Somewhat Political

 

Que Passa Dems?

 

Pistol

 

MOM

 

US Power

 

Prayer

 

In The NEWS

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> Oregon's Dillon Gabriel breaks all-time major college football record for career passing touchdowns with 179 (More) | Lionel Messi's Inter Miami eliminated from MLS Cup Playoffs after 3-2 loss to Atlanta United (More)

> NFL looking at eight international games next season, including in the UK, Spain, Germany, Mexico, Brazil, and Ireland (More)

> Judith Jamison, dancer and longtime artistic director at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, dies at age 81 (More) | Tony Todd, best known for role as titular character in "Candyman," dies at age 69 (More) | Bobby Allison, three-time winner of the Daytona 500, dies at age 86 (More)


Science & Technology
> First-of-its-kind stem cell treatment restores vision in three patients with severely damaged corneas (More) | How stem cells work and their potential to treat a wide range of conditions (More, w/video)

> New study suggests kidney and nerve cells can perform memory functions similar to the brain; cells rearranged their functions in response to patterns of chemical signals (More)

> Researchers discover nervous system mechanism triggering wet dogs to shake vigorously; study sheds light on how different animals respond to the sense of touch (More)


Business & Markets
> US stock markets close higher Friday (S&P 500 +0.4%, Dow +0.6%, Nasdaq +0.1%) with the S&P 500 and Dow witnessing best week in a year following US election (More) | Bitcoin hits $80K for first time ever (More) | Confused about bitcoin and how it works? Sign up for 1440's Business & Finance email (Join here)

> FTX bankruptcy estate sues former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci, his hedge fund SkyBridge Capital, and others to recoup investments for FTX creditors (More)

> Billionaire Bill Ackman says he will work to end Amsterdam listing for his hedge fund, Pershing Square Holdings, and Universal Music Group following attacks against Israeli soccer fans Friday; UMG pushes back on Amsterdam delisting (More)


Politics & World Affairs
> President-elect Donald Trump secures 312 electoral votes, per final tally, including sweeping all seven swing states (More) | Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) defeats Kari Lake (R) for Senate seat from Arizona (More) | US House control remains undetermined with 10 races still uncalled (More) | See live updates (More)

> Qatar suspends its role in mediating talks between Hamas and Israel; US officials say Qatar also asked Hamas to end its 12-year presence in Doha; Hamas and Qatar reportedly dispute the claim (More) | Haiti's transitional council fires Prime Minister Garry Conille, replaces him with businessman Alix Didier Fils-Aimé (More)

> Mountain Fire northwest of Los Angeles is 26% contained as of this writing after destroying 130 structures, damaging 88 others; roughly 9,000 of 10,000 evacuated residents allowed to return to their homes (More)

SOURCE:  1440 NEWS

America FIRST

 

MAGA is the phrase that Trump coined when he was running for President.  It was misunderstood in 2016, 2020, and again in 2024.

For me, it wasn't so much making the USA great again but returning to the ORIGINAL VALUES that made America great in the first place.

America's past is full of bad decisions and bad choices, the least of which was slavery and our treatment of Native Americans.

This is all in our past - we learn about it in public schools so that it never happens again.  History teaches us what to repeat and what not to repeat.

Trump wants to repeat the GREATNESS of AMERICA...  the time when we were UNITED and of one mind, even though how to get to our future varied.

America was...

NOT WHITE

NOT ASIAN

NOT BLACK

NOT HISPANIC

NOT IRISH

NOT CATHOLIC

America was...  AMERICAN

From our beginnings in 1776, we believed that the path to the future should follow one of two paths...

• small government
• low taxes
• strong military
• minimal debt
• capitalism

<<<OR>>>

THE OPPOSITE...

Over the years those two paths evolved into the Democratic and Republican parties.

More often than not, each election cycle the control of government would flip from one party to the other party and back again, because the GENERAL PUBLIC did not perceive that the government was meeting their needs.

HOWEVER - WE WERE ALWAYS UNITED and AMERICA ALWAYS CAME FIRST...

For some reason, we lost sight of that unity and began putting people into categories and playing one category off against the other category.  Consequently, we lost sight of a UNITED AMERICA and focused on the needs of our category.

Whites were referred to as white supremacists if they did not agree with the other side.  Blacks began to see themselves as a minority that was never going to be successful, rather than Americans.

In point of fact, only 20% of any kind of population will be successful and of that 20% only 1% will be super successful.  EIGHT PERCENT of any population group will be ordinary and average.

BUT we are still Americans and should act like Americans and not act like we are an American category.

AMERICA FIRST or MAGA is trying to recreate that unity....  but there are still many of us that don't want that to happen.

Somewhat Political

Yellow Brick Road - Bottom of Pacific Ocean

An expedition to a deep-sea ridge, just north of the Hawaiian Islands, revealed a surprise discovery back in 2022: an ancient dried-out lake bed paved with what looks like a yellow brick road.


The eerie scene was chanced upon by the exploration vessel Nautilus, while surveying the Liliʻuokalani ridge within Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM).


PMNM is one of the largest marine conservation areas in the world, larger than all the national parks in the United States combined, and we've only explored about 3 percent of its seafloor.


Researchers at the Ocean Exploration Trust are pushing the frontiers of this wilderness, which lies more than 3,000 meters below the waves, and the best part is, anyone can watch the exploration.


A highlight reel of the expedition's footage published on YouTube in April 2022 captured the moment researchers operating the deep-sea vehicle stumbled upon the road to Oz.     READ MORE...

Little Feat - Dixie Chicken (Skin It Back)

FOR OUR VETERANS

 

VETERANS DAY

 

In August of 1972, I was discharged from the US Navy...   this photo was taken by my cousin two days later, when I had returned to Burlington, NC.

My time in the US Navy was during the tenure of CNO Zumwalt.  Zumwalt allowed full beards to be grown, and he also allowed hair to be of an uncertain length as long as it did not interfere to with one's headgear.

I took advantage of what he was allowing during a SIX-MONTH MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE.

My job in the Navy was a radio operator (RM) and during my time in the military I cross-rated into a Communications Technician (CT).

During my Mediterranean Cruise, I used my money not to buy alcohol but to invest in STEREO EQUIPMENT and CAMERA EQUIPMENT...  both of which lasted almost twenty years.

Before enlisting in the US NAVY, I completed 2.5 years of college.  After my discharge, I returned to college and was awarded a BA degree in 1974 and an MBA in 1981, BOTH OF WHICH WERE PAID FOR BY THE GI BILL.

I HAD NO COLLEGE DEBT...

My GI Bill not only paid for my books and tuition but gave me a housing allowance because I was married with a child.

My daughter was born while I was in the military and the only cost to be was $25 because I had to paid for the wrist band she wore.

My daughter was born at a hospital in Burlington, NC while I was stationed on a ship docked in Little Creek at the Norfolk Naval Base, Virginia.

MY EXPERIENCE IN THE MILITARY WAS VERY POSITIVE...

Unity

 

Truth

 

The Look

 

Pineal Gland

 

Electricity

 

Train ride

 

Elections Have Consequences

 

On Tuesday November 5, 2024, the American people definitively decided that they wanted Donald Trump to be their next President.

Additionally, the American people decided that they wanted the House of Representatives and the Senate to be Republican controlled as well.

WHY?

To this question, one can only speculate but the odds are that the American people got tired of:

• All the false promises and lies
• All the illegal immigration
• All the crime and violence
• All the higher prices
• The elimination of jobs
• The push to buy EVs
• The weaponizing of government
• The invasion of trans into female sports

Since the election results were overwhelmingly in favor of the Republicans, one can only conclude that this will give the conservatives a MANDATE TO GOVERN DIFFERENTLY...

Not only will the USA become ENERGY INDEPENDENT again, but she will have a strong economy, plenty of jobs, lower prices, lower taxes, and a strong military.

Donald Trump will also take this opportunity to appoint as many judges as is possible to positions in the judicial system that will favor conservatives as opposed to liberals.

It was the LIBERALS who actually started using the phrase ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES when they weaponized the DOJ to legally attack Trump in the hopes of ruining his chances for re-election.

THAT INITIATIVE BACKFIRED.

Now, the liberals will understand how elections have consequences, as bills are passed, and executive orders are written that favor conservatives but without the need to weaponize the DOJ.

IF and this is a BIG IF...

If the Republicans execute their new powers in such a way that helps the USA, then it is highly likely that JD Vance will be the candidate for election in 2028 and possibly extend Republican governance for 4-8 more years.

Somewhat Political

 

Archaeology Discovery

Archaeologists discovered a walled city in the northern Saudi Arabian desert that was likely home to 500 people as far back as 2,400 B.C.

The experts believe the city’s roughly 1,000 years of use showed a growing urban complexity in the region.

The town was functionally subdivided into different areas, but also included towers and ramparts for defense.

A newly discovered ancient oasis in the Saudi Arabian desert shows that, centuries ago, the area had a completely unexpected level of urban sophistication. The remains of the walled and fortified city include towers, ramparts, organized zones of residential areas connected by small roads, a centralized area, a cemetery, and a place to cultivate food.

In a new study published in the journal PLOS ONE, a team of archaeologists (led by France’s National Center for Scientific Research) unveiled the discovery of an “exceptional Bronze Age fortified site called al-Natah,” located in the Khaybar oasis and uncovered by the Khaybar Longue Duree Archaeological Project.       READ MORE...

Ride Captain Ride - Blues Image - 1970

Personal Taxi

 

In The NEWS

Israeli soccer fans injured in Amsterdam violence.

At least five people were hospitalized and 62 detained following attacks on Israeli soccer fans, which officials describe as antisemitic. The incident occurred during a Europa League match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax, prompting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to arrange flights home for Israeli citizens. Dutch authorities are investigating the incident and have ordered a three-day ban on protests.



Beyoncé leads Grammy nominations with 11 nods.

Beyoncé, who already has 32 Grammys, leads the 67th annual awards for her countrified album, "Cowboy Carter," including for album of the year, record of the year, and song of the year for "Texas Hold 'Em." Charli XCX, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar, and Post Malone nabbed seven nominations apiece; Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, and Taylor Swift received six; and producer Jack Antonoff and Shaboozey nabbed five. The ceremony will take place Feb. 2.



AOL's "You've Got Mail" voice, Elwood Edwards, dies at 74.

Edwards recorded the famous greeting in 1989, a project initiated by his wife, who worked at AOL's predecessor. Edwards was paid $200 for the recordings that later became a staple of early internet culture. His voice not only became synonymous with AOL but also inspired the title of the 1998 film "You've Got Mail" starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. See an interview with Edwards here.



Notre Dame Cathedral bells ring for first time since 2019 fire.

The iconic Paris cathedral is preparing for its Dec. 8 reopening, which comes more than five years since a fire in April 2019 caused extensive damage, including the collapse of its spire and most of its roof. The ringing of the bells featured all eight restored bells chiming together, with the introduction of three new bells, including one from the Paris 2024 Olympics.



Tesla reaches $1T market cap as shares close up 8% Friday.

The rally marks the first time Tesla stock has risen above $300 per share since September 2022. The increase in the electric vehicle maker's share price is attributed to optimism surrounding CEO Elon Musk's relationship with President-elect Donald Trump and potential benefits for Tesla under a Trump administration, including lighter EV regulations and potential advantages over competitors.

SOURCE:  1440 NEWS

A New Constitution Needed

 

I am a 77-year-old Caucasian male who thinks slavery in the USA was wrong but who REFUSES to be held responsible for what my ANCESTORS may or may not have done.

Slavery like our attack on Native Americans WAS WRONG and might have been done differently had we the ability to do it all over again, but we do not have that ability; therefore, we MUST see it as water over the dam and move forward.

We study HISTORY so that we can prevent the bad aspects of our history from every being repeated again.

With that said, I am concerned that our 1776 US Constitution no longer is reflective of what the USA has become over time.  I say become over time because the change has taken over 200 years to occur.

THE USA IS NO LONGER:

• Religious
• Marketplace equal
• Uneducated
• Caucasian influenced
• law abiding
• intellectually superior
• wanting to be self sufficient
• militarily minded
• Interested in being a Democratic Republic
• Serving constituents
• Loyal to the government
• Composed of strong family units

It is painfully obvious that the US Constitution written in 1776 pertained primarily Caucasians and specifically to White Anglo Saxon Protestants (WASPS).  The culture and society of the USA has been diluted with immigrants from all over the world.  

Some of whom have come here to study at our universities, some of whom have come here to work, and some of whom have come here to become US citizens.

What we believed and were motivated by in 1776, no longer exists in 2024.  Our 1776 Constitution says... all men were created equal with certain unalienable rights that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness...

In POINT OF FACT - all men ARE NOT created equal and never were.  Being created equal is MISINFORMATION...

• Some are tall - some short
• Some are smart - some are not smart
• Some are beautiful - some are not beautiful
• Some of athletic - some are not athletic
• Some are creative - some are not creative

SO...

How can we be created equal?

A NEW US CONTITUTION IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO REFLECT THESE CHANGES

Somewhat Political

 

A Laser Communications Link Billions of Kilometers Away

The recent success of NASA’s laser communication test represents a paradigm shift in space technology. Traditionally, space missions have relied on radio frequencies for communication. However, laser-based systems offer a data transmission capacity up to 100 times greater than conventional methods.


This advancement is not just about speed; it’s about expanding our capabilities in space exploration. With improved data transfer rates, future missions could:

• Send high-resolution images and videos back to Earth more quickly
• Enable real-time communication with spacecraft and rovers
• Facilitate more complex scientific experiments in deep space
• Support potential human missions to Mars and beyond

The implications of this breakthrough are far-reaching, potentially transforming our understanding of the cosmos. Just as the Hubble Space Telescope captured breathtaking views of distant galaxies, future space telescopes equipped with laser communication could transmit even more detailed observations, expanding our knowledge of the universe.        READ MORE...

Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Lucky Man (Official Audio)

TWO DAYS