Now This...

Writing my first “novel” (technically a “novella”) (more technically a “memoir”) has been an eye-opening experience (technically both eyes). My first eye saw how difficult it was to write something I had actually lived. Just relating an experience - how hard could that be? As usual, the devil is in the details. Just typing words describing a series of events: not too difficult. Revealing personal thoughts and feelings to an audience of (mostly) strangers: very difficult. Think about it for a second:

Please forward to appropriate parties: “I”…”sorry”… “so sorry”…”truly sorry”…”cherished friends”…”me”…”surrounded by loved ones”…. “getting help”…”I”…”me”…”repair the damage”…”restore the trust”…”disappointed in me”…”hard look at myself” … ”ashamed” … embarrassed” … “need to listen to women”…”any number is too many”…”warm person”…”committed to regaining your trust”…”don’t recall”…”mischaracterized”…”I”… “me”...”not resigning” (politicians only).

Sent over from my other day job at Libertas Media Project , here is a Special Pre-Holiday "Judging Freedom" episode featuring renowned winemaker, Richard Arrowood of Amapola Creek Vineyards and Founder and former namesake for Arrowood Wines, Sonoma Valley. I've known Richard since my days on KSFO/San Franciso. He's a great guy along with being one of the wine world's foremost authorities. Richard gives us a local's perspective on the disastrous Napa/Sonoma fires, then shifts to some Q&A about wine pairings with holiday foods, and other fun stuff. It's a great 20-minute yap-fest with a super-star of wine!

As one alternate juror put it, "I felt like a little kid that finds out there is no Santa Claus." This was the remark of one citizen who observed testimony and other evidence arising from the 1992 Ruby Ridge incident, in which an innocent woman and her 14-year-old son were ambushed and gunned down by federal agents over what was, at worst, a minor infraction that could easily have been remedied without violence.

One week away (as of (10/27),  this has NOT been reported by the MSM: DOD EXERCISE TO SIMULATE NATIONWIDE POWER GRID BLACKOUT FROM SOLAR STORM DURING ANTIFA PROTESTS IN NOVEMBER According to T he National Association for Amateur Radio  (ARRL), elements of the US Department of Defense (DOD) will simulate a   “communications interoperability”  training exercise across the United States on November 04-06. The announcement released on October 24 has not been widely distributed to the media because the drill is simulating a total grid collapse and could spark public fear. Explained by  Army MARS Program  Manager Paul English, “This  exercise will begin with a national massive coronal mass ejection   event  which will impact the  national power grid as well as all forms of traditional  communication, including landline telephone, cellphone,  satellite, and Internet connectivity,”   Details here. Share w...

As the mainstream media continues to obsess over $100,000 worth Facebook ads allegedly purchased by Russian spies in 2016 seeking to throw the presidential election, we're almost certain they'll ignore the much larger Russian bombshell dropped today in the form of newly released FBI documents that reveal for the very first time that the Obama administration was well aware of illegal bribery, extortion and money laundering schemes being conducted by the Russians to get a foothold in the atomic energy business in the U.S. before approving a deal that handed them 20% of America's uranium reserves...and resulted in a windfall of donations to the Clinton Foundation. Read the rest of the story here.

For those who read (sadly a dwindling number in America), here is a compelling back-and-forth between my friend Lawrence Ludlow and an unidentified acquaintance of his. If so inclined, it will make you think... LL:This was called my best back-and-forth thread with a statist on Facebook. I deleted his name because he’s a valued friend, even if he is a statist. STATIST CLAIM #1: If you do not want to pay the State Income Tax, do not live in a state that has a state income tax. If you do not want to pay a federal income tax, live in a country that does not have one. The decision to live in Michigan and in the United States is your consent.

At the daily press briefing , Sarah Huckabee Sanders responded to a reporter’s assertion President Trump’s decision to end DACA was “cold hearted”. Ms. Sanders responded, “It’s not cold hearted for the president to uphold the law. We’re a nation of law and order. And the day that we start to ignore the fact that we are that, then we throw away everything that gives these people a reason to come to our country….” With respect to Ms. Sanders, that car has left the showroom.

Here is an interesting piece. It presents a true, real-life situation with which you may identify. Or not. Either way, it's a compelling read about a perspective within a situation that is more prevalent than many may realize. Hi Andrew, I’m writing because I just can’t deal with my father anymore. He’s a 65-year-old super right-wing conservative who has basically turned into a total asshole intent on ruining our relationship and our planet with his politics. I’m more or less a liberal democrat with very progressive values and I know that people like my dad are going to destroy us all.

By now it should be obvious to the people of the West that they’re being held in a primitive bondage. And fortunately, more eyes are opening to this than ever before. But still, most people are so used to this particular “water” and have so long acclimated themselves to it, that they haven’t recognized it. There’s nothing inherently wrong with most of these people; they just haven’t stepped back far enough to see the obvious. More here

Despite all those decades on radio and TV (5!) and all the crazy crap I had to do for Stations to promote the show, it was always my least favorite part of the job. Idealistically, I believed if the show was good enough, the audience would come and grow "organically". Saying how great it was in a :30 sec TV spot seemed obvious, hooray-for-me egotistical and way less attractive. Turns out, the shows did quite ratings-wise, thank you. But was that because the Station spent thousands on TV production and giveaways? Or because, from day to day, the show was just that unique, compelling and damn good? Listeners would have to work that out for themselves. Now comes this book, Watercolor Memories, The Story of Lauren .

"My take on the "political morass" - actually "political more ass"? Redundant. Predictable. Anathema to Liberty and Freedom. There is no area of human existence that is not in irreversible decline - except for those who never progressed past the Crusades anyway. 

You are in the middle of some home projects: putting in a new fence, painting the porch, planting some flowers and fixing a broken door lock. You are hot and sweaty, covered with dirt, lawn clippings and paint. You have your old work clothes on. You know the outfit -- shorts with a hole in the crotch, an old T-shirt with a stain from who-knows-what, and an old pair of tennis shoes.

Guest Columnist - Dr. Walter E. Williams John M. Olin Distinguished Professor of Economics  George Mason University Most Americans, whether liberal or conservative, Democratic or Republican, do not show much understanding or respect for the principles of personal liberty. We criticize our political leaders, but we must recognize that their behavior simply reflects the values of people who elected them to office. That means we are all to blame for greater governmental control over our lives and a decline in personal liberty. Let me outline some fundamental principles of liberty.

“You’re gonna make it after all...” With those words ringing in our ears, we of a certain generation sat and prepared to watch Mary Richards make it through another 30-minute episode of her life. It was a Saturday night ritual, that CBS line-up featuring Mary Tyler Moore, Bob Newhart, and Carol Burnett. And it made a big impact on our lives, who we were and who we became in future years.

Secrets and Lies It was announced today that the thirty-five year prison sentence of Chelsea Manning has been Presidentially commuted. Barack Obama deserves no credit for this, he's only planting land-mines for Donald Trump.When she is released in May (no, I don't know why the delay), she will have served seven years, during which she was confined in such an inhumane manner that she went mad and tried to kill herself more than once.