accessing our markets, these foreign companies should hire our incredible American Workers, instead of laying them off, and sending those profits back to foreign countries. It is time to put AMERICA FIRST!”

    Like

  32. Fox: Michael Melham, the Belleville, NJ mayor, just got a briefing from the state and was given the following guidance: if one of the drones is downed: (1) immediately call the county bomb squad and (2) make sure the fire department wears hazmat suits. They had a briefing on Wednesday – they learned very little but were told very point-blank that the drones are hovering over critical infrastructure – they’re not doing any harm, just hovering over them – and they were also told that there is no critical threat; unwilling to shoot them down, unwilling to do a temporary ban…..”something is not adding up here and it sounds like it might very well be our highest level of government, it might be government assets that are being deployed as a counter-measure.”

    Liked by 1 person

  33. Just The News: “Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was hospitalized Friday after sustaining an injury in Luxembourg during an event marking the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge.

    “While traveling with a bipartisan congressional delegation in Luxembourg to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the bulge, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi sustained an injury during an official engagement and was admitted to the hospital for evaluation,” a spokesperson confirmed.

    She is continuing work and the scope of her injury remains unclear.

    The Battle of the Bulge was one of the last serious German offensives of World War II and sought to halt the advance of the Allies through western Europe. It was unsuccessful.

    Her injury comes in the wake of former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell sustaining an unrelated injury via a fall after a lunch meeting this week.”

    Liked by 1 person

  34. Just The News: “Joe Biden’s clemency spree began secretly in late November when he commuted the prison sentences of three Chinese nationals convicted in espionage, child pornography, and fraud case just a few days before issuing a controversial pardon to his son Hunter. 

    The commutations for Yanjun Xu, Ji Chaoqun, and Jin Shanlin were dated Nov. 22 but escaped much public notice until Thursday when the 46th president issued the largest single-day batch of pardons and commutations in modern American history — more than 1,500 in all that stirred controversy on social media and puzzlement inside Congress. 

    Officials told Just the News the clemency for the three Chinese nationals were part of a Thanksgiving holiday prisoner swap with communist China for three American’s wrongfully detained there. 

    The Chinese government reciprocated by releasing Americans Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung, in an exchange announced the day after Thanksgiving.

    Yanjun Xu was originally sentenced to 20 years in prison for espionage crimes targeting American aviation companies for trade secrets and acting as a Chinese intelligence officer, the Justice Department said in a press release. Court documents show Xu specifically targeted GE Aviation, a Cincinnati, Ohio firm, to acquire an exclusive aircraft component. 

    Ji Chaoqun was working in the United States under the Chinese Ministry of State Security and was being directed by Xu, who was his handler, the court documents show.

    Ji eventually applied to join the U.S. Army through a program that accepts legal immigrants with vital language skills with plans to eventually become a citizen and obtain a security clearance, the DOJ said. When he applied he lied, claiming he had no contacts with foreign government officials, prosecutors alleged. 

    Jin Shaolin was studying as a doctoral student at Southern Methodist University when he was caught with more than 47,000 images and videos of child pornography on his computer, according to the Dallas Morning News. Jin reportedly has Chinese Communist Party connections, according to the outlet. He pled guilty to the charges and was serving an eight year prison sentence for the offenses. 

    The commutations of the Chinese prisoners kicked off Biden’s clemency spree, which continued Dec 1 when he erased his son Hunter’s felony tax and gun convictions with a parson. On Thursday, the administration announced commutations for 1,500 individuals and pardons for 39 Americans convicted of nonviolent crimes. Additional pardons and commutations are expected, per the Wall Street Journal.”

    Liked by 1 person

  43. Clarion
    December 13, 2024 2:01 pm

    One of the witnesses at Sen. Durbin’s hearing this week on Trump’s immigration enforcement plans is a prosecutor from PA with DACA.

    One of the witnesses at Sen. Durbin’s hearing this week on Trump’s immigration enforcement plans is a prosecutor from PA with DACA. So PA has given someone who has lived here in violation of law and is protected by an unconstituional program, the authority to prosecute Americans. https://t.co/x3RHS5PNpk

    — Jessica Vaughan (@JessicaV_CIS) December 12, 2024

    Liked by 1 person

  44. you servers get the restaurant you WORK for black listed, and you’ll be out on your ass assholes…

    T. Turtle

    T. Turtle

    December 13, 2024 1:07 pm

    Unbelievable…it sounds like a lot of servers, bartenders, and kitchen workers will be collecting unemployment. And President Trump actually wants to help restaurant workers with “No tax on tips”.

    “DC Food Workers Vow to Commit Economic Suicide by Making the Restaurant Experiences of Incoming Trump Officials Miserable”

    Excerpts:

    Nancy, a bartender for a fine dining establishment, said she would not only refuse to welcome certain Trump officials but also make those she decides to serve miserable.

    “There is power in making it known that you’re not comfortable with a situation, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be this big dramatic show,” she stated. “It’s just little bits of resistance that add up, and little bits of resistance that other people will see and hopefully feel empowered to stand on those convictions as well.”

    “It’s not, ‘Oh, we hate Republicans.’ It’s that this person has moral convictions that are strongly opposed to mine, and I don’t feel comfortable serving them,” Van Rooy continued.

    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/12/dc-food-workers-vow-commit-economic-suicide-making/

    Liked by 1 person

      1. how brazen, right?
        thinking their employers won’t mind losing customers.
        someone, like Musk or another savvy business man will open the MAGA Grille or something and steal all their customers away

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Saying that she’s “not comfortable with” serving them is extreme arrogance! Life isn’t about always being comfortable! In fact, you learn and grow more from being UN-comfortable!!

          Liked by 1 person

  49. SALLY Q REPORT

    No pain – she’s doing great! 

    Cooking today! Making 4 Quiches – to put in my freezer at home so I won’t have to cook. One quiche will be for Sally and I’ll give her not-a-quiche-fan Dad a slice for one meal. Sally wanted me to make hers Greek style with feta cheese and greek seasoning. 

    FRESH SPINACH QUICHE

    Preheat oven to 400ºF

    CRUST

    Two pie crusts bottom only – frozen is fine – corn or canola oil crust also easy – recipe below.

    – Prick crusts all around sides and bottom 

    – Bake crusts until barely brown – set aside to cool

    FILLING INGREDIENTS

    1 bag spinach chopped
    3-4 chopped green onions  – can use chopped white or red onion
    3 cups grated Swiss cheese
    1 grated mozzarella – or favorite cheeses
    6-8 beaten eggs
    2-3 cups cream, milk, yogurt
    1-2 Tbsp flour or almond flour

    Italian or cherry tomatoes sliced

    DIRECTIONS
    – Chop the spinach

    – Toss spinach with cheeses and your choice desired seasonings – salt, pepper, Old Bay, Italian herbs, etc.

    – Beat Eggs

    – Add dairy ingredients to eggs

    – Put equal amounts of cheese and spinach into cooled crust

    – Put tomato slices around top of quiche in decorative pattern

    – Pour milk egg mixture over spinach, pat down to moisten top of the ingredients into the deep dish pie crust.

    – Top loosely with foil so that the foil doesn’t touch egg spinach mixture 

    – Bake for 50 minutes, remove foil and bake and additional 10 minutes.

    Liked by 2 people

    2. That’s wonderful news, GA! Once again I have to say how very much I admire your strength! Truly an incredible woman and mother!

      Liked by 2 people

  50. H/T M

    “MAGA Voice @MAGAVoice

    BREAKING  President Trump just announced that he will eliminate Daylight Savings Time – THIS IS A MASSIVE WIN”

    Liked by 1 person

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