First, I am merely an “enlightened amateur”.  Please vet & check on your own.  Caveat emptor.  Consider these to be priming the pump for your own investigations.  I know this is a long post; I am attempting to put out a lot of information as a resource.  Read or skip sections depending on your interests.

Second, I fear spicy time is very close, but even a month of food, water, etc., puts you well ahead of most of the sheeple.  IMHO, set your minimum sights on a three-month period.

Third, two things will be critical for having the best chance of making it through:

1. Mentality: first and foremost in survival is having a flexible mentality and cultivating the ability to adapt. Vanity has no place in survival.
2. Develop a meatspace network of people that are likeminded: cultivate your community ties and build alliances with neighbors (note: don’t babble about the Jab or globalists or depopulation, or start pointing political fingers when doing this)… and remember, the first rule of PREP CLUB is that there is no prep club.

And please follow both me, Nitzakhon, on Gab… as well as my blog host Granite Grok and also on Telegram Tommy Robinson Official plus his Urban Scoop site.  And don’t forget posts sometimes get cloned on American Reveille as well, which is a good site to check out in general.

FYI, here’s a link to the last Survival Sunday:

Survival Sunday – Thursday SITREP Edition – Granite Grok

 

>>>>>=====<<<<<

 

They’re trying to build a prison

 

 

>>>>>=====<<<<<

 

Top of the fold:

The Costs of Fighting for Our Rights

Protecting rights is expensive; see if you can chip in.

—

 

 

(Image source)

The truth is in plain sight if you look.  More broadly, time and time and time again they’re right there saying what they plan.  We are deluded fools not listening to them.

 

>>>>>=====<<<<<

 

 

 

(Link to AZQuotes per their policy.)

 

>>>>>=====<<<<<

 

Prepper Site URLS:

Most have daily articles; revisit daily.  Please recommend others in the comments.

Ask a Prepper, how to prepare, survive and thrive, latest news

Mother Earth News

The Organic Prepper Home – The Organic Prepper

SurvivalBlog.com – The Daily Web Log for Prepared Individuals Living in Uncertain Times.

SHTF Blog – Modern Survival

Survival World – Everything You Need To Know to Survive

Homestead Survival Site – How to Live Off The Grid in Comfort and Style

Urban Survival Site | How to Survive a Disaster in the City

Mind4Survival – Survival and Preparedness

Gray Wolf survival

Sustainable Living (sustainablelivingideas.com)

The Classic Survivalist – Surviving in a Modern World

Primal Survivor – Practical and sensible prepping advice

Em Off-grid – We & Our Off The Grid Life – Em OffGrid

Resource for Practical, Daily Prepping Skills for SHTF & Survival (geekprepper.com) (new)

And three aggregate sites listing their top favorite sites & links too:

TOP 50 SURVIVAL & PREPPER BLOGS

The 50 Best Survival Blogs

Prepper Website – Preparedness • Survival • Alternative News

—

Specific, one-up articles:

See the above links this week.

—

Related to Spicy Time:

Man allegedly stabbed to death by 8 girls in Toronto identified by police | The Post Millennial | thepostmillennial.com

Swarm attacks work.  Not that I recommend anything specific, but… a sudden rush & swarm attack on 1-2 armed persons by people willing to kill can yield surprising results.

And then?

 

 

—

Antifa Calls For Violence After Georgia Police Shoots ‘Comrade

Ruh roh.

 

>>>>>=====<<<<<

 

Short of years and untold wealth, you cannot possibly be fully prepared for everything (I have to keep reminding myself of that).  But even some preparations, ideally at least 90 days of food, water / water purification, etc., puts you head and shoulders in front of the vast majority of the sheeple who will be in jaw-gaping astonishment when the SHTF.  The only relevant questions are:

1. When does it start?
2. How bad will it get?
3. How long will it last?
4. What will the aftermath look like?

 

>>>>>=====<<<<<

 

I just started a FORAGING group on Gab.  I will check 2-3 times a week to see if people have asked to join.

—

Foraging: One-up articles

Three videos through GAB TV:

Beautiful Springs & Watercress | Craig Schaaf (gab.com)

Foraging White Pine Part 1 | Craig Schaaf (gab.com)

Foraging Wintergreen | Craig Schaaf (gab.com)

Collection about Mushroom Hunting

And another few about Mushrooms

Our neighbor has some wintergreen.  I have already asked, once things have come back to life around here, if I could transplant some to my own area with his assent.  Part of my “forage-able plants that nobody’s going to recognize in SHTF” project.

And a crapton more videos here (not just foraging):

Craig Schaaf | Gab TV

—

Foraging (permanent feature):

Foraging (practicalselfreliance.com)

Wild Harvests (arcadianabe.blogspot.com)

Southern Appalachian Herbs

—

Books (permanent feature):

Feasting Free on Wild Edibles (old but good)

The Lost Ways (much more than just foraging)

The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods

THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO EDIBLE WILD PLANTS FOR BEGINNERS

 

=+=+=

Shortages (broadly):

The US meat supply may soon be widely contaminated with mRNA proteins from biotech “vaccines” – NaturalNews.com

I’ve been paying close attention to my meat point-of-origin and need to see about a local organic source.

—

Soaring fertiliser prices ‘causing more global hunger than Russia’s grain blockade’ (telegraph.co.uk)

I’ve been buying Miracle Gro as I can.  Large amounts?  No.  But potential as a trade item.

—

The Mainstream Media Admits That We Are Facing “The Worst Food Crisis In Modern History” | ZeroHedge

Cue up this scene soon?

 

 

—

Food Chain Reaction: A Global Food Security Game (rumble.com)

Video.

—

Bayou Renaissance Man: Looks like the medication shortage is getting worse

I was at Walmart yesterday looking for kids’ cough syrup among other OTC items.  Pretty much stripped clean.

 

=+=+=

Gardening, Food Storage, and Related:

 

SIX Reasons Your Seedlings Are Leggy + Solutions

 

 

—

Presented by request – grabbed at random off youtube.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And a general link to my search:

canning for beginners – YouTube

 

MY biggest problem is that the manual on my pressure canner doesn’t make sense to my feeble brain.

—

Why You Should Put Plastic Forks In Your Vegetable Garden (askaprepper.com)

Sounds like one of my kids’ riddles.

—

Links on old-time food storage (permanent feature):

Thanks to the Canning and Preserving group on Gab, I now have these links:

Preserving foods by drying | How to dry foods safely (uada.edu)

USDA-Complete-Guide-to-Home-Canning-2015-revision.pdf (healthycanning.com)

Canning | SDSU Extension (sdstate.edu)

Food Preservation– Canning | Consumer Food Safety | Washington State University (wsu.edu)

Canning Timer & Checklist App | OSU Extension Catalog | Oregon State University

National Center for Home Food Preservation (uga.edu)

Canning Recipes | Ball® Mason Jars (ballmasonjars.com)

 

—

Topical Books (also permanent):

Charcuterie: The Craft of Salting, Smoking & Curing

Salumi: The Craft of Italian Dry Curing

A Guide to Canning, Freezing, Curing & Smoking Meat, Fish & Game

The Prepper’s Canning Guide

Pickled Pantry

Fermented Vegetables

Hydroponics and Greenhouse Gardening: 3-in-1 Gardening Book to Grow Vegetables, Herbs, and Fruit All-Year-Round

Hydroponics for Beginners: The Complete Guide to Hydroponic Gardening, Designing and Building Inexpensive DIY Hydroponic Systems…

The Aquaponics Guidebook: Combining Aquaculture and Hydroponics Combining Aquaculture and Hydroponics

 

=+=+=

Self-defense (broad) & Hunting:

The 5 Best Pocket Handguns For Self-Defence – Ask a Prepper

I used to have a Mustang… nice little gun.

 

=+=+=

Concluding thoughts if I’m moved to comment:

 

No time to be moved this week.  Very behind the curve.

 

>>>>>=====<<<<<

 

Konstantin Kisin | This House Believes Woke Culture Has Gone Too Far – 7/8 | Oxford Union

 

 

>>>>>=====<<<<<

 

Palate cleansers:

 

 

>>>>>=====<<<<<

 

Please check out my MEMES collections; last one here.  Mockery, ridicule, and the wrapping of uncomfortable truths inside humor can penetrate the cognitive shields of normies far more effectively – IMHO – than dry facts and figures.

 

The post Survival Sunday – Sunday PREP Edition appeared first on Granite Grok.

“Diversity is our strength,” right? I am sure that most of the NHGOP would answer: YES! … OF COURSE! … HOW COULD YOU QUESTION MY COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY! … blah, blah, blah. Especially the Sununicans … some of whom literally wept with joy when His Wokeness established a diversity-commission during his first term as Governor:

I am equally sure that if you asked the NHGOP supporters of diversity: WHY?, WHY IS DIVERSITY OUR STRENGTH?, you would get a circular answer such as: BECAUSE DIVERSITY MAKES US STRONGER.

And I am sure that these same people would also tell you that they oppose CRT, and if you asked, WHY?, the best you could expect would be something along the lines of: BECAUSE CRT IS DIVISIVE.

To cut to the chase, I am sure that most of the NHGOP believe that DIVERSITY and CRT are different concepts, that one is good and the other is bad. WRONG … diversity and CRT are NOT different at all.

Diversity, of course, is shorthand for DEI: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Let’s examine what that means in practice.

INCLUSION means taking affirmative measures to ensure that our institutions … both government institutions and non-government … contain the right mix and proportion of supposedly disfavored groups. We used to call this quotas, but now we call it inclusion.

These affirmative measures are necessary … the theory goes … because America has always been, remains and will always be “systemically” racist,  homophobic, sexist, etc., etc., etc.. In other words, being colorblind, or filling positions based on merit is actually racist, homophobic, sexist, etc., etc., etc., because America has always been, remains and will always be rigged against everyone except straight, white males.

To say that America is systemically racist, homophobic, sexist, etc., etc., etc. is the same thing as saying that certain Americans, i.e. those “straight white males” who supposedly control the systems are racist, homophobic, sexist, etc., etc., etc..  For example, do you recall Pete Buttigieg … our incompetent Secretary of Transportation, whose only job qualification was his sexual orientation … saying that the nation’s roads were racist? He did not mean that asphalt is racist. He meant that the individuals who designed the roads … the straight, white males … were racists and designed roads to segregate races.

How is this any different from the theory of CRT that whites are inherently oppressors? It obviously is NOT. It is the same toxic brew, just bottled under a different label.

EQUITY is the antithesis of equal treatment. Equity is UNEQUAL TREATMENT in order to reach equal outcomes.

Equity sounds much more benign than cultural-marxism, but that is exactly what it is.

A recent well-publicized manifestation of equity is certain school districts in the Democrat part of Virginia withholding academic awards from students:

Your head will explode! Reporting an @IWN investigation published @CityJournal, I just learned, TWO YEARS LATER, my son is a National Merit Commended Student in the top 3% of students. His principal hides the honor from families as @fcpsnews chases "equal outcomes" for kids. pic.twitter.com/Cay2Ep98ry

— Asra Nomani (@AsraNomani) December 21, 2022

So how is pursuing EQUITY any different from “unpacking white privilege”or “male privilege” or “straight privilege” or “cis privilege”? There obviously is NO DIFFERENCE. It is the same toxic brew, just bottled under a different label.

Bottom line: If someone tells you that he supports diversity, but not CRT, or that diversity is good but CRT is bad … that person either does not know what he is talking about or is gaslighting you. DEI and CRT are sides of the same race-based, cultural-marxist coin.

 

 

The post DiversityEquityInclusion IS CriticalRaceTheory … Which Means The Sununicans Support CRT appeared first on Granite Grok.

There is a great deal of effort in this piece on organ donations from CTV News Canada to opine on the need for medical ethics. “I am concerned that people who struggle with a lack of self-esteem and self-worth may be pushed to see this as an opportunity to mean something.”

That’s “Trudo Lemmens, a health law and policy professor at the University of Toronto,” about how well Canada appears to have convinced those who pursue assisted suicide to donate organs. According to the government, the people who choose to be euthanized have a chronic or terminal illness. That is the justification for the program euphemistically labeled as MAiD. Medical Assistance in Dying.

The Netherlands has had this for much longer, and while they claim to have built-in safeguards, younger healthy people who are just depressed continue to get an authorized chemical execution from the State. Some of them donate organs. But Canada is top of the class.

 

Data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information confirms this new source of transplant organs accounted accounts for six per cent of all transplants from deceased donors in Canada in 2021. Some transplants, like those for kidneys and livers, can be done with patients who are alive.

 

Canada’s socialized healthcare system is notorious for its protracted wait times for even the most basic tests. I can’t imagine the lockdowns, which kept millions from planned visits, treatments, or surveillance exams, have helped matters. And then there is the rise in mental health suicides. In other words, the government has, well and good, mucked it up. You cant get the treatment you want or need. This results in an increased number of people feeling trapped in mental or physical illness.

Long before COVID or Long COVID was invented, the experts in the Great White North embraced assisted suicide. It was a kindness, truly. That’s what they say, and I’m sure there are instances where chronic pain is untreatable, but the arc of socialist anything always ends with death or murder. Convincing them to die is inevitable and much easier than making them disappear, especially if you need them to disappear.

Dissidents or critics could drop dead or have some sudden chronic illness. The official report from the government is that they (you?) chose medically assisted death.

China, which is the sort of socialism the Western elites want, does this without all the gymnastics.

So back to Canada. It ruined its healthcare system, legalized a way around all that – you could kill yourself – and now they are trying to convince you that medical ethicists who support assisted suicide want to make sure people are not just offing themselves to donate organs as a way of adding some meaning to what they view as a vacant and useless existence.

A state of mind promulgated by the government that exists to protect them.

An existence (not accidentally) created through the destruction of a faith-based morality that valued life – an ideological culture capable of mass formation psychosis that has long promoted the benefit of organ donation.

And is it just a coincidence that somewhere down the road, the elites and the ruling class will have a readily available supply of organs to keep them alive?

Exit question: Will they be okay if the donor has had the mRNA vaccines, or will they insist on the organs of the “unvaccinated” or those who got saline shots for the cameras instead of the engineered poison?

 

 

The post Follow the Bouncing Ball: Canada Wrecks Health Care, Legalizes Assisted Suicide, Organ Donations Rise … appeared first on Granite Grok.

• These are the most liberty-critical hearings for the week
• Click on the bill number to read the bill.
• Click on the committee name to email the committee your thoughts.

Of the 167 hearings in the House, we are recommending support of 22 and opposition of 42 with 10 being of interest.
Of the 35 hearings in the Senate, we are recommending support of 0 and opposition of 0 with 3 being of interest.

Position	Bill	Title	Committee	Day	Time	Room	State Analysis
Oppose	HB633	relative to electric distribution company market share, prohibiting certain electric rate increases, and requiring enforcement against Eversource.	Science, Technology and Energy	Mon 1/23	1:00 PM	LOB Room 302-304	This bill requires that electric distribution companies shall not raise electric rates by an amount that exceeds the annual increase in the Consumer Price Index. The bill also prohibits electric distribution companies from having market share greater than 50 percent and requires the attorney general to bring an action against Eversource.
Of Interest	SB102	relative to the Jones Act’s effect on New Hampshire’s heating and energy fuel market.	Commerce	Tue 1/24	9:45 AM	SH Room 100	This bill requires the department of energy to submit a report to the legislature on the impact of the Jones Act on New Hampshire’s heating and energy fuel market.
Oppose	HB487	establishing a New Hampshire farm-to-school reimbursement program.	Education	Tue 1/24	9:00 AM	LOB Room 205-207	This bill establishes a New Hampshire farm to school reimbursement program and makes an appropriation therefor.
Oppose	HB334	relative to determination and cost of state adequate education.	Education	Tue 1/24	12:45 PM	LOB Room 205-207	This bill changes the calculation for the per pupil amount for grants for the opportunity for an adequate education to be 1/2 of the statewide average cost per pupil.
Oppose	HB430	relative to applications for the education freedom accounts program.	Education	Tue 1/24	1:45 PM	LOB Room 205-207	This bill provides for applications to the education freedom account program for a child currently attending a New Hampshire public school, including a chartered public school, for a minimum of one year, or who is entering kindergarten or first grade.
Oppose	HB324	relative to campaign contributions and expenditures and making an appropriation therefor.	Election Law	Tue 1/24	10:00 AM	LOB Room 306-308	This bill establishes a fund to provide campaign financing for eligible candidates for governor and executive councilor and makes an appropriation to the fund.
Of Interest	SB61	relative to surface water setbacks for landfills.	Energy and Natural Resources	Tue 1/24	9:30 AM	SH Room 103	This bill enables the department of environmental services to adopt rules relative to surface water setbacks for landfills.
Oppose	HB332	relative to school building aid for eligible projects.	Finance	Tue 1/24	10:00 AM	LOB Room 210-211	This bill increases the amount to be appropriated by the legislature for school building aid construction and renovation projects of school districts. The bill also allocates a portion of funds to be paid for school building projects approved in prior years but which were not funded.
Oppose	HB541	relative to school building aid grants and making an appropriation therefor.	Finance	Tue 1/24	10:30 AM	LOB Room 210-211	This bill increases the amount of school building aid grants that may be approved by the department of education per fiscal year. The bill also makes appropriations of $100 million in fiscal years 2024 and 2025 for approved school building aid projects.
Oppose	HB546	relative to the school building aid program.	Finance	Tue 1/24	11:00 AM	LOB Room 210-211	This bill requires a minimum of $50,000,000 per fiscal year to be transferred to the school building aid fund, in addition to any debt service payments, for school building aid grants.
Of Interest	SB80	requiring the recording of custodial interrogations and making an appropriation therefor.	Judiciary	Tue 1/24	1:00 PM	SH Room 100	This bill requires that custodial interrogations be recorded, establishes a fund to make grants to state law enforcement agencies to purchase equipment to enable such recordings, and makes an appropriation therefor.
Oppose	SB117	relative to the definition of a “child” for the purpose of negligent storage of firearms.	Judiciary	Tue 1/24	1:35 PM	SH Room 100	This bill changes the age of a child for the purpose of negligent storage of firearms.
Oppose	HB418	relative to eliminating the rebates distributed by the energy efficiency fund.	Science, Technology and Energy	Tue 1/24	10:30 AM	LOB Room 302-304	This bill eliminates the rebate amount distributed to retail electricity ratepayers and allocates all auction proceeds to support current or future energy efficiency resource standards programs.
Oppose	HB92	requiring the adoption of innovative vehicle emissions standards pursuant to section 177 of the federal Clean Air Act.	Science, Technology and Energy	Tue 1/24	2:00 PM	LOB Room 302-304	This bill requires the adoption of California Low Emission/Zero Emission vehicle standards to protect public health, enable New Hampshire automotive customers to utilize the extended emissions-specific warranty, and to enable New Hampshire automotive dealers to carry Zero Emissions Vehicles in stock. The bill also increases the inspection sticker fee and makes an appropriation to the department of environmental services to fund an additional position.
Oppose	HB597	relative to race and ethnicity data on driver’s licenses, and race and ethnicity data collection.	Transportation	Tue 1/24	11:00 AM	LOB Room 201-203	This bill adds race and ethnicity as optional information that may be included on a driver’s license, commercial driver’s license, and nondriver’s picture identification card and requires law enforcement agencies to collect such data.
Support	HB650	relative to prohibiting suspension of driver’s licenses due to nonpayment of fines or fees.	Transportation	Tue 1/24	1:00 PM	LOB Room 201-203	This bill modifies the circumstances under which a driver’s license may be suspended or revoked for nonpayment of fines, fees, or restitution; removes suspension of a driver’s license or privilege as a sentencing punishment for nonpayment of fines, fees, or restitution; and authorizes the commissioner of safety to expunge the records of individuals covered by this bill.
Support	HB388	relative to number plates for motor vehicles.	Transportation	Tue 1/24	1:30 PM	LOB Room 201-203	This bill would require private passenger vehicles to display only one number plate on the rear of the vehicle.
Support	HB393	permitting a motor vehicle operator to use only a rear license plate.	Transportation	Tue 1/24	2:00 PM	LOB Room 201-203	This bill allows all private passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles to have a single license plate on the rear.
Support	HB15	relative to the rate of the business enterprise tax.	Ways and Means	Tue 1/24	10:00 AM	LOB Room 202-204	This bill reduces the rate of the business enterprise tax for tax years ending on or after December 31, 2024.
Support	HB133	relative to repealing the communications services tax.	Ways and Means	Tue 1/24	11:00 AM	LOB Room 202-204	This bill repeals the communications services tax.
Oppose	HB192	relative to the rate and exemptions of the interest and dividends tax.	Ways and Means	Tue 1/24	1:00 PM	LOB Room 202-204	This bill repeals the previously passed phase out of the interest and dividends tax and changes the rates and exemptions.
Support	HB100	to repeal the interest and dividends tax.	Ways and Means	Tue 1/24	2:00 PM	LOB Room 202-204	This bill changes the effective date of the repeal of the interest and dividends tax.
Oppose	HB531	relative to the taxation of tobacco and nicotine products.	Commerce and Consumer Affairs	Wed 1/25	9:00 AM	LOB Room 302-304	This bill directs the commissioner of the department of revenue administration to annually set the tobacco and nicotine tax based on the rates charged by neighboring states, and directs the commissioner to produce a report detailing the uses of such taxes.
Oppose	HB279	increasing the penalty for on-premises licensees overserving alcohol.	Commerce and Consumer Affairs	Wed 1/25	9:30 AM	LOB Room 302-304	This bill increases the penalty for on-premises licensees overserving alcohol.
Of Interest	HB612	relative to the fees for New Hampshire wine manufacturers.	Commerce and Consumer Affairs	Wed 1/25	10:00 AM	LOB Room 302-304	This bill: I. Allows wine manufacturers to give a bottle as a sample under certain conditions. II. Changes the fee and tax structure on wine sold in state. III. Exempts a certain volume of wine from taxes for home use.
Support	HB639	relative to the legalization and regulation of cannabis and making appropriations therefor.	Commerce and Consumer Affairs	Wed 1/25	1:15 PM	LOB Room 302-304	This bill establishes procedures for the legalization, regulation, and taxation of cannabis; the licensing and regulation of cannabis establishments; and makes appropriations therefor.
Of Interest	HB544	legalizing cannabis for retail sale.	Commerce and Consumer Affairs	Wed 1/25	1:20 PM	LOB Room 302-304	This bill: I. Legalizes the retail sale, possession, and use of cannabis for persons 21 years of age and older. II. Authorizes the liquor commission to regulate and administer the cultivation, manufacture, testing, and retail sale of cannabis statewide, and makes an appropriation therefor. III. Authorizes alternative treatment centers registered to dispense therapeutic cannabis to register, as a separate entity, to manufacture, cultivate, or transport cannabis to the state for retail sale. IV. Authorizes a municipality to enact an ordinance prohibiting or limiting the number and type of cannabis establishments that may be permitted within the municipality and regulating the time, place, and manner of operation of a cannabis establishment permitted within the municipality. V. Establishes the cannabis control fund and requires funds to be distributed to municipalities and the general fund. VI. Makes an appropriation to the department of health and human services to create public media and social media campaigns to address some of the risks of cannabis use.
Oppose	HB272	increasing chartered public school per pupil funding.	Education	Wed 1/25	9:00 AM	LOB Room 205-207	This bill increases the amount of the additional grant for tuition of chartered public school students paid by the state.
Oppose	HB626	requiring the department of education to administer the education freedom account.	Education	Wed 1/25	1:00 PM	LOB Room 205-207	This bill changes the administration of the education freedom account program under RSA 194-F from scholarship organizations to the department of education.
Oppose	HB341	establishing licensure for massage establishments.	Executive Departments and Administration	Wed 1/25	10:45 AM	LOB Room 306-308	This bill establishes licensure for massage establishments under the regulation of massage therapists by the office of professional licensure and certification.
Oppose	HB105	relative to the registration of medical spas.	Executive Departments and Administration	Wed 1/25	11:30 AM	LOB Room 306-308	This bill establishes the registration of medical spa facilities.
Oppose	HB620	establishing a department of early childhood education and relative to a pre-kindergarten pilot program.	Executive Departments and Administration	Wed 1/25	1:30 PM	LOB Room 306-308	This bill establishes an executive branch department of early childhood education. The bill also establishes the authority for the department to design, create, and administer a 3-year high quality, community-based, mixed delivery public pre-kindergarten pilot program.
Oppose	HB329	establishing an ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) registry in New Hampshire.	Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs	Wed 1/25	1:00 PM	LOB Room 210-211	This bill establishes an ALS registry administered by the department of health and human services.
Oppose	HB112	relative to tenant’s right to notification prior to the sale of a multifamily home.	Judiciary	Wed 1/25	9:00 AM	LOB Room 206-208	This bill requires the owner of restricted residential property to provide tenants with notice of sale of the property and an opportunity to make an offer to purchase the property.
Support	HB117	relative to the termination of tenancy at the expiration of the tenancy or lease term.	Judiciary	Wed 1/25	9:45 AM	LOB Room 206-208	This bill adds the expiration of the term of the lease or tenancy if over 6 months as grounds for an eviction.
Oppose	HB261	authorizing residential tenants to terminate their lease in instances of domestic violence or following a disabling illness or accident.	Judiciary	Wed 1/25	11:15 AM	LOB Room 206-208	This bill permits residential tenants to terminate their lease in instances of domestic violence or following a disabling illness or accident, and describes the written documentation required.
Oppose	HB283	to limit application fees charged to prospective residential tenants.	Judiciary	Wed 1/25	1:00 PM	LOB Room 206-208	This bill limits the rental application fee and other fees charged by a landlord as part of the rental application process for a residential property.
Oppose	HB340	relative to the transfer of residential property.	Judiciary	Wed 1/25	1:45 PM	LOB Room 206-208	This bill restricts the acquisition of single-family and multi-family housing to natural persons with certain exceptions. The bill requires a nonnatural person that acquires single or multi family housing within one of the specified exceptions to register and file reports with the secretary of state.
Oppose	HB379	requiring that attorneys be appointed to represent indigent tenants during residential eviction proceedings and making an appropriation therefor.	Judiciary	Wed 1/25	2:30 PM	LOB Room 206-208	This bill provides that an indigent tenant shall have the right to counsel at an eviction proceeding, establishes a fund for this purpose, and makes an appropriation therefor.
Oppose	HB401	relative to evictions based on the owner’s intent to renovate the property.	Judiciary	Wed 1/25	3:15 PM	LOB Room 206-208	This bill establishes certain criteria for evictions based on the landlord’s intent to renovate or remove the property from the residential housing market.
Support	HB296	relative to local authority for granting driveway permits.	Public Works and Highways	Wed 1/25	3:00 PM	LOB Room 201-203	This bill clarifies that local land use boards and not the state fire code regulate driveway access.
Oppose	HB472	relative to the placement of temporary seasonal docks.	Resources, Recreation and Development	Wed 1/25	1:00 PM	LOB Room 305-307	This bill prohibits a wetlands permitting exception for temporary seasonal docks which impact any wildlife species, threatened species, or endangered species in accordance with the endangered species conservation act.
Oppose	HB353	establishing an interstate compact for universal healthcare.	Commerce and Consumer Affairs	Thu 1/26	11:00 AM	LOB Room 302-304	This bill establishes an interstate compact for universal healthcare to provide payment for providing healthcare for the citizens of New Hampshire and other member states after the date of implementation.
Of Interest	HB318	eliminating bail commissioners, and relative to the release of a defendant pending trial and establishing new circuit court judge positions.	Criminal Justice and Public Safety	Thu 1/26	9:00 AM	SH Room Reps Hall	This bill eliminates bail commissioners; provides that judges shall set bail; amends the procedure for the release of a defendant pending trial; and requires the judicial branch to include in its budget funding for 3 new full-time circuit court judges.
Of Interest	HB643	relative to legalizing marijuana.	Criminal Justice and Public Safety	Thu 1/26	10:30 AM	SH Room Reps Hall	This bill legalizes marijuana for persons 21 years of age and older.
Support	HB581	repealing the controlled drug act and establishing a committee to study the policy and statutory changes necessary to implement the repeal.	Criminal Justice and Public Safety	Thu 1/26	11:15 AM	SH Room Reps Hall	This bill repeals the controlled drug act effective July 1, 2025, and establishes a committee to recommend legislation to make the necessary policy and statutory changes to accompany the repeal.
Support	HB473	relative to penalties for controlled drug violations.	Criminal Justice and Public Safety	Thu 1/26	12:45 PM	SH Room Reps Hall	This bill changes the penalty for certain schedule I, II, III, and IV drug offenses.
Support	HB360	an act legalizing cannabis for persons 21 years of age or older.	Criminal Justice and Public Safety	Thu 1/26	1:30 PM	SH Room Reps Hall	This bill legalizes the possession and use of cannabis for persons 21 years of age and older.
Support	HB344	relative to the home cultivation of cannabis plants and the possession of certain cannabis-infused products.	Criminal Justice and Public Safety	Thu 1/26	2:15 PM	SH Room Reps Hall	This bill permits adults to possess up to 3/4 of an ounce of cannabis, 5 grams of hashish, and certain cannabis-infused products; permits adults to cultivate up to 6 cannabis plants at home in a secure location that is not visible from other properties, and to possess and process the cannabis produced from their plants at the same location; permits adults to give cannabis to other adults, provided it is not more than 3/4 of an ounce of cannabis, 5 grams of hashish, or up to 300 mg of cannabis-infused products, or 3 immature plants; provides that smoking or vaporizing cannabis in public by an adult would be punishable by a $100 fine; provides that violations of the restrictions on cultivation would be a violation punishable by fine of up to $750; penalizes dangerous, volatile extraction; and permits adults to possess, make, and sell cannabis accessories to other adults.
Support	HB328	an act legalizing certain controlled substances for persons 21 years of age or older.	Criminal Justice and Public Safety	Thu 1/26	3:00 PM	SH Room Reps Hall	This bill legalizes the possession and use of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), mescaline, psilocybin, and peyote for persons 21 years of age and older.
Support	HB470	relative to fentanyl test strips and other drug checking equipment.	Criminal Justice and Public Safety	Thu 1/26	3:45 PM	SH Room Reps Hall	This bill amends the definition of drug paraphernalia to exclude drug checking equipment and authorizes the use of drug checking equipment.
Oppose	HB436	relative to group II retirement under transition provisions in the retirement system.	Executive Departments and Administration	Thu 1/26	1:00 PM	LOB Room 306-308	This bill adjusts the application of the minimum age, minimum years of service, and annuity multipliers in the transition provisions for group II service retirement adopted in 2011 to be applicable as of January 1, 2014 rather than January 1, 2012.
Oppose	HB449	relative to the calculation of group II retirement benefits in the retirement system.	Executive Departments and Administration	Thu 1/26	2:00 PM	LOB Room 306-308	This bill increases the service retirement and disability retirement annuity multiplier for the first 20 years of service of group II retirement system members under the transition provisions adopted in 2011.
Oppose	HB525	relative to group II service retirement provisions in the retirement system.	Executive Departments and Administration	Thu 1/26	2:15 PM	LOB Room 306-308	This bill adjusts the application of the transition provisions for group II service retirement adopted in 2011 to be applicable as of January 1, 2014 rather than January 1, 2012.
Oppose	HB579	eliminating the 2011 transition provision requirements for group II retirement.	Executive Departments and Administration	Thu 1/26	2:30 PM	LOB Room 306-308	This bill eliminates the transition provision adopted in 2011 for group II retirement system members that began service before July 1, 2011 but were not yet vested.
Oppose	HB506	relative to the construction of a rail trail box tunnel on Exit 4-A in Derry and making an appropriation therefor.	Finance	Thu 1/26	11:30 AM	LOB Room 210-211	This bill requires the department of transportation to complete the rail trail box tunnel project in Derry, makes an appropriation for the project, and establishes a criminal penalty for any person who fails to complete or impedes the progress of the project.
Oppose	HB50	relative to payment by the state of a portion of retirement system contributions of political subdivision employers.	Finance	Thu 1/26	2:00 PM	LOB Room 210-211	This bill provides that the state shall pay 7.5 percent of contributions of retirement system employers other than the state for group I teachers and group II members.
Of Interest	HB555	appropriating state general fund surplus toward the retirement system unfunded accrued liability.	Finance	Thu 1/26	3:00 PM	LOB Room 210-211	This bill requires the transfer of 75 percent of a state biennial surplus to the reduction in the retirement system’s unfunded accrued liability.
Oppose	HB469	prohibiting discrimination against tenants holding certain vouchers for purposes of renting dwellings.	Judiciary	Thu 1/26	9:00 AM	LOB Room 206-208	This bill prohibits discrimination against tenants holding certain vouchers for purposes of renting dwellings.
Oppose	HB567	relative to notice of rent increases in certain residential rental property.	Judiciary	Thu 1/26	9:45 AM	LOB Room 206-208	This bill requires a landlord of certain residential property to provide additional notice of a prospective rent increase.
Of Interest	HB533	relative to public school human rights complaints.	Judiciary	Thu 1/26	1:00 PM	LOB Room 206-208	This bill allows the department of education to bring a complaint on student discriminatory practices to the state commission on human rights.
Support	HB647	relative to causes of action for individual rights.	Judiciary	Thu 1/26	2:30 PM	LOB Room 206-208	This bill establishes a cause of action against the state for violations against individual rights.
Oppose	HB182	prohibiting discharge of volunteer firefighters or volunteer emergency medical technicians from other employment.	Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services	Thu 1/26	10:00 AM	LOB Room 305-307	This bill prohibits an employer from discharging or disciplining an employee who is a volunteer firefighter or emergency medical technician and whose failure to report for work was due to such employee responding to an emergency.
Support	HB190	relative to the duration of unemployment benefits.	Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services	Thu 1/26	10:45 AM	LOB Room 305-307	This bill specifies the duration of unemployment benefits based on the state’s average unemployment rate.
Oppose	HB125	relative to youth employment during the school year and at night.	Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services	Thu 1/26	3:00 PM	LOB Room 305-307	This bill clarifies the number of hours a minor is permitted to work when school is in session and limits the evening hours a minor is permitted to work when school is in session.
Oppose	HB483	to remove the duties of county delegations and delegate them to county commissioners.	Municipal and County Government	Thu 1/26	10:00 AM	LOB Room 301-303	This bill transfers the duties of the county delegation to the county commissioners as members of the county convention.
Oppose	HB357	relative to the length of terms for Belknap county officers.	Municipal and County Government	Thu 1/26	10:20 AM	LOB Room 301-303	This bill establishes a 4-year term for the county treasurer, county sheriff, county register of deeds, and county attorney in Belknap county.
Support	HB313	relative to the reductions from the default budget for official ballot town meetings.	Municipal and County Government	Thu 1/26	11:30 AM	LOB Room 301-303	This bill alters the definition of default budget to include salary and benefit reductions which occur as a result of position turnover.
Oppose	HB293	allowing a town to appropriate funds to create a town scholarship fund.	Municipal and County Government	Thu 1/26	2:00 PM	LOB Room 301-303	This bill allows a town to establish a scholarship fund for the benefit of town residents.
Of Interest	HB294	enabling municipalities to adopt a child tax credit.	Municipal and County Government	Thu 1/26	2:30 PM	LOB Room 301-303	This bill allows municipalities to adopt a per-child property tax credit.
Support	HB498	requiring fish and game officers to obtain a warrant to conduct a search and seizure.	Criminal Justice and Public Safety	Fri 1/27	10:45 AM	LOB Room 202-204	This bill requires conservation officers to obtain a search warrant for conducting certain enforcement operations.
Support	HB588	relative to the criteria for applying for parole.	Criminal Justice and Public Safety	Fri 1/27	1:30 PM	LOB Room 202-204	This bill allows an eligible incarcerated person to apply for parole upon the completion of 50 percent of such person’s minimum sentence.
Oppose	HB158	relative to armor piercing ammunition.	Criminal Justice and Public Safety	Fri 1/27	2:15 PM	LOB Room 202-204	This bill creates a criminal penalty for the possession, manufacture, or use of armor-piercing ammunition.
Support	HB503	relative to the rights afforded to a person accused of a crime.	Criminal Justice and Public Safety	Fri 1/27	3:00 PM	LOB Room 202-204	This bill codifies certain rights of an accused person in the criminal process, increases the penalty assessment in cases involving charges related to an alcohol or controlled drug offense, and requires those penalty assessments to be used by the state crime lab.
Of Interest	HB439	relative to the duty to provide an education and contracts with private schools.	Education	Fri 1/27	11:45 AM	LOB Room 205-207	This bill repeals the authority of a school board to execute a contract with a nonsectarian private school to provide education. The bill also provides that a school board has a duty to provide an education to a pupil until the pupil reaches 22 years of age.
Of Interest	HB540	relative to adequate education grant amounts for pupils receiving special education services.	Education	Fri 1/27	12:45 PM	LOB Room 205-207	This bill provides for categories of special education services for application to the calculation of differentiated aid in adequate education grant amounts.
Of Interest	HB530	relative to withdrawal from a cooperative school district.	Education	Fri 1/27	1:45 PM	LOB Room 205-207	This bill clarifies the process for the vote on withdrawal from a cooperative school district.
Support	HB466	relative to water bottle filling stations in schools.	Education	Fri 1/27	2:45 PM	LOB Room 205-207	This bill repeals the state board of education’s rulemaking authority to adopt rules pursuant to RSA 541-A relative to requirements for the installation of water bottle filling stations.

The post Bill Hearings for Week of January 23, 2023 appeared first on NH Liberty Alliance.

In a previous post, I began an analysis of the 1.7 trillion-dollar Joe Biden funding bill.

I made the mistake of saying it was not “A” budget but many budgets applying to separate agencies.

The mistake was that the separate funding bills per agency are also not budgets. To put it as best I can, each separate portion of the OMNIBUS BILL is just a separate funding for each agency. It’s called OMNIBUS because it is 12 separate bills all pulled together under one umbrella that provides funding to different agencies. There is one for the USDA; another for the DOJ; another for the military and so on. If you add up the separate funding bills, they total the 1.7 trillion dollars.

Keep in mind that the OMNIBUS BILL was presented to Congress and the Senate roughly two days before they left on Christmas vacation. Mitch McConnel announced that he was leaving on Thursday for his vacation. Sadly, it was he-along with Pelosi and Schumer and Biden- that submitted the bill so late in the month of December that the Congress only had two days to consider it.

Hassan signed. Shaheen signed. Kuster signed. Papas signed. AND I GUESS THOSE THAT VOTED FOR THEM-NOT ME-ALSO SIGNED. THOSE WHO ELECTED THEM, THAT’S WHAT YOU VOTED FOR. No need to read nor deliberate. Just sign.

After my first article, it was my intent to locate some budget, any budget.

The reason: To my mind, a budget is a vital aspect of any entity, especially one that spends billions of dollars. It’s more than just an accounting of income and expenses-it’s a reflection of policy and of goals. It tells the reader what the agency involved hopes to accomplish and gives us an idea of whether the agency is accomplishing its duty and its marching orders from the Congress.

Without a budget, it is really hard to even begin to know what the agency is doing, or how it is doing it.

Since I began looking at the USDA, I decided to switch gears and see if they had published a budget of their own.

I found two things: first, the Joe Biden folks had in fact proposed a budget in March of 2022. It did not look much like a budget I would expect but it said it was a budget and it purported to set forth the funding and allocation of funds within each agency.

I went over it. Twice. I found it very, very useless. The numbers had no correlation with any of the funding I was aware of. Keep in mind that in addition to the OMNIBUS bill. that there were many other funding bills: THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT; THE RESCUE PLAN; THE CARES PLAN. Each one of them funded the USDA in some way. 140 billion here; 9 billion there, etc.

I then went to the USDA web site. They in fact had a “budget” for 2023.

I read thru it.

Again-none of the numbers matched up.

For example, the USDA budget had an entry of 110 billion for the SNAP PROGRAM. The OMNIBUS BILL had 140 billion.

I decided to keep looking but, in the interim, I found a bunch of stuff that I thought I NEEDED TO REPORT-SOME STUFF MORE HORRIBLE THAN ALL OF THE CRAP I WAS SEEING RE THE LACK OF A BUDGET OR BUDGETARY PROCESS.

First, according to USASPENDING.GOV, the USDA was given $298.32 BILLION dollars for fy 2023. They call this number “budgetary resources.”  However, the site has a hedge: it says that the USDA has been given other “budgetary resources” from prior years to spend in 2023.

OK.

Of that number, $14.2 billion was for RURAL UTILITIES”; $1.2 BILLION for rural housing; and a whopping $162.5 BILLION for “food and nutrition service.”

Since the last one is the biggest elephant in the room, I chose to look into it. I admit the data is confusing but as best I could fathom, here is what the USDA is reporting:

For a family household of four people, the maximum gross income the entire household can receive and still be eligible for SNAP benefits is $3007 dollars a month. In calculating eligibility, the USDA ignores income from pension, or disability.

Moreover, you can own property, like a house, without losing your benefits. You can also own any kind of car you want “IF YOU LIVE IN IT” or need it for work; or transport food and water in it.

In terms of benefits, a family of four can get a maximum of $939 a month. (Turns out what people actually get is far less–like 2/3rds less).

In terms of benefits, the money is to be used solely for nutrition: food. The rules say no prepared foods like pizza from a parlor.  The rules also say no illegals. I know both of those rules are not enforced.

From the data I have found, it appears that 4o plus million people receive such benefits.

IN FISCAL YEAR, 2022, 41,206,916 PEOPLE received SNAP benefits. The average monthly benefit per person was $230.94. So far in fiscal year 2023, 42,338,021 have received.

In fiscal year 2020-Trump’s last year in office-39,852,778 people received average $154.94; when Biden was sworn in, the average was $253.43 dollars per month. Benefit costs to the USDA went from $74 billion under Trump in 2020 to $114 billion under Biden in 2022.

I think three conclusions are in order:

1. We have 42 million people living in horrible, miserable conditions–who the hell can possibly pay housing, gas, food etc on $3000 a month for a family of four? I think they are essentially homeless and destitute. My God. Holy Crap. and WTF?
2. From Trump to Biden, the number of destitute has increased by nearly 2.5 million people. I admit I did not vote for Biden. I admit I actually don’t like the guy and that I think he is a horrible President. But until now, I never knew how much I can actually hate somebody. What a horrible human being this man is with his Hunter Biden corruption and his Chinese business deals. All the while turning 2.5 million into people who cannot afford to live.
3. The GOP who worked really hard to defeat Trump-Congratulations. You have just joined the “most horrible possible” human beings award for the next ten years.

I will keep looking for a “budget”. I think that what I am seeing is a deliberate effort to conceal, not reveal. The Democrats under Pelosi and Schumer just decided we don’t need to know what they are doing so they are deliberately obfuscating the numbers and refusing to do the oversight they are called upon to do.

To his credit, the new speaker announced he will no longer accept this “OMNIBUS” bill crap and will return to the budgetary process.

BUT REALLY RIGHT NOW, WHO CARES. LISTEN TO THIS SPEAKERS’ WORDS:

https://granitegrok.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Caleb-Hall-Socialist-Hell-Hole.mp4

.

Just think…we have sent over 100 billion dollars to defense contractors re Ukraine war. We have lined the pockets of every corrupt politician in the world.  We have watched the Biden crime family pillage our national wealth.  But the worst crime 0f all: THEY have killed the life, the dreams, the hopes of 2.5 million Americans and left them shivering in the back seat of their car hoping their food allowance of SNAP money can make it the end of the month. (Right in the dam USDA guidelines, they don’t count your car as a resource IF YOU ARE FRIGGIN LIVING IN IT).

To 2.5 MILLION-TO THE 42 MILLION- I apologize. I never knew how bad Biden, Pelosi, Schumer and McConnel really are.

I got plenty of corn bread and I make a good chili. I just need to find you. I plan to start looking right after I stop crying.

The post OMNIBUS BILL: I JUST FOUND SOMETHING BEYOND HORRIBLE appeared first on Granite Grok.

The Democrat Socialists of America chapter in Maine has a problem. They wrote a diversity quota requirement into their by-laws because that’s what cultural Marxists do. So what’s the problem? There aren’t enough commies in Maine who are not white and straight.

 

Although the Maine DSA rules set diversity quotas for leadership positions, the document acknowledges that the organization has struggled to meet those quotas, presumably due to its overwhelmingly white, heterosexual, and cisgender composition.

“We have yet to fulfill diversity requirements,” the document states, “And should be sober enough to recognize that calling such standards “Requirements” is misleading, given that we operate with or without them being met.”

 

Democrat socialists are socialists. Socialists are Marxists. Marxists are responsible for cultural Marxism, which created identity politics and quotas, and in Maine, they can’t meet their own quota, so … they have to change the rules.

I find that incredibly humorous.

I will give them this much credit. They used the word misleading, which is groundbreaking for a socialist, not that we can expect it to infect their entire ideology. That would result in their dissolving the chapter and renouncing the lie of Democratic Socialism.

 

The post Maine Socialists Are So White and Straight They Have To Scrap Their Diversity Quotas appeared first on Granite Grok.

For fifty years, they have gathered and marched in Washington. For fifty years, they had stood firm when the country did not support them. For fifty years, they have stayed committed to their belief because there may be no higher belief than life itself.

For fifty years, these folks have come to D.C. to celebrate life, the life of the unborn. On the fiftieth anniversary of their first march on Washington and for their unyielding tenacity to stay true to their belief, The March for Life is this week’s Sunday Spotlight.

I was watching the press briefing today when Karine Jean-Pierre outdid herself. I thought she had already shown the depth of her stupidity, but she went through the floor this afternoon. One of the reporters in the room asked for the White House’s comments on the March for Life that was happening just then. She responded. “The President believes in the first amendment and the right to peaceful demonstration, even if he does not believe in their purpose.’ Yes, Karine, the people who walk today are pro-life. They support the life of the unborn as a living being worthy of life outside its mother’s womb. They \support life and the sanctity of every life that touches this earth. It is a shame that our President, and his feckless mouthpiece, cannot celebrate life with those marchers.

I do not want to get too deeply into KJP’s callous statement, but should we have expected a different response? Not really. This administration abandoned Americans and Afghans, who had worked closely with our military behind in Afghanistan. These unfortunate souls were left at the mercy of the Taliban. This administration allows an unchecked amount of Fentanyl to cross into our country, killing 100,000 young Americans yearly. This administration supports the cartels that are making billions each year while raping and killing women, both young and old. It is no wonder this administration cannot celebrate life. It means nothing to them.

Today’s celebration was the first March for Life since the Pandemic and the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court. The marchers today had much to celebrate because the mood and will of the people were changing. And life is becoming precious once again.

The marchers look like America. Young, old, white, black, man, woman, young men, and girls all gathered to march, support each other, and show the power to be in Congress that, to many, life is precious and not to be snuffed out in a clinic.

The March is not just a protest… “TOGETHER, WE GATHER TO CELEBRATE LIFE. We celebrate each and every .life, from the moment of conception. We envision a world where every life is celebrated, valued, and protected.” That is directly from their website. Could there be any reason to march that is more pure and noble? The March comes a week after every Democrat voted against the Protection of Life Bill, which would protect the life of a survivor of an abortion. As I said, life is meaningless to Progressives.

Every January, they have gathered. In the sunshine, cold, snow, rain, or whatever Mother Nature can throw at them. They are undaunted because their cause is more significant than themselves. Their cause is about life and every beating heart. Regardless of race, gender, or socioeconomic background, they march for you. These marchers will leave Washington tonight with broad smiles on their faces because today, they did God’s work. They marched for his creations. They marched for life.

The post Sunday Spotlight: A Celebration of Life appeared first on Granite Grok.

Mikey Graham … the man behind the curtain at NH-NeverTrumpJournal … is as unconstrained by the facts as the Democrats that he plays the role of controlled-opposition to. Sun-King Sununu … another quasi-Democrat masquerading as a Republican … has been “strong[ly] pro-vax”. Yet Mikey has never questioned whether Sun-King’s “strong pro-vax stance” would hurt him among NHGOP FITN voters. According to Mikey, it’s only been a small fringe … the extremists, the conspiracy-theorists, blah, blah, blah … among NHGOP voters who have opposed Sun-King on COVID-vaccines.

Yet here we have Mikey “questioning” whether Trump’s continuing to be pro-vax will hurt him in the FITN primary … which, of course, assumes that New Hampshire will be hosting the FITN primary and implies that there are a sufficient number of “anti-vax” NHGOP voters to make a difference … which is the exact OPPOSITE of what Mikey has been saying to this point:

Mikey will say anything to try to erode Trump’s support … even if it means totally contradicting what he has previously said. That’s his job. He is nothing but a mouthpiece of the corrupt globalist, corporatist, open-borders, endless-wars GOP Establishment.

The post Will Sun-King Sununu’s Strong Pro-Vax Stance Hurt Him In The FITN Primary? appeared first on Granite Grok.

A very interesting debate took place in England recently. British satirist Konstantin Kisin engaged in that debate at Oxford Union and, surprisingly, won over many woke liberals. I don’t agree with much of his views on climate change endangering polar bears and such but he scored high points with me for addressing free speech as the foundation of Western civilization and on race. He stated ”

The only way to deal with racism is to treat people based upon the content of their character, nothing else.

This, of course, echoes the great Martin Luther King Jr., who in his famous “I have a Dream” speech, first spoke those words. Anyone who denies this truth, practices racism in my opinion.

Moving onward he pointed out that one of the tenets of Wokeness is that feelings count more then facts. Really? Even a casual examination of such should reveal the utter childishness of it. Anyone can delude themselves into believing that a thing not based on facts has a bad habit of not budging when confronted reality.

No, Johnny, do not jump off a roof – you can not fly.

Back to climate change for a moment. Kisin pointed out a truth totally ignored by the Green movement This is an issue that will be decided by the poor people in Latin America, Asia, and (I add) Africa who couldn’t give a s**t about saving the planet. People in those lands are concerned with ending poverty and starvation so fossil fueled cars and trucks aren’t even on their lists of concerns. How can anyone expect starving people to worry about unproven polar ice caps melting theory’s when feeding their children is what matters?

Environmentalists here and in Europe would be far better employed to address those second world issues and stop playing at hero and try to actually become a hero to starving people.

Seems like some important truths that the Woke and the rest of us need to realize would be as Kisin said,

“the way to improve the world is to work, is to create, it is to build. And the problem with Woke is that it trained too many young minds like yours (addressing the audience) to forget about that”.

The post About Woke appeared first on Granite Grok.

Whoever thought we’d end up this way?

And I’ll add that the World Economic Forum /Davos people that believe they have the right to tell the rest of us how to live is that they are going to make bugs for us to eat dirt cheap.

The only constant in any of this is while I LIKE cooking with cast iron pans, I still hate cleaning them.

(H/T: Hot Air)

The post Palate Cleanser: What a Difference That 36 Years Can Make appeared first on Granite Grok.

Oh, Skip, you’re such a meany – how can you take food out of the mouths of babes in school yards!  You want them to go hungry and starve while in school?  They can’t learn that way?

You know, there was a recent piece on WMUR’s news that Police need more Constitutional training when at the Police Academy (which I can’t find at their website now). Instead, how about Legislators being put through such a class?  Now, I know that it will never happen because you can’t legislate a new requirement on top of what is in the NH Constitution (Part 2):

[Art.] 14. [Representatives, How Elected, Qualifications of.] Every member of the house of representatives shall be chosen by ballot; and, for two years, at least, next preceding his election shall have been an inhabitant of this state; shall be, at the time of his election, an inhabitant of the town, ward, place, or district he may be chosen to represent and shall cease to represent such town, ward, place, or district immediately on his ceasing to be qualified as aforesaid.

But given that I have quotes from State Reps showing how BADLY they understand the Constitution (Progressives and the Proper Role of Government – and your subservience to it), it would be nice to have them go through it. Unfortunately, if it was voluntary, it’s rather clear that those that would need it the most would refuse to go.

Like these Democrats who seemingly are violating the NH Constitution’s Unfunded Mandate Article once again just like they did with forcing School District to provide free menstrual products without the State funding it:

[Art.] 28-a. [Mandated Programs.] The state shall not mandate or assign any new, expanded or modified programs or responsibilities to any political subdivision in such a way as to necessitate additional local expenditures by the political subdivision unless such programs or responsibilities are fully funded by the state or unless such programs or responsibilities are approved for funding by a vote of the local legislative body of the political subdivision.

And the Union Leader has yet another story of Democrats wanting to further obviate local control (as much as one HAS local control in a Dillon’s Rule State) by forcing schools to provide both breakfast and lunch to students. Oh, it sounds nice – it’s always for the children, isn’t it. But like with Chris Sununu’s “Public Health trumps EVERYTHING” (meaning the Constitution strictures on Government), these Democrats (and only Democrats are sponsoring this) have decided they don’t have to pay attention to our foundation law – OUR SOCIAL CONTRACT!

On Wednesday, the House education panel considers whether the state should require all local school boards to offer subsidized breakfast and lunch for lower-income families.

At present, 456 public schools in the state offer both meals while there are 153 school buildings that don’t serve either one; there are 27 schools that serve lunch but not breakfast. Rep. Arthur Ellison, D-Concord, and six other House Democrats are promoting this measure (HB 429).

So 70% do provide some food assistance. Just further the process of making the State all-powerful in all things. Power should ALWAYS be centralized, according to Democrats – and used as often as possible. There is no “limiting” of government at all in these peoples’ eyes.

Here’s the text:

HB 429-FN-LOCAL – AS INTRODUCED

2023 SESSION

23-0341
10/08

HOUSE BILL 429-FN-LOCAL

AN ACT requiring the offering of breakfast and lunch in all public and chartered public schools.

SPONSORS: Rep. Ellison, Merr. 28; Rep. Woodcock, Carr. 1; Rep. Hall, Merr. 9; Rep. A. Murray, Hills. 20; Rep. Horrigan, Straf. 10; Rep. Seibert, Hills. 21; Rep. Rombeau, Hills. 2

COMMITTEE: Education

—————————————————————–

ANALYSIS

This bill requires school districts and chartered public schools to offer both breakfast and lunch programs to students.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
23-0341
10/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Three

AN ACT requiring the offering of breakfast and lunch in all public and chartered public schools.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1  Schools; Food and Nutrition Programs.  Amend RSA 189:11-a, I to read as follows:

I.  Each school board shall make [at least one meal] breakfast and lunch available during school hours to every pupil under its jurisdiction.  Such meals shall be served without cost or at a reduced cost to any child who meets federal income eligibility guidelines.  The state board of education shall ensure compliance with this section and shall establish minimum nutritional standards for such meals as well as income guidelines set for the family size used in determining eligibility for free and reduced price meals.  [Nothing in this section shall prohibit the operation of both a breakfast and lunch program in the same school.]

2  Schools; Food and Nutrition Programs.  Amend RSA 189:11-a, VII(a) to read as follows:

VII.(a)  Each school district [which participates] shall participate in the National School Breakfast Program and each school district shall maintain annual statistics on the number of breakfast meals served to pupils.

3  New Section; Chartered Public Schools; School Meals.  Amend RSA 194-B by inserting after section 3-a the following new section:

194-B:3-b  Required School Breakfast and Lunch Programs.  All chartered public schools shall comply with the school breakfast and lunch requirements under RSA 189:11-a.

4  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.

LBA
23-0341
12/19/22

And I have to laugh at this “Fiscal Note”

(click to embiggen)

Translation: WE DON’T CARE HOW MUCH IT COSTS YOU!!!

You know, my town is now starting to talk about replacing the beach bathhouse and with that has been a traditional commercial kitchen. Which would have to be replaced and that’s why I’ve been talking up replacing it with 2 or three Food Trucks. They’ve already made the investments in such equipment so let the Free Market supply the needs of those that are hungry at the beach.

I dryly bring it up as these Democrat nitwits make NO allowance for very small districts or schools (I’m thinking of Croydon as an example) that probably DON’T have the 10s of thousands of dollars just laying around to stand up such a kitchen to serve such a small population of kids (what is it, 25??). And then service them. And staff them.  Think of the second and third order cost structures that are associated with this mandate (red tape, permitting, inspections, food sourcing, material/food storage, cleaning, cleaning supplies, staffing, taxes – it can be a long list).

That’s nuts! Which proves, once again, that Democrats only see individuals as ATMs to be plucked.

And unconstitutional because these “I want to FORCE you to my will” Democrats don’t care.

 

The post Another Democrat Bill Placing an Unfunded Mandate on School Districts – Food appeared first on Granite Grok.

“Reject expanded casino and video lottery gambling as a means to balance the budget or increase spending”

That’s from the Republican Party Platform. Guess NH State Senator Tim Lang, in his exuberance of being more than a State Rep, decided to “exercise his muscles” and forgot that Republicans are supposed to be known for a number of things. You know, “branding”?

Obviously, not much difference at all. Lou has been trying for years to get casino gambling into NH in a big way.  A big part of it was to establish a new revenue stream for the State that would provide MORE money to the State coffers.  And of course, being a Democrat, he already had ideas about how those millions of dollars would be spent – those dollars wouldn’t be around to burn a hole in anyone’s pockets they’d be in and out so fast. More money = Bigger Government.

And then there is Tim Lang (now my State Senator – such a bonus!).  How is he any different from “The Democrat Lion” of the Senate in this regard? From the Union Leader: if it sounds like a duck, if it walks like a duck, then….but FIRST, a message from his Republican Party’s Platform (Lang does call himself a Republican, right?):

We, the people of the New Hampshire Republican Party, do stand united in our dedication to preserving freedom, limited government, and unlimited opportunity for all.

We believe in free people, free markets, and free enterprise.

We believe that low taxes are the result of low spending; that government has a moral obligation to the people to be as cost-effective as possible, to always limit spending and growth of government, and to cut spending and cost of government at every possible turn.

We, the people of the New Hampshire Republican Party, pledge to our neighbors across our great, beautiful and proud state, that we remain dedicated to maintaining a limited, affordable government,

So what does Lang want to do?  Well, first thing, using that shopworn Democrat phrase of “It’s for the children!” is a quick giveaway. And as always, reformatted and emphasis mine:

New Senate Ways and Means Committee Chairman Tim Lang, R-Sanbornton, said it’s time New Hampshire joined six other states in regulating all gambling that takes place online in the state. Currently, residents spend millions each year visiting online sites to place bets on poker and other games of chance despite it being illegal here. As a result, Lang said it’s buyer beware, meaning if a rogue website takes a gambler’s money and fails to pay off a winning bet, the gambler has no recourse.

So first, he wants extend the reach of government into the Free Market (because that’s what it is right now) Which means that he must enlarge Government via headcount and cost to do that regulation.

And then decides that HE must make the Nanny State overreach even more. What, those gamblers don’t realize that Caveat Emptor doesn’t apply to them?  That Lang believes that HE must protect citizens from themselves?

Hubris. Condescending.

The New Hampshire Lottery doesn’t permit bets to be placed with a credit card. Bettors must pay cash or provide a debit card.

And that prevents them from losing money they don’t have (using a credit card that would run up debt).  Isn’t that enough? But here’s the Incoming Money Tide that has Lang running TOWARD it instead of running from it

The American Gaming Association estimates New Hampshire could collect $17 million to $48 million annually by having the lottery control these online bets.

And the “it’s for the children” hook to make it palatable.  A never fail option of scoundrels all over:

Lang’s plan is to use all profits to support a scholarship fund for income-eligible students to attend two-year community colleges in New Hampshire.

No mention of the overhead costs which I WILL remind y’all makes Government larger. And those costs will never go away. EVAH!

Remember, the Colorado Democrats want to do the same thing there by dangling out the education Shiny Object,by stripping its TABOR (“It’s ALWAYS About Democrats Keeping YOUR Money – Law Doesn’t Matter. Bait and Switch, Baby!”) – Taxpayer Bill of Rights – that returns “over-taxed monies” back to those that had been “over-taxed” in the first place. Those Democrats don’t want to return that money back to its rightful owners – taxpayers. And Lang doubles down:

“I think this would generate enough money to pay full tuition for every income-eligible student to attend community college, helping us fill a chronic need for skilled workforce in New Hampshire,” Lang said.

Sorry, Education is more than putting a person in front of a bench in some factory or office. Education is supposed to be in creating a responsible Citizen that can completely join in the process of Self-Governance for our Society – NOT to just be an economic cog in his wheel. Once again, he declares that the Free Market isn’t able to remedy the problem

And again, a bit of self-justification that immediately brought back to mind the earliest history of the Democrat based income tax: it will only tax the richest amongst us. After all, how many “impulse bettors” can there be in NH

“We’re talking about an impulse bettor, someone who plays 15 minutes of Texas Hold ‘Em while they are waiting for a meeting,” Lang said. “These aren’t people who are going to spend an hour or more visiting a charity casino.

And this says that there is NO difference between him and D’Allesandro

We’d be tapping into a whole new source of state revenue.”

And let’s return to the “Application” part of the Platform:

• Keep state government lean to allow lower business taxes
• Strongly oppose new taxes and fees, including an income, s, ales and capital gains tax
• Limit the growth of state spending to not more than the rate of inflation plus population growth
• Require super-majorities to raise taxes

So, there’s all that for the required background lesson on being a Republican.  So there will be those that will actively attack me for writing these words.  Well, let’s return to the Platform again:

We believe that we the people are strongest when we stand together, that it is our responsibility to hold government accountable and that it is through the integrity of the ballot box that we do so.

And so we shall.  And having the Free Speech to do so, GraniteGrok has the Right to point out the differences between the Parties – and when there should be and when there aren’t.

The post “New Revenue Stream”; So What’s The Difference Between Democrat Lou D’Allesandro and Newly Minted Republican Senator Tim Lang? appeared first on Granite Grok.

In January of last year, we lost a long-time activist and friend, Ed Naile. Ed inspired many as both the Chairman of the Coalition of New Hampshire Taxpayers and a contributor to these pages.

Below is Skip’s original post announcing Ed’s passing as well as some of the comments below.

You can read Ed’s ‘Grok archive here.

 

Announcement – Long Time CNHT Chairman Ed Naile Has Passed

by Skip / 25 January 2022

“Just so you know, Ed passed on Friday.  So sad – what a great man…” That from a friend today.

From a couple of days ago: Evidently he has been in ICU in Concord Hospital for some time now.  At least a month, I think. Covid, then a blood clot which caused a heart attack.I called the hospital today and he is still in ICU and no visitors.

I considered him one of my mentors as Doug and I started up GraniteGrok.  I learned so much from him and realized how skilled he was in his Activism and how free he was to share the skill with anyone that wanted to hear and then apply it. He made the CNHT (Coalition of NH Taxpayers) space available to us as we started GrokTALK! as a weekly podcast, we and he combined forces on a number of different issues.

He was a man that stood on principles that right was right and wrong was wrong.  Fearless and took GREAT joy at beating those that thought that they were “all that and more” whether they were municipal officers and tax fraud to voter fraud.Did I mention that he was smart?

He made CNHT live up to one of the US Marine’s mantras: “No better friend; no worse enemy.”He enjoyed his activism and loved it when he won (which he did most of the time), especially in court. He once told me that when he entered the court, the other lawyer’s shoulders slumped. They knew that he knew more about the law than they did – and he was doing it for sport.

COMMENTS

    I am devastated to learn that Ed has passed. He was a mentor, an inspiration and the most extraordinary raconteur I have ever known. His loss is inestimable. I always imagined him having a horrific chainsaw accident but he was too adept for that. Our most heartfelt condolences to his family and innumerable friends and admirers. He was truly one of a kind. The world has suddenly gone grey. You left a great legacy of advocacy, Ed, and tireless effort. Thank you and God bless.
I never met him, and yet, from the very first time I read one of his posts on Granite Grok, I felt I knew him.

    Omg, I’m shocked. Just inconceivable. Heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. NH has lost a treasure. I hope and pray he’s looking down and guiding one or more of us to continue on the great things he has done for us all. He can never be replaced but we can do him proud.

    For at least three decades, Ed was there freely giving his time to share his tools of the trade to budding activists, to fight entrenched and unresponsive local officials, to bring too-cozy abuses of local taxpayer interest to light.NH ought to have an Ed Naile day.

    I’m speechless. Ed and I had a long back and forth here one time about the blue jays and feeding birds.What were seeing, what we were feeding them.It was nice to get off politics for a bit and just talk about regular things.What a loss. Skip and Steve and fellow Groksters, I’m sorry that you lost your good friend. What a terrible loss for our state.

    May he rest in peace

    I am devastated! Ed and I had quite a few conversations on and off line since I met him 4 years ago when I was running for state rep. He was a great man with a passion for fair elections in NH,which was one of my passions as well when I was living in NH.I have no other words…heartfelt condolences to all his friends and family. NH lost a great pariot.

    I REMEMBER MEETING HIM REGARDING VOTER FRAUD. OH MY GOSH! I LEARNT ALOT FROM THIS MAN! VERY INFORMATIVE & INTERESTING!!!

    So sad to hear this. Rest in peace Ed!

    Don’t have much to add beyond prayers for the family and I will miss his articles here. I had a few conversations about chainsaws with him but that was about it.

    RIP Ed, your common sense & sound reasoning will be missed!

    Ed and I had lunch last summer before I moved out of NH. Such a great guy. We collaborated on many projects and investigations. When I was on my town’s Budget Committee, he gave me hours and hours of advice & instruction. Later when I moved to Supervisor of the Checklist, he again gave me tons of time and assistance. Such a selfless guy that wanted good government – he was ok with the results if the process was fair and accurate. If we don’t like the results, we just work harder next time. I already missed our occasional get-togethers, and now I will cherish the memory of the last one. RIP, Ed. You did good.

    This is horrible news. Ed helped and taught so many people about election law. He will be missed by so many.

    Kathleen LaBonte:  OMG! I just found out with an announcement from Scott Maltzie in the Merrimack County GOP weekly update. I’m DEVASTATED, and the wind has been knocked right out of my sail. Oh do I adore that man, and no one made me laugh harder than to listen to his escapades. My favorite and treasured times with Ed would be helping to set up and take down the annual July CNHT picnic event…and, of course, to help with anything they needed during the event to keep things smooth running. I would be one of the last ones cleaning up so that I could sit and have a little catch up private time with Ed before we bid adieu. I will treasure always those events and that special time with Ed.I’m greatly saddened that I did not know he was in the hospital all that time. My head and heart aches for all that I do not know right now of what is happening to people I love. My sincere prayers and deepest sympathy to Ed’s family and all his dear friends….so many of them I know. May Ed be at peace, and resting in God’s hands.

    I only met Ed once, but followed him on GG. Our state, and our country has lost one of our staunchest advocates for voter integrity and honest elections.

The post Remembering Ed Naile appeared first on Granite Grok.

The women of Iran are leading the first female-led revolution in the history of the world, revising what bravery means. These women deserved to be named Time Magazine’s people of the year.

“The Iranian people’s nationwide protests erupted on September 16, 2022, after the death of a young Kurdish woman, Mahsa Jina Amin while in the custody of the Islamic morality Police.

How did we get here?

The upheavals of 1979 shattered the existing order and a turbaned charlatan that Jimmy Carter called a saint, Ayatollah Khomeini, skillfully steered the forces of change to promote his brand of totalitarian rule — a rule aimed at taking Iran backward to a primitive, violent, and misogynistic society.

In no time at all, Carter’s saint turned out to be the true devil he was. Khomeini’s mob started killing Americans, took over the U.S. Embassy in Tehran with Americans as hostages, and launched a most virulent anti-American campaign that is bleeding America to this very day.

Carter made a bone-headed decision some forty-five years ago. Both Iranians and Americans paid dearly and continue to pay.

Islamic theocracy

Many Iranians sensed the catastrophic tragedy of Islamism and really began doing what they could to prevent it from destroying Iran’s nascent civil democratic system. Before long, Khomeini and his gangs capitalized on the frustrations of the masses, promising them everything under the sun while simultaneously murdering thousands of Iran’s best children who opposed them and their system of rule.

2009 Green Revolution

The world witnessed a massive anti-regime movement in 2009 by millions of Iranians, subsequent to the fraudulent re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The regime’s response to those protesting people was a set of dastardly measures typical of dictatorships. People were severely beaten, huge numbers arrested and herded like cattle into makeshift prisons, some were shot in the streets as they marched; others were raped and killed in Iran’s prisons. And the world simply watched. Now it was Obama’s turn. He too was hood-winked by the same Machiavellian Shi’a gang that took Carter on a ride of infamy.

The Obama Administration not only failed to voice its support for the people, but it also implied that what was happening in Iran was a kind of family squabble best left to be settled by Iranians themselves. A family feud indeed. One side of the “family” with legions of savages armed to the teeth, the Revolutionary Guard  (IRGC) and their hired thugs, and the other side of the “family” defenseless civilians using their voices to plead their case. The Islamic rulers spared no heinous means in mercilessly silencing the voices of the people.

No nation provided even moral support for the Iranian people while the savage mullahs and their thugs consolidated their rule of terror with impunity. The same scenario is recurring and the silence of the world is deafening while we are engaged in the Ukraine war.

2022 Iran revolution and the world reaction

The world leaders as usual were indifferent. The sanctions decided by the EU are finally toothless figurative politics. Only after weeks of protests did the EU adopt very limited entry injunctions and freeze assets.

By the way, did you watch the deafening sound of silence at the Golden Globes bash this past Sunday where the horde of self-righteous champions of women’s rights busily applauded each other without bothering to say a single word (except for Sean Penn) in support of the valiant Iranian women presently risking everything battling the women-oppressing Islamist rule?

Indeed it is times like this when principled freedom fighters are separated, by their words and deeds, from the frauds.

These young martyrs and so many others remain as eternal testaments to the depravity of the 7th-century primitive system and the horrors it has visited on innocent people. And these young victims of Islamic tyranny are by no means isolated cases. Tragically, women as a gender bear the brunt of Islamic misogyny. Women are systematically exploited, maltreated, and disenfranchised from their God-given rights.

When circumstances call upon us, society generates heroes. Heroes are those extraordinary people who make sacrifices and become agents of historical and social change. We sometimes speak of other forces that rule the world. The women and girls of Iran have shaken the core of the Islamic regime. Indeed, they are the true heroes of our time.

We should also salute Masih Ali Nejad, Nazanin Boniadi and Nazanin-Afshin Jam MacKay and many others who have risen to the occasion and have set themselves apart from the shameful gang of self-serving liberal women loudmouths who find themselves suddenly tongue-tied when speaking up do not serve their myopic and parochial agenda.

Women in Iran are chanting the phrase “Women, Life, Freedom” despite the threat of being shot and incarcerated by the régime. They are risking their lives. There are photographs of women raising their fists while the streets around them burn.

The decent humans of the world stood and mourned in solidarity with Iranian women’s freedom aspiration while their lives were cut short from the loving bosom of their families into the eternal embrace of Mother Iran.

They mourned their death, yet they all honored their call and summons: A call and summons to follow in their footsteps with iron resolve. A call and summons for the complete emancipation of millions of women, as well as men, who are suffering under the yoke of Islamic tyranny.

The brave women of Iran will shine forever as beacons of hope and a source of inspiration to those across the world who struggle for justice, equality, and liberty. This is the final scene. This is do-or-die. Nothing less than a subversion of this regime and recapture of Iran will stop these warriors. And it has been heard among people in Europe and the United States and all over the world. This time we see that these heroic people are determined to overthrow the rule of the mullahs.

The brave Iranian women are not stopping, nor will they any time soon. They are taking to the streets to cut their hair and burn their hijabs, indicating to the Islamic government that they will not stand for this totalitarian regime anymore. Time for the mullahs to pack up and leave.

 

The post Women, Life, Freedom appeared first on Granite Grok.

There is one thing to making mistakes, but showing no remorse compounds the misstep. To break the law and have such arrogance to say, “I have no regrets,” is to mock the matter.

To be the Commander in Chief, the President of the United States, and to blow off a severe violation of the law by saying, “there is no there, there,” is to indicate you believe you are above the law. That is the message I heard when Joe Biden took to the podium in California and went off prompter. He opened by saying how upset he is that reporters continue to press him on the Doc-Gate issue and not on what he is doing in California. With all due respect, Mr. President, we will decide what is important to us, and your breaking the law is a significant issue with Americans. The latest polls show 69% of Americans are not pleased with how you, and your Administration, are handling the breach of National Security.

The unknown is a big problem here for many people. We do not know the contents of the documents, how many documents, if all have been recovered, and most importantly, who had access. We are not getting all the facts to decide how big a problem Biden has created. Biden wants us to dismiss this breach as nothing, but when Trump was found to have done the same thing, Biden said Trump could not be more irresponsible. The arrogance is terrible, but the hypocrisy compounds the matter. Biden appears comfortable, expecting a very unbalanced application of the law; Trump is guilty, but Biden is innocent.

The many lies by the Administration over the last few weeks and the lack of explanation about the timing of information dispersed make even the Left-leaning media skeptical. We are witnessing this skepticism every day as the press corp peppers Karine Jean-Pierre with questions she deflects and refuses to answer. When they claim to be the most transparent, this lack of transparency is fueling the flames for more questions. These press briefings are ugly but have become don’t miss TV. KJP is now the punching bag for the Administration, and she is maximizing her condescending attitude toward all members of the press.

Nobody seems to know where this issue is going. The House is chomping at the bit to get members of the Biden team under oath. The Special Counsel is yet to start, so we do not know how she will attack the issue. One thing we do know is the Bidens, Joe and Hunter, are the first President and son duo ever to be investigated simultaneously. That is a dubious distinction. Will either be held responsible for their nefarious actions or will they both slide by above repercussions?

It isn’t very likely Biden knew the optics of his comments to the press and the people standing behind him. For some reason people think it is a show of strength to make comments with a group of speechless mannequins as a backdrop. In this case, Governor Gavin Newsom was standing directly behind the President. Many found this ironic as Newsom is making it evident that he wants Biden’s job in 2024. The scene was as if Gavin Newsom was waiting for Biden to fall on his sword, and Newsome was there to take up the sword.

One thing doesn’t balance. The President and his mouthpiece, Jean-Pierre, continue to say that the President takes the handling of Classified Documents very seriously. Yet, he has no regrets that he was caught with classified materials from the Obama Administration in his garage six years after the end of Obama’s time in office. Maybe what he means is he seriously takes classified documents. It is all in the order of the words.

The post There is No There, There appeared first on Granite Grok.

Fifty years ago, the United States embarked on a path of mass incarceration that has led to a staggering increase in the correctional population. Today, nearly two million people - disproportionately Black Americans - are living in prisons and jails instead of their communities. In the early 1970s this count was 360,000.

read more

Is Dartmouth Health’s Pediatric and Adolescent Transgender Health Program destroying children’s future fertility and sexual function by administering puberty blockers to 10-year-olds?

“You can introduce [puberty blockers] at age 10 and a half as all of a sudden puberty is about to explode on this child,” said John Turco, MD, director of Dartmouth Health’s Pediatric and Adolescent Transgender Health Program at an October 13, 2021 presentation. “It doesn’t mean you’re saying this is clearly a transgender individual, but it gives you a few more years to talk about that, and most importantly, it prevents puberty from exploding on this kid.”

But the research tells us that administering puberty blockers to children isn’t just “buying time,” as Dr. Turco said in a 2016 Valley News interview. It’s a decision with serious life-long consequences.

Studies consistently show that if children with gender dysphoria are allowed to go through puberty, the vast majority become comfortable with their bodies when they reach adulthood. The most recent study followed a group of gender dysphoric children for over 20 years and found that 87.8% outgrew their gender dysphoria.

In stark contrast, over 95% of children who are administered puberty blockers will move on to opposite-sex hormones, and those who start before the age of 12 will never have any sexual function, according to Marci Bowers, MD, president of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health who identifies as a transgender woman.

“Every single child who was truly blocked at Tanner Stage 2 [ages 9-11] has never experienced an orgasm. I mean, it’s really about zero,” said Bowers in a video panel. “To be intimate with a partner is very important. We need to have our eyes open to that.”

Children who take puberty blockers and move on to opposite sex hormones will probably be sterile, according to Dr. Jeremi Carswell, director of Boston Children’s Hospital’s Gender Multispeciality Service. “If you are giving something that shuts down your estrogen or shuts down testosterone entirely, you’re going to stop . . . producing sperm or eggs,” Carswell said in a video. “If you never started, you’re not going to … advance the gonads to be able to do that.”

In his presentation, Dr. Turco didn’t mention the risk of sexual dysfunction from these chemically castrating chemicals.  He indicated that concerns about bone loss are outweighed by the dangers of puberty. “Allowing kids to go through, quote, the wrong puberty can have devastating effects, so you’ve got to balance that off things like bone density,” he said. 

“I thought that there’s been some research that suppressing puberty can lead to problems later on and that some children who were treated with those drugs became sterile. Is that true?” asked a woman in the audience.

“Whatever risk there is, I think it’s minimal,” responded Turco. “And certainly when you weigh it against this kid at age 10-and-a-half that has this strong and persistent feeling. You know you’re pretty damn sure this kid’s going to be a trans man or a nonbinary individual in the future.”  

Related: Transgender Ideology Harms Children

Administrating puberty blockers to treat gender dysphoria also raises ethical concerns about informed consent. How can a child consent to puberty blockers if he has no conception about adult intimacy?

Dr. Carswell acknowledges that physicians are handing out these chemicals “a lot like candy, which is great in some ways, but it’s like, OK, well, we need to have a conversation.”

Because little is known about how hormone blockers affect the development of the teenage brain or children’s bones, England’s National Health service is strictly limiting their use for treating gender dysphoria, and requiring that children taking them be enrolled in a formal research program. Harvard Medical School Professor Marc Garnick, MD recommends that children taking puberty blockers in the US also be part of a rigorous clinical research study to evaluate their short- and long-term health effects.

Dartmouth Health has not responded to a request for comment.

 

The post Is Dartmouth Health’s Pediatric Gender Clinic Destroying Kids’ Sexual Function? appeared first on Granite Grok.

New Hampshire House Bill 260 might have a few folks steamed. It will fine operators 100.00 if they are driving with a pet in their lap. Is this a bridge too far, or do you think it is a good idea?

Only one state prohibits pets in your lap while driving, while other states have distracted driving laws (NH has one) that would apply when the pet might have been the cause of a distraction resulting in an accident.

I love my dog, and he is too big to consider having him in my lap, but I have mixed feelings about this. Having driven professionally, I understand the need for zero distraction, but the notion of further infringement on freedom annoys me.

I don’t have data on pet-in-the-lap-related incidents, but I suspect they are few. Therefore, this is unnecessary. We can apply the distracted driving law on the books if needed.

Your thoughts.

 

1 New Section; Motor Vehicles; Operating With Animal On Driver’s Person Prohibited. Amend
RSA 265 by inserting after section 105-a the following new section:
265:105-b Operating With Animal On Driver’s Person Prohibited.
I. A person who operates any motor vehicle on a public way with an animal of any size on
their person, or who permits an animal to impede his or her free access to and use of vehicle controls
or to obstruct their vision with any animal between the operator and the operators door is guilty of a
violation.
II. The fine for a violation of this section shall be $100.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2024

 

There is also a bill to require seatbelts for operators of motor vehicles (HB 222) if you’d like to rant about that.

 

The post Prohibiting the Operation of Motor Vehicles by Drivers with Animals on Their Laps appeared first on Granite Grok.

OPPOSE – HB 353, establishing an interstate compact for universal healthcare. This bill is as described: a first step towards socialized medicine.

We at RebuildNH have fought to remove more government from healthcare since watching the disastrous government response to the Covid pandemic, but this bill seeks to create a completely government-controlled healthcare system, beginning by creating interstate compacts.

Who pays? While the bill is unclear and doesn’t even remotely seek to estimate the cost, we know that all taxpayers will pay, handsomely.

Thursday, January 26th, N.H. House – Commerce Committee
11:00 AM LOB, Room 302-304

Click here to register your disposition.
 Email the committee.

The post Oppose Socialized Medicine in NH appeared first on Granite Grok.

The cold weather on both sides of the Atlantic last month seems to have had its effect on temperature, which fell sharply compared with November, lengthening the New Pause to 8 years 4 months, as measured by the satellites designed, built and operated by Dr Roy Spencer and Dr John Christy at the University of Alabama in Huntsville:

…Recall that the Pause graph does not constitute a prediction: it simply reports the longest period, working back from the present, during which the temperature trend is not positive.

As always, here is the full 45-year UAH dataset from December 1978 to December 2022, showing a far from dramatic global warming trend equivalent to just 0.134 C/decade:

 

(H/T: Watts Up With That)

The post Data Point: Warming “Pause” is now 100 months. Only a 0.134 C degree per decade appeared first on Granite Grok.