I had mentioned before Aleste and the Ice Crystal Dragons – the story is hooked into my Mirrors series but it came about after I was explaining the series to my granddaughter and she observed that it was an utter fail because it didn’t have any dragons in it. So, I told her to come up with a story that had dragons in it. With her talking and me writing, the book was made. And we’ve got some reviews over at Amazon:
I read this book to my 3rd grade class and they absolutely loved it! The cliff hangers left them begging for me to read more each day. We feel in love with the character Aleste and her bravery throughout the book. The details, descriptive language, and great vocabulary used throughout this book made it a great book to share with my students. Awesome job!
Got a kid or a grandkid? Get the book. It is a heck of a lot of fun.
Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell of Los Angeles was shot and killed on Saturday. It is in the news but it isn’t really making the news, if you know what I mean. The increasing collapse of civilization in Los Angeles does not support any Democrat Narrative, nor will it help Newsom when he runs for President in 2024 or 2028, so what would have been a huge story 20 years ago, is pretty much nothing these days. Nor are any other stories highlighting the end of civilization – the re-barbarization of the West which gains speed day by day. You know – things like mass brawls at fast food joints and stores. Nobody ever even knows why the fights start but a score of people at times are just pounding on each other…or one poor body is being beaten mercilessly by a gang of thugs and everyone is just standing around filming it.
This is not normal and it is not sustainable. Eventually everything falls apart and the reaction sets in – a very violent reaction as the few remaining civilized people decide that the barbarians have to die.
Former Governor Larry Hogan is giving a class these days called, “Why You Got Trump”. At any event, he may as well be doing that. He’s rumbling about running for President but what he’s really doing is auditioning for an MSM gig…which a failed Presidential run and then complaining about the eventual GOP nominee will get him. His most recent absurdity was to claim that DeSantis pushing back against woke ideology in public schools is “big government”…you know what all True Conservatives with Muh Principles oppose. It is just a stupid thing to say – the schools are government and all RDS is doing is making them bend to the will of the people of Florida…you know, like a government is supposed to do. It is stupid – but it is wowing the Left, and that’s the point of the exercise. But for us, what he’s doing is providing the perfect foil for the new, populist GOP…an example of what we cannot go back to. Maybe it is time to move on from Donald Trump, but it isn’t time to move on from Trumpism.
There’s a news report about how to survive a nuclear blast. I did not have this on my 2023 bingo card – but, kiddies, let us oldsters clue you in, because we learned this stuff when we were kids. If there’s a nuclear attack, get under your desk, put your head between your knees and kiss you a** goodbye.
Speaking of which, the global Ruling Class is really pushing for Ukraine victory…but I’ve yet to see how Ukraine destroys the Russian army. That is a kind of a crucial First Step here…a plan and the means to do that. I think that our leaders are so divorced from reality and so ignorant of history that they just don’t know this. That they think high tech weapons will just do the trick, somehow. But unless Ukraine builds a military force which is capable of sustained offensive operations, its all just a waste of blood and treasure. Keep in mind that since the initial Russian invasion there hasn’t even been a battle. Oh, sure, there’s been lots of fighting and dying, but no battles once you understand that a battle is a event whereby your principle military power is directed against the enemy’s principle military power and decisive results are achieved one way or the other. Attrition warfare isn’t a battle…and its a sort of warfare Ukraine can never win given the population disparities. Meanwhile, the Russkies seem to be calling up half a million…and not to just hold the line, but to provide a powerful strike force which will be launched against the Ukrainians with a mind towards destroying the Ukrainian army.
Blogs For Victory 
This is not normal and it is not sustainable. Eventually everything falls apart and the reaction sets in – a very violent reaction as the few remaining civilized people decide that the barbarians have to die.
I’m, quite frankly, amazed that we aren’t at that point already. The 100 million or so Americans who own somewhere around 400-500 million firearms and literally trillions of round of ammunition have managed to maintain their cool through, to use a historical quote, “times that try men’s souls.” I think the main reason we haven’t reached the tipping point is that the majority of leftist violence occurs in blue cities and is perpetrated against unarmed victims.
For a ‘main reason” I think I would back farther or deeper, to a parallel of Conflict of Visions.
Sowell didn’t come right out and say that the “unconstrained vision” he describes—that is, the vision that mankind can be perfected—is tied into a tendency to view the world emotionally rather than objectively, but when you look at the way the two visions break out in society I think it’s obvious.
On one side you’ve got the analytical mind looking at history and at human nature and saying that humanity can’t be perfected and will always be subject to the same weaknesses, so it is important to have a way to mitigate the dangers by spreading authority and by having processes. On the other hand you have the emoters, who think people can be perfected and some people are so special they should be given extra authority and control.
If your imaginary line between the two basic world views is one of how much emotions dictate beliefs and actions, then the predilection for violence on the unconstrained side of the equation makes sense. The need to express negative emotions in public demonstrations of anger and hostility seems closely related to the sense that violence is acceptable.
In our society, that does have the effect, intended or not, of having more violence occur in locations governed by the unconstrained vision—that process is less important than how a person or group FEELS about something. A law is a process of constraint. Prosecution for violating the law is a process of constraint. Consequences for violating laws are processes of constraint. Requiring cooperation of many people who can debate and can vote on laws is a process of constraint, unlike Executive Orders and similar unilateral actions by people with authority.
I reminded myself of a review I once read of Conflict of Visions and went back and found it. It is such a brilliant example of “Wow—-this guy really didn’t get it” that I remember thinking maybe it was a Babylon Bee kind of parody of a serious work. But no—it’s just an example of what happens when ideas hit the right filters.
The author takes a comment from the book: ” Sowell holds that “in the constrained vision, each new generation born is an invasion of civilization by little barbarians,” and then, after filtering this through a personal perspective, concludes ” Sowell is clearly preferential toward to the unconstrained vision for its promise to promote harmony and stability.”
This is so backwards it’s impossible to understand how anyone could get it so wrong—but then I look at posts like forty’s, so deeply emotionally invested in a personal perspective that no other perspective is even remotely possible and realize that there are actually people out there who can only see through highly selective lenses.
Excellent analysis. Sooner or later, though, the minders are going to send their cannon fodder out to the constrained areas, and that’s where it’s going to get interesting.
… the re-barbarization of the West which gains speed day by day. You know – things like mass brawls at fast food joints and stores. Nobody ever even knows why the fights start but a score of people at times are just pounding on each other…or one poor body is being beaten mercilessly by a gang of thugs and everyone is just standing around filming it.
The damage teacher unions and cell phones have done to this country is incalculable.
If it weren’t for Americas war happy Ruling Class and President, the Ukraine conflict would be over. Does anyone know what their exit strategy is?? The illegitimate POTUS was just in Ukraine … he is more concerned with their borders than Americas borders that’s for damn sure.
Maybe it is time to move on from Donald Trump, but it isn’t time to move on from Trumpism.
Well said. America FIRST. Secure borders, energy independence, etc., etc.
His most recent absurdity was to claim that DeSantis pushing back against woke ideology in public schools is “big government”
The other day Fielding asked me if I thought there should be any government regulation of the rail industry, and when I said “of course, it’s an interstate industry”, he conflated that to assume I agree with all government regulations, because you know all regulations are the same right? This level of thinking amongst Democrats today, they are so … oh what’s the word?? BINARY. According to Democrats, if you oppose the Ukraine war, then you are a Putin supporter. If you oppose the trans movement, you’re a bigot, etc., etc. For people who profess to be non binary, they are honestly the most binary people alive.
Speaking of “trans”—saw a T shirt that said “I’m fat but identify as thin—I’m what you call trans-slender
Just behold the virtue signaling here ….
‘He’s NEVER been a leader’: Olympic legend Michael Johnson SLAMS Tiger Woods for his limp apology over tampon ‘prank’… as he compares the golf icon to ‘Teflon’ for ‘still being heralded after all the mistakes’
I don’t know who the f**k Michael Johnson is but he’s a limp dick WOKE piece of shit for this comment. If men are not allowed to be men, civilization DIES. Period. This moment that Tiger and Justin Thomas shared amongst friends while in competition is priceless and was hilarious. And if you don’t think it was funny, then please STFU and just go away. You’re a buzz kill.
I just thought of one good way to cure America … let’s send all Democrats to Ukraine to protect their “democracy”. They tell us everyday how important the Ukraine war is right? Well???
Biden Secretary of State Blinken Announces $185 Million in Aid to Turkey Following Earthquake – But Administration Ignores East Palestine
I guess nothing for E. Palestine, OH. Vote Democrat!!!
Maybe if they HAD voted Democrat they’d be getting some attention. But it looks like a strongly Republican area.
It is that obvious isn’t it?? Biden travels to Ukraine promising millions, and then sends money to Turkey but completely ignores E. Palestine, OH. We desperately need a new POTUS and new direction in this country.
Hey, running millions/billions through Ukraine has always been good for the Bidens. Why stop now?
So today in Kiev, the illegitimate POTUS and his puppet in Ukraine were walking along with other official present when air raid sirens went off. Oddly enough, not one person looked spooked, or even attempted to run for cover. Do you think it was all for show??? Get your booster!!
Maybe Joe was calm because he burned all of his adrenaline flying into the airport under heavy enemy fire.
??? Wrong Democrat?
LOL yup wrong Democrat … but they love their “war zones” don’t they??
War stories, beating up gangsters (“he was a really bad dude”) with a bicycle chain, gotta keep the narrative interesting. Joe does seem more creative than Hillary. She just had a few whoppers, like being named for Sir Edmund Hillary when she was already 6 by the time he climbed Everest and became famous.
And then there’s Bill DeBlasio – or I mean Warren Wilhelm Jr., and the socialist Bernie Sanders who owns 3 homes and has a new book (that he’s not giving away), then think of John “lurch” Kerry who is so important he has to fly privately, and then of course our favorite Sandy the bartender now identifying as Alexandria. These are simply disingenuous people who care only about themselves. They’ll say and/or do anything to maintain their status. And those kind of people are evil and dangerous.
Mark, is this the book you’re talking about? It sounds like something my 9-year-old granddaughter would not only love, but would love reading it to her 3-year-old sister. I assume Hayden is YOUR granddaughter.
That’s it! Her story – grandpa only put it into literary form. So, yeah, your granddaughter will love it…go figure that a story out of a 10 yaer old’s head would have a princess, a magic wand, dragons and an evil witch.
Almost like little girls are littler girls, or something.
Ordered it.
Nikki Haley is one of the whitest chicks I’ve ever seen. Someone has to explain this shit to me …
MSNBC sparks outrage after Nikki Haley is accused on air of ‘using her brown skin to launder white supremacy’
Isn’t categorizing a Woman Of Color as a “laundress” pretty racist?
“launder white supremacy?” Where do they come up with this stuff?
lol I know, it’s hard to keep up
re: the 2020 election
Marly Hornik, director of the New York Citizens Audit team…… revealed that upwards of 321,000 New York voters had multiple invalid voter registration ID numbers attached to their name, address, and date of birth that could only have been created by someone with official access to the state’s election software.
Even more disturbing, her team uncovered that the vote total for the 2020 election was more than 272,000 votes off from what is shown in the New York state voter rolls. When her team presented these irregularities to New York Attorney General Letitia James with a petition to either decertify the 2020 election or provide a response that addresses the issues, they received no response whatsoever.
But no widespread fraud, right? And it wasn’t enough to change the outcome, so who cares?
(Well, except for that inability to accurately/legally certify the official vote count, that is.)
As I’ve said, in the Deep Blue areas, I doubt that hardly anyone votes and what is reported is just whatever number the Democrats make up for their own needs.
It is just impossible that Joe Biden got 81 million votes while his opponent increased his vote total by nearly 12 million votes…Biden clearly drew in only a minimal number of Trump 2016 voters. So, his huge total, 15 million more than Hillary got in 2020, had to come from people who rarely or never vote…who all of a sudden decided that Joe Biden was just the man for all times.
No. It didn’t happen. The Democrats just manufactured votes until they dragged him over the finish line…the “stop/start” on the vote count on Election Day was because they massively underestimated the Trump vote (nobody seriously thought Trump would increase his vote total over 2016) and they had to emergency manufacture just enough in 4 States to finish the job.
The Biden administration is preparing to sign up the United States to a “legally binding” accord with the World Health Organization (WHO) that would give this Geneva-based UN subsidiary the authority to dictate America’s policies during a pandemic.
……………………
The WHO pandemic treaty is part of a two-track effort, coinciding with an initiative by the World Health Assembly (WHA) to create new global pandemic regulations that would also supersede the laws of member states. The WHA is the rule-making body of the WHO, comprised of representatives from the member states.
“Both [initiatives] are fatally dangerous,” Francis Boyle, professor of international law at Illinois University, told The Epoch Times. “Either one or both would set up a worldwide medical police state under the control of the WHO, and in particular WHO Director-General Tedros. If either one or both of these go through, Tedros or his successor will be able to issue orders that will go all the way down the pipe to your primary care physicians.”
Physician Meryl Nass told The Epoch Times: “If these rules go through as currently drafted, I, as a doctor, will be told what I am allowed to give a patient and what I am prohibited from giving a patient whenever the WHO declares a public health emergency. So they can tell you you’re getting remdesivir, but you can’t have hydroxychloroquine or ivermectin. What they’re also saying is they believe in equity, which means everybody in the world gets vaccinated, whether or not you need it, whether or not you’re already immune.”
But the Lefties sure pitch a fit when you comment on their desire to consolidate power in the hands of a few elites.
The CDC strikes again.
The CDC updated its public information page on vinyl chloride shortly before the disastrous train crash that spilled the same chemical. Among the recent changes that had been made to the entry was the removal of the Public Health Statement, which details the possible health impacts of the toxic chemical.
Shortly before the derailment ???????? Should we not think that that was planned??
I think the fact that questions like this now seem legitimate is one of the best examples of the state of our nation right now.
I found a comment in an old Tom Clancy book that said unstable nations never survive, and I think ours is rapidly reaching that tipping point of instability the Left has been working so hard to generate