Reader’s Links for April 19th, 2024

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Each day at just after midnight Eastern, a post like this one is created for contributors and readers of this site to upload news links and video links on the issues that concern this site. Most notably, Islam and its effects on Classical Civilization, and various forms of leftism from Soviet era communism, to postmodernism and all the flavours of galloping statism and totalitarianism such as Nazism and Fascism which are increasingly snuffing out the classical liberalism which created our near, miraculous civilization the West has been building since the time of Socrates.

This document was written around the time this site was created, for those who wish to understand what this site is about. And while our understanding of the world and events has grown since then, the basic ideas remain sound and true to the purpose.

So please post all links, thoughts and ideas that you feel will benefit the readers of this site to the comments under this post each day. And thank you all for your contributions.

This is the new Samizdat. We must use it while we can.

For those interested, please check out https://vladtepesblog.substack.com/ as an another avenue of expression.

About Eeyore

Canadian artist and counter-jihad and freedom of speech activist as well as devout Schrödinger's catholic

41 Replies to “Reader’s Links for April 19th, 2024”

      • Thank you for thinking about me.
        I’m here. Sorta.
        >_<
        I knew commercial flights would be disrupted, but private and charters are also scarce.

        I was feeling kinda noble: staying here while most everybody I love is there. Physical frailty makes me high maintenance. I didn’t want to impose another burden on Israelis.

        Now I don't care. I'm glued to the news as in all previous wars, but the reporting is the very worst. All across the board. I can't stop myself from scanning names and photos of casualties, despite feeling every single one as a grievous, personal loss.

        Diaspora Zionists distract themselves and each other arguing about the war in Ukraine. Savage name-calling as never before. That’s going on in Israel too, especially relevant given the demographic changes over the last few decades.

        The USA is engaged in open sabotage against Israel. Will Russia throw its veto spanner in the works of the {spit} UN? Putin likes to do things just to keep everybody off-balance.

        Naked jooo-hate in the West doesn’t make Russia look better, but it completely overwhelms our sense of security in the Diaspora. However logical libertarian arguments might be, they’re an abstraction worlds apart from what we’re experiencing.

        The community is the only reality.
        Here I’ve never felt so alone.
        Imagine dreading Passover.

  3. Yesterday as I left the dentist’s office downtown I walked briskly back to my car. I was behind on my day because of my appointment. Up ahead I saw a homeless guy slowly dragging a shopping cart behind himself. As I got within ten feet of him his stance suddenly changed. I wasn’t expecting it. He went into a linebacker-like crouch, low and quick, rushing towards me like he was attacking. I’m not the smallest guy in the world and I’m in good shape, but he didn’t care. I can’t forget the mad, rectilinear glare his eyes had on mine. Menacing and crazy. Luckily I side stepped his advance, and as I did so his demeanor just as quickly reverted back to the harmless, slow-moving bum I first perceived him to be. The peaceful backwater once known as Ottawa is gone.

    I understood, then, that I could no longer make a margin call on reality because reality is on the move:
    margin call
    noun
    A demand by a broker that a customer deposit enough to bring his margin up to the minimum requirement; — caused by the decline in market prices of a security or commodity purchased on margin{5}.
    Similar: call
    Request by a stockbroker or similar for the client to deposit more money in order to cover losses that have built up in open positions held on margin (rather than having been paid for in full).
    A demand by a broker that a customer deposit enough to bring his margin up to the minimum requirement.

    Don’t trust government-posted interest rates. These rates dictate the return on government bonds. When the real rate is net negative it means that real inflation is higher than what the government says it is, so returns on bonds or T-Bills amount to legalized confiscation. Currently the real rate of inflation is probably north of 10%. If you don’t believe this go to a gas station or a grocery store. Prices are NOT going up at an annualized rate of 3%. So if you’re getting 5% annually on a bond you’re losing 5%.

    Once the U.S. 10-year bond hits 5% there will be margin calls on a lot of stuff. Residential and commercial mortgages will find themselves even further under water. In the precious metals market short sellers on margin will have to kick in still more money to maintain their positions. Many will give up. As the world continues to lose faith in the USD interest rates will have to rise in order to attract investors worried about rising inflation. These buyers will not buy unless they feel their compensation at least meets the real rate of inflation.
    Bill Holter:
    https://usawatchdog.com/driving-america-into-a-brick-wall-bill-holter/

    • I am glad you are safe, no where is safe and won’t be for a long time. This is why I am glad I live in a Red State with Constitutional Carry.

    • Someone (I can’t remember who) once made the joke that underarm protection is a 45 in a shoulder holster.

      • I’d laugh but it’s no joke. Thanks, yes I’m safe but I told my kids to try to be situationally aware and to listen to their intuition.

  4. Yesterday the cost of gas went up I think 17 cents per liter. That’s about 68 cents a gallon. This is an extremely inflationary move by Dear Leader, who admits he is clueless on anything to do with numbers. This is EXACTLY what a government should not do as a country enters into recession/depression. Controlled demolition anyone?:

    https://www.youtube.com/shorts/jFNbtFmMJkw

    • This is why 1) it is essential that Trump is elected and followed by someone who knows economics. 2) the current mess is going to last many decades, the leaders of almost all of the nations are committed Marxists who believe in Keynesian economics.

  6. This guy knows where his stolen truck is but the cops still won’t help him. The insurance companies want us to install multiple tracking devices on our trucks. If we don’t they say we will have to pay $500 more per year in coverage. Will police respond to their tracking devices but not our own? How can we know for sure?

    https://youtube.com/shorts/zP4PfyAto0Y?si=7RYoBMihDNfqae9a

  13. “B**ch You Dead, B**ch You Dead!” – Woman Caught on Tape Brutally Killing Terrified Young Mother Execution-Style in Downtown Seattle Alley (VIDEO)
    by Cullen Linebarger Apr. 19, 2024 11:00 am37 Comments

    Shocking footage captured the moment a vile woman brutally murdered a young mother in a downtown Seattle alley.

    As KIRO News reported, 33-year-old Rickesha Overton overpowered her victim, 20-year-old Alisia DeCoteau and forced her down the stairs of the 3rd floor of the Ellis Court Apartments and into the alley where DeCoteau drew her last breath.

    The violent murder occurred on March 3, just after 1 A.M.. However, a journalist named Jonathan Choe leaked video footage of the crime just yesterday.

    The video shows Overton forcing a terrified and screaming DeCoteau down a flight of stairs with a gun to her head. While marching down the stairs, Overton tells DeCoteau, “I’ll blow your mouth! Say I won’t! Say I won’t!”

    Overton then opens the door and shoves her sobbing victim into the alley before going back inside for a few seconds. Once Overton returns, she yells at DeCoteau before shooting her twice at close range, including once in the head.

    video at site

    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/04/bch-you-dead-bch-you-dead-woman-caught/

  14. RFK Jr.’s Sister’s Astonishing Freudian Slip Urges Americans to ‘Vote for Trump’ — Before a Swift and Embarrassed Correction to ‘Vote for Biden’ (VIDEO) (VIDEO)
    by Jim H?ft Apr. 19, 2024 11:15 am0 Comments

    Kerry Kennedy, sister of independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., inadvertently urged Americans to “Vote for Trump” in a slip of the tongue during a CNN interview with John King. The blunder was promptly followed by an embarrassed retraction and correction to “Vote for Biden.”

    Kennedy, in her conversation with King, seemed determined to sideline the discussion of her brother’s independent presidential bid, stressing the political reality that only President Joe Biden or former President Donald Trump has a viable path to achieving the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the presidency in November.

    The interview then took a surprising turn when Kerry Kennedy’s words momentarily betrayed her intentions. “Vote for Trump,” she said, before quickly correcting herself, “Excuse me, Vote for Biden.” The swift self-correction did little to mask her evident embarrassment.

    The interview came on the same day that Kerry Kennedy, along with more than a dozen other members of her family, betrayed their own blood, RFK Jr., and publicly backed Biden’s bid for reelection.

    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/04/rfk-jr-s-sister-kerry-urges-america-vote/

  15. (Richard: Walmart moved their headquarters from New York to Chicago, looks like they need to find another city to move to.)

    Is Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s New Scheme to Turn Chicago Neigborhood Another Opportunity to Put Illegals Ahead of Citizens?
    by Margaret Flavin Apr. 19, 2024 10:00 am91 Comments

    LaSalle Street in Chicago has long been an important business and financial hub for the city.

    But if Mayor Brandon Johnson has his way, the area will be transformed into “affordable housing,” with some suggesting it is yet another scheme to place the interests of illegals ahead of citizens.

    Blockclub Chicago reported that “four potential developments have been picked as part of the LaSalle Street Reimagined initiative, a plan that aims to help the corridor bounce back from pandemic vacancies,” which would add “more than 1,000 new apartments, with at least 319 of them affordable.”

    On Friday, the City Council will vote on Johnson’s request for $1.25B for affordable housing borrowing.

    This is on top of Johnson’s request for $70 million in additional City funding to care for illegals, which the Budget and Government Operations Committee voted 20-8 to send to the full Council.

    Critical Medications Every American Can Have On Hand (Including Ivermectin) – And How To Get Them Prescribed

    The Real Deal spelled out Johnson’s plan:

    The plan calls for $1.25 billion in bonds to be allocated over five years, with $250 million annually divided between the city’s Department of Planning and Development and the Department of Housing, for economic development and housing programs.

    It would also allow numerous TIF districts to expire, and for the tax dollars recouped from those districts to be redirected to fund this initiative. This shift signifies a departure from Chicago’s traditional reliance on TIF funds for its developments, removing geographic barriers to how the money is spent.

    Chicago reporter William B. Kelly, however, has questions.

    Kelly shared on X, “Will Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson get $1.25B to turn LaSalle Street into migrant housing? I know many of you are furious with Chicago Mayor Johnson and I don’t blame you. If you are angry and frustrated, understand this. The #Chicago City Council plans to vote on his $1.25B affordable housing borrowing plan this Friday. This is in addition to the $70M request he has made for #migrant housing and care. This $1.25B money grab is what he really wants – and he wants to use that money to turn Chicago’s LaSalle Street into taxpayer-funded apartments for migrants. His Brighton Park tent city failed and his Bring Chicago Home Referendum failed. He can’t afford this to fail too. So, don’t get distracted by things that won’t work. As a resident, as a voter and as a citizen, you have more power than you know. Please like, comment, and share this report widely. If this troubles you, voice your opposition and contact your alderman.”

    Watch as Kelly exposes Johnson’s scheme:

    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/04/is-chicago-mayor-brandon-johnsons-new-scheme-turn/

  16. Narcan and Liberal Drug Policies Worsening Drug Crisis
    by Antonio Graceffo Apr. 19, 2024 9:45 am70 Comments

    Liberal drug laws and government-funded interventions to make drug use safer normalize drug use and fuel the drug crisis.

    Last year, 112,000 Americans died of drug overdoses, and American taxpayers are funding the crisis. Millions of dollars in Biden’s $1.9 Trillion pandemic Relief Bill went towards funding so-called “harm reduction” programs, which help people use drugs more safely but do not encourage them to stop using. This year, Biden-Harris allocated $39.4 million toward the President’s Unity Agenda, which includes harm reduction programs.

    Meanwhile, a congressional committee discovered that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been subsidizing the companies that provide the precursor chemicals to Mexican drug cartels, who manufacture fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other drugs, which they smuggle through the Southern border. So, American taxpayers are not only funding the drug crisis but also funding China.

    A backlash among liberals against the “war on drugs,” which they consider a racist failure, has caused a number of jurisdictions to take the opposite approach, liberalizing or decriminalizing drug use. Some have intentionally increased access to alcohol by allowing to-go sales and lowering taxes. Tax revenue has been one of the arguments Democrats use when trying to convince Republicans to legalize and tax marijuana, which is now legal in at least 37 states. But now, even those taxes are being removed because they were preventing some people from obtaining drugs.

    Rather than trying to convince people that sobriety is the better way, liberal drug and alcohol programs have shifted their focus toward “harm reduction,” which seeks to mitigate the public health risks of drug use without stigmatizing users or requiring them to stop. By definition, removing the stigma means normalizing. It also nullifies the deterrent effect for first-time users who will believe that they can use drugs and still be a productive member of society, despite the evidence to the contrary.

    As part of harm reduction, there has been increased funding for the distribution of Narcan and other overdose reversal medications, as well as programs that provide sterile drug paraphernalia and teach people how to use drugs safely “without requiring them to stop or reduce their use.”

    Narcan is now available without a prescription, and last year, approximately 22 million doses were distributed in the US and Canada, at taxpayer expense. Narcan and other interventions only decrease the number of deaths, not the number of overdoses, which is many times higher.

    Overdosing has been made “safer” by these drugs. They do not resolve the drug crisis. Even worse, by decreasing the number of deaths, the interventions allow the problem to disappear from the front page. Deaths remain on people’s minds; addiction doesn’t. Removing the lethality also removes the deterrent for young people.

    The Democrats are disinterested in stopping drug use, so by legalizing drugs, they can claim to have reduced crime. In many American cities, irrespective of the law, progressive prosecutors refuse to prosecute what they consider low-level drug crimes.

    A good example is the state of Oregon, which voted in 2020 to liberalize drug laws, decriminalizing possession of small amounts of even hard drugs. The measures were passed by the Democrat-led legislature, and the police stopped arresting offenders. Instead, officers gave users a ticket and a slip of paper with a phone number they could call to get into a treatment program. Records show that Portland police handed out 7,000 of these slips, but only a few hundred users ever made the call.

    Marijuana was already legal in Oregon, so tax money from marijuana was put towards treatment programs. Three years later, the drug crisis in Oregon was worse.

    Advocates for liberal drug policies argue, “the criminal justice system didn’t effectively treat addiction.” They also said it disproportionately harmed people of color. By ceasing drug arrests, they hoped to be able to decrease the racial disparity among prisoners. Decriminalization also brought down the crime rate by no longer counting drug offenses. However, other forms of crime increased, perpetrated by people trying to get money for drugs.

    Before decriminalization, Portland’s violent crime rate was below the national average. By 2022, Portland saw a record number of homicides. This dropped off a bit in 2023, and there were claims that other crimes dropped as well, but traffic fatalities increased to record levels, while shoplifting arrests increased by 88%. Portland’s property crime rate is higher than the national average and rose steadily until 2023, when it came down slightly. But it is still higher than pre-drug legalization. And most predictably, from 2019 to 2022, the rate of opioid deaths increased by 241%.

    While many sources claim that overall crime rates have dropped in cities that legalized drugs, the statistic is misleading. This is evidenced not only by Oregon, but also by other municipalities that decriminalized drugs or liberalized enforcement and have seen an increase in drug use, overdoses, and certain kinds of crime. This has been true in Seattle, where the claim was that overall crime was down, but there was an increase in homicides and auto thefts.

    San Francisco has seen an increase in drug-related crimes, as well as the prevalence of dealers and violence. Crime is up in New York, where the liberal governor wants to deploy the National Guard to keep order in the subways. Philadelphia is now known as the capital of the Xylazine zombie drug crisis, and Los Angeles is a fentanyl hub, experiencing rampant shoplifting, theft, and an increase in property crime.

    One way that the statistics are being misrepresented is that many of these cities are claiming a decrease in violent crime in 2023, and this may be true, but only because 2022 experienced a severe spike in crime. This may have been the final effects of lockdowns and COVID restrictions which, in some cases, were not completely eliminated until the middle or end of the year. However, in most cases, the 2023 numbers are not lower than 2020 or pre-drug-liberalization figures.

    No matter how they try to spin it, drug usage and deaths are up. In 2020, 27 million Americans reported being drug users, including marijuana, opioids, or amphetamines. Last year, the number climbed to 37.3 million. About 10% of Americans now have problems with alcohol abuse, and 6% are drug addicts. Most heartbreaking, nationwide, 22 teens are dying each week of drug overdoses.

    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/04/narcan-liberal-drug-policies-worsening-drug-crisis/

  17. Soros-Funded California DA Gascon Dropped Charges Against Konnech CEO for Political Reasons After He Was Caught Storing US Elections Data in China – The FBI Also Mysteriously Dropped the Investigation – What Are They Hiding?
    by Jim Hoft Apr. 19, 2024 8:00 am115 Comments

    In October 2022, Konnech CEO Eugene Yu was arrested in Michigan in connection with “theft of personal data.”

    The alleged stolen data belonged to poll workers and was the subject of TrueTheVote’s “PIT” in Arizona in August 2022, in which Catherine Engelbrecht and Gregg Phillips singled out the Michigan-based company.

    During the PIT conference, Phillips and Engelbrecht alleged they were cooperating with the FBI in Michigan about data being sent overseas by this company. The investigation quickly turned on them after the FBI distanced itself from it for some strange reason.

    Journalist “incognito” Kanekoa covered this company and researched Konnech.

    Here is the link to the LA County website after the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office on October 4, 2022, announced the arrest of Konnech CEO Eugene Yu on suspicion of theft of personal identifying information by investigators at the LA District Attorney’s office.

    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/04/soros-funded-california-da-gascon-dropped-charges-against/

  18. Grand Jury Dismisses Murder Charge Against Teen Linked to Store Clerk’s Death — Attorney Claims the Teens Acted in Self-Defense After Clerk Chased Them
    by Jim H?ft Apr. 18, 2024 7:40 pm573 Comments

    A Harris County grand jury has dismissed the murder charge against 17-year-old Mario Young in the case involving the death of 42-year-old store clerk Asif Maknojia.

    The grand jury’s “no-bill” ruling indicates that they found insufficient evidence to prosecute Young for the murder of 42-year-old Asif Maknojia, effectively disposing of the case.

    The incident took place on January 19 when Young and another teenager were confronted by Maknojia after they stole a bag of chips from a Sunoco station in Humble.

    The second teen was never even charged.

    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/04/grand-jury-dismisses-murder-charge-against-teen-linked/

  20. Read more: https://www.ammoland.com/2024/04/rogue-washington-supreme-court-commissioner-displays-total-ignorance-2nd-amendment/#ixzz8XrfwYBEV
    Under Creative Commons License: Attribution
    Follow us: @Ammoland on Twitter | Ammoland on Facebook

    Rogue Washington Supreme Court Commissioner Displays Total Ignorance of the 2nd Amendment ~ VIDEO
    Ammoland Inc. Posted on April 19, 2024 by F Riehl, Editor in Chief

    YouTube video player

    In the ever-evolving discourse around the Second Amendment, recent events in Washington state have catapulted the debate into the national spotlight.

    The focal point of this ongoing battle is the recent ruling by Judge Gary Basher of Cowlitz County, which deemed the state’s ban on magazines holding more than ten rounds unconstitutional. This decision underscores a pivotal moment in our understanding and application of constitutional rights, specifically the right to keep and bear arms.

    A Judge’s Stand on Constitutional Grounds

    Judge Basher’s decision, issued on April 8th, 2024, didn’t just stir the pot; it boiled it over. In a meticulously crafted 55-page ruling, he addressed the ban imposed by Washington state, highlighting its contradiction with both the state and federal constitutions. The judge’s argument was clear: the restrictions infringe on the fundamental individual right to bear arms—a cornerstone of American liberty.
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    The Immediate Backlash and a Supreme Court’s Pause

    However, the victory was short-lived. Within a mere 88 minutes post-decision, a Supreme Court commissioner, a role akin to a high-level law clerk, issued a stay. As the seattletimes.com reported:

    “Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed an emergency appeal to the state Supreme Court, seeking to get the law back on the books. Michael Johnston, the Washington state Supreme Court commissioner, granted an emergency stay Monday evening, keeping the ban in effect, for now.”

    This action temporarily halted the enforcement of Judge Basher’s ruling, sparking a flurry of debate and confusion about the powers and limits of legal authorities in such significant matters.

    The Hearing: A Display of Judicial Theater?
    Michael Johnston Washington state Supreme Court Commissioner IMG LinkedIn
    Michael Johnston Washington state Supreme Court Commissioner IMG LinkedIn

    On April 17th, 2024, Commissioner Michael Johnson conducted a hearing to deliberate whether to uphold his stay. The proceedings, lasting 57 minutes, didn’t just highlight the legal arguments but also unveiled the commissioner’s overtly active role in the discussion, which arguably overshadowed the essence of judicial impartiality and listening. This hearing, streamed online here, seemed less about judicial review and more a performance of judicial theater—where the outcome felt predetermined and the process, a mere formality.
    Current Time 0:00
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    Duration 57:34

    Ignorance of the Role of Firearms and Magazines

    Critics argue that the commissioner’s approach to defining what constitutes an “arm” under the Second Amendment is narrow and historically unfounded. The argument that a magazine isn’t an arm because a firearm can operate with fewer rounds is a dangerous oversimplification that ignores the integral role of magazines in the functionality of modern firearms. Such interpretations threaten to undermine not just the letter of the law but its spirit, as envisioned by the framers of the Constitution.

    As the community awaits the commissioner’s final decision, it’s crucial to engage in informed and respectful dialogue about the implications of this case. The ongoing legal processes not only test the resilience of our judicial system but also challenge us to reflect on the balance between safety and liberty.

    This isn’t just about a magazine capacity ban; it’s about affirming the sanctity of our constitutional rights against erosions masked as regulatory measures. As proponents of the Second Amendment, we must remain vigilant, informed, and ready to advocate for rights that, once eroded, may be irretrievable.

    The case in Washington is a microcosm of a larger national debate on gun rights. It exemplifies the challenges faced by constitutional rights in contemporary legal and political climates. As this case progresses, it may well set a precedent that will influence not only future interpretations of the Second Amendment but also the broader dialogue around civil liberties in America.

    Let’s ensure our voices are heard, our rights defended, and our freedoms preserved.

  22. Chaos at Columbia: Anti-Zionist NYC College Protest Gets Physical Last Night, “Arrest that Zionist piece of s***” (VIDEO)
    by Benjamin Wetmore Apr. 19, 2024 1:20 pm303 Comments

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    Protests at Columbia University in New York City got heated Thursday night as protesters demanded charges be dropped against pro-Palestinian activists who were shutting down the college’s buildings to protest Israel’s war in Gaza. The protesters were upset that the police arrested those making a ‘tent city’ inside the college’s buildings and on campus grounds. 108 were arrested after three days of protests. The protesters wanted those arrested released without charges.

    One Columbia Professor denounced the police.

    many more videos at site.

    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/04/chaos-columbia-anti-zionist-nyc-college-protest-gets/

  23. WATCH: Brave West Virginia School Girls Refuse to Compete Against Transgender (Bio Male) Competitor at Track and Field Meet, Sacrificing Potential Glory to Stand for Fairness
    by Cullen Linebarger Apr. 19, 2024 6:20 pm13 Comments

    West Virginia middle school girls on Thursday took a bold stand. They refused to compete against a biological male in a major track and field event just two days after the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals blocked a law that mandated competing in the category that matches biological sex.

    As previously reported by the Gateway Pundit’s Cassandra MacDonald, the federal appeals court claimed the law violated Title IX, the federal civil rights law that is supposed to protect female sports. The ruling was 2-1 and only applies to 13-year-old student Becky Pepper-Jackson, who supposedly began “transitioning” in third grade.

    Outkick.com revealed that five teenage girls “stepped out” during a track and field meet at the 2024 Harrison County Middle School Championships on Thursday afternoon at Liberty High School in Clarksburg, West Virginia, to protest the inclusion of Pepper-Johnson. In doing so, they forfeited potential glory in exchange for fairness and justice.

    Seven schools were at the meet: Bridgeport, Heritage Christian, Notre Dame, South Harrison, Lincoln, Mountaineer (Clarksburg), and Washington Irving. Pepper-Johnson competes for the Bridgeport Middle School girls’ track & field team in Bridgeport, West Virginia, specifically shot put and discus throwing.

    The protesting girls compete for Lincoln.

    In the video below, the five Lincoln girls’ team members step in and then step out to object to Pepper-Johnson’s inclusion during the shot put contest. They then did the same for the discus event.

    Riley Gaines
    @Riley_Gaines_
    ·
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    ??FIVE middle school female athletes in West Virginia refuse to throw shot put against male, Becky Pepper-Jackson.

    This comes just 2 days after the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals blocked the WV law that says you must compete in the category that matches your sex.

    It’s a… Show more

    https://twitter.com/Riley_Gaines_/status/1781150007858470913

    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/04/watch-brave-west-virginia-school-girls-refuse-compete/

  24. Student Suspended After Anti-Israel Protest Complains About Facing Consequences for Her Actions
    by Margaret Flavin Apr. 19, 2024 5:40 pm129 Comments

    On Thursday, The Gateway Pundit reported that anti-Israel students were arrested and suspended by Columbia University in New York City for organizing a pro-Hamas occupation on campus grounds.

    Among the arrestees from Barnard College, which is connected to Columbia, was Rep. Ilhan Omar’s “angry black girl” daughter, Isra.

    Barnard student Maryam Iqbal was also arrested and now seems shocked that there are consequences for her behavior.

    Iqbal took to social media to complain that there are real-world consequences for real-world actions.

    twitter posts at site

    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/04/student-suspended-after-anti-israel-protest-complains-about

  25. Department of Education’s New Title IX Rule Just as Bad as Expected

    Sarah Parshall Perry / @SarahPPerry / April 19, 2024

    Under the Biden administration’s sweeping new Title IX rule, any K-12 school or institution of higher education that receives any federal funding would have to open girls’ bathrooms and locker rooms to biological boys who claim to “identify” as girls. (Photo: Getty Images)

    Sarah Parshall Perry
    @SarahPPerry

    Sarah Parshall Perry is a senior legal fellow in The Heritage Foundation’s Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies.

    The Department of Education just released its long-delayed Title IX rule—a rewrite of the 50 year-old civil rights law so vast that it promises to turn Title IX’s guarantee of sex equality in education completely upside down.

    Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 is all of a single sentence. It simply bars sex discrimination in any federally funded education program. It does not matter how much federal funding a school or institution of higher education receives. And it does not matter whether such funding from the federal government is direct or indirect. So yes, even the vast majority of private schools must comply with the rule.

    But this simple longstanding prohibition on sex discrimination has been manipulated by the Biden administration to both undermine constitutional freedoms—like the freedom of speech—and erase the very women that Title IX was enacted to protect.

    The Department of Education has unilaterally expanded the prohibition against discrimination based on “sex” to include a prohibition against discrimination based on: “sex stereotypes, sex-related characteristics (including intersex traits), pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, and gender identity.”

    Under the Biden administration’s sweeping new Title IX rule, any K–12 school or institution of higher education that receives any federal funding would have to open girls’ bathrooms, locker rooms, housing accommodations, sports teams, and any other sex-separated educational program or offering to biological boys who claim to “identify” as girls. Similarly, boys’ facilities would have to be accessible to biological girls who “identify” as boys.

    And the law’s decimation of equality doesn’t stop there. The regulations also eliminate due process protections for students accused of sexual misconduct (like the right to call witnesses, introduce evidence, or be represented by counsel during an investigation), and violates the First Amendment to the Constitution by forcing teachers and fellow students to use of a student’s “preferred pronouns.”

    The regulations also require K-12 schools to accept a child’s gender identity regardless of biological sex without providing any notice to, much less seeking the approval of, the child’s parents.

    And while the Education Department has punted, at least for the moment, on its second Title IX rule—one that applies only to athletics—the Biden administration’s representation that sports are not included in today’s rule is a complete head fake. By expanding the definition of “sex” to include “gender identity” and applying the rule to all “extracurricular activities,” male and female athletic teams will be a thing of the past. Indeed, the word “athletics” appears in the new rule at least 31 times.

    Furthermore, the Department of Education’s reading of Title IX lacks any support in the text of the title, its implementing regulations, and the law’s congressional history.

    Congress had a chance in 1987 to amend the Title IX “sex” definition to include “gender identity,” when it amended Title IX under the Civil Rights Restoration Act. But it did not.

    Executive agencies are empowered only to promulgate “rules” or “regulations” that implement or interpret laws passed by Congress—not to create completely new laws.

    Apparently, the Department of Education has forgotten that.

    Now the question isn’t if legal challenges will follow, but how fast they’ll come.

    The Independent Women’s Law Center has already indicated it is readying a lawsuit against the Department of Education. Others are likely to follow. Let’s hope so.

    https://www.dailysignal.com/2024/04/19/department-of-educations-new-title-ix-rule-just-as-bad-as-expected/

  26. Wyoming Oil And Gas Producers Blast Report They Should Pay $900M For Bonding

    Wyoming oil and gas producers are blasting a new report that says Bighorn Basin operators should up to $900 million for bonding as an attempt to regulate them out of business.

    Operators in the oil-producing Bighorn Basin in northcentral Wyoming say a new report that they should pay hundreds of millions of dollars more for bonding is targeted to put them out of business.

    Carbon Tracker, a London-based think tank that analyzes the energy transition from carbon-based fuels to renewables, took a snapshot look in a case study of Wyoming’s energy-rich Bighorn Basin following a controversial rule change in drilling on federal public lands.

    The think tank concluded that energy developers in the basin may need to pay as much as $900 million in higher bonding costs to deter them from walking away from their drilling sites and leaving a mess behind without financial incentive to clean up.

    This is just for those Wyoming developers operating in the Bighorn Basin.

    The 35-page case study titled “Little Bighorn: How a Bonding Proposal Can Fall Short” concludes that the industry is getting a financial break despite its proclamations that the sky is falling.

    “The industry needs to make provisions to clean up its own mess,” said Dwayne Purvis, who wrote the report for Carbon Tracker of Austin, Texas.

    “I don’t see this as an extreme measure given that bond requirements haven’t been updated in 70 years,” Purvis told Cowboy State Daily.

    The new rule changes were issued April 11 by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, and effectively make the process for bidding on public leases more expensive because of the government’s possible misunderstanding of orphan wells and how many exist on public lands.

    The rule change touched off a firestorm because developers may be forced to pay higher bonding amounts to drill on public land.

    A combination of declining oil and gas production in Wyoming’s Bighorn Basin and weak bonding requirements in the new BLM rule could leave taxpayers holding the bag on cleanup costs, Purvis said.

    Purvis estimated in his case study of the Bighorn Basin that oil and gas developers would pay $28 million under the new bonding requirements, nowhere enough to cover the real estimates needed for cleanup costs.

    “This is a change they probably can’t swallow,” said Purvis, who noted that some mom-and-pop operators could be put out of business if they had to pay significantly more for bonding.
    Hogwash

    The Petroleum Association of Wyoming is opposed to higher bonding costs to drill on public land.

    “With the BLM controlling nearly three quarters of the mineral estate in Wyoming, any proposals coming from the agency will have an outsized impact on producers in the state,” said Ryan McConnaughey, vice president and director of communications with the trade group that represents small operators and 26 of the state’s top 30 producers.

    The group’s members account for more than 90% of Wyoming’s oil and natural gas production. Collectively, they generate more than $5 billion in economic activity and employ 19,000 workers.

    “The vast majority of operators in Wyoming are small, local businesses that cannot afford the onslaught of increased costs and regulatory burdens being thrust upon them by Washington,” McConnaughey said.

    The industry is having a hard time as it is dealing with increasingly pressure from anti-oil and gas regulations.

    “Higher royalties and minimum bids, egregious new bonding requirements, the new Rock Springs Resource Management Plan which pulls millions of acres out of availability for production, and more are all serious on their own,” he said.

    “Taken together, however, it is clear the Biden administration is making good on its promise to end oil and natural gas production on federal lands and turning its back on those who rely on the industry for jobs.”

    https://cowboystatedaily.com/2024/04/19/wyoming-oil-and-gas-producers-blast-report-they-should-pay-900m-for-bonding/

  27. Witnesses say BAE Systems weapons factory explosion felt like an earthquake’ when blast rocked Britain’s only ammunition factory as ‘shell exploded’

    Blast at BAE Systems plant in Glascoed, Monmouthshire as ‘shell’ explodes
    Emergency services rush to scene as incident unit is established on site

    By Jon Brady

    Published: 08:37 EDT, 17 April 2024 | Updated: 11:30 EDT, 17 April 2024

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    Locals living close to a BAE Systems weapons plant rocked by an explosion earlier today say the blast ‘felt like an earthquake’ as a shell went off.

    The blast took place at the BAE Systems munitions factory in Glascoed, Monmouthshire shortly before 10.50am.

    MailOnline understands the explosion relates to a single shell going off at the munitions filling factory, run by BAE, Europe’s biggest military contractor.
    The video player is currently playing an ad.

    Emergency services were deployed to the site, which is spread across a large field close to the south-eastern village; locals say the blast ‘wasn’t loud, but felt like an earthquake’.

    BAE Systems has promised a full investigation into the incident at the factory, which is the UK’s last remaining munitions filling factory.

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13319141/Explosion-rocks-weapons-factory-south-Wales-run-Europes-biggest-military-contractor.html

  28. NEW: Jurors Unable to Return Verdict in Murder Trial For Arizona Rancher George Alan Kelly
    by Cristina Laila Apr. 19, 2024 7:20 pm170 Comments

    A jury on Friday was deadlocked and unable to return a unanimous verdict in the murder trial for Arizona rancher George Alan Kelly.

    George Kelly, the Arizona rancher who was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and aggravated assault for defending his wife and property from illegal invaders went on trial last month.

    Kelly, 75, was arrested for killing Gabriel Cuen-Butimea, on his Arizona ranch in Kino Springs just outside of Nogales, Mexico on January 30, 2023.

    According to reports, Gabriel Cuen-Butimea has a history of illegally crossing into the United States and multiple deportations.

    According to the defense lawyers, Mr. Kelly fired warning shots after he saw a group of men dressed in camouflaged clothing point an AK-47 right at him.

    George Alan Kelly was careful to shoot above their heads, the lawyers said.

    The rancher later discovered the deceased illegal alien, who is likely a cartel smuggler, when he went to go check on his horse.

    Kelly was initially charged with first-degree murder, but a judge recently downgraded his charge to second-degree murder during an evidentiary hearing in court.

    Kelly’s defense attorney Brenna Larkin told jurors that her client “was in a life or death situation.”

    Jurors deliberated on Thursday and were unable to reach a verdict. Deliberations continued on Friday and after more than 7 hours the jury sent a note to the judge and informed him they could not reach a verdict.

    Jury deliberations will resume on Monday.

    AZ Central reported:

    A jury was unable to reach a verdict on Friday afternoon in the trial of a Nogales-area rancher charged with killing an unarmed migrant crossing his 170-acre property.

    After more than seven hours of deliberation, the jury sent a note to Santa Cruz Superior Court Judge Thomas Fink saying jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict. The judge asked them to continue deliberating and offered for them to leave early Friday and return on Monday.

    Rancher George Alan Kelly, 75, faces one count of second-degree murder in the death of Gabriel Cuen Buitimea and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after being accused of putting another man, Daniel Ramirez, in danger as they were crossing his 170-acre spread near the international border.

    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/04/jurors-unable-return-verdict-murder-trial-arizona-rancher/