The smell of fresh Australian air in Julian Assange’s nostrils is a liberty neither he nor most of the rest of the world thought would ever be afforded a man who so tenaciously defied the planet’s strongest superpower. Credited with having exposed US military actions through the publication of documents leaked by whistleblower Chelsea (Bradley) Manning, Assange has endured a long ordeal. So has the First Amendment.

The Assange Odyssey

For 14 years, various governments have pursued the harried Assange as retribution for whistleblower journalism alleged by the United States to have been a conspiracy to disclose classified national defense documents. Both Manning and Assange have claimed that the former’s identity was unknown to the WikiLeaks founder at the time of the document transfer.

Sweden issued an arrest warrant for Assange in November 2011 for sexual assault charges, prompting him to jump bail and seek asylum in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, where he holed up for nearly seven years. His odyssey continued when friction with his hosts led to his arrest and transfer to Britain’s infamous HM Prison Belmarsh in April 2019. Belmarsh (aka Hellmarsh, notorious for the harsh treatment of prisoners) is home to many violent serial killers, terrorists, and rapists.

This week, a bargain with the United States reduced the original 18 criminal counts of conspiracy to a single guilty plea under the US Espionage Act for conspiring to obtain and disclose classified government documents. In exchange for his plea, Assange received credit for time served in Belmarsh and was immediately released to his native Australia, where his wife and two sons anxiously await him. Assange did not travel to the United States for sentencing, instead appearing before a US judge in the Northern Mariana Islands.

A Free Speech Battle

It is a relief to many who view Assange as a free-speech icon that he will not rot in prison. Yet after seven years of isolation in a London embassy and then five more in a London prison (mostly in solitary confinement), the 52-year-old is enduring health struggles. He has, arguably, already rotted.

Assange had no choice but to accept this plea: It was a bird-in-hand for him and a face-saver for the US government and Biden administration. Had he rejected the deal, he would have embraced a dice roll before a judge or jury, where he may have been convicted: He is now on his way home.

It might be that the victories for both sides of this battle have been Pyrrhic. Assange succeeded in exposing US lies and perfidy, resisted extradition to the United States, and controlled many aspects of his ordeal, but he did not avoid prison or familial separation. The US government may have secured a conviction, but the mighty American giant was resisted by a single Australian who kept slipping away like a 21st-century Houdini.

In the end, Assange was released due to a confluence of pressures. A UK court ruling in May paved the way for him to interpose the US Constitution’s First Amendment protections as defense, which threatened a dangerous precedent for the federal government. The Biden administration has long signaled a desire to close the matter under strong and persistent pressure from Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Some have suggested the November election also hung over the deal.

Free speech and journalistic integrity may have suffered more than Assange. Open political and religious speech are the foundations of the First Amendment. The international witch hunt for a young hacker who pioneered using the internet against those in power chills critical journalism, especially for those working on national security issues. Government officials counter that recklessly releasing information places foreign agents and US military personnel at risk.

The Assange saga held a mirror up to a mainstream media that has co-opted its journalistic integrity to curry favor with the powerful. Where was the call from the journalism community to protect Assange from prosecution? Where was the press of the Watergate and Vietnam eras?

Hero or Rogue?

Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been a consistent supporter of Assange. Following news of the plea deal, Kennedy called for a monument to be erected to celebrate Assange and Edward Snowden “as a civics lesson to the American public about the importance of free speech.” Kennedy focused on the importance of Assange’s efforts for the free distribution of information:

“A transparent government is the essence of democracy. That’s what Julian Assange did for us,” he said, noting that the government will “constantly try to increase its power by reducing transparency.” He continued:

“One of the things that’s happened with the press is that they no longer do that job. They’ve become propagandists for government, rather than speaking truth to power. They’ve become stenographers and propagandists for government.

“We saw this during COVID. We saw it during the Iraq War. It almost always is a bad idea for the press to keep the government secrets.”

The lengthy ordeal of Assange’s defiance has extended through several presidential administrations and various dramatic chapters of near-capture and clever evasion. Was Assange a purposeful pioneer with a digital pen or a dangerous troublemaker with no loyalty? The answer to that question depends on whether one believes governments should conceal their machinations from the public in the interest of the common good, or be held liable for their every action.

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

The post The First Amendment Odyssey of Julian Assange appeared first on Granite Grok.

New Hampshire is at a pivotal juncture as it debates the future of sports betting legislation. The political landscape is complex, with various stakeholders voicing their opinions. Understanding the dynamics at play is crucial for anyone interested in the state’s regulatory framework.

The evolving political environment surrounding sports betting legislation in New Hampshire is capturing widespread attention. As a resident or someone invested in the state’s legislative decisions, it is essential to grasp the key players and their motivations. The outcome of these debates will significantly impact both local and state-level regulations.

The current legislative landscape

New Hampshire’s political climate is currently characterized by a blend of conservative and progressive viewpoints, making the debate over sports betting particularly interesting. Services such as betway live sports betting have been a topic of heated discussion, primarily because it touches on both economic opportunities and moral considerations. Lawmakers are weighing the potential revenue streams against societal impacts, striving to find a balanced approach that satisfies multiple constituencies.

Understanding who stands where can be challenging, but it’s clear that some lawmakers see sports betting as a financial boon for the state. Revenue from betting goes towards funding public services such as education and infrastructure improvements, which are always in need of additional funding. However, others caution against the potential social drawbacks, like gambling addiction and its associated costs.

The debate has also been influenced by the experiences of other states that have legalized sports betting. New Hampshire lawmakers are closely studying the successes and challenges faced by pioneers in this field, such as New Jersey and Pennsylvania. These case studies provide valuable insights into potential regulatory frameworks, tax structures, and consumer protection measures. By learning from others, New Hampshire aims to adapt its current legislation to maximize the benefits while minimizing potential drawbacks, setting a new standard for responsible sports betting regulation in the region.

Key political figures and their stances

One must consider the roles of prominent political figures when analyzing New Hampshire’s sports betting legislation. Some have shown support for regulated sports betting, viewing it as a viable way to increase state revenues without raising taxes. In contrast, some conservative lawmakers remain skeptical due to ethical concerns and the fear of increased gambling addiction rates.

Many Senators have been vocal advocates for sports betting, emphasizing its economic benefits. Arguments often highlight how many states have successfully implemented laws and reaped financial rewards. This viewpoint, counterbalanced by opposition from other lawmakers who voice concerns about societal impacts, creates a dynamic debate atmosphere.

Public opinion and its influence

The general public’s opinion plays a significant role in shaping the legislative environment. Recent polls indicate that a substantial portion of New Hampshire residents support legalized sports betting if it comes with robust regulatory measures. This public sentiment is essential for legislators to consider, as they strive to create policies reflecting their constituents’ preferences.

Additionally, advocacy groups on both sides of the debate are actively campaigning to sway public opinion. Proponents argue that regulated sports betting would bring transparency and consumer protections to an already existing market. Meanwhile, opponents focus on potential downsides, such as addiction and increased crime rates.

Economic implications

The economic implications of legalizing sports betting are significant and multifaceted. On one hand, there is the potential for substantial tax revenue that could support various state-funded programs. On the other hand, there are costs associated with regulation and enforcement that must be considered.

For example, estimates suggest that legalized sports betting could generate millions in tax revenue annually for New Hampshire. This influx of funds could be allocated to critical areas like education, healthcare, and infrastructure development. However, it’s crucial to balance these potential benefits against the administrative costs required to regulate and oversee the industry effectively.

The post Political Dynamics Influencing New Hampshire’s Sports Betting Legislation appeared first on Granite Grok.

We have a Catbird in our yard this year. It’s a pretty thing. It is a dynamic flier and a fast hopper. It almost looks like it is running across the ground (roadrunner style), but its most distinctive quality is that it never shuts the hell up.

https://granitegrok.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Cat-Bird-Call.mp3

Listen to the Catbird (0:22)

It is a very chatty bird, and while its ‘song’ is complex (diverse?) and even beautiful, it never seems to stop.

I don’t think my wife is a fan of this bird, and while she’d never suggest we get a cat-cat to get the catbird, if the bird found somewhere else to be, it would not displease her.

The endless repetition bugs her the same way she is put out by droning 90s grunge rock (Would? by Alice in Chains, for example, which I love, but she is not a fan).

Droning and depressing, she says. That’s the point, I say.

Birds of a Feather

I shared the bird soundbite to make a political point. Progressive-leaning politicians have a habit of telling you who they are or what they are doing by repeatedly claiming it is what their opposition is going to do. Joe Biden is a great example.

We were told that Joe was going to bring Adulting back to DC. We’d have unity, peace, a great economy, blah, blah, blah. Underscoring that was the same catbird who had been “singing” endlessly about how Trump (after his election in 2016) was going to start World War III, crash the economy, dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria.

Dictator Trump would crush you under his Fascist thumb.

No such thing happened under Trump, quite the opposite. But politics is marketing (and a few other things), and Democrats and then Team Biden convinced some people of something until he stumbled his way into the Oval Office. After which, the economy, jobs, inflation, and Middle East Peace all went to sh**!

The border is such a mess that even Democrats are pissed and put out, and we’ve been watching the proxy war in Ukraine escalate us as close to WWIII as we’ve come since (perhaps) the Cuban Missile Crisis. Peace was an option, and they scuttled it and then sent obscene amounts of US wealth (plus debt) to fund more war. Iran? Isreal?

And it is safe to say “divisiveness” is at a record high.

Everything they accused their opponents of they are doing or plan to do (true to form).

Same Old Song

If you missed it, they are recycling that same fear as we approach November 2024 (and getting high on their own narrative supply) despite four years of none of that under Trump and three years of a lot of it under Biden.

Part of that manifold of ills includes a war on Free Speech that ramped up during COVID then went on Steroids when Joe B’s Obamabot support staff took the reins. The Blob (State/CIA/NSA/Media) weaponized and mechanized under Barry Obama metastasized digitally under Biden. The terms misinformation, disinformation, and mal-information became integrated into the collective consciousness thanks to the politicos and their media water carriers who, like the catbird, wouldn’t shut the hell up.

From the same cabal that parroted “Safe and Effective” (it was neither), a pandemic of the unvaccinated (to hide how the vaccine didn’t stop infection or spread), masks (that didn’t do what they said), lockdowns and distancing (no science supports it), and their fear campaign against cheap, safe drugs that could have helped millions —they got almost nothing right.

The go-to source for medical misinformation and disinformation was the people saying they needed to suppress our speech to protect us from what turned out to be the truth.

The Government Lies a Lot

These are not the only examples, but they provide a look behind a much larger curtain.

The limited discovery produced so far (in Missouri v Biden) provides a tantalizing snapshot into a massive, sprawling federal “Censorship Enterprise,” which includes dozens of federal officials across at least eleven federal agencies and components identified so far, who communicate with social-media platforms about misinformation, disinformation, and the suppression of private speech on social media—all with the intent and effect of pressuring social-media platforms to censor and suppress private speech that federal officials disfavor.

The goal is no different than the standard acts of Lawfare used against J6ers.

No one in DC cares about some protesters getting into the Capitol unless it is to disrupt the one chance Trump had to challenge the election results. This is actually the best reason to believe it was incited by government agents. The blob didn’t want the House and Senate looking closer at what was one of the weirdest elections in twenty years, and to send that message home (don’t do that), regular Americans discovered what their democracy might do to them should they dare to gather and seek redress under the First Amendment.

Indefinite detention and a show trial for what was one of the most “more peaceful protests” since June – Sept of 2020.

Guilt or innocence, even eventual pardon, does not matter. The point has always been the pain of the journey as a lesson to others.

The answer lies in forced preference falsification. When those who speak up in principled opposition to a dictator’s policies are punished and forced into silence, those with similar opinions are forced into silence as well, or even forced to pretend they support policies in which they do not actually believe. Emboldened by this facade of unanimity, supporters of the regime’s policies, or even those who did not previously have strong opinions, become convinced that the regime’s policies are just and good—regardless of what those policies actually are—and that those critical of them are even more deserving of punishment.

The Internet makes this play more difficult, so the Blob adapted into what I have called nothing short of a fascist cabal. Big Tech does what the Government asks, and as a favor, the Government will not crush it like a bug under a rising tide of regulations, investigations, and lawfare.

They Can’t be Trusted

From Elections to COVID, to Basement Joe, and Hunter Biden (and his laptop), the Big Tech Deep State cabal used technology and intimidation to control what Americans saw, read, and heard in the run-up to the 2020 election and long after.

(When The Left’s opponents appear to do the same thing, it is a Russian disinformation campaign.)

During all of it, the droning mantra of the catbirds in government was that they needed you to help them, censor speech they didn’t like. As I’ve noted in the past, if they are allowed to get it wrong, why aren’t we?

If the government has a right to be wrong, so do you—not just then or now but always, loudly, and often. When the right to be wrong proves detrimental to the rights of others, inquiries must be made with rules that are narrow and limited in the interest of protecting free speech – because our rights and our liberty as individuals cannot exist without that.

We must be free to challenge, engage, refute, or support the expression of others, even if we or they get it wrong.

If we let the government intervene on our behalf, it will only ever intercede to advance its own interests—predetermine truth on its terms, which the pandemic proved to be a terrible, tyrannical idea.

It feels like an extension of “local police and Federal agents can lie, but lying to them is a crime.” Elevated and amplified, the result is what continues to be an effort by actors in your government to use technology to de-amplify, silence, or censor things that might be true but that make them look bad (Mal-information).

They want to control it and you and what you can see, hear, read, and say, and only you can stop it. So, if you are concerned about disinformation, stopping the government from having a monopoly on it is a good place to start. Only in a free and open internet, or any space where people can publicly exchange ideas, can they be tested and affirmed or dismissed, just like science (by the way).

Anything else is just another shade of tyranny, and you don’t want to be part of that, do you?

The post Looking for Disinformation? The Government is The Best Place to Start appeared first on Granite Grok.

CBD and THC are the main players in the cannabinoid world. Most people don’t know about CBG, a more potent hemp compound. Recent studies show that CBG offers a plethora of health and wellness benefits. But with the many hemp varieties on the market, choosing the best CBG strain can be challenging.

However, this guide is here to help you if you are interested in using CBG. The article will include tips to consider during purchase. The article also includes some of the best CBG strains available on the market.

Find the Right Source: Quality Matters

Where you buy your CBG matters a lot. Don’t buy from any weed dispensary without knowing where they get their hemp. You could check here or look out for reputable weed shops in your town or city. Start by reading reviews and customer testimonials to learn more about the shop or hemp farm.

Renowned weed shops provide independent lab certificates detailing the CBG strain’s terpene and cannabinoid profile. This information will help you know what therapeutic and wellness benefits you will get from the strain.

Identify Your Therapeutic Needs

This is a crucial step that most hemp users ignore when shopping for CBD or high-CBG hemp strains. Knowing your needs will help you pick the best strains from the wide pool of CBG strains. Do you want something to calm you after a long day at work, or are you looking for a mood booster to make your house party more fun?

Remember, each strain offers unique benefits. Lifter strains are energy boosters, suitable for a productive morning or creative afternoon when your energy is depleted. Downer strains bring more calmness and mind clarity. These strains are perfect for after-work smoking sessions as you prepare to go to bed.

Explore the Delivery Methods

There is no one perfect way of consuming CBG products. Most people prefer vaping because it helps deliver the effects fast. It also looks cool and is more calming if you want to have more fun chasing clouds.

Another popular product is CBG oil. You can add the oil to your smoothies or other drinks of choice. However, you can still place a drop of the CBG oil under your tongue for faster absorption. Some say that the results kick in quickly due to the many blood vessels found under the tongue.

CBG edibles are also available on the market. You can purchase gummies or cookies infused with CBG extract. However, you must be careful not to overindulge when consuming cookies.

Popular CBG Strains

In most cases, CBG strains are classified by their CBG content. High CBG strains or CBG dominant strains are the most potent. White CBG is a popular strain known for boosting creativity and focus. It is suitable for daytime or afternoon use when you need more energy to focus on your tasks.

Oregon Cherry CBG is loved because of its unique aromas. Its CBG content isn’t high compared to White CBG. Many users like it for its calming properties. Some claim that it does a perfect job of providing pain relief.

The post CBG Strain: Choosing the Perfect Strain For Wellness and Recreation appeared first on Granite Grok.

I am grateful this Independence Day that our nation still fights for the fundamental liberties our forefathers secured for the world to see. This Substack is itself evidence that Americans still value free speech, as we all seek to find truth in a world of unethical journalism and untrustworthy government.

Farmers have long served as the backbone of this nation and its liberties. Farmers supplied our Revolutionary War forces in our divorce from the British, and are just as necessary today to liberate Americans from dependency on processed foods and government control.

Today’s America is surreal. Our borders, institutions, laws, and values are being systematically tarnished in a culture war grounded in contempt for America and its culture. Never has the Fourth of July been so meaningful: we must embrace and nurture the good of our nation with humility and gratitude.

But a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.” John Adams

I expect Montpelier, Vermont will host a Fourth of July parade today without any American flags — though perhaps a colorful display of pride, unicorns, and rainbows. Instead of celebrating sexual desires and fantasies today, I will be reflecting on things I took for granted as a child — the Pledge of Allegiance and My Country Tis of Thee in public school, celebrating the Bicentennial in 1976, experiencing a nation truly aspiring toward equality and freedom of speech, rather than totalitarian domination in the name of liberty of identity.

Let us reflect humbly on what our nation has been, and what it will become in the near future.

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.” Ronald Reagan

Happy Independence Day!

 

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

The post Happy Independence Day! appeared first on Granite Grok.

My story begins in Chengdu, China, at the dawn of the Cultural Revolution, an insanity that gripped millions of my countrymen. We were destitute, as were most Chinese during this period.

We lived in a primitive worker’s row house by a river sharing one tarp-covered outhouse and one water faucet with eight families. We had a mud floor that, after occasional flooding, would sprout mushrooms.

My parents were illiterate workers, so their positions in the state factory were too low to be rationed much food. A full belly was a luxury. My uncle even taught me how to trap rats for food. All we knew was a life of arduous labor and chaos. Little time was spent thinking of philosophical fantasies concerning ‘oppression’ and ‘rights,’ so we labored to survive, hoping only that we would endure.

Despite the socialist rhetoric, school and childcare were not free. I even missed school for a year to babysit my infant brother. Yet despite the few resources available to Chinese students, I committed all of my energy to excel in school when I could go. But in Communist China, even fleeting joy is crushed in the young by ideological rigidity, for I was denied entry into Mao’s ‘Young Pioneers.’ The pain was not in the denial but in learning that my friend reported me for showing ‘too much pride in my grades.’

We want to thank Lily Tang Williams for this Contribution – Please direct yours to Steve@GraniteGrok.com.
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From that moment forward I was the model communist citizen. I wrote ideologically validating diaries. I memorized Mao’s words. I recited his political slogans as prayer and made sure that every word I uttered was politically correct. Mao was our god, and I was his faithful disciple.

This mindset served me well for a time, for when Mao shut down all churches and temples, I mourned not. In 1976, when I was 12 years old, Mao died, and the Cultural Revolution came to an end. When the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) admitted that Mao was only a man and the Cultural Revolution was just a mistake, my faith in the CCP began to crack.

China’s renaissance began, colleges reopened and after years of hard work and preparation, I was able to pass the national entrance exam. I was accepted into a top tiered university to study law.

I had hopes that China should not be ruled by men, but by law. Yet even the law was an extension of the wills of men, modeled after the Soviet Union legal code. It was the antithesis of justice.

I learned an important lesson from Mao’s regime: to become a slave, the ‘true horrors’ are not the shackles placed around one’s wrists, but the ones that are self-imposed.

No longer secured by the shackles of cognitive slavery, but not able to find solace in a just code of laws, I became cynical and rebellious, even befriending foreign students on campus to learn if there was more to life.

It was during this time I met an American student. What he showed me would forever change my life — the Declaration of Independence. When I read the lines, ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident… (that all men) are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,’ they shattered what remained of my mental shackles. What ideas! Rights come not from the benevolence of the state, but from God.

All I had ever known were ‘collective rights,’ the workers’ rights, the rights of peasants, etc. Never had I imagined that I, an individual, had rights. Those words only served to embolden me and my dreams. Knowing where they came from, I began to look to that ‘City upon a Hill.’

I eventually made it to America in 1988. In the decades since, I have thrived in this great country. I earned my graduate degree, married, raised three children, started my own business, searched for deeper truths, learned much about liberty and the free market, rid myself of CCP indoctrination, naturalized as a U.S. citizen and volunteered in my local community.

I have traveled around the country to share my personal stories and educate our youth about the horrors of Communism. I am running for congress today in New Hampshire to save American ideals and American Dream.

I will always defend the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, the documents with the words that freed me from my enslavement and helped me choose America as my home.

I have always wanted to thank our founding fathers who wrote the Declaration of Independence, the most beautiful document ever written.

Happy Independence Day!

The post The Forefathers Shattered My Communist Chains appeared first on Granite Grok.

If you’re a homeowner, you might have heard about home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) as a way to tap into the value of your property to finance various expenses. While HELOCs offer flexibility and potential advantages, they also come with risks and drawbacks. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the pros and cons of a HELOC to help you decide if it’s the right financial tool for your needs.

Exploring Personal Loans Online

Before diving into the details of HELOCs, it’s worth mentioning another financial option: personal loans online. Personal loans offer a lump sum of money that can be used for various purposes, without requiring collateral like your home. While personal loans online may be suitable for certain situations, they differ from HELOCs in terms of flexibility and interest rates.

Understanding HELOC Pros

One of the primary advantages of a HELOC is its flexibility. Unlike a traditional loan, where you receive a lump sum of money upfront, a HELOC functions more like a revolving line of credit. This means you can borrow funds as needed, up to a predetermined credit limit, and only pay interest on the amount you use. Additionally, HELOCs often come with lower interest rates compared to other types of loans, making them an attractive option for financing large expenses like home renovations or college tuition.

Access to Equity

Another benefit of a HELOC is that it allows you to access the equity you’ve built up in your home. Equity is the difference between the current market value of your home and the amount you still owe on your mortgage. By tapping into your home’s equity through a HELOC, you can access a significant source of funds to cover major expenses or consolidate high-interest debt.

Tax Deductibility

In some cases, the interest paid on a HELOC may be tax-deductible, depending on how the funds are used. For example, if you use the proceeds from a HELOC to make home improvements, the interest may be tax-deductible. However, it’s essential to consult with a tax advisor to understand the specific tax implications of using a HELOC in your situation.

Considering the Risks

While HELOCs offer several advantages, they also come with risks that borrowers should be aware of. One potential downside is the risk of foreclosure. Since a HELOC is secured by your home, failure to repay the loan could result in the lender foreclosing on your property. Additionally, because HELOCs typically have variable interest rates, your monthly payments could increase if interest rates rise, making it harder to budget for repayment.

Variable Interest Rates

Speaking of interest rates, the variable nature of HELOC interest rates means that your payments could fluctuate over time. While this can be beneficial when interest rates are low, it also means that your payments could increase if rates rise, potentially putting strain on your budget.

Closing Costs and Fees

Like any financial product, HELOCs often come with closing costs and fees, which can add to the overall cost of borrowing. These fees may include application fees, appraisal fees, annual fees, and early termination fees. Before taking out a HELOC, be sure to carefully review the terms and conditions to understand all associated costs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a HELOC can be a valuable financial tool for homeowners looking to access their home’s equity to finance major expenses. However, it’s essential to weigh the pros and cons carefully and consider your individual financial situation and goals before proceeding. By understanding the benefits and risks of a HELOC, you can make an informed decision about whether it’s the right option for you.

The post Pros And Cons Of A Home Equity Line Of Credit appeared first on Granite Grok.

You’ve likely heard the old saw, “There’s never a cop around when you need them,” so the next public safety question is, “Where’s the trained and armed Citizen when a criminal shows up.”

Hopefully, sitting right there next to you.

Thug walked in, showed his gun, and wanted to rob the store. That’s when one of the workers whipped out his own piece and eliminated the thug in the most calm way. Not one person was freaking out in this video. Is anyone else sick of the criminals? And you know what, maybe they would stop stealing if Democrats stopped running the country into the ground and making everything so expensive.

Now, I still haven’t figured out what kind of a store this is. However, six shots solved the problem. And as was pointed out, no one freaked out. I am curious, however, why none of the other workers covered their ears (until the very end) – shooting a gun without ear protection is a painful experience, and, in an enclosed space, even more so. However, it only took 4 to 5 seconds to put the miscreant down – the helmet on his head didn’t help at all.

So, in the end, a good guy with a gun took down a bad guy with a gun.

And the anti-gunners keep telling us this never happens…

 

The post Another Second Amendment Happy Ending appeared first on Granite Grok.

In the rapidly evolving landscape of cryptocurrencies, effective marketing strategies are pivotal for blockchain projects to gain visibility, attract investors, and foster adoption. As the industry matures, new trends in crypto marketing are reshaping the way projects engage with their audiences and differentiate themselves in a competitive market. Understanding these trends and partnering with the best crypto marketing agencies can be instrumental in navigating the complexities of the blockchain ecosystem and achieving sustainable growth.

Evolution of Crypto Marketing Strategies

The evolution of crypto marketing strategies parallels the growth and diversification of the blockchain industry itself. Initially, crypto projects relied heavily on grassroots efforts, online communities, and word-of-mouth to build awareness and attract early adopters. However, as the market expanded and regulatory frameworks began to take shape, the need for sophisticated marketing approaches became evident.

Key Trends Shaping Crypto Marketing Today

1. Influencer Marketing: Influencer marketing has emerged as a potent force in crypto marketing, leveraging the credibility and reach of influencers within the blockchain and cryptocurrency communities. Top crypto marketing agencies collaborate with influencers who resonate with their target audience to endorse projects through content creation, reviews, and endorsements on platforms like YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram. These partnerships not only amplify brand visibility but also build trust and engagement among potential investors and users.
2. Content Marketing: Content remains a cornerstone of effective crypto marketing strategies. High-quality content in the form of articles, blogs, videos, and podcasts serves to educate audiences about blockchain technology, project developments, and investment opportunities. The best crypto marketing agencies like Icoda excel in crafting compelling content that educates, informs, and resonates with their target demographic. They understand the nuances of the crypto community and tailor content to address their interests and concerns.
3. Social Media Engagement: Social media platforms play a pivotal role in crypto marketing by facilitating real-time communication and community engagement. Projects leverage platforms such as Twitter, Reddit, and Discord to share updates, interact with followers, and participate in discussions. Effective social media strategies developed by top crypto marketing agencies involve active community management, content curation, and proactive engagement to foster a loyal and engaged community around the project.
4. Search Engine Optimization (SEO): SEO is critical for enhancing visibility and driving organic traffic to crypto projects’ websites and content. The best crypto marketing agencies employ SEO strategies such as keyword optimization, link building, and content structuring to improve search engine rankings. By optimizing for relevant keywords and creating valuable content, agencies ensure that projects are discoverable to investors, enthusiasts, and stakeholders seeking information about cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology.
5. Community Building and Engagement: Building a strong and engaged community is essential for the long-term success of crypto projects. The best crypto marketing agencies focus on community-building initiatives such as hosting AMAs (Ask Me Anything) sessions, creating dedicated forums, and organizing virtual events. These activities foster transparency, trust, and loyalty among community members, creating a supportive environment where ideas are shared, feedback is gathered, and users become advocates for the project.

The Role of the Best Crypto Marketing Agencies

In navigating these trends and implementing effective marketing strategies, crypto projects often rely on the expertise and guidance of the best crypto marketing agencies. These agencies specialize in understanding the unique dynamics of the blockchain industry and leverage their knowledge to create tailored marketing solutions that drive results.

1. Strategic Planning and Execution: The best crypto marketing agencies begin by conducting comprehensive market research and competitor analysis. They collaborate closely with clients to define clear marketing objectives, identify target audiences, and develop strategic roadmaps for achieving measurable goals. By understanding the project’s value proposition and competitive landscape, agencies craft innovative campaigns and tactics to maximize impact and ROI.
2. Creative Campaign Development: Creativity is key to standing out in the competitive crypto market. The best agencies harness creative talents to develop visually compelling campaigns, engaging storytelling, and memorable brand identities. Whether it’s designing impactful visuals, producing informative videos, or crafting interactive experiences, agencies ensure that every campaign element aligns with the project’s brand identity and resonates with its target audience.
3. Compliance and Regulatory Guidance: Navigating regulatory compliance is crucial for maintaining credibility and trust in the crypto space. The best crypto marketing agencies stay abreast of evolving regulations and guidelines, ensuring that marketing campaigns adhere to legal requirements. This includes transparency in advertising, compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) policies, and adherence to data protection regulations such as GDPR. By prioritizing compliance, agencies mitigate risks and uphold ethical standards in their marketing practices.
4. Analytics and Performance Optimization: Measurement and analysis are integral to assessing the effectiveness of crypto marketing campaigns. The best agencies leverage advanced analytics tools to track key performance indicators (KPIs), monitor campaign metrics, and derive actionable insights. By analyzing data-driven insights, agencies optimize marketing strategies in real-time, identify opportunities for improvement, and maximize ROI for their clients.

Embracing Innovation for Future Growth

As the crypto market continues to evolve, staying ahead of trends and embracing innovation will be crucial for projects aiming to achieve sustained growth and success. The best crypto marketing agencies play a pivotal role in guiding projects through these dynamics, offering strategic counsel, creative excellence, and regulatory compliance to navigate the complexities of the blockchain ecosystem effectively.

By partnering with the best crypto marketing agencies, projects can leverage influencer partnerships, create compelling content, engage effectively on social media, optimize for search engines, and build strong communities. These strategies not only enhance brand visibility and credibility but also foster long-term relationships with stakeholders and drive adoption of blockchain solutions.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the future of crypto marketing is dynamic and multifaceted, driven by technological innovation, regulatory developments, and evolving consumer behaviors. By embracing emerging trends and partnering with the best crypto marketing agencies, blockchain projects can position themselves competitively in the global marketplace. As the industry continues to mature, strategic marketing becomes increasingly pivotal in shaping perceptions, driving adoption, and fostering sustainable growth in the exciting world of cryptocurrencies.

The post Navigating the Future of Crypto Marketing: Trends and the Role of the Best Crypto Marketing Agencies appeared first on Granite Grok.

What financial freedom actually means to you depends on your financial situation and history. For some, financial freedom means having paid off all outstanding debts. For others, it means having enough money after paying the bills each month to save, grow retirement savings, or simply afford a preferred lifestyle. For others still, it means being able to pursue interests and passions without having to worry about financial strain. Regardless of your definition, consumer credit card relief can be an essential step towards reaching your financial goals. Here are some practical tips to help you achieve financial freedom.

1. Understand Your Financial Situation

Before you can achieve financial freedom, you need to understand your current financial situation. This involves knowing how much you earn, how much you owe, and where your money goes each month.

• Track Your Income and Expenses: Use a budgeting app or a simple spreadsheet to track your income and all your expenses. This will help you see where your money is going and identify areas where you can cut back.
• Assess Your Debts: Make a list of all your debts, including credit cards, loans, and mortgages. Note the interest rates and minimum payments for each. This will help you prioritize which debts to tackle first.

2. Create a Budget

A budget is a crucial tool for managing your finances and achieving financial freedom. It helps you plan your spending, save money, and avoid overspending.

• Set Financial Goals: Define your short-term and long-term financial goals. This could be saving for a vacation, paying off debt, or building an emergency fund.
• Allocate Funds: Based on your goals, allocate funds for different categories such as savings, debt repayment, and daily expenses. Stick to your budget as closely as possible.

3. Pay Off Debt

Paying off debt is a significant step towards financial freedom. High-interest debt, such as credit card debt, can be particularly challenging to manage.

• Consumer Credit Card Relief: Consider options like debt consolidation or credit card relief programs to reduce interest rates and simplify your payments. These services can help you manage and pay off debt more efficiently.
• Prioritize High-Interest Debt: Focus on paying off debts with the highest interest rates first. This will save you money in the long run and help you become debt-free faster.

4. Build an Emergency Fund

An emergency fund acts as a financial safety net, covering unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs without derailing your financial plans.

• Start Small: Aim to save at least three to six months’ worth of living expenses. Start with a small, manageable amount and gradually increase your savings.
• Automate Savings: Set up automatic transfers to your emergency fund to ensure consistent savings. This makes it easier to build your fund over time.

5. Save and Invest Wisely

Saving and investing are critical components of achieving financial freedom. They help you grow your wealth and secure your financial future.

• Retirement Savings: Contribute to retirement accounts such as a 401(k) or IRA. Take advantage of employer matching contributions if available.
• Diversify Investments: Diversify your investments to manage risk and improve returns. Consider a mix of stocks, bonds, and other assets based on your risk tolerance and financial goals.

6. Live Below Your Means

Living below your means is about spending less than you earn. It’s a fundamental principle of personal finance that helps you save more and reduce financial stress.

• Avoid Lifestyle Inflation: As your income increases, avoid the temptation to increase your spending proportionally. Focus on saving and investing the extra income instead.
• Cut Unnecessary Expenses: Identify areas where you can cut back, such as dining out, subscription services, or impulse purchases. Small changes can add up to significant savings over time.

7. Continuously Educate Yourself

Financial literacy is key to making informed decisions and achieving financial freedom. Continuously educate yourself about personal finance topics.

• Read Books and Articles: There are many resources available that cover various aspects of personal finance. Reading books and articles can help you understand different strategies and concepts.
• Take Online Courses: Many websites offer free or affordable courses on personal finance topics. These courses can provide structured learning and valuable insights.
• Consult Financial Advisors: If you’re unsure about certain financial decisions, consulting a financial advisor can provide personalized advice based on your financial situation and goals.

8. Plan for the Future

Achieving financial freedom involves planning for the future and preparing for life’s uncertainties.

• Set Long-Term Goals: Think about your long-term financial goals, such as buying a home, funding your children’s education, or retiring comfortably. Break these goals down into smaller, manageable steps.
• Estate Planning: Consider estate planning to ensure your assets are distributed according to your wishes. This includes creating a will, setting up trusts, and designating beneficiaries.

Conclusion

Achieving financial freedom is a journey that requires discipline, planning, and continuous effort. By understanding your financial situation, creating a budget, paying off debt, building an emergency fund, saving and investing wisely, living below your means, educating yourself, and planning for the future, you can take control of your finances and achieve the freedom to live the life you want. Whether it’s consumer credit card relief or building an emergency fund, every step you take brings you closer to your goal. Start today and pave the way for a financially secure and fulfilling future.

 

The post Tips for Achieving Financial Freedom appeared first on Granite Grok.

This Fourth of July, our country will celebrate the 248th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. That was the day representatives from thirteen colonies spoke as one. It was the day they stood together and signed a document that declared the sovereignty of the United States of America to the world.

We would no longer be ruled by Great Britain; we would collectively rule ourselves.

That was the first step in a long, dangerous, and difficult journey toward personal, political, religious, and economic freedom. It would cost them and our country dearly, but they were all willing to take that first step.

Since none of us personally knew the “Signers”, we only know who they were and what they did based on the limited historical records available to us. We can speculate, interpret, and have an opinion, but we should do so in the context of their time, not ours.

Some will argue that these men were not perfect, that they were flawed. Yes, save one man, we are all flawed. What can’t be argued is that these men were brave, steadfast, and patriotic as they laid the foundation upon which our country was built.

Since their time, the United States of America has grown into the great Nation we all call home. Millions of immigrants legally emigrated from countries all around the world and chose to come to America. They came to help build this country. They wanted to experience the freedom, promise, and opportunity that this country offered. They wanted to work and to make a better life for themselves and their families.

My grandfather was one of those immigrants. He came from Italy to become an American, not an Italian living in America. He didn’t come here to be accommodated by America, he came here to assimilate into the “melting pot” that was America. He loved this country and was proud to be an American.

Countless immigrant family members served in World War II, fighting as Americans. They learned the language of their newly adopted country and insisted that their children did as well. They fully immersed themselves in the culture and traditions of their new homeland.

You see, in order to become a naturalized American citizen, legal immigrants are required to renounce their former country and take an oath to “support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” Today’s illegal “migrants” take no such oath.

Americans still absolutely welcome and support legal immigration. Americans are generous to a fault, and we are always willing to welcome into our country those who love our country, our traditions, and our way of life and who respect our laws.

Even as American citizens are being held against their will in foreign countries around the world, we allow foreigners, many who entered our country illegally, to burn our flag and disrespect our Country.

We allow them to spread hate, distribute drugs, traffic children, rape, murder and commit countless crimes against American citizens. Many of these foreign interlopers come from countries where the freedoms we take for granted don’t exist.

Yet despite breaking our laws, our government showers them with free housing, food, clothing, healthcare, and welfare, while American Veterans and citizens remain homeless. Is this the America the Signers dreamed of? I think not.

Sadly, even some misguided American citizens support and join these hate-filled demonstrations that denigrate and attack their own country.

Fortunately, most Americans still love and support their country. They understand that there is no perfect country, and they realize that America, despite her faults, is still the “home of the free, because of the brave”. Yes, Americans are still free to pursue, as our Founders declared so long ago, “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”.

Since that declaration almost two and a half centuries ago, many patriotic men and women have stepped forward to defend the freedoms we all enjoy. They, like the Signers, so loved this country that they were willing to die for it. Today, and every day, we should remember the words engraved on the granite wall of the Korean War Memorial in Washington, DC: “FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.”

So what does Independence Day mean to today’s American citizens? Do we all feel a sense of shared history, community, unity, patriotism, pride, love of country, thankfulness and appreciation for the country the Signers bequeathed to us? Again, I believe that most Americans still share those sentiments.

So today, as we celebrate our Independence Day by gathering with family and friends, let us not forget how blessed we are to live in this beautiful and bountiful country.

Let us pledge never to give up the personal, political, religious, and economic freedoms the Signers fought so hard for.

Let us remember those brave and selfless Signers whose actions on July 4, 1776, literally changed the world.

Let us put aside our personal differences and remember the common thread that unites us: We are all Americans, and it’s our birthday.

Happy Birthday, America, and may God continue to bless us!

The post Night Cap: Happy Birthday, America appeared first on Granite Grok.

I know I shouldn’t be surprised, but still, I am surprised at all the hyperbolic reactions that are being published in response to the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on presidential immunity for official acts.

Biden can assassinate Trump now!  Trump will be able to assassinate Biden if he gets elected!  Biden can add four more Justices to the Supreme Court!  The President can amend the Constitution to make abortion illegal… or legal!  Democracy is over!  The President is now a king!

But this is what we get for telling generations of students that it’s okay if they can’t read or think clearly about what they’ve read.  We’ll just ‘meet them where they are’ and tell them, in overly simple terms, what is in the books they can’t read.

So now, we have hundreds of millions of people who can’t actually read or understand a Supreme Court ruling and who instead have to depend on politicians, political pundits, and podcasters — many of whom are in the same boat — to tell them what’s in the decision.  And then they repeat what they’ve heard, even when that bears little or no resemblance to what it actually says.  Maybe, especially when that’s the case.

(If someone starts telling you about how awful this decision is, your first question should be:  Did you read it?  And your second question should be:  Then how do you know what it says?)

This is what happens when we forget that public education isn’t about ‘bright futures for children’, or ‘training kids so they can get good jobs’, or ‘developing a work force that can compete on the world stage’, or providing subsidized daycare for parents.

As it says in Article 83 of our state constitution, it’s about ensuring the preservation of a free government.  Which is to say, helping each new generation become difficult to lie to.

To paraphrase Jackie Kennedy:  If we bungle educating our children,  nothing else we do matters very much.  

If we ever feel like turning things around, at least with respect to education, Article 3 of our state constitution provides a remedy:

When men enter into a state of society, they surrender up some of their natural rights to that society, in order to ensure the protection of others; and, without such an equivalent, the surrender is void.

That is, public schools could be focused exclusively on helping students develop the skills they need to educate themselves—which turn out to be exactly the same skills they need to avoid being manipulated through deceit: literacy, numeracy, and rationality.

And those are exactly the skills that taxpayers need children to develop in order for their own rights to be protected when those children acquire the right to vote upon reaching an arbitrary age.

And that is exactly what needs to happen if we’re going to preserve a free government.

The post When Johnny Can’t Read appeared first on Granite Grok.

Dover Police announced yesterday that they had arrested a Somersworth man for posting what they called “criminal[ly] threatening,” “coercive,” and “hateful” messages on the door of First Parish Church in Dover, but upon further investigation, it appears that the sign contained nothing but Scriptural Truth from the Holy Bible, and the real threat may be an unjust application of state law for the purpose of religious persecution.

I called and spoke with Lieutenant Mark Nadeau of the Dover Police Department yesterday regarding the arrest of Isaac Santiago, who, around June 20, posted a sign on the door of the openly “affirming” LGBTQ-friendly church in Dover containing what he called a “coercive” threat illegal under RSA 631:4(I)(b). The state law prohibits a person from placing “any object or graffiti on the property of another with a purpose to coerce or terrorize any person.” The Lieutenant said Santiago was “attempting to coerce his religious beliefs” with the sign, which contained “anti-LGBTQ messaging” and what police called a threat, namely, “Be saved today or you will perish in your sins,” which is a paraphrase of John 8:24 and Luke 13:3. 

The first citation reads, “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins,” and the second citation reads, “unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” While it is unknown whether Santiago referenced other Scripture, it is relevant that the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10: “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.”

Without knowing the full content of what the Police called “anti-LGBTQ messaging” on Santiago’s sign, I asked Lieutenant Nadeau to explain what the department meant by this statement. He said, “I don’t remember the exact wording of the messages, but the general spirit of it was that God doesn’t accept LGBTQ people and everyone who is LGBTQ should repent of their sins so they can be saved.” I promptly advised the Lieutenant that based on this and the other information police released concerning Santiago’s message, it appears like his sign came straight out of the Holy Bible. Provided the Lieutenant did not omit any information that could be deemed hateful even by a Bible-believing Christian, the message Santiago left appears to be a loving attempt to save sinners from judgment rather than anything hateful.

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

God does not desire condemnation for any one of us but rather that all of us will turn away from our sins and come to repentance. That being said, sinners will not inherit the kingdom of God. Only those who repent from their sin in Christ and then live according to the righteousness of God’s Word will inherit eternal life. God is just and will not ultimately accept those who continue to practice sin, which He calls “lawlessness. 

Furthermore, 1 Corinthians 6 specifically commands Christians to judge other Christians regarding matters of the Holy Word of God and, therefore, lead them on the narrow path of Christ toward the Kingdom of God. It is imperative and part of the Christian faith that God’s Truth be communicated to all Christians, especially those who are going astray and unbelievers. 

As to First Parish Church, by affirming any sinful behavior listed in Paul’s writing or any other part of Scripture, leaders, and congregants there are living in sin and preaching unrighteousness, and God will hold them accountable without repentance. In Isaiah 5:20, we read, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil.” This refers to spiritual woe relative to eternal life in Heaven, not woe to the human life on Earth, and it is likely Mr. Santiago’s message had this same intent. God promises eternal life to those who trust in Christ and live by the commandments of God, but woe to those who deny this testimony.

From a civil perspective, we ought to pause and reflect on the grave legal problem the Dover Police have created as it pertains to religious liberty. Knowing that Santiago’s sign contained Biblical messages and was presented to congregants at an errant “Christian” church, it is highly troubling that the civil authorities have involved themselves at all. While Lieutenant Nadeau may posit that Santiago’s sign was an “attempt to coerce their religious beliefs,” it was actually an attempt to save those who call themselves Christian from the due punishment of God that they will receive for deceiving other believers counter to the Word of God. 

Lieutenant Nadeau also explained that Dover Police consulted the Attorney General’s office and local department attorneys prior to issuing an arrest warrant, and these attorneys all gave the go-ahead to make this arrest, which is perhaps the most troubling consideration of all. Are we really going to start persecuting people in New Hampshire for preaching what God has said in His Word? I have personally asked the Dover Police Department to drop the charges against Mr. Santiago immediately, but absent that I do pray for the unconstitutional application of an unclear law to be fully struck down and admonished by the court.

Andrew J. Manuse is the pastor of First Fruits Ministries, a first-century Messianic congregation of Jews and Gentiles returning to the Jewish roots of the faith in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ) through the Hebraic understanding of the Scriptures. First Fruits Ministries is located in Manchester, NH.

 

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On the 2018 Summer Solstice, a climate witch predicted humanity’s doom if “we” did not stop using fossil fuels in the next five years. June 21st, 2024, has come and gone, and while we may still be doomed six years later, it is not because of fossil fuels. The people trying to force us off them are more likely to end us.

In related news, Joseph R. Biden’s 2020 platform for President included a plank ending fossil fuel use.

So, how are those plans working out?

The End is Near

Thunberg is her own puppet these days, having aged out, but, like her ilk, regardless of age, is not held accountable for hyperbolic or bombastic prognostications that never come to pass.

Teenage Greta quoted a professor of atmospheric chemistry at Harvard. James Anderson claimed that by 2022, there would be no permanent ice caps, which would have catastrophic consequences. He said there was zero chance this would not happen and would be bad for humanity.

Yawn.

Anderson was the latest in a long line of thieves and liars (often funded by federal grants) who predicted the same thing and got it wrong. It was wrong in more ways than whether there was ice at the poles. Polar Sea Ice (much like the atmospheric concentrations of CO2) has nothing to do with sea level or life on Earth, and there is ample evidence for both, but we’re not going there today because we have a much bigger problem.

Biden said he’d end fossil fuels. Greta said they’d end us. So, how is that working out?

We’re Still Here

The only earth-shattering incidents since Thunberg’s Twitter sandwich board prediction were political: the 2020 election, everything that followed, Fauci’s China virus, and the more damaging response to it. Ironically, it is all man-made, but it has no more to do with fossil fuels than the production of EVs. None are possible without them. And the proof is in the pudding.

Robert Bryce is an excellent source for data and graphs on the state of energy, especially the transition. From 2004 to 2022, for example, 4.1 trillion was spent on wind and solar. What did we get for that (feel free to tack on the added cost of the electricity it generates)? Wind and solar account for 5% of total generation. In the same span of years, energy from hydrocarbons grew 3.4 times faster.

To make matters worse, from 2022 to 2023, also from Bryce,

Biden has, in effect, increased reliance on fossil fuels because the dirty little secret is that nothing about the so-called green transition is possible without them. And that begs at least one question. All of this new stuff has a shelf-life.

Assuming they survive long enough, EVs need their batteries replaced, followed by the vehicles themselves. A very liberal projection is every ten years, while reality suggests it could be half that.

Wind and solar farms don’t last the 25 years advertised; some don’t last five. But even if they did, with what and how would we replace aging and damaged capacity?

Even the most basic demands of modernity cannot be met without fossil fuels, so there is no human-habitable world without them, which suggests other motives for the alleged (impossible) transition—of which there are many, all political. But even that need not matter to the street. Every day, people ought to be able to grasp the matter with both hands.

Even if some energy-inspired man-made doom is in our future, the path these climate elites have chosen for us is a dead end. It can’t be impossible without the thing it claims to replace.

You’d also be right to ask why since you’ve already given so much—if the doom, as predicted, is true, why isn’t the focus directed elsewhere?

|Substack

The post The World Refuses to End and Other Misc. Business appeared first on Granite Grok.

To the Maine Congressional Delegation: For the good of the Country, I respectfully request that you, individually and collectively, move forward or co-sponsor legislation that invokes the 25th Amendment with the subsequent removal from office of President Joe Biden.

It is regrettable to request this action, but the circumstances of last week, namely his performance in the presidential debate, have caused me great alarm for the safety of our County and the President himself.

With Joe Biden in office, the Country does not have a competent chief executive in office.

Given the international uncertainties of war and conflict in Ukraine (ongoing), the middle east (ongoing), Niger (ongoing), Taiwan (threatened), and South Korea (threatened), America appears weak and vulnerable to our current batch of enemies that include Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, and its proxies.

These situations are currently wildcards to the safety and security of our Nation. Joe Biden’s actions at the debate have shown that he is not up to the task of protecting the country.

Further, I live with my mother-in-law, who is stricken with dementia and early Alzheimer’s Disease. I know the signs of mental and physical distress.

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

President Joe Biden is stricken both mentally and physically by ailments that compromise his effectiveness to remain in office.

Further, I ask that an investigation be performed into President Biden’s care. It appears to me that the persons responsible for his care have misled the public about his health and general welfare. This includes White House Staff, doctors, congressional leaders, Secret Service detail, and sadly, his family, the media, and anyone else who has observed his deteriorating health and wellness.

As a former elected School Board member, teachers and staff had an obligation to report abuse.

I would offer my observation that President Joe Biden is being subjected to a form of elder abuse. I ask that this be investigated and appropriate charges filed against those persons responsible for this abuse.

It’s not right. The President deserves better care than he is receiving.

The Country deserves competent leadership in these uncertain times.

I look forward to hearing from you on this matter, including the actions you have taken to ensure that our President is safe and well-protected. For it is clear to me that he is neither safe, protected, nor cared for from this rather obvious elder abuse.

Most Sincerely,

Howard Coffman

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The midweek memeage continues with another round of memes. That’s it: no side dishes, no appetizers, just memes, memes, and more of those damn memes.

As always, these are (need I remind you) just memes. Some are intuitive, others offensive, some are funny, others not, and that’s just how memes are – “memes.” So, ask not what memes can do for you but what you can do for memes. Share them. That’s what you can do! Share the link to these. We appreciate it.

Here we go – and I slipped some Independence Day Memes in there too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trigger Warning!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And since tomorrow is Independence Day…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The End

The post Midweek Memes – Ask Not What Memes Can Do for You, But What You Can do for Memes appeared first on Granite Grok.

There’s no way technological progress has spared you, so you probably know firsthand how much fun can be found in the online realm today. And if your interest lies in games, then an online casino is exactly the place where you can chill and unwind from your daily activities. Gaming rush can be perfectly supplemented with bonuses that help to spend more time in a casino online and a variety of games such as slots, table games, video poker, specialty, live games, and so on. If you cannot imagine your free time without a smartphone in your hand and want to get the most out of online casino services, casino operators have taken into account the wishes of modern punters and are happy to welcome you to their apps or mobile versions of their sites. The doors to the world of online entertainment are wide open for New Zealand online casino players, so get ready to find out more about how things work here.

How the Play at Casino Online Is Different from a Brick-and-Mortar One

Thinking about a casino, images of wealthy people, bright lights, the laughter of noisy companies, slot machines, and tables appear before our eyes. While land-based casinos continue their prosperous activities, many online sites have appeared as an alternative to them, making access to the online casino offerings more convenient and faster. Among the obvious advantages of choosing a casino online are the following factors:

• convenience and speed of access to services
• the possibility to have a trial run
• bonuses and loyalty programs
• mobile gaming
• developments from the best gaming operators

Even if you are an online casino NZ player and a trip to the legendary Las Vegas is not at all in your plans, you can appreciate how far modern casino providers have advanced in creating the atmosphere of a real online gambling site. So what can set players’ mood up to get an online casino experience and make the gameplay all real and enthralling? The answer is simple – the presence of live dealers on the site. Yes, you can choose according to your mood whether you want to spend time one-on-one with the game, as, for example, in casino online pokies, or a pleasant dealer will join your session and keep you in excellent company. But that’s not all the human interaction you may need during your visit; if you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact the casino customer support. You should definitely check its availability before playing for real money.

In general, the large assortment and variety of games offered by any good online casino are some of the criteria that make players come back to internet sites again and again. New interactive titles are released by gaming providers on a regular basis and catch the attention of players due to their themes (for example, dedicated to Halloween or a famous movie), sound and 3D effects, etc. Of course, as in offline sites, in online casino you will need to deposit a penny to discover the full range of emotions and offers available.

Choose an Online Casino with Good Reputation and Get Your Payouts Fast

Since network security is a very important concern for users, one must be vigilant to avoid falling into the hands of fraudsters. All actions in any online casino must be governed by clear rules. Players should be sure to read the Terms & Conditions page and check if the site has a valid license. While your winnings will be in your hands on that lucky day in a land-based gambling house, the whole procedure in casino online takes about a week. It consists of the need to verify the player’s identity, and in addition, the transfer of funds itself may take some time, depending on the method chosen. On the positive side, in almost any online casino NZ, you will be offered the most common withdrawal methods and currencies, including New Zealand dollars.

Once you find yourself on a regulated online casino, it can be said that now nothing will prevent you from plunging headlong into all the opportunities that are in store for you. What also makes visiting a casino online different is the need to register an account with an online site. But don’t worry, this is a very quick process that shouldn’t take you more than 5 minutes. Take your time – explore the lobby, find the tabs where you can request a bonus, make a deposit, and withdraw money. Also, do not miss the great opportunity to try your hand at available online casino games in demo mode and choose titles to your liking.

Skeptics will say that nothing beats real land-based casinos, but players keeping up with the times will be able to see for themselves that this is no longer the case. While there are some nuances that need to be taken into account, the experience at the proven New Zealand online casino is really worth it. Go for real player reviews and experiences described on review sites to choose only the best online casino and get the most out of the digital era and the wide offer of online sites at onlineplaytechcasinos.com.

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From Tucker Carlson … Black Jesus wants BidenX to drop out. I would add that virtually everything Black Jesus says is disingenuous. He’s today’s Lenin … he has no connection to the working man he claims to champion and, in fact, despises the working man. He is all about power – HIS power. He sees himself as entitled and, indeed, obliged to rule over us and actually believes this destiny is for our own good. In a word, Black Jesus is EVIL.

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Giving birth is a life-changing emotional experience. You get to hold your baby after carrying them in your womb for nine months. The birth of a baby is the most joyous day for parents, but it becomes stressful for some. Not all journeys into parenthood follow the conventional timeline. Some babies arrive in the world before 37 weeks of pregnancy is complete. 

While parents are happy that their little bundle is alive, seeing them at the NICU is heart-wrenching. About 380,548 premature births were reported in the U.S. in 2022. These figures indicate you’re not alone; premature babies are born to over a hundred thousand parents. 

Parents of preemies are the happiest when they take their little ones home. But they are equally overwhelmed and uncertain about how to provide their bundle of joy the best care. You must also experience similar feelings—don’t you? But don’t worry; here, we’ll share a few things that you must know about premature babies. Knowing them will make it easy for you to care for your little one. 

#1 Temperature Regulation is Important

Term babies have fat beneath their skin that insulates them by retaining heat and fluid. But your premature baby doesn’t have this protective fat. Regulating body temperature, therefore, will be difficult for them. Once your baby is at home, it will be your duty to keep them warm and cozy. 

Your preemie might have needed an isolette in the hospital, but they won’t need that at home. An extra layer of clothing will be enough to help them maintain their body temperature. For additional warmth, you can use sleep sacks or lightweight blankets. 

Pay attention to the room temperature, too. It must neither be too hot nor too cold. The best temperature for a baby’s room is between 68°F to 72°F or 20°C to 22°C. Aim for that. 

Avoid overheating your premature baby, however. If the weather is warm, there is no need to use a cap indoors. Likewise, you must use a cellular blanket with lots of little holes in it to prevent overheating your little one. 

#2 Nutritional Needs of Preemies Are Unique

Preemies are smaller than term babies. Their organs are immature and are still developing. Their nutritional needs, thus, are different from that of a term baby. 

Your premature baby will require more protein, calories, and other nutrients than a term baby. Though nutritious, your breast milk won’t deliver all the nutrients your preemie needs to grow into a healthy human being. You will have to add milk fortifiers to your breast milk to meet your baby’s extra nutritional needs. 

Choose any milk fortifier but Enfamil. The brand has been under fire because its baby formula is linked with necrotizing enterocolitis. NEC, or necrotizing enterocolitis, is a gastrointestinal disease that affects premature babies’ intestinal tract. This life-threatening illness is characterized by the inflammation of the intestine, which results in the death of the intestinal tissue. 

More than a hundred Enfamil lawsuits are filed by parents whose children developed NEC after being fed with its milk fortifiers. Some studies, TorHoerman Law comments, suggest that liquid protein-based fortifiers like Enfamil’s human milk fortifier might increase preemies’ risk of NEC. 

Early this year, the Illinois District Court ordered Mead Johnson to pay $60 million in damages to Jasmine Watson, who filed the Enfamil lawsuit. Watson sued Mead Johnson because her premature baby developed NEC after being fed Enfamil’s products. In her lawsuit, she blamed the manufacturer for failing to warn parents about the risks associated with the use of its products in preemies. 

Thus, you should steer clear of Enfamil. There are many alternatives available, but we advise you to consult a pediatrician to be on the safe side. 

#3 Premature Babies Have Sensitive Skin

All babies’ skin is sensitive. But the skin of preemies is thin and tender. It is because their skin doesn’t develop fully at birth. 

Some premature babies’ skin is prone to dryness or peeling. This is mainly because the skin finds it a bit hard to adjust to the dry, cooler temperature of the outside world from the warm and wet womb environment. Keeping this in mind is important, especially when you’re shopping for skincare products. 

Caring for your preemie’s sensitive skin involves using products that are mild. Go for body washes, soap, and shampoos that are made of natural and hypoallergenic ingredients. They should also not contain any fragrance. Products with fragrance can irritate your baby’s sensitive skin and might even cause allergic reactions. 

Even when it comes to wipes, opt for those that are free from scents. Or, you can simply use a washcloth if you want. 

To wrap things up, caring for a premature baby might seem like an uphill battle, but it isn’t. Try understanding your baby’s unique needs—be it nutritional or skin care. It will help you navigate the challenges of caring for them and provide them with the best possible care. In case of any queries, consult your preemie’s pediatrician. They will help you overcome any challenges that come your way.

The post Caring for Your Premature Baby at Home: 3 Things You Need to Know appeared first on Granite Grok.

Harvard Business School (HBS) researchers, yes, THAT Harvard, have found that “Electric vehicle (EV) chargers have a high malfunction rate” and that “EV drivers can expect non-residential charging systems to not work approximately 20% of the time.”

The HBS study used artificial intelligence to examine more than one million customer reviews of charging stations from North America, Europe and Asia over 10 years, finding that EV drivers can expect non-residential charging systems to not work approximately 20% of the time and also that some of America’s more rural regions are effectively “charging deserts.” Its findings are the latest to suggest that the Biden administration’s long-term vision for an EV-dominated future is struggling to make early progress.

“Among other things, the deep dive into tomorrow’s gas station network estimates that drivers can successfully recharge their cars using non-residential EV equipment only 78% of the time, highlighting critical issues with reliability,” reads an article on the study posted to HBS’ website. “The research proves that frustration extends beyond ‘range anxiety,’ the common fear that EV batteries won’t maintain enough charge to reach a destination.”

We’ve shared plenty of reports and research on why you should stay away from EVs. From the cost of ownership, to range, to not being green. High repair costs, battery life, risk of fire, charging wait times, cost to charge, mobility limitations, resale value, and more. A boutique luxury item favored by virtue-signaling elites, wholly impractical to the average American. You can’t use them for freight or even local delivery. They will never replace existing construction or heavy equipment.

And they are not green, which was supposed to be the point (at ease for those pumping them). A point increasingly lost on nearly half the current crop of EV owners.

Approximately 46% of Americans who own an EV want to go back to a standard vehicle for their next purchase, citing issues like inadequate charging infrastructure and affordability, according to McKinsey’s study, which was obtained and reviewed by the Daily Caller News Foundation. The study’s findings further suggest that the Biden administration’s EV push is struggling to land with American consumers, after 46% of respondents indicated that they are unlikely or very unlikely to purchase an EV in a June poll conducted by The Associated Press and the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute.

Moreover, 58% of Americans are very likely to keep their current cars for longer, and 44% are likely to postpone a possible switch to EVs, McKinsey’s study found.

The HBS research citing home charger failure rates over 20% won’t help, especially if that is your best or only reliable charging station. Sorry, I can’t come into work today, my EV charger is on the fritz.

I wonder if employers should start asking applicants what they drive before hiring them.

The post Harvard Study Finds EV Charging Infrastructure is Unreliable – Including Home Chargers appeared first on Granite Grok.