Loads of Lies

It's difficult to choose only ten untruths, but I gave it a shot (is that still a permissable term?) and came up with the following list of whoppers from coverage of our daunting current events: 

Ten of the Most Outrageous Lies Being Fed to Americans

1.  Voters in Georgia are suppressed.

2.  The U.S. economy is "strong as hell."

3.  January 6th was worse than 9/11.

4.  The southern border is secure.

5.  There is only a "perception" that crime in New York City is "out of control."

6.  Biden's release of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is "not politically motivated."

7.  We're not in a recession.

8.  There are more than 70 genders. Make that more than 80.

9.  Big Oil is price gouging us at the gas pump.

10.  "No one is above the law."

All of the above lies are insulting to Americans, but Number 10 is a real heartbreaker. It is text directly from of the U.S. Bill of Rights. But, sadly, most of us know it's no longer true.

Food Preparation

A railway strike seems like something out of the distant past. Not many people, myself included, pay much attention to freight trains and rail travel these days. 

But consumer goods move on trains as well as on trucks. A rail strike could get ugly for us very quickly.

Consider how sad is the current state of our supply chain. I don't look for a favorite brand anymore when I shop; I buy whatever I see on the mostly empty shelves. For me, this grab-whatever method has recently applied to such varied items as toothpaste, dishwashing soap, pasta, bread, and paper napkins.

We all remember the toilet paper panic at the start of Covid-19. I was grateful that I had enough of that particular product in my home. But during the lockdown, I began to wonder--what other types of shortages might pop up in the coming months or years? There was no predicting where the craziness might lead.

In 2020, there was a wide expanse of empty wooden shelving lining one wall of my garage. Once upon a time, it had housed countless tools and materials for my husband's building projects. Those items were all disposed of years ago, leaving yards of empty shelves. So during Covid, I started what my mother would have called my "larder."

Mom's larder had been in our home's basement, and my siblings and I teased her endlessly about her piles of tea boxes and groupings of mayonnaise jars. But I remembered that those stockpiles had come in handy many times, often amidst the drama of a fall hurricane or winter blizzard. And who knew what kind of storm might follow Covid? (Well, now we know. I'd hate to have to replace my larder at today's prices.)

So I began to fill those garage shelves with food. In each weekly shopping trip, I'd buy an extra of any sale item--tuna, cereal, rice, beans, coffee, tea, you name it--and stow it in the garage as my backup reserve. I also bought soaps, cleaners, and paper products. Today, those garage shelves are once again packed solidly, floor to ceiling.

The kitchen cupboards are also full to the edges. If Biden's "Armageddon" strikes (and if I survive it), I've got food and supplies to last me several months.

It takes some practice, but I've got it down now. All food in the garage is stored in order of expiration dates, and I rotate new items into the mix straight out of my car's trunk after a shopping trip. If my grandkids can't find their favorite snack bars in my kitchen, they know they'll probably score if they check the larder. I think Mom would be proud.

Photo: Better Homes & Gardens

A Warning in Our Wilderness

If you aren't following Victor Davis Hanson, you should be. You can find his website, The Blade of Perseus, linked here (and on this blog's sidebar). Here's a caveat that if you start listening to his regularly posted podcasts, you'll receive so much solid information that you'll rapidly become addicted to his next offering.

Hanson's latest written piece, "The Thinnest Veneer of Civilization," is a sobering analysis of just how much trouble our society is in. The rot within our nation is in our faces, everyday.

As a recent example, consider the murder of FDNY EMT Lt. Alison Russo Elling, a first responder on September 11, 2001, who was looking forward to retirement. She was stabbed to death as she walked in uniform, one block from her station house, to buy lunch.

As Hanson often states on his podcasts when discussing such brutal events, "This is unsustainable." He is one brave voice crying out in our wilderness of chaos.

If you listen to Hanson, you'll know history. And if you know history, you'll know he is right.

The body of Lt. Russo-Elling with FDNY escort

Faith, Family--and Fear

Italy's newly elected prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, had a campaign theme that promoted "God, Family, Country." Yet she's being incessantly tagged by legacy media as a "far-right" extremist, even as a "fascist" sprung from the last century's Mussolini. When reading media accounts of Meloni's victory, it's helpful to keep in mind that "fascist" and "racist" are today's preferred-by-the-Left's adjectives for anyone with a differing viewpoint.

Since when did love of one's faith, family, and native land become dangerous traits? Only since the would-be globalist tyrants started trying to take over today's world.

If you notice, we're always being informed that conservatives of any stripe are "a threat to our democracy." Another favorite battle cry of the Lefties is that "our democracy is at stake." The word "democracy" is never defined; neither are the epithets of "fascist" and "racist" that are hurled about with such regularity.

Here's a fun word game for you. Every time a left-winger refers to "democracy," substitute the words "my power." It's very telling.

Nancy Pelosi gave a speech last spring on how to "preserve democracy." She went on to refer to the Capitol as a "temple of democracy." Hmm.

Try it with Joe Biden's reaction to Meloni's election, keeping in mind that she was freely chosen by voters and that Italy is a NATO ally: "...democracy is at stake." Always ignored is the fact that the United States is a representative, democratic republic--not a mob-rule "democracy." But you get the idea. What they're really talking about is "power."

It's obvious that the Left is terrified of this woman, and no wonder. Meloni's 2019 speech at the World Congress of Families was enough to send any Communist into heart spasms. Below are just a few quotes:

• "Why is the family an enemy? Why is the family so frightening?"

• "There is a single answer...Because it defines us. Because it is our identity, because everything that defines us is now an enemy for those who would like us to no longer have an identity and to simply be perfect consumer slaves."

• "They said all sorts of things about this congress. They said we want to go back to the past. That we're losers. That we're embarrassing. That we're un-enlightened. They said it's scandalous for people to defend the natural family founded on marriage, to want to increase the birth rate, to want to place the correct value on human life, to support freedom in education and to say no to gender ideology."

• "I say the losers are those who have nothing better to do than come here and insult us."

• "I can't define myself as Italian, Christian, woman, mother" but instead must be defined as "citizen x, gender x, parent 1, parent 2..." 

• "I must be a number. Because when I am only a number, when I no longer have an identity or roots, then I will be the perfect slave at the mercy of financial speculators." 

• "Each of us has a unique genetic code that is unrepeatable. That is sacred. We will defend it. We will defend God, family and country, those things that disgust people so much..."

In a different speech, Meloni said, "Yes to the natural family, no to the LGBT lobby, yes to sexual identity, no to gender ideology, yes to the culture of life, no to the abyss of death, no to the violence of Islam, yes to safer borders, no to mass immigration, yes to work for our people."

Wow. This woman has no problem speaking her mind, even in today's oppressive climate. Well, I must confess that I agree with her common sense positions. I guess I'd be described as a "far right" extremist, too.

Meloni favors free nursery schools for mothers employed outside the home. She states that Europe's low birth rate as "the biggest problem facing Europe. If we do not address this, everything else is pointless."

I can't speak for you, but I wouldn't mind living in Italy right about now.

Giorgia Meloni - New Prime Minister of Italy

It Could Be Worse

Yes, it could be worse. We could have Jacinda Ardern running the country.

Aside from being a budding tyrant, New Zealand's Prime Minister Ardern is not very bright. A more dangerous combination in a national "leader" is hard to find. Most Americans in 2022 are aware of this frightening fact.

Ardern is so terrified of opposing viewpoints that, in a UN speech, she condemned online free speech as "weapons of war." Geez. Have an herbal tea, Jackie, and maybe look up a class on critical thinking skills.

Below is a snippet from her impassioned queries:

“After all, how do you successfully end a war if people are led to believe the reason for its existence is not only legal but noble? How do you tackle climate change if people do not believe it exists? How do you ensure the human rights of others are upheld, when they are subjected to hateful and dangerous rhetoric and ideology?”

Well, I've got a couple of ideas, oh Great One, if you'll allow a humble challenge to your concrete mindset. How about you do your research and present some facts? Can you prove a war is not noble? How? Do you have enough provable data to convince people that climate change is real? Can you explain your positions in a coherent, logical, calm and convincing way? Are you able to just go ahead and uphold "the human rights of others" (that would include forgoing coercion, by the way) and, by your actions, ensure those rights are enforced without worrying about the current batch of tweets?

I realize that these are a lot of questions for an emotionally overwrought prime minister. But I'm an American of a certain age who grew up in a free country with free speech as our most cherished and protected right. That country, very sadly, has largely vanished. But I don't give up hope that there are enough Americans still standing and ready to turn the current Titanic-like condition of our government around. That starts with speaking out without fear of censorship (or fear that the FBI will show up Saturday morning at dawn, drag you out in a pajamas-and-handcuffs ensemble, and confiscate your cell phone. Fingers crossed.).

Speaking out would be harder to do with an authoritarian hysteric at the nation's helm. We're coming very close to that, but not as close as New Zealand. So, as bad as things are in the U.S. right now, it could be worse. What Americans need to remember, especially as Election Day approaches, is the famous line from Steel Magnolias: "It can always get worse."

A Special Kind of Evil

When you quote Jesus Christ to support killing babies, you've hit a low to make Satan smile.

That's what California's govenor, Nihilistic Newsom, is doing. His election campaign is funding billboards in several pro-life states citing the Bible verse "Love your neighbor" as a basis for abortion. This disgusting gambit is raw and blatant evil delivered from a self-serving individual who fancies himself the next U.S. president.

You won't find this news covered in the left-wing legacy media, of course. But the sickening story is out there, if you search for it. Newsom may be able to hide from unfavorable media coverage. But quoting scripture to support abortion is a special kind of evil that Newsom can't hide from God. He claims to be Catholic. With Catholics like him, satanic cults are superfluous. If I were in his shoes, I'd be on watch for a lightening bolt.

A Moment in History

It's been truly awe-inspiring to watch the ongoing tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II. I've had the BBC livestream playing continuously, and what I've seen is beyond remarkable.

The endless droves of people who pass the royal casket have individual styles in how they say goodbye. Some bow their heads; some bow from the waist. Many wipe away tears or fold their hands in a prayerful pose. Others curtsy, make the Sign of the Cross, whisper words of farewell, wave, salute in military fashion, or blow kisses. Many do any combination of all those things. This continues unabated throughout the days and nights of Elizabeth II's lying in state. Regardless of the hour, the crowds of people never stop coming. The line had to be closed for several hours at one point due to the overwhelming numbers of people wanting to pay their last respects to Queen Elizabeth II.

It's obvious that the Queen was truly beloved by her countrymen in a way no American public figure could ever hope to approach. Can you imagine Americans standing in 24-hour-long lines that stretch for many miles, over the course of several days, to pay last respects to any public figure? I, for one, cannot.

United States history has two and a half centuries to anchor it. The United Kingdom's history reaches back a millennium. This foundation of ancient tradition, seen in the view of the 70-year reign of a dedicated and cherished monarch, lends a special solemnity and deference to the formal events surrounding Elizabeth II's death. I find it fascinating to observe the respectful rituals from afar.

I'm an American to the bone, a Constitutionalist. I believe that our Founders constructed the most brilliant form of government the world has ever known. That does not prevent me from admiring, with a tinge of envy, the impressive national unity, respect, and reverence that the United Kingdom is displaying as they publicly honor their departed Queen. It's a touching moment in history we shall never see again.

Queen Elizabeth II lies in state at Westminster Hall, London

Never Forgotten

Where you used to be, there is a hole in the world, which I find myself constantly walking around in the daytime, and falling in at night.

~ Edna St. Vincent Millay

9/11 Memorial & Museum, New York, NY ~ photo J.S. Lee

 

Promise Kept

Elizabeth's 21st Birthday Message ~ 1947 ~ A promise to the British people

Faithful to her vow to the very end, Queen Elizabeth II welcomed the United Kingdom's 15th British prime minister under her reign on September 6, 2022. Elizabeth died two days later, age 96.

Queen Elizabeth welcomes Prime Minister Liz Truss ~ 2022

God rest The Queen.

California Steaming

I can think of half a dozen states that have summer temperatures at least as high as California does. Arizona, Texas, Nevada, New Mexico, and Florida all spring to mind. There are many other states that suffer brutal seasonal heat waves, but all we're hearing about in the media is the "crisis" in California.

Like the Hoover Dam, the California "crisis" is entirely manmade. Its author is Gov. Newsom, who has delusions of grandeur that he's handling this situation beautifully by switching us over to "batteries." He's ready to run for president and Californize the nation. Yesterday my phone was exploding with siren blast texts ordering me to raise my air conditioner's thermostat to 78. That's the kind of autocratic approach that makes me want to crank it down to 68.

Newsom stood today in a fleece jacket, collar up and tightly zipped, lecturing the rest of us in the state to raise the setting on our air conditioners to avoid blackouts. I wonder what the temperature was in the room where he spoke so bundled up. Fellow Americans, beware of this pompous phony.

If the governor would stop shutting down our oil and gas reserves and return full access to our state's energy resources, there would be no crisis. Californians pay double what other hot weather states pay for our electricity; this is intentional. Just like outlawing gas-powered automobiles by 2035 is intentional. I can't count the number of people I've talked to about this oppressive law who are vowing to buy gas-powered cars between 2030-2034. I'll probably join them.

More immediately, there's a mileage tax on the ballot this November. If passed, Californians will be taxed on every mile that they drive. As if paying the country's highest gas prices--due to State taxes--isn't enough. Of course it isn't; it's never enough.

California is beautiful, but it's being beaten down into the dirt by smug green elites who think they have all the answers. They know what's best for us little people. No energy or automobiles allowed unless approved by the State. It's all about controlling the unwashed masses. Speaking of which, don't even get me started on the water restrictions.