69 thoughts on “The Wisdom of Ben Carson”

    1. Morning, Pat! 59 here this morning and the power people are back – still working on some of the new power poles…..looks partly cloudy so far w/some sun peeking thru. I have always admired Dr. Carson – truly a fine man in all ways!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Morning Filly!
        put out the feeders but haven’t seen her yet. But it’s laundry day so I haven’t been really watching.
        I had 2 blue jays land on the railings and then the table in front of my chair…and I laughed.
        way too early to be putting out peanuts for them! lol

        Liked by 1 person

  7. Jake

    September 18, 2025 6:34 am

    10 Democrats and 4 Republicans (Mike Flood, Jeff Hurd, Tom McClintock, and Cory Mills) just sided with Ilhan Omar over Charlie Kirk.

    https://townhall.com/tipsheet/scott-mcclallen/2025/09/17/four-republicans-sink-vote-to-censure-rep-omar-over-charlie-kirk-comments-n2663538 – September 17, 2025 7:23 PM

    The Republican party’s biggest enemies are INSIDE the Republican party.

    Rep. Mike Flood (R-Neb.)Rep. Jeff Hurd (R-Colo.)Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.)Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.)

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  9. Just The News: “An Arizona state legislator wants to honor Charlie Kirk.

    Senate President Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, has announced his intentions to introduce a bill during the next legislative session that would rename State Route 202 as the Charlie Kirk Memorial Loop 202. Petersen, who did not respond to a request by The Center Square for comment, said in a press release that his bill “ensures” that Kirk’s faith, influence on young Americans, and devotion to God, family, and country will never be forgotten.

    “Wednesday, September 10, 2025, will forever be noted in history as a dark day where evil in its truest form was on full display,” said Petersen in a press release.

    A Christian evangelist and conservative activist, Kirk was shot and killed Sept. 10 during an appearance at Utah Valley University in Orem. Kirk was 31 years old.

    Police arrested 22-year-old Tyler James Robinson of Utah and charged him with seven counts, including the capital crime of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing bodily harm, obstruction of justice and witness tampering. Prosecutors are also seeking the death penalty.

    “Charlie Kirk was assassinated in cold blood by a cowardly terrorist and was targeted for his influence, but we must press forward,” said Petersen. “While Charlie Kirk cannot be replaced, this effort can make sure his legacy lives on.”

    Born in Arlington Heights, Illinois, Kirk went on to found Turning Point USA, which is headquartered in Phoenix. An annual event known as America Fest is also held in Phoenix. Erika Kirk, Charlie’s widow, said in a televised statement that America Fest will go on as planned Dec. 18-21.

    Meanwhile, Petersen will be pushing his legislation to honor Charlie Kirk, who was an Arizona resident. “We all have a role to play in carrying on Charlie’s legacy,” said Petersen. “Renaming this highway is a small step toward honoring Charlie’s immense contribution, but it is also a call for each of us to press on in faith, to live courageously for Jesus, and to stand firm in the principles Charlie so boldly championed.”

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  10. “Vaccines Saved 154 Million Lives? No. The studies and data reflect this number may be negative.”

    Aaron Siri, Sep 17, 2025

    EXCERPT: “At the Senate hearing on September 9, I addressed the claim that “Vaccines have saved an estimated 154 million lives globally over 50 years.” This claim was also made in Secretary Kennedy’s hearing a few days prior. Video of my response is below, followed by a more detailed answer to this claim with citations.

    (Video)

    [One correction: At 4:31 in the video above, I meant to say “People who get measles die at far lower rates from heart disease and various cancers.”]

    The claim that 154 million lives were saved is corrupt vaccine science at its apex.

    This claim comes from an advertising report by the World Health Organization (“WHO”) touting its own vaccination program. In a real paper, there would be a confidence interval for the claimed “154 million lives saved.” The reason there is no confidence interval is that this figure is fabricated guesswork, as explained—or I should say buried—on page 42 of the supplement to this paper, in a section titled “Uncertainty of estimates.”

    There, it explains that it cannot put “bounds around the veracity of the estimates” and that any “bounds are arbitrary” and “should not be interpreted as a claim to where the edges of valid estimated possible [sic] lie.” Meaning, the confidence that any estimate in this paper is correct is zero and it could be just as true that vaccines resulted in a net death of 154 million lives in the last 50 years. That alone renders this study entirely unreliable, and claims made using this study corrupt.

    But it gets worse. This claim also fails to account for studies with actual data about vaccines and mortality. For example, almost the entire 154 million lives the report claims were saved comes from two vaccines, the DTP vaccine and the measles vaccine.

    As for the DTP vaccine, the body of science based on actual real-world data is clear: this vaccine kills more children than it saves. In fact, the seminal study found that children receiving DTP died at 10 times the rate as those who received no vaccines in the first six months of life. Ten times. That study is based on real data and has a confidence interval. The study found that DTP may have reduced deaths from the diseases it targeted (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis) but children were dying from other diseases and issues that otherwise would not have been associated with vaccines, absent the study. Accounting for this real-world data would wipe away the entirety of the 154 million lives saved, if you calculated those lives lost from DTP use over the past 50 years.

    As for the measles vaccine, this product can prevent transmission of measles, and so surely it can save some lives by preventing measles deaths, right? But that is not the entire story. First, this WHO advertising report estimates that 40% of the decline in measles mortality is due to measles vaccine. But this estimate defies reality. In the United States, measles mortality declined by over 98% before a measles vaccine was introduced in 1963 and declined by over 99% in the U.K. before a measles vaccine was introduced in 1968. As living conditions improve, the hard data reflects that measles mortality declines by close to 99%, not 60% as this WHO advertisement report used. Using the real data regarding reduction of measles mortality absent a vaccine when living conditions improve, and accounting for the DTP data discussed above, the benefit of vaccines over the last 50 years becomes inverted.

    But it gets even worse. A 100,000-person study conducted by the nation of Japan over a period of over 20 years found that those who had measles and mumps died at a far lower rate from cardiovascular disease than those who never had measles and mumps. In fact, 20 years after the start of the study, around 14% of those who never had measles and mumps were dead of heart disease whereas only 7% of those who had measles and mumps were dead of heart disease. Heart disease is the number one killer of Americans…..”

    https://aaronsiri.substack.com/p/vaccines-saved-154-million-lives

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  11. “UATX An Outlier Among Colleges In Expressing Opposition To Charlie Kirk’s Assassination — The dean of UATX wrote to students and faculty describing security measures in place and reaffirming UATX’s commitment to free speech.”

    The Federalist, By: Helen Raleigh, September 18, 2025

    UT

    ENTIRE ARTICLE: “Since Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed on Sept. 10 during a campus event at Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem, reactions from colleges have varied, offering both plenty of warning and a glimmer of hope for the future of this nation.

    Claira Albright, a graduate of the esteemed Liberty Common High School in Colorado and now a freshman at the University of Austin (UATX), assisted The Federalist by conducting an informal survey among her friends at other universities. The aim was to gather official reactions from these institutions in the wake of Kirk’s assassination.

    Out of the 10 schools surveyed, only Jerry Parker, the vice president and dean of students at Drake University, sent an email to students and faculty on Sept. 12. This email did not address Kirk’s assassination; rather, it focused on issues related to bullying on social media. He emphasized that for Drake to be a place for the free exchange of ideas, individuals must approach their conversations with consideration for their impact on others.

    The remaining nine schools did not send out any communication to their students and faculty opposing political violence after Kirk’s murder or reaffirming their commitment to free speech. The nine schools were: Arizona State, Butler University, Brigham Young, Colorado State, Front Range Community College, University of Idaho, Montana State, Savannah College of Art and Design, University of Virginia, and University of Wisconsin-Madison.   

    This collective silence may be attributed to two possible reasons: either indifference, given that Kirk was a conservative activist and many colleges often only pay lip service to free speech, or cowardice in avoiding potential offense to their predominantly left-leaning students and faculty.

    Regardless of the underlying motives, the inaction and silence of these colleges following Kirk’s murder is utterly disgraceful. This response directly contradicts the principles these institutions profess to uphold, particularly their dedication to fostering genuine open dialogue. Their failure to act confirms a troubling reality: many college campuses are among the most intolerant environments in the country, not only suppressing diverse viewpoints but also, alarmingly, glorifying violence.

    Speech isn’t Violence

    Charlie Kirk dedicated his life to challenging this very issue by advocating for free speech and civil engagement on college campuses. Regrettably, the institutions he visited did not support his mission during his lifetime. Instead, leftist professors and their radicalized students branded Kirk a “hater,” launching relentless efforts to silence him and obstruct his attempts to engage with fellow students. When all else failed, they silenced Kirk with a bullet.

    Heather Mac Donald was spot on when she wrote, “It was grimly fitting that Kirk was murdered on a college campus, the source of the ‘hate speech equals violence’ ethic that demonizes philosophical opponents and creates a presumption that those opponents must be silenced for the good of America’s endemic victims.”

    Kirk’s murder and the silence of many colleges serve as a stark warning: if we do not reform our colleges and universities, they will continue to be breeding grounds for illiberal ideas that radicalize future generations.

    One Good Example

    On a more hopeful note, one university stands out for doing the right thing in the aftermath of Kirk’s murder: the University of Austin (UATX), a private liberal arts college in Austin, Texas, where Claira Albright is a student.

    The day after Kirk’s murder, Albright received an email from Ben Crocker, Dean of UATX, which was sent to all students and faculty of UATX and it began as the following:

    “Dear UATX Community,

    I’m writing to you in light of yesterday’s atrocity at Utah Valley University, where Charlie Kirk was fatally shot during a campus event. Charlie’s devotion to free speech and open discourse, particularly on college campuses and more broadly with America’s youth, was highly pertinent to our project here at UATX. I know his senseless murder may raise concerns about safety on campus.”

    Crocker went on to describe the security measures UATX has in place, and he ended his email by reaffirming the university’s commitment to free speech:

    “UATX is committed to free and open exchange of ideas — even when those ideas or speakers are controversial. This will not change, and Charlie’s tragic death underscores for us how vital our project is at this juncture in American history. Our safety policies are designed to make sure our students’ education can take place safely.”

    Albright found the email to be both timely and appropriate. The university’s strong commitment to safety measures and unwavering dedication to free speech reassured her greatly.

    Additionally, Albright appreciates that UATX offers a solid mental health support system. There is a clinic located about a mile from the campus, and students can access a mental health app for help 24/7. Last week, Albright experienced a family emergency, and everyone at the school, from faculty to student leaders, was kind and supportive.

    Positive Developments

    Albright remains hopeful about her future and is passionately committed to transforming the American education system through effective policies. However, in the wake of Kirk’s assassination, she is alarmed by the surge in political violence and the troubling trend of individuals who condone and celebrate it. Albright fears that this act of violence may incite more unrest, making our country less safe and increasingly divided. This sentiment is echoed among her peers; of the ten college students she surveyed, only one holds an optimistic view of the nation’s future, while seven express deep pessimism, and two share mixed feelings.

    In a positive development, some students are taking action to oppose political violence and change the harmful culture of intolerance on college campuses. For instance, both the Young Democrats of Connecticut and the Young Republicans of Connecticut came together to issue a joint statement denouncing political violence and extending prayers for Kirk and his family.

    The UW-Madison College Democrats issued a statement on Instagram, stating “We are disgusted to hear about the shooting of Charlie Kirk. Political violence has no role in democracy, and it must be denounced in the strongest terms possible.”

    At Duke University’s vigil, sophomore Trevor Darr emphasized the importance of treating individuals with differing opinions with respect and humanity, stating: “If we are going to take this moment in history and do something about it, it starts with us as people before it starts with us for the identities that we create for ourselves.” This perspective aligns with how Kirk approached debates; he challenged differing viewpoints without resorting to personal insults.

    In the wake of Kirk’s tragic murder, the reactions from colleges reveal both warning signs and a glimmer of hope. Much work lies ahead to transform the illiberal culture pervasive on many campuses. Nevertheless, the seeds Kirk planted will continue to flourish. The movement for civil debate he championed will persist as more individuals, inspired by his legacy, take up his blood-stained baton and advance the cause he believed in so deeply.”

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  12. “The Trump Admin Is Right To Screen Potential U.S. Citizens For ‘Good Moral Character’ — If Lafayette, William Penn, and Winston Churchill were subject to individualized examination before a grant of honorary citizenship, then certainly the same should apply to the millions of aliens who wish to become Americans today.”

    The Federalist, By: Nick Pietrowicz, September 18, 2025

    Donald Trump

    EXCERPT: “A recent U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services memo announced that foreigners aspiring to become American citizens must meet a “Good Moral Character” standard. This directive is a return to policies that existed before the loosening of naturalization requirements in the early 1990s. That USCIS is now again requiring foreigners to demonstrate “character commensurate with the standards of average citizens” is positive.

    Critics argue the change will make acquiring citizenship too difficult or political. But as the USCIS memo relates, naturalization is not simply “a procedural immigration benefit.” And the grant of citizenship has never been completely apolitical. Naturalization is a gift from the American people, not a status earned by ticking administrative boxes. So important is that gift that a congressional grant of mere honorary citizenship to the universally esteemed Winston Churchill in 1963 engendered thoughtful, bipartisan debate before its passage.

    A review of the history of that bill is a reminder that American citizenship is sacred and should be granted only following a thorough examination of those aspiring to naturalize. The Trump administration’s return to a comprehensive, individualized good moral character standard restores this important tradition. Congress should support this positive development, just as it eventually did in granting honorary citizenship to Winston Churchill.  

    A popular misbelief holds that the Marquis de Lafayette was the first foreigner to receive honorary citizenship. This myth originates from a grant of full Maryland citizenship to Lafayette by that state’s General Assembly in 1784. Upon ratification of the U.S. Constitution four years later, Lafayette, like all Marylanders, became an American citizen. The actual first grant of honorary citizenship was that to Churchill. Since then, seven other foreigners have been granted honorary American citizenship: Raoul Wallenberg (1981), William Penn and his wife (1984), Mother Teresa (1996), Lafayette (finally formalized in 2002), Casimir Pulaski (2009), and Bernando de Gálvez (2014).

    Journalist and former OSS employee Kay Halle initiated the effort to make Churchill an honorary citizen. Inspired by her friendships with the former Prime Minister’s family, Halle used her extensive Washington network to gain support. Her first success was in 1959, when she persuaded a then-Sen. John F. Kennedy to read a statement into the congressional record encouraging honorary citizenship for Churchill. Kennedy’s endorsement, however, noted that such an honor was appropriate only because “Sir Winston has left active political office.” 

    After JFK’s election to the presidency three years later, Halle visited the White House to discuss the matter further. President Kennedy agreed again to support honorary citizenship for Churchill, assigning arrangements to White House advisor Arthur Schlesinger Jr. In 1962 though, President Kennedy informed Halle that her idea was unconstitutional. He instead offered to name a naval vessel after Churchill……”

    https://thefederalist.com/2025/09/18/the-trump-admin-is-right-to-screen-potential-u-s-citizens-for-good-moral-character/

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  14. EXCERPT: “We’ve entered a very dangerous time in our country. That should be clear to everyone — political violence is a sign of a deep and corrosive sickness in any society. In America today, the problem is not political violence in the abstract. It is a specific kind of political violence which is overwhelmingly driven by a specific set of actors and groups. None of this emerged out of thin air.

    Over the past week, leaders from across the political spectrum have come out and forcefully condemned Charlie Kirk’s murder and political violence more broadly. For that, we’re all very grateful. We should be grateful. There have been calls to unite and come together in the wake of Charlie’s murder, and I want to do that. I do.

    Someday, I pray that we can be united as a country again and go forward together as one people, under one flag. But we are not united. Upstream from the dehumanization and demonizing, political violence and rhetoric tearing apart our country, there is a divide on how we view America and Americans. Is America good? Is America evil? Is there something inherently special about Western civilization, or is this 2,000-year project rotten to the core?

    And if it is something worth fighting for, which I believe it is, how do we do it? With words and ideas, like Charlie did? Or with firebombs and assassins’ bullets?

    Political violence is always wrong. Period. Full stop. It doesn’t matter which side, in the name of any ideology or cause. It’s wrong. But in America today, political violence is not a problem that falls equally upon both sides. We have to be honest about this.

    We must reject an attempt to paint [political violence] as some kind of random phenomenon with no particular creed or ideology — a kind of spontaneous insanity which takes place outside of any broader social context and has no pattern at all. That’s wrong.

    Already, we’re hearing people talk about Charlie’s assassination in those terms. We’re told that we can’t possibly know what drove a killer to plan and carry out a murder of the most prominent conservative activist in America. But that’s a lie. We do know. The facts are plain and clear, and we have to speak truth in this moment, or there is no other side of the mountain.

    The vast majority of Americans are against political violence. But there is a vocal, active minority that encourages and celebrates it. And that minority is overwhelmingly on the left.

    Just last week, a YouGov poll found that a quarter, a full 25 percent, of the people who describe themselves as very liberal say it can be justified for citizens to use violence to achieve political goals. Less than 3 percent of very conservative Americans say the same. That’s too many — that is 3 percent too many.

    But we are lying if we think that this is a both-sides thing. It is not. We have to confront it. This is an ideology that runs very deep. The numbers are virtually identical when it comes to whether or not it’s okay to celebrate the deaths of people with whom we disagree…….”

    https://thefederalist.com/2025/09/17/stop-asking-me-to-unify-with-the-violent-left/

    Liked by 1 person

  15. “‘Self-Care’ Spending Might Explain Why America Is So Deeply In Debt — However much we want to blame Congress for the nation’s budgetary woes, our lawmakers do little more than reflect the societal zeitgeist.”

    The Federalist, By: Christopher Jacobs, September 18, 2025

    woman carrying shopping bags

    ENTIRE ARTICLE: “To understand the reasons why the United States continues to run annual budget deficits approaching $2 trillion, one could do worse than to examine the spending habits of individual Americans. Just like our government, far too many of us think we can spend beyond our means in perpetuity, without caring about the inevitable consequences.

    A recent article in The New York Times and a column in The Wall Street Journal highlighted examples of this phenomenon. However much we want to blame our fiscally incontinent Congress for the nation’s budgetary woes, the stories remind us that our representatives do little more than reflect the zeitgeist present in our society. We have met the problem, and it is us.

    Advertising Overconsumption

    The Times story focused on how members of Generation Z are using small indulgences as a form of self-care. It quoted a 25-year-old fashion associate as saying her frequent purchase of gourmet cookies is “something that I can just have and not think about. … I don’t have to pinch my pennies.”

    Of course, as she admitted later in the article, those “little treats” can very quickly have a big effect on one’s budget. But, as the Times noted, the rise of social media has increased the pressure for (over-)consumption:

    What sets Gen Z-ers apart from generations before them is how they have built an online community around the tradition, promoting it on their social feeds as a way to care for their mental health during uncertain times. On TikTok, they have shared their latest “little treat” hauls after failing an exam or doing chores, or just to show off conspicuous consumption.

    One has to marvel at the rationalizations behind this bacchanalia of consumerism: the logic of people buying things they cannot afford — and will have to pay for eventually — “as a way to care for their mental health during uncertain times.” 

    The fact that such a trend has exploded on TikTok, an app with links to the Chinese Communist Party, makes it all the more ironic, and not in a good way. If debt is our country’s biggest national security threat, as former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Michael Mullen claimed, the last thing our country needs is an app, arguably controlled by our biggest adversary, encouraging Americans to accumulate more debt.

    Boom-and-Bust Economy

    The Times interviewed the owner of the New York-based Angelina Bakery, who said that more than half of his 11,000 weekly customers come from the Gen Z cohort, which has allowed him to expand his business from two bakeries to eight over the past five years. “He leans into the generation’s treat culture with eye-catching products like $30 giant croissants and cakes that have burnable tops revealing hidden messages.”

    At the risk of sounding like a curmudgeon, when Donald Trump says he wants to bring manufacturing back to America, I don’t think he’s referring to cakes that look good on Instagram. And while people have the freedom to spend their money however they’d like, spending money they don’t have won’t bring them freedom, but the shackles of debt.

    Over the past several decades, the American economy has become defined by “sugar highs” created by overconsumption. In the case of the Times story, it means Gen Z members who buy “little treats” exceeding their budgets, and the businesses — bakeries, social media “influencers,” and others — who cater to them. Not too long ago, it meant a real estate industry defined by “liar loans,” taken out by people who could not afford the homes they purchased, and mortgage-backed securities that brought the financial system to its knees.

    No Easy Answers

    But as the Times article noted, people can spoil themselves without having to spend much, if any, money. Borrowing books from a library, taking a walk in the park, or visiting a free museum all represent cost-free forms of self-care. I treated myself for my birthday — but via a food-sharing app, which meant I spent the princely sum of $6.59 for a dozen gourmet cookies normally priced at several times that amount.

    The problem with the “I don’t have to pinch my pennies” attitude, for both our 25-year-old fashion associate and the country as a whole, arrives when the bill comes due. Unfortunately, the ongoing retirement of the baby boomers means that day will come sooner rather than later. And when it does, we can look back at this history over the past several decades to explain how and why our nation landed so deeply in debt.”

    Liked by 1 person

  16. “Even Stevie Wonder could see how ridiculous meat prices are lately. Ground beef prices are up 61% since February 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Why has the price gone up? It’s the law of supply and demand. America’s beef cattle herd is the smallest in 75 years, in part because of drought. But Americans’ love of hamburgers and steaks has kept demand strong – until recently.

    In July, the U.S. Department of Agriculture continued to record a shrinking number of U.S. cattle and calves, forecasting that beef production would decline 4% over this year and another 2% in 2026.

    Meanwhile, foreign imports are also down. Brazilian beef faces a 76% tariff. Fears about the screwworm parasite have led the USDA to block livestock from crossing from Mexico to the U.S. to safeguard the nation’s food supply. Ranching in America can be a topsy-turvy, break-even or money-losing business, but not right now.

    “We’ve kind of hit this perfect storm,” says Brady Blackett, a third-generation Angus cattle producer in Utah. “There’s healthy competition for the cattle, and there’s not enough of them to fulfill the demand. And so it has driven prices to historic highs.”

    The United States imports roughly 8.1% to 10% of its total beef supply, a figure that can vary depending on market conditions and the domestic cattle cycle. This imported beef primarily consists of lean trimmings used in ground beef production, supplementing the domestic supply and meeting consumer demand for leaner products. Canada and Mexico are major sources of live cattle and beef, while Australia and Brazil are significant suppliers of lean trimmings for ground beef.” 

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Kamala Harris settled on Tim Walz to be her running mate last year because she felt Americans were too racist, antisemitic and homophobic to accept her preferred option – Pete Buttigieg. 

    Liked by 1 person

  18. “Social media sucks. And lies. Again and again…

    This piece is from The Political Insider – A viral claim recently surfaced suggesting that Matt Robinson, father of Tyler Robinson, rejected a $1.15 million reward for information leading to the capture of Charlie Kirk’s killer.

    This rumor has caused a stir across social media, but the facts tell a different story.

    The claim originated from a Facebook post on a page called “Cowboys Fan Hub.” The post featured a photo of Charlie Kirk and his father, paired with a fabricated quote allegedly from Matt Robinson. It spread rapidly, fueling public debate. However, no credible sources have confirmed that Robinson made any such statement.

    In reality, Matt Robinson is eligible to receive the reward. The U.S. State Department’s Rewards for Justice program allows family members to claim rewards if their information directly aids in solving an investigation. The final decision on whether Robinson qualifies for the reward rests with U.S. authorities, based on the information he provides.

    While the viral rumor continues to circulate, it’s important to clarify that there is no solid evidence indicating that Matt Robinson has turned down the reward. Instead, the situation reflects how easily misinformation can gain momentum online. As of now, the reward remains unclaimed, and the truth stands clear: Matt Robinson has not publicly declined the $1.15 million offer.”

    “Yeah – tell me you haven’t done this yourself  – you see one of those goofy ass fuckin’ ‘cyber trucks’ and you look to see who the driver is, because it’s gotta be some kinda goofy lookin’ moron. They really are friggin’ stupid looking, and the bigger ones sell for somewhere near 100g’s so the guy’s gotta be a little stupid, right? Anyway, Just five months after it went on sale, Tesla has scrapped its cheapest Cybertruck. 

    The futuristic stainless steel pick-up truck was available in three options – with the most affordable starting from $69,990. But Elon Musk’s company has quietly removed this lower-priced model from its website, reportedly due to a lack of interest from buyers.”

    Liked by 1 person

  19. From the Free Beacon – “Biden, 82 years old, is charting a post-presidency that is less lucrative than what he’d expected when he left office,” the Wall Street Journal reported Monday. “Options for big jobs are limited by his advanced age, his unpopularity in Democratic circles and companies—concerned about retribution from President Trump—that aren’t offering speaking gigs.”

    “The result for Biden is a leaner next chapter that lacks the well-funded foundations, plans for exquisite libraries and full calendar of paid speeches his peers enjoyed.” The former president has been spotted on commercial flights and Amtrak instead of private jets, and few people, companies, or organizations are willing to pay for his speaking fees, which can range from $300,000 to $500,000, according to the Journal.

    Unlike how former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama spent their post-presidential summers, Biden “spent his first Independence Day out of the White House at a high-end trailer park” in Malibu, where he and former first lady Jill Biden stayed at a mobile home owned by a friend of Hunter Biden’s.

    I don’t think he has too much to worry about, though. The motherfucker probably scammed 20mil or more while he was in office – and that’s a ‘conservative’ estimate (pun intended).”

    Liked by 1 person

  20. about the shooting in PA yesterday

    FTA

    YORK, Pa. — On Wednesday afternoon, three police officers were killed, and two others were injured in a shooting in North Codorus Township, York County.

    State Police told CNN that the officers were at the scene following up on a domestic investigation that began Tuesday. The shooter was shot by police and was killed, Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Col. Christopher Paris said.  What we know about the shooter:

    Authorities have not identified the shooter at this time, but more information has been gathered about what led up to the incident.

    According to CNN, the shooter is allegedly the ex-boyfriend of a woman who lived in the farmhouse on Haar Road where Wednesday’s incident occurred. 

    On Tuesday, Sept. 16, the woman reportedly observed the shooter stalking the house in a cornfield close by, and notified authorities.

    The woman allegedly reported the incident to the Northern York County Regional Police Department to obtain an arrest warrant and a restraining order. 

    Officials attempted to serve the shooter with the warrant on Tuesday night but were unable to find him, law enforcement said.

    Officers with the NYCRPD returned to the house to do a follow-up visit on Wednesday, which was when the shooter opened fire from a nearby cornfield. Three officers from the NYCRPD were killed. 

    The shooter then allegedly began moving toward the house where he exchanged gunfire with three York County Sheriff’s. Two of the York County Sheriffs were struck and injured, but one returned fire and killed the shooter, according to officials.

    Authorities told CNN that the shooter allegedly wore camouflage, and it is not yet clear to investigators whether the shooter waited in the cornfield for the ex-girlfriend or the arresting officers.

    https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/york-county/what-we-know-about-shooter-who-reportedly-shot-five-police-officers-in-york-county/521-188e2f42-82ec-4ae6-896b-b41ae8b7f124

    Liked by 1 person

  21. Coffee Shop owner targeted over Indian comment…
    article
    The Dallas-area coffee shop owner has been targeted by a coordinated harassment campaign both online at and his business.

    A small-business owner in North Texas is facing severe backlash and danger to his business after voicing concern over the rapid cultural shift that mass Indian immigration has brought to his city. The threats to his livelihood include a recent emailed extortion attempt.

    Daniel Keene, who owns Boundaries Coffee — a local coffee shop with two locations in the DFW Metroplex — posted a video on X showing an entire street in his neighborhood blocked off for a block party celebrating an Indian festival. The video shows the street blocked off by cars and people. Keene captioned the video, “I want my kids to grow up in America, not India.”

    The post went viral on X, and he has since received hundreds of threatening calls, texts, and emails.

    ‘You must pay $20,000 or our games will BEGIN.’

    The threats have turned into action, as his business has been targeted with hundreds of fraudulent negative reviews as well as calls insulting his employees and family. He is now fighting against a massive wave of insults, slanders, and racial animosity from people claiming to be Indian, both here and abroad.

    Keene told Blaze News he was unprepared for the attack: “I was shocked by how rapid, and how intense, and how organized it was.” He has deleted the original video, saying the stress became too much for his family.

    The hundreds of negative reviews on Google have been particularly damaging. Many reviews complained about a dirty lobby and bad conditions, even though both locations are drive-thru only.

    “Review bombings,” or large numbers of coordinated and often fraudulent negative reviews on platforms like Google Maps or Yelp, can be incredibly damaging to small businesses, which rely on these applications to bring in customers. Keene said he believes these reviews, complaints, and threats seemed to be carried out entirely by Indians — either in the U.S. or in India.

    On September 8, things escalated when someone claiming to represent a network of millions of Indian-Americans in the United States sent an email that appears to be an attempt to extort Keene.

    The email read, “We will blast your business and profiles to over 6 million Indian Americans in America. If they each write negative reviews it will ruin your business. We have all proof regarding this. You must pay $20,000 or our games will BEGIN. Let me know if your [sic] ready for instructions.”

    In addition to this apparent extortion, the coffee shop owner has received threats against himself and his family; profane messages about his wife, who is pregnant with their third child; and slanderous messages calling him a pedophile.

    Comments on the shop’s various social media pages include accusations of racism but also comments about Keene burning in hell, his children, and other graphic insults. Other users took to X to attack Keene, insulting and taunting him as the attacks increased.

    One influencer on X who goes by the name Sidharth took the occasion to mock Keene, writing, “I don’t really think you can afford a home in that neighborhood,” and promising that “the day of reckoning is not far away.” Blaze News obtained screenshots of the post, which has since been deleted.

    In response to a request for comment, Sidharth told Blaze News: “My comment would be to focus on the rapid xenophobia and sweeping generalizations against Indian Americans under the pretext of ‘H-1B.'”

    Despite the intensity of the attacks and the harm done to his business, Keene says he stands by his comments about Indian immigration. The post expressed what he says is a growing frustration among Texans about the economic and cultural impact that Indians settling in the area have had.

    “I don’t have any racial animosity towards Indians,” Keene said. “I would never use racially charged language about somebody.” His issue is not with Indians as people, he says, but with the immigration policies that have changed the demographics of the city where he was born and raised.

    “I just want to live on an American street. … As an American, I feel like that’s my right.”

    Keene was born and raised in Southlake and grew up in the DFW Metroplex area. After going to school and spending time in Arkansas, he came back to find the demographics shifting from the massive influx of Indian immigrants, many of them on H-1B or other work visas. He says that his frustration is “the normal experience of an American who is getting pushed out.”

    Native Texans have been almost entirely priced out of the neighborhood where he lives, so now it is “almost entirely Indian.” He says the cultural shift has been hard for his family: “They don’t like us; we don’t share anything in common with them.”

    Despite his frustration and the threats he has received, Keene says he does not harbor animosity toward Indian people. Rather, he expressed his discontent with the policies that he says have resulted in these demographic and cultural changes. “I oppose the use of the H-1B visa, specifically in the DFW Metroplex.” He believes that these policies have changed the culture of the area and make life harder for the native population.

    Keene says he has been frustrated and disheartened by the contrast between his native Texan friends and neighbors and this new influx of wealthy Indian immigrants. “I’m losing my neighbors, the Americans. These guys are getting driven out of the neighborhoods. … Pretty much anyone below 35 is struggling.”

    “Every house I’ve ever looked at is Indian-owned,” he continued. “… My home is Indian-owned. My street is Indian.”

    In addition to his home, he rents the two properties for his coffee shops, as well as a warehouse. All four properties are Indian-owned.

    https://www.theblaze.com/news/indian-activists-threaten-texas-business-with-ruin-and-worse-after-owner-speaks-out-about-h-1b-invasion

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  26. “The Mauretania apartment, Hancock Park, Los Angeles. 1930s-2020s. Looks better with the mature greenery.

    “That Avocado Green…”

    “It was ugly, but he made it…”

    “Land Before Time”

    Liked by 1 person

  32. Just The News: “The Senate on Thursday afternoon unanimously approved a resolution designating Oct. 14 as the “National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk,” which is the late-conservative activist’s birthday.

    Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott introduced the resolution on Tuesday, alongside Florida GOP Rep. Jimmy Patronis in the House, which honors Kirk’s legacy and influence in conservative politics. 

    Kirk was killed in a shooting last week during an appearance at Utah Valley University. 

    “Charlie was a magnetic leader, a loving father and husband, and a friend and inspiration to so many. His loss is devastating, and I’ll always cherish the friendship I had with him,” Scott said in a statement. “Charlie loved our nation and its founding principles and believed deeply in his faith, in his family, and in beauty of ideas and discussion.

    “Charlie worked to make our nation a better place in his 31 years before he was lost in an evil act of political violence, and will leave a lasting legacy on our nation,” he continued. “We know what Charlie would want us to do: he’d want us to stand strong by the ideas we believe in, have discussions, carry on with hope, strength and courage, and look to God for guidance. 

    “I am proud to lead a resolution honoring Charlie’s legacy as an American patriot by designating October 14th, what would have been his 32nd birthday, as National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk – a day to come together, pray, and celebrate Charlie’s impact on the nation,” he added.”

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  36. “‘Complete Rubbish’: 5 Ways Pfizer Dodged Trump’s Demand for Transparency — Pfizer’s press release addressing President Donald Trump’s demand for transparency regarding the COVID-19 vaccines offers a masterclass in the misleading “tricks of the trade” used by the vaccine industry. Here’s a breakdown of five reasons Pfizer’s reply was “rife with deception” and what we can learn from it.”

    by Brownstone Institute, By Clayton J. Baker, M.D., September 18, 2025

    pfizer logo

    EXCERPT: “On Sept. 1, on Truth Social, President Donald Trump posted a demand for transparency. Specifically, he called for public release of the data he has received from pharmaceutical companies regarding the modified mRNA-based COVID-19 injections, calling out Pfizer specifically.

    He wrote: “It is very important that the Drug Companies justify the success of their various Covid Drugs. Many people think they are a miracle that saved Millions of lives. Others disagree! With CDC being ripped apart over this question, I want the answer, and I want it NOW. I have been shown information from Pfizer, and others, that is extraordinary, but they never seem to show those results to the public. Why not??? … They show me GREAT numbers and results, but they don’t seem to be showing them to many others. I want them to show them NOW, to CDC and the public, and clear up this MESS, one way or the other!!!”

    In the same message, Trump also publicly questioned the success of Operation Warp Speed.

    On Sept. 8, Pfizer put out a press release touting the results of Phase 3 trials for its newest version of its mRNA gene therapy for COVID-19 for 2025-2026. It begins: “Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE today announced positive topline results from an ongoing Phase 3 clinical trial cohort evaluating the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of a 30-µg dose of the LP.8.1-adapted monovalent COMIRNATY® (COVID-19 Vaccine, mRNA) 2025-2026 Formula in adults aged 65 and older and in adults aged 18 through 64 with at least one underlying risk condition for severe COVID-19.

    “The preliminary data show a robust increase in neutralizing antibodies targeting the LP.8.1 sublineage of SARS-CoV-2 following vaccination.”

    Pfizer’s document is rife with deception, which comes as no surprise, given Pfizer’s long history of fraud and criminality. However, it is instructive to review the press release, as it reveals several of the deceptive tricks of the trade frequently used in the vaccine industry.

    Here are my Top 5 reasons Pfizer’s reply to Trump is complete rubbish.

    They are:

    1. Pfizer’s long history of criminality and fraud.
    2. An antibody response does not equal immunity.
    3. Chasing respiratory viruses with vaccines is futile.
    4. Claims of safety are unsupported.
    5. COVID does not merit boosters.

    Pfizer’s long history of criminality and fraud

    Long before COVID-19, Pfizer had established itself as one of the most prolifically criminal corporations in history, with a rap sheet that would make British Petroleum blush. Since 2000, Pfizer and its subsidiaries have been found guilty of 107 offenses totaling a staggering $11,261,560,400.

    That’s right: over one hundred violations, totaling over $11 billion in penalties. At least 22 of those were violations of the False Claims Act — meaning Pfizer has been found guilty of defrauding the government an astonishing 22 times in the last 25 years.

    The Pfizer press release provides only a summary of their studies. It does not include the raw data, as Trump ordered. The press release merely states, “Companies have submitted these data to the FDA.” In this respect, it completely fails to answer the president’s appeal for transparency……”

    https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/complete-rubbish-5-ways-pfizer-dodged-trumps-demand-transparency/

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  37. “Grounded In Courage”

    Newsletter | September 18, 2025

    “The Constitution is the embodiment of our American spirit, grounded in courage – courage in the confidence in our mission and the self-knowledge and determination required to complete it, for courage is the source of our patriotism, independence, self-reliance, and tolerance.

    This week, we celebrated Constitution Day. It doesn’t receive the same level of attention as other major days commemorating the historical roots of our country’s greatness. Rather, the day marks the anniversary of the signing of our binding law, the supreme law of the land, and calls for the solemn reflection due a document authored by free men detailing and defining how free men might best live together under a government by, for, and of the people.

    Consider the character of our founders and forefathers — pioneers and frontiersmen, innovators and risk-takers, keen for any challenge. Throughout the centuries, wars, unrest, chaos, and dark times, the thread running through those who made a difference is courage. Courage to stand your ground. Courage to speak up. Courage, like a force of nature, drives us to action and inspires our resolution.

    It was courage that drove our Founding Fathers to fight against tyranny and for liberty. Recall how Thomas Paine steeled the courage of the exhausted and demoralized soldiers of George Washington’s Continental Army during the Christmastime of 1776. He urged them never to quit the fight for freedom. He challenged them to rise to the level of their courage and prove to all the world they were not “summer soldiers” or “sunshine patriots” but men who knew that, as Paine wrote, “Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered.” He inspired them further by reminding them “that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”

    The prize was freedom. In 1787, four years after the war’s end, the revolution’s leaders and other patriots met in Philadelphia to sound the death knell of tyranny and form a new government unlike any seen before. This constitutional convention was meant to revise the system of federal government laid out under the Articles of Confederation. But James Madison and Alexander Hamilton recognized that the existing framework was neither supple nor strong enough to serve the new country’s needs. So, they created a new model with a strong central government, but balanced against the power of the original 13 states. To lead the new government, convention delegates elected as president of the convention the man whose courage and vision won them victory — George Washington. Then he was elected president of the new country, the United States of America.

    The courage of the Constitution was to imagine a new kind of political arrangement among men. Instead of a monarch arrogating to himself the power to rule over others, this new order saw all men as equal and capable of self-rule. All men are created by God in His image and are therefore equal. And yet the framers of the Constitution also knew enough about man’s fallen nature, as well as ancient and modern history, to recognize this new political system required checks and balances — not to stifle men’s energies but to steer them toward compromise so they might put even man’s worldly ambitions for wealth and power to best use. This arrangement among equals required a special kind of courage, unique in the history of mankind — our forefathers were the first men to trust each other and themselves with the fate of a people, one nation under God.

    As we celebrate our Constitution, let us remember that it commemorates the courage of our forefathers and calls us to commit every day with the same resolute spirit and patriotic courage to the principles that have guided our nation for nearly 250 years. Be courageous.”

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