Will 47 = 45 ???

Once again, sadly, Trump is playing checkers while his many enemies are playing chess.

The alleged scope of his victory really does not matter. His popular mandate is of no value if he loses control of Congress. And he's in the process of doing just that.

He doesn't have a majority in the House, and he may NEVER achieve one. Even if he does, it will be slim. How hard do you think it will be for his enemies to get a few House RINOs to betray him on each and every important vote?

His margin of victory in the Senate also may not matter if the many RINOs in that chamber decide to resist his agenda. And they're in the process of doing just that ... holding a secret vote today to elect a majority leader who could be the head Judas in that chamber this time around.

And what is Trump doing while they scheme behind his back? Making ridiculous cabinet appointments and meeting with his CHIEF enemy - "Joe Biden". The only thing that will accomplish is to prevent Trump from focusing on what IS important today. Trump MUST delay or cancel that meeting and instead convene an urgent meeting with all Senate Republicans. Like, RIGHT NOW !!!

And PLEASE stop with the provocative appointments. Elon and Vivek make some sense, but without the House and Senate behind them, they're not going to get much done. And in case you haven't noticed, if today's Senate vote doesn't go your way, you probably can kiss all those recess appointments goodbye.

Just one week after the election and things already are circling the drain. Well, at least you're apparently going to give the Israelis everything THEY want.

Will you cave to the Russophobes, too?

Geez Louise !!!

Update - 11/14/2024

Trump failed to take my advice, and the new Senate majority leader is less than ideal ... and possibly a serious roadblock to the Trump agenda. Good luck with those recess appointments and/or getting people like Matt Gaetz approved.

At least we (probably) got Tulsi into an important slot, but this may be offset by taking Rubio out of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence by making him Secretary of State. We'll see, but both appointments may turn out to be tactical errors.

End Times Coincidences ???

I find it difficult to watch the apocalyptic events now occurring in the Middle East without thinking of the promises G-d made to the House of Israel and the House of Judah. This is especially so because of the statements made by Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich. You can read about them here:

https://thecradle.co/articles-id/27227

His namesake in the Bible, Bezaleel, was the artisan who led the group which physically made the Tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant, and the rest of the items in house of G-d. Is it just a coincidence the Bezalel of today appears to be playing a major role in the ultimate redemption of the Jewish people?

It is even less commonly known that the idol of America's secular religion, the Statue of Liberty, stands atop Fort Wood, a fortification named after Colonel Eleazer Wood, one of the first graduates of the US Military Academy to die in battle (in the War of 1812).

His namesake in the Bible, Eleazar, was the son of Aaron who became the second high priest after Aaron died. Even more interesting is the fact that Colonel Wood's father, a soldier in the American Revolution, was named Bezaleel. Is it just a coincidence these two important biblical figures are symbolically represented on Liberty Island?

Although the above report about Bezalel Smotrich makes no mention of the Jewish Temple, it is highly likely a Third Temple will be constructed, and it ultimately may contain the rediscovered Ark of the Covenant. While the location of the Ark is said to be unknown, there is yet another coincidence here suggestive of its hiding place and/or ultimate destination - two other men named Eleazar, one who was entrusted as a keeper of the Ark and the other who was in charge of the sacred vessels brought back to Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleazar#Other_biblical_figures_named_Eleazar

Isn't it possible our rock-solid support for Israel is based not solely upon geopolitical considerations, but more importantly on our common Judeo-Christian heritage and even possibly on a joint effort to preserve the Ark and return it to its rightful place on the Temple Mount?

Is all this mere coincidence, or does it represent the fulfillment of biblical prophecy?

The Future Of Electricity

I receive my residential electricity via PJM Interconnection, one of the largest distributors in the US. You can read about them here:

https://www.pjm.com/

When I first looked them up a few years ago, the monitoring agencies said they had access to sufficient resources to service their existing grid and handle expected growth. But earlier this year PJM announced the possibility of near- and long-term shortages.

What happened? A few things:

• nuclear power plants in their supply network either shutdown or were never completed (e.g., Davis-Besse, Perry 1 and 2, Zimmer);
• fossil fuel power plants in their network shutdown (e.g., Zimmer); and
• load growth exploded, mainly from large server farms (especially in the Washington DC area)

The so-called "green" agenda will lead to the shutdown of even MORE fossil fuel plants, while AI companies (and the US government) will demand more and more power for their server farms.

The solution? Build more nuclear power plants and restart ones which have been prematurely shutdown. You can read about such claims here:

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/us-energy-secretary-granholm-urges-need-small-modular-reactors-power-ai-data-centers-cnbc

https://www.zerohedge.com/commodities/nextera-evaluating-restart-iowas-only-nuclear-plant-next-ai-trade-gains-steam

But how realistic are such "plans"? Here are some things to consider:

• At least two NSSS companies (GE and Westinghouse) long ago developed mid-sized modular style plants, none of which were ever built. I know because I worked on the design certification for one of them, the GE SBWR.
• The small modular plants currently being considered will be of novel and relatively untested designs. Maybe not such a good idea for facilities to be located all over the country.
• You can't just walk in and flip the "on" switch to start up a mothballed nuclear plant. Unless all the required maintenance has been performed since it last operated, the environmental qualifications of safety-related equipment may have lapsed and need to be re-established. I know because I worked on a similar project (Browns Ferry).
• After all these years, the US still does not have a working plan for the long-term disposal and storage of nuclear waste. The new and restarted plants all will generate more high level waste (with some of it being MIXED waste, an even greater headache), which probably will be kept onsite with the associated reactors, possibly forever. I know because I worked at the Defense Waste Processing Facility.

In addition, the US was once the leader in nuclear energy; not any more. Many of the companies which built our industry no longer exist or have moved on to other products and services, and very few universities still graduate students with degrees in nuclear engineering and related fields.

And as a side note, for the most part our existing nuclear plants which have been shutdown suffered that fate because they were too expensive to operate. I suspect that if and when they DO restart, the operating costs will be forcibly passed on to the general public by Amazon, Microsoft, OpenAI, Nvidia, etc. ... something state regulatory agencies collectively were not allowing.

So in summary, I believe a two-tiered system is being created - a nuclear powered one for the big AI companies and server farms in general, and another "sustainably powered" one for the rest of us - BOTH of which will be paid for by the general public AND which will be much more expensive than what we're paying now. And I doubt any of the persons currently vying for the White House give a damn, if they're even aware of what's happening.

Are you happy now?

Update - 11/18/2024

Fortunately, people (including regulators) are catching on to what the owners of AI centers are trying to do to the electricity markets:

https://thehill.com/policy/technology/4970068-us-regulator-rejects-bid-to-boost-nuclear-power-to-amazon-data-center/

https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/consumers-group-wary-of-aes-ohio-costs-for-regional-amazon-data-center/KP6ASCEPCZBJ7LTEST7ALBT7LQ/

Note that both of these centers are in PJM Interconnection's grid, which already is under strain. And closer to home, AES Ohio is the company which bills me for electricity and infrastructure upgrades. I'll be damned if I'm gonna pay for Amazon to get a larger share of the electric pie.

And what the hell are these data centers for anyway? Doesn't Bezos and company already have access to more of our data than they should?

Sheesh !!!

Are We The New Nicolaitanes???

I recently noticed these passages while reading the Book of Revelation (KJV):

2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.

2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

2:15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.

So, who were the Nicolaitanes, whose deeds and doctrines Jesus hated? You can read about them here:

https://www.christianity.com/wiki/people/who-were-the-nicolaitans-in-revelation-why-did-god-hate-their-practices-so-much.html

This much is clear, they believed in and practiced various forms of idolatry, immorality, fornication, and the eating of things sacrificed unto idols.

The first three pretty much describe the daily life of modern-day Americans, but what's with the "eating of things sacrificed unto idols"?

One explanation of that practice can be found here:

https://spectrummagazine.org/culture/what-meat-offered-idols-means-today/

But I also have another explanation (or clarification). Christians participate in the sacrament of Holy Communion, which commemorates the Last Supper. As part of that sacrament they consume the body and blood which our Lord sacrificed on our behalf. Doing so brings us into the Body of Christ.

Eating things sacrificed unto idols, on the other hand, brings us into the body of Antichrist. And since no one can be in the Body of Christ and the body of Antichrist at the same time, that means many of us now belong in the latter.

It's not clear who (other than Satan) drew us into that practice, but it is clear (at least to me) that many modern churches do little to enlighten their flocks to the spiritual dangers found all around us.

We are on the threshold of The End Times. Pray hard, do NOT take the mark, and do NOT eat things sacrificed unto idols.

The Real J6 Insurrection

Yes, there was an insurrection on J6, but it wasn't what we've been told by the MSM. You can read about two aspects of it here:

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/new-video-appears-show-dc-police-units-planting-j6-pipe-bomb

... and here:

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/silent-insurrection-general-milleys-hand-january-6

Those of you who may still respect our military leaders should rethink the situation. Many generals and admirals have become insubordinate opportunists more concerned about their retirement benefits than in our nation's security.

And don't get me started about the FBI. I'm not certain just WHAT they can be relied upon to do.

Some Ominous Trends In Artificial Intelligence

Here is an excellent piece about AI:

https://newatlas.com/ai-humanoids/ai-rl-human-thinking/

I get the impression the author thinks such trends are a good thing. I don't.

If AI no longer follows "human" thinking, it's also likely it won't respect human values. At that point we become just another obstacle in the way of a new class of omnipotent, omniscient beings.

That may very well herald the end of humanity.

Triumph Of The Economic Hit Men

Here is an excellent recounting by Tom Luongo of the last several years of geopolitical and financial events in the UK and elsewhere:

https://tomluongo.me/2024/10/03/the-roots-of-the-uk-implosion-and-why-war-is-inevitable/

It's a bit long, but it you can spare the time I highly recommend reading the entire essay. By the time you finish you'll realize the two prize targets for the hit men include not only Russia ... but the USA as well.

And if you've been paying attention, you'll also realize the 2024 election may well be the most important event since 9/11.

I'm tempted to say vote early and often, but I don't recommend that anyone cheat.