As schools begin the shift to providing mental health services, parents need to be aware of some big problems that have been uncovered. Personally identifiable mental health information on students has already been shared, but schools are still failing to acquire informed parental consent for their child’s mental health assessments and services.

SEL is a way to shift more time away from learning the academic content. You can see in this video how the gatekeepers of the SEL programs admit that teachers are no longer important. Your kids can just learn that stuff on the internet. GO HERE.

This request for an investigation into what is going on in Merrimack was sent to The New Hampshire Department of education. Parents need to be informed and consent to all of these mental health programs and services offered by school counselors.

1st Request for Documentation:

Dear Superintendent Olsen:

Pursuant to the Right to Know Law (RSA, 91-1), I am requesting public access, within 5 business days, to the governmental records:

1) A copy of any parental permission slips for teachers to assess students using the DESSA. A copy of any parental permission slips for students to participate in the Second Step SEL program.

2) Copies of all SEL competencies or competencies related to social and emotional learning. (eg: Social Skills)

3) Documents showing where SEL/Social Skills competencies have been sent or will be sent. Colleges, etc.

Per RSA 91-A:4IV(C) If you deny any portion of this request, please cite the specific exemption used to justify the denial to make each record, or part thereof, available for inspection along with a brief explanation of how the exemption applies to the information withheld.

Please let me know when these records are available for inspection or you may email the records to me at Banfieldannmarie@gmail.com.

Ann Marie Banfield
TRUST REQUIRES TRANSPARENCY

Ann Marie Banfield

2) REPLY BACK TO ME by SUPERINTENDENT:

Good morning Ann Marie,

I am submitting my response to your RSA 91-1 Right To Know Request. The attachment addresses your first request. With regard to your second and third request, my response to both is that the District does not maintain SEL competencies, or competencies related to social and emotional learning and thus has no responsive records.

Regards,

Everett Olsen

Chief Education Officer

SKM_C754e24022312280

3) FORWARD to NH Dept. of Ed for an INVESTIGATION:
Dear Ms. Fenton,

Please see the forwarded email from Superintendent Olsen, along with the documents I requested in my 91-a. 

I am asking you to open an investigation into the failure to secure informed parental consent before screening students with the DESSA- Devereux Student Strengths Assessment. It appears that the district required consent once the screening was completed to see if parents approved of additional support for their children.

As you know, Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires informed consent by parents when children are assessed or receive mental health services from their school district. While I can appreciate that a consent form was sent to approve of additional services, I believe consent should also be required when their children were screened. 
Second Step includes SEL but also Transformative SEL which crosses over into political activism.

As you can see from the attached documents, the teacher will be covering serious mental health issues like managing stress and anxiety.

Aperture, the maker of the DESSA, includes their privacy policy here. Parents in the district are now raising concerns over what we see is a lack of security with the personal student data they collect and store. For instance, the privacy policy states that while financial payment information will be safely encrypted, it does not say the same about student data. 

Parents do not know what actual data is being collected, with what third parties it is being shared, and how it is being secured.

What happens if, through the screener, a student is experiencing emotional distress? The DESSA tool is supposed to help schools identify students who might need additional social and emotional health support so that they can ensure students have access to the right services and are getting the help they need.

Who has access to all of this personal mental health data? Where is it stored? Has Keene State BHII or any of the former universities accessed this sensitive information?

A New Hampshire physician wrote in The Wall Street Journal about how teachers are now performing mental health screenings using the DESSA. This is all done without parental knowledge or consent.

It was Marc Kirsch, who was Director of Sales & Business Development for Aperture Education, who confirmed for me in 2017 that the DESSA was a mental health assessment. Aperture even markets that “students have experienced a dramatic increase in mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression and behavior disorders. School-based programs focused on building social and emotional skills can proactively support students’ mental health.”

It even appears that you can get a psych degree in a one-day seminar.
Paul LeBuffe is the Vice President for Research and Development for Aperture Education (Apertureed.com). He is a graduate of St. Mary’s College of Maryland and received his Master’s degree in experimental psychology from Bryn Mawr College. For the past 25 years, Paul’s career has focused on strength-based approaches to promoting social and emotional competence and resilience in children, youth, and the adults who care for them. 



My first interaction with SEL was with a New Hampshire teacher several years ago when she sent me this:

DESSA is a program that allows teachers to enter and track student social and emotional behaviors in order to flag and group students for intervention.   I’m a huge tech person; but this type of tracking of data makes me extremely nervous.  First, because even physicians don’t track data like this over this long of time, and second because the data could be used (potentially) against a child later in life (ie college applications), and third, because a data breach on a system like this wouldn’t take much.   It’s VERY concerning to me, and because it’s teachers making the observations and entering data, it’s really flying under the radar, but is becoming more and more promoted and used especially in this area.  If ever there was something to get after, it’s programs such as this one.
I think if parents saw samples of the questions and the data that it feeds back, they would be totally against it. 
 I believe the info is fed to the DESSA servers. Where it goes from there, not sure exactly – that’s part of the issue. It’s made to track kids across settings and flag high risk kids…so I believe the intent is to store data for access beyond district walls As a teacher I’d like to refuse taking this info from my students. Can I refuse this as a professional?


In addition, as you will see by Superintendent Olsen’s reply, he said:
”With regard to your  second and third request, my response to both is that the District does not maintain SEL competencies, or competencies related to social and emotional learning and thus has no responsive records.”

As you can see from the file attached titled Merrimack-NH-School-District-SAU26- Essential Learning Competencies, on page 4 titled Subject Area: Characteristics of a Successful Learning, there are competencies listed as part of the Second Step SEL program.  This document was not provided to me in Mr. Olsen’s reply to my 91-a.
Merrimack-NH-School-District-SAU26-Essential-Learning-Competencies

I’m also attaching a file that is from a newsletter provided to parents explaining what will be covered in their child’s social and emotional class. This was sent to me by another source. If you scroll down that document, you will see that they are working on “managing anxiety,” among other mental health issues.
Newsletters (1)

The concerns I’ve raised have been many. For instance, will any of this data be used to deny a child a career in the military when they are older?

Informed parental consent was added to the federal law for good reason. Child Psychologists understand the importance of privacy and informed consent, and It’s why they should be the ones administering mental health assessments and treatments to children–not teachers and school counselors.

Please review the information I provided.

Thank you
Ann Marie Banfield 

 

The post Deteriorating … Mental Health, Privacy, and Parental Consent in Public Schools appeared first on Granite Grok.

Unless you are on the far-Left of the political spectrum, you have NO representation in the United States Congress. New Hampshire’s Congressional delegation … Shaheen, Hassan, Kuster and Pappas … can vote like the obedient Communist-bots they are up to a few months before an election at which point, like a chameleon, they become “moderates” and “bipartisan” in the reporting of Fake News WMUR, NHPR and the rest of the deep BLUE media in the deep BLUE State of New Hampshire.

(As a parenthetical note, non-Communists in CD-1 had a chance to actually have a competitive district … but the mighty Sun-King, Chris Sununu, vetoed the GOP-drawn map because Sununu is far more Democrat than he is Republican.)

Maggie Hassan recently visited Ukraine to shill for the military-industrial complex … repeating the same nonsense that the warmongers have been repeating for years; for example: Ukraine has “degraded” Russian military and they just need a little bit more “aid” (American MONEY) to finish the job, yet SIMULTANEOUSLY this degraded Russian military is going to somehow conquer all of Europe if we don’t “aid” Ukraine.

Maggie Hassan is an ideologue/grifter. She votes exactly how her Communist “leadership” tells her to vote because in her mind a vote that advances Communism is good for New Hampshire. Hence America going further into debt to support that Corruptocracy called Ukraine because the Communists in the Deep State are obsessed with conquering Russia is good for New Hampshire. And while she and the rest of the delegation bankrupt America, they enrich themselves.

Compare Jeannie Shaheenie’s net worth when she entered Congress with her net worth today. And then explain to me how she made all those millions on a Senator’s salary. Salva Ukraine! Salva Ukraine! Salva Ukraine!

As I told President Zelenskyy directly when we met him, Granite Staters and Americans stand with him and with the people of Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/tn3NsQZi88

— Sen. Maggie Hassan (@SenatorHassan) February 24, 2024

The post Maggie Hassan Loves The Smell Of Napalm In The Morning appeared first on Granite Grok.

This is an attempt to “break out” memes, links, and my commentary about the situation in Israel / the Middle East so as to not overload the standard meme posts that I do.  My last “normal” meme post.  In these Israel-related posts I don’t just have memes such, but lots of informative links as well as hopefully-insightful commentary.

Note that this is not meant to be a day-by-day update about what’s going on.  Rather, to highlight uncomfortable truths about the actual nature of the conflict, deep-history background, and so on, as well as to show the at-present immutable nature of Islamic hatred of Jews and why that matters to today’s events.

Note that these posts do not repeat information – so there is a lot of stuff in prior posts.  Please do check them out too if this is a topic of interest to you.  In reverse chronological order:

Israel: Ongoing Links, Memes, and Commentary – Granite Grok

Israel: Ongoing Links, Memes, and Commentary – Granite Grok

Israel: Ongoing Links, Memes, and Commentary – Granite Grok

Israel: Ongoing Links, Memes, and Commentary – Granite Grok

Israel: Ongoing Links, Memes, and Commentary – Granite Grok

Israel: Ongoing Links, Memes, and Commentary – Granite Grok

Israel: Ongoing Links, Memes, and Commentary – Granite Grok

Israel: Ongoing Links, Memes, and Commentary – Granite Grok

Israel: Ongoing Links, Memes, and Commentary – Granite Grok

Israel: Ongoing Links, Memes, and Commentary – Granite Grok

Israel: Ongoing Links, Memes, and Commentary – Granite Grok

Israel: Ongoing Links, Memes, and Commentary – Granite Grok

Israel: Ongoing Links, Memes, and Commentary – Granite Grok

Israel: Still More Links, Memes, and Commentary – Granite Grok

Israel: Ongoing Memes, Links, and Commentary – Granite Grok

Israel: Ongoing Memes, Links, and Commentary – Granite Grok

Israel: More Memes, Links, and Commentary – Granite Grok

Israel: Even More Memes, Links, and Commentary – Granite Grok

Israel: More Memes, Links, and Commentary – Granite Grok

Israel: Memes and Commentary – Granite Grok

Israel: Memes and Commentary – Granite Grok

With some Israel-related materials here:

Meme Overflow – Granite Grok

 

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

 

From here:

Insanity from Meta as an Instagram user is told by a customer service rep. her account is being throttled due to her support of the Israeli kidnapped hostages.

That explains a lot about my Instagram account lately.

 

https://granitegrok.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/instagram-blocks-pro-israel-posts.mp4

 

 

TOP OF THE FOLD

 

Hamas Official: There are no Palestinian people. They are Egyptian and Saudis.

 

 

I’ve posted this link before.  Most of the current-day Arabs who are calling themselves “Palestinians” are actually descendants of the Arabs who in-migrated because of the Zionist-fueled economic boom.

Were the Arabs Indigenous to Mandatory Palestine? :: Middle East Quarterly (meforum.org)

 

 

 

 

https://granitegrok.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/every-muslim-knows-israel-belongs-to-the-jews-1.mp4

 

And on the Kotel specifically:

Spencer about the Temple Mount (rumble.com)

Also, on the history of co-existence:

 

https://granitegrok.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/history-on-coexistence.mp4

 

 

 

—

IDF Uncovers 10-Kilometer Hamas Tunnel Under Hospital and University in Northern Gaza (legalinsurrection.com)

One tunnel.  Six miles long.  And this video, below, was done before the above was found.  How much effort went into this, versus benefitting the Gazans?  How much more remains to be found?

 

https://granitegrok.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/gaza-underground-infrastructure.mp4

 

—

Gaza is where the world’s double standards for Jews and double standards for Muslims intersect ~ Elder Of Ziyon – Israel News

Read the whole thing!  And also a must-read:

The Palestinian honor killings of thousands of women and children ~ Elder Of Ziyon – Israel News

 

 

WAR & WHEN WILL IT END?

The Rapid Return of Israel’s Disastrous Policy :: Middle East Quarterly (meforum.org)

You cannot negotiate with someone whose policy is killing you.

Those policies rest on two main assumptions: that economic benefits – more work permits in Israel, a larger fishing zone, outside funding – gives Palestinians something to lose, taming them and making them less inclined to aggress; and that an Israel so much mightier and more advanced than its Palestinian enemy can afford to make concessions.

Oct. 6 Gaza had something to lose.  They chose to loose it anyway.

 

https://granitegrok.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/gazans-you-chose-to-destroy-yourselves.mp4

 

This suicidal return to the “status quo” means that every Israeli needs to have this tattooed on their foreheads so they can see it in the mirror every morning:

TRYING TO PLEASE YOUR ENEMIES DOES NOT TURN THEM INTO FRIENDS.

Unintended Consequences | Gates of Vienna

Israel has to be very careful with the idea of a ‘Palestinian’ state. Gaza was handed over to the Palestinian Authority at the behest of the USA and EU in 2006, and once more we are watching the unintended consequences. It is incredibly naïve to think that a state full of people brainwashed into Jew-hatred can live peacefully alongside a Jewish state. We tried that, but the T-shirt did not change its spots.

Remember, Jew hatred is hard-coded into the Koran.

Islamic Jew-Hatred – a religious mandate – Geller Report

Jew-Hate in the Muslim World | Frontpage Mag

Antisemitism in the Qur’an – Winds of Jihad (sheikyermami.com)

—

ISRAELI RAMADAN ULTIMATUM: Either Hamas frees all hostages by Ramadan or the IDF will smash the terrorists’ last stronghold in Rafah during the Muslim holy month (barenakedislam.com)

They have a choice.  Personally, I suggest this kind of plane… loaded with pig blood, airdropping all over Gaza, as a last resort.

 

(Image source)

 

To WIN a war, the people losing have to be crushed.  Like I tell my kids if they ever get into a fight – make sure the other kid knows they lost.  On that:

“I am personally proud of the ruins of Gaza, and that every baby, even 80 years from now, will tell their grandchildren what the Jews did” (barenakedislam.com)

There Can Be No Ceasefire in Gaza with Hamas in Power :: Gatestone Institute

Remember the Carthage solution:

 

 

Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps chief: Only ‘eradication of Israel’ will guarantee security of Palestinians (jihadwatch.org)

When someone says they plan to kill you, believe them.

Want to Stop Iran’s Regime? Hit the IRGC Assets :: Gatestone Institute

—

Not everyone in Gaza agrees with Joe Biden’s claim that Israel has “gone too far” in its retaliatory war against Hamas (barenakedislam.com)

I so, so, so want to believe that this guy is sincere.  I so, so, so want to believe that he’s genuine in his condemnation of Hamas and not of Israel.  Like this journalist:

 

https://granitegrok.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/palestinian-journalist-speaks-out.mp4

 

And this guy – again, I WANT to believe co-existence is possible.

 

https://granitegrok.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/arab-muslim-israeli-thanks-israel-supporters.mp4

 

It’s just that I understand, on an instinctive level, what a cultural and religious propensity to lying in the service of jihad is.

Taqiyya: Deception and Lying in Islam (thereligionofpeace.com)

—

 

https://granitegrok.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/thats-the-terrorists-fault.mp4

 

—

Media gets the IDF’s use of AI completely wrong ~ Elder Of Ziyon – Israel News

Arm-chair quarterbacks.

 

 

ISLAM: PRACTICES, HISTORY, AND MENTALITY

“I assure you, madam, if Jews were chopping off heads and slitting throats, I’d be spending more time looking at Judaism” (barenakedislam.com)

Video.

—

 

https://granitegrok.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/cant-trust-the-un-period.mp4

 

Why?  Because NO TREATY signed with a kaffir has actual meaning.  Mohammed himself set the precedent.

Myth: The Treaty of Hudaibiya (thereligionofpeace.com)

In parallel, NO SANE PERSON should trust the UN.  Ever.

 

 

 

 

—

 

 

Arabs are from Arabia.  How’d they get to Israel?  Oh, wait… colonization!  Speaking of, this is an amusing video:

 

https://granitegrok.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/i-am-a-white-colonizer.mp4

 

Don’t forget the Jews have been there the entire time:

Jews – a continuous presence in Israel, no matter who was in control (rumble.com)

 

 

ATROCITIES

Muslim terrorists on Oct. 7 at rally point (rumble.com)

The video begins at a gathering point for a huge force of Hamas Terrorists in a nature reserve west of Kibbutz Beeri, seemingly where they met after crossing the fence Once the Toyota begins to drive, we can hear the euphoria in their voices ahead of the crimes they are about to commit.

Here are a few excerpts from what they say to each other as they speed towards Israeli communities:

(01:30): “Oh, the weather is great!”

(02:06): “This is the hour for Jihad! This is the hour for Jihad!”

(02:15): They taunt [Israeli prime minister] Netanyahu.

(02:20): “My God is generous with us! In the name of God we will succeed!”

(02:37): “It will take them two years… no…. 20 million years to figure out what happened here!”

(03:00): “We must livestream it on the GoPro! It’s a must!”…. “Don’t worry, this will be seen live so everyone [in Gaza] will follow us!”

At (03:20), the Hamas Terrorists arrive at Kibbutz Be’eri, the site of one of the worst massacres. They begin to scream out, “BE’ERI, BE’ERI!” while laughing uncontrollably.
(03:50): “Walla, I will die a holy death!… God be with us!”
(03:59): “Send anyone and everyone our way! Oh Allah, the Great!”

At (04:27), they approach road 232, and we can hear the driver screaming, “Where is [the city of] Netivot?”

At (04:48), We can hear the driver start to sing a jihadist song, “Qariban Qariban,” which was famously adopted by ISIS. After he finishes singing, the driver stops to shoot intensely at an Israeli civilian car.

At (05:45), the driver sees a family station wagon approaching down the road. We can hear the driver say, “Give him lead Mahmoud!” The terrorists then fire assault rifles, an RPG, and a heavy machine gun at it until finally they approach the vehicle.

At (07:20), the terrorist says, “Clean it [the vehicle] out! Clean it out!”

The driver’s fate is unclear.

—

Presented as videos (not just links) – but understand, the content is horrible.

 

https://granitegrok.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/sexual-violence-discussion-1.mp4

 

https://granitegrok.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/sexual-violence-witness-1.mp4

 

https://granitegrok.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/sexual-violence-witness-2.mp4

 

—

From here:

Shocking new footage from Oct 7 reveals Hamas kidnapping Thai agricultural workers.

 

https://granitegrok.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/thai-workers.mp4

 

—

Understand what happened here.  A man is running, carrying his daughter… clearly a civilian.  And he’s gunned down.  Video, link only.

Fleeing man gunned down while carrying his daughter

 

 

ON INTERSECTIONALITY / LEFTIST SUPPORT

 

 

—

 

https://granitegrok.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/fighting-on-college-campuses.mp4

 

—

Islamic scholar who endorses Hamas, Hizballah and Palestinian Islamic Jihad lands job at Columbia University (jihadwatch.org)

Now, imagine a school hiring a KKK “Grand Wizard”.

 

 

PALLYWOOD & MEDIA DISTORTIONS/LIES IN GENERAL

Last week I did this post showing how Gaza is, absolutely and without any doubt by anyone with three brain cells that speak to each other, NOT an “open air prison” or “concentration camp”:

Pre-War “Concentration Camp” Gaza – Granite Grok

I just rediscovered this video – “Thanks Hamas”.  Look at all that’s in Gaza – or was.  NOT the “concentration camp” that is claimed:

 

https://granitegrok.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Thank-You-Hamas.mp4

 

Nice buildings, clean streets in good repair, greenery, markets full of food, maintained beaches, hospital halls, water parks / amusement parks, restaurants & hotels, kids rollerblading… every single second of this video gives absolute lie to the idea of a “concentration camp”.  Here’s another video:

 

https://granitegrok.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/where-is-the-concentration-camp.mp4

 

Now comes this article:

Countering ‘Pro-Palestine’ Propaganda Part 5: Gaza is an Open-Air Prison :: Middle East Forum (meforum.org)

The evidence is there, right before your eyes.  The problem is demoralization, as described by Yuri Bezmenov (link only):

Yuri Bezmenov – How To Demoralize A Nation. (youtube.com)

And Sowell:

 

 

With a parallel word from fiction:

“Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.”

― Brian Herbert, House Harkonnen

Because that belief, tying in with Sowell, makes the believer feel virtuous.  And, having tied that virtue to a specific belief, the belief is engraved in their minds lest – in actually assimilating contradictory information and having to reconcile it against their beliefs – they slide to undermining their belief in themselves as virtuous.  The vast majority of people do not have the strength of character to make that self-assessment / self-correction.  Thus they reject anything that would call into question their virtue.

I, personally, have seen this in action multiple times.  For example, in a “discussion” a few years ago about abortion and Planned Parenthood with a loonie-leftie fellow Yid coworker, I said that Sanger sp0ke at Klan rallies.  He didn’t believe it.  I pulled up proof on the computer – a picture of her at a Klan rally.  He literally stared and refused to believe it, actively called it a fake, even when I found a newspaper article giving background on the event.  For him to acknowledge this would undermine his faith that abortion was good.  So he rejected it in toto lest his view of himself, in supporting abortion, be undermined by the realization of abortion’s racist roots.

—

Uncle Tom and the Happy Dhimmi: Reimagining Subjugation in the Islamic World and Antebellum South :: Middle East Quarterly (meforum.org)

This is a particularly egregious form of Pallywood – implying that until Israel was restored in 1948, all was fine between Jews and Muslims.

—

The Hamas way | Power Line (powerlineblog.com)

Introduction to a podcast.

—

Indoctrination in schools:

 

https://granitegrok.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/indoctrination-in-schools.mp4

 

—

Media Leaves Out Key Details to Paint Israel as the Aggressor (jihadwatch.org)

Leaving out all the pesky details that might put Israel into a better light.  Related:

Guardian completely avoids journalism in promoting ‘starvation’ libel < CAMERA UK (camera-uk.org)

 

 

TERROR COMING HERE?  TO THE WEST?

 

 

—

Islam is an existential threat to Western civilization – Winds of Jihad (sheikyermami.com)

Yes it is.  And, as I’ve wailed before, too damned many Jews want to bring more to the West:

An Open Letter to Pro-Migration / SJW Jews – Urban Scoop

And you want more of these people here?  Video grabbed from the link in case it gets disappeared.

A MusIim Girl was brutaIIy beaten in the streets of Raqqa/Syria by her family in an “honour killing” crime. Her family chased her in the streets and dragged her from hair. She was screaming and everyone kept watching. One of thousands of honour killing crimes Among MusIims.

Link only:

Dad beats daughter on Syrian street

Other examples:

“IRELANDISTAN?” (barenakedislam.com)

UC BERKELEY: Violent pro-Hamas, anti-Israel Muslim thugs shut down event hosted by Jewish students (barenakedislam.com)

“Us Muslims are coming for you, you dirty Zionist motherf*ckers” (barenakedislam.com)

The Left and Islam.  Allies.  Speaking of, here’s that LEFTIST guy who self-immolated:

I didn’t go far enough – Gun Free Zone

 

 

—

And in the Caliphate of England… – Gun Free Zone

How long till we will see live televised/streamed stoning and beheadings from Trafalgar Square?

Projecting images on London landmarks calling for the genocide of Jews is not a criminal offense, say police (barenakedislam.com)

If you are a British Jew in the UK, your application for a passport could be denied (barenakedislam.com)

Contrary to popular Muslim propaganda, Islam DOES NOT mean peace… (barenakedislam.com)

 

 

TREADING ON THE POLITICAL

Blinken: New Israeli housing units ‘inconsistent with international law’ – JNS.org

The problem is that these delusional idiots think peace is possible with people who are sworn to destroy you. And one more thing: the addiction to the impossible.

Does Palestinian Violence Have Benefits? – The Lid (lidblog.com)

The Two-State Solution is an unquestionable.  You simply cannot – in the halls of power – doubt it.

The World Prepares to Recognize a Hamas Palestinian State (jihadwatch.org)

The Biden administration also wanted Israel to defeat Hamas, but not to defeat it too much.

The administration is worried that if Israel wins in Rafah, it will win too much and be much less interested in its diplomatic solution of creating a “Palestinian” state which it believes is the real solution to the conflict. And it needs Hamas to provide pressure on Israel to create such a state.

The same failed idea that has haunted the region for decades is that Islamic terrorism can only be defeated by giving the terrorists some, but not all, of what they want. Much as it did not occur to the State Department that the Taliban would want everything, it refuses to believe that Hamas would want everything. And every time the negotiations fall apart, history is rewritten again.

In an article published in early October, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan described the negotiations that had brought peace between Hamas and Israel. “We have de-escalated crises in Gaza,” he boasted. The online version of the article has been edited to remove those words.

A lifeline to terrorists.

Hey, Joe Biden and all your EU co-conspirators, it’s the Palestinians who don’t want a two-state solution (barenakedislam.com)

Related:

Biden Regime Warns Israel Not to Interfere With Hamas Members Stealing Aid (jihadwatch.org)

—

Biden Moves To Attach Conditions On Israel Using US Weapons In Gaza  | ZeroHedge

So where are the calls for Hamas to obey international law?

Is Clueless Biden Getting Closer to Abandoning Israel? (townhall.com)

Not just clueless.  Deliberately deceptive.

Joe Biden puts lipstick on Palestinian pigs ~ Elder Of Ziyon – Israel News

—

US launches unprecedented investigation of company producing Iron Dome parts | Israel National News – Arutz Sheva

Does ANYONE think this is purely coincidental?  And, being the paranoid sort, I have to wonder about this too now:

Biden might have torpedoed the truce talks ~ Elder Of Ziyon – Israel News

 

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GIVING SUPPORT TO ISRAEL

You can’t go wrong with a donation here:

Connections Israel

And please share this post far and wide.  There’s a lot of info here that many people don’t know.  Post it, email it, share widely.

Also, if you’re willing:

Buy Me a Coffee

 

 

A CONCLUDING THOUGHT FOR THIS POST

In the Middle East, You Win with Fear :: Middle East Forum (meforum.org)

Only a crushing and devastating blow to Hamas will pave the way for a truce that would not be a victory for the terrorists. Such a truce would survive much longer than a half-baked truce that survives only several months until another extortion scheme.

I keep saying this.  I will continue to say this.  Peace with a hostile enemy is only possible once they’ve been crushed.  And it is critical to understand the culture: to them, mercy and such are signs of weakness to be exploited until you get the upper hand.

Know your enemy.

 

The post Israel: Ongoing Links, Memes, and Commentary appeared first on Granite Grok.

In January 2024, there was a meeting of the New Hampshire House State-Federal Relations and Veteran Affairs committee. The committee heard two separate bills on secession.

The first one, CACR 20, would be a constitutional amendment that would see the people of NH vote to amend the constitution to say that if the federal government’s national debt reaches $40 trillion, New Hampshire shall peacefully secede from the union.
The second one, HB1130 would form a commission to study everything we would need to know about secession, such as economic impact.

This is video of the full public hearing for both bills and the people’s testimonies.

Nikki Haley may need to find another war to run on (There’s always Gaza!) to keep her Military Industrial Complex (MIC) Campaign Cash Flowing. Ukraine is losing, Russia is winning, and the only players who don’t want Peace are in NATO. But Peace is in the Air, and it’s been a bad week for the MIC.

Ukraine lost the “strategically paramount, fortified city of Avdiivka,” after which Russia launched an unstoppable border-wide offensive. Two days ago, the CIA used the New York Times to burn all of its “secret” assets in Ukraine, and today, we learn that Russia and Ukraine were both in Saudi Arabia in immediate succession in hopes that the Saudis can negotiate Peace.

 This morning, the Jerusalem Post covered the fast-moving story headlined, “Ukraine’s Zelensky holds talks with Saudi prince to push for peace plan with Russia.”

Peace plan! According to the article, on Tuesday Zelensky and a team of Ukrainian support staff went to Saudi Arabia to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and a whole lot of other Saudis.

The Saudis gave Zelensky the royal treatment. Literally, in this case. The day before, on Monday, the Saudis coincidentally hosted a delegation of Russian officials.

The timeline suggests there would have been just enough time to put the two meetings together if the Ukrainians started working on it late last week, either after the New York Times story broke on Wednesday or possibly right after CIA Director Burns’ visit. Either way, the Ukrainians are now seeking a peace deal from the Russians through one of its closest allies and new BRICS member, Saudi Arabia.

Not Peace through strength or Peace through war but Peace through … Peace. Zelensky likely sent his opening terms – which means a bunch of things he knows he won’t get, a few he likely can – last week after losing Avdiivka the previous week (and does this make him a Putin apologist?). Russia is all over his eastern front, and giving 61 billion to US arms manufacturers in the name of Ukraine isn’t going to help anyone but Defense contractors, not that the US doesn’t need to restock the sorts of things a nation might toss downrange in a conflict (but we have a budget/appropriations process for that and it’s one of the few Congress actually got done).

Feel free to speculate on the cascade of failures, but the CIA one is the most interesting.

First, longtime CIA watcher Mike Benz agreed with me that the 34-page Times’ article was an obvious CIA plant, but one paragraph convinced him the disclosure was actually just an effort to pressure Congress to pass the $61 billion Ukraine aid package by selling what terrific work the CIA was doing in Ukraine and how it needs funding to continue.

I disagree with Mike for four reasons.

One: the CIA could have much more easily assigned an attractive analyst with a compelling pair of visual aids to directly persuade Speaker Johnson (and anyone else in Congress) in a classified briefing without burning its network; it does that kind of thing all the time. Second, the CIA, like cockroaches, never do their scurrying out in the open. The network is useless to the CIA now its cover is blown, so there is no longer any need for CIA funds. Third, Ukrainian officials seemed deeply upset by the disclosures, rather than salivating over chances for a new plane-load of cash pallets. Fourth, though the reporters tried to squeeze the disclosures into a strappy dress, they wound up looking more like a balding, middle-aged, trans NATO general trying to pull off a tight skirt look.

Childers further posits with prompting from a reader that even the CIA might be afraid they can’t stop Trump, and it’s time to bury all the bodies before there’s something for which there’s no plausible deniability. But there’s still a lot of Joe and Hunter Biden stink and plenty of Obama’s, too (Joe was his point man in Ukraine). His people were there, did things, as things, hid things, tried to impeach Trump for asking about them (and succeeded), and then pushed the NATO thing that started the war.

They must have had a lot to hide besides secret Biolabs and secret CIA infrastructure (like the massive laundromat for taxdollars that became war funding). If Peace comes, expect the uniparty to try to launder recovery dollars through Ukraine to keep the train rolling until the last possible moment. Elections, after all, can be stolen. And if you did it once, you can do it again, though not in Delaware. A judge just struck “down a law allowing early voting and unlimited mail-in voting because those things were barred by the plain language of the state’s constitution.”

If judges in a few more states can find their constitutions before November, who knows what the CIA might have to consider.

The post UniParty Forever War in Danger: Zelensky Wants Peace – Visits Saudi Arabia Right After Russia appeared first on Granite Grok.

I recently attended Ian Underwood’s presentation titled “Back to Schools” at the Sullivan County GOP Committee meeting, during which he argued coherently and consistently for separating the concerns of what to include in government-funded schools and what to exclude.

The main thrust of the presentation was identifying how the reality of Education Freedom Accounts, EFAs, do not support the goals that many of their proponents claim and that the most crucial question, what is the goal of education, is obscured by the EFA discussion.

The presentation happened shortly after the SAU#6 deliberative session. During that deliberative session, the administrators were congratulated on their outstanding performance, and a school board member described the goal of education as raising New Hampshire residents focused on creating a fairer New Hampshire. It’s hard to imagine a situation more at odds with Ian’s perspective.

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

The incongruency between the deliberative session and Ian’s presentation caused me to think of how the vital questions raised by the presentation could gain the consideration they deserve from the taxpayers. If, as Ian claimed, EFAs are not a market-based solution to education issues, what would constitute such a solution? Then it dawned on me. There isn’t one because New Hampshire’s education structure mirrors a pre-market capitalism economy. It is a feudal model.

As the name and morphology imply, the State is the omnipotent ruler. The SAUs are fiefs granted by the State. The administrative staff serves as the barons who receive the rent the State extracts from the taxpayers, who are the serfs. The administrative staff direct the use of the rent in maintaining the fief. The teaching staff are the overseers who perform husbandry services on the students, who are the livestock. Changes in the size of the herd do not impact the amount of rent extracted from the serfs. Changes in the amount of rent do not affect the nature or quality of the husbandry services implemented by the overseers.

Feudalism ended in continental Europe primarily due to the black death reducing the number of serfs, which indirectly led to the rise of wage-based employment. Sadly, the persistent reduction in enrollment that New Hampshire has experienced won’t play a similar role now because the students are just livestock. The proponents of EFAs may eventually play a role analogous to Martin Luther’s, e.g., throwing the peasants under the bus in return for favorable treatment by the State. None of this fills me with hope for the future.

The post The Feudal Model of State-funded Education appeared first on Granite Grok.

Parents bring children to drag queen story time and brag about it. NH House Democrats walked out of a meeting disgusted by the subject matter and then voted to keep that subject matter in school libraries.

When the woke are so aimed at “Look at how woke I am” and have no issue with smut in school libraries, or having transvestite, transgender, transsexual teachers, and having no problem with transgenders in the girl’s bathrooms, the deviance runs much deeper than just the deviants themselves.

I think I am going to call them Deviant Enablers.

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

I have one question: if the claim that “homosexuality is a normal variant of human sexual orientation” and we were to have a catastrophe like losing power, as we lost cell phone service on Thursday, February 22nd, but this time for a long period of time, if the majority of Normal people are Homosexuals, what happens to our civilization?

I don’t think these medical experts, highly intelligent people overall, with degrees up the Wazoo, even consider the basic facts of actual true science.

homosexuality and mental health

 

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If you are not familiar or as likely forgot, (then) sitting Democrat State Senator Jeff Woodburn, his aspirations to one day run for governor dashed, was accused of multiple counts of domestic assault by his (then) Democrat girlfriend.

Scriptwriters and producers can wade through the details of the drama here. The accusations pitted Democrats against Democrats from within and outside the North Country political apparatus. Innocent appliances were harmed. Court orders were ignored. It was an amusing spectacle. He said she said. Democrats were picking sides. Jeff even ran for office again but found himself – in the shadow of #metoo and #believewomen – lacking “he said” support. Bloggers paradise.

Related: We Called It: Democrat Jeff Woodburn Admits to Leaking Image Under Protective Order

After a series of mishaps and delayed court appearances, Woodburn was charged and later convicted, but on appeal, the State Supreme Court eventually overturned that on a technicality. Keep in mind that Woodburn was found guilty of things to which he admitted but not what he did not, and even bragged about that to the press and on social media. The NH High Court commanded Woody be retried and evidence allowed that had previously been withheld (incorrectly, according to NH’s Supremes).

Since that verdict, the Defense has been playing games with court dates, most recently requesting that because Woodburn’s (New!) lawyer, Mark Sisti, is a Town Moderator and has been for many years, the Court date chosen months ago would not work as it is the same day as the Town Meeting. It’s one of those things you’d think might have come up when discussing trial dates when scheduled.

Sisti also posits several other considerations in a request for continuance, tossing Jeffy’s previous lawyer under the ‘Win with Woody’ bus in the process.

The State filed an objection opposing any more delay, noting that it has been six years. Mr. Woodburn is still dragging this out.

Woody has made it clear in his statement to the press in May 2021 that he found it “gratifying” that a jury found him guilty of (only) the crimes to which he admitted.

The Judge wasn’t having any of what Sisit was shoveling.

The Court has denied the untimely motion to continue, noting that Sisiti had 8-months to make the request when the date was set in early June 2023 and again two months later in August. Jeff Woodburn will go on trial again in a few weeks, and we will see what we see. The State will most certainly use his public statements of guilt as evidence, so I’m not sure what the Defense thinks it can offer to contradict that.

Mr. Woodburn has run out of places to hide. He will have to stand in court unless he and his lawyer are thinking of testing positive for COVID on March 11th, something the Court might want to verify before suggesting they appear masked, which would hold a certain irony.

 

The post North Country Political Soap Opera Continues – New Episodes March 12th appeared first on Granite Grok.

Bill SB567 was introduced in New Hampshire in January which supports coerced abortions via the abortion pill. It is sponsored by all ten NH Democrat state senators.

Lines 23-26 of the original bill describe how the authors of the bill believe abortion pills are good for abused women who are being coerced into having an abortion.

VIII. For many people seeking abortion, access to medication abortion is not a preference, it is critical for their access to care, including but not limited to, survivors of rape or domestic abuse, for whom medication abortion may be the only way they can terminate a pregnancy without risking detection and further abuse.

The practice manager for Equality Health Center in Concord, Sarah Anderson, admitted last year that her abortion facility administers abortion pills to women who are being coerced into having an abortion.

We have had people choose medication because they have to prove pregnancy loss to a partner to keep themselves alive.

In 2022 an article in the Boston Globe described how a young teen girl was repeatedly raped by a New Hampshire government employee at the Sununu Youth Services Center in Manchester. When she became pregnant, she was taken to an abortion facility where she was administered abortion pills against her will, very likely at the Manchester Planned Parenthood.

Related: State Employee Rapes Girl and Sununu Wants to Help Cover up Future Cases

Learn more about forced abortions at theunchoice.com.

The post New Hampshire Democrat State Senators Endorse Coerced Abortions appeared first on Granite Grok.

Seeing your children beam with wide grins and bright eyes makes any gift instantly worthwhile. While the latest video games, smartphone gadgets, and fashion trends capture their attention temporarily, experience gifts create lifelong memories that bond your family, unlike short-lived material items.

Read on for top tips on selecting incredible kids’ experience days, guaranteeing genuine smiles, laughs, and maybe even some grateful hugs, making gifts that money can’t buy truly priceless.

Gift Shared Family Time

In today’s busy world, finding connected quality time together ranks as a top priority for happy families, though often elusive. Experience gifts facilitate treasured moments free from daily distractions truly engaging together, such as:

• Adventure Days – Ziplining, rock climbing courses, surfing lessons, kayaking tours or circus skills workshops place families in exciting settings cooperating trying new thrills.

• Escape Rooms – Mystery-layered themed puzzles require listening, communication, and teamwork for families to “escape” scenarios covering everything from bank heists to tropical islands within tight time limits.

• Volunteer Days – Jointly helping others doing good deeds at animal shelters, food banks, homeless assistance centers, children’s hospitals or conservation efforts bonds families in shared purposes bigger than themselves.

When reminiscing over life’s highlights, shared adventures trying new exploits, using minds collectively or helping others in need earn top billing over material gifts lost to childhood memory.

Lean Into Their Interests

The most effortless ways to delight kids focus on what already brings them joy. Experiences aligning with current crazes consuming their attention span hit bullseyes. Consider:

• Disney Gifts – Gift cards let kids direct their own magical VIP tours of theme or water parks picking favourite rides, character meals with beloved figures, princess makeovers and more.

• Superhero Training Camps – Let young Marvel and DC fans engage with gaming, cosplay trivia contests and mock stunt training emulating famous crime fighting moves from Black Widow strikes to Spiderman agility drills.

• YouTube/TikTok Workshops – Aspiring influencers learn filming techniques, editing software tricks, content brainstorming and promotion tactics from professionals at creative studios tailored for their demographic.

When kids steer experiences based on their unique personalities, confidence and interests, the sense of ownership, agency and validation elevates enjoyment even more.

Add Extra Surprises

Amp up anticipation and excitement going the extra mile embellishing gift reveals in delightfully unexpected ways. Ideas include:

• Festive Invites – Design creatively themed invitations slipped under pillows summoning them to mystery “missions”, wizard academies or elite training centers building suspense.

• Costumed Characters – Arranging visits from beloved fictional characters like Disney princesses, superheroes or storybook figures doubles delight bestowing gifts in magical character fun.

• Puzzle Pieces – Write trip details on individual jigsaw pieces requiring piecing clues together before the full picture and destination is finally revealed.

Making kids work detective-style unleashing experiential gifts or surprising them fancifully in costume show next-level thoughtfulness increasing gift impact.

While kids soon outgrow material gifts, lifelong positive imprints form from shared family adventures trying empowering new exploits together. You can visit WonderDays for more ideas on kids gift. Strengthen family bonds treating kids to extra special experience days uniquely tailored just for them!

The post How to Make Your Kids Happy with an Experience Days Gift appeared first on Granite Grok.

Did you know that Volodymyr George Washington Zelensky has opened Ukraine’s National Guard to Americans?!?! Oh … it’s true. It’s true:

Foreigners and “stateless persons” will be allowed to serve in Ukraine’s National Guard, according to a decree signed Feb. 21 by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

And the timing couldn’t be better for New Hampshire’s mighty Sun-King, Chris Sununu. The Sun-King has had it … HAD IT … with “isolationists” like Tucker Carlson. Ukriane’s fight is our fight! Ukraine’s border is our border! Salva Ukraine! Salva Ukraine! Salva Ukraine:

But I have this funny feeling that the mighty Sun-King won’t be joining Ukraine’s National Guard anytime soon. You see ,when globalist/corporatist/elitists like Chris Sununu talk about strong national defense and projecting American strength, blah, blah, blah … what they really mean is enriching the military-industrial complex and themselves.

But I would love the mighty Sun-King to prove me wrong. Head on over to Ukraine, Chris, and join Ukraine’s National Guard. Walk the walk, big guy.

 

The post Night Cap: Sun-King Chris Sununu To Join Ukraine’s National Guard!?!?!? appeared first on Granite Grok.

In response to Steve’s article this week on Public Schools and Mental Health, “Another Example of Government Trying to Grow to Fix A Problem it Created,” check out Vermont’s data on its public school enrollment.

Grades K thru 12: 72,093
Pre-K: 7843

Keep in mind that Pre-K is for 3, 4, and 5-year-old kids who spend less than 10 hours per week in their respective programs for about half the weeks their K-12 counterparts spend in their respective classes. And Pre-K is most often a ‘tuitioned’ school choice, provided by ‘Private Providers & Contractors’.

My concern rests with the projected total FY25 ‘education system spending of $2.7 Billion’, indicated on pages 2 and 19 of the Agency of Education report cited above. If we take this dollar amount and subtract Pre-K costs, we’re left with $2.666 Billion for K-12 costs. That equals $37,029 per K-12 student spending.

Keep in mind, too, that the VT Agency of Education employs more than 37,000 full-time equivalent staff, from bus drivers to teachers to principals to student interventionists, educating and servicing these students. That’s fewer than two K-12 students per employee, with each employee receiving higher-than-average pay rates and gold-plated benefits. And it makes for a significant voting bloc, too.

My local Vermont school district, one of the more expensive in the State, is spending just north of $28,000 per student, including Special Education, according to our recently published budget to be approved at Town Meeting. But that’s $9,000 per student less than the State per student cost when the 72,093 K-12 students are divided into the ‘projected total education system spending of $2.7 Billion’.

It’s one thing to analyze the financial statements of a school district. My local district financial statement is 22 pages long, with more than 700 spending line items for 193 students. Tough enough. But doable. But it’s another entirely to audit the Vermont Agency of Education budget. Clearly, local control only goes so far. Figuring out that there’s extra fluff of $650 Million in the VT AOE budget is one thing. Determining where it goes is another.

Postscript: As I opined yesterday at VDC, it’s not just Vermont’s out-of-control spending that’s an issue. At last count, more than 50% of Vermont’s high school graduates didn’t meet minimum grade-level standards in reading, writing, math, or science. Not to mention the destruction of the family unit via parental lockout on gender dysphoria and healthcare issues, the quadrupling of drug overdoses over ten years, and the doubling of 15 – 24 year-old suicides last year alone. It’s hard to fathom the extent to which the behavioral breakdown of our societal norms is accelerating. And still, public educators are pointing their fingers at parents, even while they and their legislative enablers do everything they can to prevent those parents from being able to choose the education programs they believe are best for their children.

The post Check Out This Data On Public-School Enrollment. appeared first on Granite Grok.

The last time I checked, the uniparty, led by the political left, wasn’t all that keen on separatists, secessionists, and anarchists, but as the saying goes, never let a “crisis” go to waste.

Aaron Bushnell, an active-duty US air force senior airman from San Antonio, Texas, died in hospital on Sunday several hours after he doused himself in a flammable liquid and set himself alight outside the Israeli embassy in Washington DC. …

According to the Air Force, Bushnell was a cyber defense operations specialist with the 531st Intelligence Support Squadron at the joint base San Antonio. He had been on active duty since May 2020. And he was set for discharge in May after a four-year term of duty.

Had Bushnell lit himself up to end the war in Ukraine, we’d likely not know his name. Were he a martyr for election integrity or women’s sports, the Machine Media and its puppet masters would have framed him as a nutjob crank. He still is, but his cause was theirs, so he is a hero. And yes, confirmation bias works both ways, but that’s not what concerns me.

How does a self-proclaimed anarchist with some screws loose become an Air Force “cyber defense operations specialist with the 531st intelligence support squadron at joint base San Antonio.”

According to reports, Bushnell was raised in something of a religious cult “on a religious compound in Orleans, Massachusetts, run by a Benedictine monastic religious group called the Community of Jesus.” Again, not your typical left-wing hero, but if the talking point fits.

Oh, and according to “Officials at Southern New Hampshire University … Bushnell had enrolled for an online computer science degree course in August 2023 and was registered for a new term beginning next week.”

He had discussed life after the Air Force with friends. He was planning to add to his education. But then he decided to set himself on fire for Palestine, and Democrats have been instructed to elevate him to political sainthood.

Strange.

 

The post Self-Immolated Active Duty Air Force IT Specialist Was a Self-Admitted Anarchist appeared first on Granite Grok.

Live cattle prices are racing for the sky, up nearly 12% in the previous two months. Most forecasts predict increasingly high beef prices in 2024 as ranchers strive to rebuild herds depleted by the double whammy of drought and the pandemic. As farmers rally across Europe and American consumers helplessly watch their grocery tabs soar, food prices are likely to continue their rise.

This is especially true for beef, and here’s why.

An increase of a few pennies per pound for the price of a large animal may seem insignificant, but “live weight” sales of cows compound through processing: Only about a third of the bovine makes it into human larders. Additional impacts on the consumer’s price tag include costs of slaughter, processing, packaging, and distribution. All of these have inflated, but beef prices are poised to bloat further.

Those pennies add up very quickly. Live beef prices were $1.62/pound for cattle on Dec. 7, climbing nearly 5% to $1.70 on Jan. 8, and 11.7% by Feb. 2, when the market closed at $1.81. This is merely six pennies away from last November’s $1.87 per pound, the highest price for beef in US history. Moreover, the latest jump represented four cents (2.47%) in two days: If such beef inflation persisted, the live weight of a cow in a year would approach $9 per pound. That seemingly small increment in live animal prices thus signals a powerful market move.

Where’s the Beef?

Like all commodity markets, beef prices are subject to various factors, and price shocks can occur due to disease, environmental factors, geopolitical turmoil, sharp shifts in consumer demand, or international trade agreements. Underlying these variables in 2024 are somewhat novel industry conditions that relate to herd size, drought, and economics. America is literally short of cows. These agricultural realities promise sustained high beef prices through 2024 and 2025.

During COVID-19, many US beef slaughter and processing facilities shut down, backing up inventories of American beef awaiting slaughter. A crushing drought concurrently drove up feed prices, withered pastures (requiring the purchase of yet more pricey feed), strained animals, and dried-up water supplies. Many farms liquidated cows and other livestock prematurely, even as they plowed wilted feed crops into the ground. Texas farmers sold off an estimated 50% of that state’s cow herds in 2022; New Mexico reportedly reduced herd size by 43% and Oregon by 41%. Many farmers around the nation simply sold up and stopped rearing cows.

USDA reports that America’s beef herd numbers are now lower than they have been in five decades. These modern cows boast improved genetics over the bessies of our forebears due to selective breeding, offering significantly higher slaughter weights. However, the dramatic reduction of US cow numbers will not be rebuilt without a short-term leap in prices.

Meat Alternatives

Chickens for the American dinner table can be raised from chick to plate in a matter of a few months, and hens lay eggs nearly daily. Pigs yield large litters twice annually, and their young are raised for market in four to five months. Sheep generally deliver twins or triplets, ready to eat in four months to a year. Cows are very different animals, and their flesh cannot be accelerated to market like manufactured goods when consumer demand increases.

A cow’s gestation period is 285 days (nine and a half months) compared to a pig’s 114 days and a sheep’s 147 days. Cows rarely have twins, and that single calf for meat will take two years on grain to raise to slaughter weight, adding another six months for grass-fed. Drastic shocks to beef ranching thus require a longer time for a rebound than other livestock farming, and this shock has been drastic. As prices rise, farmers will hold back cows and heifers (young female calves) for future breeding programs as they have already lost breeding stock. New market entrants will seek breeder cows, while many consumers eyeing nosebleed steak prices will seek an animal to fence into a few acres for their own use if they have the space. Meanwhile, strong milk prices mean fewer dairy farm culls for the meat-packer.

Demands for replacement breeding stock will thus compound beef price increases, creating a vicious market cycle as animal scarcity for both grocery stores and farmyards fuels a buying frenzy usually reserved for real estate bubbles and Beanie Babies. But cows are food, and Americans have a thing for their burgers and fries. They will keep paying the higher prices.

Food Inflation Widespread

Although beef prices have rocketed 30% higher since February 2020, pork is up 27% and chicken 45% (and eggs 50%). Relative to other meats, beef remains competitive. As beef prices climb moonward in 2024 and beyond, Americans will still want their barbecued favorites. Studies show consumers desire quality beef cuts to replicate restaurant dining at home. They seek “value,” and they value beef every bit as much as the developing populations that consistently increase their beef consumption as soon as it becomes economically affordable. (That growing demand, too, continues to boost prices.)

Fake meats will not assuage meat-eating tailgaters at NASCAR races and football stadiums: Even vegans are becoming disenchanted with the stuff. Highly processed meat alternatives are not competitive on taste, even if they do manage to compete on cost. People are becoming aware of the health benefits of red meats (especially grass-fed) as opposed to high-carb diets, and it is unlikely they will ever prefer a cricket burger with fake beet juice masquerading as blood over a quarter-pounder with cheese. Synthetic meats might offer an alternative, except the industry has been hopelessly stalled by problems delivering edible products at cost or scale. It is light-years away from meeting the growing meat demand.

European farmers have vocally risen up against ill-conceived agendas by governments to reduce cow numbers and shutter farms. American consumers largely insulated from the travails of their native food growers will doubtless be gaining a crash course in the life cycle of cows in 2024, as the reality that one cannot quickly rebuild devastated herds impact supermarket checkout counters. So, too, will the calls to eliminate gentle cows be brought into greater political relief as tension rises between the human palate and technocratic climate cult fantasies.

Outlook 2024

Many variables still bear on the future of beef prices. The USDA intends to open US beef markets to Paraguayan cows, which could serve either as a pressure valve against price shocks by procuring additional ready-for-table inventory or a complete tire-popper if dreaded hoof-and-mouth disease infects US herds via the Paraguayan vector. Mild winter weather would help fatten cows and reduce feed costs. Conversely, brutal cold snaps deter weight gain and increase input costs. The colder it gets, the more cows eat and the harder it is for them to maintain their condition.

Amid these unforeseeable variables remains a predictable shortage of animals that will persist as ranchers scramble to meet consumer demands for quality beef products. Imported animals and drought-cushioned prices for two years while quietly seeding the current shortfall. Consumers will not be over the moon at the news, but hamburger is likely to remain pricey until the cows come home.

The post Beef Prices Just Jumped Over the Moon: Here’s Why appeared first on Granite Grok.

I’ve been writing about the government-assisted suicide slippery slope for a while, so seeing this particular aspect of my predictions for the practice is not surprising. It is, however, still alarming, or it should be.

In 2021, [Kayla] Pollock, being immunocompromised and a type one diabetic, received two doses of the Pfizer jab after hearing mainstream media, politicians, and public health officials urge everyone to take the experimental shots.

Another reason that Pollock took the injection was to visit her father in a long-term care facility. Pollock said she did not feel any adverse effects after her first two shots.

Just four days after receiving a Moderna Booster (her third COVID shot), “she collapsed after her legs “gave out.” She was able to get up a short time after but experienced the same thing nine days later. Pollock then called her doctor, looking to see a neurologist.”

Within a few weeks, she was paralyzed from the neck down.

Pollock was given an MRI, which revealed that she had a very large lesion on her spinal cord. According to an audio recording taken by Pollock’s boyfriend, the neurologist said that his “gut impression” was that “it was caused by the vaccine,” adding that many people have had similar conditions.

Safe AND Effective.

Pollock, a mom in Ontario, is not just a victim of the government-run healthcare system; she’s trapped in it, which makes her a burden on the system and the taxpayers who support it. The Health Care Industrial Complex lied to her and put her in an untenable situation, leading to her infirmity. That same system thinks it would be a great idea if they could convince her to let them end her life.

Pollock was later diagnosed with transverse myelitis, a condition that interrupts the transmission of messages along the spinal cord nerves throughout the body. During her several-month stay at the hospital, Pollock revealed that doctors offered her so-called “Medical Assistance in Dying” (MAID), or euthanasia, twice, but she refused both times.

Good for her for refusing, but the system that put her here must now care for her, and she doesn’t have a lot of options. The other important point is that, as the doctor noted, “many people have had similar conditions.” That there are millions of others with other conditions, including mental health issues resulting from non-pharmacological interventions. Loss of jobs, income, homelessness, loneliness, drug abuse, and alcohol abuse are all extensions of the government’s desire to scratch its totalitarian itch.

Many of those individuals will be counseled by government “health care professionals” to embrace death as a result of something the government did to them. They might not be in as dire a circumstance as Kayla, but this is true for all of them. They will keep asking.

And, if the Government gets powerful enough, a time might come when you don’t get a say and they don’t need to ask.

 

The post Slippery Meet Slope – Doctors Recommend Assisted Suicide to Woman Paralyzed by COVID Jab appeared first on Granite Grok.

As promised in Monday Memes, I have an overflow. My meme cup runneth over.  And yes there will be a Friday edition too.

Let the mayhem, mockery, and ridicule resume:

 

*** Warning, a few possibly off-color ones, in case tender eyes are about.  Definitely some rather “colorful language”! ***

 

 

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

 

 

They can scour posts for every keyword and so on related to Covid & The Jab or J6 or 2020, but can’t stop this?  Something doesn’t add up to me.

 

 

 

 

Honestly, if there’s anyone who thinks they WON’T try to steal it, they’re a lost cause at this point.

 

 

Understand – I don’t want to be doubting things.  I don’t want to be looking at things wondering “What’s the motive”?  I don’t want to believe that there are incredibly powerful groups of people wanting me dead.  I just want to live my life.  Being paranoid and not trusting was forced on me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Room and board, right?

 

 

 

Every time I go vote I wonder if I’ll get there and be told I already voted… and WTF do I do then?

 

 

No, no, no – that’s just not possible here.  Said the people with stability privilege.

 

 

 

Between this and “carbon capture” they risk killing all life on earth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MHO, you want access to women’s spaces?  You gotta be committed and lose the junk first.  Then we’ll talk.

 

 

 

 

Like comedian Jimmy Dore said, research used to be called READING.

 

 

 

 

Odd that they’re updating this now, isn’t it.

 

 

 

 

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

 

PSA – PSA – PSA – PSA – PSA

 

 

If this goes through, then YOU WILL OWN NOTHING is coming soon after.  All they need to do is track house appreciation and, when your house goes up by – say – 50%, demand part of that.  And hit you with this every couple of years as they run the presses and drive prices ever-higher.  And if you own any jewelry, will that be counted as gold and silver prices skyrocket?  Don’t bet against it.  Art?  Doubtless.

 

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

 

Links (some from me, some from my Jarhead friend):

 

Caught Red Handed: Fauci, Gates & Moderna are responsible for the COVID Pandemic – U.S. D.O.D issued a ‘COVID-19 Research’ contract 3 Months before COVID was known to exist – & Fauci & Moderna had a Vaccine ready in Dec. 2019 – The Expose (expose-news.com)

How did they have “Covid 19” already named before the first documented case?  (I know, rhetorical question.)

RFK, Jr.: The Secret at Simpsonwood, Mercury & the ‘A’ Word (deeprootsathome.com)

More and more I am 100% convinced that pharma is an industry that, while it might occasionally benefit, the goal is profit no matter how many are injured, maimed, or killed.

Report 94: Pfizer Secretly Studied a Heart Damage Marker, Troponin I, in Five- to 15-Year-Olds, Following mRNA COVID Vaccination in 2021. (substack.com)

While the CDC was urging parents to vaccinate their kids, Pfizer was studying how badly its mRNA COVID vaccine damaged children’s hearts.

 

 

Do not forget this video:

 

https://granitegrok.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/naomi-wolf-they-knew.mp4

 

Also:

Pfizer, FDA, CDC Hid Proven Harms to Male Sperm Quality, Testes Function, from mRNA Vaccine Ingredients (substack.com)

COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines: Lessons Learned from the Registrational Trials and Global Vaccination Campaign – PMC (nih.gov)

A paper with notable authors!  On the Jab:

Arguments for Halting Covid-19 Vaccines (substack.com)

In general about medicine:

Why the public continues to lose faith with the medical community – Behind The Black – Robert Zimmerman

—

It Would Be a Shame if Anything Happened to Your Kid… | Gates of Vienna

Remember, these people are missionaries.  They’re creating a “better world” and you, your kids, your country, don’t matter to them.

 

 

—

France says Western troops in Ukraine possible without breaching ‘belligerence threshold’ – Insider Paper

And yet:

‘No plans for NATO combat troops’ in Ukraine: official – Insider Paper

US ‘will not send troops to fight in Ukraine:’ White House – Insider Paper

Which brings to mind this:

 

 

Official: Johnson Forced Kyiv To Refuse Russian Peace Deal ━ The European Conservative

—

NY & The End Of The American Way Of Life | Armstrong Economics

Doug Ross @ Journal: VICTOR DAVIS HANSON: The Left’s 20 New Rules (directorblue.blogspot.com)

I am, again, reminded of this movie scene:

A Man for All Seasons – The Devil Speech (youtube.com)

Along with the truckers boycott of NYC, capital investment firms are openly saying “don’t do business in New York any more”:

https://gellerreport.com/2024/02/ceo-of-cardone-capitol-declares-immediately-discontinue-all-underwriting-on-new-york-city-real-estate-in-wake-of-insane-ruling-in-trump-case.html/

Related:

https://gellerreport.com/2024/02/big-money-flees-ny.html/

—

Canada Set to Criminalise Christianity · Caldron Pool

The Lord their Marx is a jealous deity.  And it won’t just be Christians.  Anyone with any faith in a being higher than man.  Related:

 

 

 

—

Biden Unveils LGBT Rules to Force Males into Girls’ Restrooms at School (substack.com)

Utter degeneracy.

—

Bill Gates Says India’s Digital ID Must Become Mandatory in America – The People’s Voice (thepeoplesvoice.tv)

Bill Gates of Hell should go there.  The sooner the better.  Related in my mind:

Our Sneaky Phones (townhall.com)

—

Home Insurance Costs Rapidly Surging — Could Force American Families Out of These 10 States (resistthemainstream.com)

Another way for them to force you to get out of your house.

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was on a business trip to China several years ago.  Oddly, nobody stopped by my room to offer me diamonds.

 

 

 

Willful blindness + stupidity = bad consequences.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

Pick of the Post:

 

Not specifically a meme (picture), but… Trump should post this, and others like Barackus, Chuck E Cheese Schumer, Pelosi, and more, and simply say “I’m Donald Trump, and I approve the Democrats’ message”:

 

https://granitegrok.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/clinton-on-illegals.mp4

 

This one’s a good start!

NEW – Trump’s new ad: “You’re not safe in Joe Biden’s America.”

 

https://granitegrok.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/gaslighting-on-border.mp4

 

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

 

Palate cleansers:

 

—

—

 

Throw in some broccoli sautéed with a lot of garlic!

 

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

 

Come back on Friday for more memes.  Same meme time.  Same meme channel.

 

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

 

The post Meme Overflow appeared first on Granite Grok.

Laken Hope Riley was a 22-year-old attending the University of Georgia. She was well respected and loved on campus, and people who knew Laken were impressed with her energy and willingness to help anyone in need. People admired Laken’s love of life. Laken went for a run last week on a popular running trail that has been trusted and used by students and staff for years.

It was on this trail that Laken met Jose Antonio Ibarra. It was on this trail that Ilbarra supposedly killed Leken, ending her life before it really started. This senseless end of Laken Riley’s life did not have to happen but did because of the reckless decisions of Joe Biden and Alvin Bragg. Laken’s death will be forever on the conscience of Joe Biden and Alvin Bragg.

Ibarra is an illegal migrant from Venezuela who has been in this country for two years. He was arrested in New York City in 2023, less than one week after he entered illegally, for assault on a minor but was released before ICE could take him into custody. Now, he may have elevated his terror on our country by killing an innocent co-ed, changing a family forever. We had him, let him go free, and now a beautiful young woman with her life and dreams before her will be laid to rest.

The White House finally made a statement today, giving their condolences to the family. When George Floyd died in Minneapolis, the Biden White House posted over 25 text messages in the first 24 hours. When this poor excuse for a human was wading across the Rio Grande, everyone from Biden to Harris to Mayorkas down to the incompetent Karine Jeanne-Pierre was gaslighting America that the border was closed and secure. They lied because they never had any intention to close this border and defend the sovereignty of America. These globalists, who put globalism over Nationalism, can now go to the Hallmark Shop, buy a sympathy card, sign it, and send it off to the family of Laken Hope Riley.

Biden has announced he will visit the border when the AAA Triptik arrives. He has announced he will not initiate any actions on that trip. He will hold off until the State of the Union before he does anything to secure the border with an Executive Order. He has been blaming the Republicans for months for not giving him the funds to secure the border, and he could do nothing without the backing of Congress. He Lies. He opened the border on day one by Executive Order and knows precisely what must be done to close the border today. Holding off until the State of the Union will give him the biggest bang for the buck.

Joe and his border czar, Kamala Harris, have avoided the border for three years. He delayed his visit to East Palestine, Ohio, for a year before his visit last week. He was met with such a cry of negativity that mainstream media could not cover the event. What is he going to do to take responsibility for the premature death of Laken Hope Riley? Whatever he does, it will be inadequate but will beckon the spirit of Beau.

The post Say Her Name, Joe. Her Death Is On You appeared first on Granite Grok.

For each individual case of shooting a portrait, depending on the peculiarities of the appearance, as well as the emotion conveyed, a special lighting mode is required. Every portraitist should be familiar with these basics, so that then be able to vary them at a professional level, competently breaking the rules when necessary. And the Retouchme Pro service, available at https://retouchme.com/pro/packages/portrait-retouching will help to make the shot perfect.

Basic lighting schemes

Below are the most popular and effective lighting options for portrait photography:

• Split light. The peculiarity of the reception is to divide the face into two contrasting parts: one is in the shade, the second is brightly lit. It is enough to set the lighting device at an angle of 90 degrees in relation to the camera, on either side of the model – left or right. The light should fall on one side of the face, and on the shadow part from it remains only a glare in the pupil.

•  “Loop”. The peculiarity of the scheme is a small shadow on the cheek, falling from the nose of the model. To achieve this result, it is necessary to place the illuminator not at the level of the eyes of a person, but a little higher, while turning at 30-40 ° from the camera. The type of face also matters, so the angle of installation should be corrected.

• Rembrandt’s scheme. Shadows from the cheek and nose merge, forming an illuminated figure resembling a triangle. In this case, the glare of light should be present in both pupils. To get the desired effect, ask the person to turn slightly away from the window. It should be above the head of the model.

If we talk about professional shooting, then it is best to use a mirror technique that has a lens with a good focal length. For the studio, it should be within 55-135 mm, which will help to create high-quality photos with a beautiful background, without distorting the face.

Light retouching tasks in portrait photography

Even when using high-quality equipment, sometimes it is not possible to avoid some nuances that can affect the quality of the portrait. Light retouching is an essential part of the process to emphasize natural beauty, correct shadows and highlight details. Retouching light with Retouchme Pro will be a good choice for a number of reasons:

• Ease of use. The platform is available around the clock, you just need to upload your photos to the site and specify your wishes, which can cover not only light correction, but also: skin retouching, face reshaping, teeth whitening and more. The platform offers customized processing, which is performed by the service team, not artificial intelligence.

• Broad capabilities. Shadow correction, deep texture work, softening and removing imperfections – this is a short list of services. Light retouching allows you to highlight key elements of a portrait.

• Quality level. Retouchers carefully select filters and presets for each of your photos. Processing is done manually, so the result is significantly different from many mediocre applications.

The waiting period after uploading a photo is no more than a day, and the price of processing one photo starts from 50 cents and will depend on the amount of work and your requirements. Thus, Retouchme Pro will not only give portraits perfect lighting, but also create the right atmosphere, emphasizing the expressiveness of faces and adding additional accents.

The post The Role of Light in Creating Spectacular Portraits appeared first on Granite Grok.

Michigan has a caucus and a primary on different days, and they both assign delegates. Yesterday, the Wolverine State held its primary, and like it or not, Trump pulled almost 70% of the vote.

While 16 Michigan delegates to the Republican National Convention were allocated based on the primary results, the majority—39—of the state’s 55 delegates will be awarded as a result of caucusing on March 2.

The main event will be in Grand Rapids, where former Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-Mich.) will oversee a convention at which party insiders will vote on how to divvy up the remaining delegates.

When Darling Nikki lost her state, she proudly announced that the number of voters she got wanted to change. The primary issue was that in South Carolina, she was only popular in heavily Democrat counties ). But we already knew Democrats didn’t want Trump. We also know that Haley is far too entangled with the uniparty to represent anything but a fresh face on an old problem.

The Donald, on the other hand, is far from perfect, but he has a record of doing things that put America and Americans first, and that had resonated in seven straight primary victories with 50% or more of the vote.

Given that this is a Republican Party primary, it might not be in the best interest of Americans or America to accept Haley’s claim that the Democrats voting for her want something different from what we’ve experienced in the past several years. After all, Joe Biden got 81% of the Democrat vote in his Michigan Primary.

 

The post Trump Crushes Haley in Michigan With Nearly 70% of the Vote appeared first on Granite Grok.

“The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, we must think and act anew.” ~Abraham Lincoln

America, the land of liberty, has long been a beacon of hope and opportunity for people worldwide. Its founding principles – liberty, freedom, and justice – have shaped its identity. This foundation, laid by the framers, has come to be known as American Exceptionalism.

However, in the face of evolving challenges, it is imperative that we not only understand the concept but actively work to preserve and strengthen it for future generations.

When asked what kind of government the delegates had created, Benjamin Franklin famously replied, “A republic if you can keep it.” These words hold even greater significance as we confront a crucial juncture in our country’s history.

The slogan “Make America Great Again” is not merely a catchphrase; it embodies a call to action, a commitment to uphold the values that have made America exceptional. In recent years, however, these values have come under attack. The Obama/Biden administration failed to deliver its promises, leaving many Americans disillusioned and disheartened. To the leftists, failure is not only acceptable but expected.

Since Donald Trump announced his candidacy, the Democrats have launched one failed hoax after another in an attempt to derail his presidency. Their efforts, driven by fraudulent claims and partisan agendas, have only sought to erode the genuine efforts of a president with good intentions.

But now is not the time for despair. Our highest priority must be the preservation of our nation’s freedom. We have faced challenges before and emerged more robust, and we must do so again.

The threats we face today are manifold: encroaching Islamism, socialism, Marxism. These ideologies seek to undermine the very foundations of our society, threatening our individual liberty and prosperity. But we cannot afford to succumb to fear or complacency.

To combat these threats, it is crucial to articulate clear policy proposals that uphold American values. This includes: 

• It is strengthening educational programs that promote an understanding of American history, values, and the principles of democracy.
• We are advocating for policies that support the free market and individual freedoms, thereby countering the collectivist ideologies that seek to undermine these principles.
• Promoting international cooperation and alliances that support the spread of democracy and the rule of law, thereby countering the global reach of authoritarian ideologies.

Freedom, in all its forms, is our greatest legacy. Throughout history, brave men and women have fought and died to protect it. From the battlefields of Europe to the jungles of the Far East, Americans have made countless sacrifices to safeguard our way of life.

In the not-too-distant past, we confronted and defeated the forces of Nazism, Fascism, and Communism. We stood firm against tyranny and oppression, refusing to waver in adversity. And now, we must once again rise to meet the challenges of our time.

The insidious threat of leftism, socialism, Islamism, and Marxism looms large, but we cannot afford to shrink from the fight. We must meet these challenges head-on, with courage and determination.

Now is the time to stand up and be counted. We cannot give up or give in. We must be willing to do whatever it takes to preserve our nation’s freedom and ensure a bright future for generations to come.

This will require unity, resolve, and a steadfast commitment to our core principles. We must be willing to defend our freedoms against all who seek to undermine them, whether foreign or domestic.

But we cannot do it alone. We need the support of every patriotic American who believes in the principles that make this country great. Together, we can overcome any challenge and emerge stronger than ever before.

For those who are concerned about the direction of the country, there are practical actions that can be taken to support the preservation of American values:

• Vote in elections, and this is a must.
• Participate in local community activities and public discourse to influence policy and public opinion.
• Educate yourself and others about the principles of American exceptionalism and the importance of defending these values.

Defending America against all enemies is not just a slogan but a solemn duty that falls on everyone. We must be willing to stand up for what is right, defend our freedoms, and ensure that America remains a shining beacon of liberty for the world to see.

Now is the time to rise to the occasion, embrace the challenges before us, and reaffirm our commitment to the principles that have made America the greatest nation on earth. United, we will prevail.

These profound words from John F. Kennedy still resonate deeply: “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.”

The post Preserving Freedom in the Face of Challenges appeared first on Granite Grok.