Yes, it's emotional
A non-Jewish listener sent a note to the station yesterday complaining that I "react emotionally" to what's happening in Israel and that I "rant extensively every day about the plight of the Jews." I think the latter characterization is a wild overstatement but I do plead no contest to reacting emotionally to the gruesome murders, rapes, beheadings, and burning-alive of 1,400 innocent people who were attacked only because they were members of a particular religion...a religion that I'm also a member of, one of the oldest religions on Earth. And truly a religion of peace and the celebration of life.
Meanwhile: Rather than protecting Jews, authorities are telling us to hide -- again (nypost.com)
So while I try to avoid "ranting", I make no apologies for reacting emotionally to the horror of October 7. Those who think I shouldn't, well they should probably sit down and think for a while. And maybe think about this mom:
Or this dad:
Just One Thing: Melting down history...or racism
I never cared very much about the debate a few years back about civil war statues. Some of the people who wanted them up were racists, but many, probably most, thought taking them down was an assault on important history that we should all learn from. It’s also worth noting that many of the statues of confederate generals were put up decades after the Civil War ended, even into the 20th century, but people who did intend to send a racist message. The famous statue of Robert E Lee in Charlottesville that spurred the reprehensible “unite the right” rally was taken down in 2021 and was just secretly taken apart and melted down. It’s unclear what they plan to do with the metal. I struggle with the destruction of things that could be used to teach history but on balance it’s probably best that that one is gone.
Inside the secretive melting of Civil War monument Robert E. Lee - Washington Post
-
One More Thing: Tell Congress to oppose anti-Semitism on college campuses
Here's a link that makes it easy to send a message to your Senator: Tell Congress to Condemn Antisemitism on College Campuses (salsalabs.org)
Today's Guests
Jacob Howland is Provost and Dean of Intellectual Foundations at the University of Austin. We'll discuss what American universities seem like such cesspools of anti-Americanism, anti-Semitism and basic lack of learning, at least learning things that should be learned. Sadly, my alma mater, Columbia University, is the poster child for the rot in higher education.
(See important video below re anti-Semitism in America)
The Campus Peril to Western Civilization | City Journal (city-journal.org)
--------
Ben Murrey is Director of the Fiscal Policy Center at the Independence Institute. We'll talk about the horrendous scam/lie that is Prop HH.
Fiscal - Independence Institute (i2i.org)
Here are some notes that Ben sent me:
- The Republican package gives Polis everything he said during the debate that he wants:
- Property tax relief with backfill
- Preventing overcollection of taxes by reducing the income tax rate
- Senior exemption expansion and portability
- Polis said he wants these things, and Republicans have now announced they want the same thing and have bills to do it. But Polis said during debate, effectively, that Democrats in the legislature won’t play ball—that they’re the problem.
- The Republican press conference and package poses two key questions/challenges to Dems:
- First to Polis: Republicans want to work with you to give you what you want, but will you lead by calling a special session?
- Then to Dem legislators: Will you work with Polis and Republicans or be obstructionists?
Remember, during the press conference Senate President Fenberg said Colorado Dems were putting their “trust in voters” by sending Prop HH to the ballot. So do they still trust voters even if voters reject their proposal? If voters reject Prop HH, will they do things differently this time by working with the Governor, Republicans, and stakeholders to pass a tax relief package that doesn’t raise taxes and raid TABOR refunds? Or will they be obstructionists because they don’t like the answer the people of Colorado gave them?
The one condition Polis gave is that he wants to do all this without cutting funding for schools. The Republican plan does that.
-
Other Stuff
The danger level (for a wider war) increases daily: US strikes 2 facilities linked to Iranian-backed militias in Syria following series of attacks on US forces in Middle East | CNN Politics
--------
If you can text me at 56690 during the show (don't bother if it's not during the show), answer this question: Can you tell me about a TV ad that's at least 10 years old that you remember...and remember what brand/company it was for?
Like this: The Most Interesting Man in the World - Wikipedia
--------
Very cool (literally): Scientists discover an ancient landscape in an area on Earth ‘less well known than the surface of Mars’ | CNN
--------
Liar, liar, pants on fire: Leftist Representative Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) is a dillweed. He pulled a fire alarm in a building at the US Capitol in an apparent effort to disrupt a vote of the House. He then lied to police, telling them that he was just trying to get out of the building more quickly. But video shows him first taking the signs noting "emergency exit only" off the doors, then pulling the alarm and walking away WITHOUT trying to get out of the doors. Because he's a member of Congress, or maybe because he's a black Democrat, he was allowed to plead guilty to a misdemeanor of improperly triggering a fire alarm. He said he expects to pay a fine, write an apology to the Capitol Police, and have "the charges ultimately dropped." Can you imagine how crazy the media and House Dems would be going over this, demanding censure at the very least, if it had been a Republican?
Rep. Bowman pleads guilty after pulling fire alarm ahead of House spending bill vote (msn.com)
--------
Not a surprise for anyone who's been paying attention, and the lessons are important: Ford Lost $62,016 For Every EV It Sold In 3Q - Robert Bryce (substack.com)
--------
The amount of anti-Semitism in America, especially in among young adults, is horrendous. Take a look at the numbers for 18-24 year olds, including that 48% support Hamas rather than Israel:
Social media, and specifically TikTok, are a huge part of the problem:
Bill Maher reaches the right conclusion, though I have to say I've been on this for years while others are just figuring it out:
--------
Fascinating biology: How plants communicate with each other when in danger - The Washington Post
--------
Friendship and loneliness:
Nearly 10% of Us Have No Close Friends (newser.com)
Almost a Quarter of the World Feels Lonely (gallup.com)
Note: The headlines are designed to attract clicks by focusing on the negative, but think about the other side of these coins: If Nearly 10% have no close friends then more than 90% do. If almost a quarter of the world feels lonely then more than three-quarters don't.
--------
This may not (yet) be very robust science but I suspect there is something to it: Jam out! Listening to your favorite music can reduce pain, new study suggests | Fox News
--------
I love semi-gross stories like this: Here’s what happens you blow out candles on a cake — and it’s disgusting (nypost.com)
--------
Oh, what a surprise, they want more money because they underestimated how may parents would take advantage of free babysitting: New rule would give more Colorado preschoolers full-day classes - Chalkbeat Colorado
--------
Today's Videos
Wait until you get to the part about what happens to the male of the species when reproducing...boy am I glad humans don't work this way
This seems like the perfect way to end the week