ActivityPub Viewer

A small tool to view real-world ActivityPub objects as JSON! Enter a URL or username from Mastodon or a similar service below, and we'll send a request with the right Accept header to the server to view the underlying object.

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{ "@context": "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams", "type": "OrderedCollectionPage", "orderedItems": [ { "type": "Create", "actor": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650", "object": { "type": "Note", "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/entities/urn:activity:1726624987932004352", "attributedTo": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650", "content": "This is not a Book Report...<br /><br />The End of the World Is Just the Beginning: Mapping the Collapse of Globalization by Peter Zeihan<br /><br />Change is inevitable, and we are living through a significant shift in how the world gets along and addresses the geopolitical atmosphere. Peter Zeihan paints a bleak picture of the future of humanity in The End of the World Is Just the Beginning and gives us a glimpse of what is on the other side. That is, if everything goes to shit, as he predicts. The basic premise is that \"The Order\" is failing, populations have aged past the point of no return, and climate change will make the world unlivable. Did I miss something? Oh, and Trump will end democracy. Thankfully, nothing is inescapable, so armed with Peter's words, we can defeat these challenges before we find ourselves in a de-industrial hellscape.<br /><br />Peter Zeihan has made a living scaring the hell out of people as a geopolitical strategist and is exceptionally good at it. He is a self-described internationalist, Green, 'little d' democrat, a student of history, and considers himself an optimist. Peter tells stories like a bard in a tavern working for mutton and beer, spinning his web of dark times with humor and not a little self-deprecation. Seriously, he is a very likable guy with a \"Chicken Little\" complex. He is so very knowledgeable about so many different areas of discussion and knits them all together into a tapestry of predictions that the outcomes seem imminent and undeniable. Peter's expertise in history, geography, politics, and data analysis is indisputable. The problem with his theories is that HE IS WRONG. The book only comes true if EVERYTHING he predicted happens. In other words, by addressing just one issue, his whole tapestry comes unraveled, and the world is a very different place with very different problems that require very different solutions.<br /><br />However, the book starts with the best summary of civilization's development I have ever read. The first 30 pages summarize Stone Age man to the Industrial Revolution. If for nothing else, everyone from their teenage years and up should read this far. This synopsis should be part of the education system's curriculum. It really is that good. Peter continues with the timeline up to the World Wars, all building up to his most crucial premise, \"The Order,\" and the creation of Globalism. <br /><br />\"The Order\" is essentially America's promise to the world that the United States Navy would ensure freedom of the seas for trade and travel. This promise created Globalism. It allowed the best crops to be grown in the best locations for that species and shipped to countries worldwide. It enabled manufacturing to move to favorable countries and away from the source of resources. No other country or group of countries can provide this service. Japan could provide regional security, but China can't secure anywhere more than 400 nm from a favorable port, and Europe can't even defend itself FROM itself! We already see the threat to shipping by piracy and rogue states (Iran) in the Middle East.<br /><br />When America contracts and isolates itself, no other country can or will step into the gap; piracy will return, and global shipping will cease. The cascading issues created by the disruption to the supply chains will cause a lack of resources, eliminating manufacturing of almost any kind. The energy sectors will collapse without oil deliveries. Nearly all countries will face starvation without available fossil fuels for agriculture, supporting the tractors and combines, and the manufacture of fertilizer required to produce enough to feed the masses. Without the constant and continual supply chain of food deliveries and resources, starvation will begin almost immediately. Only the Western Hemisphere has the geographically perfect mixture of weather, land, natural resources, and naval power to survive the collapse. However, the new normalcy in the Americas occurs only after creating new treaties, supply routes, and manufacturing capabilities. The rest of the world will face collapsing economies, crime, starvation, and war.<br /><br />If that were not a bleak enough outlook, most countries have already passed the point of no return with aging populations and the lack of young people to take their place. Peter has predicted the collapse of China for a while. China moved people to the cities to run its worldwide manufacturing empire. Added to that, the one-child policy and fewer people having children mean there are not enough people to grow the food and replace those retiring (and dying). However, this problem is not unique to China. Most countries are facing this issue. It will just affect China worse than others.<br /><br />Of course, if piracy or rogue states (war) induce the elimination of shipping or the collapsing of populations and governments doesn't make you want to crawl into a hole; \"the sky is falling\" will. In that case, man-made climate change will cause dry plains to become deserts and rich rain-soaked farmland to turn into flooded marshes. Very few places will support agriculture, and not for eight billion people. Actually, Peter's environmental outlook is not crazy like most other \"Climate Change Chicken Littles.\" He realizes that wind and solar are not viable solutions and that fossil and nuclear power are necessary. Peter advocates responsible use and international policies. If you buy into the man-made climate crisis theory, the fact is that the less developed world creates the majority of the problems. Yet, they demand equity because the developed world got that way through dirty energy, so they shouldn't be handicapped in their growth by the forced use of clean energy.<br /><br />While critical of past US administrations, including Obama, the collapse of civilization as we know it is Trump's fault. He is afraid that Trump's putting America first will isolate the US by pulling out of the world order, eliminate environmental policies, and erase democracy to become a dictator for life. The TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome) is strong in this one. What can I say about that? His take on the Ukraine war is endemic to his TDS. He has taken the hook, line, and sinker of the State Department's version of the Putin invasion, the War in Ukraine, and totally disregards the US role in creating that particular shit-show. Fortunately, he doesn't go too deep or too often into TDS-induced issues.<br /><br />The thing is, Peter's analysis of any given topic or issue and its relation to other problems is spot on. However, he is not unique in putting two and two together. Although he does communicate those equations better than most (and makes it entertaining, to boot!), there are practical solutions to every one of the problems Peter identifies, and the world's leaders, scientists, and engineers are not sleeping on their laurels. The Order isn't collapsing. It is rerouting while exploring solutions to the problems and weaknesses in the system. Examples include Trump's desire for Greenland (a northern shipping route and valuable natural resources - thanks to climate change, I might add) and control of the Panama Canal. A combination of immigration and technology solves the population collapse problem. While China may fall, whatever replaces its fascist Han-dominated regime will undoubtedly be multicultural and financially able to purchase labor and resources. Artificial intelligence and robotics will replace many workers, but just like the machines of the Industrial Revolution, people will adapt and find new creative outlets to better humanity. They may even find solutions to slow climate change or even manipulate it for the betterment of civilization! <br /><br />The premise of The End of the World Is Just the Beginning, which is that deindustrialization is inevitable, is not inescapable. While \"The Order\" is changing, Trump and future US Presidents are not withdrawing from the New World Order on the world stage. While populations are aging, populations are also migrating, and agricultural and industrial output is also moving. You would think Peter would jump on the Trump bandwagon since they feel the same about renewable energy, and we are continuing to learn about our effects on the climate and how to mitigate them. I enjoyed reading The End of the World Is Just the Beginning, as I do all Peter Zeihan books. His ability to weave data and tall tales makes reading depressing topics fun. I wish he'd let up on the TDS and maybe didn't have so much confidence that the world will turn sour. But then again, that might be why I like him. With Peter's insight, we can defeat these challenges and more before we find ourselves in his de-industrial hellscape.<br />", "to": [ "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public" ], "cc": [ "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/followers" ], "tag": [], "url": "https://www.minds.com/newsfeed/1726624987932004352", "published": "2025-01-16T13:51:16+00:00", "attachment": [ { "type": "Document", "url": "https://cdn.minds.com/fs/v1/thumbnail/1726624971134623744/xlarge/", "mediaType": "image/jpeg", "height": 386, "width": 258 } ], "source": { "content": "This is not a Book Report...\n\nThe End of the World Is Just the Beginning: Mapping the Collapse of Globalization by Peter Zeihan\n\nChange is inevitable, and we are living through a significant shift in how the world gets along and addresses the geopolitical atmosphere. Peter Zeihan paints a bleak picture of the future of humanity in The End of the World Is Just the Beginning and gives us a glimpse of what is on the other side. That is, if everything goes to shit, as he predicts. The basic premise is that \"The Order\" is failing, populations have aged past the point of no return, and climate change will make the world unlivable. Did I miss something? Oh, and Trump will end democracy. Thankfully, nothing is inescapable, so armed with Peter's words, we can defeat these challenges before we find ourselves in a de-industrial hellscape.\n\nPeter Zeihan has made a living scaring the hell out of people as a geopolitical strategist and is exceptionally good at it. He is a self-described internationalist, Green, 'little d' democrat, a student of history, and considers himself an optimist. Peter tells stories like a bard in a tavern working for mutton and beer, spinning his web of dark times with humor and not a little self-deprecation. Seriously, he is a very likable guy with a \"Chicken Little\" complex. He is so very knowledgeable about so many different areas of discussion and knits them all together into a tapestry of predictions that the outcomes seem imminent and undeniable. Peter's expertise in history, geography, politics, and data analysis is indisputable. The problem with his theories is that HE IS WRONG. The book only comes true if EVERYTHING he predicted happens. In other words, by addressing just one issue, his whole tapestry comes unraveled, and the world is a very different place with very different problems that require very different solutions.\n\nHowever, the book starts with the best summary of civilization's development I have ever read. The first 30 pages summarize Stone Age man to the Industrial Revolution. If for nothing else, everyone from their teenage years and up should read this far. This synopsis should be part of the education system's curriculum. It really is that good. Peter continues with the timeline up to the World Wars, all building up to his most crucial premise, \"The Order,\" and the creation of Globalism. \n\n\"The Order\" is essentially America's promise to the world that the United States Navy would ensure freedom of the seas for trade and travel. This promise created Globalism. It allowed the best crops to be grown in the best locations for that species and shipped to countries worldwide. It enabled manufacturing to move to favorable countries and away from the source of resources. No other country or group of countries can provide this service. Japan could provide regional security, but China can't secure anywhere more than 400 nm from a favorable port, and Europe can't even defend itself FROM itself! We already see the threat to shipping by piracy and rogue states (Iran) in the Middle East.\n\nWhen America contracts and isolates itself, no other country can or will step into the gap; piracy will return, and global shipping will cease. The cascading issues created by the disruption to the supply chains will cause a lack of resources, eliminating manufacturing of almost any kind. The energy sectors will collapse without oil deliveries. Nearly all countries will face starvation without available fossil fuels for agriculture, supporting the tractors and combines, and the manufacture of fertilizer required to produce enough to feed the masses. Without the constant and continual supply chain of food deliveries and resources, starvation will begin almost immediately. Only the Western Hemisphere has the geographically perfect mixture of weather, land, natural resources, and naval power to survive the collapse. However, the new normalcy in the Americas occurs only after creating new treaties, supply routes, and manufacturing capabilities. The rest of the world will face collapsing economies, crime, starvation, and war.\n\nIf that were not a bleak enough outlook, most countries have already passed the point of no return with aging populations and the lack of young people to take their place. Peter has predicted the collapse of China for a while. China moved people to the cities to run its worldwide manufacturing empire. Added to that, the one-child policy and fewer people having children mean there are not enough people to grow the food and replace those retiring (and dying). However, this problem is not unique to China. Most countries are facing this issue. It will just affect China worse than others.\n\nOf course, if piracy or rogue states (war) induce the elimination of shipping or the collapsing of populations and governments doesn't make you want to crawl into a hole; \"the sky is falling\" will. In that case, man-made climate change will cause dry plains to become deserts and rich rain-soaked farmland to turn into flooded marshes. Very few places will support agriculture, and not for eight billion people. Actually, Peter's environmental outlook is not crazy like most other \"Climate Change Chicken Littles.\" He realizes that wind and solar are not viable solutions and that fossil and nuclear power are necessary. Peter advocates responsible use and international policies. If you buy into the man-made climate crisis theory, the fact is that the less developed world creates the majority of the problems. Yet, they demand equity because the developed world got that way through dirty energy, so they shouldn't be handicapped in their growth by the forced use of clean energy.\n\nWhile critical of past US administrations, including Obama, the collapse of civilization as we know it is Trump's fault. He is afraid that Trump's putting America first will isolate the US by pulling out of the world order, eliminate environmental policies, and erase democracy to become a dictator for life. The TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome) is strong in this one. What can I say about that? His take on the Ukraine war is endemic to his TDS. He has taken the hook, line, and sinker of the State Department's version of the Putin invasion, the War in Ukraine, and totally disregards the US role in creating that particular shit-show. Fortunately, he doesn't go too deep or too often into TDS-induced issues.\n\nThe thing is, Peter's analysis of any given topic or issue and its relation to other problems is spot on. However, he is not unique in putting two and two together. Although he does communicate those equations better than most (and makes it entertaining, to boot!), there are practical solutions to every one of the problems Peter identifies, and the world's leaders, scientists, and engineers are not sleeping on their laurels. The Order isn't collapsing. It is rerouting while exploring solutions to the problems and weaknesses in the system. Examples include Trump's desire for Greenland (a northern shipping route and valuable natural resources - thanks to climate change, I might add) and control of the Panama Canal. A combination of immigration and technology solves the population collapse problem. While China may fall, whatever replaces its fascist Han-dominated regime will undoubtedly be multicultural and financially able to purchase labor and resources. Artificial intelligence and robotics will replace many workers, but just like the machines of the Industrial Revolution, people will adapt and find new creative outlets to better humanity. They may even find solutions to slow climate change or even manipulate it for the betterment of civilization! \n\nThe premise of The End of the World Is Just the Beginning, which is that deindustrialization is inevitable, is not inescapable. While \"The Order\" is changing, Trump and future US Presidents are not withdrawing from the New World Order on the world stage. While populations are aging, populations are also migrating, and agricultural and industrial output is also moving. You would think Peter would jump on the Trump bandwagon since they feel the same about renewable energy, and we are continuing to learn about our effects on the climate and how to mitigate them. I enjoyed reading The End of the World Is Just the Beginning, as I do all Peter Zeihan books. His ability to weave data and tall tales makes reading depressing topics fun. I wish he'd let up on the TDS and maybe didn't have so much confidence that the world will turn sour. But then again, that might be why I like him. With Peter's insight, we can defeat these challenges and more before we find ourselves in his de-industrial hellscape.\n", "mediaType": "text/plain" } }, "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/entities/urn:activity:1726624987932004352/activity" }, { "type": "Create", "actor": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650", "object": { "type": "Note", "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/entities/urn:activity:1710286328492462089", "attributedTo": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650", "content": "This is not a _Netflix Series_ Report...<br /><br />SENNA<br /><br />Many know I am not a moviegoer or a regular TV viewer. However, as a Racist (those who worship at the altar of speed competition), and because it was my Dad's birthday, I felt this would be an excellent opportunity to sit around and binge while recovering from the common cold. Netflix advertises SENNA as a dramatized fiction of Ayrton Senna da Silva's life. Having kicked off this review with that caveat, SENNA contains gratuitous amounts of Fast and Furious shifting, pedal stomping, and four-wheel drifts. It contains overly dramatized moments of book-staring, Momma-hugging, fatherly love and respect, and lonely outsider drama. The producers base the story on the facts of Senna's career, but the mushiness, nostalgia, and sentimentalism run amok throughout the script. Nevertheless, it does an excellent job of demonstrating to a new generation why Ayrton is the greatest racing driver who ever lived.<br /><br />So, with all this sarcasm and vitriol out of the way, what was so exciting? Well, for one thing, they use a cinematic trick of introducing famous or important people by showing their names and positions. However, a fan of the sport recognizes them immediately because rather than using a Brad Pitt or a Barlon Brando, the producers use the same tricks impersonators use to mimic celebrities by spotlighting the things one immediately notices about a person: Nikki Lauda's overbite and burn-scarred skin, Jean-Marie Balestre Godfather gangster image, Alain Prost's curls and nose, and Ron Dennis' prominent forehead to name a few. Oh, and Xuxu. Wow, great job there! The director added some people as background and didn't play directly into the storyline, but I made a game of spotting people before the name tag appeared! That said, the best part for any fan was seeing the cars. Karts, Van Diemen Formula Fords, Toleman, Lotus, McLarens, and Ferraris. Oh, and Xuxu.<br /><br />Speaking of the storyline, they try to make it seem that Senna was a victim of racism. Not bigotry, as people of his day would term it, but discrimination and unfairness because he and others were from South America and not Europe. Of course, that was never the case. However, there was an in-group and an out-group, and the governing body of motorsport, the FIA, is an 'old boys' club and only works in smoke-filled backrooms. Those who speak out are often ostracized. Senna, for all his 'golden boy' popularity, tried to speak out against the organization, teams, and other drivers. It is still this way even today.<br /><br />I was pleasantly surprised that after Senna dies at Imola, the directors don't get overly sentimental. In real life, even the Pope doesn't get as much fanfare! Oh, shut up. There is no need for a spoiler alert. If you still need to learn that Senna dies in the story, I can't help you at this point. They show the worldwide grief and celebration of his life and end the movie...sort of. Just when you thought it was over, they literally recreate the movie with actual pictures of Senna's life. If the cars and stars of the sport were not enough, the pictures at the end were more than enough reason to watch the series.<br /><br />Ayrton is the greatest racing driver who ever lived (up to that point in history), and the series demonstrates this to the audience. Of course, there is the overly abusive use of feigned drama, shifting, stomping, and sliding. However, the story is riveting, the impersonation of the stars of the industry is fun, and the cars are a thing of beauty. Oh, and Xuxu. Happy Birthday, Dad.", "to": [ "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public" ], "cc": [ "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/followers" ], "tag": [], "url": "https://www.minds.com/newsfeed/1710286328492462089", "published": "2024-12-02T11:47:15+00:00", "attachment": [ { "type": "Document", "url": "https://cdn.minds.com/fs/v1/thumbnail/1710286319323713545/xlarge/", "mediaType": "image/jpeg", "height": 1274, "width": 860 } ], "source": { "content": "This is not a _Netflix Series_ Report...\n\nSENNA\n\nMany know I am not a moviegoer or a regular TV viewer. However, as a Racist (those who worship at the altar of speed competition), and because it was my Dad's birthday, I felt this would be an excellent opportunity to sit around and binge while recovering from the common cold. Netflix advertises SENNA as a dramatized fiction of Ayrton Senna da Silva's life. Having kicked off this review with that caveat, SENNA contains gratuitous amounts of Fast and Furious shifting, pedal stomping, and four-wheel drifts. It contains overly dramatized moments of book-staring, Momma-hugging, fatherly love and respect, and lonely outsider drama. The producers base the story on the facts of Senna's career, but the mushiness, nostalgia, and sentimentalism run amok throughout the script. Nevertheless, it does an excellent job of demonstrating to a new generation why Ayrton is the greatest racing driver who ever lived.\n\nSo, with all this sarcasm and vitriol out of the way, what was so exciting? Well, for one thing, they use a cinematic trick of introducing famous or important people by showing their names and positions. However, a fan of the sport recognizes them immediately because rather than using a Brad Pitt or a Barlon Brando, the producers use the same tricks impersonators use to mimic celebrities by spotlighting the things one immediately notices about a person: Nikki Lauda's overbite and burn-scarred skin, Jean-Marie Balestre Godfather gangster image, Alain Prost's curls and nose, and Ron Dennis' prominent forehead to name a few. Oh, and Xuxu. Wow, great job there! The director added some people as background and didn't play directly into the storyline, but I made a game of spotting people before the name tag appeared! That said, the best part for any fan was seeing the cars. Karts, Van Diemen Formula Fords, Toleman, Lotus, McLarens, and Ferraris. Oh, and Xuxu.\n\nSpeaking of the storyline, they try to make it seem that Senna was a victim of racism. Not bigotry, as people of his day would term it, but discrimination and unfairness because he and others were from South America and not Europe. Of course, that was never the case. However, there was an in-group and an out-group, and the governing body of motorsport, the FIA, is an 'old boys' club and only works in smoke-filled backrooms. Those who speak out are often ostracized. Senna, for all his 'golden boy' popularity, tried to speak out against the organization, teams, and other drivers. It is still this way even today.\n\nI was pleasantly surprised that after Senna dies at Imola, the directors don't get overly sentimental. In real life, even the Pope doesn't get as much fanfare! Oh, shut up. There is no need for a spoiler alert. If you still need to learn that Senna dies in the story, I can't help you at this point. They show the worldwide grief and celebration of his life and end the movie...sort of. Just when you thought it was over, they literally recreate the movie with actual pictures of Senna's life. If the cars and stars of the sport were not enough, the pictures at the end were more than enough reason to watch the series.\n\nAyrton is the greatest racing driver who ever lived (up to that point in history), and the series demonstrates this to the audience. Of course, there is the overly abusive use of feigned drama, shifting, stomping, and sliding. However, the story is riveting, the impersonation of the stars of the industry is fun, and the cars are a thing of beauty. Oh, and Xuxu. Happy Birthday, Dad.", "mediaType": "text/plain" } }, "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/entities/urn:activity:1710286328492462089/activity" }, { "type": "Create", "actor": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650", "object": { "type": "Note", "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/entities/urn:activity:1677729367876177935", "attributedTo": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650", "content": "This is Not a Book Report...<br /><br />The Complete Works of John Locke (Part 1)<br /><br />We owe our liberty to John Locke. His treaties against Absolutism, the separation of Church and State, and the invention of the social contract have influenced all the thought leaders that shaped our future. One has to concede that Locke was the father of Liberalism. However, this report is not about Locke; it is a review and report of his works within \"The Complete Works of...\" <br /><br />This report will be different from my usual \"This is Not a Book Report...\" because I will do it in several installments based on the books it contains. However, I recommend you read the Cliff Notes of each book rather than the original, as he wrote these books in late 17th-century Britain, and the use of language makes reading difficult if you are not attuned to it.<br /><br />The \"Works\" starts with Locke's \"An Essay Concerning Human Understanding,\" and this report concerns the first book of this three-book series, \"Neither Principles Nor Ideas Are Innate.\" Innateness refers to knowledge all persons are born with. Locke challenges these beliefs with a simple principle: \"A thing cannot be true and not true at the same time.\"<br /><br />If Locke released this work today, the media would call him a \"fact-checker\" and debunker.\" This first book debunks an earlier work by Edward Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert of Cherbury, called \"De Veritate\" (Doctrine of Innate Ideas), published in 1624, where he contends that certain principles are innate ideas and self-evident truths. <br /><br />The simplest explanation of this principle is that children are not born with any knowledge, and it provides examples challenging Lord Herbert's points. Children are not born with knowledge of rules and laws. Neither are they born with knowledge of God or even simple concepts such as colors. Locke also debunks cultural beliefs such as the accepted innateness of a mother's love for their child and other moral beliefs. He describes the recent discovery (in his time) of tribes in the Caribbean and Peru who raise children for food. Locke argues that ethical principles are not innate, and the community only observes virtues because they are profitable. This work largely influenced future philosophers such as David Hume and George Berkeley.<br /><br />At the time, the most offensive concept was likely that the idea of God was not innate. Hindsight tells us that any challenge to the church was challenging the monarchy, so Locke was cautious walking on eggshells. However, Locke used reason to describe how belief in God is not universal among men worldwide. <br /><br />Locke also details the idea of the subconscious mind, memory, and consciousness to prove the lack of innate knowledge. His examples are quite interesting, including the reference to a blind man (sight lost due to smallpox) losing the concept of color without the means to perceive it. It made me imagine a possible future study where neuroscientists use MRI technology to map the brain of a person losing their sight. Then, when blind, map the changes in the person's brain over time, where they learn new techniques and forget old ones. Yet, that is a different rabbit hole to ponder.<br /><br />Locke's work debunking \"De Veritate\" was instrumental in expanding modern thought. His point was that questioning any idea isn't sacred and that using facts, not suppositions, is necessary for decision-making. Locke influenced every philosopher who followed him. Thomas Jefferson counted Locke among Francis Bacon and Isaac Newton as the greatest men ever to live. The collection is over 3000 pages, so small bites are easier to digest. Therefore, we will continue exploring the Complete Works of John Locke in Part II.<br /><br />As always, contact me for a PDF copy.", "to": [ "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public" ], "cc": [ "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/followers" ], "tag": [], "url": "https://www.minds.com/newsfeed/1677729367876177935", "published": "2024-09-03T15:37:31+00:00", "attachment": [ { "type": "Document", "url": "https://cdn.minds.com/fs/v1/thumbnail/1677729253233266694/xlarge/", "mediaType": "image/jpeg", "height": 701, "width": 500 } ], "source": { "content": "This is Not a Book Report...\n\nThe Complete Works of John Locke (Part 1)\n\nWe owe our liberty to John Locke. His treaties against Absolutism, the separation of Church and State, and the invention of the social contract have influenced all the thought leaders that shaped our future. One has to concede that Locke was the father of Liberalism. However, this report is not about Locke; it is a review and report of his works within \"The Complete Works of...\" \n\nThis report will be different from my usual \"This is Not a Book Report...\" because I will do it in several installments based on the books it contains. However, I recommend you read the Cliff Notes of each book rather than the original, as he wrote these books in late 17th-century Britain, and the use of language makes reading difficult if you are not attuned to it.\n\nThe \"Works\" starts with Locke's \"An Essay Concerning Human Understanding,\" and this report concerns the first book of this three-book series, \"Neither Principles Nor Ideas Are Innate.\" Innateness refers to knowledge all persons are born with. Locke challenges these beliefs with a simple principle: \"A thing cannot be true and not true at the same time.\"\n\nIf Locke released this work today, the media would call him a \"fact-checker\" and debunker.\" This first book debunks an earlier work by Edward Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert of Cherbury, called \"De Veritate\" (Doctrine of Innate Ideas), published in 1624, where he contends that certain principles are innate ideas and self-evident truths. \n\nThe simplest explanation of this principle is that children are not born with any knowledge, and it provides examples challenging Lord Herbert's points. Children are not born with knowledge of rules and laws. Neither are they born with knowledge of God or even simple concepts such as colors. Locke also debunks cultural beliefs such as the accepted innateness of a mother's love for their child and other moral beliefs. He describes the recent discovery (in his time) of tribes in the Caribbean and Peru who raise children for food. Locke argues that ethical principles are not innate, and the community only observes virtues because they are profitable. This work largely influenced future philosophers such as David Hume and George Berkeley.\n\nAt the time, the most offensive concept was likely that the idea of God was not innate. Hindsight tells us that any challenge to the church was challenging the monarchy, so Locke was cautious walking on eggshells. However, Locke used reason to describe how belief in God is not universal among men worldwide. \n\nLocke also details the idea of the subconscious mind, memory, and consciousness to prove the lack of innate knowledge. His examples are quite interesting, including the reference to a blind man (sight lost due to smallpox) losing the concept of color without the means to perceive it. It made me imagine a possible future study where neuroscientists use MRI technology to map the brain of a person losing their sight. Then, when blind, map the changes in the person's brain over time, where they learn new techniques and forget old ones. Yet, that is a different rabbit hole to ponder.\n\nLocke's work debunking \"De Veritate\" was instrumental in expanding modern thought. His point was that questioning any idea isn't sacred and that using facts, not suppositions, is necessary for decision-making. Locke influenced every philosopher who followed him. Thomas Jefferson counted Locke among Francis Bacon and Isaac Newton as the greatest men ever to live. The collection is over 3000 pages, so small bites are easier to digest. Therefore, we will continue exploring the Complete Works of John Locke in Part II.\n\nAs always, contact me for a PDF copy.", "mediaType": "text/plain" } }, "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/entities/urn:activity:1677729367876177935/activity" }, { "type": "Create", "actor": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650", "object": { "type": "Note", "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/entities/urn:activity:1670227773819457546", "attributedTo": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650", "content": "This is not a Book Report...<br /><br />Danger Close by Patrick Byrne<br /><br />Huge Patrick Byrne fan here. What? You don't know Patrick Byrne? His website, DeepCapture.com, contains stories of his adventures where he discusses his role in government and what he has done on the sly for America. Needless to say, I have read every word on the website! He made billions with his company Overstock.com, has worked as an envoy for the bipartisan Senate Judiciary Committee, and assisted both the Obama and Trump administrations. This guy is America's real-life James Bond but has no official ties to any government organization. <br /><br />His book, Danger Close, is an interview, like a long-form podcast, that describes his life and explains the events leading up to the soft coup and overthrow of the United States Government (USG). As with all podcasts, he discusses his childhood, family, and relationship with \"The Oracle of Omaha,\" Warren Buffett (Buffett brought Patrick's father in to turn around Geico after Buffett purchased the Insurance giant). After Patrick became a billionaire, he used his connections to root out corruption in the USG, sounding the alarm in the Senate of the 2008 financial crisis.<br /><br />As an early adopter of Bitcoin, he was giving a talk in Las Vegas when the beautiful Russian redhead Maria Butina approached him. She was trying to make inroads with anyone in Washington, particularly Cruz, Rubio, and Clinton. Also, speaking at the conference, Trump called upon her when taking questions. Byrne reported this (as a security clearance holder), and they tasked him with befriending her. He reported to the FBI head of Counterespionage, who reported to the head of Counter-Intelligence, reporting to the National Security Division, reporting to the Executive Assistant Director, reporting to Director Comey. This operation was the birth of the Russia collusion scandal, and it was even before Trump came down the escalator. <br /><br />But wait, there's more! Right along the same timeline, this same government chain of command tasked Byrne with getting Hillary to take a bribe to blackmail and control her when she won the Presidency. But she didn't win. Trump did, so they opened what Byrne calls the \"Can-o-Russia\" scandal.<br /><br />As the 2020 election approached, Byrne raised the alarm again and watched in horror as Trump's closest circle repeatedly dropped the ball and allowed the coup to succeed.<br /><br />This book reads like a James Bond novel but is not fiction. Worst of all, it is all verifiable, and what is not would land him in jail or sued if it were not true. Since there are no lawsuits, we can be sure of its integrity. If you want to know (or confirm) what has happened in America over the last decade or two, READ THIS BOOK.<br /><br />As usual, hit me up for a PDF copy!", "to": [ "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public" ], "cc": [ "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/followers" ], "tag": [], "url": "https://www.minds.com/newsfeed/1670227773819457546", "published": "2024-08-13T22:48:52+00:00", "attachment": [ { "type": "Document", "url": "https://cdn.minds.com/fs/v1/thumbnail/1670227676926840834/xlarge/", "mediaType": "image/jpeg", "height": 500, "width": 500 } ], "source": { "content": "This is not a Book Report...\n\nDanger Close by Patrick Byrne\n\nHuge Patrick Byrne fan here. What? You don't know Patrick Byrne? His website, DeepCapture.com, contains stories of his adventures where he discusses his role in government and what he has done on the sly for America. Needless to say, I have read every word on the website! He made billions with his company Overstock.com, has worked as an envoy for the bipartisan Senate Judiciary Committee, and assisted both the Obama and Trump administrations. This guy is America's real-life James Bond but has no official ties to any government organization. \n\nHis book, Danger Close, is an interview, like a long-form podcast, that describes his life and explains the events leading up to the soft coup and overthrow of the United States Government (USG). As with all podcasts, he discusses his childhood, family, and relationship with \"The Oracle of Omaha,\" Warren Buffett (Buffett brought Patrick's father in to turn around Geico after Buffett purchased the Insurance giant). After Patrick became a billionaire, he used his connections to root out corruption in the USG, sounding the alarm in the Senate of the 2008 financial crisis.\n\nAs an early adopter of Bitcoin, he was giving a talk in Las Vegas when the beautiful Russian redhead Maria Butina approached him. She was trying to make inroads with anyone in Washington, particularly Cruz, Rubio, and Clinton. Also, speaking at the conference, Trump called upon her when taking questions. Byrne reported this (as a security clearance holder), and they tasked him with befriending her. He reported to the FBI head of Counterespionage, who reported to the head of Counter-Intelligence, reporting to the National Security Division, reporting to the Executive Assistant Director, reporting to Director Comey. This operation was the birth of the Russia collusion scandal, and it was even before Trump came down the escalator. \n\nBut wait, there's more! Right along the same timeline, this same government chain of command tasked Byrne with getting Hillary to take a bribe to blackmail and control her when she won the Presidency. But she didn't win. Trump did, so they opened what Byrne calls the \"Can-o-Russia\" scandal.\n\nAs the 2020 election approached, Byrne raised the alarm again and watched in horror as Trump's closest circle repeatedly dropped the ball and allowed the coup to succeed.\n\nThis book reads like a James Bond novel but is not fiction. Worst of all, it is all verifiable, and what is not would land him in jail or sued if it were not true. Since there are no lawsuits, we can be sure of its integrity. If you want to know (or confirm) what has happened in America over the last decade or two, READ THIS BOOK.\n\nAs usual, hit me up for a PDF copy!", "mediaType": "text/plain" } }, "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/entities/urn:activity:1670227773819457546/activity" }, { "type": "Create", "actor": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650", "object": { "type": "Note", "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/entities/urn:activity:1667912438462287878", "attributedTo": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650", "content": "This is not a Book Report...<br /><br />The Satanic Verses - by Salman Rushdie<br /><br />Of all the books burned throughout history, the most ordered that is not a book of the Bible is probably The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie. Therefore, you know I had to read it. However, it wasn't easy. Not because of the seemingly indifferent stories or the foreign names and cultural references but because I kept looking for why Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran issued a fatwa calling for the murder of Salman Rushdie. What could be so blasphemous and damning to kill someone over? It distracted me from the wonderful interweaving and storytelling.<br /><br />The book tells a fictional story of colonialism and the struggle for racial integration. The main characters are two men from India, both in the movie industry. One is a big star, proud of his Indian heritage, while the other is the foremost voice actor in the UK. He loves all things British and struggles to obtain recognition as a gentleman. However, there are \"side quests,\" pulling in stories of other characters, events, and times. Woven in a dream-like web, the strings eventually get pulled, and the narrative pulls together.<br /><br />One first suspects Ol' Khomeini doesn't like it because these are modern Indian Muslims, focused on careers, women, or material comforts rather than God or piety. While not ideal, that doesn't seem like enough to order the death of a man. These main characters first meet on an airplane while being held hostage by Islamic terrorists, and they are the only survivors. Again, it's not ideal, but calls for assassination? There is the suggestion of witchcraft and the description of worshiping alternate Gods. Indeed, that can't be it, or there would be a fatwa against all non-Islamic beliefs. One character suffers from a mental illness and has visions of grandeur, believing he is the archangel Gabriel—still, not enough blasphemy. The \"side quests\" deal with (fictional) prophets. Murder? Really? The only part that makes ANY sense is that one of the \"side quests\" deals with Ayatollah Khomeini's stay in Britain and his conquering of Iran. It is a dream sequence and paints the Ayatollah in a favorable light. Khomeini admits he didn't read the book. Seems obvious.<br /><br /> It is a beautiful story with twists and turns, dream sequences, and stark realities interwoven into a grand narrative. However, the Ayatollah's intervention preoccupied my attention. Now, I wonder if the distraction was part of the plan to take away enjoyment or if Khomeini got kickbacks. Either way, I am glad I read it, even though I didn't come away with insight. <br /><br />As usual, hit me up for a PDF copy!", "to": [ "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public" ], "cc": [ "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/followers" ], "tag": [], "url": "https://www.minds.com/newsfeed/1667912438462287878", "published": "2024-08-07T13:28:33+00:00", "attachment": [ { "type": "Document", "url": "https://cdn.minds.com/fs/v1/thumbnail/1667912382292168722/xlarge/", "mediaType": "image/jpeg", "height": 469, "width": 300 } ], "source": { "content": "This is not a Book Report...\n\nThe Satanic Verses - by Salman Rushdie\n\nOf all the books burned throughout history, the most ordered that is not a book of the Bible is probably The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie. Therefore, you know I had to read it. However, it wasn't easy. Not because of the seemingly indifferent stories or the foreign names and cultural references but because I kept looking for why Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran issued a fatwa calling for the murder of Salman Rushdie. What could be so blasphemous and damning to kill someone over? It distracted me from the wonderful interweaving and storytelling.\n\nThe book tells a fictional story of colonialism and the struggle for racial integration. The main characters are two men from India, both in the movie industry. One is a big star, proud of his Indian heritage, while the other is the foremost voice actor in the UK. He loves all things British and struggles to obtain recognition as a gentleman. However, there are \"side quests,\" pulling in stories of other characters, events, and times. Woven in a dream-like web, the strings eventually get pulled, and the narrative pulls together.\n\nOne first suspects Ol' Khomeini doesn't like it because these are modern Indian Muslims, focused on careers, women, or material comforts rather than God or piety. While not ideal, that doesn't seem like enough to order the death of a man. These main characters first meet on an airplane while being held hostage by Islamic terrorists, and they are the only survivors. Again, it's not ideal, but calls for assassination? There is the suggestion of witchcraft and the description of worshiping alternate Gods. Indeed, that can't be it, or there would be a fatwa against all non-Islamic beliefs. One character suffers from a mental illness and has visions of grandeur, believing he is the archangel Gabriel—still, not enough blasphemy. The \"side quests\" deal with (fictional) prophets. Murder? Really? The only part that makes ANY sense is that one of the \"side quests\" deals with Ayatollah Khomeini's stay in Britain and his conquering of Iran. It is a dream sequence and paints the Ayatollah in a favorable light. Khomeini admits he didn't read the book. Seems obvious.\n\n It is a beautiful story with twists and turns, dream sequences, and stark realities interwoven into a grand narrative. However, the Ayatollah's intervention preoccupied my attention. Now, I wonder if the distraction was part of the plan to take away enjoyment or if Khomeini got kickbacks. Either way, I am glad I read it, even though I didn't come away with insight. \n\nAs usual, hit me up for a PDF copy!", "mediaType": "text/plain" } }, "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/entities/urn:activity:1667912438462287878/activity" }, { "type": "Create", "actor": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650", "object": { "type": "Note", "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/entities/urn:activity:1647777452031741960", "attributedTo": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650", "content": "This is not a Book Report...<br /><br />The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels, by Alex Epstein <br /><br />When man started using fire to save him from the cold and cook his food to kill microbes, he learned to control it by encircling it with rocks to keep it from spreading, and he burned it in ventilated areas to prevent suffocation. He used his big brain to enclose the fire in an oven to make it more efficient. He created chimneys to vent the toxic chemicals away from his family. That ingenuity led from sticks and twigs to logs, coal, oil, and splitting the atom! We have always dominated our energy source, making it safer, cleaner, and more efficient. <br /><br />The premise of this book, which is really just an essay, is that all species have to adapt their environments to their needs, and humans are best equipped for it. Nature tries to kill us, and we only succeed through our wits. To do so, we require cheap, reliable, and plentiful energy. The long-term answer is available, but if you ask any environmentalist, they will give you 101 false reasons for not using nuclear. Coal and oil are the next most efficient energy, but they demonize the industry. They claim to want us to use solar and wind, ignoring that these resources are dirtier and more damaging to the environment and the humans that produce them than coal and oil. When we harness fission, the ultimate goal, these same people will line up to say why we shouldn't use it.<br /><br />Alex Epstein wants us to look at fossil fuels not through the eyes of the activists in the media (if it bleeds, it leads) but through the prism of what is best for humanity. Everything humans do has some adverse side effects, so if you are not in support of the death cult, the humanist answer is to maximize resources and minimize risks. Imagine Manchester in the late 1800s in the grip of the Industrial Revolution, with soot and smoke, black lung, and asthma. Manchester looks very different today. We learned of the adverse effects, and we countered them with technology. An artificial oil shortage in the 1970s created a scare, with leaders believing we were \"running out of oil.\" However, that couldn't be further from the truth. The more oil we use, the more we find. Estimations as of this book (2012) believe we have over 3000 years at current growth rates. We can also create all our fuel needs from the most available hydrocarbon, coal. More importantly, North America (the USA) sits on the world's largest coal and oil deposits. Why are we the leaders of the death cult?<br /><br />Make no mistake: eliminating hydrocarbons is a death sentence for billions of people. Natural gas runs factories, heats homes in cold climates, and makes the fertilizer to feed an eight billion-person population. Coal and oil provide the electricity for most of the world's population. All commercial transportation relies on oil. Most medicines require oil as an ingredient, but all need it for manufacture, transportation, and storage. Those thought leaders advocating for the elimination of hydrocarbons are literally calling for the death of billions of people. We shouldn't refer to these charlatans as activists. We should refer to them as death cultists. <br /><br />Honestly, I am so over climate change and environmentalism. Believe it or not, I have been fighting these cultists since I was in my single digits. I have experienced 50 years of politicians and activists spreading misinformation about topics that only took a few minutes in a library to debunk, even before the Internet! I refuse to be preached at by children wearing plastic clothes, who flew in on private jet aircraft and spout IPCC talking points or Superglue themselves to works of art. Modern environmentalists fall into three categories: the corrupt, the ignorant, and the members of the death cult (which one are you?)<br /><br />Ok, I know what you are thinking. This guy is a Big Oil stooge. The funny thing is, he's not. Big Oil has ignored him! Alex Epstein, a philosophy major not associated with the fossil fuel industry, wrote this book after he challenged one of the nation's leading environmentalists, Bill McKibben, to debate the ethical use of fossil fuels. He had to pay $10,000, out of his own pocket, to McKibben to debate him, as well as the $25k to make the whole thing happen.<br /><br />We have made our energy safer, cleaner, and more efficient. I know this isn't one of my better \"not a book reports,\" but that concerns my frustration over this topic. However, Alex encompasses everything in just two paragraphs:<br /><br />\"The basic principle espoused in this book is that we survive by transforming our environment to meet our needs. We maximize resources, and we minimize risks. Energy use is the ultimate form of transformation because it increases our ability to transform our environment to meet every other need, maximize every resource, and minimize every threat.\"<br /><br />\"This book in a sentence: Mankind's use of fossil fuels is supremely virtuous - because human life is the standard of value, and because using fossil fuels transforms our environment to make it wonderful for human life.\"<br /><br />As usual, hit me up for a pdf copy!", "to": [ "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public" ], "cc": [ "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/followers" ], "tag": [], "url": "https://www.minds.com/newsfeed/1647777452031741960", "published": "2024-06-12T23:59:18+00:00", "attachment": [ { "type": "Document", "url": "https://cdn.minds.com/fs/v1/thumbnail/1647777386118254612/xlarge/", "mediaType": "image/jpeg", "height": 1200, "width": 789 } ], "source": { "content": "This is not a Book Report...\n\nThe Moral Case for Fossil Fuels, by Alex Epstein \n\nWhen man started using fire to save him from the cold and cook his food to kill microbes, he learned to control it by encircling it with rocks to keep it from spreading, and he burned it in ventilated areas to prevent suffocation. He used his big brain to enclose the fire in an oven to make it more efficient. He created chimneys to vent the toxic chemicals away from his family. That ingenuity led from sticks and twigs to logs, coal, oil, and splitting the atom! We have always dominated our energy source, making it safer, cleaner, and more efficient. \n\nThe premise of this book, which is really just an essay, is that all species have to adapt their environments to their needs, and humans are best equipped for it. Nature tries to kill us, and we only succeed through our wits. To do so, we require cheap, reliable, and plentiful energy. The long-term answer is available, but if you ask any environmentalist, they will give you 101 false reasons for not using nuclear. Coal and oil are the next most efficient energy, but they demonize the industry. They claim to want us to use solar and wind, ignoring that these resources are dirtier and more damaging to the environment and the humans that produce them than coal and oil. When we harness fission, the ultimate goal, these same people will line up to say why we shouldn't use it.\n\nAlex Epstein wants us to look at fossil fuels not through the eyes of the activists in the media (if it bleeds, it leads) but through the prism of what is best for humanity. Everything humans do has some adverse side effects, so if you are not in support of the death cult, the humanist answer is to maximize resources and minimize risks. Imagine Manchester in the late 1800s in the grip of the Industrial Revolution, with soot and smoke, black lung, and asthma. Manchester looks very different today. We learned of the adverse effects, and we countered them with technology. An artificial oil shortage in the 1970s created a scare, with leaders believing we were \"running out of oil.\" However, that couldn't be further from the truth. The more oil we use, the more we find. Estimations as of this book (2012) believe we have over 3000 years at current growth rates. We can also create all our fuel needs from the most available hydrocarbon, coal. More importantly, North America (the USA) sits on the world's largest coal and oil deposits. Why are we the leaders of the death cult?\n\nMake no mistake: eliminating hydrocarbons is a death sentence for billions of people. Natural gas runs factories, heats homes in cold climates, and makes the fertilizer to feed an eight billion-person population. Coal and oil provide the electricity for most of the world's population. All commercial transportation relies on oil. Most medicines require oil as an ingredient, but all need it for manufacture, transportation, and storage. Those thought leaders advocating for the elimination of hydrocarbons are literally calling for the death of billions of people. We shouldn't refer to these charlatans as activists. We should refer to them as death cultists. \n\nHonestly, I am so over climate change and environmentalism. Believe it or not, I have been fighting these cultists since I was in my single digits. I have experienced 50 years of politicians and activists spreading misinformation about topics that only took a few minutes in a library to debunk, even before the Internet! I refuse to be preached at by children wearing plastic clothes, who flew in on private jet aircraft and spout IPCC talking points or Superglue themselves to works of art. Modern environmentalists fall into three categories: the corrupt, the ignorant, and the members of the death cult (which one are you?)\n\nOk, I know what you are thinking. This guy is a Big Oil stooge. The funny thing is, he's not. Big Oil has ignored him! Alex Epstein, a philosophy major not associated with the fossil fuel industry, wrote this book after he challenged one of the nation's leading environmentalists, Bill McKibben, to debate the ethical use of fossil fuels. He had to pay $10,000, out of his own pocket, to McKibben to debate him, as well as the $25k to make the whole thing happen.\n\nWe have made our energy safer, cleaner, and more efficient. I know this isn't one of my better \"not a book reports,\" but that concerns my frustration over this topic. However, Alex encompasses everything in just two paragraphs:\n\n\"The basic principle espoused in this book is that we survive by transforming our environment to meet our needs. We maximize resources, and we minimize risks. Energy use is the ultimate form of transformation because it increases our ability to transform our environment to meet every other need, maximize every resource, and minimize every threat.\"\n\n\"This book in a sentence: Mankind's use of fossil fuels is supremely virtuous - because human life is the standard of value, and because using fossil fuels transforms our environment to make it wonderful for human life.\"\n\nAs usual, hit me up for a pdf copy!", "mediaType": "text/plain" } }, "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/entities/urn:activity:1647777452031741960/activity" }, { "type": "Create", "actor": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650", "object": { "type": "Note", "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/entities/urn:activity:1646835063104475150", "attributedTo": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650", "content": "If I were President... (Issue 8)<br /><br />This one might get me killed. I'm ordering an Executive Order to halt all offensive arms sales immediately. This comprehensive ban encompasses missiles, rockets, artillery, fighter aircraft, machine guns, mines, bombs, and all weapons systems. However, our sales and maintenance for the Iron Dome, cryptography, and other military equipment will continue. It's important to note that weapons available to American citizens will remain unaffected. This policy shift, driven by our commitment to global peace and security, will effectively end America's role as a global arms dealer.<br /><br />I will also send my new UN Secretary, Jeffery Sachs, to negotiate with our UN partners to ostracize and isolate those countries supporting arms sales. Secretary of State Kash Patel will create treaties with Russia, Iran, China, Israel, and the other players in the arms space to ban arms sales globally. Together, we will starve the resources of the supporting proxy wars and petty dictatorships that thrive off the death we deal.<br /><br />We are not making this policy change in isolation. We will support it with the law in the NDAA or, preferably, with a stand-alone law from Congress. To ensure a smooth transition, we will offset the impact of these sales with contracts for non-weapons-related products and services. Our focus will be on space and undersea programs, with NASA and NOAA seeing a significant shift from defense spending. This policy will also eliminate offensive sales to our allies and partners in NATO. However, there will be carve-outs for parts and maintenance of already deployed systems. This strategic shift in our economic focus will not only promote global peace but also stimulate our domestic economy.<br /><br />Since we are talking about NATO, let's have it out now. I support NATO and America's role as its financial leader and moral backer. While appearances have NATO as a defensive partnership against the Soviets, I see it as a way to prevent the bloodthirsty tyrants of Europe from rearming and laying waste on the continent...again. Therefore, it is a necessary evil that we can manage and keep boxed up.<br /><br />Yes, I am aware that the cost of producing the necessary equipment for our military will rise. However, just like the big box stores, America can afford it, while smaller countries, such as North Korea, Turkey, and African nations, cannot. Without the toys, these countries can focus their attention on improving the lives of their citizens rather than worrying about their neighbors.<br /><br />That's a wrap for day four of my Presidency. Today, we've created the Road to Statehood, reformed USAID by eliminating its use for money laundering and taking it out of the hands of the CIA, and removed the US from the arms business while still supporting NATO. It's not a bad day. I deserve a beer.", "to": [ "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public" ], "cc": [ "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/followers" ], "tag": [], "url": "https://www.minds.com/newsfeed/1646835063104475150", "published": "2024-06-10T09:34:35+00:00", "attachment": [ { "type": "Document", "url": "https://cdn.minds.com/fs/v1/thumbnail/1646834956535599124/xlarge/", "mediaType": "image/jpeg", "height": 525, "width": 700 } ], "source": { "content": "If I were President... (Issue 8)\n\nThis one might get me killed. I'm ordering an Executive Order to halt all offensive arms sales immediately. This comprehensive ban encompasses missiles, rockets, artillery, fighter aircraft, machine guns, mines, bombs, and all weapons systems. However, our sales and maintenance for the Iron Dome, cryptography, and other military equipment will continue. It's important to note that weapons available to American citizens will remain unaffected. This policy shift, driven by our commitment to global peace and security, will effectively end America's role as a global arms dealer.\n\nI will also send my new UN Secretary, Jeffery Sachs, to negotiate with our UN partners to ostracize and isolate those countries supporting arms sales. Secretary of State Kash Patel will create treaties with Russia, Iran, China, Israel, and the other players in the arms space to ban arms sales globally. Together, we will starve the resources of the supporting proxy wars and petty dictatorships that thrive off the death we deal.\n\nWe are not making this policy change in isolation. We will support it with the law in the NDAA or, preferably, with a stand-alone law from Congress. To ensure a smooth transition, we will offset the impact of these sales with contracts for non-weapons-related products and services. Our focus will be on space and undersea programs, with NASA and NOAA seeing a significant shift from defense spending. This policy will also eliminate offensive sales to our allies and partners in NATO. However, there will be carve-outs for parts and maintenance of already deployed systems. This strategic shift in our economic focus will not only promote global peace but also stimulate our domestic economy.\n\nSince we are talking about NATO, let's have it out now. I support NATO and America's role as its financial leader and moral backer. While appearances have NATO as a defensive partnership against the Soviets, I see it as a way to prevent the bloodthirsty tyrants of Europe from rearming and laying waste on the continent...again. Therefore, it is a necessary evil that we can manage and keep boxed up.\n\nYes, I am aware that the cost of producing the necessary equipment for our military will rise. However, just like the big box stores, America can afford it, while smaller countries, such as North Korea, Turkey, and African nations, cannot. Without the toys, these countries can focus their attention on improving the lives of their citizens rather than worrying about their neighbors.\n\nThat's a wrap for day four of my Presidency. Today, we've created the Road to Statehood, reformed USAID by eliminating its use for money laundering and taking it out of the hands of the CIA, and removed the US from the arms business while still supporting NATO. It's not a bad day. I deserve a beer.", "mediaType": "text/plain" } }, "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/entities/urn:activity:1646835063104475150/activity" }, { "type": "Create", "actor": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650", "object": { "type": "Note", "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/entities/urn:activity:1644726640896380942", "attributedTo": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650", "content": "The Fall of Rome<br /><br />I've seen the light. I finally understand what is going on. I've been thinking about this for a while, but I watched the Tucker Carlson interview on the Shawn Ryan Show today, and my theory has finally formed. Shawn's Paetron question was (paraphrasing), \"Who is running this country?\" However, the bigger question is, \"Why do these people do what they do?\" \"What is the end goal?\" This story will take some time to explain, but now I know the answer.<br /><br />Cecil Rhodes created The Round Tables, or the US version, the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), to unite and promote the English-speaking world. The membership conspired to influence world governments in ways that improved and expanded the crown's power with the belief that a rising tide lifts all boats. Rhodes and his followers supported democratic government; they were not monarchists and understood, even during Rhodes's lifetime, that the US would take the lead rather than the Queen. Their ideas and goals were not evil, power-hungry, or Orwellian world domination. They just saw the Anglo system as the best way to improve the lives of all.<br /><br />These organizations, such as the Atlantic Council and The Aspen, Cato, and Brookings Institutes, were not just mere entities. They played a pivotal role in reshaping the post-World War II world. In 1973, the internationalist David Rockefeller took a step further and founded the Trilateral Commission, aiming to unite many of these groups in Europe, Japan, and the US. <br /><br />Another significant event that unfolded following World War II was the rise and fall of China. In 1912, China, aligning with the West, transitioned into a democratic government. Despite the republic's struggles with the spread of communism in the 1930s and Japanese aggression in the 1940s, it emerged from the war as an equal partner with the other superpowers. However, a twist of fate occurred. While the diplomats were showing support for the Chiang Kai-shek government, the CIA and NGOs like The Round Tables were supporting Mao's communists, leading to a dramatic shift in power. In 1971, Mao's communist People's Republic of China replaced the democratic Republic of China on the UN Security Council, altering the global geopolitical landscape.<br /><br />With this background, let's address the final question first. The role of these NGOs is more than merely to advocate for specific causes. Their ultimate goal is to establish a One World government, a federated system, or a new world order, if you will, to mitigate competition for resources. It's important to note that people and their labor are considered resources in this context. The internationalists used the current system to create supranational organizations such as the World Bank, The International Court of Justice, and the World Health Organization to eek away sovereignty from the existing nations. Notably, the World Bank is used to force a nation's compliance. Lucky for us, while these groups have the same end-state goals, they have differing views on who should lead or what form it will take.<br /><br />However, they face some daunting challenges they must overcome to reach their Utopia, and the most significant issue is the US itself. Following the Cold War, the US emerged as the hegemon, a role that was not anticipated. The US' independent nature and the entanglements clause in the Constitution prevent it from fully participating in the global governance it helped create. It is like that old Groucho Marx line, \"I wouldn't want to be in any club that would have me as a member.\" The US is too strong, both financially and militarily. The funding for the supranational organizations primarily comes from the US, so coercion is minimal, and all the world's militaries can't force the US to comply. Simply put, the US as we know it must die.<br /><br />That concept opens up a whole new can of worms. Every country in the world is dependent on the US. One can't just take it down. The world would crash, billions would starve, and Mad Max would look civilized! No, the US only needs to be weaker. It requires bringing it down to the level of the other superpowers. Not so much that the elites lose their wealth but enough that the NGOs can extrude influence and power over their sovereignty. The US must relinquish its role as hegemon for the transition to occur.<br /><br />This strategy goes back to the George H. W. Bush presidency, although every administration has signed off on it since. Bush got the US into an unnecessary war in Arabia that weakened the US economy. Clinton played the internationalist card as well. W weakened the US with wars in the Gulf and the Stans. <br /><br />Let's back this up and return to China. Following Mao's death, China slowly moved away from communism and a planned economy and was ready for its next step by 2012. Xi Jinping took power and transformed the failed communist state into a fascist dictatorship. Of course, we don't call it fascism, but that's what it is—a cult of personality and all. China's example, I believe, is what the NGOs have in mind for the future of the world. China is failing due to policies implemented by its communist past and the inherent racism of the Han Chinese, but China is its testbed, their proof of concept. <br /><br />Returning to the strategy, Obama and Biden crushed the US with failing economies and supported more foreign wars than any other presidents. Even Trump shares the blame, even if unknowingly. His people were bought all in this scheme, even if he wasn't. And as they say, \"The buck stops here.\" <br /><br />Now that we know the who, why, and how. The question remains, \"Why now?\" The United Nations and the League of Nations before it were created to solve the problem of war, particularly in Europe, and each has failed in that singular goal. While the Greatest Generation fought the war, the Boomer Generation bought into the notion that they could end all wars by uniting the world into a single government. The Boomer Generation didn't have the power in the 1960s to influence the New World Order, but by 1990, they were taking control. Unfortunately for them, no one lives forever, and their window of opportunity is closing rapidly. The 2024 election is most likely the last generation of Boomers to get elected to the White House. They see that GenX and the Millenials do not support their vision, so if they want to see their goals through, they must Hail Mary to the endzone now!<br /><br />So, what did Tucker say to set me off? Well, it wasn't what he said. I disagreed with his thesis. However, in his explanation, he commented that Anthony Blinken, Victoria Nuland, and others who have led us to this stage are unimpressive. To put it bluntly, they're dumb. I don't think so. They are doing it purposefully. They are part of a conspiracy bent on destroying the US so that out of her ashes will rise a fascist state that resembles modern-day China. Of course, we won't call it fascism, but that's what it will be.<br /><br />There you have it, the who, what, why, and how of the fall of the US. Cecil Rhodes didn't imagine the world the Rockefeller types are creating, but his protogyny is driving the bus. Expect things to turn for the worst, regardless of who wins the presidency in November. If Trump wins, the US will return to the likes of the Color Revolution of 2020. If Biden wins, there will be some magic bullet: a nuclear war, a nasty virus, a climate crisis, or a worldwide economic collapse that will require a change in how we govern. To quote Robert F. Kennedy from a speech in 1966, \"May you live in interesting times.\"", "to": [ "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public" ], "cc": [ "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/followers" ], "tag": [], "url": "https://www.minds.com/newsfeed/1644726640896380942", "published": "2024-06-04T13:56:28+00:00", "attachment": [ { "type": "Document", "url": "https://cdn.minds.com/fs/v1/thumbnail/1644726331172196359/xlarge/", "mediaType": "image/jpeg", "height": 180, "width": 320 } ], "source": { "content": "The Fall of Rome\n\nI've seen the light. I finally understand what is going on. I've been thinking about this for a while, but I watched the Tucker Carlson interview on the Shawn Ryan Show today, and my theory has finally formed. Shawn's Paetron question was (paraphrasing), \"Who is running this country?\" However, the bigger question is, \"Why do these people do what they do?\" \"What is the end goal?\" This story will take some time to explain, but now I know the answer.\n\nCecil Rhodes created The Round Tables, or the US version, the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), to unite and promote the English-speaking world. The membership conspired to influence world governments in ways that improved and expanded the crown's power with the belief that a rising tide lifts all boats. Rhodes and his followers supported democratic government; they were not monarchists and understood, even during Rhodes's lifetime, that the US would take the lead rather than the Queen. Their ideas and goals were not evil, power-hungry, or Orwellian world domination. They just saw the Anglo system as the best way to improve the lives of all.\n\nThese organizations, such as the Atlantic Council and The Aspen, Cato, and Brookings Institutes, were not just mere entities. They played a pivotal role in reshaping the post-World War II world. In 1973, the internationalist David Rockefeller took a step further and founded the Trilateral Commission, aiming to unite many of these groups in Europe, Japan, and the US. \n\nAnother significant event that unfolded following World War II was the rise and fall of China. In 1912, China, aligning with the West, transitioned into a democratic government. Despite the republic's struggles with the spread of communism in the 1930s and Japanese aggression in the 1940s, it emerged from the war as an equal partner with the other superpowers. However, a twist of fate occurred. While the diplomats were showing support for the Chiang Kai-shek government, the CIA and NGOs like The Round Tables were supporting Mao's communists, leading to a dramatic shift in power. In 1971, Mao's communist People's Republic of China replaced the democratic Republic of China on the UN Security Council, altering the global geopolitical landscape.\n\nWith this background, let's address the final question first. The role of these NGOs is more than merely to advocate for specific causes. Their ultimate goal is to establish a One World government, a federated system, or a new world order, if you will, to mitigate competition for resources. It's important to note that people and their labor are considered resources in this context. The internationalists used the current system to create supranational organizations such as the World Bank, The International Court of Justice, and the World Health Organization to eek away sovereignty from the existing nations. Notably, the World Bank is used to force a nation's compliance. Lucky for us, while these groups have the same end-state goals, they have differing views on who should lead or what form it will take.\n\nHowever, they face some daunting challenges they must overcome to reach their Utopia, and the most significant issue is the US itself. Following the Cold War, the US emerged as the hegemon, a role that was not anticipated. The US' independent nature and the entanglements clause in the Constitution prevent it from fully participating in the global governance it helped create. It is like that old Groucho Marx line, \"I wouldn't want to be in any club that would have me as a member.\" The US is too strong, both financially and militarily. The funding for the supranational organizations primarily comes from the US, so coercion is minimal, and all the world's militaries can't force the US to comply. Simply put, the US as we know it must die.\n\nThat concept opens up a whole new can of worms. Every country in the world is dependent on the US. One can't just take it down. The world would crash, billions would starve, and Mad Max would look civilized! No, the US only needs to be weaker. It requires bringing it down to the level of the other superpowers. Not so much that the elites lose their wealth but enough that the NGOs can extrude influence and power over their sovereignty. The US must relinquish its role as hegemon for the transition to occur.\n\nThis strategy goes back to the George H. W. Bush presidency, although every administration has signed off on it since. Bush got the US into an unnecessary war in Arabia that weakened the US economy. Clinton played the internationalist card as well. W weakened the US with wars in the Gulf and the Stans. \n\nLet's back this up and return to China. Following Mao's death, China slowly moved away from communism and a planned economy and was ready for its next step by 2012. Xi Jinping took power and transformed the failed communist state into a fascist dictatorship. Of course, we don't call it fascism, but that's what it is—a cult of personality and all. China's example, I believe, is what the NGOs have in mind for the future of the world. China is failing due to policies implemented by its communist past and the inherent racism of the Han Chinese, but China is its testbed, their proof of concept. \n\nReturning to the strategy, Obama and Biden crushed the US with failing economies and supported more foreign wars than any other presidents. Even Trump shares the blame, even if unknowingly. His people were bought all in this scheme, even if he wasn't. And as they say, \"The buck stops here.\" \n\nNow that we know the who, why, and how. The question remains, \"Why now?\" The United Nations and the League of Nations before it were created to solve the problem of war, particularly in Europe, and each has failed in that singular goal. While the Greatest Generation fought the war, the Boomer Generation bought into the notion that they could end all wars by uniting the world into a single government. The Boomer Generation didn't have the power in the 1960s to influence the New World Order, but by 1990, they were taking control. Unfortunately for them, no one lives forever, and their window of opportunity is closing rapidly. The 2024 election is most likely the last generation of Boomers to get elected to the White House. They see that GenX and the Millenials do not support their vision, so if they want to see their goals through, they must Hail Mary to the endzone now!\n\nSo, what did Tucker say to set me off? Well, it wasn't what he said. I disagreed with his thesis. However, in his explanation, he commented that Anthony Blinken, Victoria Nuland, and others who have led us to this stage are unimpressive. To put it bluntly, they're dumb. I don't think so. They are doing it purposefully. They are part of a conspiracy bent on destroying the US so that out of her ashes will rise a fascist state that resembles modern-day China. Of course, we won't call it fascism, but that's what it will be.\n\nThere you have it, the who, what, why, and how of the fall of the US. Cecil Rhodes didn't imagine the world the Rockefeller types are creating, but his protogyny is driving the bus. Expect things to turn for the worst, regardless of who wins the presidency in November. If Trump wins, the US will return to the likes of the Color Revolution of 2020. If Biden wins, there will be some magic bullet: a nuclear war, a nasty virus, a climate crisis, or a worldwide economic collapse that will require a change in how we govern. To quote Robert F. Kennedy from a speech in 1966, \"May you live in interesting times.\"", "mediaType": "text/plain" } }, "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/entities/urn:activity:1644726640896380942/activity" }, { "type": "Create", "actor": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650", "object": { "type": "Note", "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/entities/urn:activity:1643414807895871500", "attributedTo": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650", "content": "This is not a Book Report...<br /><br />The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11, by Lawrence Wright<br /><br />Why does the Boogie-man hate you? In The Looming Tower, Lawrence Wright embarks on a captivating journey, delving into the mysterious life of Osama bin Laden, America's Boogie-man, and his deeply rooted animosity towards the country. The book meticulously traces bin Laden's path, the formation of Al-Qaeda, and the individuals who were unsuccessful in averting the 9/11 tragedy, offering a narrative that is sure to ignite the curiosity of history, politics, and current events enthusiasts.<br /><br />The Looming Tower is a scathing critique of incompetence. Osama's influences were incompetent, as were the terrorist groups that eventually formed Al-Qaeda. The CIA and the FBI were riddled with incompetence, and it is no surprise that both the Clinton and Bush administrations were also marked by it. The book is a stark reminder of the urgent need for these players to learn how to fight the war without a boot camp, Generals, or adult supervision.<br /><br />However, there are leaders. There are intelligent people. Wright provides the background that most need to learn or even understand about how these Islamic countries see the West. Unfortunately, these heroes have to work in the American bureaucracy, where personalities rule, and fiefdoms limit the flow of information. <br /><br />It was a race to see who evolved the fastest. In a striking contrast, Osama bin Ladin learned from his failures, while most Americans celebrated and attributed their good luck to skill and superiority. Even the media dismissed the threat. Peter Arnett of CNN and John Miller from ABC both interviewed the terrorist in Afghanistan after he declared war on America. (No one called the traitors for being journalists like they did when Tucker interviewed Putin). This intriguing dichotomy in learning approaches is a captivating aspect of the book's narrative. <br /><br />One of those heroes, John O'Neill of the FBI, was a flawed man. Yet, his dedication to protecting America from terrorism was unwavering. He battled with leadership and competing organizations until his last day on the job. Upon retirement, he accepted a position as head of security for the World Trade Centers. Little did he know, he'd be at ground zero for the attack he was trying to prevent. At his funeral, his son read the following letter John O'Neill wrote a letter to his grandson:<br /><br />\"It is well to learn the ethnic backgrounds of your parents, to love and cherish the ancient folklore. But never, never forget you are an American first. And never forget millions of Americans before you have fought for your freedom. The Nation holds all the terms of our endearment. Support, defend, and honor those whose duty it is to keep it safe.\"<br />", "to": [ "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public" ], "cc": [ "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/followers" ], "tag": [], "url": "https://www.minds.com/newsfeed/1643414807895871500", "published": "2024-05-31T23:03:42+00:00", "attachment": [ { "type": "Document", "url": "https://cdn.minds.com/fs/v1/thumbnail/1643414795577200642/xlarge/", "mediaType": "image/jpeg", "height": 1500, "width": 981 } ], "source": { "content": "This is not a Book Report...\n\nThe Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11, by Lawrence Wright\n\nWhy does the Boogie-man hate you? In The Looming Tower, Lawrence Wright embarks on a captivating journey, delving into the mysterious life of Osama bin Laden, America's Boogie-man, and his deeply rooted animosity towards the country. The book meticulously traces bin Laden's path, the formation of Al-Qaeda, and the individuals who were unsuccessful in averting the 9/11 tragedy, offering a narrative that is sure to ignite the curiosity of history, politics, and current events enthusiasts.\n\nThe Looming Tower is a scathing critique of incompetence. Osama's influences were incompetent, as were the terrorist groups that eventually formed Al-Qaeda. The CIA and the FBI were riddled with incompetence, and it is no surprise that both the Clinton and Bush administrations were also marked by it. The book is a stark reminder of the urgent need for these players to learn how to fight the war without a boot camp, Generals, or adult supervision.\n\nHowever, there are leaders. There are intelligent people. Wright provides the background that most need to learn or even understand about how these Islamic countries see the West. Unfortunately, these heroes have to work in the American bureaucracy, where personalities rule, and fiefdoms limit the flow of information. \n\nIt was a race to see who evolved the fastest. In a striking contrast, Osama bin Ladin learned from his failures, while most Americans celebrated and attributed their good luck to skill and superiority. Even the media dismissed the threat. Peter Arnett of CNN and John Miller from ABC both interviewed the terrorist in Afghanistan after he declared war on America. (No one called the traitors for being journalists like they did when Tucker interviewed Putin). This intriguing dichotomy in learning approaches is a captivating aspect of the book's narrative. \n\nOne of those heroes, John O'Neill of the FBI, was a flawed man. Yet, his dedication to protecting America from terrorism was unwavering. He battled with leadership and competing organizations until his last day on the job. Upon retirement, he accepted a position as head of security for the World Trade Centers. Little did he know, he'd be at ground zero for the attack he was trying to prevent. At his funeral, his son read the following letter John O'Neill wrote a letter to his grandson:\n\n\"It is well to learn the ethnic backgrounds of your parents, to love and cherish the ancient folklore. But never, never forget you are an American first. And never forget millions of Americans before you have fought for your freedom. The Nation holds all the terms of our endearment. Support, defend, and honor those whose duty it is to keep it safe.\"\n", "mediaType": "text/plain" } }, "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/entities/urn:activity:1643414807895871500/activity" }, { "type": "Create", "actor": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650", "object": { "type": "Note", "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/entities/urn:activity:1638114469894688774", "attributedTo": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650", "content": "If I were President... (Issue 5)<br /><br />That was a great lunch. Please send my compliments to the chefs. If I didn't have so much to do, I would take a nap. Anyway, let's get started. This afternoon, we, with our deep understanding of legislative matters, will work on The NDAA by slipping in changes to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, strengthening the Corporate Transparency Act, repealing the Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2012, and clarifying the Presidential Records Act of 1978.<br /><br />The Communications Decency Act of 1996 is a bad law in the face of it. Still, the idea behind Section 230 was to codify the same protections Telephone companies enjoy for the Internet. The meaning of the law is service providers are not responsible for what users post outside of breaking the law. There is no reason for service providers to editorialize customers. Rather than encouraging them and their use of 'terms of service,' we will strip 230 protection when they censor. Of course, editorial censorship enforcing laws will have our full backing. Otherwise? Stay out of the public square. Protecting Constitutionally guaranteed freedoms is a National Security question; therefore, we can fix it in the NDAA. The urgency of this matter cannot be overstated.<br /><br />Biden signed the Corporate Transparency Act into law, which forced anonymous shell companies to identify their owners. However, that is only a matter of identification for the government. They are still entirely anonymous to the public. This law goes hand in hand with the money laundering provisions of the Patriot Act. We must shine a light into this darkness. We can use this update to eliminate think tanks and policy organizations such as the Brookings Institute or the CFR from 501c3 charities.  These organizations launder too much money. Anonymous shell companies, 501c3 charity abuse, and money laundering are risks to national security; therefore, we can fix them in the NDAA.<br /><br />Obama's 2012 NDAA included the Smith-Mundt Modernization Act. Have you never heard of it? That law allows the government to use propaganda against Americans. That needs to go. It was born in the NDAA; it can die in it. <br /><br />I mentioned the Presidential Records Act of 1978 at the beginning. Truthfully, that is just a portion of this. We need to clarify Presidential Immunity and back up Presidential rights. Simple enough, if Congress thinks the President broke the law, they have the responsibility to impeach him. Otherwise, the Constitution provides immunity. Second, the President is the FINAL CLASSIFYING OFFICIAL. DoJ, DoD, and all the other three-letter agencies cannot override Presidential authority. If the President wants to give nuke codes to the Russians, convince Congress to impeach him. The buck stops with the President. This reaffirms the President's authority and your confidence in his decision-making.<br /><br />OK, get with the appropriate communities and get these in the NDAA. I intend massive cuts in some areas and expansive spending in others. We will have plenty of opportunities to negotiate with Congress to approve these. <br /><br />And that is day 2.", "to": [ "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public" ], "cc": [ "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/followers" ], "tag": [], "url": "https://www.minds.com/newsfeed/1638114469894688774", "published": "2024-05-17T08:02:03+00:00", "attachment": [ { "type": "Document", "url": "https://cdn.minds.com/fs/v1/thumbnail/1638114443156000771/xlarge/", "mediaType": "image/jpeg", "height": 360, "width": 360 } ], "source": { "content": "If I were President... (Issue 5)\n\nThat was a great lunch. Please send my compliments to the chefs. If I didn't have so much to do, I would take a nap. Anyway, let's get started. This afternoon, we, with our deep understanding of legislative matters, will work on The NDAA by slipping in changes to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, strengthening the Corporate Transparency Act, repealing the Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2012, and clarifying the Presidential Records Act of 1978.\n\nThe Communications Decency Act of 1996 is a bad law in the face of it. Still, the idea behind Section 230 was to codify the same protections Telephone companies enjoy for the Internet. The meaning of the law is service providers are not responsible for what users post outside of breaking the law. There is no reason for service providers to editorialize customers. Rather than encouraging them and their use of 'terms of service,' we will strip 230 protection when they censor. Of course, editorial censorship enforcing laws will have our full backing. Otherwise? Stay out of the public square. Protecting Constitutionally guaranteed freedoms is a National Security question; therefore, we can fix it in the NDAA. The urgency of this matter cannot be overstated.\n\nBiden signed the Corporate Transparency Act into law, which forced anonymous shell companies to identify their owners. However, that is only a matter of identification for the government. They are still entirely anonymous to the public. This law goes hand in hand with the money laundering provisions of the Patriot Act. We must shine a light into this darkness. We can use this update to eliminate think tanks and policy organizations such as the Brookings Institute or the CFR from 501c3 charities.  These organizations launder too much money. Anonymous shell companies, 501c3 charity abuse, and money laundering are risks to national security; therefore, we can fix them in the NDAA.\n\nObama's 2012 NDAA included the Smith-Mundt Modernization Act. Have you never heard of it? That law allows the government to use propaganda against Americans. That needs to go. It was born in the NDAA; it can die in it. \n\nI mentioned the Presidential Records Act of 1978 at the beginning. Truthfully, that is just a portion of this. We need to clarify Presidential Immunity and back up Presidential rights. Simple enough, if Congress thinks the President broke the law, they have the responsibility to impeach him. Otherwise, the Constitution provides immunity. Second, the President is the FINAL CLASSIFYING OFFICIAL. DoJ, DoD, and all the other three-letter agencies cannot override Presidential authority. If the President wants to give nuke codes to the Russians, convince Congress to impeach him. The buck stops with the President. This reaffirms the President's authority and your confidence in his decision-making.\n\nOK, get with the appropriate communities and get these in the NDAA. I intend massive cuts in some areas and expansive spending in others. We will have plenty of opportunities to negotiate with Congress to approve these. \n\nAnd that is day 2.", "mediaType": "text/plain" } }, "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/entities/urn:activity:1638114469894688774/activity" }, { "type": "Create", "actor": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650", "object": { "type": "Note", "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/entities/urn:activity:1637964926377005071", "attributedTo": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650", "content": "This is not a Book Report...<br /><br />American Kleptocracy: How the US created with world’s greatest money laundering scheme in history, by Casey Michel <br /><br />Kleptocracy is a global problem. Oligarchs, robber barons, captured politicians, and the billionaire class have united every country behind populous leaders, and we are all pulling our hair out over it. That is why I was excited to read Casey Michel's best seller. I should have hedged my excitement when the Atlantic Council, Harvard, Carnegie Council, The Atlantic, and Foreign Policy magazine all came out shilling the book. Long story short, it was a crime to kill trees to print this propaganda.<br /><br />Michel starts in the first pages by insinuating that in later chapters, he proves how Trump is the king of kleptocracy in America. OK, he is a fellow (now Director) of the Human Rights Foundation—you know, one of those 501c3 anonymous shell companies he rails about for over 400 pages. Therefore, he attends the Blue Church religiously. But fine. I can read through that because this problem is more important than one man's TDS. To his credit, the first hundred pages or so are informative. It is entertaining, even if it is a mile wide but an inch deep. However, you find comments that could have aged better. Michel's rendition of the Ukraine situation is pure propaganda. While he makes declarations that have long proven false, his point about the oligarchs and their actions is valid. It is the opposite of a Politifact fact-check. While there are false details, you get the jist of his thesis.<br /><br />Then he gets to Trump. One of the things these oligarchs spend their \"ill-gotten gains\" on is surprise: real estate. Moreover, the Treasury Department specifically exempted real estate from money laundering reporting. Trump's business is building high-rise buildings and selling the apartments to the super-wealthy. Everyone with real money uses anonymous shell companies to store their wealth, thanks to Joe Biden's Delaware. So, it is no surprise that these companies are buying Trump's multi-million dollar apartments. That is Trump's big crime that Michel click-baits you with. <br /><br />Again, Casey Michel has a bad case of TDS, but that is not the most upsetting part. He is also a liar. Michel calls himself an investigative journalist. Yet, on every occasion, he uses adjectives to send virtual signals. Throughout the book, he sanctifies Carl Levin and the Democratic Party members while vilifying Republicans, especially Trump. Some negative adjectives do not even help convey the point, only showing the author's bias. Michel ignores the fact that while Republicans have their fair share of controversy, Democrats far outpace Republicans with financial crimes. The propaganda spewing off the pages is sickening. He paints Joe Biden as an economic crime warrior. He fails to mention that Delaware elected Joe to lobby for the creation of these shell companies, that his family uses them to transfer wealth, and that he faces a Congressional investigation because of them.<br /><br />While burning this book is a crime, it is only because of the release of carbon into the atmosphere that makes it so. The book is poorly written by a biased hack with little geopolitical understanding. Casey Michel's parents probably wanted a girl, so they raised him as a 'Karen.' He shows signs of understanding money laundering and kleptocracy, but then bias and TDS step in to ruin his train of thought. Don't waste your time.<br /><br />As usual, you can contact me for a free pdf if you don't believe me.", "to": [ "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public" ], "cc": [ "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/followers" ], "tag": [], "url": "https://www.minds.com/newsfeed/1637964926377005071", "published": "2024-05-16T22:07:49+00:00", "attachment": [ { "type": "Document", "url": "https://cdn.minds.com/fs/v1/thumbnail/1637964914351935504/xlarge/", "mediaType": "image/jpeg", "height": 1500, "width": 987 } ], "source": { "content": "This is not a Book Report...\n\nAmerican Kleptocracy: How the US created with world’s greatest money laundering scheme in history, by Casey Michel \n\nKleptocracy is a global problem. Oligarchs, robber barons, captured politicians, and the billionaire class have united every country behind populous leaders, and we are all pulling our hair out over it. That is why I was excited to read Casey Michel's best seller. I should have hedged my excitement when the Atlantic Council, Harvard, Carnegie Council, The Atlantic, and Foreign Policy magazine all came out shilling the book. Long story short, it was a crime to kill trees to print this propaganda.\n\nMichel starts in the first pages by insinuating that in later chapters, he proves how Trump is the king of kleptocracy in America. OK, he is a fellow (now Director) of the Human Rights Foundation—you know, one of those 501c3 anonymous shell companies he rails about for over 400 pages. Therefore, he attends the Blue Church religiously. But fine. I can read through that because this problem is more important than one man's TDS. To his credit, the first hundred pages or so are informative. It is entertaining, even if it is a mile wide but an inch deep. However, you find comments that could have aged better. Michel's rendition of the Ukraine situation is pure propaganda. While he makes declarations that have long proven false, his point about the oligarchs and their actions is valid. It is the opposite of a Politifact fact-check. While there are false details, you get the jist of his thesis.\n\nThen he gets to Trump. One of the things these oligarchs spend their \"ill-gotten gains\" on is surprise: real estate. Moreover, the Treasury Department specifically exempted real estate from money laundering reporting. Trump's business is building high-rise buildings and selling the apartments to the super-wealthy. Everyone with real money uses anonymous shell companies to store their wealth, thanks to Joe Biden's Delaware. So, it is no surprise that these companies are buying Trump's multi-million dollar apartments. That is Trump's big crime that Michel click-baits you with. \n\nAgain, Casey Michel has a bad case of TDS, but that is not the most upsetting part. He is also a liar. Michel calls himself an investigative journalist. Yet, on every occasion, he uses adjectives to send virtual signals. Throughout the book, he sanctifies Carl Levin and the Democratic Party members while vilifying Republicans, especially Trump. Some negative adjectives do not even help convey the point, only showing the author's bias. Michel ignores the fact that while Republicans have their fair share of controversy, Democrats far outpace Republicans with financial crimes. The propaganda spewing off the pages is sickening. He paints Joe Biden as an economic crime warrior. He fails to mention that Delaware elected Joe to lobby for the creation of these shell companies, that his family uses them to transfer wealth, and that he faces a Congressional investigation because of them.\n\nWhile burning this book is a crime, it is only because of the release of carbon into the atmosphere that makes it so. The book is poorly written by a biased hack with little geopolitical understanding. Casey Michel's parents probably wanted a girl, so they raised him as a 'Karen.' He shows signs of understanding money laundering and kleptocracy, but then bias and TDS step in to ruin his train of thought. Don't waste your time.\n\nAs usual, you can contact me for a free pdf if you don't believe me.", "mediaType": "text/plain" } }, "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/entities/urn:activity:1637964926377005071/activity" }, { "type": "Create", "actor": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650", "object": { "type": "Note", "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/entities/urn:activity:1634284624555282436", "attributedTo": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650", "content": "It is not a conspiracy theory; it's a spoiler alert!: \"Coincidence takes planning!\"<br /><br />It has been awhile since I have added to this series. Maybe now is a good time.<br /><br />Dead Presidents:<br />Way back in 1992, Congress passed a law that required the release of all JFK assassination files within the next 25 years. Every President has kicked this can down the road, including Trump, who used the release as a campaign promise. In a lawsuit earlier this year filed by The Mary Ferrell Foundation, a nonprofit organization and online database containing the most comprehensive archive of records about the assassination, the court gave the Biden administration until December 15th to release another tranche of documents. Rather than release the documents, Biden issued a memorandum concluding the review of declassified records. Case closed. Each time these papers became available, the evidence pointed to the CIA as being behind this murder, as well as continuing with this operation against his brother. I posit that they were also behind the political deaths of three other Presidents that threatened their aspirations.<br /><br />When Richard Nixon won the Presidency, it is hard to believe that he also won the largest margin of the popular vote in history (even to this day!). Nixon let the CIA know that he knew about them killing JFK. From that point on, his days were numbered. When police arrested the men who broke into the Watergate Hotel, all but one were CIA. The next crisis, the oil embargo, probably wouldn't have happened to Jimmy Carter without the Arabists in the CIA. Then, when the CIA messed up relations in Iran and fumbled the ball (intentionally?), the CIA worked behind the scenes for Reagan to ensure Carter died a political death. While these two didn't take a bullet, these Presidents faced political death nonetheless.<br /><br />Even before the election of Donald Trump, the CIA was actively meddling in the election, using the same skills learned in \"election fortification\" in foreign countries. Once in office, they started wars, leaked to anyone who would listen, and spied on the President and those who supported him. They did everything short of putting a bullet in his head. Surprisingly, the man is still alive, much less running for President. Interestingly, Trump commented why he broke his campaign promise and didn't release the files. He said, \"I can't tell you, it's so horrible you wouldn't believe it. Someday, you'll find out.\" With Biden's memorandum, someday was changed to never.<br /><br /> In a world of propaganda, the truth is always a conspiracy.<br />", "to": [ "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public" ], "cc": [ "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/followers" ], "tag": [], "url": "https://www.minds.com/newsfeed/1634284624555282436", "published": "2024-05-06T18:23:37+00:00", "attachment": [ { "type": "Document", "url": "https://cdn.minds.com/fs/v1/thumbnail/1634284600312205321/xlarge/", "mediaType": "image/jpeg", "height": 281, "width": 500 } ], "source": { "content": "It is not a conspiracy theory; it's a spoiler alert!: \"Coincidence takes planning!\"\n\nIt has been awhile since I have added to this series. Maybe now is a good time.\n\nDead Presidents:\nWay back in 1992, Congress passed a law that required the release of all JFK assassination files within the next 25 years. Every President has kicked this can down the road, including Trump, who used the release as a campaign promise. In a lawsuit earlier this year filed by The Mary Ferrell Foundation, a nonprofit organization and online database containing the most comprehensive archive of records about the assassination, the court gave the Biden administration until December 15th to release another tranche of documents. Rather than release the documents, Biden issued a memorandum concluding the review of declassified records. Case closed. Each time these papers became available, the evidence pointed to the CIA as being behind this murder, as well as continuing with this operation against his brother. I posit that they were also behind the political deaths of three other Presidents that threatened their aspirations.\n\nWhen Richard Nixon won the Presidency, it is hard to believe that he also won the largest margin of the popular vote in history (even to this day!). Nixon let the CIA know that he knew about them killing JFK. From that point on, his days were numbered. When police arrested the men who broke into the Watergate Hotel, all but one were CIA. The next crisis, the oil embargo, probably wouldn't have happened to Jimmy Carter without the Arabists in the CIA. Then, when the CIA messed up relations in Iran and fumbled the ball (intentionally?), the CIA worked behind the scenes for Reagan to ensure Carter died a political death. While these two didn't take a bullet, these Presidents faced political death nonetheless.\n\nEven before the election of Donald Trump, the CIA was actively meddling in the election, using the same skills learned in \"election fortification\" in foreign countries. Once in office, they started wars, leaked to anyone who would listen, and spied on the President and those who supported him. They did everything short of putting a bullet in his head. Surprisingly, the man is still alive, much less running for President. Interestingly, Trump commented why he broke his campaign promise and didn't release the files. He said, \"I can't tell you, it's so horrible you wouldn't believe it. Someday, you'll find out.\" With Biden's memorandum, someday was changed to never.\n\n In a world of propaganda, the truth is always a conspiracy.\n", "mediaType": "text/plain" } }, "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/entities/urn:activity:1634284624555282436/activity" }, { "type": "Create", "actor": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650", "object": { "type": "Note", "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/entities/urn:activity:1633559487010836487", "attributedTo": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650", "content": "This is not a Book Report...<br /><br />The Fall of Gondolin, by J.R.R. Tolkien<br /><br />Hey folks! I have just returned from a short vacation. This time, to Middle-Earth! That's right, the land of hobbits and dragons. Most of you are aware of Tolkien's fantastical books, The Hobbit, and the series The Lord of the Rings, at least from the blockbuster movies. However, I read those books about 45 years ago! I also read The Silmarillion, released after Tolkien's death. I wasn't aware of any other books set in Middle-Earth, Tolkien's fantasy world, so I looked no further. Then, one day, I was Googling for something, and I found more books edited from his notes by his son, Christopher. I quickly finished my second breakfast, tucked away my pipe, kicked off my shoes, and headed to Middle Earth for adventure!<br /><br />For those wanting to follow Samwise, Frodo, or even Bilbo, you will be disappointed. The Fall of Gondolin is about the Elder Days, long before wizards, when elves and gods mostly populated the world. The only mentions from the Lord of the Rings Trilogy are Legolas, Elrond, <br />Sauron and the Dark Lord Morgoth.<br /><br />However, there are many new and exciting characters. The story begins with the condensed version of the elves leaving the Valar (gods) and traveling to Middle-Earth. When Morgoth learns that the Noldor (elven tribe) is in Middle-Earth, he sends his armies of Orcs and Balrogs to battle them. Ulmo, the god of the seas, warned Turgon to build a secret kingdom and was shown the hidden Vale of Tumladen in the Encircling Mountains. This city he called Gondolin.<br /><br />There is more to the story. However, after telling the tale, Christopher goes over the notes, what was written, and when. He talks of character development and how versions written 30 years apart differ slightly, and you get both versions! It is about 150 pages of telling the story twice, plus discussion and then glossary et al., for a total of 201 pages.<br /><br />So, it was a great adventure. I've tucked away my traveling gear and settled before the fire to write my notes. J.R.R. Tolkien's magical world greatly affected me and influenced my love of reading. The Fall of Gondolin has opened up many new books for me and new adventures in Middle-Earth to explore. However, for now, it is just good to be home.<br /><br />As usual, you can contact me for a free pdf.<br /><br />", "to": [ "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public" ], "cc": [ "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/followers" ], "tag": [], "url": "https://www.minds.com/newsfeed/1633559487010836487", "published": "2024-05-04T18:22:11+00:00", "attachment": [ { "type": "Document", "url": "https://cdn.minds.com/fs/v1/thumbnail/1633559288632840198/xlarge/", "mediaType": "image/jpeg", "height": 500, "width": 331 } ], "source": { "content": "This is not a Book Report...\n\nThe Fall of Gondolin, by J.R.R. Tolkien\n\nHey folks! I have just returned from a short vacation. This time, to Middle-Earth! That's right, the land of hobbits and dragons. Most of you are aware of Tolkien's fantastical books, The Hobbit, and the series The Lord of the Rings, at least from the blockbuster movies. However, I read those books about 45 years ago! I also read The Silmarillion, released after Tolkien's death. I wasn't aware of any other books set in Middle-Earth, Tolkien's fantasy world, so I looked no further. Then, one day, I was Googling for something, and I found more books edited from his notes by his son, Christopher. I quickly finished my second breakfast, tucked away my pipe, kicked off my shoes, and headed to Middle Earth for adventure!\n\nFor those wanting to follow Samwise, Frodo, or even Bilbo, you will be disappointed. The Fall of Gondolin is about the Elder Days, long before wizards, when elves and gods mostly populated the world. The only mentions from the Lord of the Rings Trilogy are Legolas, Elrond, \nSauron and the Dark Lord Morgoth.\n\nHowever, there are many new and exciting characters. The story begins with the condensed version of the elves leaving the Valar (gods) and traveling to Middle-Earth. When Morgoth learns that the Noldor (elven tribe) is in Middle-Earth, he sends his armies of Orcs and Balrogs to battle them. Ulmo, the god of the seas, warned Turgon to build a secret kingdom and was shown the hidden Vale of Tumladen in the Encircling Mountains. This city he called Gondolin.\n\nThere is more to the story. However, after telling the tale, Christopher goes over the notes, what was written, and when. He talks of character development and how versions written 30 years apart differ slightly, and you get both versions! It is about 150 pages of telling the story twice, plus discussion and then glossary et al., for a total of 201 pages.\n\nSo, it was a great adventure. I've tucked away my traveling gear and settled before the fire to write my notes. J.R.R. Tolkien's magical world greatly affected me and influenced my love of reading. The Fall of Gondolin has opened up many new books for me and new adventures in Middle-Earth to explore. However, for now, it is just good to be home.\n\nAs usual, you can contact me for a free pdf.\n\n", "mediaType": "text/plain" } }, "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/entities/urn:activity:1633559487010836487/activity" } ], "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/outbox", "partOf": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/1161230601785712650/outboxoutbox" }