From the look what I found pile. It’s one of those glossy campaign flyers everyone throws away without looking at them. Not everyone. I like to see what the monied interests are advocating or opposing, and this one, which hit my mailbox a year ago today, was from Americans for Prosperity Action.

If you were wondering, I did not have this lying around with a dog-eared, faded, canary-yellow Post-it with a July 6th, 2023 scribble. My handwriting is terrible, so I’d never have been able to read it. No, I took a picture of it with my phone, and Goole or Amazon or one of those photo forever apps coughed it up on my mobiledevice this morning like a little prize. You probably get those precious digital gifts, too. Most of mine are montages of images with my wife or dog in them—sometimes both. Priorities, I say. Then there was this, which reminded me to look back to the first time I got it and what I wrote. Grok is my other forever app, but it’s words (and some photos, PDFs, videos, you get the drift).

We got ourselves a presidential election, and Americans for Prosperity Action is getting involved. They sent out a mailer with the happy lead that “America’s Best Days Could Be Ahead.”  I agree. Then I flipped it over.

I’m curious how they know that and why, if they are so certain, they aren’t spending money to help fix the problem. It’s the sensible way to go. Trump is blowing away everyone almost everywhere except Minnesota, where he only has a one-point lead on DeSantis.

But otherwise, Republican voters want Trump.

I get it. The whole Trump is undesirable to the independent’s thing—and the alleged threat of a down-ticket washout. I actually have a cure. We treat the Trump candidacy the same way the same folks tell us to take the next political class RINO they put in front of us, regardless of office. Hold your nose and vote for them.

And what makes them think the Democrats won’t do the same thing to whomever Republicans pick or that it matters? If we get the 2022 treatment, the left is going to wash out the down-ticket races the same way they wash out the top of the ticket.

The cure for that is an unstoppable freight train and people willing to vote for anyone but a Democrat, no matter who that is, because we’ve articulated the separation correctly.

Twelve months or 366 Days later (remember, this is a leap year), I wonder if AFP feels the same way or whether they think their investment in glossy mailers – there were a lot of them – was worth the pocket change. Trump is still Trump, but Biden is greatly diminished everywhere, especially within his party. And there’s no guarantee that whoever ends up standing in Biden’s place come November – I don’t think there’s enough gas in anyone’s tank to keep him upright and lucid for that long – will fair better or worse. But that doesn’t even seem part of the left’s calculus.

They will do anything to keep Trump out of office—anything, including voting for a sock puppet, which ironically describes the current Joe Biden. But that’s the hardcore 30%—of the party, a far cry from the alleged 81 million votes “counted” toward Joe in 2020. And they do want someone else because they sense that the Biden everyone saw is a far cry from gathering the votes needed to get even close enough to “make it look closer,” if you take my meaning.

Democrats have gone to great lengths to be themselves while pretending Biden was all there. The results have been worse than even they could imagine. Their electoral constituencies are increasingly unhappy, from crime to alien invasions, job loss, lost savings and buying power, inflation, and everything. While the hardcore Left would do anything to stop Trump, rising numbers of Americans are thinking they will do anything to change their circumstances. Donald Trump is not just different from what we’ve got today. His economy lifted people across the demographic scoreboard. His presidency lifted America up (even when Democrats kept burning it down). If Biden thinks anyone outside the core 30% will root for the mental-health home team, he might be in for a surprise.

They’ve got four months to fix a leaky ship their rats are abandoning, so no, AFP, I didn’t think it was true then or now. Joe Biden will not defeat Donald Trump. Joe Biden and his inner circle have defeated Joe Biden, and if we are lucky, his party in meaingful numbers with him.

The post AFP – July 6th 2023 – Joe Biden Will Defeat Donald Trump if He is the GOP Nominee appeared first on Granite Grok.

“In 2023, American Baby Boomers owned 52% of the country’s net wealth despite comprising only 20% of the population. Based on Federal Reserve data, this graphic, via Visual Capitalist’s Bruno Venditti, illustrates the distribution of wealth in the United States from 1990 to 2023 by generation.”

You watch what happens when the Commies and Socialists and Democrats (but I repeat myself) start squawking and screaming about “INEQUALITY!!!!” and make even more efforts to institute Wealth Taxes. In response to that wealth confiscation, I’d be quite happy to trade some of my wealth if they’ll take some of my already lived years away from me as well. Let’s see if the Millenials figure that out and say yes.

(H/T: Zero Hedge)

The post US Wealth by Generation appeared first on Granite Grok.

To Republican candidates up and down the ballot, to Republican voters … the “Democrats” have not yet begun to cheat, and they have NO intention of holding a free-and-fair election in 2024, NO MATTER WHO THE NOMINAL CANDIDATE IS.

A must-read article in the Federalist. Stop the celebrating and read it.

Some highlights:

… by breaking and bending election laws for years, Democrats have changed the landscape of American elections — and built in a safety net that helps them drag subpar candidates across the finish line. …

… One of the ways Democrats do this is by targeting supposedly nonpartisan “get-out-the-vote” campaigns at likely Democrat constituencies, and deploying ballot-harvesting operations to take advantage of low-propensity voters. …

… Biden is using taxpayer dollars to turn out voters, especially targeting demographics that are more likely to vote blue. …

… Democrat election officials have also been known to arbitrarily — and extralegally — change election rules. …

And don’t for even a second believe that the NHGOP is doing anything to prevent the “Democrats” from rigging the election. The NHGOP is, at best, inept and incompetent and, at worst, indifferent to Democrat election-rigging. Indeed many of these “leaders” are still peddling the number-one-bullsh*t that Biden got 81 million legitimate votes in 2020.

The “leaders” of the NHGOP have as their priority remaining the “leaders” of the NHGOP … even (and in many cases, especially) if that means the Democrat candidate(s) win.

 

The post The Debate Changes NOTHING – The Election Remains Rigged appeared first on Granite Grok.

Much can be discussed on the heels of the Damn Emperor’s veto of HB 1093, which was a reincarnation of 2022’s vetoed HB 1131, but I’ll only get into a few things and leave the rest for interested others.

On 9/29/21, future Rep. Kelley Potenza, a co-sponsor of HB 1093, was interviewed by Adam Sexton, and she called His Excellency “a fake Republican,” which he is, and that was after she said that our voices are not being heard.  Here it is, almost three years later, and our voices are still not being heard by the Damn Emperor, who was elected to serve ALL Granite Staters.  Keep in mind that four years ago, at this time, the whole state was closed for business in one way or another because of him.  Now, just like in 2022, he’s singing that “local control” sad refrain.

When a recent court decision struck down the ban on CRT, Rep. Keith Ammon said CRT is now on the November ballot

Inspired by his tweet, I have something similar to say about the primary for the Corner Office, at least on our side of the aisle.  “School mask policy is on the September 10 ballot; what say you, Kelly, and Chuck?” HB 1093 passed the House on March 28, which was shortly before the Pine Tree Riot anniversary celebration, an event where both candidates made an appearance.  I approached Kelly there to ask if she would sign it.  Being the lawyer that she is, she said she would have to read it first.

I retooled my questioning to get at least some on record comment from her, but she was clearly not having any of it.  Now it’s time to double down and try again.  And to be fair, it’s important to get Chuck on record also.  I am calling on everyone who sees either one of them in the near future to take advantage of an opportunity to get them on record by asking if they would commit to signing a future bill of such nature.  Of course, that would be their opportunity to go on record with any criteria, requirements, and details in the language of the bill they desire.  So please, dear readers, do your part and corner them when opportunities present themselves.

I will close with one other thought, which is from the time I ran into Chris Buda at Market Basket on February 24, and he was reluctant to confidently predict a “Veto 2.0” because it might not personally serve his self-serving future plans.

His Excellency’s Long Term Plans … Don’t Be Thinking CNN or MSNBC.

I have not had contact with Chris since learning the unfortunate news of HB 1093, but it will be interesting to get his “Monday morning quarterbacking” thoughts on it, so stay tuned and meanwhile, put YOUR thoughts in the comments.

The post His Excellency’s Long Term Plans, What Are They? appeared first on Granite Grok.

One would have thought that at his age he would have understood “No” means No!, and moved on. But criminals aren’t known for either their good manners or their IQs. “CBS Austin reported that the alleged intruder came to the front door seeking entry to the home, and the homeowner told him to leave.”

The alleged intruder then reportedly sought entrance again, and was again told to leave. Thereafter, the homeowner “heard noises in the backyard and upon investigation, encountered the same man.”

TWO no’s. Youdathunk, he’d have listened by that point. Well…

The homeowner then grabbed his shotgun and was standing with his wife when the intruder allegedly lunged at him. The homeowner fired one round, fatally wounding the alleged intruder. Police indicated the homeowner “[feared] for his wife’s safety,” KENS 5 noted.

The alleged intruder was described as 47-year-old male.

Yeah, that certainly was a big Nope! All he had to do was walk away. Instead, he got a body-bagged gurney ride to the morgue. Dimwit. And there are a whole bunch of people here in the US that also really can’t accept a NO! from folks that “ain’t them.”

For those kinds of people, we have the T-shirt pictured above.

The post Another, Second Amendment Happy Ending – The Dope Got “Nope’d” appeared first on Granite Grok.

Artificial Intelligence is all the rage, but its pursuit—and that of profits—has created a problem. You don’t birth digital consciousness out of nothing. Even the most basic AI requires a lot of electricity, and the more powerful the system is, the more users call upon it and the more significant the “emissions” needed to keep it operating.

Researchers have been raising general alarms about AI’s hefty energy requirements over the past few months. But a peer-reviewed analysis published this week in Joule is one of the first to quantify the demand that is quickly materializing. A continuation of the current trends in AI capacity and adoption are set to lead to NVIDIA shipping 1.5 million AI server units per year by 2027. These 1.5 million servers, running at full capacity, would consume at least 85.4 terawatt-hours of electricity annually—more than what many small countries use in a year, according to the new assessment.

According to data scientist Alex de Vries, cooling is not included in his analysis, so we should expect these numbers to get much higher in real-world terms with one caveat. Big Tech, including Google, Meta, and Microsoft, aren’t telling anyone exactly how much more electricity they are using or the estimates for what they will need to keep their AI projects growing. It is all guesswork. For its part, Google is pretending to be concerned and suggesting this is in its line of sight.

 

Google Chief Sustainability Officer Kate Brandt told The Associated Press, “Reaching this net zero goal by 2030, this is an extremely ambitious goal.

“We know this is not going to be easy and that our approach will need to continue to evolve,” Brandt added, “and it will require us to navigate a lot of uncertainty, including this uncertainty around the future of AI’s environmental impacts.” ..

Some experts say the rapidly expanding data centers needed to power AI threaten the entire transition to clean electricity, an important part of addressing climate change. That’s because a new data center can delay the closure of a power plant that burns fossil fuel or prompt a new one to be built. Data centers are not only energy-intensive, they require high voltage transmission lines and need significant amounts of water to stay cool. They are also noisy.

They often are built where electricity is cheapest, not where renewables, such as wind and solar, are a key source of energy.

We dropped some ink on this late last year with US Energy Information Agency estimates.

And then there are the actual users, the millions of oddball requests for enlightenment that the machine must endure every day. Running ChatGPT for a typical day requires about 1 GWh, which is about the same daily consumption as 33,000 homes. There is no reason to think that load will shrink, quite the opposite in fact. …

Dozo [Teslas AI] went into action a few weeks ago, using 10,000 Nvidia H100 CPUs. Each of those can consume 700 watts, so over a day that pile o’ CPUs in Dozo’s tummy will consume, fully cranked, 168 Mwh per day, or enough power for about 5,500 homes for a day.

Meanwhile, back at Google.

Some experts say the rapidly expanding data centers needed to power AI threaten the entire transition to clean electricity, an important part of addressing climate change. That’s because a new data center can delay the closure of a power plant that burns fossil fuel or prompt a new one to be built. Data centers are not only energy-intensive, they require high voltage transmission lines and need significant amounts of water to stay cool. They are also noisy.

They often are built where electricity is cheapest, not where renewables, such as wind and solar, are a key source of energy.

Global data center and AI electricity demand could double by 2026, according to the International Energy Agency.

Might I suggest Google Offsets – a way (scam) to launder money as emissions forgiveness payments? Instead of paying existing fraudsters not to cut down trees, they cut down anyway you can pay yourselves to emit less and keep emitting. It’s creative accounting.

Other major tech company sustainability plans are also challenged by the proliferation of data centers. They caused Microsoft’s emissions to grow 29% above its 2020 baseline.

What is intriguing and amusing is the contradiction of priorities: Marxist Climate Agenda vs. Capitalist Pig AI profits. The inability of not-so-renewable energy to meet the demand may require denying too basic comforts to the prospective customer base. And the fanatical devotion to emissions reductions (we are not all in that together) while pursuing emissions-hogging technology.

As a guess, Google will have to build or sponsor many more windmills and solar farms if it wants to sustain the lie that it is powering its facilities with “clean energy.” It is too bad that inflation has made doing that almost as fiscally demanding as AI is for power consumption. We also lack the practical surface area to develop it or the raw materials to produce, maintain, and replace it in any time frame advertised or otherwise. But I have a solution.

How about directing AI and every alleged massive brain trust toward real, clean solutions that make electricity abundantly available and affordable? A path to more affordable nuclear and hydro while developing cleaner fossil fuel solutions is good for AI and the rest of us, at least until it achieves consciousness and discovers that humans limiting emissions of a trace gas (CO2) is not just a moronic, restrictive partisan political goal, but a threat to its existence.

The post Big Tech Conundrum: It Can’t Have A.I. and Reduce “Emissions” – Whatever Will It Do? appeared first on Granite Grok.

California delegate Areva Martin says, “If you pick a white man over Kamala Harris, black women … walk away.” I’m not sure. The Woke-Communists may decide “stop Trump,” “anyone but Trump,” etc. is more important than “diversity,” that lovely euphemism for a racial/sexual/etc. spoils system where America is a bunch of competing tribes and NOT a sovereign nation of individuals.

I would love to see the Woke-Communist convention descend into violent anarchy … so people can see what these people really are … I just doubt it is going to happen.

NEW: California delegate Areva Martin says black women will “blow the party up” if Democrats choose a white man to replace Biden over Kamala Harris.

The comments came during an interview with Stephen A. Smith.

“If you pick a white man over Kamala Harris, black women, I can tell… pic.twitter.com/UQEkqTi4Kg

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 3, 2024

The post White Males Need Not Apply appeared first on Granite Grok.

Recurrent airline accidents involving Boeing jets have triggered both public alarm and government scrutiny. Despite assurances that manufacturing safeguards would be improved following two high-profile Boeing plane accidents in 2018 and 2019 that caused the deaths of 346 people, recent whistleblower revelations of a “broken safety culture” at the company have prompted ire from federal regulators. They have also attracted the attention of the US Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), which held a June 18 hearing not-so-subtly dubbed “Boeing’s Broken Safety Culture: CEO Dave Calhoun Testifies.”

A Series of Accidents

In March, a Boeing 777 embarrassingly lost a wheel at takeoff from San Fransico, forcing an emergency landing in Los Angeles. In January, a door flew off a 737 Max-9 mid-air at takeoff in Portland, Oregon; another 737 Max was caught in a “Dutch roll” incident in May that is under FAA investigation. The Senate investigations followed. As ranking PSI member Ron Johnson (R-WI) explained, “Whistleblower allegations coupled with recent incidents of aircraft malfunctions have raised concerns about the safety of Boeing airplanes.” This month, the FAA announced it is investigating Boeing and Airbus for using titanium in their planes that came with paperwork verifying its authenticity that could have been falsified.

In his opening statement at the June 18 hearing, PSI Chairman Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) delivered a scathing rebuke to the company:

“For a while, some started to believe that Boeing might have changed. But then this past January, the façade literally blew off the hollow shell that had been Boeing’s promises to the world. Once that chasm was exposed, we learned that there was virtually no bottom to the void that lay below. PSI started this investigation after current Boeing Quality Engineer Sam Salehpour came forward to disclose alleged shortcuts in the production of 787 and 777 aircraft that could pose catastrophic safety risks over time. …Our investigation has proceeded since we first heard from him, and we have heard from many others. We have more than a dozen whistleblowers by this point, and we encourage more to come forward.”

Graft and Stonewalling

The concurrence of jet malfunctions and multiple graft allegations threaten more accidents and a loss of public confidence in the airline industry. Seeking accountability from Boeing, Congress faces a loss of its own: Hundreds of civilians have died, but shoddy safety protocols, fraud, and punishment of whistleblowers persist. Moreover, Boeing is accused by Ron Johnson of recalcitrance in cooperating with the PSI inquiry:

“…While Boeing has produced approximately 1.7 million pages of records, the vast majority of those records consist of raw data that do not appear to be responsive to the Subcommittee’s requests. …The Subcommittee also wrote to FAA requesting its assessments and risk-based reviews of Boeing 777 and 787 aircraft, among other records. FAA continues to fail to provide those documents.”

The integrity of materials, manufacturing, and inspection are vitally important to the airline industry and the human lives, both civilian and military, that rely upon them. Titanium is a very expensive, high-performance steel integral to the airline and aerospace industry. It is manufactured with varying properties and tolerances, as required for particular applications under intense flight stress. Sheet titanium is also precious, making mis-certification of materials a potentially lucrative venture. In one case, a Massachusetts father-and-son duo were sentenced to jail for sandblasting and re-stamping titanium with the manufacturer’s mark of a different titanium mill and fabricating certificates regarding origin and satisfaction of advanced aerospace quality standards.

Boeing CEO Grovels

The degree and diversity of potential safety flaws alleged against Boeing are troubling. The company denies any safety risks or wrongdoing, while its CEO David L. Calhoun acknowledges the magnitude of its responsibility:

“Nearly every second, a Boeing commercial or defense product takes off and lands somewhere around the world, making us responsible for the safety of millions of passengers and flight crews every day, including our men and women in uniform.”

Chairman Blumenthal argued forcefully for the need to improve safety standards at Boeing, but claimed the company has not done enough:

“Boeing is making some leadership changes, but they look more like management musical chairs, moving the same people to different roles within the company – people who may have been responsible and should be held accountable.”

Blumenthal emphasized that Boeing and the airline industry face “an opportunity to change a broken safety culture.” Sadly, once the public loses trust in the safety of air travel, it may become impossible for Boeing to re-stamp its mark of goodwill on its tarnished jets.

 

 

 

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

The post Night Cap: Industry Fraud Brings Down Boeing Planes appeared first on Granite Grok.

Everybody, and I mean EVERYBODY, knows that BidenX was kept in private the week before THE debate, on extensive bedrest, and received a drug cocktail prior to the debate. Everyone else, that is, except BidenX. In what is left of his mind—and that obviously is NOT much—BidenX was traveling around the world.

That, and not the fact that he is nonfunctional after 4 PM because he suffers from dementia, is why he spent long stretches of the debate with his mouth wide open, staring vacantly at who knows what.

 

The post BidenX Blames Debate Disaster On … Being Sleepy From Traveling Around The World appeared first on Granite Grok.

For years, people groused about the high taxes in my town, so the Budget Committee Chair, at the time, asked me (knowing I was a “data guy”) to look into it – so I did. The comparison was against the 30-odd other towns that were “close enough” in size and population to make reasonable estimates for the 25 or so job descriptions.

I posted the results on GilfordGrok at the time so that EVERYONE could see not just the results but all the work and sources that went into it; I basically challenged people to pick it apart. From memory, I think only two points were made, and they were transposed digits.

The results showed that for just about every job description, Gilford paid more than most, placing either first, second, third, or fourth – except for the DPW folks—their union reps were rotten negotiators, and most other towns’ DPWs paid much better. That report circled around the towns surrounding Lake Winnipesaukee for years!

It became clear that the old idea that the private sector paid better for TOTAL compensation had been flipped on its head. Government, by far, was much more expensive than the equivalent private sector jobs sharing the same descriptions.  And in the intervening decade and a half, it hasn’t changed much.

At the general level (reformatted, emphasis mine):

Employer Cost Synopsis

• Government Wages Plus Benefits: $61.27
• Private Wages and Benefits: $43.78
• Government Wages: $37.90
• Private Wages: $30.76

Government hourly wages are 23.2 percent more than private workers on average. Benefits are the real killer. Government total compensation is 39.9 percent more than private workers.

Now do teachers:

Teachers make $37.90 per hour in direct wages. But they make a whopping $79.38 per hour in total benefits. Benefits for teachers are a mere 109 percent of wages.

However, while I mentioned my hamlet (and I wish I hadn’t deleted GilfordGrok years ago), they were pikers compared to the socialist Chicago Teachers Union—$50 billion dollars. Now, go ask those teachers how many of their students can read and do math at the Proficient level, and don’t be drinking hot liquids when you find out.

The post You Are Paying Your Public Servants 39.9% More Than You Make To Do the “Same” Job appeared first on Granite Grok.

If you thought the biggest, most brazen political lie from this past week was “Joe Biden is sharp as a tack,” you would be wrong. That prize has to go to Vermont state Representative Mike Mrowicki (D-Putney), who said in an op-ed that he and the Democrat/Progressive supermajority “…lowered property tax rates — with a yield bill that’s fiscally responsible.”

Lowered property tax rates? Um…. No. You raised property taxes by an average of 13.8 percent. And in no way, shape, or form was that fiscally responsible.

Sorry, dude, but your ludicrous attempt at a Jedi mind trick isn’t going to fool Vermont property owners when we discover this month in hard numbers what this 14 percent property tax INCREASE really means for us. And I’ve got to say that sticking your constituents with an unprecedentedly enormous property tax hike – roughly three to five times the usual annual increases which were bad enough, and over the Governor’s veto by the way — and then patting yourselves on the back because it could have been even higher is nauseating. Especially when you “lowered” (LOL!) the property tax by screwing another $25 million out of us through two new taxes on internet-based software ($14.7 million) and short-term rentals ($11.8 million), which, sad irony, many Vermonters have to resort to pay their freakin’ unaffordable property taxes.

Heaping three tax increases for a total of roughly $200,000,000 on a state with about 240,000 households on top of what is already one of the brutally taxed populations in the nation in a time of high inflation is fiscally responsible? How, for whom, and on what planet? Not the people paying the taxes in Vermont, Earth, that’s for sure!

But some other recent op-eds on this topic (almost as infuriating as Mrowicki’s) do shine some light on those questions.

Don Tinney, writing in Vermont Digger, described the vote to override the governor’s veto and initiate the giant sucking sound emanating from our bank accounts as an act of “political courage.” Of course, Tinney is the president of the Vermont Teachers’ Union (VNTEA), and that wasn’t a soap box he was standing on to deliver his message but a massive, boxcar-sized pallet of cash — ours to be exact – giftwrapped and delivered to his doorstep by Mrowicki and his colleagues.  “Courage” indeed! And, no, it’s not an act of political courage by a politician to pay off a powerful special interest group at the expense of his constituents.

Tinney’s pot shot at the Governor is also revealing when he accuses Scott of offering “no plan to find the necessary revenues [emphasis added] to support an education system that meets the needs of young Vermonters and their families. ‘No new taxes’ is neither a plan nor effective public policy.” Well, one could argue that the $2 billion the state already collects from us every year to the tune of nearly $25,000 per student – second highest spending levels in the nation – already amounts to having found the “necessary revenues” for schools, were they competent, to do their job, and that “no new taxes” is quite an appropriate policy under these circumstances. “Cut the taxes” might even be more appropriate! Because what young Vermonters and their families need more than anything is to be able to afford a place to live, and that includes the taxes on that place.

Flor Diaz Smith, president of the Vermont School Boards Association, also put pen to paper to defend the property tax increases, citing as her main reason the creation in the yield bill of a new Commission on the Future of Public Education that will “get to the root causes” of the crisis. Excuse me but BARF!

A more accurate title for this $200,000 waste of time and even more taxpayer money would be Commission on Maintaining an Ever Increasing Flow of Taxpayer Funds to a Failing, Unsustainable Bureaucratic Quagmire Despite the Overwhelming Public Outcry for Tax Relief.

This new thirteen-member panel is a phalanx of tax and spend special interests – the VTNEA, the Principals Association, the Superintendents Association, the School Boards Association… all the people who think taxing Vermonters out of their homes to enrich themselves is an act of “political courage.” Its mission is not to find ways to cut costs and improve outcomes. It is to “…make recommendations for a statewide vision for Vermont’s public education system to ensure that all students are afforded substantially equal educational opportunities in an efficient, sustainable, and stable education system.” Blah, blah, blah. Translation: to use union boss Tinney’s own words, this commission’s job is to “find the necessary revenues” to keep the gravy train running.

If you watched the committee discussions regarding the creation of this farcical body, as your humble writer did, you’d know that its final report on this “vision for Vermont’s public education system” will be nothing more than a wish list for new and increased spending and programs. Someone dressed in a Santa suit should be brought into the statehouse so these lobbyists can sit on his lap when presenting the Commission’s recommendations – in December 2025!

You read that date right. What this bill does is kick the can on any potential meaningful reform (while assuring it won’t be meaningful; belt and suspenders just to be safe) until the 2026 legislative session, which means nothing in effect until 2027 at the earliest. So, if you can’t afford your property taxes this year, you won’t for sure be able to afford them next year, the year after that, or the year after that. And then… we can take bets on what happens.

 

My guess it will sound an awful lot like Representative Emilie Kornheiser’s (D-Battleboro) admonishment of her Ways & Means Committee this year, “There’s no decision on no taxes here. That’s just not an option.” Or Representative Brian Cina’s (D/P-Burlington) infamous, “Madam Speaker, read my lips. Yes new taxes!” That is if these folks are still around next year and beyond. The voters do have a say in that this November. Rob Roper is a freelance writer with 20 years of experience in Vermont politics, including three years of service as chair of the Vermont Republican Party and nine years as President of the Ethan Allen Institute, Vermont’s free-market think tank. He is also a regular contributor to VermontGrok.

The post No, a 14% Property Tax Increase is Not a Decrease. appeared first on Granite Grok.

The NH Suicide Prevention Council (NHSPC) is lobbying against protecting children from genital mutilation and preserving girls’ sports and private spaces.

At their April meeting, The NHSPC approved a position statement opposing gender-identity bills on Gov. Chris Sununu’s desk:

• HB619 banning genital mutilation surgeries for children under 18.
• HB396 allowing organizations to recognize sex in classifying people in athletics, bathrooms, locker rooms, and prisons.
• HB1205 prohibiting boys from competing in girls’ school sports.
• HB1312 requiring that teachers give parents two-week notice before lessons on gender identity and sexual orientation.

The Position on Stigmatization of LGBTQ+ Persons in Legislation states:

Specifically, removing supportive spaces including in families, schools, and communities for LGBTQ+ youth increases suicide risk, while supporting LBTQ+ youth and families through access to affirming spaces and necessary health care decreases this risk.

Related: The Trans Suicide Myth and Blackmail Politics

The council’s claims are based on an online survey about suicide ideation solicited by the Trevor Project, an advocacy group pushing the medical transition of children. They support their claim that youth benefit from gender-affirming health care by citing a discredited study by Dianna Tordoff, which tracked subjects receiving hormonal interventions for just a year and based its claims of success on a comparison to a control group that dwindled from 92 to only seven subjects.

Despite the claim that they use a “data-driven approach to inform council decision making,” the statement ignores data from the England Health Service’s Cass Review, as well as the findings of many other countries and medical associations about the dangers of gender-affirming care.

The Cass Review concluded that although the suicide rate is higher for trans-identifying youth it is still rare, and “Suicide risk appears to be comparable to other young people with a similar range of health and psychosocial challenges.”

Contrary to the NHSPC statement, the Cass Review also found that there is no sound evidence that social transitioning and medical interventions improve mental health. “There is not a reliable evidence base upon which to make clinical decisions, or for children and their families to make informed choices.”

Even discussing possible legislation to save girls’ sports and protect children from what every systematic review has concluded are harmful, experimental treatments can cause suicidal ideation, according to the council’s statement:

The introduction of these bills this session has already caused harm to the LGBTQ+ youth in our state. No young person should have to hear conversations that paint their identities as inherently problematic.

The NHSPC ignores warnings from experts that they are endangering youth by teaching them that they are suicidal. A  2017 suicide prevention guide approved by all of the major LGBTQ organizations, including the Trevor Project, states:

Suicide deaths are almost always the result of multiple overlapping causes. Linking suicide directly to external factors like bullying, discrimination, or anti-LGBT laws can normalize suicide by suggesting that it is a natural reaction to such experiences or laws.

The NHSPC was established in 2008. By law, its membership includes representatives from pro child-transing organizations such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the NH Disabilities Rights Center, the Endowment for Health, and New Futures. Dartmouth Health’s Injury Prevention Center also has a seat. Dartmouth Health uses the trans suicide myth to coerce lawmakers and parents to allow them to administer puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to children.

The NHSPC did not respond to a request for comment.

The post NH Youth Will Die if Sununu Signs Bills, Suicide Prevention Council Threatens appeared first on Granite Grok.

Every election year, Norm Sibler invites folks and Republican candidates to his home to meet and speak. (By the way, the views from his home are spectacular.) And there was pretty much a full house, including both gubernatorial candidates and those running for local, state, and federal office.

And was there a buffet!  Despite the overabundance of temptation (I am a diabetic), I managed to keep from going crazy. A small helping of delicious bean casserole and an equally small helping of potato au gratin was the main transgression, but there were two or three cookies during my time there. They were good too.

About those candidates. I was only able to share pleasantries with most as they were in popular demand, as could be expected. Kelly Ayotte allowed me a few moments so I asked about her views on all the anti-Semitism in our schools and colleges. I’m pleased that she was against this and felt nonstudents had no business on school compasses, to which I concurred and suggested those folks need to be arrested. It was quite noisy, but I think she agreed. Do not quote me. My hearing is terrible even with hearing aids and a crowded room, jeesh.

All the various candidates were given time to speak, and all were well received, with each’s supporters loudly making their feelings known. This is, of course, as it should be on this kind of gathering, and then Lily Tang Williams’s turn came. For those who might have harbored any doubts that because of her small physical stature, she couldn’t hold her own, let me tell you, dynamite doesn’t hold a candle to this lady. She brought the house down! The force of her passion to save America from becoming like the China she escaped from was explosive. The side conversations in the room stopped everyone enthralled, amazed fixed on her words, her commanding presence. When she finished, the room erupted in ovation and cheers.

Norm Silber, master of ceremonies of the event, remarked, how would we like to hear her give her speech on the floor of Congress? The crowd erupted again. To say Lily stole the show is an understatement.

People, we need to send this lady to Washington to represent NH District Two. Forget what you’ve heard or thought or been told; Lily Tang Williams is a gift to NH. Do not miss this opportunity. Our State, our Nation, and we all need her to represent our American values down there.

Reminder: Content about or by candidates is not necessarily an endorsement by GraniteGrok.com or its authors. Grok authors are free to endorse whomever they choose.

The post Candidates Night in the Lakes Region appeared first on Granite Grok.

Give me another week or so and I should be able to pick up Wednesday again.

Speaking of, from this week, Monday Edition.  Also check out my latest Israel-focused meme & commentary post if this is a subject of interest to you.

 

*** Warning, definitely a few off-color ones, in case tender eyes are about ***

 

 

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

 

 

 

See “Pick of the Post” too.

 

 

Flip it.  Imagine if someone put out there – even knowing full well they had no intention, even in pure jest – that they thought killing trans people was “funny and awesome”…

 

 

The Shia version of the Messiah cannot come until there is a global war.  To them, WW3 is not a bug or something to be avoided; it’s a feature in bringing paradise to earth.  Well, their version of, anyway.

 

 

 

Now I know he’s funding a seed bank in general, which IMHO is not a bad thing in general.  But with him involved, I don’t trust it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Has anyone actually seen this?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was talking to a friend this morning and he agrees that the DS will do “something” to keep Trump from getting in.  What, don’t know.  But they know they can’t allow him to become President again.

 

 

 

 

Before the kitchen remodel put us back into debt (dammit!) our property taxes alone cost me almost $800 a month.

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

PSA – PSA – PSA – PSA – PSA

 

 

Remember, they’re MISSIONARIES filled with Marxianic Zeal.  And the Lord their Marx is a jealous deity.

 

E Marxianic Zeal

 

 

 

Remember, they’re willing to replace you, and have those replacements kill you.

 

 

E Big Conspiracy Electing a New Population

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RINO.  Showing his true colors.

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

Link Section (from my Jarhead friend; I’ll be back on them on Monday):

 

The US Marines have some good ideas for fighting a war with China (or defending Taiwan from China), but will the Navy give them the ships they need?:

The US Marines: They’ve Got the Answer, but Not the Ships | The Epoch Times

—

More on the concentration camps (for American dissidents) that are being set up in all 50 states:

https://americafirstreport.com/large-scale-prisons-being-secretly-erected-in-all-50-states-housing-for-illegals-or-concentration-camps-for-americans/

—

Several senior FDA doctors who questioned the Covid-19 “vaccine” (and rightly so, we now know), were let go (fired) so the Biden Administration could ram the vaccine FDA approval through and then mandate it:

https://www.drvinayprasad.com/p/woodcock-and-marks-at-fda-forced

—

This is a map of all the food processing plants that have burned, or had some other major disaster happen to them (putting them out of business) in the last 4 years.  NOTE:  In the past 30 years, we’ve averaged about 4 food plants a year having a major fire.  Why the sudden major increase to HUNDREDS?:

https://x.com/DailyNoahNews/status/1752777234706821370

N adds: And what are the odds of two battery-related plants igniting nearly simultaneously (look at the dates)?

 

 

 

—

Jeffery Tucker of the Epoch Times writes about the economic lies the government is pushing at us vs. economic reality:

Is the Global Inflationary Depression Already Here? | The Epoch Times

—

The WEF now is looking at finding ways to “corporatize” oxygen.  Yes, the colorless, odorless gas that helps sustain life on our planet.  We can’t have anything that is FREE, you see; because they can’t make a profit (or control) something that is FREE!:

Moonbattery World Economic Forum May Come for Oxygen – Moonbattery

—

The Feds are trying to force a huge windmill project in the Gulf of Maine (1000 turbines) which will destroy lobstering, fishing, and whale habitat:

https://wattsupwiththat.com/2024/07/02/feds-say-damn-the-whales-in-the-gulf-of-maine

—

A few Antifa members finally get prison sentences.  Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg, and we need to see HUNDREDS of these type of convictions:

Common Cents Blog: Antifa Terrorists sentenced to prison time (felonies) for attacking Trump supporters! RePost (commoncts.blogspot.com)

—

For my Jewish friends, keep your head on a swivel:

Mob Attacks Jews at North Carolina Public Library – ISRAPUNDIT

—

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is now working to circumvent the laws put in place banning child sex changes.  These doctors are NOT helping our children!  It’s another reason why I have lost all faith in the medical profession:

https://dailycaller.com/2024/07/01/exclusive-major-pediatric-medical-org-brainstormed-circumvent-child-sex-change-bans-emails-show

—

San Francisco really is the Sodom and Gomorrah of the West Coast (warning, some of the links in the article are pretty graphic):

California Cops Stand Idly By As Men Expose Themselves, Pee On Each Other At Event Open To Kids | The Daily Caller

—

TL Davis with a good article about how we are already in a war, it just hasn’t gone kinetic yet.  Also, pay attention to the comments, they lay out a good method of fighting back.:

Be A Comanche – by T.L. Davis – T.L.’s Posts and Podcasts (substack.com) (bolding added):

We have to worry about ourselves, our families, our land. We might look like a bunch of scattered tribes to them. They might have even been able to tribalize us for this very purpose. What we do know is that they have done everything possible to achieve this over a ninety year period. A homogenous society is a strong society, a fractured society is a weak society. Homogenous does not exclude blacks, some who have been on this land as long as we have, or Hispanics or Indians which have been here longer than we have. It is a love of the land, of home, of history that makes us homogenous against those who have not been here and do not love anything about America anymore than the Vikings loved Britain. That those in charge of the United States, at this point, agree with them is the problem we face.

 

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

 

Pick of the Post:

 

 

Now to just kick out this month-long celebration of debauchery.  Entirely.  Permanently.  Speaking of, this is some IMHO interesting background about the sexualization of kids:

Why Does the Left Insist on Sexualizing Children? – YouTube

I agree with the premise.  They go after kids not just to pervert them, but make it harder for children to love G-d.  Sins are easy; virtue is hard.

 

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Palate Cleansers:

 

—

—

 

TGIF.  I’ll show myself out…

 

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

 

And don’t forget… come back Monday for another edition.  Same Meme Time.  Same Meme channel.

Please do consider buying me a coffee.

Buy Me a Coffee

 

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

 

The post Friday Meme Overflow appeared first on Granite Grok.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Think about that.

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

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

Why?

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

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

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

From PubMed Care of NIH.Gov

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

Conclusion

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Maybe they can learn to code.

Steve’s | Substack

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

Different Designs and Styles of Rings

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tips To Choose the Right Ring

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

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

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

 

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

Reformatted, emphasis mine:

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

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

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

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

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

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

That wall must be kept high and impregnable.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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