A public service announcement. The FBI … aka “Patriot Front” … recently (7/6) held a parade in downtown Nashville. Notice all the beer-bellies, the tattoos, the cross-section of ages … . OH WAIT! There is none of that. Could it be … a bunch of FBI agents, assets, etc., with six-packs and their faces covered to prevent identification?

Would our government ever do such a thing? I’ll bet that if you ask the 51 members of the “intelligence community” who told us that Hunter’s laptop was Russian disinformation, they’d tell you this was REAL.

 

BREAKING: Patriot Front is marching in downtown Nashville.

Can someone finally expose them for who they are. pic.twitter.com/7BErswmULt

— I Meme Therefore I Am (@ImMeme0) July 6, 2024

The post Your Tax Dollars At Work … The FBI Holds A Parade In Nashville appeared first on Granite Grok.

Climate Gate insider Phil Jones became famous—not for being a clever scientist working on a complex problem—not exactly. The problem was complex but not scientific. The globe wasn’t warming as they’d said, and he worked behind the scenes to hide the evidence—to hide the decline.

“I’ve just completed Mike’s [Mann] Nature trick of adding in the real temps to each series for the last 20 years (i.e. from 1981 onwards) and from 1961 for Keith’s [Briffa] to hide the decline.”

—Dr. Phil Jones, Director of the Climatic Research Unit, disclosed Climategate e-mail, Nov. 16, 1999.

Nancy Pelosi has been a fixture in Washington, DC, for so long that if it weren’t for her moving around, she’d be green and covered in pigeon shit. She’s got more advice for her party members and colleagues, which includes the press. Channel Phil Jones.

Pelosi argued during an appearance on MSNBC’s Morning Joe that Democrats should pause the public conversation around Biden’s mental acuity until after the NATO summit taking place in Washington in the coming days.

“I’ve said to everyone, ‘Let’s just hold off,’” Pelosi said. “Whatever you’re thinking, either tell somebody privately, but you don’t have to put that out on the table until we see how we go this week.”

I’m unsure if she’s woken up with a new attitude today, but NATO didn’t go well. Biden’s performance makes Mark Zuckerberg look like an animated human being. He was stiff and read someone else’s words without much enthusiasm (except when yelling PUTIN). It wasn’t inspiring, nor will it lift the pall of concern or shift the conversation back to Trump. And I can hardly think NATO is ready to start a real war with Russia with Biden still in the White House. They aren’t interested in hiding his decline.

I’d expect NATO to take Nancy’s advice and hold off on aggravating Russia further until sometime in 2025.

 

The post Pelosi Channels Phil Jones on Biden: Hide the Decline appeared first on Granite Grok.

There once lived a ruler of a far-off land. The people there called him their president, but he was old and addled and had come to believe that he was really their king. He was also corrupt, greedy, and selfish, caring very little about the people he ruled over. His decrees were becoming progressively bizarre and were driving his country into rack and ruin.

You might wonder how such a man came to power.

Though he really didn’t know much, he knew all about things like scratching backs and peddling influence. Twice before he’d scratched and peddled his way to the brink of success. But on the third try, he had help from an ensemble of devoted prevaricators. They came from all walks of life. There were politicians, newsies, and entertainers. Unlike his run-of-the mill supporters, their loyalty was fanatical, and their knack for deception was unmatched; it seemed to come to them naturally. They had no qualms about lying audaciously, convincingly, and continuously in order to enable and protect the old man – even if meant the ruination of their country.

To that end, it was necessary for them to surrender both their common sense and their self-respect. They considered it a small price to pay. They called themselves the Lickspittles, and their motto was Fides Ante Honoris, (Loyalty Before Integrity.)

Without them, the addled old man could never have become president. It was late in his campaign that a special team of 51 Lickspittles gave him the boost he needed to overcome a major crisis. With their help, his back-scratching skills, a dash of trickery, and a heap of deceit, he was able to fool enough people to win the presidency.

Unfortunately for the people, he ruled in exactly the same way he came to power – with trickery and deceit. He told them they were rich, while many struggled to make ends meet. He told them they were safe and secure, while they were being attacked in the streets. And while the people suffered, he was enriching himself. Soon, their disappointment grew into unhappiness, which then grew into anger. They began to deride the old man, mocking him wherever he went.

Now despite all his power and wealth, he, too grew miserable. “Why can’t I be respected, even admired like the last guy,” he thought. “And why can’t I be smarter, or at least remember where I am?”

Then he heard someone say that clothes make the man. He said to himself, “Maybe a new set of clothes is what I need.” So he set out to find the best clothes his money could buy.

His journey brought him to a shop operated by two unscrupulous tailors. They were even more unscrupulous than their new customer. After listening to his plight, they saw an opportunity. They told him that a new suit of clothes was exactly what he needed.

They told him that they would make him a very special suit, sewn from a very special cloth, woven from very special thread. This suit would have unique qualities. Yes, it would make him popular with the people, but more than that, it would make him appear smart as a whip.

They added one small caveat. Only the most intelligent and perceptive people would see the improvement. Fools and dolts would still see a confused, greedy, and selfish old man.

Incredibly enough, he fell for it. Yes, it sounds crazy, but remember; he was rather addled, and besides, this is just a fable.

So, he watched as the two swindlers pretended to weave invisible thread and sew non-existent cloth into an invisible new suit.

When they were finished, the two con men could barely contain their mirth as their customer disrobed and modeled his new “suit.” He couldn’t wait to get back home and impress the people.

At first, the Lickspittles were aghast! But they were, after all, committed to making him look good. And besides, after hearing the tailors’ caveat, they didn’t want to appear foolish or doltish.

So they showered him with praise, telling him how smart he looked.

All this seemed to fill the man with a renewed sense of pride, prompting him to travel the countryside in his invisible suit, boasting about his imaginary accomplishments. The Lickspittles were right behind him, parroting his words while praising his leadership, his stamina, and yes, his brilliance.

They told the people, “The man is a dynamo! We can’t keep up with him!” “He does more in five minutes than most people do in a day. And smart? Why, he’s smart as a whip!”

But despite their most sincere, convincing lies, the people saw only a naked, pathetic old man.

The Lickspittles were beside themselves. They were becoming laughing stocks! What more could they do to convince the people? One beady-eyed, bespeckled Lickspittle was absolutely livid. He said as sternly as he could, “That man is one smart cookie!” And if you’d rather believe your own two eyes …well then screw you.”

Then on one summer night during his reelection campaign, something inexplicable happened. It was almost magical. The charade began to crumble. A few of the Lickspittles suddenly seemed to develop a modicum of integrity. Or maybe they came to realize that the people no longer believed them. Perhaps they just ran out of audacious lies.

The details of what happened next are unimportant, but as quick as a wink, the old man found himself far away from the president’s mansion and on the beach, where he spent his remaining years frolicking with his six or seven grandchildren.

And the people were happy again.

The post The President’s New Clothes (With Apologies to Hans Christian Andersen) appeared first on Granite Grok.

We journey once more into the midweek breach to embrace the meme and nothing but the meme! A hump-day tradition whose burden I assumed but not (perhaps) for very much longer).

Nitazakhon might be back to this one soon. We shall see.

But enough of this pithy banter.

Memes!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The post Midweek Memes – The Future Belongs to Those Who Believe In the Beauty of Their … Memes appeared first on Granite Grok.

Politics in NH are interesting, as I’m sure anyone who is paying attention would agree. Hot topics, promises, and clever lies abound.

I’d be seriously slacking in my role as a Homeschool Advocate if I didn’t take the time to touch on the hot topic that has plagued our community for a number of years and become a front-and-center key platform push for politicians in our state.

Let me preface my statements here by sharing that these are my own thoughts and opinions, based on years and years of experience, advocacy and work as a freedom-minded home educator in NH and Southern Maine. If you want a list of “who I think I am” you could easily find it outside of this blog post, but since people have asked I’ll touch on that, too.

What it comes down to is that I am a mouthpiece for the home education community and have been for some time. I feel comfortable making the blanket statement that the politicians, families and organizations I’m addressing here are made up of some good, well-intentioned folks, but also hope to convey that the elephant in the room is quite huge. There are politicians, families and organizations who are *not* and are benefiting financially and/or politically off of our misplaced trust and misinformation.

That last bit hurts some feelings, but I’ve never been one to mince words when it comes to the topic of home education freedom.

The EFA program is bad for NH home education.

There it is, friends! I’ve been everywhere from gracious, slow to speak, heavy on nuance to blunt and some have said downright aggressive on this topic, and it’s time to cut the coddling and tell you what I know.

We want to thank Amanda Weeden for this Contribution – Please direct yours to Steve@GraniteGrok.com.
You can review our ‘Op-Ed Guidelines‘ on the FAQ Page.

Myth #1: The EFA program is good for NH.

Truth: The EFA bill was rammed through our legislature because it couldn’t (rightly so) pass a straight vote. It was pitched as a way for less than one dozen, *low-income, urban* students to escape public school. The bill was sloppy, with no accountability for taxpayers, families, or the government. Those of us who follow the legislature have seen firsthand the hyper-partisan climate and the resulting onslaught of bills attempting to kill it from within. Families have been marketed and lied to regarding the implications of the program, and I have consistently, transparently shared the short and long-term devastation this program causes for home education in NH. None of this is good for our community.

Myth #2: It’s Your Tax Money Anyway, It’s “The Money Follows the Child.”

Truth: Anyone can easily and effectively debunk this often-repeated marketing tagline by simply looking at their tax bill. It’s not your tax money; it’s everyone’s tax money. The small fraction of money that one pays that actually ends up funding this program is minuscule in comparison to the award amounts and managing organization’s outrageous fees.

Those folks who believe that “taxation is theft” have been the most surprising in their enthusiastic support of this program, so much so that “school choice” has become part of the Free State Project platform. If taxation is theft, why are you just fine with everyone else paying for your kid’s pottery wheel and Jiu-Jitsu lessons? I surely don’t know. It’s not your money.

The fact that the majority of EFA families pay for private school tuition with the funds should alarm those of us who understand that the government runs what the government funds, but I guess that’s outside the scope of this article.

Myth #3: I’m still a homeschooler if I sign up for the EFA program.

Truth: Legally, the EFA pathway is a fourth, completely separate educational status according to the state. It is governed by a different and distinct set of laws than home education. EFA (government) funds can be used for a number of (government) approved vendors.

Although the EFA legislation was modeled after home education law, it is not the same. The long-fought, ongoing battle for parental rights, minimal requirements and freedom of choice in enrichment programs, curriculum, and other educational services is the result of persistent advocacy over decades.

Functionally, EFA families might choose to homeschool their children. EFA families might look similar in many ways to home educators, but they are not the same. There are yearly deadlines, databases and approvals needed in the EFA program. EFA families do not have graduation requirements Equal Access, or *the right to utilize whatever/whoever/whenever* they want to educate their children without purchase approval from outside agencies. This is not the same as RSA193:a home education. Can you call yourself a homeschooler? Sure, we can call ourselves whatever we choose, I’m convinced of that. But the fact remains that I have personally spent countless hours supporting freedom from these differences. I will not get caught up in semantics.

Myth #4: “It’s no big deal to take the money/Amanda, you’re just a rich, entitled person who doesn’t understand how this has changed My life!”

Truth: It is actually a big deal to take government money. Listen, I’ve been doing this a long time and have seen the culture shift in the home education community after COVID from that of home-grown, grassroots, connections-driven to “provide “x” for me, and if it gets hard, I’ll just send them to school mentality.

Parents are leaving public school in droves and expecting the same government-implemented supports, programs, freebies and resources. The “lifers” are fewer and those of us on the front lines to advocate are but a handful.

I’m old, I get it, but I have four children, one income, and a special needs child, and I have sacrificed untold hours and resources to home-educate my children over 17 years, and I have a lifetime left. I create, innovate, show up, support, and rally for our community. I, too, have exclusively shopped in the free section. I have had to say, “I’m sorry, but we can’t afford that price,” more often than not, so I figure out alternatives. The alternatives take a lot of sacrifices of time and energy- yet I’m beholden to only my family. I have spent hours driving all over the state, online consulting and volunteering in order to encourage the free market education community.

I have bartered, sat in countless meetings and legislative sessions, served on HEAC, and showed up at my local school board to fight for the home education community. I did it, and you can, too, *without working against the freedom to home-educate in NH.* I still do it, and I’m doing it right now. My youngest child cannot take the martial arts class that he desperately desires, yet the very first thing the Sensei said to me as I tried to barter my services for a discount was, “Just sign up for that Class Wallet; it would be free!” It wouldn’t be free, Sensei.

Your short-term ability to do extras or buy a brand new curriculum does not outweigh our freedom.

The long-term implications are clear, as in other states with similar programs: more government oversight, more laws passed, more narrow definitions and allowances, and more regulation. Accepting government money might change your life in seemingly positive ways right now, but it is devastating to our collective lives for these reasons now and in the not-so-distant future. This is a big deal, and I guess I do know precisely “who I think I am.” (my snark here is directed at the hate mail I receive from people who do not know me in real life at all)

Myth #5: A (any) managing organization’s administrator/vendor/politician is trustworthy.

Truth: There is an extreme conflict of interest happening with the EFA managing organization/vendors/politicians, the taxpayers, and the families involved. The managing organization makes a *whopping* 10% of all of the money that goes out the door. Look up how much similar program administrators get in other states for yourself – max 3 to 4 percent. The organization also manages the education tax credit, which is a true scholarship that needs to be fundraised from local businesses. The managing organization marketed directly to the ETC recipients to sign up for the EFA program, insisting that “there’s no difference” between the two programs. Both are income-based, but the similarities end there. The Administrator of the EFA program helped craft the legislation, markets the program at political events all across our state, and lies by omission during presentations by repeatedly focusing on emotional pitches instead of the facts.

I know families who feel “swindled” and “lied to” because the implications were never shared – “I was never told it was a different pathway/I had to turn things in/I’d be in a database/ I had to terminate my home education program.”

The EFA program has become a self-contained market where educational providers are racing to grab the cash. Scandals and closures are ramping up in NH and other states due to mismanagement. The “educational innovation” that is touted as the future is all based on families signing up for the EFA. Providers can (and do) charge exorbitant fees for their services *because they can* and freely market the EFA as the way to enroll. This is currently happening with Kaipod and Prenda. Can’t afford the thousands of dollars after the federal grant ends in September? Just sign up for the EFA! This is literally what I was told in person. These vendors are at the same info sessions and political events. At least one high-ranking politician, who is front and center of the EFA push in NH, benefits financially (personally) from the EFA-driven “learning co-op” that his wife directs. Let this sink in, folks. ***A leader in the legislature benefits financially from the expansion of the program.*** I’m not sure how this giant red flag has gotten a pass, but these obvious conflicts of interest have not gone unnoticed by the other side of the aisle or any of us who are paying attention.

Is it any wonder why the legislature has been absolutely swamped with targeted bills looking to control the program? To control everything from what is purchased, who purchases it, assessments, data, you name it. And as the title of this post states, it’s election season. I don’t care what side of the aisle one lands on; this is all incredibly murky at best, and if the (very partisan/close split) legislature, Governor, or Commissioner of Education changes, EFA families are all at risk. In mid-June, the vote to expand the program failed. If the Republicans lose any of these branches of government, “mean” blog posts are going to be the least of EFA families’ worries.

The managing organization and the Commissioner are both on record refusing the required audits of the EFA program, and a local State Rep said to me, “Kate Baker would rather close the program than share that information.” I hear, “Kate won’t let that happen,” when anyone questions anything that is troublesome on the horizon. It’s been happening for a number of years now. Is it a red flag that they refuse to share the required information for the required audits by the Committee tasked with overseeing the program? I’d say it is.

Myth #6: You need the EFA program to provide an excellent, tailored, engaging home education program for your children.

Truth: You don’t need government money, the strings attached, or the implications involved in signing up for the EFA program. There are countless ways to frugally curate your home education program. Coordinate, lead, barter, connect, pay it forward, sacrifice. Pioneers who came before us did it and we can, too. *Get involved and educate others on the value of the true freedom of home education!*

All this to say, don’t take their word for it. Heck, don’t take *my* word for it! Everything I have said here is publicly available information for those willing to uncover it. As with any election season, please consider your votes wisely. The Republican party is fully immersed in using the EFA program to help them get elected. The Democrats are fully immersed in using (killing) the EFA program to help get elected. Since none of them will actually admit any of this, all the more reason to get involved.

The post ‘Tis the (Election) Season appeared first on Granite Grok.

So-called independent web portals keep popping up in New Hampshire. They are well funded with professional staff, but try not to look it because they are actually partisan political fronts pretending to be unbiased, disinterested observers. They want you to trust them.

You can’t.

They may even say they care about New Hampshire, Live Free or Die! Granite Post News is one of the more recent inventions. Within seconds of clicking the link that hit my inbox, I could tell what this was. But before we get to that, here’s who they claim to be.

No one cares more about our state than the people who live here. And that’s us. Our experienced team of journalists all call New Hampshire home. We know you because we are you. We’re here to cut through the fog of disinformation and half-truths meant to confuse and distract from what we cherish most about our state and our country. That’s why we’re committed to reporting based on facts, science, and what matters most to Granite Staters.

They admit to believing in a living wage, centered reporting, quality education, and strong democracy. That sounds a lot like a Liberal-funded front group pretending to be something it is not. A band of locals who care about New Hampshire.

Related: Liberal Foundations Offer 500 Million In Grants to “Revitalize Local News” (You Mean Progressive Echo Chambers, Yes?)

Sorry. Not even close. But not everyone will notice or realize, so we are here to help.

Granite Post News is owned and run by Courier Newsroom. Courier is a creature of ACRONYM.

One newer group heralding the new era of pseudo-news outlets is ACRONYM, a liberal dark money group with an affiliated super PAC called PACRONYM. The nonprofit also is an investor in a for-profit digital consulting firm that gained notoriety for its role in launching Shadow Inc., the secretive vendor behind a vote tabulation app at the center of the pandemonium at the Iowa Democratic caucuses. ACRONYM announced it was divesting in Shadow Inc. shortly thereafter.

ACRONYM is behind Courier Newsroom, a network of websites emulating progressive local news outlets. Courier has faced scrutiny for exploiting the collapse of local journalism to spread “hyperlocal partisan propaganda.” It claims to operate “independent from” ACRONYM and says ownership is shared with “other investors.” But a new tax return obtained by OpenSecrets lists ACRONYM as the full owner of Courier as of April. 30, 2019, the most recent date on record. An ACRONYM spokesperson told OpenSecrets that Courier has attracted multiple private investors since that time.

Websites affiliated with Courier Newsroom that appear to be free-standing local news outlets are actually part of a coordinated effort with deep ties to Democractic political operatives. OpenSecrets first revealed the network’s digital ad spending at the Investigative Reporters and Editors NICAR conference in March.

ACRONYM has millions to spend on its networks and mission, and this isn’t our first dip of the toe into Couriers waters. In the run-up to the midterms, the same dark money was doing the same fake media song and dance. We uncovered four outlets in the Granite State of the original 51.

Granite Post News looks to be a bit less cut and paste, but the underlying partisan mission is the same.

Consider yourself informed.

And one more point, since this always comes up if an “outlet” or an advocate decides to play denier or engage in pushback. We have no issue with you being who you are. Just admit it. Let the people know, and they can decide how to value the opinion and reporting you have to offer.

 

The ‘Grok and Grok Media are reader-supported. No deep pockets. Just shoestrings and a strong desire to protect New Hampshire. You can begin or continue to support us and our mission here.  Thank You!

The post Granite Post News is “Part of a Coordinated Effort With Deep Ties to Democratic Political Operatives” appeared first on Granite Grok.

Suppose for a moment that you, the reader, live in the most corrupt and bluest city, and there are a handful of tireless truth seekers who keep getting knocked down by city hall, its agencies, activists, and even the courts.  How fortunate you are if you have such people willing to use their time, money, skills, and peace of mind to keep on trying!

This song is for them.

Also, suppose that you have zero representation in city hall or the NH legislature.  Let’s say for the moment that there is a member of the legislature (yours or someone else’s) who lives in your zip code and ought to be sympathetic to the local issues. Wouldn’t it stand to reason that such a person would go to bat for you and your local truth seekers, even if it’s someone not on YOUR ballot?

Now, recall Mr. Sylvia’s comment that the Senate is a place where good House bills go to die. It is also a place where bad House bills get rubber-stamped.

What about It?

Remember summer reading lists?  If you’ve been spared from them, I’ll say that you’re expected to read the book(s) and be prepared for a discussion in class that fall.  Another comparison is the book club, which is voluntary and, therefore, perhaps more accurate.  Anyway, you will get more out of reading the rest of this article if you first watch Melissa’s podcast called “How To Break Through Establishment-Controlled Legislatures.” Don’t be turned off by the 52-minute length; you can skip the unwanted content (ads, messages from the sponsor, etc.).

“How To Break Through Establishment-Controlled Legislatures”

 

Before she brings Emily and former Rep. Tim Baxter into the discussion, she focuses on a bad senate bill involving custody disputes, DSS, and placement of kids from broken homes.  I have no skin in that game, but the theme Melissa was illustrating resonated with me because of the similar Senate playing field forces involved with a bad House bill that the Damn Emperor signed on June 14.

Melissa mentions gatekeepers in her podcast and how the purse strings are controlled, but she’s classy enough to not name names.  Let’s just say that the lobbyist she is referring to has an unusual and frequently mispronounced name.  He is usually addressed by his initials and he’s been running the lobbying firm solo since the untimely death of his business partner, who also happens to be Queen Sharon’s predecessor.

You Can Help

Donating directly to the candidate, such as Emily Phillips, is a good start. I know broken records are commonly heard and read at campaign time, but I’ll share what I’ve heard from various Bible Bangers here and there over the years. “Faith without works is dead.” One of them, Nurse Terese, often makes comments like, “If you pray to God for a hole in the ground, don’t be surprised if you come into possession of a shovel.”

Terese also regularly says that courage breeds courage.  Melissa and Emily discussed the dynamics of the roll call.  I want to add to that the act of removing bad bills from consent.  Perhaps abolishing the institution of consent is worth discussing.  I have a Senator who regularly says, “Sometimes bills take multiple seasons to get things done, and the first one is to ‘just have a conversation.'”  I’m guessing the alteration of the consent calendar falls under the auspices of the Rules Committee, of which he is the chair.  Consider the seed planted and talk to Emily about consent because I predict a warm reception to the idea.

If we want different (meaning better) results in how the Senate behaves as a body, it’s time to get off the couch, open the wallet, and swap some keystroke time for in-person activism.  Please click here to offer Emily ways in which you are willing to help and remember that you don’t have to live in District 23 to help clean up the senate.

The post Fixing What’s Wrong With the New Hampshire Senate appeared first on Granite Grok.

The past few years have been plagued by all manner of professional fearmongering, not the least of which is the overuse of the term forever chemicals. It got popular with the media and “activists” at the same time the enviro-radicals were looking for a way to reduce water consumption.

Cleaning water is carbon intensive and emits things the Climate cult insists are dooming the world. None of that is true, but that’s their Modus Operandi for everything, including fossil fuels and your lifestyle. Make everything more expensive or harder to get, and meaningless emissions go down with your quality of life. Not sure you agree? You are living it right now.

Related: Would It Sort Of, Kind Of, Suck If That Facemask You Forced People to Wear Gave Them Cancer?

Water Water Everywhere

Water is no different. Armed with spotty science and scary language, the nation has quickly fallen under the pall of yet another assumption. First, that PFAS is a forever chemical – we still don’t know that. And second, if it is, it could accumulate to a point where it might cause cancer – the actual science is still out on that. But let’s say it’s true despite the rates of cancer for PFAS workers being at or below the average of everyone else (that data is older than the plot to use PFOA and PFAS as a tool, so apologies if it is outdated, or god help us accurate).

PFAS does accumulate in the human body. Most of us have some, and it has no meaningful effect and never will (which is why they labeled it a forever chemical). BUT – if, as advertised, and they are right about the risk, and this is bad because there is no mechanism to relieve it (natural or crafted in, say, a dual-use gain of function bio lab in Wuhan), and at some point, you might start popping tumors, then what are these same fearmongers prepared to do about this problem?

 These chemicals, which are used to enhance battery performance and reduce flammability, were found in high concentrations in environmental samples near EV battery manufacturing plants in the United States, Belgium, and France.

Ironically, one of the few retardants available to help firefighters extinguish lithium battery fires is a PFAS-based foam that is being banned everywhere that lithium vehicles are behind heralded (or is that mandated) as the future of all car fires. Fires that cannot be extinguished easily and are typically contained and allowed to burn …for hours, releasing hot gases from rare earth metals as well as (presumably) PFAS fumes into the local environment.

Related: PFOA v. Solar Panels: Proof That NH Democrats Are Not Serious About “Clean” Drinking Water

While supporters argue that electric vehicles are crucial for reducing carbon dioxide emissions, the potential increase in PFAS pollution presents a new environmental hurdle. As Guelfo stated, “Slashing [carbon dioxide] emissions with innovations like electric cars is critical, but it shouldn’t come with the side effect of increasing PFAS pollution.”

The research team conducted a comprehensive “cradle-to-grave” evaluation of bis-FASIs in lithium-ion batteries, testing more than a dozen batteries used in EVs and consumer electronics. They detected these chemicals at parts per billion levels, significantly higher than the limits recently set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for PFAS in drinking water.

Good times.

Oh, one more point before I go. Let us not forget that, per the reporting and research, lithium Battery manufacturers add PFAS to the product to reduce the risk of fires. In other words, fires are a known risk and side effect, and removing PFAS, presumably, would only increase the risk of adding even more toxic chemicals into the atmosphere from burning EVs.

Happy Greening the Planet Cultists.

 

The post Night Cap: Ruh-Roh – Lithium Vehicle Batteries Leak “Forever Chemicals” Into The Environment appeared first on Granite Grok.

State Rep Angela Brennan believes that in order to prevent a dictatorship, we must practice dictatorship. Sort of like the “to save the village, we had to destroy the village,” supposedly said by someone in the U.S. military during the Vietnam War. Let’s put this as simply as possible so even Angie can (hopefully) understand it.

Joe BidenX is NOT and NEVER has been running the Executive Branch. He lacks and has been lacking the mental capacity to do so. Obviously, therefore, someone(s) else is running the Executive Branch. That someone(s) was NOT elected. This is NOT a democracy. Joe BidenX acting as a figurehead while some(s) UNELECTED others run the country is NOT a democracy. A dictatorship is a far more accurate description of what we have been living under since January 2021.

Needless to say, Angie … like all the other low-IQ, wine-mom, Woke-Commy-bots … believes that Trump is a dictator because she disagrees with Trump’s policies. Think about that … her definition of democracy is NOT majority rule (and to the libertarian nincompoops … yes, I understand that the President is elected by electoral votes). Majority rule, i.e. democracy … according to this low-IQ, wine-mom … is a dictatorship when her side does not win.

Want to see a dictator, Angie? LOOK IN THE MIRROR.

The post Dem State Rep. Angela Brennan – To Prevent Dictatorship, We Must Practice Dictatorship appeared first on Granite Grok.

For all the deniers out there who insisted the US government, under Joe Biden, wasn’t running a human conveyor belt operation from Central America into the American heartland, this is for you. Not only are they doing it, but they admit it, have set up offices in foreign countries to make it easier, and they are bragging about it.

Related: The Invasion of America is Being Managed by the UN and the Biden Administration

I’m glad I have an otter box keeping my phone safe because after watching this video, MY PHONE WENT FLYING ACROSS THE ROOM! The best part about this fiasco is, YOU AND I ARE PAYING FOR THIS ! pic.twitter.com/CqdEop4Xas

— Bobby D (@robertdunlap947) July 8, 2024

Take note unhappy inner-city neighborhood and urban dwellers outraged by what is happening. It is not only not an accident; it is deliberate, and they are still doing it (on top of the millions of border invaders they aren’t escorting into the country).

Elections have consequences

The post This Might Make You Mad appeared first on Granite Grok.

As most Americans with half a brain cell know, the United States’ modern-day banking and financial system is not what the founders envisioned—far from it. There are many truthful arguments to make. In a way, usury is the nucleus of its operation.

Usury is the loaning of money, usually at high interest rates. In fact, General George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams, in my opinion, warned the most, at that time, against the dangers of central banks controlling the money system; an oligarchy of bankers was the most dangerous form of tyranny, perhaps worse than a monarchy.

Many of our founders were avid scholars in Hebrew, Latin, Greek, Maxims of Law, Natural Law, etc. believed in and understood the Bible very well using the language and meaning of words at the time of their writings. They feared the power of God and understood the importance of applying its principles not just in theory but living it out daily as well as discerning what type of government to establish.

Opposition to usury has Biblical roots. It is my belief many of the founders warned of the dangers of banking oligarchies because of their knowledge of the Bible and understanding how usury applied to various models of past government (which many also spent summers studying), which is always tied to how money is used for government purposes and its intended impact on the people.

Some examples from the King James Version on the evils of usury:

Exodus 22:25 If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.

Leviticus 25:36 – Take thou no usury of him, or increase: but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with thee.

Ezekiel 22:12 – In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbors by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD.

A handful of other verses, especially in the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy, touch on usury.

Another verse that sticks out is Proverbs 22:7:  The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. Though I suspect this verse can be interpreted in different ways, I believe understanding the whole of chapter 22 is relevant to grasping the deeper context of the verse. I find that it acknowledges economic inequality exists (whether it is good or not is hard to tell) but this can potentially mean both, depending on how governments and rulers attain wealth and allow debt to be incurred. Economic inequality is not bad if it is a result of equality of opportunity and/or just rules. Though people are responsible for their own decisions, a government can exploit the ignorance of the common people in how to avoid making bad decisions and to make corrections to past behavior to become financially stable or free. A modern-day example is how big pharma and the WHO kept scientific information from being communicated about the experiments of the COVID-19 vaccines and alternative therapies such as HCQ and Ivermectin.

The founders realized the nature of man was fallen and thus needed a government. Hence, Madison’s quote in Federalist Paper 51, “If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary.” If this very same government were to compose of the same fallen man, there must be limits and restraints on that very same government. This is where the Laws of Nature come in. The Laws of Nature are never to be violated. If governments are not protecting them, they must be restrained or put in check by the same people who gave consent to the establishment of such a government.

Madison’s statement about men not being angels in Federalist Paper 51 has a parallel to the general truths of Proverbs 22 because it discusses in many ways the balance between rule and servant. In an analogous way, Federalist Paper 51 balances government versus the consent of the people. If men were such angels, and there was no sinful nature of men, there would be no evils to warn against, nor would the Bible warn against usury, nor would there need to be the need for a government and internal/external controls on that same government. This is not to say being rich is evil nor is it to say servitude is wrong. Some people work harder than others, are more ambitious, make wiser decisions than others, have more skills, etc. This is why the founders studied natural rights. From the founder’s eyes, the adherence to natural rights is a balance that must be preserved between a struggle for a just government and a right to alter and change the government via Constitutional measures. Whether poor or rich, we are all common under the fact we have inalienable rights, inherent with intelligent design.

Usury’s modern-day evil use is evident with the  Department of Education’s system of loaning high-interest rate loans, deceptive and bureaucratic strings attached grant money to state budgets, predatory credit card practices, subprime mortgage lending to high-risk borrowers through faulty credit ratings, national debt created by creation of money supply from recurring cycles of illegally regurgitated debt, an IRS collection agency with no constitutional authority, now the emergence of many of these powers with the World Economic Forum and its subsidiary affiliates. Though people are responsible for paying back what they borrow, it is also the government’s job to not economically, psychologically, and morally take advantage of the same people they are supposed to serve through deceptive, uninformed consent and willful ignorance of the masses.

Just as Proverbs 22:7 mentions the rich ruling over the servants, the verses before and after hint at meaningful insights into wealth and poverty. In the same capacity, the founders believed in a just government that would protect virtue and punish evil. The struggle between good and evil has always existed. Right now, in my opinion, besides elections, understanding the nature of usury, the history of our banking system, and knowing what our natural rights are and tying them together are the most important things Americans can learn right now, besides their faith and the Bible.

The post Usury Clashes with the Laws of Nature and Christianity appeared first on Granite Grok.

Hurricane Beryl came on strong, degraded to a tropical storm, and then managed to get back to CAT 1 before it hugged the Texas Coast. Landfall Hurricane! The Climate Cult can’t help itself. Global Warming, Global Warming. Really? Global? Let’s take a look at that.

Tropical Storm Beryls path as of 7-8-24

As a reminder, everyone, including us, expects a nasty Atlantic hurricane season this year. Accumulated cyclonic energy, hurricane landfalls, it’s all been on the down low in the Atlantic for too long and we are due. No matter. Everything proves the unimpeachable hypothesis. Beryl was their popular blonde from day one. Formed Early and reached Cat 4 (Wait, 5!). It’s that super-heated Atlantic basin! Quick aside about that, if interested, but trigger warning: the correlation has nothing to do with CO2 or why India can burn coal while we can’t).  Global Something!

Global. Global, you say: reformatted, emphasis mine.

The Pacific Basin is much larger than the Atlantic and has almost 4 times the Accumulated Cyclonic Energy Index of the Atlantic. ( 432). The Atlantic Basin averages 122. So, if you want to use tropical cyclones as a barometer of how bad it is getting, how come the last 4 years have found the Pacific so far below normal ( last year did reach an average ACE in the west Pac, but a near record low number of storms).

After all, the water is so warm, So why is the western Pacific  25% of the average, the eastern Pacific 0%, and perhaps on the way to breaking the record for the latest development? ( The West Pac was a top 5 late development this year).

And why aren’t we hearing about this?

Globally, we are at 75% of average, and even tho I expect the hyper-Atlantic season, I don’t think it will be enough to take the global Ace above average. There has been no increase in this, and the lowering overall is to be expected. Tropical cyclones are nature’s way of taking heat off to the tropics and redistributing it to the temperate regions.

I have been arguing for 2 decades that a warming world is not the harbinger of an orgy of attacks, as only one basin is liable to be active. What is the need for hyperactivity if the heat is already distributed? The warmer north waters change the global wind oscillation, sea level pressure, and vertical velocity patterns, arguing for less, not more, activity. T

he Atlantic, a much smaller basin, can take up some of the slack. The configuration of the cold La Nina, the very warm Main Development region, and the colder water off the US southeast coast will cause the focus to create the storms (and, of course, the hysteria) in our part of the world. Meanwhile, the largest source of tropical activity is likely to be well below normal and offset it. But what will you hear about? Why is no one bringing up that the warming is working AGAINST storms in the largest basin?

Global?

It looks local to me. Speaking of Local, here’s a random late June 2024 temp map for no particular reason.

 

Nice, but wait. There’s more. Northern and Central California have had costal water temperature warnings. It is dangerously cold. It’s so cold you could get hypothermia and die (even in July).

A recent temperature reading off the coast of Crescent City revealed that water temperatures were 47.3 degrees Fahrenheit, more than 3 degrees below normal for this time of year and 4 degrees below winter water temperatures in January.

Meteorologists and weather experts are blaming the temperature plunge on an “intense marine cold spell.”

Another odd admission that isn’t getting the attention it deserves. The fragile Gulf of Maine—not too fragile for massive mechanized implants or the process required to install and maintain them—has been so warm lately. We’ve written about it. But scientists are baffled by how unusually cold the water is deeper down in the Gulf. Imagine that. The deeper you go, the colder it gets, but for some reason, this is still colder. Global Warming! They’re looking into it but not very loudly since it’s not on rotation at CNN like Hurricane Beryl!

The post How to Neuter Them Gently (or not) On Early Hyper-Hurricane Season Narratives appeared first on Granite Grok.

Front exterior doors the correct measuring plays a great role in ordering the right door size for your opening.

Keep in mind the standard sizes, which are:

28 x 80 exterior door

30 x 80 exterior door

32 x 80 exterior door

34 x 80 exterior door

36 x 80 exterior door

All other sizes are considered to be custom.

External Door Measuring Guide

Measuring for an exterior door is a big step to ensure a proper fit and installation. Here is a comprehensive guide to help you measure accurately. To determine your door size, you need to measure:

1. Width. From the inside edge of one side to the inside edge of the other, measure the width of the door frame. Measure at the top, center and bottom of the frame. Use the smallest measurement.
2. Height. At the left, right and center of the aperture, measure the height of the door frame from top to bottom. Use the smallest measurement.
3. Jamb. Consider the door jamb thickness. This will affect how wide your door overall will be.
4. Rough opening.

Do You Measure a Door From the Inside or Outside

Usually, you take an exact measurement of a door from the inside.

Keep in mind that thresholds and sills may alter the total height measurement when taking measurements for an exterior door replacement. Accurate measurement is essential to guarantee a good fit and prevent problems during installation.

Do You Measure the Door or the Frame

When measuring for a new door, it’s essential to measure both the door and the frame to ensure a proper fit.

Door frame measuring tips:

• Width: measure the inside width of the door frame from one side to the other.
• Height: measure the inside height of the door frame from the top to the threshold.
• Depth: measure the depth of the frame from the front to the back.

Can you Replace an Exterior Door Without Replacing the Frame?

It is possible to replace an exterior door without having to change the frame or to replace just a slab. But you must make sure the new door fits the current frame correctly. It can be less expensive and easier to replace the door alone without the frame than to replace the entire unit, but precise measurements and fitting are necessary to guarantee a good fit.

It is highly suggested to replace a whole door unit.

How do I Know What Size Exterior Door to Buy

Vinyl Light experts suggest dealing with door professionals. This will keep you away from the risk of getting a door of the wrong size.

Use the following tips to figure out the size of the exterior door:

• Measure the door frame. At the location where the new door will be installed, measure the width and height of the current door frame. For precision, measure from the inside borders of the door frame.
• Consider standard sizes. Please, refer to the top of this paragraph.
• Verify clearance. Make sure there is sufficient space around the door frame so that the new door can swing open freely.
• Take door type into consideration.
• Sill and threshold height. To make sure the sill and threshold will line up correctly, measure the distance from the floor to the bottom of the door frame.
• Speak with a door professional. Speak with a door installation professional if you’re unsure how to measure or determine the appropriate size. They can offer advice based on your unique requirements and the design of your house.

Where to Order External Doors in Toronto and the GTA

One of the most outstanding and responsible aspects of home renovation is replacing exterior doors.

For your new front door in Toronto and the GTA get in touch with Vinyl Light.

Our installers will take measures and install your custom-made door professionally.

Visit our website to build the door you want and give us a call for a free estimate.

This article was prepared by Zwebra – a leading SEO and Adwords agency for window and door installers.

The post How To Measure For New External Doors appeared first on Granite Grok.

What is Woke? What is Equity? I can tell you for certain that neither of those terms includes the traditional American ideals of meritocracy, equality before the Law, and equal opportunity—YOU get to decide how far in Life you can go and what you can achieve. Woke and Equity are Marxist foundational concepts that are antithetical to our norms.

And while Equity has a lot of nuance beyond what one might think in coming across “equity” for the first time, it’s a head fake. Quick – equality and equity – the same?  Nope, not at all. But that’s EXACTLY the Left’s intent. That you won’t even bother to think, “What, there’s a difference? Aren’t they the same”? If you DON’T think, they win. And, if it has to be said, they’ve wrapped a bunch of other words around it to support THEIR definitions so as to get you to ingrain THEIR concepts with THEIR verbiage so as to dislodge YOUR beliefs without you knowing it.

Is this the end-all be-all discussion of this issue? Absolutely not – while I know some, James Lindsay is the expert. We’ve covered Lindsay before. What I’m trying to do here is go from his short form to his long-form on the topic.

Let’s get started with the short coverage by Dave Rubin at Blaze Media (Reformatted, emphasis mine):

Ever wondered where the word ‘equity’ comes from? Well, here’s your answer. The left loves nothing more than to throw the word “equity” around, especially when addressing the ever-growing list of alleged inequalities in our society. But where does the word equity actually come from? American author James Lindsay — who Dave Rubin calls one of the best explainers of “the connection between [woke ideology] and Marxism” — told the European Parliament about the history of the word:

So, here’s the definition of equity, and see if it sounds like a definition of anything else you’ve ever heard of.  The definition of equity comes from the Public Administration Literature. It was written by a man named George Frederickson, and the definition is:

an administered political economy in which shares are adjusted so that citizens are made equal.

Does that sound like anything you’ve heard of before? Like socialism? They are going to administer an economy to make shares equal. The only difference between equity and socialism is the type of property that they redistribute;  the type of shares. They’re going to redistribute social and cultural capital in addition to economic and material capital.

And so this is my thesis when we say, ‘What is woke?’: Woke is Maoism with American characteristics.

Ok, so the idea is that Marxism was really an economic way of redistributing everything that “everyone would be equal. But “everyone’s not equal. There’s always the layer [of people] that has all of the stuff, and everyone else gets sort of nothing, and that creates ‘equity’ amongst the people.

The reason why I wanted you to see that clip is because now what we have seen out of the Democrats is not only that want to redistribute money” — we’ll take from them and give to them and giant government programs that create the cycles of poverty and all that. But they want redistribution when it comes to health. They want redistribution to virtually every part of your life, that they want equity at the end. So we want health equity, we want education equity, all of these things but you’re going to have to kill a lot of people to accomplish all of that.

 

We’ve already seen that in the Biden Administration by installing race quotas or priorities in different areas. Remember when Gov Sununu started the prioritization of COVID vaccine shots for Blacks over others?  In fealty to Critical Race Theory, resources will not be earned but “managed,” and that management, in no small measure, will be in terms of your membership in a given DEI group as determined by “them.” We see schools that are dumbing down their curriculum as they know that certain “marginalized groups” (as a cover) aren’t achieving at the same student achievement levels as Whites and Asians, so they are getting rid of Advanced Placement Classes and erasing the idea of (and I’m dating myself here) Basic, Standard, Honors, and Advanced classes that stress academic rigor and the pace of coverage of materials (e.g., math, history, physics, English, et al).

Here as well (this sophomore Engineering student should be an an SJW concentration instead). Equity once again rears its ugly visage:

A second-year engineering student at Princeton University recently argued that since everyone’s high school experience is not the same, the Ivy must implement “equity-oriented solutions” to correct the situation. Yushra Guffer’s Daily Princetonian op-ed opens by stating an obvious truth: “[W]hile the University’s high standards of excellence and fast-paced environment may be valid goals to strive for, not all students are able to keep up with the pace.”

If you can’t keep up but demand that others “give you” an equal outcome, that should instantly be a message that you aren’t cut out to be an engineer. But this mid-wit can’t cast off her SJW outlook.

But her solution isn’t that students should buckle down and work harder if they want to continue with an Ivy League science-centered education. No, Princeton must accommodate those who can’t hack it.

The author has it exactly right – the newest generation has been so pampered and coddled that they EXPECT everyone to cater to their needs, thoughts, and whims.

“Princeton needs to re-evaluate the difficulty of the STEM introductory courses and implement equity-oriented solutions that directly address the different levels of student preparation,” Guffer writes. “After all, the level of academic rigor at Princeton can only be truly effective if all students are first able to work on a level playing field.”

And there you go – everyone MUST be evaluated and assumed to be at the same level – no matter how low that must be. So, you want this Engineering class to be designing your next plane?

Equity – everyone must be equal. That includes, for our kids anyway, making them all stupid at the same level. They are erasing meritocracy; they are erasing ability; they are erasing motivation, persistence, and everything else that makes us what our Declaration of Independence says is true:

…that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…

All of that adds up to Individuals having a Government—these American Maoists are attempting, like the Regressives before them, to reinstitute Rulers from the top so that we would be mere subjects and serfs. This is their process of recreating Feudalism (as in “a rose by any other name is still a rose”).

Here is another Lindsay intro to this topic:



And a long form intensive dive into it:

 



And remember, the MAIN idea of Communism is this: from “The Squatters’ Rights Concept Is a Marxist Attack on Property Rights.”

“The theory of the Communists may be summed up in the single sentence: Abolition of private property.” – Manifesto of the Communist Party

And the modern version of this, thanks to “the Davos People”?

You will own nothing but be happy.  Steve summarizes that up wonderfully:

The post Woke is Maoism with American Characteristics” appeared first on Granite Grok.

One of the many questions following Joe Biden’s “poor” performance in the presidential debate has been with whom the Democrats shall replace him. Or how about, who is fighting to keep Biden in the race, what donors are doing, what the base thinks (will this fracture the party or get independents off the fence), and, most importantly, who is playing as Chief Executive?

It is not Joe.

They are probably going through the motions, but someone in the West Wing is making decisions and convincing our sockpuppet president that whatever IT is, is the right thing to do. Rule by committee. A positional oligarchy undermining Democracy (admit it, Dems, that’s what this is). The guy you claim to have elected isn’t the guy running the joint, which, arguably, you could use as an excuse to claim he isn’t responsible for the shit we’re in. But someone is. Democrat someone’s or their appointees.

There’s really no escape from the Sock Puppet Presidency. Either Joe did it, or the people who picked to “advise” him did.

And who among us is surprised? Joe’s entire career has been as a placeholder. He’s a gaffe machine and always has been. Joe is a serial liar and plagiarist who hung out with career racists. He’s not an inspiring speaker or commanding presence and never was, and he didn’t get more votes than Obama. But the elites led by the Dem party picked him as the most likely not-Trump guy (talk about a sign of intellectual and political weakness), installed him, and told us it was for unity, the good of the people, the nation, and the safety and security of the world.

None of that was true, and none of it happened. We got the opposite, and we got it hard and fast.

Joe Biden, like COVID, was a bunch of Bureaucrats hiding the truth for as long as possible without any regard for the damage done, only admitting to anything suspicious when the truth had become so impossible to ignore that prevarication in service to limiting one’s complicity is only overshadowed by the deafening silence of many who were all in on mandates, passports, and censorship and would rather if we just forgot their part and just moved along.

Post-COVID watercooler etiquette has transitioned to a point where you’d be safer talking about abortion.

And the Left was fine with treating Biden’s decline like that until the first Presidential Debate of the 2024 season when the rhetorical red-headed stepchild didn’t just come out of the basement; he danced a gig on the national dinner table. The secrets are out. There’s no putting this demented genie back in the bottle, and the Democrat response proves it.

The only thing holding them back from change even they can believe in is Tribe Biden and whichever other treasonous actors have been undermining democracy for the past three-plus years with their hand up our sock puppet president. A multi-layered problem for the so-called defenders of democracy. To fix it, they have to uninstall the guy they put there. This requires them to ignore the base that voted for him in the 2024 Democratic primaries (including the complicit dopes in New Hampshire who wrote his name on a ballot on which he did not even appear).

Bernie Sanders has to be laughing his ass off, having been denied Democracy twice by the same lot. Elites will once again be asked to name a successor by any means necessary and drag them across a finish line that will keep moving until January 20th, 2025.

And the only ones who can conceivably stop them are Americans who may have voted for Joe Biden (or at least against Trump) and who choose not to be fooled again in numbers so significant that trying to game the results would be too blatant even for the American ruling class to dare.

And still, I suspect they will. They can’t do it with Joe Biden, and that has them out of whatever passes for their minds.

The post The Sock Puppet Presidency appeared first on Granite Grok.

Leaf-eating, beta-male Rep Heath Howard (Democrat – Strafford/Barrington) believes that the founding principle of America was “we did not want a king.” This beta male has either never read the Declaration of Independence or is rewriting it.

The Declaration says that we people have a natural right to overthrow ANY FORM OF GOVERNMENT that no longer serves the purpose of government, which is to preserve our natural rights.

What the Declaration actually says:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government,

The post Has Democrat-Beta-Rep Heath Howard Even Read The Declaration of Independence? appeared first on Granite Grok.

Libraries in Utah are responding to a new law that would fine staff for allowing kids to access inappropriate material by banning children. “Legislation passed by conservative lawmakers allows parents to sue libraries for books they deem obscene or otherwise inappropriate.” Rather than remove any inappropriate content, they are banning children instead.

Here’s the Library line.

Public and school libraries had 60 days to remove the book or move it to an adults-only area closely monitored by staff, or face lawsuits from parents.

However, many libraries were too small to create a special section, or lacked the resources or appetite for risk, and instead banned kids entirely.

A sign in the Idaho Falls Public Library, with a huge stop symbol, informed patrons they would need to show photo ID if they were under 30.

Children could only enter if they had an unrestricted library card signifying their parents were happy with them browsing alone, or be accompanied by a parent who ‘must sign an affidavit every time you come to the library’.

The sign sparked outrage online, and many critics contrasted it with abortions being banned under almost all circumstances, including rape and incest.

I have not read the law, which may be too subjective, but I sense this is a familiar problem we’ve covered. Every library has a fixed footprint not unlimited shelf space. They cannot have every book. Smaller libraries, even more so. But in each instance, someone decides what books will be available in print. They choose them, buy them, and shelve them, so these gatekeepers, if we play by Progressive rules, are banning books. Whether the library staff, its board, or trustees, someone assigns a value judgment for the community and includes or excludes titles.

In smaller libraries, this is amplified.

Library officials acknowledged the policy would affect homeschooled children in a ‘dramatic’ way but said it was necessary to protect staff, the library, and taxpayers’ funds.

According to Rep. Megan Egbert, keeping libraries like Donnelly open would be impossible if adult-only sections could not be fully monitored.

How did they do it before the sexually explicit material directed at children became a necessary part of any collections?

Maybe these towns need to replace staff with those who prioritize the library’s value to children over an ideological obsession with grooming that is dangerous to them. Or perhaps it is time to ban the library culture that allows this abuse to continue and invest those resources in internet access. It’s not as if we even need partisan child-banning librarians – and think how much better losing that carbon footprint would be for the environment.

Whatever you do, don’t let the Feds fund your broadband infrastructure expansions. They spend billions, but no one who needs it ever seems to get connected.

The post Libraries Ban Children so They Can Keep the Naughty Books appeared first on Granite Grok.

The left made it clear that anyone could claim to be anything they wanted! You made these rules—we’re just following them.

Remember what Saul said:

RULE 4: “Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules.” If the rule is that every letter gets a reply, send 30,000 letters. You can kill them with this because no one can possibly obey all of their own rules. (This is a serious rule. The besieged entity’s very credibility and reputation is at stake, because if activists catch it lying or not living up to its commitments, they can continue to chip away at the damage.).

Again, the Left has said we can be whatever we want to be (except their code phrase is “what I identify as,” which is REALLY meant to shut down any conversations they don’t want to happen).  This kid gives these self-important “fatphilic-body positives” a Master Class in language and Social Justice (and turns it against them):

This video is entertaining, and it tends to confirm what we have long suspected about the sincerity of those who purport to believe in “identifying.” I think a lot of people on the left are happy to dismiss reality until they are dealing with something that matters to them. Enjoy:

Give this guy a medal! pic.twitter.com/6FArsDSLZY

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) March 31, 2024

“Fat-bodied People”…hilarious!

Yep, he learned their Rule and proclaimed it for himself. Or is that to play along as “he/they”? “They”?

Well played.

 

The post What Did You Expect, Lefties, as YOU Made It Clear That ANYONE Can Claim to Be Anything They Want! appeared first on Granite Grok.

It is open season on BidenX after a radio host who “interviewed” him two days ago leaked to CNN that the entire interview was a sham.

As some of us have said repeatedly, this has been going on since 2020. Yeah, it has gotten worse, but the real “news” is that you do NOT get news from the corporate media. You get Party (as in Democrat Party) propaganda. But … go, Free Press!

The post Night Cap: Biden’s Post-Debate “Interview” Was Scripted appeared first on Granite Grok.

Lloyd Alter at Carbon Upfront (heh! The “new” Treehugger”) is NOT a fan of the “Gigacasting” method that is overtaking the auto industry led by Tesla. That manufacturing technique involves high-pressure form/mold pressing of larger and larger parts for Teslas instead of press stamping lots of little pieces and then having to weld, rivet, or screw them all together.

Not only does it eliminate a lot of inventory of those parts, but it also lessens the number of steps in the manufacturing process and the hourly costs of many line workers who would be needed to do it.

The result is a much lower cost of manufacturing. Lloyd’s lament, however, is that it makes it harder and much costlier for someone to fix stuff that goes wrong.

I have to admit that when the entire gigacasted underside of a car is bent, even if only slightly after a fender-bender, the cost to repair is not just a few small pieces but most of a car’s cost. A dd in the cost of the battery bank (since we’re talking EVs) and it may well be totaled.

Like the Japanese cars coming over to the US starting in the 1950s and 1960s, EVs just happen to be getting that same bad rap – quality is cruddy, especially when compared to their gas-driven brethren.  EVs are giving new owners more headaches, and Tesla is a big reason why: J.D. Power study:

J.D. Power’s study tracks responses from nearly 100,000 purchasers and lessees of 2024 vehicles within the first 90 days of ownership, and for the first time in the study’s 38-year history, it incorporates repair visit data. Overall, internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles averaged 180 PP100 (or 180 problems per 100 vehicles), while battery electric vehicles (BEVs) averaged a whopping 266 PP100, 86 points higher than ICE vehicles.

Automakers have typically said that EVs are generally less problematic and require fewer repairs than ICE vehicles because they have a smaller number of parts and systems. However, J.D. Power’s study with newly incorporated repair data shows EVs, as well as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), require more repairs than gas-powered vehicles in all repair categories.

“Owners of cutting edge, tech-filled BEVs and PHEVs are experiencing problems that are of a severity level high enough for them to take their new vehicle into the dealership at a rate three times higher than that of gas-powered vehicle owners,” wrote Frank Hanley, senior director of auto benchmarking at J.D. Power, in the study.

As Steve Green at Instapundit noted, “I’m so old, I remember when TCO was supposed to be EV’s big advantage.” And it is true!  TCO, or Total Cost of Ownership, looks well beyond just the sticker price of getting the vehicle off the lot. That’s just the start of it. Two things were always hammered at us as to why we should go electric and ditch ‘Ole Faithful sitting in the garage because of fossil fuel usage:

1. While gas engines have tons of parts and are rather complicated due to Government regulations, an electric motor is much simpler.
2. Gas is much more expensive than electricity.

Yeah, well, see the quoted part about repairs; most of the needed repairs have nothing to do with the motors – it’s all of the other stuff in a car. Sure, I might give Tesla a pass on that due to “not much time in grade” with larger-scale design and manufacturing, but what about all of the other mainstay auto manufacturers getting into the EV space? Sure, they are dealing with the same issues with batteries, power distribution, and electric motors like Tesla but they’ve had a century of experience with getting all of the “other stuff” that makes up a car, right?  So what’s their excuse for all this?

Part of that TCO is finding out that instead of getting 30-40 thousand miles on a set of tires, it’s more like 10-15 thousand—and much more expensive to boot due to larger sizes having to support all that weight of the battery bank. And the specter of replacing that bank far sooner than most have to replace an ICE engine.

This results in almost half of all EV owners starting to regret their choice to move away from internal combustion engine-based cars—they wish to rekindle that flame by ditching the EV.

We are starting to look at going back to being a two-car family again as TMEW won’t drive the F-150 crew cab (“too big!”) – it’s more like a RAV4 (and after seeing one yesterday, she’s willing to look at the new and much smaller Ford Maverick pickup). I asked her about getting an electric car. While she doesn’t read as much about them as I do, she has rejected that idea outright even as her driving will be REAL local. But what she’s read of the problems (lately, getting locked in a Tesla and unable to get out due to a malfunction), she decided she’ll stick with the known issues.

 

 

The post EVs, ICEVs, Repairability, and Outrage – Part 2 appeared first on Granite Grok.