According to Reuters, Mali has issued an arrest warrant for Barrick CEO Mark Bristow.
jimg
December 4, 2024 6:16 pm
#43303
Iran oil sanctions not being enforced?
The Clandestine Oil Shipping Hub Funneling Iranian Crude to China
A burgeoning group of dark fleet vessels operating with impunity on the edge of a major maritime thoroughfare is moving hundreds of millions of barrels of sanctioned oil — and risking an environmental catastrophe.
I was agog in Nikita Grebenkin’s first pre-season game in a Toronto Maple Leaf sweater, a game exclusively for rookies, as this #71 skated circles around the others. I quickly looked on the internet to find this player’s name, and I saw it was a youngster who had recently come to Toronto after playing last year in the Russian league. He was 6’2” and 210 lbs. Big, fast, and tough, I figured him to be a possibility for making the Leaf team this year. After his first NHL game two weeks ago, 21-year-old Grebenkin, who barely speaks English, said, “They told me, forecheck, backcheck, paycheck.”
With that fractured English, he immediately became a fan favorite.
Always available for interviews and smiling, fans have noted he is the only Leaf player who enters and leaves the arena with all the fans, taking a taxi to and from home. His comments regarding his closing buzzer bodycheck in Monday’s 4-1 win were another reason the astute Leaf fanbase has already targeted this youngster as a favorite. He said, “Last second, game not done. I play. You play. Don’t stop. Don’t relax. You play NHL, you understand. I kill you. You kill me. It’s business. No problem.”
“Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield plans representing Connecticut, New York and Missouri have unilaterally declared it will no longer pay for anesthesia care if the surgery or procedure goes beyond an arbitrary time limit, regardless of how long the surgical procedure takes”
Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) with a 25-point rant via X on why the Social Security system needs to go. Some articles suggest that it could be targeted by Elon Musk and his so-called DOGE program. Funny. Musk wasn’t even a US citizen until 2002. I didn’t vote him into office. I didn’t ask him to take a role in our government.
I never liked the system but we were forced to pay into it over our working lives. There was no such thing as opting out.
Reminds me of the 1970s flick Logan’s Run whose theme was that everyone reaching a certain age is terminated to avoid them becoming a burden on society. If Social Security is somehow eliminated, most Seniors may as well jump off a bridge somewhere.
Recent Instances of Martial Law in Large Democratic Countries (From Perplexity):
These instances illustrate how martial law has been used as a tool by governments in large democracies to address perceived threats to national security or public order, often leading to significant political controversy and public backlash.
1. South Korea December 3, 2024
Details: President Yoon Suk-yeol declared emergency martial law, citing threats from opposition parties and North Korea. This marked the first martial law declaration in South Korea since 1979. The declaration was quickly met with parliamentary opposition and was lifted within hours after a vote by the National Assembly demanded its revocation.
2. Philippines September 21, 1972
Details: Martial law was declared by Ferdinand Marcos to suppress dissent and maintain order amid rising insurgency and civil unrest. This period lasted until 1981 and was characterized by human rights abuses and the suppression of political opposition.
3. India June 25, 1975
Details: Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a state of emergency, which effectively suspended civil liberties and allowed for the arrest of political opponents. The emergency lasted until March 21, 1977.
4. Canada October 16, 1970
Details: The War Measures Act was invoked during the October Crisis following the kidnapping of government officials by the FLQ (Front de libération du Québec). This allowed for military intervention and the suspension of civil liberties until April 1971.
5. United States Various times during the Civil War (1861-1865) and other periods.
Details: While not a formal declaration of martial law across the entire country, various states have enacted martial law during times of crisis, notably during the Civil War and after natural disasters.
I point this out as some people fear that Trump 2.0 is ready to declare martial law.
It’s only happened once in a large democratic nation since the 1970s. Illegal border crossings and fentanyl smuggling, which were also prevalent under Trump 1.0, do not constitute a reason for martial law in the US. Only Trump declaring himself dictator would be the reason for martial law because, in that case, there would be a civil war.
The same coyote that crossed our path a few weeks ago alongside the nearby Humber River passed in front as we walked down Kingsway Cres, and it headed down Queen Mary’s. That’s what I call looking for a high-end meal. A few steps in, seeing somebody walking toward it, the coyote reversed direction and crossed our path again, this time jumping down into the ravine toward the river. These animals are close to 4 feet long and have no fear of humans. I tried to take a photo, but its fur is camouflaged grey, and it was gone before I could spot it in the trees.
Our friend is probably a coywolf, which Wikipedia says is “a canid hybrid descended from coyotes (Canis latrans), eastern wolves (Canis lycaon), gray wolves (Canis lupus), and dogs (Canis familiaris).
Trump had it wrong about Springfield. It wasn’t Haitian immigrants; it was coyotes eating the pets that lived there.
Daniel Penny on trial in NY. Former US Marine, came to the defense of fellow passengers on the subway. Put a dude with 42 prior arrests (how was he even free) in a chokehold and the guy died. Penny is white, offender was black. BLM cheerleaders chanting “Guilty” outside the courthouse.
Jordan Williams, 20 year-old black man, stabbed a homeless person to death on a subway train that I used to ride daily to college 40 years ago. Charges were dropped.
We have National Guard patrolling the subways. I wouldn’t ride it now if you paid me.
Back in the 1980s I rode the subway from Newark to the UN where a friend of mine worked. No problems! Graffiti? YES, but nobody freaking out trying to stab people. Then I also took the bus from City Island to the Dreyfus Building where another friend worked. No crazy people on the bus either. It was all law and order! We got a ride to The Blarney Stone where Wall Street types hung out drinking and arguing who was the top trader for the day. EF Hutton listen up!
Daniel should go free.
The ones to put on trial are the ones who run the subway and mayor Adams and the NYC admin. Class action against NYC and Metro for unsafe criminal hazardous conditions.
Who remembers DEATH WISH?
The lawless sanctuary ghetto of NYC forces normal citizens to be on defense all the time. I would not call Daniel a vigilante, but just someone who had enough of the DNC BS!
Ah yes the fictional Paul Kersey played by Charles Bronson. We actually had a vigilante about 10 years later. Bernard Goetz. Had been beaten up on the subway once. Bought a handgun in Florida. He was approached by four teenagers on a train with sharpened screwdrivers. Shot all four of them.
I can understand underprivileged youth needing to loot, steal, and rob. However it is possible to rob someone without doing them harm. Like the ones who grab the elderly woman’s pocketbook and then fling her down a flight of stairs.
I saw that an hour or so ago. Army deployed to the National Assembly. Was there in the early 80s, could not be on the streets after midnight. Violent protests under Chun Do Hwan. I thought those days were long over.
Biden showed that he was no different from the other liars serving the people in DC.
From join1440.com
Biden Pardons Hunter
President Joe Biden pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, last night, weeks before the younger Biden was due to be sentenced for federal gun and tax evasion charges. The announcement marked a reversal for the president, who had previously vowed not to interfere on his son’s behalf.
Hunter faced up to 25 years in prison after being convicted this year of lying on a 2018 gun application when he falsely asserted he was not addicted to illicit drugs. Hunter separately faced up to 17 years in prison and fines of up to $1.4M after pleading guilty to tax fraud charges related to counting strip club visits, rent, and children’s tuition as business expenses, among other items. He was due to be sentenced Dec. 12 and Dec. 16, respectively.
The president reportedly decided to pardon his son over the weekend, two months before President-elect Donald Trump is scheduled to take office. Read the president’s statement here.
Ohio State-Michigan, the way college football should be played.
Despite the ugly brawl afterward, both teams displayed an impressive defense. A week ago, I considered Ohio State this year’s premier team. But they were upset 13-10.
So many upsets this weekend.
When I saw the U Miami ranking at #5 or #6 last week, I thought somebody was dreaming. I was right.
With Alabama’s win over Auburn, might a three-loss team make the playoffs? Well, Bama beat four ranked teams this year and are superior to Miami, Iowa State, and Arizona State, and they are at least equal to arch-rival Georgia. Anything is possible.
From 2,084 steps a day (2023) to 3,545 (11 months 2024).
Early this year, I discovered I had serious health problems. I recovered but it took weeks in bed and in hospital. I decided that part of my return to good health would be a major change in lifestyle and to retire from a challenging career that was long overdue.
The simple act of walking in the neighbourhood an hour a day helped me cut my weight from 240+ pounds to 200 and remove all signs of rheumatoid arthritis. Part of the weight loss might be related to the surgeon’s removal of some bits and pieces that apparently we don’t need anyway.
As the headline reads, I increased my outdoor daily walking to an average of 3,545 steps. After discounting all the requisite days in bed and staying indoors due to bad weather, that’s a satisfying number. On my average days, I walk over 5,000 steps.
If we put our mind to solving a problem, it’s amazing what we can accomplish.
Forty years ago I worked at Dean Witter (now Morgan Stanley) with an old-timer whose calling card read, “Health is Wealth.” It took me four decades to realize the importance of that message.
The US Government defines Hispanics as Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American people. These are the people who make up the huge majority of undocumented immigrants.
After the Trump rally in Madison Square Garden, where a comedian dissed Puerto Rico, many of us believed Trump surely lost enough Hispanic support to lose the election. The only thing that made sense to us at the time was undocumented Americans would fear deportation. But Trump showed he didn’t care by doubling down on mostly illegal immigration, most of which is Hispanic.
Thinking about this today, I believe that the majority of Hispanics in the US are documented or have connections that will ensure they are staying in the country. I think they wanted the problematic minority of their culture to be deported so that employment problems could be alleviated. Fewer farm and factory workers would not only ensure they have jobs during tough economic times but would put them in an improved bargaining position to get higher wages and working conditions.
In this election, the old saying, “It’s the economy, stupid,” became, “It’s the system that mostly affects me and my family, stupid.”
Trump nailed it. He empowered legal Hispanic Americans.
jimg
November 29, 2024 6:49 pm
#43177
How does a political party stay in power for 14 years, and remain intellectually fresh? Budapest diary… Quotes: I’m just back from a five-day trip to Budapest, invited by the Hungarian Embassy in London, to travel with a group of journalists to meet all level of Minister, Deputy Minister and State Secretary. Fidesz, the party of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has been in power since 2010. How does a political party stay in power this long and remain intellectually fresh? (The British Conservative Party, of course, does not know the answer.) Having worked in 10 Downing Street 2020–21, I’ve spent more time sitting about the British Cabinet Room table, observing ministers up close, than just about anyone my age or younger. I have no hesitation in saying, despite one or two exceptions of formidable British intellect, the calibre of Hungary’s ministers and ambassadors is far higher. https://edwardmdruce.substack.com/p/how-does-a-political-party-st
jimg
November 29, 2024 9:34 am
#43165
Big Pharma’s License to Kill
“This article examines the corruption, crimes, and lawsuits involving these three pharmaceutical behemoths in order to shed light on how their actions are representative of a larger national health crisis.”
Conflicts of Interest, Negligence, and Liberal Mismanagement Unveiled In yet another stunning display of Liberal mismanagement, Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) has found itself at the center of a growing scandal. The Auditor General’s recent report revealed systemic conflicts of interest and gross negligence in handling taxpayer money—conflicts that funneled millions of dollars to companies connected to SDTC board members.The controversy reached new heights during a heated Public Accounts Committee meeting, where Andrew Noseworthy, a former assistant deputy minister, was grilled over his role as the government’s “eyes and ears” on the SDTC board. His testimony wasn’t just underwhelming—it was a masterclass in buck-passing.Here’s Andrew Noseworthy’s opening statement, boiled down: “I was there, but I wasn’t responsible. I saw things, but I didn’t do anything about them. It wasn’t my job to actually oversee anything, and even though I was supposed to be the government’s eyes and ears, somehow, I missed all the obvious corruption right in front of me.”Are you kidding me? This guy sat in board meetings where millions of dollars—your tax dollars—were being funneled to companies with clear, blatant conflicts of interest. He says, “I wasn’t a decision-maker, I was just an observer.” Observer of what? A train wreck of mismanagement? The deputy minister calls him the “eyes and ears” on the board, and yet he’s playing dumb when asked about conflicts of interest that were declared, minuted, and repeatedly ignored.But wait—it gets better. When pressed about COVID-19 relief payments—$38 million handed out like party favors—he just shrugs and says there was “urgency.” Urgency to do what? Bail out friends and allies under the guise of saving the clean tech sector? No proper due diligence, no accountability. Just money flying out the door to keep the Trudeau administration’s cronies happy.And this guy wants us to believe he wasn’t complicit? That he had no responsibility? The buck stops nowhere, apparently—not with Noseworthy, not with SDTC, not with the Liberal government that created this green slush fund in the first place.This is exactly what you get with Trudeau’s “green energy” initiatives. It’s not about the environment; it’s about lining the pockets of insiders and calling it progress. Canadians deserve better. But under Trudeau, this is just another day in the swamp.Now let’s get into the Public Accounts Committee’s Meeting 145, starting with Rick Perkins and his fiery takedown of this shameless display of negligence. Buckle up, folks, because it only gets worse from here.Rick Perkins Exposes Liberal RotHere’s the scene: Conservative MP Rick Perkins goes on the offensive, trying to get a straight answer out of Andrew Noseworthy. And what does he find? A human shrug emoji. Noseworthy, the so-called “eyes and ears” of the Deputy Minister at SDTC, claims he sat in meetings, watched directors funnel taxpayer money into their own companies, and thought, “Not my problem!”Perkins doesn’t let up. He reads the SDTC Act aloud: “No director shall profit or gain any income.” It’s not rocket science, folks. It’s the law. But Noseworthy’s excuse? He didn’t have an “independent way” of assessing conflicts of interest. What?! The conflicts were declared in the meetings! The minutes even said, “Here’s who’s conflicted. Here’s who’s getting millions of dollars.” Yet Noseworthy insists he couldn’t connect the dots.Then Perkins drops the hammer. He points to André-Lise Mato, a Liberal insider who raked in $10.4 million for companies she’s connected to—all in direct violation of the SDTC Act. And what does Noseworthy say? He assumed recusal was enough. Recusal! As if stepping out of the room while your cronies vote to line your pockets somehow makes it okay.But the pièce de résistance is when Perkins asks Noseworthy the million-dollar question: “Who are you covering up for?” And what does Noseworthy do? He throws up his hands and says he didn’t know it was his job to report conflicts. His job was apparently to sit there and watch taxpayer dollars burn while doing nothing.Here’s the bottom line: This isn’t oversight—it’s willful negligence. Noseworthy didn’t miss the corruption; he just didn’t care.Liberal Damage Control: Valarie Bradford Plays DefenseAfter Rick Perkins rips Andrew Noseworthy apart for his role in enabling millions of taxpayer dollars to be funneled into the pockets of Liberal insiders, here comes Valarie Bradford—stepping in with a velvet glove to do damage control. And folks, it’s laughable.Instead of holding Noseworthy accountable, Bradford throws him a lifeline. She asks him to—what?—clarify his role again? As if we haven’t heard it already. Noseworthy, ever the bureaucrat, drones on about “policy coordination” and how he wasn’t there to actually do anything, just to… exist, apparently.
Some of you have been watching this incredible woman’s YouTube videos for several years. Season 8 started a month ago in Turkey. For those who don’t know Itchy Boots, today’s episode is well worth watching to discover why she has 2.5 million subscribers.
You’ll be blown away if you can watch on a big screen.
According to Reuters, Mali has issued an arrest warrant for Barrick CEO Mark Bristow.
Iran oil sanctions not being enforced?
The Clandestine Oil Shipping Hub Funneling Iranian Crude to China
A burgeoning group of dark fleet vessels operating with impunity on the edge of a major maritime thoroughfare is moving hundreds of millions of barrels of sanctioned oil — and risking an environmental catastrophe.
https://archive.is/2Ftf6#selection-1261.0-1261.213
Iran’s Petroleum Exports to China and U.S. Sanctions Updated November 8, 2024
https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IN/IN12267
Iran’s Illicit Oil Exports Surge in August Amid U.S. Failure to Enforce Sanctions
https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2023/08/21/irans-illicit-oil-exports-surge-in-august-amid-u-s-failure-to-enforce-sanctions/
A new hockey fan favorite
I was agog in Nikita Grebenkin’s first pre-season game in a Toronto Maple Leaf sweater, a game exclusively for rookies, as this #71 skated circles around the others. I quickly looked on the internet to find this player’s name, and I saw it was a youngster who had recently come to Toronto after playing last year in the Russian league. He was 6’2” and 210 lbs. Big, fast, and tough, I figured him to be a possibility for making the Leaf team this year.
After his first NHL game two weeks ago, 21-year-old Grebenkin, who barely speaks English, said, “They told me, forecheck, backcheck, paycheck.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7t5cz1yQOnc
With that fractured English, he immediately became a fan favorite.
Always available for interviews and smiling, fans have noted he is the only Leaf player who enters and leaves the arena with all the fans, taking a taxi to and from home.
His comments regarding his closing buzzer bodycheck in Monday’s 4-1 win were another reason the astute Leaf fanbase has already targeted this youngster as a favorite. He said, “Last second, game not done. I play. You play. Don’t stop. Don’t relax. You play NHL, you understand. I kill you. You kill me. It’s business. No problem.”
https://www.instagram.com/nastyknucklespod/reel/DDIacBBhNJo/
The hockey world is abuzz.
“Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield plans representing Connecticut, New York and Missouri have unilaterally declared it will no longer pay for anesthesia care if the surgery or procedure goes beyond an arbitrary time limit, regardless of how long the surgical procedure takes”
https://providernews.anthem.com/new-york/articles/anesthesia-billed-time-units-update-beginning-february-2025-23143
UnitedHealthcare CEO fatally shot outside Midtown hotel by masked man who sped off bike in possible targeted attack: sources
The CEO of UnitedHealth was fatally shot in the chest Wednesday morning outside the Hilton hotel in Midtown in what police say was a targeted attack.
https://nypost.com/2024/12/04/us-news/ceo-of-unitedhealthcare-fatally-shot-outside-of-hilton-hotel-in-nyc-in-possible-targeted-attack-sources/
Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) with a 25-point rant via X on why the Social Security system needs to go. Some articles suggest that it could be targeted by Elon Musk and his so-called DOGE program. Funny. Musk wasn’t even a US citizen until 2002. I didn’t vote him into office. I didn’t ask him to take a role in our government.
I never liked the system but we were forced to pay into it over our working lives. There was no such thing as opting out.
Reminds me of the 1970s flick Logan’s Run whose theme was that everyone reaching a certain age is terminated to avoid them becoming a burden on society. If Social Security is somehow eliminated, most Seniors may as well jump off a bridge somewhere.
Recent Instances of Martial Law in Large Democratic Countries (From Perplexity):
These instances illustrate how martial law has been used as a tool by governments in large democracies to address perceived threats to national security or public order, often leading to significant political controversy and public backlash.
1. South Korea December 3, 2024
Details: President Yoon Suk-yeol declared emergency martial law, citing threats from opposition parties and North Korea. This marked the first martial law declaration in South Korea since 1979. The declaration was quickly met with parliamentary opposition and was lifted within hours after a vote by the National Assembly demanded its revocation.
2. Philippines September 21, 1972
Details: Martial law was declared by Ferdinand Marcos to suppress dissent and maintain order amid rising insurgency and civil unrest. This period lasted until 1981 and was characterized by human rights abuses and the suppression of political opposition.
3. India June 25, 1975
Details: Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a state of emergency, which effectively suspended civil liberties and allowed for the arrest of political opponents. The emergency lasted until March 21, 1977.
4. Canada October 16, 1970
Details: The War Measures Act was invoked during the October Crisis following the kidnapping of government officials by the FLQ (Front de libération du Québec). This allowed for military intervention and the suspension of civil liberties until April 1971.
5. United States Various times during the Civil War (1861-1865) and other periods.
Details: While not a formal declaration of martial law across the entire country, various states have enacted martial law during times of crisis, notably during the Civil War and after natural disasters.
I point this out as some people fear that Trump 2.0 is ready to declare martial law.
It’s only happened once in a large democratic nation since the 1970s. Illegal border crossings and fentanyl smuggling, which were also prevalent under Trump 1.0, do not constitute a reason for martial law in the US. Only Trump declaring himself dictator would be the reason for martial law because, in that case, there would be a civil war.
Another meetup with our local coyote today.
The same coyote that crossed our path a few weeks ago alongside the nearby Humber River passed in front as we walked down Kingsway Cres, and it headed down Queen Mary’s. That’s what I call looking for a high-end meal. A few steps in, seeing somebody walking toward it, the coyote reversed direction and crossed our path again, this time jumping down into the ravine toward the river. These animals are close to 4 feet long and have no fear of humans. I tried to take a photo, but its fur is camouflaged grey, and it was gone before I could spot it in the trees.
Our friend is probably a coywolf, which Wikipedia says is “a canid hybrid descended from coyotes (Canis latrans), eastern wolves (Canis lycaon), gray wolves (Canis lupus), and dogs (Canis familiaris).
Trump had it wrong about Springfield. It wasn’t Haitian immigrants; it was coyotes eating the pets that lived there.
This was my favorite music video of the year:
Daniel Penny on trial in NY. Former US Marine, came to the defense of fellow passengers on the subway. Put a dude with 42 prior arrests (how was he even free) in a chokehold and the guy died. Penny is white, offender was black. BLM cheerleaders chanting “Guilty” outside the courthouse.
Jordan Williams, 20 year-old black man, stabbed a homeless person to death on a subway train that I used to ride daily to college 40 years ago. Charges were dropped.
We have National Guard patrolling the subways. I wouldn’t ride it now if you paid me.
Back in the 1980s I rode the subway from Newark to the UN where a friend of mine worked. No problems! Graffiti? YES, but nobody freaking out trying to stab people. Then I also took the bus from City Island to the Dreyfus Building where another friend worked. No crazy people on the bus either. It was all law and order! We got a ride to The Blarney Stone where Wall Street types hung out drinking and arguing who was the top trader for the day. EF Hutton listen up!
Daniel should go free.
The ones to put on trial are the ones who run the subway and mayor Adams and the NYC admin. Class action against NYC and Metro for unsafe criminal hazardous conditions.
Who remembers DEATH WISH?
The lawless sanctuary ghetto of NYC forces normal citizens to be on defense all the time. I would not call Daniel a vigilante, but just someone who had enough of the DNC BS!
ABOLISH SANCTUARY CITIES AND STATES!
Ah yes the fictional Paul Kersey played by Charles Bronson. We actually had a vigilante about 10 years later. Bernard Goetz. Had been beaten up on the subway once. Bought a handgun in Florida. He was approached by four teenagers on a train with sharpened screwdrivers. Shot all four of them.
I can understand underprivileged youth needing to loot, steal, and rob. However it is possible to rob someone without doing them harm. Like the ones who grab the elderly woman’s pocketbook and then fling her down a flight of stairs.
Controversial subject, I know.
There is an argument that the only legitimate jury for the Daniel Penny trial would be 12 people who were riding in that subway car that day.
You must remember Bernhard Goetz
French government on the verge of collapse.
South Korea just declared martial law! Read my post!
CHIPS-R-US
I saw that an hour or so ago. Army deployed to the National Assembly. Was there in the early 80s, could not be on the streets after midnight. Violent protests under Chun Do Hwan. I thought those days were long over.
Biden showed that he was no different from the other liars serving the people in DC.
From join1440.com
That’s now part of his legacy.
Bills over 49ers 35-10, not even close.
Josh Allen, player of the year.
Bills vs Lions, Superbowl a-comin’
Canadian-US Border: Immigration Flashpoint?
Trump 2.0 Border Czar-appointee Tom Homan has been very outspoken.
For a little fun, watching this YouTube video gives you an insight into what’s happening along the border today.
Some people just want to make trouble.
Ohio State-Michigan, the way college football should be played.
Despite the ugly brawl afterward, both teams displayed an impressive defense. A week ago, I considered Ohio State this year’s premier team. But they were upset 13-10.
So many upsets this weekend.
When I saw the U Miami ranking at #5 or #6 last week, I thought somebody was dreaming. I was right.
With Alabama’s win over Auburn, might a three-loss team make the playoffs? Well, Bama beat four ranked teams this year and are superior to Miami, Iowa State, and Arizona State, and they are at least equal to arch-rival Georgia. Anything is possible.
From 2,084 steps a day (2023) to 3,545 (11 months 2024).
Early this year, I discovered I had serious health problems. I recovered but it took weeks in bed and in hospital. I decided that part of my return to good health would be a major change in lifestyle and to retire from a challenging career that was long overdue.
The simple act of walking in the neighbourhood an hour a day helped me cut my weight from 240+ pounds to 200 and remove all signs of rheumatoid arthritis. Part of the weight loss might be related to the surgeon’s removal of some bits and pieces that apparently we don’t need anyway.
As the headline reads, I increased my outdoor daily walking to an average of 3,545 steps. After discounting all the requisite days in bed and staying indoors due to bad weather, that’s a satisfying number. On my average days, I walk over 5,000 steps.
If we put our mind to solving a problem, it’s amazing what we can accomplish.
Forty years ago I worked at Dean Witter (now Morgan Stanley) with an old-timer whose calling card read, “Health is Wealth.” It took me four decades to realize the importance of that message.
Something to think about. All of us can do it.
How appropriate on this Thanksgiving weekend.
Trump threatens 100% tariffs on BRICS nations if they undercut the US dollar by setting up a BRICS currency unit.
An analysis of the counties where Harris lost most votes to Trump shows precisely the problem. Hispanics switched to Trump.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14059973/20-counties-Kamala-Harris-lost-votes-Donald-Trump.html
The US Government defines Hispanics as Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American people. These are the people who make up the huge majority of undocumented immigrants.
After the Trump rally in Madison Square Garden, where a comedian dissed Puerto Rico, many of us believed Trump surely lost enough Hispanic support to lose the election. The only thing that made sense to us at the time was undocumented Americans would fear deportation. But Trump showed he didn’t care by doubling down on mostly illegal immigration, most of which is Hispanic.
Thinking about this today, I believe that the majority of Hispanics in the US are documented or have connections that will ensure they are staying in the country. I think they wanted the problematic minority of their culture to be deported so that employment problems could be alleviated. Fewer farm and factory workers would not only ensure they have jobs during tough economic times but would put them in an improved bargaining position to get higher wages and working conditions.
In this election, the old saying, “It’s the economy, stupid,” became, “It’s the system that mostly affects me and my family, stupid.”
Trump nailed it. He empowered legal Hispanic Americans.
How does a political party stay in power for 14 years, and remain intellectually fresh? Budapest diary…
Quotes:
I’m just back from a five-day trip to Budapest, invited by the Hungarian Embassy in London, to travel with a group of journalists to meet all level of Minister, Deputy Minister and State Secretary.
Fidesz, the party of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has been in power since 2010. How does a political party stay in power this long and remain intellectually fresh? (The British Conservative Party, of course, does not know the answer.)
Having worked in 10 Downing Street 2020–21, I’ve spent more time sitting about the British Cabinet Room table, observing ministers up close, than just about anyone my age or younger.
I have no hesitation in saying, despite one or two exceptions of formidable British intellect, the calibre of Hungary’s ministers and ambassadors is far higher.
https://edwardmdruce.substack.com/p/how-does-a-political-party-st
Big Pharma’s License to Kill
“This article examines the corruption, crimes, and lawsuits involving these three pharmaceutical behemoths in order to shed light on how their actions are representative of a larger national health crisis.”
https://prn.live/big-pharmas-license-to-kill/
The US will never have a comprehensive national health program until the Big Pharma lobby is substantially reduced in its power over Congress.
Disparate Thanksgiving Greetings messages from two American presidents.
Class vs. Classless.
Conflicts of Interest, Negligence, and Liberal Mismanagement Unveiled In yet another stunning display of Liberal mismanagement, Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) has found itself at the center of a growing scandal. The Auditor General’s recent report revealed systemic conflicts of interest and gross negligence in handling taxpayer money—conflicts that funneled millions of dollars to companies connected to SDTC board members.The controversy reached new heights during a heated Public Accounts Committee meeting, where Andrew Noseworthy, a former assistant deputy minister, was grilled over his role as the government’s “eyes and ears” on the SDTC board. His testimony wasn’t just underwhelming—it was a masterclass in buck-passing.Here’s Andrew Noseworthy’s opening statement, boiled down: “I was there, but I wasn’t responsible. I saw things, but I didn’t do anything about them. It wasn’t my job to actually oversee anything, and even though I was supposed to be the government’s eyes and ears, somehow, I missed all the obvious corruption right in front of me.”Are you kidding me? This guy sat in board meetings where millions of dollars—your tax dollars—were being funneled to companies with clear, blatant conflicts of interest. He says, “I wasn’t a decision-maker, I was just an observer.” Observer of what? A train wreck of mismanagement? The deputy minister calls him the “eyes and ears” on the board, and yet he’s playing dumb when asked about conflicts of interest that were declared, minuted, and repeatedly ignored.But wait—it gets better. When pressed about COVID-19 relief payments—$38 million handed out like party favors—he just shrugs and says there was “urgency.” Urgency to do what? Bail out friends and allies under the guise of saving the clean tech sector? No proper due diligence, no accountability. Just money flying out the door to keep the Trudeau administration’s cronies happy.And this guy wants us to believe he wasn’t complicit? That he had no responsibility? The buck stops nowhere, apparently—not with Noseworthy, not with SDTC, not with the Liberal government that created this green slush fund in the first place.This is exactly what you get with Trudeau’s “green energy” initiatives. It’s not about the environment; it’s about lining the pockets of insiders and calling it progress. Canadians deserve better. But under Trudeau, this is just another day in the swamp.Now let’s get into the Public Accounts Committee’s Meeting 145, starting with Rick Perkins and his fiery takedown of this shameless display of negligence. Buckle up, folks, because it only gets worse from here.Rick Perkins Exposes Liberal RotHere’s the scene: Conservative MP Rick Perkins goes on the offensive, trying to get a straight answer out of Andrew Noseworthy. And what does he find? A human shrug emoji. Noseworthy, the so-called “eyes and ears” of the Deputy Minister at SDTC, claims he sat in meetings, watched directors funnel taxpayer money into their own companies, and thought, “Not my problem!”Perkins doesn’t let up. He reads the SDTC Act aloud: “No director shall profit or gain any income.” It’s not rocket science, folks. It’s the law. But Noseworthy’s excuse? He didn’t have an “independent way” of assessing conflicts of interest. What?! The conflicts were declared in the meetings! The minutes even said, “Here’s who’s conflicted. Here’s who’s getting millions of dollars.” Yet Noseworthy insists he couldn’t connect the dots.Then Perkins drops the hammer. He points to André-Lise Mato, a Liberal insider who raked in $10.4 million for companies she’s connected to—all in direct violation of the SDTC Act. And what does Noseworthy say? He assumed recusal was enough. Recusal! As if stepping out of the room while your cronies vote to line your pockets somehow makes it okay.But the pièce de résistance is when Perkins asks Noseworthy the million-dollar question: “Who are you covering up for?” And what does Noseworthy do? He throws up his hands and says he didn’t know it was his job to report conflicts. His job was apparently to sit there and watch taxpayer dollars burn while doing nothing.Here’s the bottom line: This isn’t oversight—it’s willful negligence. Noseworthy didn’t miss the corruption; he just didn’t care.Liberal Damage Control: Valarie Bradford Plays DefenseAfter Rick Perkins rips Andrew Noseworthy apart for his role in enabling millions of taxpayer dollars to be funneled into the pockets of Liberal insiders, here comes Valarie Bradford—stepping in with a velvet glove to do damage control. And folks, it’s laughable.Instead of holding Noseworthy accountable, Bradford throws him a lifeline. She asks him to—what?—clarify his role again? As if we haven’t heard it already. Noseworthy, ever the bureaucrat, drones on about “policy coordination” and how he wasn’t there to actually do anything, just to… exist, apparently.
Source: https://x.com/DanKnightMMA/status/1862108987795046836?t=30B7-GY9C1pB21a16derlw&s=19
God help Canada
America, China, and the Death of the International Monetary Non-System
By Russell Napier
https://americanaffairsjournal.org/2024/11/america-china-and-the-death-of-the-international-monetary-non-system/
https://archive.is/U4p3u
This latest video message from VP Harris is more than disappointing.
I am concerned for this woman’s health. She appears either drunk, as her critics are saying, or she is close to a nervous breakdown.
I hope it’s not the latter.
Joe Rogan properly converses with Bernie Sanders in this YouTube video.
Worth watching and considering what Sanders is saying.
Above and beyond with Itchy Boots.
Some of you have been watching this incredible woman’s YouTube videos for several years. Season 8 started a month ago in Turkey. For those who don’t know Itchy Boots, today’s episode is well worth watching to discover why she has 2.5 million subscribers.
You’ll be blown away if you can watch on a big screen.