Critical Thinking in Critical Times

01/08/2025

We are moving awfully fast. And this new progress of man reminds me of two stanzas from John Prine's song "Paradise".

"Daddy, won't you take me back to Muhlenberg County?
Down by the Green River where Paradise lay
Well, I'm sorry my son, but you're too late in asking
Mister Peabody's coal train has hauled it away

Then the coal company came with the world's largest shovel
Well, they tortured the timber and stripped all the land
Then they dug for their coal till the land was forsaken
Then they wrote it all down as the progress of man"

And here is a good stanza from Jonathan Coulton's "Chiron Beta Prime."

"Merry Christmas from Chiron Beta Prime,
Where we're working in a mine for our robot overlords.
Did I say overlords? I meant protectors.
Merry Christmas from Chiron Beta Prime."

Let us be careful and not go where no man has gone before, and

Remember the robotic armies from the evil empire in "Star Wars"? Have you ever considered the “command and control” challenges such an army would face?

12/31/2024

Ever notice how reality seems to be taking notes from science fiction—and not the uplifting kind? Artificial intelligence has been rattling around in my brain for a while now, spawning multiple projects and half-finished drafts. Today, I finally wrangled them together to look at what science fiction has warned us about and what might just be knocking on our door.

I’ve got plans to dive into the AGI race between the U.S. and China, the mind-bending possibilities of quantum computing, the looming power drain, and other weighty topics. But not today. Today’s focus on science fiction is already enough science friction for one day.

Science fiction has long envisioned a world where machines surpass humanity in intelligence and capability. From HAL 9000 in 2001: A Space Odyssey to the Cylons

12/27/2024

Homeownership Costs Skyrocket: Where Are the Regulators?

Rising insurance premiums and property taxes are straining homeowners’ budgets. Insurers blame disasters and repair costs, while higher home values push taxes even higher. In September, 32% of the average single-family mortgage payment went to insurance and taxes—the highest rate ever, The Wall Street Journal reports, citing Intercontinental Exchange.

As costs surge and regulators sit idle, one thing is clear: thanks a lot, Joe Biden, for making the American dream harder to reach.

12/27/2024

Drones. The potential for harm is big, and all we get from our feds is deadly silence. Think oversprays of chemical and bio weapons and dropping explosives not to mention surveillance over cities.

We now have reports of unidentified drones buzzing U.S. air bases in the U.K., sending British officials into full-blown emergency mode. Some think it’s a hostile state no actor; others are still scratching their heads.

These aren’t your average backyard drones. They’re equipped with high-tech gear that makes them invisible to tracking, immune to jamming, and impossible to catch. Basically, the James Bond of drones—minus the charm.

Meanwhile, the U.S. response has been a masterclass in doing nothing. Maybe they’re hoping if they ignore it, it’ll disappear. Or maybe it’s part of some top-secret genius plan. Either way, we’re still waiting—and so are the drones.

12/24/2024

Take Back the Canal – Before China Does

Here’s the reality: China controls ports at both ends of the Panama Canal. In a war, they could shut it down faster than a Twitter debate, slicing our Navy in half and leaving us scrambling. This has been a glaring security risk for over two decades, yet nothing’s been done.

The Torrijos-Carter Treaties handed over the canal under promises of neutrality and U.S. intervention rights. Neutrality? With China lurking? Let’s stop pretending and secure the canal before Beijing makes the rules.

12/24/2024

Poland says they will arrest Netanyahu at Auschwitz Memorial service.

Poland’s Absurd ICC Stance: A Legal and Historical Farce

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Poland, a signatory to the ICC’s Rome Treaty, is considering whether to enforce this warrant if Netanyahu visits. This situation is already absurd, but it becomes grotesque given Poland’s own dark history of complicity in Jewish persecution and its role during the Holocaust. For a country hosting Auschwitz, threatening to detain the leader of the Jewish state borders on moral bankruptcy.

The ICC’s authority in this case rests entirely on the Rome Treaty, a treaty that Poland ratified—but Israel did not. The treaty’s language itself exposes the contradictions of this situation. Article 27 declares that official capacity, even as a head of state, provides no immunity from prosecution. It’s a bold statement of principle, but one that quickly falters under closer scrutiny. Article 98 of the same treaty acknowledges that enforcement must respect existing international obligations, including immunity under customary international law, unless waived by the relevant state. For Israel, a non-signatory, there is no such waiver of diplomatic immunity.

Moreover, the ICC’s jurisdiction is limited to crimes committed by nationals of member states or on their territory unless referred by the UN Security Council. Israel is not a member, and there has been no Security Council referral. Poland, therefore, is under no legal obligation to act. France, another ICC signatory, recognized this and dismissed the warrant outright, citing Netanyahu’s immunity and Israel’s non-member status. Poland’s hesitation to follow suit reeks of either ignorance or political theater.

The International Criminal Court, birthed by the Rome Treaty, often oversteps. Its selective prosecutions and shaky legal foundations have led powerful nations like the U.S. and Israel to reject it outright. Poland should do the same. Threatening Netanyahu is not justice—it’s a disgrace.

Word Count: 300
Reading Time: 2 minutes

12/19/2024

The Fed's Inflation Tightrope: Fumbling Forward
317 words

Dear Fed Reserve Chief Jerome Powell:

Just shut the hell up about your plans down the road. Your predictions are rarely correct, and you wreak havoc on people's savings and retirements. Besides, you are seldom accurate, but everyone still believes you know what you are doing. And I know you have no clue or do not care. If you had, you would have been yelling from the rooftops NOT TO PRINT MONEY like they did.

Once again, the Federal Reserve plays catch-up in the inflation relay race, cutting its benchmark lending rate by 25 basis points after its latest two-day meeting. Shocking, right? Well, not really. But what's next might actually raise an eyebrow.
Here's the kicker: The Fed's crystal ball—aka its quarterly economic projections—has downgraded its optimism. We're looking at two instead of four rate cuts in 2025. Inflation? It's expected to hit 2.5% by 2025 instead of their previous "rosy" 2%. And unemployment? Basically unchanged. Translation: The Fed pumps less juice into the economy because inflation flexes harder than anticipated.

But let's not forget the authentic Fed tradition ----

making announcements that constantly rattle the markets while turning out to be—how shall we say it—less than reliable. Like clockwork, the Fed projects, and Mr. Market reacts, only for those projections to get revised, re-revised, and ultimately discarded like last year's PowerPoint slides.

In today's post-meeting spin session, Fed Chair Jerome Powell admitted the rate cut was a "closer call" than expected, thanks to stubbornly high inflation. Sure, they're still planning to cut rates next year—probably. But Powell hedged like a pro, mumbling about neutral rates and the "path" we're on. Spoiler alert: It's a rocky one.

The markets, predictably, threw a tantrum. The S&P 500 dropped 3%, the Nasdaq nearly 4%, and the small-cap Russell 2000 got hammered by 5%. The Dow, clocking its 10th consecutive losing day, tumbled 2.7%. Even bonds weren't spared, with the 10-year Treasury yield spiking past 4.5%.

Confident? Maybe—if confidence means endlessly revising projections while markets writhe in response. What is the Fed's real message today? Inflation isn't finished with us, and their forecasts are about as sturdy as a sandcastle at high tide.

12/19/2024

The Green New Deal’s future not looking bright. Shocking.

By 2030, half the U.S. faces power shortfalls, according to Reuters. AI and electrification skyrocket demand, while fossil plants retire faster than replacements get built. California blackout vibes are going national. Maybe rethink shutting down what works before building what doesn’t? Lights out, America.

12/19/2024

The NCAA has 510,000 athletes, but fewer than ten transgender players dominate the spotlight. DNA males, who couldn’t cut it with the guys, now shatter dreams and bodies of DNA females. While others hustle for scholarships, passing grades, and get name, imaging and licensing deals, we let the tail wag the dog. Priorities, anyone?

12/19/2024

Leaving Land Mines: Biden’s Version of a Peaceful Transition of Power
300 words

A peaceful transition of power? Not quite. As President Biden wraps up his term, he’s leaving behind political traps that could make the incoming Trump administration’s job a minefield. From auctioning off border wall parts to limiting energy policies, it’s a masterclass in how not to pass the baton.

First, there’s the $300 million worth of unused border wall materials being sold off like leftovers from a failed DIY project. This move effectively blocks Trump’s efforts to secure the border by—ironically—removing the tools to do it.

Next, Biden’s energy agenda is doubling down on limiting oil leases in the Arctic and warning against liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports. Forget energy independence—this is the “please pay more at the pump” policy.

Then there’s the $6 billion fast-tracked to Ukraine, along with bombs dropped in Syria. These actions complicate any future peace efforts and seem more about tying Trump’s hands than securing global stability.

And let’s not forget the last-minute rush to fill 1,200 new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) positions across federal agencies at a cost of over $1 billion. These hires embed ideological barriers that make policy reversals an uphill climb.

With President Biden’s cognitive stumbles, one has to wonder: who’s steering the ship here? The lack of transparency only fuels speculation that this isn’t governance—it’s sabotage.

The result? Over $7.7 billion in taxpayer dollars spent laying political traps while leaving the public to pick up the tab. This isn’t leadership; it’s a farewell laden with spite and waste.

Added. Then the Dems hold out for more waste, fraud and abuse in the continuing resolution while wasting money that did not need to be spent from the current budget after blackmailing republicans to get those bucks inserted in the last continuing resolution. Anyone recall their history lesson when the Federalist Party passed all those midnight appointments of judges trying to hold on to the judiciary? This is no different with the DEI hires and the rush to fill judicial vacancies.

And the Dem's held the voters and the Republicans hostage by refusing to pass the Save Act on citizenship voting and ID requirements. Now why is that? Yup, illegal voters is still their goal, and just another way to buy votes with YOUR tax dollars through entitlements and programs.

Is there anything at all democratic about the Democratic Party? Nope. And remember how backrooms and backdoors put Kamala on the ticket without a single vote from any voters, either in 2020 or 2024.

Word Count: 299
Reading Time: ~1.5 minutes

12/15/2024

Quantum Computing: The Need for Speed Meets the Need for Caution

Speed thrills—until it doesn’t. In quantum computing and AI, “The Need for Speed” could quickly shift from revolutionary to catastrophic in the blink of an eye—or a single bad calculation.

Consider this: quantum computers can perform calculations in minutes that would take today’s fastest supercomputers a thousand years. Sounds great, but here’s the question: how do you verify it’s right? If today’s systems can’t even replicate the results in our lifetime, what’s to stop a glitch from becoming a global disaster?

Accuracy here isn’t negotiable. Saying a quantum computer is “almost 100% accurate” is like saying someone is “almost pregnant.” Close doesn’t cut it.

Now add AI into the mix—machine learning guided by calculations we can’t fully verify. Think mismanaged power grids, financial systems on the fritz, or AI misinterpreting global threats.

Quantum computing promises speed, but without caution, it might outrun our ability to control it.

“Hartmut Neven, Founder and Lead, Google Quantum AI:

Today I’m delighted to announce Willow, our latest quantum chip. Willow has state-of-the-art performance across a number of metrics, enabling two major achievements.

The first is that Willow can reduce errors exponentially as we scale up using more qubits. This cracks a key challenge in quantum error correction that the field has pursued for almost 30 years.

Second, Willow performed a standard benchmark computation in under five minutes that would take one of today’s fastest supercomputers 10 septillion (that is, 1025) years — a number that vastly exceeds the age of the Universe...”

Quote sourced from John Ellis News Items

12/12/2024

Beware of pork, earmarks, and petty greed—tools some Senators use to buy votes for themselves rather than deliver what the nation truly needs. Let’s not lose sight of the bigger picture: the incoming president has a mandate. His agenda was no secret; it was laid out clearly, debated, and approved by most voters through the ballot box and the Electoral College.

Watch the headlines; some Senators still believe the game is afoot when they need to be adults.

Any Republican Senators who deny President Donald J. Trump the team he believes is crucial to his administration will face serious political repercussions. They won’t just be labeled as RINOs (Republicans In Name Only); instead, they risk being branded as RATS (Republicans Against Trump).

Right now, the spotlight falls on Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Senator Susan Collins of Maine, and possibly Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. Murkowski and Collins have a track record of taking independent stances that occasionally frustrate their party’s base. McConnell, on the other hand, is known for his strategic maneuvering. It’s unlikely he would publicly oppose Trump, as doing so might tarnish the carefully constructed legacy of his long Senate career.

How this plays out remains to be seen. In the months ahead, these Senators' decisions will shape their political futures and test the unity and direction of the Republican Party.

Get ready for the buzzword of the year: "budget reconciliation." In the coming months, this procedural workhorse will take center stage. Why? Because without

12/07/2024

Your tax dollars are funding waste, the swamp, empty buildings, and factions to waste your tax dollars and not serve the public interest - YOU. As veterans are homeless, the elderly struggle to make ends meet, disaster victims live in tents freezing, and the list goes on, here are dollars going nowhere but feeding the beast of factions - unions and special interest landlords.

Imagine a government so bloated and disconnected that it pays billions for empty desks. This isn’t science fiction. It’s your federal government. Sen

12/03/2024

True.

“Democrats and their liberal media allies keep pointing out that Donald Trump had pardoned his son-in-law’s father in 2020 to excuse President Biden’s unprecedented move.

They are being dishonest.

Charles Kushner pleaded guilty to tax evasion and other federal crimes in 2005. He served his two-year prison sentence and paid the maximum fine the judge could give. His record was cleared through a pardon by Trump 15 years after his conviction and sentencing.

President Biden has pardoned his son before sentencing, wiping away a possible $1.3 million tax evasion fine and years in prison. More importantly, the pardon is backdated to 2014 to include all crimes that he “may have committed" long before the 2016–19 gun and tax evasion felony crimes.

2014 is when Hunter began working for lucrative Ukrainian interests when his father was tasked with responsibilities for that country as VP.

11/28/2024

Satire Alert: The Tarrifying Trump Card of Tariffs

Theater of the Absurd: Biden, Hezbollah, and the Ceasefire That Wasn’t

Some may have scratched their heads, wondering, What role did Biden actually play in the Hezbollah-Israel ceasefire? How could a slow-moving Joe, seemingly more focused on his next ice cream cone, broker anything resembling peace? For a moment, it seemed the entry of Trump—storming in with his “Tariffinator” threats—was what got everyone scrambling to the negotiating table. But now, thanks to an anonymous source, we have the backstory.

As Bob Seger once crooned, “There are some things I wish I didn’t know now that I didn’t know then.” This might just top the list.

The ceasefire, as it turns out, was a reheated version of a two-decade-old U.N. deal that Hezbollah violated back then and will undoubtedly violate again. Nothing new. It’s the diplomatic equivalent of slapping duct tape on a leaking dam and calling it engineering.

And now the game’s afoot.

The negotiations had already descended into farce. Biden, shuffling his cue cards like a man trying to find a lost lottery ticket, proclaimed, “We’ll arm everyone with nukes! Then we’re all equals. Peace through parity!” Netanyahu massaged his temples, muttering something about retirement. Across the table, the Hezbollah negotiator tried to focus, but his phone buzzed with constant instructions from Tehran.

“Praise Allah,” the faint voice on the other end said, “but Biden is wrong. Again.”

As the negotiators descended into another loop of circular reasoning, the doors suddenly swung open. The lights flickered. The air grew electric. He had arrived.

Donald Trump strode into the room, his red tie flapping like a battle standard. In a voice that seemed both metallic and oddly comforting, he boomed, “I AM BACKKKKK.” The room fell silent. Somewhere, an eagle cried, and a Hezbollah aide fainted.

Netanyahu smirked. “This should be good.”

Trump pointed dramatically. “Enough of this weak nonsense. No deals. No appeasement. Just tariffs. Tariffs on everything. You’ve got rockets? Tariffed. You’ve got falafel? Tariffed. You’ve got ideas I don’t like? Double tariffed.”

The Hezbollah negotiator, wide-eyed, whispered into his phone, “Tehran, he’s serious! He’s going to tariff air!”

Tehran’s voice crackled back, “Stay calm. Tariffs do not scare Allah. But… be cautious.”

Biden, visibly confused, jumped in. “Look, folks, tariffs are just—uh—you know, taxes for tough guys. But if we arm everyone with nukes, there won’t be any tariffs. See? Equal playing field. Everyone’s in the same nuclear club!”

Tehran groaned through the speaker. “Praise Allah. He is making it worse.”

Trump ignored him. “Listen, Biden. Tariffs work because I say they work. Fear works. Nobody’s tariffed fear before. I’m a genius. People are terrified of my tariffs. That’s how you negotiate.” He turned to Netanyahu. “Bibi, you’re my guy. But if you don’t stop smirking, Israel’s hummus exports? Tariffed.”

Netanyahu raised an eyebrow. “So your solution to terrorism is… tariffs?”

“Exactly,” Trump replied. “Tariffs on terrorism. Tariffs on bad behavior. Tariffs on Hezbollah’s entire vibe. If you don’t stop launching rockets, I’ll tariff your dreams. And believe me, it’ll work.”

The Hezbollah negotiator panicked. “Tehran, he’s threatening tariffs on… us! Help!”

Tehran’s voice sighed. “This is a catastrophe. But we are still waiting on instructions from Allah.”

Biden clapped, misunderstanding entirely. “This is how you build coalitions, folks! Tariffs, nukes, whatever it takes to get the job done. Historic leadership!”

Netanyahu leaned back, arms crossed. “There will be no peace until the ideology of death ends. Tariffs or no tariffs.”

Trump grinned. “Don’t worry, Bibi. I’ve got this. The world is spinning again because I’m here.”

Biden, nodding along, muttered, “Spinning’s good. Keeps everyone dizzy. Makes deals easier.”

The room fell silent again, not from unity, but from collective confusion.

Word Count: 495
Estimated Reading Time: ~2.5

11/27/2024

“Tariffying” News for China, Mexico,and Canada on Tariffs

President-elect Trump announced plans for a 10% tariff on Chinese goods and a 25% tariff on all imports from Mexico and Canada. He said these measures were necessary to tackle illegal drugs and migrants crossing U.S. borders.

On Truth Social, Trump accused China of failing to enforce harsher penalties on fentanyl traffickers and claimed drugs were entering the U.S. from Mexico at record levels. He declared that until China cracks down, a 10% tariff would be added to all Chinese products. Trump also promised to impose a 25% tariff on every product from Mexico and Canada, pledging to sign an executive order on his first day in office.

Trump views tariffs as tools to achieve bigger goals, not just penalties. As he wrote in The Art of the Deal: “I aim high, and then I just keep pushing and pushing and pushing to get what I’m after.”

Source John Ellis News Items

11/27/2024

Why Protect Criminals Over Citizens?

Blue-state governors and attorneys general are already hatching plans conspiring to stop the mass deportations of illegal aliens, even criminals.

It’s a strange move. Why protect lawbreakers over law-abiding citizens? Why defend criminals instead of their victims? It’s not just puzzling—it’s dangerous.

Breaking the Law

Under Title 8, USC § 1324, it’s a crime to harbor or shield illegal aliens. Officials who block federal deportations risk violating this law. The penalties are clear: fines and up to five years in prison per offense. For criminals who commit violence, the stakes are higher. Delaying their removal puts more lives at risk.

Sanctuary policies prove the point. Hundreds of detainer requests have been ignored. Many led to repeat crimes. Federal law is not optional, but some governors and attorneys general seem to think otherwise. Their defiance has real consequences—robberies, assaults, and worse.

Stalling Trump’s Team

Trump promised to protect Americans. He needs a team to deliver on that promise. But entrenched bureaucrats—the swamp—fight back. They don’t want disruptors like Hegseth, Gaetz, or Kennedy cleaning house. Instead, they stall appointments, delay reforms, and block plans.

These delays aren’t harmless. Every day without action means criminals stay on the streets. Victims pay the price. Leadership failures turn promises into empty words.

The Cost of Inaction

Lawlessness spreads when leaders refuse to act. Protecting criminals isn’t compassion—it’s betrayal. Every blocked deportation, every ignored law, hurts real people.

The swamp prefers the status quo. Trump promised to change it. His opponents delay and deflect, but their inaction costs lives. Americans deserve better. The law exists to protect the innocent, not shelter the guilty.

Sources:
1. Department of Justice Report on Sanctuary Cities (2020)
2. Immigration and Nationality Act, Title 8 USC § 1324
3. “Blue State Governors Fight Deportation Plans” – The Hill
4. “Swamp Resistance to Trump’s Team Picks” – National Review

Word Count: 350
Reading Time: 2 minutes