Robert B. Reich’s columns are always highly partisan and filled with incomplete information, half-truths, or complete lies. For example, Reich asks how we can conduct a Presidential election when Trump’s supporters claim the 2020 election was fraudulent. Reich doesn’t worry about similar continuing claims by Hillary, Stacy Abrams, and Al Gore.

People question the integrity of elections not only because there is much evidence of fraud but because Democrats work so hard to prevent efforts to ensure the integrity of elections. They fight Voter ID, they register illegal aliens, they don’t clean up voter rolls as required by law, etc.

Did the irregularities/fraud in the 2020 election make a difference? Democrats say “no”, and Trump says “yes”, both are opinions. Biden is President.

Reich says Republicans make people lose faith in our justice system by complaining about the mistreatment of January 6 protestors. False!

People question our justice system because Biden made it partisan. January 6ers receive stiff sentences, but Democrats who attack police, harm far more people, violate more laws, and do far more damage are rarely prosecuted.

Hillary destroyed thousands of subpoenaed documents, AGs Holder and Garland, and Trump officials Navarro and Bannon were cited for Contempt of Congress; only Republicans Navarro and Bannon were prosecuted and are being imprisoned.

Biden stole classified documents, kept them unsecured for many years, and used them to help get his $8 million book deal; Biden isn’t being prosecuted. Trump was authorized to have classified documents; they were kept securely, but his house was raided, and he is being prosecuted.

Faith has been lost in our Justice System because Biden created a two-tiered Justice System; Democrats mostly escape prosecution, and the book is thrown at Biden’s opponents.

The post Stop Defending Our Partisan Two-Tiered Justice System appeared first on Granite Grok.

One of the justifications for neutering human beings made dysphoric by a relentless cabal of partisans is that it will reduce the odds they might commit suicide. Strangely, these same people never considered how much lower suicidal ideation was in kids before they started inundating them with confusing gender propaganda.

Think about that.

Not long after schools, libraries, and everyone else started badgering children to question a sexuality that many of them barely understood and were not mentally prepared even to recognize, they started killing themselves in increasing numbers because of that. Let’s see. Hey you. You are in the wrong body. This disturbing adult-child cartoon porn will help us think we’re helping you.

And men in clown makeup and skirts aren’t patronizing to womanhood. That’s social justice. That can be you, and as soon as we can, we’ll put you on dangerous drugs you will have to take for the rest of your life.

Why?

The mental and physical distress these “advocates” have inculcated might drive them to attempt to end their lives. It is sinister. Confuse kids about something they barely understand. Affirm the confusion with inappropriate over-sexualized media and affirmation. Claim the dysphoria (you created) can be cured with drugs and surgery. Act like you saved their life.

But there’s never been solid scientific evidence of that – quite the contrary. Even in the most accepting LGBTQ communities, coping is a serious issue. They still have much higher rates of destructive behavior, including suicidal ideation.

Adding confusing narratives and gender surgery has only made matters worse.

From PubMed Care of NIH.Gov

Individuals who underwent gender-affirming surgery had a 12.12-fold higher suicide attempt risk than those who did not (3.47% vs. 0.29%, RR 95% CI 9.20-15.96, p < 0.0001). Compared to the tubal ligation/vasectomy controls, the risk was 5.03-fold higher before propensity matching and remained significant at 4.71-fold after matching (3.50% vs. 0.74%, RR 95% CI 2.46-9.024, p < 0.0001) for the gender affirmation patients with similar results with the pharyngitis controls.

Conclusion

Gender-affirming surgery is significantly associated with elevated suicide attempt risks, underlining the necessity for comprehensive post-procedure psychiatric support.

It is another case of the cure is the disease. You claim to do it to prevent suicide, and you get more of it instead. But the cure isn’t more post-operative support. Stop playing mind games with other people’s children. We know from other research that if you leave the kids alone, nearly all of them will discover how happy they can be living as their birth sex without hormone therapy or gender surgery.

From the UK to France, the WPATH Files to Pediatrician Organizations, 2024 has been rough for the Trans-Cult, and the Netherlands just piled on.

The majority of gender-confused children grow out of that feeling by the time they are fully grown adults, according to a long-term study. …

The researchers concluded: ‘The results of the current study might help adolescents to realize that it is normal to have some doubts about one’s identity and one’s gender identity during this age period and that this is also relatively common.’

You are not a dinosaur or a princess or Batman, nor are you the opposite sex or any variation in between. But the black progressive heart wants what it wants. The Public Education Industrial Complex, with the help of its political meat-puppets, has been pushing for clinics in schools—mental health clinics to help them manage the multitude of distress they have deliberately created.

Talk about a bad idea. A government institution created to educate children that is unable to teach them to read and do math is probably less equipped to handle anything more complex, but here we are. And the clinics aren’t about mental health, they are a foot in the door to do something more.

A healthcare organization that operates clinics inside Seattle public schools says it can now offer “gender-affirming” hormone treatment to children, emails from a health center program manager reveal. …

The change meant that the group could now give hormone treatments to children, it explained. “While our School-based Health Centers have long offered a continuum of gender-affirming care services including supportive student counseling, promotion of social identity, and health education, this step will allow us to begin offering families access to important medical interventions including hormone treatments,” it states.

If you thought teachers hiding how they were all calling your child by a different name at school was creepy, what do you think about them transing your kid on site? It’s happening.

LD227 in Maine turns the state into a child trafficking destination where the state says it will protect adults who bring children there for hormone treatment or gender surgery.

It has already gone too far while resistance to these so-called acts of gender justice is labeled as discriminatory, bigoted, intolerant, and hateful. Even in the face of growing evidence that gender drugs are harmful and neither prevent nor reduce suicides, the culture appears not just obsessed with protecting these lies. They must.

We (Gen-Z) aren’t just identifying with and glamorising our mental illnesses. Now we seem to be competing over who is more mentally ill. Those without autism and ADHD are said to enjoy “neurotypical privilege”. Then there’s competition within mental health communities. Oh you struggle with your gender identity? Well try struggling with mental illness and gender identity issues, like those who are “autigender” or “neuroqueer”! You’re autistic and that’s hard? Have you tried being an autistic person of colour? Sure, you have ADHD, but have you considered how much worse it is to be neurodivergent without pretty privilege, or someone who isn’t “neurotypical passing”? And don’t you dare say you have Asperger’s and still succeed. Sounds like “aspie supremacy”.

In a world like that, adopting gender dysphoria is easier than putting on a skirt (or removing one). It also gets you a higher position on the victim class totem. Oh yeah, well, I have that and was born in the wrong body, so neh!

Mental illness is a badge of honor while daring to call gender dysphoria a mental illness (DSM-5 says it is) gets you branded a heretic. To say we have a problem is an understatement.

Modernity has made life as easy as it has ever been. But if we stay on our current course, it is going to get a lot harder. Significant portions of our younger generations will be unable to cope – they can barely cope now. And maybe that’s what the globalists want. It is, after all, easier to depopulate our supposedly “crowded” planet if people self-execute. If you neuter them and they live, it’s still a win.

I am curious about what we’ll do with all the extra therapists when the culling of those made-mentally-weak-masses is complete.

Maybe they can learn to code.

Steve’s | Substack

The post Gender Surgery Actually Increases The Risk of Suicide appeared first on Granite Grok.

Larry Bird and Bobby Orr gave me sports memories to fill a lifetime. Neither player was blessed with extraordinary physical traits, but both worked harder than others and studied their craft more than anyone. They had the combination of skill and aptitude for their sport that had them performing at a level that few would experience.

I remember being at the Garden the night that Bird stole the inbound pass in the final seconds against the Pistons, dished to Dennis Johnson, and they turned a playoff loss into an incredible win that had the Garden rocking. My first Bruins game was against the Chicago Blackhawks. The Bruins were down with seconds to go when Number 4 took a slapshot from the blue line, the red light went on, and Bobby Orr saved another day. Bird and Orr were legends in their day, but neither will play again. They will not be on an Olympic team now because of what they did years ago. And so it is with every job in life. You are not in a job because you used to be good. You need to excel today.

I think it is insulting to Americans when Karine Jean-Pierre tells how great Joe Biden was or how his past performance should entitle him to sit in the Oval Office when he is obviously unable to do the job today. It is equally insulting when the Democrats, who have been telling us for three years that we were exaggerating Biden’s mental health, are now in panic mode because their lie was exposed to 50 million people who typed into the debate. I want a President who is ready to serve 24/7, not one who hits the snooze button while we await the missiles fired our way by Putin. Don’t tell me he used to be good. He needs to throw that touchdown pass today, or we lose.

Facts about the real Joe Biden are beginning to leak out of the White House, which is not comforting. These inside revelations confirm what we all knew. The people who have been protecting this man are complicit in making America less safe. They tell of Biden as being irrational and unruly to work with. They tell of Biden only working from 10-4 with a nap squeezed in each afternoon. Even Biden tells how he nearly fell asleep during the debate. Biden now has Hunter Biden sitting in on staff meetings as a special consultant. Joe might think Hunter is the most intelligent person he knows, but that is proof of his poor judgment,

Joe Biden’s cognitive condition is not a political issue. It is a national security issue. The team that protected this aging politician was complicit in putting America at peril. Nothing will ever happen to this treasonous group, and I do not say that lightly. This administration has put power over the country, and Joe Biden was the key to that power. That is why they had to hide him, prop him up, drug him, and take whatever measures necessary to keep him alive. Fortunately for us, and not for them, they let him out after dark to debate Donald Trump, and the whole plan came crashing down in prime time. Joe Biden cannot live on yesterday’s glory, for he may have the longest and least consequential career ever in American politics. He has told so many lies and fabricated so many tales he cannot remember why he spent his entire career in Washington.

 

The post The People Protecting This Man Are Complicit in Making America Less Safe appeared first on Granite Grok.

Celebrating self-love and inner beauty can be expressed through rings, each one encapsulating a unique facet of the wearer’s journey toward self-discovery and acceptance. Rings, often associated with commitment and unity, take on a profound personal significance when used as a celebration of individuality. They become tangible reminders of the strength found within oneself and the journey towards self-love.

In a world that often emphasizes external validation, this celebration of self-love through jewelry underscores the importance of recognizing and cherishing one’s inner beauty, fostering a deep connection with oneself that goes beyond mere appearances. Let’s have a look at some of the latest rings that suit you best and your individuality.

Different Designs and Styles of Rings

Finger rings come in a multitude of designs and styles, each offering a unique way to celebrate individuality and beauty. Here are some diverse options:

Solitaire Rings: Classic and timeless, solitaire finger rings feature a single stone, typically a diamond, set atop a band. They exude elegance and simplicity, allowing the focus to remain on the singular gem.

Vintage Rings: Vintage-inspired rings often feature intricate detailing, filigree work, and antique-style settings. They evoke a sense of romance and nostalgia, perfect for those who appreciate history and craftsmanship.

Stackable Rings: Stackable rings offer versatility and personalization. You can mix and match different bands, metals, and gemstones to create a remarkable combination that reflects your personality and mood.

Nature-Inspired Rings: The latest rings inspired by nature incorporate motifs such as leaves, flowers, vines, or animals. These designs celebrate the beauty of the natural world and are ideal for nature lovers and free spirits.

Art Deco Rings: Characterized by geometric shapes, bold lines, and intricate patterns, Art Deco finger rings are a stylish choice for those who love vintage glamour and architectural influences.

Bohemian Rings: Bohemian-style rings often feature colorful gemstones, tribal motifs, and organic shapes. They embody a laid-back, eclectic aesthetic and are perfect for free-spirited individuals with a love for travel and adventure.

Minimalist Rings: Minimalist finger rings feature clean lines, understated details, and a focus on simplicity. These latest rings are perfect for those who prefer a subtle and refined aesthetic that still makes a statement.

Symbolic Rings: The latest rings with symbolic motifs, such as hearts, infinity symbols, or meaningful engravings, can carry deep personal significance and serve as constant reminders of love, friendship, or personal beliefs.

Artistic Rings: Artistic finger rings showcase creative and unconventional designs, often incorporating unusual materials, asymmetrical shapes, or avant-garde concepts. They are perfect for those who appreciate wearable art and want to make a bold statement.

Tips To Choose the Right Ring

Choosing the right ring is a significant decision, whether it’s for yourself or someone else. Here are some tips to help you select the perfect ring for yourself:

1. Know Your Style: Consider your personal style preferences. Do you like minimalist designs, or do you prefer more elaborate and ornate styles? Knowing what appeals to you will help narrow down your options.
2. Understand Your Metal Preference: Determine which metal you prefer for your ring. Common options include gold (yellow, white, or rose), platinum, sterling silver, or alternative metals like titanium or tungsten. Consider factors like durability, maintenance, and skin sensitivity.
3. Find the Right Fit: Ensure you get the right ring size. You can visit a jeweler to have your finger professionally sized, or you can use online guides to measure your finger at home. Keep in mind that fingers can swell in different conditions, so it’s essential to consider that when sizing.

Each ring is not just a piece of jewelry but a reflection of your unique essence, celebrating the beauty that resides within it. As you adorn yourself with these timeless treasures, may you be reminded to cherish and embrace the radiant soul that you are. Discover the perfect ring that resonates with your spirit today at Tanishq and embark on a lifelong journey of self-affirmation and empowerment. Embrace the beauty within, for it is truly the most precious jewel of all.

 

The post Love Thyself: Rings that Reflect Your Inner Beauty appeared first on Granite Grok.

Reformatted, emphasis mine:

About the Declaration there is a finality that is exceedingly restful. It is often asserted that the world has made a great deal of progress since 1776, that we have had new thoughts and new experiences which have given us a great advance over the people of that day, and that we may therefore very well discard their conclusions for something more modern. But that reasoning can not be applied to this great charter.

• If all men are created equal, that is final.
• If they are endowed with inalienable rights, that is final.
• If governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, that is final.

No advance, no progress can be made beyond these propositions.

If anyone wishes to deny their truth or their soundness, the only direction in which he can proceed historically is not forward, but backward toward the time when there was no equality, no rights of the individual, no rule of the people. Those who wish to proceed in that direction can not lay claim to progress. They are reactionary. Their ideas are not more modern, but more ancient, than those of the Revolutionary fathers.

The post Independence Day – A Snippet from Calvin Coolidge (7/5/1926) appeared first on Granite Grok.

When it’s so obvious that the “average Joe” questions “how can this be,” it really must be a humdinger! Consider our right to freely worship from the following, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” Compare this clearly defined restriction to the Court’s 1947 Everson v. Board of Education ruling; “The First Amendment has erected ‘a wall of separation’ between church and state.

That wall must be kept high and impregnable.”

Such a case finding, depicting a “wall,” its height and its sturdiness was previously assured with four words: ‘shall make no law.’ Having a constitutional amendment as its enforcement, such later-day fine-tuning is of irrelevant and redundant wordage that, even if not intended, might be for another time and purpose. In fact, by identifying and restricting Congress, our Foregathers barred the only recognized law-making body in government. So, how are these later-day Supreme Court findings from individual cases as weighty as a Congressionally enacted law? Obviously, this is a mismatch and more so when confronting a Constitutional Amendment!

As a result, today’s educational product has been adversely affected by the removal of the Bible from the classroom. There are those who would argue this conclusion, but as this removal remains, so do its overall results.

Compare today’s quality of classroom behavior, the degree of learning, common decency, personal attire, and overall respect, not to mention the possibility of violence. All tend to muffle negative commentary. Based upon the generations that have matriculated over the years, this devaluing has negatively affected current parenting quality. Permissiveness and leniency abound in today’s society, directly contributing to these school results, which all tie into that questionable Supreme Court ruling.

However, there is a glimmer arising as today’s times just might be calling for a return to societal normalization, of which the Bible should also return to command its central role. Recently, the Louisiana Governor signed a law approving a fair-sized display of the Ten Commandments in all public classrooms, a move which the Texas Lt. Governor is also expressing similar intentions of sponsoring.

Long ago, the fallibility of the Supreme Court was affirmed with its finding in the Dred Scott case, indicating the need to revisit the accounting role of the judicial system’s “good behavior” standard. This mandates black robe loyalty to the meaning and intent of the Constitution at the time of its ratification without exception. Another legal hiccup was the Court’s infamous Roe v. Wade decision. Proper jurisprudence returned when three newly appointed jurists joined with the majority to return the abortion issue to the States. Also, this ‘Roe’ finding illustrates the ability to conjure up a right of “privacy” that did not exist Constitutionally.

Recall the fact that Congress, not the Supreme Court, is the only authorized law-making body in government. While ‘times’ are modern compared to that quip of “those old horse and buggy days,” human nature remains stationary due to its very nature! What is missing, accountability, needs a return, and with an eye towards its effective impact, and this is most pressing within our Court systems. Such a need is expected as each branch is charged to watchdog the other two. In a perfect world, this would have little call or need, but human nature never changes, so the world will never be perfect.

This all connects with today’s need to rebuild our American diligence and appreciation for what She represents and offers to us all. Therefore, the government should begin by adhering to an unwritten tradition within the Congressional chamber, even though it may conflict with one’s running beforehand due to a personal religious decision. As it is, today’s Congressional acquiesce irks since prayer was removed from schools based upon the few offended, yet now, the many in Congress agree to conform to the religious traditions of a few new and loudly defiant arrivals?

The title Supreme Court infers that those appointed and confirmed are well versed and qualified as to their Constitutional allegiance rather than from a personal bias. Therefore, when the latest one facing confirmation refused or was unable to define ‘what a woman is,’ this act of defiance reflected upon a possible future jurist’s judicial approach being swayed by a similar personal preference. This should have nullified that confirmation. Having ignored such an indication, the probability of more ‘dreadful’ decision-making or mythical structures being included as a judicial matter of fact just increased!

The post Night Cap: A Supreme Sore Thumb appeared first on Granite Grok.

Joe Biden claims he believes in the rule of law, but he has no respect for a Supreme Court that currently leans to the Right thanks to the three justices submitted by Donald Trump. As the Democrats like to say, “Elections have consequences,” and in the case of Donald Trump, his election returned the Supreme Court to a Center-Right position.

Our suggestion to you, Joe, is to accept every decision from the Court with grace. The ones you agree with and those you don’t. The Supreme Court arrives at its decisions based on the text of the Constitution, something you have proven you know little about.

You came to the podium on Monday night to whine about the Court’s decision on Presidential immunity. It would be best if you were thankful to the Court, for without this decision, you would face arrest, indictment, and trial for many of your decisions over the last few years. You talk about the sins of Trump, but most people think you are referring to yourself. Joe, you have to take a minute to look in the mirror. You are either in denial, or your mental acuity is worse than we think. You are in Projection Mode, and unfortunately for you, more people are seeing through your facade. It has been painful for three-plus years as we have watched you gaslight the American people. Trump is not the liar, Joe, but you and your entire staff are the masters of misdirection.

I will admit that I admire the organization that is the Democrat Socialist Party. From top to bottom, and by bottom, I mean the media, is consistent in delivering the message. There is nothing substantive in the message, and no look down the road at how you are going to make things better. No, the message is about fear. It is about controlling people by telling them how unable they are to accomplish anything without the government and how the Dems are waiting to help them with open arms. How is that for an unhealthy remark? The government is here to help you. That is precisely what Ronald Reagan warned us about and why no true Republican should ever get into bed with the Executive branch.

When you spoke on Monday, you immediately blamed the January 6 run on the Capital on Trump and his MAGA supporters. You blamed all the deaths from that day on Trump. You do realize, I hope, that you will clarify your claims on this lie. The only people who died were an unarmed woman killed by a Capital Police Officer and four Capital Police who committed suicide after the fact. As a matter of fact, none of the protestors were carrying weapons, and no weapons were confiscated.

You say that this country will be in grave danger if Donald Trump were to be reelected. But haven’t there been far more Fentanyl deaths during your term than Trump’s? Wasn’t the border closed and secure under Trump, and how dangerous you have made America when you cut off the padlocks at the border and made us a porous state? Isn’t Biden Inflation stretching every American household budget? You have made quite a mess of a good situation, which you inherited from Trump. But you bank on every American having a poor memory, and if you gaslight them enough with your lies, you can convince them you are the man for the job. Well, with a 36% approval rating, I don’t think you are convincing too many people. Actually, with that rating, you are almost guaranteed to lose in November. Then, we will see how quickly you accept the word of the people.

 

The post Somebody Tell Joe He Is Everything He Claims Trump To Be appeared first on Granite Grok.

Remember this headline from a while ago?  “BAZINGA! We’ve Made The Big Leagues! GraniteGrok Has Been Flagged By The Southern Poverty Law Center.” In their role as the mouthpiece for the Left (e.g., anything that isn’t Leftist is a HATE GROUP), they labeled The ‘Grok as “Anti-Government.”

I drolly pointed out that they forgot to put “Big” in front of “Government” and brought up the observation that they think that “government distrust” is one of the worst aspects of humanity ever:

Umm, if you read our Founders of our Government, THEY were distrustful of all governments, including the one they were designing. So I’m betting that the SPLC doesn’t like them either (just can’t hoover up money from others over them – I think).

This really is hilarious! Would any of you Normal readers (as opposed to the lunatics on the Left that would give their firstborn to Big Government to keep Big Government big and bigger and some do- it’s called murdering the unborn but I guess that’s why we’re listed by them) agree with them that “distrust” should be banned from our Citizens’ minds?  Or do you think we should have no minds at all and just obey what they tell us to think or say?

Steve also pointed out, in support of that bit of history, that “the Southern Poverty Law Center Has Labeled us as … Americans.” So, with that, you can imagine my chagrin at this news: MELTDOWN: SPLC Terminates a Quarter of Staff, ‘Decimates’ 3 Departments, Union Claims. Dontcha love it when a Lefty organization does the dirty to another one?  Shades of “Women, children, and Unions hit hardest” ring in my ears!

Emphasis mine, reformatted:

The far-left smear factory the Southern Poverty Law Center reportedly terminated a quarter of its staff Wednesday, weakening and perhaps eliminating two of its departments amid a restructure that heavily hit its union members. The SPLC “gutted its staff by a quarter,” the organization’s union posted on X. (Yes, this nonprofit organization has its own labor union. If staff get tired of protesting Alliance Defending Freedom, they can protest management, instead.) The SPLC told more than 60 union members, including five union stewards and the union’s chair, that they would be losing their jobs.

To be perfectly honest and blunt, I have absolutely NO empathy for a bunch of thugs who decided to smear us simply because we want the Government to do its job, and only its job, and to do it with excellence. But it doesn’t do just its Constitutional jobs. It has given itself much more to do outside of its Constitutional mandates and Congressional statutory authorizations. That’s why most of us here are rejoicing over the US Supreme Court decisions over the last two years and ESPECIALLY this past two weeks!

“We announced internally the consolidation of certain programs and activities as well as the elimination of others, resulting in staff reductions,” the center said. The SPLC aims “streamline our activities and operations to strengthen our ability to advance a multiracial, inclusive democracy and ground our work in the perspectives and priorities of communities most affected by human rights violations.”

And one of those programs is one that indoctrinates little kids into as pernicious a scheme as the KKK did. Imagine that the organization that bankrupted the KKK for its hatred has come full circle and created its own haters but just “masks” them using Social Justice verbiage (did you see what I just did there – heh!).

The SPLC is “functionally eliminating the Learning for Justice department,” the union noted. SPLC co-founder Morris Dees established an education program, then called “Teaching Tolerance,” in 1991. The program rebranded as “Learning for Justice” in 2021, apparently because “tolerance” wasn’t woke enough. The program has advocated for teaching kids as young as 2 years old about transgender identity, and it has heartily embraced critical race theory, a lens by which teachers tell kids that whites are oppressors and blacks oppressed in a “systemically racist” America.

So, instead of the KKK hating Blacks, the SPLC hates Whites.  It’s a different shade but the same modus operandi.  And I bet that none of those SPLCers have ever grasped that notion – how can that be “inclusive”? I also dryly note not even ONE word of “excellence” in doing their work but hey, if all you do is to slime Normal people, do it badly, eh?  And just for the record, do we all have to be reminded that American Society IS multiracial already? And that much of what you are doing is NOT being “inclusive” but exclusionary?

But Irony escapes these evil people who are only out for the grift.  And obviously, given their 25% canning, they aren’t even doing that right. So they are, like many on the Left, resorting to making crap up about others to aggrandize themselves and to self-justify their existence.

And just like some of the large corporations that reap large profits but still lay people off and the Left goes nuts, look at this bit of hypocrisy:

The union noted that the SPLC has “nearly a billion dollars in reserves” and received an “F” rating from nonprofit watchdog CharityWatch, in part for hoarding donations. CharityWatch warned that the SPLC may not use donors’ money for 7.3 years, because its reserves can keep the center running for that long.

And I remind you why we have to ask for donations. The SPLC, by sliming us, is one reason why ad revenue is down (Big Tech throttling us as well). Their purpose is to silence us and dry up donors that otherwise would help us but don’t realize that the SPLC that beat the KKK now has the mission to beat up anyone that the Left considers to be a threat to Dem-Progressive-Socialist Totalitarian-wannabees.

If you can, thank you. If you can’t, I can still thank you for spending your most valuable asset—your time —reading GraniteGrok!

More on this here, here, and I note that ABC memory-holed its article.

The post Birthday Present for America: Left-Wing Hate Group Lays Off 25% Of Its Workforce appeared first on Granite Grok.

Consider a potential client searching for financial advice in New York. They type “financial advisor in NY” into Google. The results pop up, and they click on one of the top links. Is it your firm? If not, you’re missing out on valuable leads.

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) ensures your firm appears at the top of search results. Being easily found online is crucial in a city as competitive as New York. With the right SEO services in New York, finance firms can:

• Attract more clients
• Improve their online presence
• Ultimately, they grow their business.

Investing in SEO services in New York is needed to stay current and ahead in a changing market. We’ll cover how SEO can help finance firms stand out, the benefits of a solid online presence, and practical steps to implement effective SEO strategies.

 

The Challenge: Standing Out in New York

Imagine John, a busy New Yorker, searching for a financial advisor. He types “best financial advisor in New York” into Google. Hundreds of results appear, but John only looks at the first few. John will only find you if your firm is among the top results. This is the challenge many finance firms face in New York – standing out in a crowded market.

Did you know that 75% of people never scroll past the first page of search results? Being on that first page can make or break your business in New York. Your online presence is often the first impression potential clients get. If your website is buried on the second or third page, it might not exist. And here, SEO services in New York can help.

 

Why SEO Matters for Finance Firms

SEO includes using the correct keywords, creating quality content, and making technical improvements to your site. When done correctly, SEO services in New York make it easier for people to find your business online.

For finance firms, SEO is especially important. Here’s why:

• Visibility

In a city like New York, the competition is fierce. There are many finance firms, and standing out is non-questionable. SEO is needed to help your website appear at the top of search responses when potential clients seek financial services. This increased visibility means more people will see your firm and consider your services.

• Credibility

When your firm is at the top of search responses, it gives the impression that you are a leader in your field. People tend to rely on websites that rank higher on Google. Investing in SEO can build trust and credibility with potential clients. A well-optimized website also ensures a better user experience, further boosting your reputation.

• Attracting Clients

The goal of SEO is to get more clients to your business. Targeting specific keywords related to your services helps draw visitors who are actively searching for your offer. This means more suitable leads and a better chance of converting those leads into clients. This can translate to significant growth and a more substantial client base for finance firms.

 

How Local SEO Makes a Difference

Local SEO helps your business show up in local searches. It involves ensuring your online information is accurate and using keywords that include your location. The aim is to make your business easy to find for people nearby who need your services.

When people search for financial services, they often add “near me” or the name of a neighborhood. Local SEO helps your firm appear in these local searches, making it easier for clients to find you.

One essential part of local SEO is your Google My Business profile. This profile shows your address, phone number, business hours, and client reviews. An accurate profile full of the required details can improve your ranking and get more clients. Positive reviews also build trust and encourage people to choose your firm.

Local SEO also lets you focus on specific areas or neighborhoods in New York. With SEO services in New York, you can boost your visibility, build trust, and attract local clients.

 

Steps to Implement Effective SEO Strategies

Implementing effective SEO strategies involves several key steps. Here’s how finance firms can get started with the help of professional SEO services in New York:

• Step 1: Use tools such as Google Keyword Planner to search for the relevant keywords that target clients use when searching for financial services.
• Step 2: Include these keywords naturally in your website content. Optimize titles, meta descriptions, headers, and images, and ensure your site is user-friendly and mobile-responsive.
• Step 3: Update your site regularly with relatable content, such as blog posts, articles, and videos, that address your audience’s needs.
• Step 4: Optimize your GMB profile with accurate information and use local keywords to target specific New York neighborhoods. Encourage satisfied clients to leave positive reviews.
• Step 5: Gain backlinks from reputable websites to boost your site’s authority and improve search rankings. Seek guest posting opportunities on industry blogs and news sites.
• Step 6: Use analytics tools to track performance and adjust your strategies based on what’s in demand and what isn’t. Regular updates and improvements are crucial.

Measuring SEO Success

To assess if your SEO efforts are effective, track the following key metrics:

• Rankings: Monitor your website’s position in search engine results for targeted keywords. Higher rankings mean better visibility.
• Traffic: Analyze the volume of traffic coming to your website from search engines. An increase in organic traffic shows effective SEO.
• Conversions: Track the number of visitors who fill out a contact form or schedule a consultation. Increased conversions show that your SEO strategy is attracting the right audience.

Tools like Google Analytics, SEMrush, and Ahrefs can help monitor these metrics and provide detailed insights into your SEO performance. A professional company for SEO services in New York can be hired to assist with this.

 

Take the Next Step with Expert SEO Services in New York

Boost your finance firm’s online presence and stay ahead of competitors with SEO services in New York. For expert help, consider the professional services of companies like AdLift. Take action to improve your visibility and attract more clients. Get started today.

The post Maximizing Client Acquisition for Finance Firms with SEO Services in New York appeared first on Granite Grok.

On the Fourth of July we celebrate the day upon which the members of the Continental Congress signed The Declaration of Independence. In fact, independence in New Hampshire began six months earlier January 5, 1776, when our Legislature issued our first Constitution, thus creating the first independent State, established by a written Constitution, and without a king, in which the people ruled through their elected Representatives.

Contemplating these events, it is important to know what drove Americans to this point; it was not what they wanted. It is also important to know that this is not the first such document in the world. Not a hundred years earlier, Parliament had separated itself from King James II, in issuing The English Bill of Rights. There was no great statement principle, but like The Declaration of Independence, there is a list of indictments against the King. Then there is an enumeration of Rights generally addressing the indictments:

1. That the pretended power of suspending the laws or the execution of laws by regal authority without consent of Parliament is illegal;
2. That the pretended power of dispensing with laws or the execution of laws by regal authority, as it hath been assumed and exercised of late, is illegal;
3. That the commission for erecting the late Court of Commissioners for Ecclesiastical Causes, and all other commissions and courts of like nature, are illegal and
   pernicious;
4. That levying money for or to the use of the Crown by pretence of prerogative, without grant of Parliament, for longer time, or in other manner than the same is or
   shall be granted, is illegal;
5. That it is the right of the subjects to petition the king, and all commitments and prosecutions for such petitioning are illegal;
6. That the raising or keeping a standing army within the kingdom in time of peace, unless it be with consent of Parliament, is against law;
7. That the subjects which are Protestants may have arms for their defence suitable to their conditions and as allowed by law;
8. That election of members of Parliament ought to be free;
9. That the freedom of speech and debates or proceedings in Parliament ought not to be impeached or questioned in any court or place out of Parliament;
10. That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted;
11. That jurors ought to be duly impanelled and returned, and jurors which pass upon men in trials for high treason ought to be freeholders;
12. That all grants and promises of fines and forfeitures of particular persons before conviction are illegal and void;

Note the prohibition against standing armies, the basic right to keep and bear arms, and the protection against cruel and unusual punishment. The right of debate in the Parliament is nearly identical to our Bill of Rights, Article 22. Most memorable is that only Parliament can levy taxes.

Now we must look to the complaint made in our Constitution of 1776. After a brief indictment of King George, they wrote the following:

“The sudden and abrupt departure of his Excellency John Wentworth, Esq., our late Governor, and several of the Council, leaving us destitute of legislation, and no executive courts being open to punish criminal offenders; whereby the lives and properties of the honest people of this colony are liable to the machinations and evil designs of wicked men, Therefore, for the preservation of peace and good order, and for the security of the lives and properties of the inhabitants of this colony, we conceive ourselves reduced to the necessity of establishing A FORM OF GOVERNMENT to continue during the present unhappy and unnatural contest with Great Britain; PROTESTING and DECLARING that we neaver sought to throw off our dependence upon Great Britain, but felt ourselves happy under her protection, while we could enjoy our constitutional rights and privileges.”

Their chief complaint was that the were being denied their constitutional rights and privileges. They believed that as British citizens they had the rights of all Englishmen. That those rights were enumerated in the English Bill of rights and in the rights enumerated in the Magna Carta. The Magna Carta includes rights against illegal search and seizure. However, it was not the opinion of England that they enjoyed these right.

In the decade before The Declaration of Independence, William Blackstone wrote extensively on the laws of England. He had been commissioned to head a school of law, so accordingly he wrote a text book. His chief complaint was that being ignorant of the common law, legislators often wrote statutes destructive of that common law. The common law, he explained, is a body of judicial opinion accumulated over the previous 1500 years with its beginning in Roman times, and written and compiled since about 1100 AD They are the legal custom of western civilization. Having read a compilation of the maxims of the common law, they have nothing to do with crime and punishment, except that the punishment must be proportional to the crime, and everything to do with due process.

It amazes me how pervasive the common law is in our society, just to name a few:

1. Innocent unless proven guilty. The proof lies upon him who affirms, not on him who denies;
2. No one can be punished twice for the same crime or misdemeanor;
3. Possession is nine tenths of the law; Possession is a good title, where no better title appears;
4. Every man’s house is his castle.

Common law, due process, is the beginning of law. It is called unwritten law because it is the stuff of judicial opinions, and not written by a Legislature. Blackstone further writes that statutory law declares (describes in detail), and amends the common law. For example, unlike the common law of the 18th century, a women’s property does not convert to her husband upon marriage, and women can hold public office.

Now comes the wrinkle. Blackstone, the foremost authority on English law, declared unequivocally, that because America was taken by conquest and treaty, American do not enjoy English common law. Instead, they were subject to the common law of the native Americans. Furthermore, they were subject only subject to those Acts of Parliament that specifically refer to them. As such, they were not protected by the Magna Carta, nor the English Bill of Rights.

Now you see the problem; the English did not believe that the Americans had the constitutional rights and privileges that the Americans believed they had. The purpose of the War for Independence was fundamentally to establish English common law, and then some, in America.

In 1776, the Constitutions, declaring and amending common law and form of government, were written by the Legislatures in the English tradition. By 1779, first in New Hampshire and then in Massachusetts,  Constitutions were being proposed in Conventions and ratified directly. Though I have not found it written expressly, in American tradition, common law is only amended by Constitution. Which makes sense only that the society as a whole can change the customs of society. Constitutions and statutes are both used to declare the common law.

For example, man’s home is his castle. Constitutions tell us that warrants are required for search or seizure. Statutes tell us who applies for a warrant, who issues a warrant, and who enforces a warrant.

Today the common law is under assault. Locally, we see it in venues like the Family Court and other special courts, like Drug Court. We see it in cases like child protection, and domestic violence, where the State bypasses the protections of criminal law, by prosecuting these offenses as civil cases. Finally, we are seeing in the prosecution of President Trump. If the deprivation of common law by Great Britain caused the founding of the United States of America, what will the deprivation of the common law by the United States of America cause?

Dan Itse is a former NH State Representative and considered by many to be an expert in Constitutions, their history, and their practical applications today.

The post Independence Day appeared first on Granite Grok.

It is stating the obvious to say that when the Woke-Communists (Democrats, if you insist on letting the Left control your speech) say “democracy,” they do NOT mean democracy in the sense of a government elected by a majority of voters in free and fair elections.

They mean a permanent ruling class composed of them. The same goes for the term “diversity” … especially the phrase “diversity is our strength.”

Woke-Communists believe America is evil and illegitimate. They seek to “transform” America … the word “transform” is another lovely euphemism that means to eradicate and undo the American system of government and replace it with an oligarchy. One of the means to this end is to replace American citizens with “migrants” … yet another lovely euphemism for ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION via OPEN BORDERS.

This is what America’s future looks like if the Woke-Communists succeed:

 

The post “Diversity” In The Democrat (Woke-Communist) Sense … Will Be Our Demise appeared first on Granite Grok.

The smell of fresh Australian air in Julian Assange’s nostrils is a liberty neither he nor most of the rest of the world thought would ever be afforded a man who so tenaciously defied the planet’s strongest superpower. Credited with having exposed US military actions through the publication of documents leaked by whistleblower Chelsea (Bradley) Manning, Assange has endured a long ordeal. So has the First Amendment.

The Assange Odyssey

For 14 years, various governments have pursued the harried Assange as retribution for whistleblower journalism alleged by the United States to have been a conspiracy to disclose classified national defense documents. Both Manning and Assange have claimed that the former’s identity was unknown to the WikiLeaks founder at the time of the document transfer.

Sweden issued an arrest warrant for Assange in November 2011 for sexual assault charges, prompting him to jump bail and seek asylum in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, where he holed up for nearly seven years. His odyssey continued when friction with his hosts led to his arrest and transfer to Britain’s infamous HM Prison Belmarsh in April 2019. Belmarsh (aka Hellmarsh, notorious for the harsh treatment of prisoners) is home to many violent serial killers, terrorists, and rapists.

This week, a bargain with the United States reduced the original 18 criminal counts of conspiracy to a single guilty plea under the US Espionage Act for conspiring to obtain and disclose classified government documents. In exchange for his plea, Assange received credit for time served in Belmarsh and was immediately released to his native Australia, where his wife and two sons anxiously await him. Assange did not travel to the United States for sentencing, instead appearing before a US judge in the Northern Mariana Islands.

A Free Speech Battle

It is a relief to many who view Assange as a free-speech icon that he will not rot in prison. Yet after seven years of isolation in a London embassy and then five more in a London prison (mostly in solitary confinement), the 52-year-old is enduring health struggles. He has, arguably, already rotted.

Assange had no choice but to accept this plea: It was a bird-in-hand for him and a face-saver for the US government and Biden administration. Had he rejected the deal, he would have embraced a dice roll before a judge or jury, where he may have been convicted: He is now on his way home.

It might be that the victories for both sides of this battle have been Pyrrhic. Assange succeeded in exposing US lies and perfidy, resisted extradition to the United States, and controlled many aspects of his ordeal, but he did not avoid prison or familial separation. The US government may have secured a conviction, but the mighty American giant was resisted by a single Australian who kept slipping away like a 21st-century Houdini.

In the end, Assange was released due to a confluence of pressures. A UK court ruling in May paved the way for him to interpose the US Constitution’s First Amendment protections as defense, which threatened a dangerous precedent for the federal government. The Biden administration has long signaled a desire to close the matter under strong and persistent pressure from Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Some have suggested the November election also hung over the deal.

Free speech and journalistic integrity may have suffered more than Assange. Open political and religious speech are the foundations of the First Amendment. The international witch hunt for a young hacker who pioneered using the internet against those in power chills critical journalism, especially for those working on national security issues. Government officials counter that recklessly releasing information places foreign agents and US military personnel at risk.

The Assange saga held a mirror up to a mainstream media that has co-opted its journalistic integrity to curry favor with the powerful. Where was the call from the journalism community to protect Assange from prosecution? Where was the press of the Watergate and Vietnam eras?

Hero or Rogue?

Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been a consistent supporter of Assange. Following news of the plea deal, Kennedy called for a monument to be erected to celebrate Assange and Edward Snowden “as a civics lesson to the American public about the importance of free speech.” Kennedy focused on the importance of Assange’s efforts for the free distribution of information:

“A transparent government is the essence of democracy. That’s what Julian Assange did for us,” he said, noting that the government will “constantly try to increase its power by reducing transparency.” He continued:

“One of the things that’s happened with the press is that they no longer do that job. They’ve become propagandists for government, rather than speaking truth to power. They’ve become stenographers and propagandists for government.

“We saw this during COVID. We saw it during the Iraq War. It almost always is a bad idea for the press to keep the government secrets.”

The lengthy ordeal of Assange’s defiance has extended through several presidential administrations and various dramatic chapters of near-capture and clever evasion. Was Assange a purposeful pioneer with a digital pen or a dangerous troublemaker with no loyalty? The answer to that question depends on whether one believes governments should conceal their machinations from the public in the interest of the common good, or be held liable for their every action.

John Klar is an Attorney, farmer, and author. Mostly farmer… And Regular Contributor to GraniteGrok and VermontGrok.

The post The First Amendment Odyssey of Julian Assange appeared first on Granite Grok.

New Hampshire is at a pivotal juncture as it debates the future of sports betting legislation. The political landscape is complex, with various stakeholders voicing their opinions. Understanding the dynamics at play is crucial for anyone interested in the state’s regulatory framework.

The evolving political environment surrounding sports betting legislation in New Hampshire is capturing widespread attention. As a resident or someone invested in the state’s legislative decisions, it is essential to grasp the key players and their motivations. The outcome of these debates will significantly impact both local and state-level regulations.

The current legislative landscape

New Hampshire’s political climate is currently characterized by a blend of conservative and progressive viewpoints, making the debate over sports betting particularly interesting. Services such as betway live sports betting have been a topic of heated discussion, primarily because it touches on both economic opportunities and moral considerations. Lawmakers are weighing the potential revenue streams against societal impacts, striving to find a balanced approach that satisfies multiple constituencies.

Understanding who stands where can be challenging, but it’s clear that some lawmakers see sports betting as a financial boon for the state. Revenue from betting goes towards funding public services such as education and infrastructure improvements, which are always in need of additional funding. However, others caution against the potential social drawbacks, like gambling addiction and its associated costs.

The debate has also been influenced by the experiences of other states that have legalized sports betting. New Hampshire lawmakers are closely studying the successes and challenges faced by pioneers in this field, such as New Jersey and Pennsylvania. These case studies provide valuable insights into potential regulatory frameworks, tax structures, and consumer protection measures. By learning from others, New Hampshire aims to adapt its current legislation to maximize the benefits while minimizing potential drawbacks, setting a new standard for responsible sports betting regulation in the region.

Key political figures and their stances

One must consider the roles of prominent political figures when analyzing New Hampshire’s sports betting legislation. Some have shown support for regulated sports betting, viewing it as a viable way to increase state revenues without raising taxes. In contrast, some conservative lawmakers remain skeptical due to ethical concerns and the fear of increased gambling addiction rates.

Many Senators have been vocal advocates for sports betting, emphasizing its economic benefits. Arguments often highlight how many states have successfully implemented laws and reaped financial rewards. This viewpoint, counterbalanced by opposition from other lawmakers who voice concerns about societal impacts, creates a dynamic debate atmosphere.

Public opinion and its influence

The general public’s opinion plays a significant role in shaping the legislative environment. Recent polls indicate that a substantial portion of New Hampshire residents support legalized sports betting if it comes with robust regulatory measures. This public sentiment is essential for legislators to consider, as they strive to create policies reflecting their constituents’ preferences.

Additionally, advocacy groups on both sides of the debate are actively campaigning to sway public opinion. Proponents argue that regulated sports betting would bring transparency and consumer protections to an already existing market. Meanwhile, opponents focus on potential downsides, such as addiction and increased crime rates.

Economic implications

The economic implications of legalizing sports betting are significant and multifaceted. On one hand, there is the potential for substantial tax revenue that could support various state-funded programs. On the other hand, there are costs associated with regulation and enforcement that must be considered.

For example, estimates suggest that legalized sports betting could generate millions in tax revenue annually for New Hampshire. This influx of funds could be allocated to critical areas like education, healthcare, and infrastructure development. However, it’s crucial to balance these potential benefits against the administrative costs required to regulate and oversee the industry effectively.

The post Political Dynamics Influencing New Hampshire’s Sports Betting Legislation appeared first on Granite Grok.

We have a Catbird in our yard this year. It’s a pretty thing. It is a dynamic flier and a fast hopper. It almost looks like it is running across the ground (roadrunner style), but its most distinctive quality is that it never shuts the hell up.

https://granitegrok.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Cat-Bird-Call.mp3

Listen to the Catbird (0:22)

It is a very chatty bird, and while its ‘song’ is complex (diverse?) and even beautiful, it never seems to stop.

I don’t think my wife is a fan of this bird, and while she’d never suggest we get a cat-cat to get the catbird, if the bird found somewhere else to be, it would not displease her.

The endless repetition bugs her the same way she is put out by droning 90s grunge rock (Would? by Alice in Chains, for example, which I love, but she is not a fan).

Droning and depressing, she says. That’s the point, I say.

Birds of a Feather

I shared the bird soundbite to make a political point. Progressive-leaning politicians have a habit of telling you who they are or what they are doing by repeatedly claiming it is what their opposition is going to do. Joe Biden is a great example.

We were told that Joe was going to bring Adulting back to DC. We’d have unity, peace, a great economy, blah, blah, blah. Underscoring that was the same catbird who had been “singing” endlessly about how Trump (after his election in 2016) was going to start World War III, crash the economy, dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria.

Dictator Trump would crush you under his Fascist thumb.

No such thing happened under Trump, quite the opposite. But politics is marketing (and a few other things), and Democrats and then Team Biden convinced some people of something until he stumbled his way into the Oval Office. After which, the economy, jobs, inflation, and Middle East Peace all went to sh**!

The border is such a mess that even Democrats are pissed and put out, and we’ve been watching the proxy war in Ukraine escalate us as close to WWIII as we’ve come since (perhaps) the Cuban Missile Crisis. Peace was an option, and they scuttled it and then sent obscene amounts of US wealth (plus debt) to fund more war. Iran? Isreal?

And it is safe to say “divisiveness” is at a record high.

Everything they accused their opponents of they are doing or plan to do (true to form).

Same Old Song

If you missed it, they are recycling that same fear as we approach November 2024 (and getting high on their own narrative supply) despite four years of none of that under Trump and three years of a lot of it under Biden.

Part of that manifold of ills includes a war on Free Speech that ramped up during COVID then went on Steroids when Joe B’s Obamabot support staff took the reins. The Blob (State/CIA/NSA/Media) weaponized and mechanized under Barry Obama metastasized digitally under Biden. The terms misinformation, disinformation, and mal-information became integrated into the collective consciousness thanks to the politicos and their media water carriers who, like the catbird, wouldn’t shut the hell up.

From the same cabal that parroted “Safe and Effective” (it was neither), a pandemic of the unvaccinated (to hide how the vaccine didn’t stop infection or spread), masks (that didn’t do what they said), lockdowns and distancing (no science supports it), and their fear campaign against cheap, safe drugs that could have helped millions —they got almost nothing right.

The go-to source for medical misinformation and disinformation was the people saying they needed to suppress our speech to protect us from what turned out to be the truth.

The Government Lies a Lot

These are not the only examples, but they provide a look behind a much larger curtain.

The limited discovery produced so far (in Missouri v Biden) provides a tantalizing snapshot into a massive, sprawling federal “Censorship Enterprise,” which includes dozens of federal officials across at least eleven federal agencies and components identified so far, who communicate with social-media platforms about misinformation, disinformation, and the suppression of private speech on social media—all with the intent and effect of pressuring social-media platforms to censor and suppress private speech that federal officials disfavor.

The goal is no different than the standard acts of Lawfare used against J6ers.

No one in DC cares about some protesters getting into the Capitol unless it is to disrupt the one chance Trump had to challenge the election results. This is actually the best reason to believe it was incited by government agents. The blob didn’t want the House and Senate looking closer at what was one of the weirdest elections in twenty years, and to send that message home (don’t do that), regular Americans discovered what their democracy might do to them should they dare to gather and seek redress under the First Amendment.

Indefinite detention and a show trial for what was one of the most “more peaceful protests” since June – Sept of 2020.

Guilt or innocence, even eventual pardon, does not matter. The point has always been the pain of the journey as a lesson to others.

The answer lies in forced preference falsification. When those who speak up in principled opposition to a dictator’s policies are punished and forced into silence, those with similar opinions are forced into silence as well, or even forced to pretend they support policies in which they do not actually believe. Emboldened by this facade of unanimity, supporters of the regime’s policies, or even those who did not previously have strong opinions, become convinced that the regime’s policies are just and good—regardless of what those policies actually are—and that those critical of them are even more deserving of punishment.

The Internet makes this play more difficult, so the Blob adapted into what I have called nothing short of a fascist cabal. Big Tech does what the Government asks, and as a favor, the Government will not crush it like a bug under a rising tide of regulations, investigations, and lawfare.

They Can’t be Trusted

From Elections to COVID, to Basement Joe, and Hunter Biden (and his laptop), the Big Tech Deep State cabal used technology and intimidation to control what Americans saw, read, and heard in the run-up to the 2020 election and long after.

(When The Left’s opponents appear to do the same thing, it is a Russian disinformation campaign.)

During all of it, the droning mantra of the catbirds in government was that they needed you to help them, censor speech they didn’t like. As I’ve noted in the past, if they are allowed to get it wrong, why aren’t we?

If the government has a right to be wrong, so do you—not just then or now but always, loudly, and often. When the right to be wrong proves detrimental to the rights of others, inquiries must be made with rules that are narrow and limited in the interest of protecting free speech – because our rights and our liberty as individuals cannot exist without that.

We must be free to challenge, engage, refute, or support the expression of others, even if we or they get it wrong.

If we let the government intervene on our behalf, it will only ever intercede to advance its own interests—predetermine truth on its terms, which the pandemic proved to be a terrible, tyrannical idea.

It feels like an extension of “local police and Federal agents can lie, but lying to them is a crime.” Elevated and amplified, the result is what continues to be an effort by actors in your government to use technology to de-amplify, silence, or censor things that might be true but that make them look bad (Mal-information).

They want to control it and you and what you can see, hear, read, and say, and only you can stop it. So, if you are concerned about disinformation, stopping the government from having a monopoly on it is a good place to start. Only in a free and open internet, or any space where people can publicly exchange ideas, can they be tested and affirmed or dismissed, just like science (by the way).

Anything else is just another shade of tyranny, and you don’t want to be part of that, do you?

The post Looking for Disinformation? The Government is The Best Place to Start appeared first on Granite Grok.

CBD and THC are the main players in the cannabinoid world. Most people don’t know about CBG, a more potent hemp compound. Recent studies show that CBG offers a plethora of health and wellness benefits. But with the many hemp varieties on the market, choosing the best CBG strain can be challenging.

However, this guide is here to help you if you are interested in using CBG. The article will include tips to consider during purchase. The article also includes some of the best CBG strains available on the market.

Find the Right Source: Quality Matters

Where you buy your CBG matters a lot. Don’t buy from any weed dispensary without knowing where they get their hemp. You could check here or look out for reputable weed shops in your town or city. Start by reading reviews and customer testimonials to learn more about the shop or hemp farm.

Renowned weed shops provide independent lab certificates detailing the CBG strain’s terpene and cannabinoid profile. This information will help you know what therapeutic and wellness benefits you will get from the strain.

Identify Your Therapeutic Needs

This is a crucial step that most hemp users ignore when shopping for CBD or high-CBG hemp strains. Knowing your needs will help you pick the best strains from the wide pool of CBG strains. Do you want something to calm you after a long day at work, or are you looking for a mood booster to make your house party more fun?

Remember, each strain offers unique benefits. Lifter strains are energy boosters, suitable for a productive morning or creative afternoon when your energy is depleted. Downer strains bring more calmness and mind clarity. These strains are perfect for after-work smoking sessions as you prepare to go to bed.

Explore the Delivery Methods

There is no one perfect way of consuming CBG products. Most people prefer vaping because it helps deliver the effects fast. It also looks cool and is more calming if you want to have more fun chasing clouds.

Another popular product is CBG oil. You can add the oil to your smoothies or other drinks of choice. However, you can still place a drop of the CBG oil under your tongue for faster absorption. Some say that the results kick in quickly due to the many blood vessels found under the tongue.

CBG edibles are also available on the market. You can purchase gummies or cookies infused with CBG extract. However, you must be careful not to overindulge when consuming cookies.

Popular CBG Strains

In most cases, CBG strains are classified by their CBG content. High CBG strains or CBG dominant strains are the most potent. White CBG is a popular strain known for boosting creativity and focus. It is suitable for daytime or afternoon use when you need more energy to focus on your tasks.

Oregon Cherry CBG is loved because of its unique aromas. Its CBG content isn’t high compared to White CBG. Many users like it for its calming properties. Some claim that it does a perfect job of providing pain relief.

The post CBG Strain: Choosing the Perfect Strain For Wellness and Recreation appeared first on Granite Grok.

I am grateful this Independence Day that our nation still fights for the fundamental liberties our forefathers secured for the world to see. This Substack is itself evidence that Americans still value free speech, as we all seek to find truth in a world of unethical journalism and untrustworthy government.

Farmers have long served as the backbone of this nation and its liberties. Farmers supplied our Revolutionary War forces in our divorce from the British, and are just as necessary today to liberate Americans from dependency on processed foods and government control.

Today’s America is surreal. Our borders, institutions, laws, and values are being systematically tarnished in a culture war grounded in contempt for America and its culture. Never has the Fourth of July been so meaningful: we must embrace and nurture the good of our nation with humility and gratitude.

But a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.” John Adams

I expect Montpelier, Vermont will host a Fourth of July parade today without any American flags — though perhaps a colorful display of pride, unicorns, and rainbows. Instead of celebrating sexual desires and fantasies today, I will be reflecting on things I took for granted as a child — the Pledge of Allegiance and My Country Tis of Thee in public school, celebrating the Bicentennial in 1976, experiencing a nation truly aspiring toward equality and freedom of speech, rather than totalitarian domination in the name of liberty of identity.

Let us reflect humbly on what our nation has been, and what it will become in the near future.

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.” Ronald Reagan

Happy Independence Day!

 

John Klar is an Attorney, farmer, and author. Mostly farmer… And Regular Contributor to GraniteGrok and VermontGrok.

The post Happy Independence Day! appeared first on Granite Grok.

What can Democrat voters thinking right now? Did Joe Biden's catastrophic debate performance catch them by surprise? How many of them now realize, Joe's not in charge? Somebody else, someone they didn't vote for, is running the country. Do they... Tom Bowler

My story begins in Chengdu, China, at the dawn of the Cultural Revolution, an insanity that gripped millions of my countrymen. We were destitute, as were most Chinese during this period.

We lived in a primitive worker’s row house by a river sharing one tarp-covered outhouse and one water faucet with eight families. We had a mud floor that, after occasional flooding, would sprout mushrooms.

My parents were illiterate workers, so their positions in the state factory were too low to be rationed much food. A full belly was a luxury. My uncle even taught me how to trap rats for food. All we knew was a life of arduous labor and chaos. Little time was spent thinking of philosophical fantasies concerning ‘oppression’ and ‘rights,’ so we labored to survive, hoping only that we would endure.

Despite the socialist rhetoric, school and childcare were not free. I even missed school for a year to babysit my infant brother. Yet despite the few resources available to Chinese students, I committed all of my energy to excel in school when I could go. But in Communist China, even fleeting joy is crushed in the young by ideological rigidity, for I was denied entry into Mao’s ‘Young Pioneers.’ The pain was not in the denial but in learning that my friend reported me for showing ‘too much pride in my grades.’

We want to thank Lily Tang Williams for this Contribution – Please direct yours to Steve@GraniteGrok.com.
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From that moment forward I was the model communist citizen. I wrote ideologically validating diaries. I memorized Mao’s words. I recited his political slogans as prayer and made sure that every word I uttered was politically correct. Mao was our god, and I was his faithful disciple.

This mindset served me well for a time, for when Mao shut down all churches and temples, I mourned not. In 1976, when I was 12 years old, Mao died, and the Cultural Revolution came to an end. When the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) admitted that Mao was only a man and the Cultural Revolution was just a mistake, my faith in the CCP began to crack.

China’s renaissance began, colleges reopened and after years of hard work and preparation, I was able to pass the national entrance exam. I was accepted into a top tiered university to study law.

I had hopes that China should not be ruled by men, but by law. Yet even the law was an extension of the wills of men, modeled after the Soviet Union legal code. It was the antithesis of justice.

I learned an important lesson from Mao’s regime: to become a slave, the ‘true horrors’ are not the shackles placed around one’s wrists, but the ones that are self-imposed.

No longer secured by the shackles of cognitive slavery, but not able to find solace in a just code of laws, I became cynical and rebellious, even befriending foreign students on campus to learn if there was more to life.

It was during this time I met an American student. What he showed me would forever change my life — the Declaration of Independence. When I read the lines, ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident… (that all men) are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,’ they shattered what remained of my mental shackles. What ideas! Rights come not from the benevolence of the state, but from God.

All I had ever known were ‘collective rights,’ the workers’ rights, the rights of peasants, etc. Never had I imagined that I, an individual, had rights. Those words only served to embolden me and my dreams. Knowing where they came from, I began to look to that ‘City upon a Hill.’

I eventually made it to America in 1988. In the decades since, I have thrived in this great country. I earned my graduate degree, married, raised three children, started my own business, searched for deeper truths, learned much about liberty and the free market, rid myself of CCP indoctrination, naturalized as a U.S. citizen and volunteered in my local community.

I have traveled around the country to share my personal stories and educate our youth about the horrors of Communism. I am running for congress today in New Hampshire to save American ideals and American Dream.

I will always defend the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, the documents with the words that freed me from my enslavement and helped me choose America as my home.

I have always wanted to thank our founding fathers who wrote the Declaration of Independence, the most beautiful document ever written.

Happy Independence Day!

The post The Forefathers Shattered My Communist Chains appeared first on Granite Grok.

If you’re a homeowner, you might have heard about home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) as a way to tap into the value of your property to finance various expenses. While HELOCs offer flexibility and potential advantages, they also come with risks and drawbacks. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the pros and cons of a HELOC to help you decide if it’s the right financial tool for your needs.

Exploring Personal Loans Online

Before diving into the details of HELOCs, it’s worth mentioning another financial option: personal loans online. Personal loans offer a lump sum of money that can be used for various purposes, without requiring collateral like your home. While personal loans online may be suitable for certain situations, they differ from HELOCs in terms of flexibility and interest rates.

Understanding HELOC Pros

One of the primary advantages of a HELOC is its flexibility. Unlike a traditional loan, where you receive a lump sum of money upfront, a HELOC functions more like a revolving line of credit. This means you can borrow funds as needed, up to a predetermined credit limit, and only pay interest on the amount you use. Additionally, HELOCs often come with lower interest rates compared to other types of loans, making them an attractive option for financing large expenses like home renovations or college tuition.

Access to Equity

Another benefit of a HELOC is that it allows you to access the equity you’ve built up in your home. Equity is the difference between the current market value of your home and the amount you still owe on your mortgage. By tapping into your home’s equity through a HELOC, you can access a significant source of funds to cover major expenses or consolidate high-interest debt.

Tax Deductibility

In some cases, the interest paid on a HELOC may be tax-deductible, depending on how the funds are used. For example, if you use the proceeds from a HELOC to make home improvements, the interest may be tax-deductible. However, it’s essential to consult with a tax advisor to understand the specific tax implications of using a HELOC in your situation.

Considering the Risks

While HELOCs offer several advantages, they also come with risks that borrowers should be aware of. One potential downside is the risk of foreclosure. Since a HELOC is secured by your home, failure to repay the loan could result in the lender foreclosing on your property. Additionally, because HELOCs typically have variable interest rates, your monthly payments could increase if interest rates rise, making it harder to budget for repayment.

Variable Interest Rates

Speaking of interest rates, the variable nature of HELOC interest rates means that your payments could fluctuate over time. While this can be beneficial when interest rates are low, it also means that your payments could increase if rates rise, potentially putting strain on your budget.

Closing Costs and Fees

Like any financial product, HELOCs often come with closing costs and fees, which can add to the overall cost of borrowing. These fees may include application fees, appraisal fees, annual fees, and early termination fees. Before taking out a HELOC, be sure to carefully review the terms and conditions to understand all associated costs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a HELOC can be a valuable financial tool for homeowners looking to access their home’s equity to finance major expenses. However, it’s essential to weigh the pros and cons carefully and consider your individual financial situation and goals before proceeding. By understanding the benefits and risks of a HELOC, you can make an informed decision about whether it’s the right option for you.

The post Pros And Cons Of A Home Equity Line Of Credit appeared first on Granite Grok.

You’ve likely heard the old saw, “There’s never a cop around when you need them,” so the next public safety question is, “Where’s the trained and armed Citizen when a criminal shows up.”

Hopefully, sitting right there next to you.

Thug walked in, showed his gun, and wanted to rob the store. That’s when one of the workers whipped out his own piece and eliminated the thug in the most calm way. Not one person was freaking out in this video. Is anyone else sick of the criminals? And you know what, maybe they would stop stealing if Democrats stopped running the country into the ground and making everything so expensive.

Now, I still haven’t figured out what kind of a store this is. However, six shots solved the problem. And as was pointed out, no one freaked out. I am curious, however, why none of the other workers covered their ears (until the very end) – shooting a gun without ear protection is a painful experience, and, in an enclosed space, even more so. However, it only took 4 to 5 seconds to put the miscreant down – the helmet on his head didn’t help at all.

So, in the end, a good guy with a gun took down a bad guy with a gun.

And the anti-gunners keep telling us this never happens…

 

The post Another Second Amendment Happy Ending appeared first on Granite Grok.