The difficult truth of 9/11

Graphic. Bloviating Zeppelin  . . . "Now you have a choice. Imagine. You can burn to death via the flames behind you, or you can knock out a window. If you fail to knock out a window, yes, you burn to death. If you knock out a window or locate a window aperture already damaged, you have time to contemplate. Perhaps a few minutes, perhaps a few seconds. Do you turn to face the flames? Or do you seek the very thing that keeps you alive and has done so for years? The open air?

"Perhaps now the flames are licking at your back. You have seen some of your friends, or persons you don’t know, step out into the abyss, their choices having been made. Again, your choice: do I burn to death or do I simply jump?" . . . Many jumpers out of the towers.

When did the Miss America pageant turn into a Nasty Woman protest?

Todd Starnes   "The 2017 Miss America pageant was not so much about empowering women as it was bashing President Trump.

netrightdaily.com

 "A panel of celebrity judges goaded finalists into condemning the president on his response to the Charlottesville terrorist attack, climate change, Confederate War monuments and whether he colluded with the Russians.

It was as if Elizabeth Warren and Hillary Clinton were sitting underneath the Atlantic City boardwalk, sipping Chardonnay and writing this year’s questions.

I’m surprised none of the judges asked if President Trump is the anti-Christ. Yes? No? Please explain.

“There are multiple investigations into whether Trump’s campaign colluded with Russia on the election,” singer and judge Jordin Sparks said. “Well, did they? You’re the jury. Guilty or innocent and please explain your verdict?”

"Miss Missouri, Jennifer Davis, did not hesitate in responding.

“ 'Right now, I have to say innocent because not enough information has been revealed. We are still investigating this and I think we should investigate it to its fullest extent. If we do find evidence that they have had collusion with Russia, the justice system should do their due diligence and they should be punished accordingly,” she replied.

"Miss Missouri was picked as the first runner-up.

"I have no doubt that had she declared that President Trump was guilty as sin and deserved to rot in jail – she would be wearing the crown today.

"Get a load of the question Miss Texas, Margana Wood, had to field:" . . .

Equifax Executives Sold Stock Worth Over $1 Million Before Announcement of Giant Data Breach

Patterico  "You may have heard about the Equifax breach in which hackers got access to Social Security numbers of up to 143 million people — probably including you and me. Looks like some Equifax executives may have profited (or at least avoided losses) on the news:

Three Equifax Inc. senior executives sold shares worth almost $1.8 million in the days after the company discovered a security breach that may have compromised information on about 143 million U.S. consumers.

The trio had not yet been informed of the incident, the company said.

The credit-reporting service said late Thursday in a statement that it discovered the intrusion on July 29. Regulatory filings show that three days later, Chief Financial Officer John Gamble sold shares worth $946,374 and Joseph Loughran, president of U.S. information solutions, exercised options to dispose of stock worth $584,099. Rodolfo Ploder, president of workforce solutions, sold $250,458 of stock on Aug. 2. None of the filings lists the transactions as being part of 10b5-1 scheduled trading plans.

"You probably will not be surprised to learn that the stock plummeted today on the announcement. Had these executives held on to the stock, they would have lost a lot of money. But instead, knowing about the breach, they sold the stock before the breach was announced.

"It sounds outrageous, but the company claims that the sales represented “a small percentage of their Equifax shares.” Different people define “small” differently. I have a feeling the SEC will be taking a close look at this. If there were hijinks, someone might be going to prison. (Then again, maybe these dudes are members at one of Trump’s golf clubs and will skate. You never know!)

It is an interesting question whether insider trading should be illegal. The fact that we may recoil at it does not mean it is necessarily bad for society. And there are rational arguments that suggest that insider trading is a good thing, because it helps spread information. As economist Bob Murphy says:

In a nutshell, insider trading is beneficial because it moves market prices closer to where they ought to be. Those profiting from “inside knowledge” actually share that knowledge with the rest of the world through their buying and selling.

"Murphy argues that if you parse out who actually loses when insider trading occurs, it’s not the public at large, but just other investors who might have done better through dumb luck. Meanwhile, when insiders profit from their greater knowledge, that knowledge is spread, to the benefit of the public." . . .

Antifa Protesters Throw Smoke Bombs, Assault Police During Oregon ‘Patriot Prayer’ Rally

Washington Free Beacon

"Antifa demonstrators in Portland, Ore., threw smoke bombs, rocks, and other objects at police while they protested an event held by the group Patriot Prayer on Sunday.

"The Rally and March Against White Nationalism turned violent as some protesters had weapons seized and others attempted to break through police barriers, Fox 12 Oregon reports. Antifa protesters consider Patriot Prayer, which has supported President Donald Trump, to be a hate group, but its leaders say that label is unfounded.

" 'They see an enemy in me or in these people but it's not real," said group leader Joey Gibson. "We don't have to be enemies; we can all get along."

"Police tried to keep Antifa protesters separated from the Patriot Prayer members, but video shows protesters breaking through barriers, leading to one being taken into custody." . . .
Paul Crookston is a media analyst with the Washington Free Beacon. He was previously a Collegiate Network fellow at National Review. A 2016 graduate of Gordon College in Wenham, Mass., he served as the managing editor of the Tartan campus newspaper. He is originally from Tampa, Fla., but he still roots for Dad’s Ohio teams

Bill Whittle & D’Souza eviscerate Progressives for inciting hate and bigotry

WoW! Magazine  "In this interview, Dinesh D’Souza and Bill Whittle reveal what really happened at Charlottesville and what Democrats are doing on a regular basis to incite hate and violence all around America. This interview aired on NRATV’s “Bill Whittle’s Hot Mic.' ”

Why I Don’t Use Female Pronouns For My Transgender Brother

The demand that I refer to my sibling using a female pronoun is nothing less than thought policing. It is a demand that I assert what I do not believe.

Michael Booker

. . . "It’s a simple matter of common courtesy to call someone by whatever name he or she chooses. Transgender activists have tried to latch on to this simple social courtesy to insist on the use of specific preferred pronouns, which they argue is no more than an extension of that common courtesy. The pushback on this has largely been on the profusion of novel potential identifiers: he/his, she/hers, they/theirs, xe/xirs, ze/hirs, ei/eirs…the list is really endless, with individuals generating new pronouns almost daily.

Some English Pronouns Convey Gender  

"But the complaints about the profusion of pronouns miss a far more important point of language that seems to have slipped under the radar, something that makes this far more than a matter of courtesy. It has to do with the nature of second-person and third-person pronouns in English.

"When I talk to you, I can do so without a gendered pronoun. You is the same no matter who, or what, I’m talking to. I can call my misbehaving car “You old pile of garbage” without making my car a he or a she. Likewise, I can speak to a male, female, or non-binary individual with the same second-person pronoun.

"It’s the third-person pronoun in English that conveys gender (and here I’m so happy to be able to use the word gender in its appropriately technical and linguistic sense). I can use he,  she, or it as singular pronouns, and each conveys information about the object I’m referring to. There are odd circumstances when I’d use a third-person pronoun in the presence of someone who is in the room with me, but it never feels polite. In the majority of cases, I am taking about a person or thing not present.

"This is where preferred pronouns become critically intrusive." . . .

The demand that I refer to my sibling using a female pronoun is nothing less than thought policing. It is a demand that I assert what I do not believe, or at least a demand that I dare not evidence dissent from a particular pseudo-scientific understanding of human nature. Asking me to be polite is not the same thing as asking me to lie, or worse, to accept a lie as truth.

Michael Booker has a doctorate in philosophy and retired from the Army Reserve at the rank of lieutenant colonel. He has been married for 30 years, has two amazing sons, and is currently a low-level administrator in academia.

This 12-Year-Old Boy ‘Transitioned’ To A Girl, Took Hormones, Then Changed His Mind

The Federalist

A preview for an upcoming episode of “60 Minutes Australia” features a teenage boy who tried to “transition” to a girl then changed his mind. In the minute-long snippet, the mother of a boy identified as Patrick admits she fed him hormones that were prescribed in an effort to help him become a girl, which she says her son wanted for a time.

“When he was young he would dress up in girls’ clothes,” Patrick’s mom said. “At one stage he did say to me, could he be taken to the doctor to be changed into a girl.”

. . . 

"Patrick’s story of regretting the decision to “transition,” or try to appear opposite of one’s biological sex, is not uncommon. A 21-year-old woman from New Zealand took hormones for several years in an effort to make her body appear more like a man’s. While undergoing hormone treatments, Zahra Cooper says she became irritable, depressed, and attempted suicide. She eventually decided to stop the process and embrace being a woman again — a decision her significant other and grandfather say has made her happier." . . .

Tucker Carlson Destroys Stephen Colbert For Nazi Salute To Trump

Stephen Colbert, the Grover Dill of all anti-Trump media

American Journal Review

"During an episode of “The Late Show” on Friday, Colbert lambasted former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon for saying he defended President Trump’s Charlottesville comments, but that’s not all. Colbert then proceeded to ‘prove’ whatever point he was making by doing a Nazi salute. Check out the bizarre scene here, it happens at 4:46:

"This is sick beyond belief, and that fellow leftists didn’t see it and call him out is even more baffling. Tucker Carlson was paying attention at least and called Colbert out big time, saying:

“ 'Can we agree that is out of bounds? Jeffrey Lord just got canned from CNN for making reference to that regime but it’s okay here. How?”

"Carlson’s guest Joe Concha then brought down the hammer:

“ 'This is late-night comedy in 2017. It’s unhinged hate. And there is no line anymore to go over because there ain’t no line. It is . . .  anything goes.”

"Then he points out Colbert’s total hypocrisy:

“ 'Look, last week, or at the beginning of this week, Stephen Colbert mocked President Trump’s reaction to Hurricane Harvey, and here’s the bottom line: While Trump was in Texas twice, Stephen Colbert was on vacation for two weeks, and he had the time and the resources to go there and do something himself but instead, he mocks people from afar. And I think that’s all you need to know about the person Stephen Colbert is.' ” . . . (Emphases in the original)

Stephen Colbert Gives Nazi Salute to Trump on ‘Late Show’ (Video)

. . . "Colbert has parlayed his position as the perhaps the most anti-Trump host in late-night television into stronger ratings. The former Comedy Central star struggled mightily when he first took over for David Letterman in 2015, often falling behind Jimmy Fallon’s less-political Tonight Show. After ramping up his attacks on Trump, Colbert has regularly beaten Fallon in the late-night ratings race, though Fallon usually maintains a lead in the key demo." . . .

‘Single Storm Victim’ During Texas Visit

Again we ask Hillary, how can we miss you if you won't go away?

Hillary Blames Women's March for Loss Too  "Hillary Clinton blamed many people for her loss of the presidency to Donald Trump in 2016, even turning on some who support her.

"Clinton mused on the Women's March in her new book "What Happened" due to be released on Tuesday. 
" 'I couldn't help but ask where those feelings of solidarity, outrage, and passion had been during the election," a teaser excerpt from the book reads.

"The Women's March in January was organized in response to the election of Mr. Trump, and many marchers were Hillary supporters. 
"Clinton will appear on television to discuss last's year's events and take a book tour covering 15 cities.
"Several Democrats are recoiling from the idea of Hillary taking the spotlight again.
“ 'I love Hillary,” said Sen. Al Franken, (MN). “I think she has a right to analyze what happened. But we do have to move on.”
"Clinton has dealt out blame to James Comey, Vladimir Putin, low information voters, Netflix, misogynists, Bernie Sanders, and Barack Obama among others.
“ 'There were plenty of people hoping that I, too, would just disappear,” Clinton writes. “But here I am.” . . .

Clinton: Trump’s Campaign Was Successful in Comforting ‘Millions of White People, ’ Stands By ‘Deplorables’ Comment

"You’re not just deplorable, you’re a bigot. In case you weren’t clear on that.

"Via Free Beacon:

Hillary Clinton said President Donald Trump comforted “millions of white people” with his campaign during an interview airing Sunday on CBS.

“He was quite successful in referencing the nostalgia that would give hope, comfort, settle grievances, for millions of people who were upset about gains that were made by others,” Clinton said of Trump’s campaign.

“What you’re saying is millions of white people,” host Jane Pauley clarified.

“Millions of white people,” Clinton confirmed. “Yeah, millions of white people.”

Clinton also addressed her infamous remarks last year that half of Trump’s supporters were bigots who were part of a “basket of deplorables,” saying she regretted handing Trump a political gift but also saying a “large number of people” didn’t care about Trump’s behavior.

Keep reading…

George Mason U. Trains Teaching Assistants in Political Correctness

Legal Insurrection

“Make sure that your syllabus is written in non-sexist, gender-inclusive terms”

 

"You wouldn’t want to trigger anyone with a microaggression, would you?

"The Daily Caller reports:

University Advises Teaching Assistants Not To Say ‘Last Name’ Or ‘It Is Easy To Imagine’

George Mason University advised graduate teaching assistants (TAs) during a mandatory training Tuesday not to use words or phrases including “freshman,” “last name,” and “it is easy to imagine.”

The school made these suggestions in a tips and strategies guide entitled “Creating Inclusive Classrooms” obtained by The Daily Caller News Foundation. The guide also advised graduate TAs to include a diversity statement in their syllabi and ask students for their name and pronoun.

“Make sure that your syllabus is written in non-sexist, gender-inclusive terms,” the guide suggests. “For example, use the phrase first-year student versus freshman, humankind rather than mankind, etc.”

“Strive for inclusive language that does not assume Eurocentric name forms,” continues the guide. “For example, use family name rather than last name or given name versus Christian name.”

George Mason recommends that graduate TAs make sure students can pronounce each others’ names, suggesting using notecards with phonetic spelling. Graduate TAs are also encouraged to ask students for the name and pronoun that agrees with their gender identity and expression.

Tim Kaine Meant It When He Told the Left to “Fight in the Streets"

S. Noble  "Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), the man who would be president, will not condemn the Anarcho-Communist organization Antifa who believe in “peace through violence”, seeking to shut down free speech of all ideological opponents.

“ 'I don’t like broad brushes and I don’t know enough about them to say that they’re terrorists but people who do violent things,” Kaine told the Daily Caller in a statement. “The law should take care of them.”

"The Department of Homeland Security classified their activities as “domestic terrorist violence.” Even Nancy Pelosi rebuked the group.

"It was Time Kaine who suggested that Democrats should “fight in the streets” against the administration, as well as in Congress and through the courts after Trump’s inauguration.

"It’s no surprise, he’s a far-left guy with Marxist roots.

"In May, Kaine’s son Linwood fought in the streets with Antifa during a protest in Minnesota. He has since been charged with “fleeing police on foot, concealing his identity in a public place, and obstructing legal process.' ” . . .

I wonder what the dinner table conversation at the Kaine household consisted of to raise this young man:

Tim Kaine himself has a Marxist past  

In 1980, radical revolutionary priest Fr. James Carney met with Tim Kaine who traveled by bus and walked miles to meet him after searching for him. He has spoken highly of him and his time with him.The priest was a member of a Communist band of revolutionaries at a time when President Ronald Reagan was sending financial aid to the freedom fighters. The group was led by a Ché Guevara soldier Reyes Mata.

Kansas City Star rides the fence over Marcus Peters

They don't want to be trashed by TV talk shows and the rent-a-mobs, I suppose.

Kansas City Star

"Marcus Peters, sitting mute on that trainer’s bench while “The Star-Spangled Banner” played before Thursday night’s game — why, it’s enough to make a Chiefs fan root for Tom Brady.

"OK, maybe that’s a bridge too far. And this time, Peters didn’t raise a fist as he did at last year’s season opener, or ride a stationary bike as he did in the preseason. But it’s clear that the Kansas City cornerback’s silent protests are picking at a scar that feels increasingly raw these days.

"The facile symbolism is thick: An ungratefully prosperous African-American athlete damned the very foundation of the nation that granted him his fortune, just before taking on a team literally named the Patriots. And Brady, New England’s square-jawed, all-American superstar quarterback is a longtime “good friend” and golfing buddy of President Donald Trump.

"Or, through a different lens: An unapologetic American success story chose not to rise for a song that wasn’t even adopted as the national anthem until 1931 — and whose lyrics were penned by a slave owner, and whose seldom-sung third verse may or may not cheer the deaths of slaves — standing on principle, then earning the Chiefs’ biggest regular season win over a team of cheaters who still sport Super Bowl rings." . . .

But then....well, what did you expect members of the American media to do, but pen a both-sides-of-the-street opinion? The editorial staff concludes with:

Equality-minded Republicans know just how infuriating it is to be shouted down as a bigot on the basis of nothing more than party affiliation. That’s not why the Founding Fathers established a bedrock of free speech. Marcus Peters is owed that right absolutely. He wouldn’t advocate for change if he didn’t want a stronger country. We want to hear his ideas.

This wasn't his first time: