I don’t want anyone confusing this article with a routine one from Carol McGuire, who always does a great job and names her articles “YOUR State House.”  Therefore, I’m calling this “OUR State House.” Carol writes about the House, but this piece is on the Senate and the Executive Council.

The dastardly RTK Tax, HB 1002, originated in the House, but tomorrow is its big day in the Senate.  Unfortunately, it has the blessings of Sharon Carson and all of the Judiciary Committee, plus Tim Lang.

More on the senate, particularly Tim Lang and HB 1002, in a moment because I was there to observe the executive council from a front-row seat with Nurse Terese, who I will ask the readers to support, inside or outside of District 4, in her primary to take the place of Ted Gatsas.  You can start by liking/following her on social media and asking others to do the same.

Let’s talk enemy camp primaries for a moment because there seem to be quite a few of them though not everyone might be aware that some communities have more than one of them.  To recap, the governor’s race is on everyone’s ballot, and the enemy camp offerings are Councilor Warmington and former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig.  Half of all Granite Staters also have Colin Van Ostern and Senator Twitley hoping to be the next Annie Kuster.  Wheeler’s constituents(1/5 of NH) have Alderman Kelly and Ms. Melanie Levesque primarying each other.  But there’s another EC primary in the enemy camp and it’s one I wasn’t aware of until today.  There are two people running for the gerrymandered District 2 seat, currently occupied by Warmington, and they’re regulars in the audience.

However, they’re too good to sit in the audience with all the spectators.  They get to sit at a table placed next to the press table.  This self-important VIP table for 3 was occupied today by Warmington’s campaign manager, who might consider choosing a deodorant with a stronger antiperspirant, Mike Liberty, whom I met in March during the Francophone proclamation meeting, and Lebanon City Councilor Karen Liot Hill, who proudly wears her woke civilian fruit salad.  I call it fruit salad because General Mikolaitis is a regular at EC meetings, and there must be many veterans among the Grok Faithful.  I didn’t know who Mike and Karen were, but being friendly with Meagan, the EC secretary, has its perks.  I asked Meagan who those three were, and that’s how I learned.

I find a few things interesting.  First, the Damn Emperor and PappASS were both executive councilors before running for governor and federal office.  Would anyone happen to know if the campaign manager of either one of them had a very own special table in the room?  I ask because Terese ought to be informed of that privilege if it exists, but I’m guessing it doesn’t.  I will also point out that one of her primary opponents, Senator Reagan, was present today for the first time(to my knowledge).  The old senator stood in the Corner Office reception area, presumably because there is no special seating for EC candidates and all the seats in the chamber were taken.

Now, let’s get back to the Senate.  Being early for the EC, I wandered around looking for senators on the loose to remind them to reject HB 1002 tomorrow.  Carrie Gendreau shares an office with Tim Lang.  Once I confirmed that Tim was not there, I enjoyed a brief chat with Carrie.  Because her parents are realtors, I told her my story and how my own RTK journey began with the assessor’s office.  Her secretary pleasantly reminded her that she had stuff to do before her committee met, so I took the cue that it was my time to move on, and I made my way to Kevin’s office, where I spotted Regina entering from afar.  I high-tailed it to make contact with her and said, “Regina, I hope you’re going to vote the right way tomorrow.”

I don’t know if she was playing stupid, so I had to say “HB 1002” and follow up with the words “RTK Tax,” but she just gave me a “we’ll see” without any indication of how she was leaning.  She left the office, and I then had Kevin and his secretary almost all to myself as there was another aide in the room.  He said Tim Lang planned to amend the bill to make RTK unlimited and free to locals.  Essentially, that would mean that Laurie Ortolano et al. could keep on digging without ever having to put the shovel down upon hitting bedrock, um, I mean “the maximum allowed.”  Kevin told me to find Tim and talk to him about that.  I pointed out that the senate meets TOMORROW, I was on my way to the executive council, and Tim’s committees(Education & Ways and Means) weren’t on the calendar for today.  I wasn’t expecting to run into Tim, but God had other plans!  At least, that’s what Terese would say.

After the executive council adjourned and lunch was had, Terese and I were exiting the front door and stopped at the top of the front stairs.  She wanted to show me something on her phone when I spotted Howard Pearl and Tim Lang(who are almost always seen together) entering the state house lawn from the far right corner.  Terese had her back to them when I told her it was showtime.  I greeted Howard first and said I still wanted him to vote the right way, and he played stupid.  I reminded him that he replied to my email that he would look at the bill and wished me a good weekend.  Then I confronted Tim and showed him a picture of the 4/9 committee sign-in.  He claimed that it was a forgery and then started talking about bill cosponsorship in Kevin-speak, which I don’t agree with.

Then Tim switched to some of the opposition talking points, and I considered asking him if he read my last article, but I didn’t, so I looked squarely at both of them and said, “So what’s going to happen tomorrow?” All I got was the “I don’t know” shrug. A better answer would have been, “We’ll head over to OLS right now to get that amendment going and move to table the bill if it can’t be ready in time for tomorrow.”

The post OUR State House appeared first on Granite Grok.

It is unusual for the name of a local public school district to have national legs. Loudon County, VIrgina, is one. SAU16 in New Hampshire is another. The Exeter School District has made national news more than once, and perhaps it has again.

A few years ago, the very #woke SAU (School Administrative Unit for those outside the state) hired a Diversity Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Administrator. Andres Mejia, a Seacoast Black Lives Matter member, got the job and its very nice salary, and proceeded to do what the District was already doing without him. Advancing DEI, CRT, creating a hostile environment for any staff who thought the focus should be academics. Bullying is illegal in New Hampshire, and every District has a policy, but much like election law, its application is both partisan and selective, true to party form.

Democrats run on uniting people, unity, and diversity, but that’s all bullshit. As I’m fond of saying, it is a room full of people who look different but must think the same. Ask Dem Rep. Johnah Wheeler about that if you’re confused. He voted his conscience and proceeded to get bullied and attacked by members of his caucus (voted the wrong way on gender surgery, you see). And he’s just the latest victim of inter-party bullying in the Granite State.

So, the Mejia hire is typical, and he’d have held the destructive and overpaid job for life (if he wanted that), but recent events changed the dynamics. October 7th, the Israeli response and recent campus protests have polarized the Left. Democrats pretending to support Israel are at odds with Democrats who can’t publicly admit they want it wiped off the map. BLM leans harder left like the good Marxists they are, putting them in Camp Keffiyeh. It’s not the best place to be right now (professionally), even among ideological allies on the Left.

Pressure was gently applied to the Superintendent, who likely hoped he could ignore it, but the School Board was looped in. On May 1st, the District announced Andres Mejia’s resignation.

It is with regret that I inform you of the resignation of our DEI-J Director, Andres Mejia. Andres has been a driver in championing diversity initiatives, promoting equity in educational opportunities, and advocating for inclusion and social justice. This role is important for our entire school community and is pivotal in fostering a culture of acceptance, understanding, and belonging among students, faculty, and staff. We will be posting this opening by early next week as we look to find a qualified candidate to continue in helping create a learning environment where all individuals feel valued, supported, and empowered to thrive academically and personally.

Andres will be moving on to a wonderful opportunity working for a non-profit organization supporting their efforts in the State of New Hampshire. His last day will be May 31, 2024. We wish him the best as he takes his next steps on his career journey.

I wonder if the Non-Profit is BLM?

We’ll get back to you on that, but for now, he is out at SAU16, and they will want to replace him. Taxpayers and those with students in these schools need to step up and push back. He did nothing for academic competency, so there is no reason to fill the position. In fact, this might be an excellent opportunity to flush out a few more like him.

Good luck with that, but to every one out there, if your school (or work) has a DEIJ director or officer and they are connected in any way to BLM, these protests might provide an opportunity.

The post School District Has to ‘Retire’ Their DEIJ Director appeared first on Granite Grok.

After two weeks “off” from session days, you’d have thought the slim majority would have returned refreshed and in numbers. Nope. Republicans were in the minority today (or so I am told).  Democrats claimed some scalps.

While yesterday wasn’t a great day in the NH House, remember that everyone misses the odd vote or an entire day, so that’s not the point. We’re looking at the cumulative effect. Belmont, you are by far one of the most poorly represented towns in the State. Yo should consider replacing O’Hara and Trottier with Reps who can show up.

Here’s the rest of the list for this week. Note that Laurie Sanborn showed up and voted for the first time this year.

 

5/2		YTD
15	O’Hara, Travis (R, Belmont)	155
15	Trottier, Douglas (R, Belmont)	112
15	Varney, Peter (R, Alton)	98
15	Infantine, William (R, Manchester)	60
15	Brouillard, Jacob (R, Nottingham)	54
15	Nagel, David (R, Gilmanton)	47
15	Foote, Charles (R, Derry)	40
15	Sellers, John (R, Bristol)	17
10	Phinney, Brandon (R, Rochester)	40
10	Roy, Terry (R, Deerfield)	14
3	Sanborn, Laurie (R, Bedford)	219
3	Panek, Sandra (R, Pelham)	49
3	Testerman, Dave (R, Franklin)	47
3	Reid, Karen (R, Deering)	5
2	Berry, Ross (R, Manchester)	15
2	Smith, Steven (R, Charlestown)	11
2	Boehm, Ralph (R, Litchfield)	7
1	Guthrie, Joseph (R, Hampstead)	42
1	Vandecasteele, Susan (R, Salem)	27
1	Fedolfi, Jim (R, Hillsborough)	24

The post NH House Republican Attendance – Is Back! appeared first on Granite Grok.

We learned that when Republicans do not show up, it can be a pretty disappointing day in the House. Additionally, the same thing happens when we have a few person advantage and a handful of “Republicans” vote along with House Democrats to kill perfectly good bills, and conversely pass pretty awful ones. If you know some good Conservatives in your district, please urge them to sign up to run in June.

It would go a long way to prevent days like today. Additionally, we need some strong Conservatives in the Senate that actually send us Conservative legislation.

We learned that Rep. Andy Renzullo (R-Hudson) and the Hudson delegation delivered a memorial to Hon. Bob Clegg who passed away in August 2023. The House also passed via voice vote SB468, a bill which designates a portion of Rt. 111 in Hudson as the Sen. Robert E. Clegg, Jr. Memorial Highway. Bob Clegg was a hard working good man who helped many people in need. May his memory be a blessing always.

We learned that SB359, a bill to raise the age of marriage from 16 to 18, passed 192Y-174N after two floor amendments failed, which would have carved out exceptions for emancipated minors. The bill states, “no person below the age of 18 years shall be capable of contracting a valid marriage, and all marriages contracted by such persons shall be null and void”. This bill repeals statutes that currently provide legal avenues for minors to marry. RSA 457:6 now allows parents and guardians of minors between the age of 16 and 18 to petition a family court to grant permission for legal marriage. Emancipated minors can already engage in “grown-up” activities, like having their own apartment and jobs and entering into contracts. SB359 allows no exceptions. There is so much wrong with not allowing exceptions to this new restriction. First of all, it is clear that House Democrats would rather see 16 and 17-year-olds who get pregnant and have abortions instead of getting married and having a family unit to bring stability to their lives. It is also clear that House Democrats feel that “children” aged 16 and 17 do not have the maturity to get married but are certainly encouraged and welcomed to decide to change their gender and undergo surgeries and chemical castration. The logic totally evades me and many others. We heard stories during floor debates of people who got married at young ages and successfully raised a family and stayed together. Alas, this bill passed with no exceptions allowed, and it looks like NH will raise the legal marriage age to 18. This was the first disappointing bill sent to us from “the other side of the wall”.

We learned that SB316, which establishes a penalty for a person who transports fentanyl-class drugs into NH with intent to distribute, died when the OTP Motion failed 137Y-229N and then was ITL’d with a voice vote. An attempt to recommit this to Criminal Justice to work on it some more died 172Y-180N. Again, some folks talk about dealing with the fentanyl crisis that is killing our citizens, and yet here we are, not passing legislation that would give even harsher penalties to drug dealers. Go figure.

We learned that SB376 passed 192Y-170N. This is a bill that establishes a corrections (as in jail) education and vocational planning group. Now, incarcerated people can already get education and training while doing time, and they make use of Pell grants and also get career counseling… but now even more of your tax dollars can go to hire people to do more planning and coordination with our universities to help folks like Adam Montgomery get a college education while incarcerated. Sounds like jail is becoming a more attractive place to be.

We learned that SB414 was Tabled 340Y-24N. This bill would have established a mandatory minimum sentence for the crime of distribution of a controlled drug with death resulting. There were actually some problems with this bill, but we did not even get to hear the debates as the Table Motion came up right away. The interesting thing was that Rep. Jonah Wheeler (D-Peterborough) argued against tabling the bill because he said we shouldn’t use a Table Motion to kill a bill…we should listen to the argument… Well, hold onto that thought….

We also learned that HB563 would prevent local governments from adopting “sanctuary” policies that would shield wanted immigrants from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Several municipalities have, in recent years, taken it upon themselves an authority not granted to them in the New Hampshire or US Constitutions and have adopted “sanctuary city” policies. In any case, guess what our friend Rep. Jonah Wheeler (D-Peterborough) did??? He put forth a motion to Table the bill in order to kill it and not hear the debate. Hypocrite much? Rep. Terry Roy (R-Deerfield), in his floor speech, said that he didn’t think tabling a bill should be used to kill a bill. Pointing out Rep. Wheeler’s hypocrisy was priceless…nonetheless, the bill died on the Table with a roll call vote 188Y-177N, with 8 Republicans helping to kill this bill. This was a shame.

We also learned that SB219, is a bill that would have school districts provide mandatory reporting of school expenses – giving the public more accountability and transparency. The House Democrats fought long and hard over the course of the day to kill this bill, and in the end, they succeeded. At first, early in the day, the bill was passed OTP 180Y-179N with the Speaker breaking the tie vote. At 3:55 PM, the Democrats asked for Reconsideration, which passed on a roll call vote of 185Y-181N, after which a roll-called OTP motion failed 182Y-184N. Then a Table Motion was made which resulted in 184Y-183N with the Speaker again breaking the tie and sending the bill to the Table. Then, at 5:05 PM, Democrats made a motion to remove the bill from the table, which passed 176Y-174N, after which, seeing as they had the numbers, an ITL Motion passed 178Y-172N with a subsequent Reconsideration motion failing 173Y-177N. House Democrats successfully killed a bill that would have allowed YOU to better see how schools spend your tax dollars. It was apparently very important for them to work so hard all day to kill this bill! Remember that in November.

We learned that SB341 was another important bill that House Democrats and five “Republicans” killed. This bill, as amended, creates a lawful requirement that educators and schools respond in a complete and honest fashion to inquiries from parents and guardians about their children. This bill was Indefinitely Postponed 185Y-176N on a roll called vote. 185 people voted to make sure schools keep information from parents about their children. House Democrats claim this is “to protect children and their Constitutional Rights to privacy”. Never mind that parents have responsibility for their own children or that parents have the right to know what their kids are doing. House Democrats continue their war against parents and their right to know anything going on in our schools.

We also learned that there was lots of heated debate and many motions with regard to SB380 which would move New Hampshire’s primary to June. We started out with an OTP motion which failed 170Y-196N, with a small contingent of Republicans who didn’t like this bill either. A roll called ITL motion passed 190Y-176N. Then there was a Reconsideration Motion that passed 191Y-175N, after which a Table motion failed 175Y-192N. The whole mess ended with a roll called Indefinite Postponement motion which passed 189Y-178N with 8 Republicans helping to kill this. Rep. Ross Berry (R-Manchester) said the current primary schedule favors incumbents, as it gives them an edge in fundraising and campaigning. I think June would be a better time simply because college kids from out of state won’t be around campus to vote in our primaries. That was reason enough to support the bill.

We then learned that another knucklehead bill came to us from the Senate. SB456 is a bill that would take taxpayer money and use it to pay off student loans for qualified nursing professionals. This expands the Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) within the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Office of Rural Health (ORH), and this bill makes an appropriation of $300,000 to be directed specifically toward nursing professionals, ostensibly to lure more people into open job slots because we need more nurses now that we let tons go because they didn’t like vaccine mandates during COVID… but I digress… In the bill there’s no guarantee for them to remain employed after having their loan repaid by NH taxpayers. This unfortunately passed 187Y-177N, and I just want to know when I can join this gravy train and have my mortgage paid off by NH taxpayers too since loan forgiveness seems to now “be a thing”. I jest though… because I am an adult and realize that I am responsible for my own obligations.

We also learned that we killed SB496. This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a climate and health protection program. As if they don’t have enough to do. Thank goodness the ITL motion passed 186Y-182N. Yet another bonehead bill from the Senate.

We learned that SB63 sought to clarify, in statute, the subject matter of which health officers may utilize their authority to draft health ordinances. House Democrats decried the bill as having the basic intent to curtail the authority of municipal public health officers and to limit the ability of towns and cities to enact ordinances in response to public health threats. Rebuild NH stated, “Currently health officers have unlimited authority to make any ordinance they wish. This bill limits their ordinance authority to only “nuisances” and that term is well defined in law. By passing this bill, health officers will no longer be able to make any ordinance in the next pandemic like we saw during Covid with mask mandates and such, but will retain their authority to make ordinances about situations that might arise in their towns.” The bill passed with a roll called OTP Motion 184Y-182N. It moves on to House Finance with no mask on.

We also learned that SB538 was killed on a roll called vote of 188Y-173N. This bill was an omnibus mess with multiple parts and numerous problems to mention. First, the bill looked to permit the governing bodies of municipalities to grant tax relief to developers and passing that relief to be picked up by all other municipal taxpayers. Next, the legislation proposes giving the ability to change zoning to the local governing body rather than by warrant article which requires the vote of the town’s citizens. Allowing and delegating to a small group of individuals, the ability to change the municipality’s zoning on very short notice without time for the citizenry to consider and vote on the proposed changes, is bad governance. The legislation goes on to further propose “alternate parking solutions” which were problematic at best for zoning boards and applicants. Enough with dictating state “solutions” to local issues. Yet another stellar mess from the folks on the other side of the wall.

We further learned that SB476 passed 217Y-144N on a roll called vote, to appropriate another $40 million to begin to renovate The New Hampshire State Prison for Men which was built in 1878 with additions and renovations made in the 1980’s. The current population is a little over 1000 prisoners with its max capacity roughly around 1400 prisoners. The place needs work and its said that prison cells may not meet the industry standard and pose safety concerns for the inmates and corrections officers. The estimated costs for these improvements exceed $400 million over the next ten years, more than half the cost of building a new, more-modernized utilitarian facility which is estimated to cost, at this writing, $584 million (and probably more than that).

We learned that  we passed the very important legislation, SB603 (how apropos) 257Y-103N, which would direct the Department of Energy to continue and accelerate work already begun to conserve and reclaim telephone numbers to allow the 603 area code to be preserved as the sole code for the entire state for as long as possible. Another critical piece of legislation from the Senate. And yeah, we get that it’s an “identity thing”.

We also learned that SB471, to add a speed limit of 45 miles per hour on rural highways, was tabled 190Y-165N. This bill would have created a new statutory speed limit of 45 miles per hour (mph) and a definition of “unimproved” state highways. Currently the statutory state highway speed limit is 55 mph and the Department of Transportation (DOT) has the authority to lower it based on road design issues and conditions. Also, municipalities can request and receive lower speed limits in problem areas if it is supported by traffic engineering studies. So, this bill was wholly unnecessary, since there’s already a mechanism in place for municipalities to work with the DOT to evaluate roads and set speed limits. It’s good we put the brakes on this one.

Finally we learned that 2 bills were taken off Consent, but the one most noted was SB375. Originally on the Consent Calendar to go to Interim Study – this bill was relative to biological sex in student athletics. The committee recommended this bill be Referred for Interim Study, as a similar bill, HB1205, was passed by the House and sent to the Senate earlier this session. Both bills require school sports to be expressly designated as male, female, or coed. The overall intent of both bills is to ensure participant safety, fairness, and opportunity; however, this bill would allow any team, sport, or athletic event designated for males, men, or boys to be open to students of either sex, while any team, sport, or athletic event designated for females, women, or girls shall only be open to students of the female sex. There were problems with this bill, but who knows what the Senate will do with HB1205. Originally a motion to Table SB375 failed 162Y-195N and so the Interim Study motion was again considered and passed 200Y-154N. Reconsideration failed 118Y-233N.

Next week we get more fabulous Senate bills and more Concurrences for House bills that the Senate, in their infinite wisdom, have changed.

The post So Kids, What Did We Learn From This Week’s House Session (5/2/24)? appeared first on Granite Grok.

In the vast and ever-expanding world of online slot games, one concept reigns supreme: variance. Also referred to as volatility, slot variance plays a pivotal role in determining the frequency and magnitude of wins players can expect over their gaming sessions. Understanding the nuances of slot game variance is crucial for players looking to tailor their gaming experience to their preferences, risk tolerance, and bankroll management strategies.

What is Slot Game Variance?

At its core, slot game variance refers to the level of risk associated with a particular game. It encapsulates the frequency and size of payouts, as well as the overall volatility of the game’s mechanics. Slots can generally be classified into three main categories based on their variance:

• Low Variance Slots: These games offer frequent but relatively small wins. Low variance slots are characterized by a high hit frequency, meaning players are likely to land winning combinations on a regular basis. While these games provide steady entertainment and are less volatile, the payouts are typically smaller, making them ideal for players with smaller bankrolls or those seeking extended gameplay sessions without significant fluctuations in their balance.
• Medium Variance Slots: Strike a balance between low and high variance games, medium variance slots offer a mix of moderate-sized wins and occasional larger payouts. These games appeal to a wide range of players, providing a blend of excitement and sustainability. Medium variance slots are often favored by players looking for a balance between entertainment value and the potential for substantial winnings.
• High Variance Slots: Known for their adrenaline-pumping gameplay and the potential for massive payouts, high variance slot88 slots offer infrequent but significant wins. These games are characterized by longer dry spells punctuated by occasional big wins, creating an exhilarating rollercoaster ride for players. High variance slots are popular among risk-tolerant players seeking the thrill of chasing substantial jackpots and are willing to endure periods of losses in exchange for the possibility of hitting a lucrative payout.

Factors Influencing Slot Variance

• Paytable Structure: The distribution of payouts across different symbol combinations greatly influences a slot’s variance. Games with a more evenly balanced paytable, featuring a mix of small and large payouts, tend to have lower variance compared to those with skewed distributions favoring either frequent small wins or rare big wins.
• Bonus Features: The presence and mechanics of bonus features such as free spins, multipliers, and bonus rounds significantly impact a slot’s variance. Games with elaborate bonus features that offer the potential for massive payouts tend to have higher variance, while those with simpler or less lucrative bonuses lean towards lower variance.
• Return to Player (RTP) Percentage: The RTP percentage represents the theoretical payout percentage of a slot game over the long term. While RTP does not directly determine variance, it provides valuable insight into the game’s overall generosity. Higher RTP sbobet slots typically offer more frequent wins, resulting in lower variance, whereas lower RTP slots may be more volatile, with larger but less frequent payouts.

Navigating Through Slot Variance: Tips and Strategies

• Define Your Risk Tolerance: Before diving into the world of online slots, take some time to assess your risk tolerance and gaming preferences. Are you comfortable with the potential for long losing streaks in exchange for the possibility of hitting a massive jackpot, or do you prefer more consistent but smaller wins? Understanding your risk appetite will help you choose games that align with your comfort level.
• Manage Your Bankroll Wisely: Effective bankroll management is essential when playing slots, regardless of variance. Set a budget for your gaming sessions and stick to it, avoiding the temptation to chase losses or exceed your predetermined limits. Divide your bankroll into smaller session budgets and adjust your bet sizes accordingly based on the variance of the game you’re playing.
• Experiment with Different Variance Levels: Don’t limit yourself to a single type of slot variance. Experiment with a variety of games across different variance levels to find what suits you best. Low variance slots offer steady gameplay and prolonged entertainment, while high variance slots provide the thrill of chasing big wins. Mixing it up can keep your gaming experience fresh and exciting.
• Read Game Reviews and Paytables: Before playing a new sbobet88 slot game, take the time to read reviews and examine the paytable and bonus features. Pay attention to details such as the RTP percentage, hit frequency, and potential payouts during bonus rounds. Understanding the mechanics and variance of a game beforehand can help you make informed decisions and avoid disappointment.

Conclusion

Navigating through the jungle of online slot game variance requires a blend of knowledge, strategy, and intuition. Whether you prefer the steady drip of low variance slots or the adrenaline rush of high variance games, understanding the nuances of slot variance is key to maximizing your gaming experience. By defining your risk tolerance, managing your bankroll wisely, and exploring a variety of games across different variance levels, you can embark on an exhilarating journey through the world of online slots with confidence and excitement.

 

The post Navigating Through the Jungle of Online Slot Game Variance appeared first on Granite Grok.

This sermon is made in honor of the holy sacrament of 4/20. In the Torah, God said in the context of creating the world for man, “See, I give you every seed-bearing plant that is upon all the earth, and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit; they shall be yours for food.” Genesis 1:29. When God created this holy proclamation to humanity, he was, of course, aware that he had given humanity cannabis, psilocybin, opiates, alcohol, and other plants or plant-derived substances that would change the human consciousness from its default state.

The post Zephan’s Bitcoin Sermon – April appeared first on The Liberty Block.

On May 1st, Tony Schinella published an article on Patch.com reporting an accusation made by Francesca Potenza of Rochester against Elliot “Alu” Axelman. Schinella did not attempt to obtain a comment from Axelman or his attorney, which is standard practice in journalism. The article only told one side of the story and suffered from a number of inaccuracies. This will correct the record. 

The accusation was made by Francesca Potenza, a very troubled teenage girl in August 2023. She allegedly told her parents that she suddenly remembered that Axelman assaulted her in June 2022, 14 months earlier. According to her claims, the assault occurred on Saturday evening June 25 on the main field at Porcfest. Those who attend the annual event know that the field is always very populated, especially on Saturday evening; the culmination of the week-long festival. There were hundreds of people on the small field at the time the fictional incident occurred. Every year at Porcfest everyone in attendance goes to that field to take a group picture. Potenza, who was 14 years old in June 2022 according to court records, claims that Axelman physically restrained her and tried to kiss her as she struggled. She also claims that he touched her in inappropriate ways during the assault before she broke free and ran away. No one has publicly claimed to witness this happening although the field was crawling with people as you can see in the photo of the group picture taken during this time at Porcfest every year. She reported the fabricated assault 14 months later, in August of 2023. 

An Example of the Porcfest group picture. This one is 2017.

 

The allegation is preposterous on its face for numerous reasons:

 

1. In August 2023, the Potenza’s first told Axelman of the accusation via a classic extortion scheme, which is a felony. Peter Potenza, the father of Francesca, asked Axelman to meet him for coffee. Another individual joined Peter and ambushed Axelman with the allegation. They told the 30 year old paramedic that they would call the police and have him arrested on the spot at the coffee shop unless he agreed to sign a document agreeing to pay the Potenza’s $20,000. Feeling that his life and freedom were threatened, and knowing that no document signed under coercion/extortion would be legally binding, Axelman signed and left the coffee shop as soon as he could. He then called several lawyers and friends in law enforcement to ask how he should proceed.
2. There is zero chance that an assault could have occurred on the field on Saturday evening without others seeing and hearing it. As there were surely dozens of armed libertarians at that spot at the time, any man who sexually assaulted a girl would likely have been shot by at least some of the libertarians. Yet, nobody on Earth saw or heard any such incident on the field that night.
3. Francesca was drinking alcohol and ingesting cannabis and possibly other drugs on June 25, 2022, according to sources, who says they are prepared to testify to this under oath. 
4. Francesca suffers from anxiety, depression, anorexia, bulimia, and has suicidal ideation and has made plans to kill herself, according to sources willing to testify under oath. 
5. After the fictional incident in June 2022, Francesca voluntarily accompanied her mother to at least three public events which she knew or reasonably should have known that Axelman would attend (due to being liberty events in his neighborhood). Upon arriving at each event, Kelley Potenza (Francesca’s mother and a State Representative) and Francesca approached Axelman, said hello, and they each gave him a hug, according to witnesses. There is substantial evidence that Francesca had no fear or negative feelings toward Axelman throughout 2022 and 2023 until this idea popped into her head.
6. Francesca was desperate for attention and likely used this accusation as a means to attain it. According to sources close to him, she told Axelman at the 2022 event that she felt terribly deprived of attention from her parents because they always worked and never had time for her. 
7. After saying this in June 2022, Francesca’s sister’s anorexia and bulimia reportedly worsened. She was hospitalized in critical condition and was fed via tubes and IVs for an extended period of time at specialized pediatric hospitals. This further diverted attention away from Francesca and toward her sister in a massive way. The little bit of time that her parents did have for her were now spent speaking with doctors, insurances, therapists, and driving hours away to hospitals to bring and visit her elder daughter. It’s understandable that this caused terrible stress for all members of the family. Francesca likely received the biggest reduction in attention and likely received the least sympathy from relatives and friends, despite her watching her sister (practically her twin) suffering and possibly dying. 
8. No report was made by Potenza or any other person to Porcfest management, the police, the PorcRangers (event security) or Free Aid (event medical) at any time during or after the festival.
9. The Potenza parents spent the next few days harassing Axelman by phone and demanding that he comply with the “contract” that he signed. After realizing that Axelman had no intention of doing so, they called the police to file a restraining order against Axelman and began working to convince a prosecutor to bring charges against Axelman. 
10.  Francesca’s affidavits contradict each other and contain falsehoods, which is perjury. 
11.  The Potenzas then committed defamation by spreading falsehoods to others in the community in an attempt to destroy Axelman’s excellent reputation. 
12.  Axelman has never been accused of assault, violence, or any impropriety in his life. 
13.  As a critical care and flight-certified paramedic in numerous states and an instructor and FTO in medicine, Axelman has passed numerous federal and state background checks. As a paramedic, he is authorized to carry and administer controlled substances such as fentanyl and lorazepam to critical patients and places advanced airways, IVs, and conducts numerous other advanced procedures. His 12-year record in EMS is impeccable. 
14.  Alu has never been violent or harmed another person in his life. He teaches men, women, and children self-defense (including a free self-defense clinic at Porcfest) so that everyone could be prepared to defend themselves from any kind of attack. He is a very strong advocate for people to fight back and never let themselves be victimized. 
15.  An accomplished practitioner and instructor of BJJ/grappling, there is roughly a 0% chance that a person like Francesca could have escaped the grasp of Axelman if he were restraining her, which is what Francesca claims she did. 
16.  Francesca alleged in her affidavits that Axelman was very drunk and smelled of alcohol at the time of the assault. This is extremely unlikely. No witnesses saw him touch alcohol that night and he is not known to be a drinker. He also drove home from Lancaster that evening, which is a two hour drive in dark mountains. He then reported to duty at 8 am for his 24-hour shift on the ambulance without incident. 
17.  The article mentions that Axelman’s lawyer withdrew from his case. This is not entirely accurate, as Axelman fired him and found a better lawyer, who now represents him.
18.  The article mentions that bail conditions were amended by the judge. This is true; the judge loosened the bail conditions substantially at a recent hearing, including restoring Axelman’s right to own and carry firearms. 
19.  The seven charges are all misdemeanors and all stem from the one fictional incident, which would only be one crime (and not 7) if they were factual. 
20.  According to a source willing to testify under oath, Francesca is seemingly extremely troubled psychologically and in her short life of 14 years, she made at least one similar accusation of sexual assault by an older male, which was also apparently unsubstantiated.  
21. The article says that Axelman was released on $5,000 bail, which is not exactly accurate. After turning himself into the police, he was released on his personal recognizance without having to pay bail. 
22. While around 99% of the New Hampshire community recognizes that the allegation is ridiculous, a few of Potenza’s closest friends have supported them and conspired to defame Axelman. One example is Leah Cushman, who is also a State Rep. She spread falsehoods about Axelman assaulting young girls and began spreading the fabricated rumor that Axelman was a drunk who beat his wife violently, according to sources. On one occasion, Cushman sent Mrs. Axelman a barrage of texts and called her numerous times, to the point of harassment. She demanded that Kate Axelman call her to prove she was safe. After Kate responded that she was totally safe, Cushman frantically contacted Kate’s friends that she found on Instagram and other platforms to tell them to check on Kate to make sure she’s safe. Cushman shared the Patch article in the group chats for people to see. Cushman acted as if Mrs. Axelman was in imminent danger and contacted her and her friends in harassing fashion, purportedly to make sure that she was safe. 
23. Others have engaged in even more flagrant false defamation, and those lawsuits will likely begin after this case concludes. 

 

Kelley Potenza, State Rep and mother of the accuser

Interestingly, Free State Project board members have seemingly presumed Axelman to be guilty. Carla Gericke, de facto chairman of the board, implied on Twitter that Axelman is guilty long before a trial. She also banned him from FSP events, of which he was a major part (deputy director of EMS at Porcfest). Incoming executive director of the FSP, Eric Brakey has not responded to Axelman’s numerous requests over the past few months for clarification of the ban and the due process procedures used by the FSP. The board has not published minutes to their board meetings.

As Free Staters, I believe it is important to not act like the state. Always remember to presume someone is innocent until proof is shown that they are guilty. An accusation is not the same thing as proof. People who do not understand those basic things about freedom and ask real libertarians to come live in community with them, will fail.

 

 

The World Economic Forum, WEF, has for decades been a central node of collaborative efforts towards bettering himanity. Many of its projects are initiated with the best intentions. Yet, it has increasingly become corrupted and now acts as a source of fascist anti-human ideology worldwide.

This is in plain sight in the language used by the WEF’s directors and media outlets. The key term is “Public-Private Partnership”. What does this mean precisely? It means cooperation and coordination between corporations and governments. There is a key element missing here— the private citizen.

Corporations and governments are both functioning power structures directing economies. Both are conglomerations of individuals working towards specific goals. However, neither necessarily have in their specific interest the prosperity and well-being of the individual private citizen. When corrupted, both corporations and governments take from the citizens rather than nurture them. Most especially, when corrupted, neither has in its interest the prosperity of individuals outside of themselves. That is, a corrupted government run by a certain political party will not care for citizens outside that party. A corporation will not care for citizens who are not part of the corporate structure.

No effective global mechanism exists today for regulating corporations and governments. These power actors chart a course depending on the morality of the people who run them. By and large, across the planet today, morals have been cast to the wayside in favor of money. Some widely broadcast voices say you can have only one but not the other. This is not true. Attaining both is possible. All that is required is restraint from the amoral.

It is difficult to do a good thing that benefits everyone. There are so many possible courses of action. There are many easy ways when it comes to making money. Yet, making money morally in a way that benefits everyone is the key. It is possible with a clear vision and a good conscience.

The WEF has not promoted such a path forward. This group of globalists is promoting transhumanism— the destruction of the human body. They call it by other words to make it palatable, and so they can profit. Yet, the reality is that their agenda promotes war and bloodshed, promotes castration, and promotes deadly and dangerous biomedical technologies. They have collectively lost the way.

A collaboration between corporation and government has been defined already— it was recognized by the Italian politician Benito Mussolini in the mid 20th century by the term fascist. This is precisely the correct definition of fascism.

When corporations and governments work together, there is a conjunction between the monopoly on economic power and the monopoly on military force. The result is destructive and anti-human. The course is one where the individual finds it increasingly difficult to affect change or even to be recognized and heard.

We must avoid this course at all costs. The WEF is not leading humanity along the best course of action. We must all recognize this reality as quickly as possible and act to avert what could be a disaster for the entire planetary civilization.

The post Night Cap: The WEF as the Progenitor of Global Fascism appeared first on Granite Grok.

Homeschooled students typically score 15 to 25 percentile points above public-school students on standardized academic achievement tests, according to The National Home Education Research Institute.

An earlier series of articles published by me in the Eagle Times showed a strong majority of students in public schools in NH and VT scored poorly on statewide reading performance assessments. 

New Hampshire does not collect such data on homeschooled children and homeschooled students are not required to take the yearly state assessment or to report their results if they do. 

But we do know that one of the many reasons people decide to homeschool is that schools do not serve their children well academically.  

As one parent interviewed for this article said:  “My child was removed from school because she was getting excelling grades in reading and we realized she couldn’t spell or read well.” 

In researching this article, I conducted a survey to determine how reading is learned by homeschoolers.  It ran from October 3 to November 14, 2023 and was advertised to the Upper Valley Homeschool group and the Granite State Home Educators group on Signal and Facebook.  The UVHG has about 800 adult members and GSHE has over 16,000 adult members. 

The survey asked questions about approaches to homeschooling, how homeschooled children learn to read, when they’re taught, where they’re taught and how they’re taught.  It also asked about when children showed an interest in reading, how long it took them to become fluent readers and how well they read now. 

There were 111 responses; one entry per homeschooled child.  The children’s ages ranged from 5 to 21.  Some children have special needs and learning disabilities, though those didn’t stand out.  The results are summarized below.   

How do people homeschool? 

Fifty-five percent (55%) of the 111 children take an eclectic approach to learning, meaning parents try different things based on what the child is ready for and what works for that child.  Eighteen percent (18%) of parents follow a particular curriculum, like the Classical Method or the Trivium, basically doing school at home, though with a lot more flexibility.  Nine percent (9%) do what is called “unschooling,” which is usually thought of as learning as you go through your day-to-day life. 

Many parents are able to guide their children’s learning full-time; some have at-home businesses, others work unconventional hours. 

Many homeschooling families are part of co-ops or learning clubs, no matter which approach to learning they take.  Groups meet daily, 2 to 3 times weekly, once a week or a couple of times a month, depending on what works for the families.  Some allow kids to be dropped off; some don’t. 

Two local groups are the Upper Valley Homeschoolers, who base many of their events in Newport NH and at Micah Studios, which is also in Newport.  Micah works with homeschooled students between the ages of 6 and 18.  All Micah students currently use Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs).  (In full disclosure, I was involved in setting up Micah Studios, but am not involved with the school’s operation.) 

How do they teach reading? 

As one parent said:  “Learning to read was always, in my mind, akin to potty-training; a necessary skill, which each child needs help with, but has to develop when they are ready to be provided and made available, but not to be punished for or be negative about.” 

Who does the teaching? 

• 47% were taught by parents, in addition to some also learning on their own (19%) or at school (5%), 
• 29% taught themselves to read, sometimes along with parents (19%) or in school (2%), 
• 8% learned to read all on their own, 
• 7% learned to read only at school, and 
• 5% were taught by themselves, parents and schools. 

When parents say their children learned to read on their own, they mean that they didn’t use a curriculum or method to teach them, that the child just started reading one day.  However, they generally spent a lot of time reading to and with them and taught them the alphabet and the sounds the letters make. 

Below are survey answers that revealed a few patterns in homeschoolers’ approaches:  

• They provide a rich reading environment for their children.  “He was read to every day of his life by parents and siblings.  There were always books in the house.  Weekly visits to the local library.” 
• They wait until the child can pay attention.  “He asked to learn to read when he first turned 6, but didn’t seem to have the attention span to actually do lessons, so I started by just reading with him as much as I could.  Once he was able to pay enough attention to the material to learn, I tried several different ‘curriculums,’ mainly Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons and All About Reading.” 
• They do short regular practices.  “We spent 5-10 minutes, 5x a week, stopping for breaks when he asked to.  It clicked for him after a few months (age 6) and he accelerated with fluency!  He preferred non-fiction books that would show him how to DO something (cookbooks, science experiments, etc.).” 
• They focus on phonics (80%) and sometimes combine it with other methods.  “We work on phonics as it fits into our daily life.  We have common sight words that appear regularly on a board that we change every couple of weeks.” 
• They try different approaches.  “At 3, she asked me to learn to read so we got Learning to Read in 100 Easy Lessons.  It was too much for her (and I found it boring) so we stopped.  Later, we tried a reading program with enjoyable stories, but it taught memorization and not sounding out, so we did it mostly for fun.  At 5.5, she got an Usborne collection for beginner readers.  We went through the first handful of them together and then, suddenly, everything clicked and she started reading them on her own.  Within weeks she went from barely being able to read to being a pretty good reader and by 6 was reading small chapter books.” 
• Learning to read can also happen in the most unexpected places.  “Honestly, she learned by reading text messages, prompts in online games, birthday cards, notes around the house, etc.” 

When did these children show interest in reading? 

Research indicates that children will learn to read more easily if they’re developmentally ready.  In one study (https://bit.ly/3S1WRzT), 22% of kindergarten students started the year with a gap in their reading readiness.  At the end of the year, gaps remained and those who were already ready to read made significantly more progress.  

Homeschooling parents use interest to let them know that their child is ready to learn to read.  As one parent said:  “I am grateful I could give her the gift of waiting until she was ready.” 

Some lessons from the survey: 

• Some kids show interest in reading as early as 1 year old and some as late as 10 years old.  “This child struggled and just wasn’t ready to even slightly connect the dots of reading until the age of 8.” 
• Some children are taught to read before they are developmentally ready.  “We withdrew ‘Pat’ in the middle of 3rd grade.  Pat couldn’t read past a 1st grade level without major struggling.  Pat has now been homeschooled for 3 years and is reading at 12th grade level and can’t put books down.”   

Most of these children (73%) showed interest in reading between the ages of 3 and 5.  Quite a few (20%) showed interest between the ages of 6 and 8.  One was 10 years old and a few were 1-2 years old.  The range is probably similar for all children.  

How long did it take these children to become fluent readers?  

Most of these homeschooled children (65%) were taught to read after they showed interest.  One child was first taught to read at 9 years old.  She became a fluent reader very quickly.  Harry Potter was the first book she read on her own. 

Some kids can learn to read fluently at an early age.  One child was reading fluently at 4 years old, before going to school for grades K-4.  “Starting with simple books, he was able to quickly improve his reading skills and comprehension.  We introduced more interesting stories early and avoided simple readers without good story lines.” 

The survey data suggest that it takes about the same amount of time for kids to become fluent readers whether you start teaching reading before or after the child shows interest.  It can range from two weeks (if they’re really ready) to more than 4 years for children to read fluently.  

Does learning to read before or after showing interest affect how much they LIKE to read?   

“He loves reading now because it wasn’t forced on him as something he HAD to do just because he was a certain age or grade.  It was offered to him as an exciting magical power when he was ready and interested to learn it.” 

Over 71% of children in the survey like to read, whether they learned to read before or after they showed interest in reading.  This might be because most of these homes provide rich reading environments, where parents and siblings read with the child early and often.  

However, 20% of children who were taught to read before they showed interest do not like to read now, compared to 10% of children who learned after showing interest.  The sample of children is small, so it’s hard to draw conclusions.  

Did going to school affect when children learned to read? 

“This child was not ready to learn to read in kindergarten when it was taught.  She hated doing the phonics and simple reading homework at home.  She simply did not understand it and ended up repeating kindergarten and hating school.  She eventually ended up having panic attacks at school so I pulled her out halfway through 5th grade to homeschool.  She caught up to her original grade and is now flourishing in college.” 

Some of the children in the survey went to school for a period of time:  

• 34% attended a traditional school.   
• 23% attended, at some point, in grades PreK-3, the years that schools teach reading. 
• 11% attended school beyond 3rd grade.  
• 6% attended school for just one year and, for some, that year was PreK. 
• 9% attended school only for PreK and/or Kindergarten. 

Over 80% of the homeschooled-only children were taught to read after they showed interest, whereas almost 40% of these children who were schooled were taught before they showed interest.   

Of course, homeschooled families have the opportunity to wait for a child to be interested.  Children who go to school have to try to keep up with their class, no matter their level of reading readiness.  

A number of years ago, I tutored a first grader, a 6-year-old boy, in reading.  He didn’t know, or care about, the sounds that letters make.  It’s not clear that it’s worth putting a lot of effort into forcing a child to read at that readiness level.  My focus was to get him to trust me while exposing him to books and letters.  Elementary school teachers have to meet this challenge every day.  

Conclusions 

“Homeschooling has allowed her more time to read and has accelerated her skills.  Rather than getting up before she’s fully rested and rushing to get to a traditional school where she will be assigned 20 minutes of reading, she wakes up when she’s ready each day and reads in bed before getting up.” 

All homeschooled children in the survey who showed interest in reading have learned to read.  People who responded to the survey were self-selected so we might not have heard from parents whose kids had problems learning to read. 

Homeschooled children are taught to read using many different approaches.  Many parents mentioned following the child’s readiness and interest.  Contrast this with schools, which use one approach for all students, whether it works or not. 

In my previous series on reading published by the Eagle Times, one parent said that everyone in her affluent town hires tutors to teach their kids to read, even though they attend a well-performing public village school.  Also, the principal of another village school said that many kindergartners start out not ready to read and that it is a problem.   Perhaps school policies should change to allow children to attend kindergarten only if they are ready to learn to read, no matter their age. 

Whether you homeschool your children or send them to school, reading to or with them at home regularly will give them a solid foundation. 

(This article may have also been published by the Eagle Times.)

The post Homeschooling Survey: They Use Many Different Methods to Learn to Read appeared first on Granite Grok.

Democrats continue to insist that despite the risks (fraud, assault, injury, etc.), if a boy wants to play on the girl’s team (use their locker room, showers), that’s social justice, but New Hampshire has legislation that would protect girls by limiting sports participation to biology at birth, so – naturally – they have to object.

It takes many forms, but this clip of testimony in opposition from NH House Rep Hope Damon is … interesting. She very politely and calmly reminds us that losing builds character. Someone should have told that to the Hillary supporters after Trump won in 2016 or—for that matter—her entire party. They still can’t get over it, but I digress (just a wee bit).

Rep. Damon’s argument isn’t wrong exactly. Generally speaking, defeat properly repurposed builds character, but this oversimplification of the context ignores facts.

Losing builds character if it inspires you to improve toward some attainable goal, and most of these girls work hard to excel at a sport only to be faced with the potential of a fit male competitor (even if he lacks the skills to do well against other boys) who can outperform them on a girl’s team. If they are fit and have skills, we are telling girls to stop wasting their time with diet, exercise, and all that practice. You can’t win (maybe you should stay home and bake cookies).

If she takes testosterone to try and close the gap, she’s doping and can’t play with girls. If she plays with boys, she still loses if she survives. Where is this politically enforced systemic disadvantage building character? It won’t, but it will result in serious injury, anger, and possibly depression. Rep. Damon may have left that out.

And how about this?

Does it build character when a man wins a women’s sports scholarship? How about if that was her only real opportunity to attend a university? Lots of character building, especially when it’s this guy. Franz Lagardas plays both male and female volleyball, and he just got a sports scholarship to a women’s college. I’m sure the young lady he beat out enjoys all that character-building. She could, of course, take hormones as in the example above, but then they might not let her into the women’s college or on the women’s team.

Character building!

Clip – WMUR

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One more point. If losing builds character, I hope the citizens in Croydon introduce Rep. Damon to some come November. It sounds like she could use it.

The post Dem Rep Thinks Girls Losing to Boys (Pretending to be Girls) is Good for Them appeared first on Granite Grok.

Earlier this week, the Senate Education Committee heard testimony on HB1205, which would require schools to designate athletics by sex and prohibit biological males from participating in female athletics. This bill further creates various causes of action based on violations of its provisions.

There was a great deal of testimony from both sides of this issue, but one thing we can see is, this issue has become partisan. Democrats are standing against girls and women, and Republicans are standing with them. It’s as if Democrats forgot the history of the women’s movement.

WMUR covered the hearing here. You can see how Republicans, and myself, spoke to some of the concerns for girls who have been injured by the males who identify as females. Representative Hope Damon (D), at the end, says that we (women and girls) need to learn to lose. Who says that in 2024? Women are sick of being told to sit down and shut up.

Title IX was established to give girls some of the same opportunities as males, to compete and win scholarships and awards. All of that is under attack when biological males are allowed to compete in women’s sports.

You can see from this video how girls in one Massachusetts school were thrown to the ground by a trans athlete during a basketball game.

Senator Suzanne Prentiss (D) doesn’t seem to understand that the injuries these girls are sustaining are far worse when they come from a biological male.

Other states are moving to pass legislation that protects girls and women, and their sports.

This would be a good time to send an email to ALL of The New Hampshire Senators and ask them to protect women’s sports and their privacy in the locker room and restrooms. Senators New Hampshire <Senators@leg.state.nh.us>
You can also find your senator here.

It’s unfortunate that this has become partisan, with the Democrats standing against fairness and the rights of women and girls in New Hampshire. It’s up to us to remind them that they need to do the right thing.

 

 

The post NH Democrats Stand Firmly Against Women’s Rights appeared first on Granite Grok.

It was the best of lies; it was the worst of lies. 

Richburg and Poortown both have K-12 schools with 100 students, and school budgets of $2 million.  

Pat lives in Richburg. He decides to leave the local school to accept an Education Freedom Account (EFA) with $5,255 in it. 

In Richburg, the State-Wide Education Property Tax (SWEPT) is sufficient to cover the state adequacy grants, so the $4,200 that would have been allocated to the ‘adequacy’ pocket gets allocated to the ‘general’ pocket instead.  (The money is collected by Richburg and never leaves Richburg.  What isn’t allocated to adequacy is used to offset additional taxes.)  The school budget doesn’t change — just as it wouldn’t if a kid moved in or out of town.  (Small changes in enrollment are already anticipated in the budget.)  School taxes don’t change.  The state gives Pat $5,255 from the state Education Trust Fund. 

Chris lives in Poortown.  He also decides to leave the local school system to accept an EFA.  In Poortown, SWEPT is insufficient to cover the state adequacy grants, so some of that money is taken from the state Education Trust Fund.  The $4,200 that the school system would have received from the trust fund for having Chris as a student is applied to his EFA, along with an extra $1,055.  Because the school budget doesn’t change, now property owners in Poortown have to make up that $4,200 with increased school taxes.

In the first case, total spending rises from $2,000,000 to $2,005,255.   In the second case, total spending rises from $2,000,000 to $2,005,225. 

However, proponents of EFAs claim that in each case, the taxpayers save money. The Josiah Bartlett Center recently shared an article about EFAs written by EdChoice. The title was EdChoice analysis finds EFAs save taxpayers nearly $9 million this year, $23 million annually from currently enrolled students. 

How do they figure? 

In each of our fictitious schools, the cost per student is $20,000 (i.e., the total budget divided by the number of students, or $2 million divided by 100).  According to the proponents, this means that when Pat and Chris leave their schools, each school can spend $20,000 less than it was spending before.  

But where would these spending cuts come from? No teachers, aides, or administrators are fired. No one takes a pay cut. No bus routes are changed. It costs the same amount to run the schools regardless of whether Pat and Chris are attending them. So when they leave, the old spending (for the schools) remains unchanged, and $5,225 in new spending (for each EFA) is added to that. 

Here is what the proponents of EFAs are hoping that you don’t understand:  The cost-per-student of running a school is not the cost of educating one student who attends that school.  If you ignore that crucial fact, you can be fooled into thinking that increased spending can magically result in decreased taxes.  

Do the Josiah Bartlett Center and EdChoice really believe that when a student leaves a school, the budget goes down by the per-student cost at that school? Whether they believe it or not, we should be skeptical of any other reports they publish. 

I am in favor of education alternatives. But I’m not willing to accept the party line for a program without understanding the details. 

The post A Tale of Two EFAs appeared first on Granite Grok.

The new website is nearing completion, and we could go live this weekend (or early next week). There are a few appearance changes, some layout tweaks, and a more intelligent sorting system. Content will be filtered into Silos to make it easier for readers to get to what they want to read.

The system is simple. The home page will continue to have scrolling content as always, but we are adding cards that feature articles in each of the silos (areas of interest).

Getting Around

From the top of the Home Page, you will see these silos as ‘Grok’ New Hampshire (Local stories), New England (regional news and both VT Grok and ME Grok), the Nation (National News), Or The World (Global news). We are also adding a podcast page for our own or shared podcast content.

Drafts – subject to tweaks/color, location

Content will be categorized appropriately to get you to what you want to see first. Here’s a mock up of the New England page header.

 

The Header to the New Hampshire page will look something like this.

You can always scroll the homepage and interact with the content, cards or other features.

Fewer Ads

We will be dumping our old ad vendors and switching to something else sometime in May—no more edge ads or mobile ad clutter. We are also doing away with Disqus, so that annoying out-of-our-control ad package (under every post) is gone with the update.

Comments, Etc.

We will be using the WordPress commenting system moving forward. Disqus comments will be archived and kept with past posts (I’m not clear on the logistics of this, but that’s the plan).

We are also making the site lighter and faster (so they tell me), and the mobile experience should be much improved.

VIP?

Once the site is up and deemed stable, and we’ve tweaked it a bit more to get it right where we want it, we will move forward with the Subscriber/VIP update. This feature will include premium content not included in the free version. The option of including an ad-free experience for VIPs will depend on how clean the new ad package is – it looks to be very unobtrusive, but we’ll see. I also still need to generate revenue for operating expenses, updates, and my living.

Mobile App?

Once we are happy with the site update, an effort can be made to develop a ‘grok app specific to mobile to improve that experience further. We have funds to start it, but given the changes, I need to make sure we have the operating budget to keep everything else running before pulling the trigger on that one. I still want it, so we’ll get there.

It’s all been a long time coming, but it looks like we’re here. I will announce when we plan to take the new site live so you’ll be aware of the likelihood of disruption. These things never go as smoothly as you’d like, but this time next week, we might be up and running on Grok 4.0. I think it’s 4 – or maybe 5.0. As if that matters, right?

The post The Newest Version of GraniteGrok Will Go Live SOON – Changes And What to Expect! appeared first on Granite Grok.

This video is aimed at answering the question what is the "right" way for youth to navigate the criminal justice system? Jack Beckerman and I, Aanna Farhang, attempt to answer this question through interviews with experts including the Honorable Federal Magistrate Judge Stacie Beckerman, Professor Aliza Kaplan, Public Defender Matt Stevens, as well as the formerly incarcerated Trevor Walraven and Conrad Engweiler.

read more

I am writing this article with views from many angles. As a father, school bus driver, and observer of the news, there are so many things wrong with the campus protests/occupations, especially at Columbia University in New York City, and the reactions by the people who should be in charge of restoring order to these schools of higher education.

As a father, I think parenting children 35 to 40 years ago was easier than it is today. That time was before the social networking explosion, and no child was holding a smartphone in their hands all day. Children still had friends they interacted with face-to-face, and they were not bombarded with information on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, coaching them and telling them how they should look and behave in a fast-paced world. Their parents and teachers were usually in sync, and there was still a level of discipline and accountability.

Parents must compete with social media today, and with so much peer pressure to fit in, they do not stand a chance. Parents and teachers may not be in chorus, and parents usually compete to control their children’s upbringing. Parents often lean more toward being friends with their children than they do with being mom and dad. These coddled children know how to play the game, and the lack of boundaries starts early. These students occupying buildings at Columbia are not bright college students but immature children who see nothing wrong with what they are doing.

The schools that are experiencing the most prominent protests are private institutions, so the police are not able to enter these properties and quell these actions. Even though they are abusing Jewish classmates and professors, the police can only act by invitation. The school administration has to accept the brunt of the blame as these protests grow into civil disorder. Negotiating instead of shutting them down was the first issue, and when they continued to move the deadlines as they were broken, they showed a significant lack of leadership.

Their reasons for protest and their demands expose the issues with what they have been taught for 16 years. They are supporting and pledging allegiance to a terrorist group, Hamas, in their condemnation of Israel and their Jewish classmates. They are displaying their degree of entitlement with their demands of Columbia to sever ties with any entity with ties to Israel and the absolution of any punishment for what they have done for the last ten days.

These students and the activist groups that back them must be identified and punished. There has to be accountability. There have to be people who are spectators now: Columbia University President Minouche Shafik, Mayor Adams, Governor Hochul, Chuck Schumer, and President Biden, step up, condemn the action of these civil activists, and support the university with whatever punishment they hand down to these students. Finally, where are the parents? Did they send their children to Columbia to become political activists or terrorists or to get a first-class education? Right now, they are failing their children by allowing them to get caught up in the illegal movement. With each passing day, this situation will be more ugly and brutal to terminate. The police are poised and ready and should be called in to do their jobs and end this ugly chapter in history.

The post Coddled Children Become Entitled Student Protesters appeared first on Granite Grok.

Kiddies protesting the latest thing have gotten out of control on at least a few college campuses. We haven’t seen anything like that here, of which I’m aware, but yesterday, May Day, that glorious Communist Holiday, “protesters” gathered to avoid classes in support of Gaza and Palestine. Some went to jail.

It looks very much like His Excellency sent the stormtroopers (the protest was advertised on social media), but here’s the thing. The trigger for police ‘involvement’ does not appear to have been the protesting. It was because they tried to set up “occupy” like encampments.

UNH

UNH Police Chief Paul Dean estimated 10-20 protesters were arrested after a rally led to demonstrators attempting to set up an encampment at the state’s flagship university, drawing local and New Hampshire State Police. Some demonstrators shouted at police, calling them “cowards” and chanting “free Palestine.”The scene mirrored demonstrations on campuses across the United States in solidarity with Palestinians in the wake of Israel’s military response to a deadly Oct. 7 attack by Hamas.

One of our readers sent a video of some of the action.



The peaceful event lasted until around 6:30 p.m. Then, Dean said, protesters rushed in to form an encampment and attempted to barricade their tents. Arrested protesters were taken to the Strafford County jail in Dover, according to Dean, who said he was not immediately aware of any injuries Wednesday night.

“When they went to set up the tents, it was clear to me that the majority of people were not affiliated with the university,” Dean said.

Arresting out-of-staters (unless they come here to vote) is the New Hampshire way.

Dartmouth

It’s the same story, just north a few hours.

The Dartmouth encampment Wednesday evening followed a planned “Labor for Liberation Celebration” earlier in the day, coordinated by a mix of campus and community activists to highlight what they called “the interconnected liberation struggles of Palestinians and workers around the world, Including those right here at Dartmouth and in the Upper Valley.” Shortly after that event wrapped up, a group of protesters started setting up tents on the main college lawn, in the center of Hanover. Some gave speeches, waved Palestinian flags and chanted “Divest Not Arrest.” A group of students also encircled the encampment, mirroring a move seen on other campuses meant to make it more difficult for police to reach the protesters in tents inside.

Ahead of Wednesday’s demonstration, Dartmouth officials warned that student protesters could face sanctions or arrest. In a message sent to the campus community Wednesday afternoon, Provost David F. Kotz said school policies “specifically prohibit the use of tents and encampments on the Green and other areas of campus.”

The ACLU had to issue a statement.

“Use of police force against protestors should never be a first resort,” the organization said. “Freedom of speech and the right to demonstrate are foundational principles of democracy and core constitutional rights. We urge university and government leaders to create environments that safeguard constitutionally protected speech.”

I agree, except that pending details to the contrary, the “individuals” were protected and not arrested during their protest. The police presence would have, I presume, prevented any violent interference with any polite gathering of like-minded persons. What they were removed for was setting up tents. If that turns out not to be the case, than we’re with you. I’d also like to know what promoted State Police to make themselves available (other than His Excellencies say so). Is there a prevailing opinion about the May Day Organizers and their intentions? They appear peaceful but Marxist movements don’t stay that way for long.

One of the sponsors is the Democratic Socialists of America, and another (don’t drink anything while you read this) is the Student Worker’s Collective at Dartmouth -at an Ivy League school.

Come out to the Dartmouth green @ 5PM this May Day (May 1st) to support and learn about the interconnected liberation struggles of Palestinians and workers around the world, Including those right here at Dartmouth and in the Upper Valley. None of us are free until all of us are free!!

But they never operate peacefully in power, so I find this statement amusing. Are the organizers liars (also required for Marxist movements), or are they ignorant like most of the college kids their activities tend to attract?

The post Allegedly Pro-Palestine “Protesters,” at UNH, Dartmouth Arrested appeared first on Granite Grok.

Congrats to pfrcav717, this week’s comment of the week winner.

Each day, I select a comment, and at the end of the week, we publish all seven and ask readers to vote on the one they like best. The winner can receive some Grok swag as part of their victory, but they need to contact me to get that. Not everyone does.

You can read all seven of last week’s finalist comments here.

pfrcav717, please reach out to me at steve@granitegrok.com so we can arrange to send you your prize!

Here is the winning comment!

Last Chance to Save the Soul of the Nation Commenter: pfrcav717

Just a couple of things I would like to add to this excellent article is that no matter how many people come out and vote against Commie Joe Biden, The Democrat fraud machine will be able to halt the vote counting in key areas and bring in the ballots they need. Thanks to mail in voting the Democrats have been able to devise and test a system that all but guarantees victory in every single election. 2020 was the test.

The Republicans at the federal and state levels turned a blind eye; the courts lacked the courage and the integrity to address the issue which was clear cut. And our federal and state law enforcement agencies found themselves inept at even starting an investigation into voter fraud. But, then again, B Hussein Obama initiated that change in federal law enforcement as well as the federal judiciary, again, with full Republican support. We can even look at the Supreme Court and see the lack of courage and integrity due to politics.

The country we knew and loved, and many of us fought for, is in dire straits right now. And I don’t see anyone on the federal or state level that is willing or able to take on this level of corruption.

One last thing: Even if Donald Trump is elected, will he be able to do anything? As one commenter already said, he had the White House and both the House and Senate, and his own party fought him. The swamp is deep, deeper than any of us could possibly have imagined.

We will have to see what happens, but I fear what must happen to correct this destruction of America.

The post Commenter ‘pfrcav717’ Wins Comment of the Week appeared first on Granite Grok.

In apparent response to my post, The Rancid Company That Matt Wilhelm Keeps, Matty has “pinned” the post in question to the top of his X. Let’s talk about why.

First and foremost, Matty knows that Jason Osborne, Joe Sweeney, Ross Berry, etc. are just CONTROLLED OPPOSITION. Osborne and his ilk do NOT actually represent GOP-voters … rather, they view actual GOP-voters just as contemptuously as their “colleague” Matty Wilhelm does.

Additionally, Matty knows he will never actually be held accountable by the “press” in New Hampshire for associating with and legitimizing MSNBC anti-semitic Ayman. WMUR’s, NHPR’s, etc.s’ mission is not to report news … it is to elect Democrats (more accurately, Woke-Communists).

Matty’s response shows how arrogant and powerful the Woke-Communists are in New Hampshire … and how correspondingly irrelevant and impotent the NHGOP are. Matty Wilhelm is EVIL. But rather than fighting, or even calling out that evil, the NHGOP are instead waging a jihad against single-family zoning and for legalizing marijuana.

The post Matt Wilhelm Doubles Down On Anti-Semitism appeared first on Granite Grok.

Noem’s shooting-her-dog story; is this just another ghost-written book and it doesn’t matter what the book says; who should Trump pick for VP? Noem has no backbone after capitulating to the NCAA on women’s sports; for what reason did Trump meet with Desantis? Did he think he needs help from Desantis? Should Trump select his son, Don, for VP? Tulsi Gabbard? The protest on college campus supporting Hamas; is it all funded ultimately by the CCP? Is it unusual to have this chaos when a republican is in office?

The post The Conservatarian Exchange Podcast #204 appeared first on The Liberty Block.

Americans awakening to the Orwellian Rule of Joe Biden and his crew of thieves have noticed that the perpetual lying is designed to inculcate pliancy through fear.  When the COVID-19 hysteria began to wane, Big Brother Biden switched gears to the Ukraine crisis.

Intriguingly, both crises have been caused by the government Biden heads — COVID-19 was crafted in Wuhan, and the Obama administration set the scene for making Ukraine America’s pawn in the current conflict.  Conning Americans with one fear-lie to eclipse the previous, the biggest lie is yet to come.  It is called Build Back Better, and it will unleash a greater terror than any virus or war: nationwide famine.

This dire warning is constructed not on fantasy but on fact.  As many watchful Americans have noticed during COVID-19, the nation’s grocery stores are not guaranteed to be chock-full forever.  The threats to Americans’ industrial food supplies are numerous and growing, compounded exponentially by escalating inflation.  And whether Biden blames food scarcity on COVID-19, Putin, or Donald Trump, the grumbling bellies of children will be indifferent.

Wise agricultural voices, unheeded by the zealotry of AOC, have warned for decades that industrial agriculture is unsustainable, but most Americans conflate that term with the push for organics or GMO-free labeling.  The two are related, but the threats to food safety and security are far greater than those issues suggest: America is rapidly moving toward the collapse of its entire food production system, now aggravated by uncontrolled inflation.  And since the conflict in Ukraine has very little to do with the underlying causes of U.S. inflation, if it ended tomorrow, American grocery bills would still rise steadily.

Decades of increasing centralization of food production have created an unprecedented threat to Americans and humanity: an utter dependence on fossil fuels for cheap food.  This refers not just to diesel fuel for tractors to plow and harvest but to fertilizers manufactured from natural gas and limited natural resources.  Forget about the petrodollar; it is time to comprehend the wheatdollar — as input costs rise, food prices will skyrocket, most especially in factory grain–dependent confined animal feed operations (CAFOs).

This is not an argument to ban all industrial food production — millions would die.  But it is folly to become wholly dependent on a system that yields short-term produce but long-term economic collapse.  More, the problem is not just monetary — America is desertifying its prime farmlands to the great peril of future generations: once lost, fertile soils are not easily reclaimed.  The consequences of dosing farmland with chemicals for decades have been deteriorating soils, escalating erosion, and a loss of fertility and water retention.  Concurrently, our nation’s underground aquifers are steadily diminishing as water is pumped onto the ever-drier ground with ever-thinner soils.

Back to the fear factor.  Americans dizzy with fear spinning from 911 and the “War on Terror” to date are so conditioned to fake “red lights” and “orange lights” to gaslight them into terror that they are blind to the very real threat of food system collapse.  For years now, the rabid left has ideologically pummeled Americans with false fears — a nonexistent “systemic racism,” active shooter drills, and warped reporting on gun violence, hand-wringing, and child-torturing over the End Times Climate Catastrophe.

But the real threat is corporate-dominated food production, enabled by bipartisan legislators for decades.  Americans will soon see this growing threat is much more real than yellowcake uranium from Niger.  And the AOC-Biden crew have already revealed their plan to “rescue” Americans by building corporate domination back better — totalitarianism is not complete without controlling food supplies.

Food security will be the future battleground in America.  Under Biden, presumably, poor black people and QBGLTs will be fed first (not Gates, Pelosi, et al.).  Gun owners will surrender their weapons with a food buy-back plan: most gun owners in the U.S. have never gone one day without food and will surrender security and the Second Amendment for sustenance (unless they are self-reliant for food, something Big Brother does not endorse!).

This is what genuine fear looks like — not crocodile tears for long-dead black slaves, screaming appeals exploiting children, or dramatic calls to end the conflict America seeded in Ukraine.  Those who call to send our young into foreign battle will themselves soon be battling to fill their bellies. Millions of Americans are waking in awareness of the unprecedented threat of famine in the world’s leading economic nation.  This folly was avoidable: our vulnerability is by design.  As Kissinger said, “Control the oil, control the nations.  Control the food, control the people.”

Creepy Joe points to everybody else as the causes of the problems he seeds, whether war, inflation, or Hunter’s laptop.  But the unfolding food insecurity and shrunken incomes of the 21st century will not easily be laid at the feet of The Donald — that Trump card has worn very thin.

 

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

The post Night Cap: Food, Famine, Fear: Beware the Great Agricultural Reset appeared first on Granite Grok.