Free Republic

This is not an easy read. But it is very insightful, especially the last couple paragraphs, for understanding what modern politics tries to do.

Voegelin didn't live long enough to see the uses for AI, but it will be interesting to watch how "the West" will copy the Chinese in using it to harness human nature.

superbia is Latin for pride.

He fought the good fight, he finished the race, he kept the faith.

what is this, Star Trek?

There is a "get up and go" theme in Acts of the Apostles.

In sum:

Earlier this week, U.S. marshals appeared at Haim’s home and summoned him to court to face an indictment on four felony counts of violating HIPAA. His initial appearance is next Monday, where he will learn more about the charges against him.

According to one of Haim’s attorneys, Marcella Burke, he is anxious to get to trial to get his side of the story told; she is confident that this will result in the correct decision being made. (For my own part, I can confirm that nothing in the information provided to me identified any individual; all the documents were, in fact, carefully redacted.) Nonetheless, the prosecutor has pressed forward, hoping, at the least, to intimidate other medical professionals who would consider blowing the whistle on the barbarism of “transgender medicine.”

In sum:

Earlier this week, U.S. marshals appeared at Haim’s home and summoned him to court to face an indictment on four felony counts of violating HIPAA. His initial appearance is next Monday, where he will learn more about the charges against him.

According to one of Haim’s attorneys, Marcella Burke, he is anxious to get to trial to get his side of the story told; she is confident that this will result in the correct decision being made. (For my own part, I can confirm that nothing in the information provided to me identified any individual; all the documents were, in fact, carefully redacted.) Nonetheless, the prosecutor has pressed forward, hoping, at the least, to intimidate other medical professionals who would consider blowing the whistle on the barbarism of “transgender medicine.”

The European Parliament elections will take place from June 6 to June 9, 2024. This is a significant event, as citizens of the European Union (EU) will elect 720 members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to represent their interests in the EU’s only directly elected institution.

What happens if you’re not a uniparty member? It wasn’t pretty for the Russians back then.

Basically the other party must be disappeared. Buried, says Solzhenitsyn, so that its dissolution would be irreversible, “their members should disintegrate and their physical bodies too.”

Sorry, “for protesting.”

Here's a clip of the kind of response you get for not protesting against health regulations. It's not translated but you get the picture: "Not normalizing what is abnormal"

Today, two news items: DailyMail reports NATO plan for deployment of American forces and the Dutch Ministry of Defense (under a PM who is eyeing NATO’s top spot) issued an order the army to hasten preparations and be operational for possible war.

Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.

I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years, to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves, and the House? Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with these war-like preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled, that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask, gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motive for it?

Overrated musician is now an overrated thinker.

Classic self-abuse, where success in life is taken for competence in other areas of life.

I dunno. Probably be better just to promote your local economy.

Big talk but without US support Israel wouldn’t exist.

Sort of like the good ol' USA. Without the French we wouldn't exist.

Or seen from a slightly different angle, if science is limited to only what is necessarily the case in general, there will be little room left for personal dignity or liberty. The ruling imagination will seek to remove all the conditions for the possibility of crime, culpability is old-fashioned causality, and on a wave of new technology they will vacuum up your dignity with the click of a mouse. CBDC is most convenient.

That would be Eric Voegelin. You never know, he might be watching us.

Tried to find a comparison chart of import vs domestic production over time of automobiles. Not easily done. ChatGPT/open AI will tell you to do your own research. We know domestic market share in the last 5 decades has decreased precipitously.