One Clear Call

Thursday, December 08, 2022

Fireside on Fire

A couple of years ago, I signed up as a supporting member of Prager U. I'd heard Dennis Prager on the radio sporadically over the years. His mid-day radio show time clashed with my working hours, so I was only able to catch him on off days or in the car on the way to appointments. He always held my attention.

Prager is a very intelligent man. He is also very logical, experienced, interesting, and well-informed. Prager is also a conservative. This combination of positive traits is a lethal witch's brew to his left-wing enemies, who have been on a multi-year mission to destroy him. Many of his videos have been maligned, censored, and banned. His 5-Minute Videos on the Ten Commandments were particularly repugnant to the Lefties. In fact, the video about the commandment not to murder was banned from YouTube because it "discussed murder." How's that for an example of the critical thinking skills of the media giants managing our lives right now?

I joined Prager U because I think the work Dennis is doing is not only important, but necessary to preserve our way of American life. Prager U doesn't charge its viewers. The Fireside Chat is posted every Thursday, and I look forward to watching each of these 30-minute philosophical discussions of life, love, and our current social predicaments. Dennis Prager is almost always a genial, phlegmatic speaker. He is very rarely ruffled.

Tonight he was on fire. In a departure from the show's usual format, he had as his guest the CEO of Prager U, Marissa Streit. She discussed with him the continuous malevolent efforts of the left-wing "fact checker" organization NewsGuard to take down not only Prager U, but all of its donors and supporters. Dennis was justifiably angry. Upon hearing what was happening to Prager U from NewsGuard's totalitarian lowlifes, I was angry, too.

Just to decide for yourself--while that's still an option in the USA--you should check out Prager U's website. There's a wealth of content there besides the Fireside Chat. I'm especially gratified by the children's content Prager has added in recent years.

In a cultural and societal war such as ours, Dennis Prager says there are three kinds of people: those who do nothing, those who fight, and those who support the fighters. He is fighting hard to keep America free. I'll do what I can to support him by keeping my monthly membership and donating additionally as I can. I signed the Prager U petition against NewsGuard, too. And you'll now find Prager U in my sidebar links.

It's not much, but it's a start.

Dennis Prager

Friday, December 02, 2022

Techno-TKO

I've been writing this blog for a long time. Since 2004, to be exact. Over the years, I've been able to roll with the occasional updates as they launched. Until now.

For months I've been receiving emails from Google, which owns Blogger, that I need to "install Google tag." There was some message about "sunsetting the current Google Analytics." Not only do I need to install a new tag; I need to "configure" it. And, because Blogger isn't one of the supported platforms that will automatically update by "scanning the new code," I need to manually "copy and paste" the code below into each section of my website:

Looks like fun, right? I'm instructed to insert this code "immediately after the <head> element," which can't be found--at least by me. Need some help? Google's got me covered. Their offered solution? Go ask the other users.

So I've dutifully been to the "community forum" and read dozens of the bewildered comments and questions of other exiled Bloggers who are all totally ignored by Google. Odd that Google doesn't support one of its own platforms, but who am I to question a mega-zillion dollar Big Tech giant? Certainly not a software engineer, I've come to find out.

So that's why I've been MIA for a while, and most likely will remain so for a while longer. I've been navigating the maze of instructions, diagrams, screen shots, pages of Q&As and articles. I'll keep hacking at it until I either figure it out or move to a different blog platform. Stay tuned, if you're patient. Unlike Google, I'll make it easy for you to find me.

Sunday, November 20, 2022

Thankful Through the Centuries

The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in the fall of 1621--401 years ago. It took until 1863 for it to become an official holiday, courtesy of President Abraham Lincoln.

History recounts that the early New England settlers, the Pilgrims, shared a peaceful and enjoyable autumn harvest celebration with the Native Americans of the area. There are no historical records of hate crimes, racism, bigotry or white supremacy during this three-day feast of thanksgiving for a plentiful harvest.

Imagine that. People just being people together; people enjoying being good neighbors and friends. If that could happen in 1621, why not in 2022? I say yes, it can and does still happen. Despite any attempt to denigrate this uniquely American holiday, today's Americans still know and appreciate their family, friends, and neighbors. We know how fortunate we are to be living in this country. No amount of naysaying can change what grateful Americans know to be true, regardless of the century.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Tuesday, November 15, 2022

Lifetime Memories

On November 15, 1947, my parents got married. That would make today their 75th wedding anniversary. It's a mind-boggling stretch of time. Perhaps "a lifetime" would be a more accurate description.

Mom and Dad got married five days before Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip were wed. I'm the eldest of four children, but although both King Charles and Princess Anne were born before I was, my mother had her fourth child almost two years before the Queen had her fourth baby, Prince Edward.

I remember hearing about the youngest British prince's birth quite vividly. My parents and all four kids were riding in the family station wagon, on our way to visit my grandparents. My youngest brother, a hyperactive toddler, was tethered into his carseat (such as they were in 1964), and Dad had the car radio tuned to the news. The birth of the new prince was announced, with the broadcaster concluding his report with the words, "this is Queen Elizabeth's fourth child."

From the backseat, I saw my mother glance at the radio in surprise, then toss this comment in Dad's direction. "She's just now up to four? Oh, I'm way ahead of her."

I remember that, child though I was, Mom's remark made me chuckle. The memory of it still does. It was a classic Mom one-liner. She had the proverbial million of them, and almost all had staying power. My siblings and I, now seniors all, can rarely hold a conversation without quoting some pithy saying from Mom. If she and my father were alive today, and if Mom were asked how they had stayed married for so long, she might respond "with the help of God and a couple of cops."

But I'm not sure. As mentioned, she had countless one-liners. Even her ten adult grandchildren quote her with startling regularity. In any given situation, there was no telling what Mom would say next. But it was always safe to bet that it would be memorable.

Dad & Mom ~ November 15, 1947

Friday, November 11, 2022

Gratitude and Regret

Today is the Friday after Election Day, and several states are still counting votes. In the 1860s, when votes were counted by hand, by candlelight, and a nation-wide Civil War was raging, we had results for the entire country by the end of the week.

The lack of voting results is a national disgrace, especially in our age of technology. Our vote processing methods are supposedly far superior to the 19th century. Obviously not.

The early voting, mail-in voting, and vote harvesting allowed in some states are destroying our electoral system. The U.S. Constitution stipulates that we have an Election DAY, "which Day shall be the same throughout the United States." We do not have an election week, month, or season. The opportunities this unconstitutional, drawn-out process presents for errors is incalculable.

Today is also Veterans Day, and yesterday was the 247th birthday of the United States Marine Corps. Our military members did not serve, sacrifice, fight, and die to protect an unconstitutional voting system. They swore an oath to protect and defend the Constitution "against all enemies, foreign and domestic." Those enemies include jaded political players manipulating state voting procedures to benefit their preferred party. The delay in vote returns is a direct insult to every American veteran and active military member.

Our veterans are owed more than thanks. They are owed an apology from every district and state still counting votes today. We also owe them a commitment to repair our broken voting system.

Thank you, Veterans

Monday, October 31, 2022

Secret Voters

The Hill has an intriguing article on what author Douglas MacKinnon is calling "the secret majority." I think he nailed it on the head. Read the piece and see if you agree.

I remember the "silent majority" of a half century ago. That's how President Nixon referred to conservative voters. But, as MacKinnon astutely notes, in those days you wouldn't get fired, have your business shut down or your children expelled from school if you voiced a different opinion. Today's conservatives have learned to be not simply silent, but completely secretive about their political and cultural viewpoints. It's the only rational course of action if one wants to live life in relative peace.

But, as I often say, this used to be a free country. I think there are enough Americans who would like it to be one again, and I also think they are going to make a big difference on November 8. I spent more time than usual reviewing my ballot and researching candidates, especially the judicial ones. The remainder of the ballot was very straightforward for me.

I've already submitted my vote. It's been received and counted (so the Country Registrar's office tells me), but I really can't discuss it any further.

It's a secret.

Wednesday, October 19, 2022

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.

Tuesday, October 11, 2022

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

Sunday, October 02, 2022

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

Saturday, October 01, 2022

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