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Before beginning this post, I would like to apologize again for the minimal output of content on this blog. There have been a couple of reasons why this output has declined. First, October is usually a busy month socially. Halloween is usually a chaotic time for the family. We often attend concerts, horror movie related events, apple-picking at farms, family and work-related vacations, and other cultural attractions which eat into personal time. Besides this, my beloved San Diego Padres went on a surprising playoff run which was completely unexpected. Enjoying these games with my recent discovery of quality whisky (More on this later) has been a soul affirming experience, but it also has destroyed many evenings. Finally, I have been suffering from a case of writer’s block. Usually, ideas just flow like a healthy, streaming river out of my confused but active brain. But over the past two months, my brain has resembled the emptiness of Homer Simpson’s. But because of an article that hit my inbox yesterday, my inspiration has returned. Starting with this blog, I am beginning another series of at least three blogs regarding alternative media platforms and the options available to counter the increasing amount of censorship occurring online with the Big Tech companies. Today’s blog will discuss the publishing platform Substack.
It is hard for the common person to believe that their life is being controlled by some form of propaganda. Human beings take solace in the fact that our actions and decisions in our daily lives are guided by our free will. The decision you make about what to buy at the grocery store, what politician to support, and who you choose to converse with on a personal level are based on your own internal code of morals and the human behaviors and personalities that you find most appealing. Because every human being lives a different experience in their life, this divergence creates different opinions about almost any societal topic. It is difficult to pinpoint any issue that every human being would agree is a universal truth. Even a subject like the murder of another human being, which almost every person on this planet would describe as an evil and punishable act, often happens because individuals become lost in their angry thoughts. So in this present day of social media and rampant, narcissistic individualism, it is difficult for most people to understand that many of the things which have occurred and changed our society over the past two plus years were planned by a collective group of organizations, corporations, and governments to fundamentally change the world and create a “Great Reset” (Their words) towards a new more centralized, technocratic, and authoritarian future implemented on a global scale. This war took decades to plan and began during the implementation of the COVID-19 lockdowns in March of 2020. Without diving into this incredibly complex topic, I have decided to discuss this problem in relation to subjects that I understand and find personally important, the impact these changes have had on the media. Besides my increased activism in reversing the propagandists who pose as professional “journalists”, there are other things I have begun doing to protect myself and my family from whatever world maybe coming in the future. I have been participating in anti-war movements (A passion of mine throughout my life) and anti-vaccine movements (More because of concern for my daughter and junior high aged son). Plus, I think it is important to understand something about these globalists and their push for control. They are not winning. They are not united, and the personal ambitions of these powerful individuals will likely lead to the movement fracturing due to their own selfish interests. It is already happening with individuals like Elon Musk and Tulsi Gabbard who were trained by the WEF as “future leaders” both coming out publicly against the globalists’ motives. Jerome Powell, head of the FEDERAL RESERVE, is also under attack by these same forces for trying to save a governmental institution and the banks that support it by reversing policy mistakes dating back to 2008 which has led to our current inflation crisis. With the complexity of the moving and interlocking parts fighting with each other, it is important for citizens to get fair and factual reporting to sort out the tremendous amount of information that is being thrown at us. Unfortunately, the media maybe the most controlled element of this globalist push. Since the COVID-19 lockdowns, Big Tech has decided to show its true nature. These tech companies have become nothing other than mouthpieces of propaganda for the largest corporations and governments on the planet. Not only are they censoring information that contradicts the official narrative with their internal algorithms, but the war on the American people has escalated where individuals who have an alternative viewpoint that opposes these narratives are being removed from the internet and in some cases, being financially eliminated from our economic system. It is hard to believe that the United States in 2022 has devolved into this authoritarian nightmare. But this is our current reality. If you want to understand the background of this escalation, I highly recommend this article from Glenn Greenwald. It is long and detailed but gives a fundamental and historical background that explains how this has happened. Counting mainstream publications and broadcasters like THE NEW YORK TIMES, WASHINGTON POST, THE ATLANTIC, CNN, MSNBC, FOX NEWS and FOREIGN POLICY MAGAZINE (Among many others), I have removed myself from all subscriptions and email lists from these media institutions. As a substitute, I have become a dedicated follower of the Substack platform. Voices who have been fired, resigned, or removed from mainstream publications because they did not promote the ‘approved narrative’ during the COVID-19 era of censorship have found their voices here. Substack has journalists that write about an incredibly diverse range of topics. Do you want financial advice? Substack has it. How about an evaluation of our culture? YUP. What about ex-Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura’s opinion on the world? They have it. The one difference from normal, mainstream media is the abandonment of the commercial advertising model which has kept over the air television free for over half a century. Many writers require a subscription to access their content. Because they are content creators and Substack refuses to put advertising on its platforms, this new subscription model is likely the future of independent journalism. Some of the biggest content creators have tens of thousands of subscribers usually paying a flat rate of 60 dollars a year so they are free to produce written articles, podcasts, and videos without relinquishing editorial control. Because of this, the best journalists on the planet have been producing incredible content here after many of them were removed from their mainstream publications for not “promoting the proper narrative.” Here are the subscriptions that I pay for: Chris Hedges (Formerly of the NEW YORK TIMES, PBS FRONTLINE and TRUTHDIG. Famous liberal anti-war voice who has covered wars for decades) Matt Stoller (Independent journalist and leftist who covers corporate monopoly power in the United States) Edward Snowden (Yes, THAT EDWARD SNOWDEN who is a fantastic writer) Michael Tracey (Formerly employed by Cenk Uygur’s YOUNG TURKS before he lost his mind) Glenn Greenwald (Formerly of SALON, THE GUARDIAN, and THE INTERCEPT. Another ex-liberal who has seen the light and is becoming more libertarian by the day) Matt Taibbi (Formerly of ROLLING STONE. Became famous writing about the 2008 financial crash. Also, a wonderful observer who comments on the destruction of the American left) Dr. Robert Malone (Inventor of “THAT MRNA” technology that has been injected into almost 2 billion people who has now dedicated his life to stopping it. As well as some political commentary) There are also some free memberships I follow. These sometimes have limitations where articles are paywalled. Only the first person listed below allows people to read all their content for free. Caitlin Johnstone (An anarcho-communist who writes about imperial propaganda and war) Igor Chudov (Data Analyst who analyzes the COVID-19 vaccines and health statistics. Yes, they are as bad as you think) Mark Crispin Miller (Besides his amazing middle name, he is a leftist professor from NYU who is in rebellion against the Democrats. Specializes in propaganda analysis) Alex Berenson (Formerly of the NEW YORK TIMES. Been a thorn in the side of Dr. Fauci and his COVID-19 vaccines and lockdowns from the start. This used to be a paid subscription) Doomberg (My favorite collective that writes incredibly in-depth articles on energy policy and economics and the fraud that is the “green energy” movement) Eugyppius (A chronicler of our failing culture and society) Tulsi Gabbard (Ex-Democratic Party representative and strong anti-war and civil liberties supporting voice) Based on the people I read and subscribe to; you can see what has been important in my life from a political perspective over the past couple of years. As an individual with their own unique interests and taste, you don’t have to listen to a damn thing I say about these people. The choices on Substack are defined by every person and their personal interests. But no matter what the topic may be, Substack will have a well-informed journalist covering it. I highly recommend engaging with this platform and becoming a member even if the idea of paying a subscription rate goes against your personal morality. You are supporting an alternative media platform that has spoken more “truth” over the past two years than all mainstream media publications have over the past decade. If you find any other writer that should be brought to my attention, feel free to post it in the comment section. Have a fantastic Halloween and I will be back after my upcoming trip to New Orleans on Election Day. Part 2 about the Rumble Platform will be next.
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Welcome to my 3rd annual Major League Baseball postseason prediction blog, the one sport that is often impossible to correctly predict. The 2022 season was the first one since 2019 that did not have the stench of COVID-19 attached to it. There were significant rule changes that modified the games for a modern day audience including the National League adoption of the designated hitter, a radical change to extra innings in which the last batter of the previous inning starts the next extra inning as a runner on second, and finally, the addition of a 6th playoff team in each league. After 162 games, the playoff field has been set.
Here are the National League Playoff Teams:
Here are the American League Playoff Teams:
The Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN playoff teams until the expansion of the playoffs was incorporated in 2022. The playoff format is set up similarly to the NFL until they decided to add their 7th playoff team per conference in 2020. The division winner with the worst record now has to play a wild card series against the 6th and final seed. The first and second wild card teams meet in the other playoff series. The wild card has also been expanded to a three-game series instead of a one game elimination that takes place at the home stadium of the team with the higher seed. Unlike the NFL, the postseason also has one other minor difference. The playoff brackets are fixed. The top two seeds both receive byes. The top seed in each league plays the winner of the 4/5 seed wild card series. The second seed plays the winner of the 3/6 seed wild card series. The NFL readjusted its playoff bracket where the higher seed always played the lowest remaining seed. The MLB did not do this with the new playoff format. Since my own busy schedule is forcing me to post this blog late, here are my predictions for each round of the playoffs. Additional Note: I have a rooting interest in this 2022 postseason. My beloved San Diego Padres have made the field and my picks regarding this team is based on pure emotional attachment. But logic also wins the day. So, I am realistic about where their season ultimately ends. AL WILD CARD SERIES Cleveland defeats Tampa Bay 2 Games to 1 Seattle defeats Toronto 2 Games to 1 NL WILD CARD SERIES St. Louis defeats Philadelphia 2 Games to 0 San Diego defeats N.Y. Mets 2 Games to 1 AL DIVISIONAL SERIES Houston defeats Seattle 3 Games to 1 New York Yankees defeat Cleveland 3 Games to 0 NL DIVISIONAL SERIES Atlanta defeats St. Louis 3 Games to 0 L.A. Dodgers defeat San Diego 3 Games to 1 AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES New York Yankees defeat Houston 4 Games to 3 L.A. Dodgers defeat Atlanta 4 Games to 3 WORLD SERIES L.A. Dodgers defeat N.Y. Yankees 4 Games to 1 I will make this prediction very specific. The Yankees will likely win Game 1 against Clayton Kershaw. After that, the Dodgers’ pitchers will dominate the Yankee lineup and wipe the team out in 4 straight games. This will be the Dodgers 8th MLB Championship and 7th for the city of Los Angeles. This will also give the city of Los Angeles its 2nd championship in less than a year (Los Angeles Rams are the defending Super Bowl Champions from the 2021 season) and the state of California its 3rd championship during that same timeframe (Golden State Warriors are the 2022 NBA Champions). The only teams that fell outside this California domination would be the 2022 Colorado Avalanche who are the defending 2022 Stanley Cup Champions and the NYC Football Club who are the defending MLS Champions in 2021. Enjoy the postseason! Due to a busy schedule, I can not put in my normal amount of research required for a typical blog post. Despite being distracted, I read a couple of fantastic articles this week which are going to be linked below. I have become fascinated with Benito Mussolini’s THE DOCTRINE OF FASCISM published in 1932 and found in a PDF format here. Inside this article, Mussolini boasted that fascism would be the dominant ideology for the next 100 years. Taking this into prediction into account, was he actually incorrect? The term “fascism” is technically a dead definition with negative connotations. But what if a similar ideology exists that is just defined in a different way?
To further enhance the question I posed in the last paragraph, THE AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE ran a fascinating article titled PLUTOCRATIC SOCIALISM AND THE WAR ON THE MIDDLE CLASS. This article makes a lot of important points. One of the most important is that the “billionaires” due to benefitting off government largesse and their internal connections believe arrogantly that they are smarter and more intelligent than everyone else. This arrogance is why they have gotten aggressive in promoting their ideologies onto the world which must be paid for at taxpayer expense by the middle class. The whole article is fascinating and enlightening. Second, for people who want to understand the political situation in Los Angeles currently, read THE FALL OF LOS ANGELES by Spiked. This gives a formal breakdown on the factors leading to the destruction of my beloved hometown. Finally, I am posting this one so my friends and acquaintances can have a better understanding of what I have been going through personally. Since this pandemic, the things that interest me has rapidly changed. My personal disgust with the all-consuming liberal culture of the cities and the authoritarian tactics used the last two years has completely rewired my brain. I have become fascinated with owning land and living a life in small-town America outside of the city centers. I have become proficient with weapons. I am reading books on how to grow proper potatoes. I love enveloping myself in long five-mile hikes through winding meadows and scenic forests. The allure of our technocratic future no longer appeals to me. This article is about another individual who has had similar thoughts and is going through their own personal growth while expressing disgust for elements of her previous life. This is wonderfully written and highly recommended. Have a great Wednesday. Until next week! What could possibly top last year? For the 2nd time in my life, my beloved Los Angeles Rams (For the record, their first Super Bowl happened in St. Louis in 1999) won the Super Bowl. Thinking back about how this occurred, it is interesting to focus on the small details. What would have happened if Matthew Stafford had not hit Copper Kupp for a long pass to get the Rams into field goal range to beat the Buccaneers? A game that the Rams dominated but almost lost because of four fumbles. What if the 49ers had not upset the Packers because their Achilles heel (The Special Teams) rose up and ended their season with a blocked punt disaster? The Rams have not been able to beat this modern-day version of the Packers. Could they have beat the Packers in the frozen tundra if they had survived the 49er playoff game? What about the 49ers 4th quarter meltdown in the NFC Championship? A game that they had under control until the wheels came off. Or if Sean McVay had not opened up the Rams offense for the last drive to allow Copper Kupp and Stafford to do their thing and drive the team to the Super Bowl championship. Lots of small decisions and fortune are often required for a team to reach the pinnacle of the NFL. So will it happen again?
Before I go into my pre-season predictions and team-by-team analysis, I want to bring up something that came to my attention. This observation is mainly focused on the NFC. Going back to 1998, the AFC has been the elite conference for quarterbacks. Looking at the teams that have won AFC Titles and Super Bowls, it is a pretty short list of superstars. The New England Patriots possess all 9 AFC Titles out of the AFC East winning 6 Super Bowls with Tom Brady. Peyton Manning possesses 4 AFC Titles. 2 with the AFC South Indianapolis Colts and 1 Super Bowl win and 2 more with the AFC West Denver Broncos with another Super Bowl win. Ben Roethlisberger won 3 AFC Titles and 2 Super Bowls with the AFC North Pittsburgh Steelers. This accounts for 16 of the last 24 Super Bowl appearances for the AFC. Throwing Patrick Mahomes into the equation, the modern-day elite quarterback of the AFC, who has won 2 AFC Championships already and a Super Bowl. John Elway even belongs on this list as his last AFC Title and Super Bowl occurred in 1998. The remaining AFC Super Bowl appearances belong to the Baltimore Ravens who have won 2 AFC Titles and 2 Super Bowls with incredible defensive teams and an average quarterback (For the record, Trent Dilfer in 2000 and Joe Flacco in 2012). The other appearances are the Tennessee Titans AFC Championship in 1999 guided by the incredible and now deceased Steve McNair, the Oakland Raiders AFC Title in 2002 with Rich Gannon, and in 2021, the Cincinnati Bengals AFC Title with Joe Burrow. If Mahomes and Burrow end up in the Hall of Fame, this means that the AFC has been dominated by elite quarterbacks with only the 2 Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl Championships and the singular appearances by the Titans and Raiders as outliers. The AFC is 14-10 in the last 24 Super Bowls. There has never been a greater argument for why quarterbacks are the centerpiece of any NFL team. So let’s dive into the NFC. There are two interesting trends here. If you go back to the early years of the Super Bowl, the NFC East was the dominant conference during the first 32 Super Bowls ending in 1997. The NFC East participated in half of these Super Bowls. Dallas (8), Washington (5), N.Y. Giants (2), and Philadelphia (1) with 16 NFC Titles and 10 Super Bowl wins amongst themselves. The next closest division would be the NFC Central/North with 9 NFC Titles and 4 Super Bowls. Green Bay has 4 NFC Titles and 3 Super Bowls, the Minnesota Vikings have 4 NFC Titles, and the Chicago Bears earned 1 NFC Title and Super Bowl. The NFC West was the outlier back then with only the San Francisco 49ers 5 NFC Titles and Super Bowl wins giving the division any value during this time. The Los Angeles Rams and the eventual AFC bound Baltimore Colts (Now Indianapolis) are the only other teams during this time with an NFC Title out of the West. Since 1998, the history of the NFC has shifted west. The NFC East, thanks mainly to the Giants, has only had 5 NFC Titles over the last 24 years. The New York Giants have 3 NFC Titles and 2 Super Bowl wins while the Philadelphia Eagles have 2 NFC Titles and 1 Super Bowl win. The Cowboys and Redskins have been shut out over this last quarter of a century. The NFC North is even more pathetic. The one team that left the old NFC Central division has had more success than all the NFC North teams combined. The Green Bay Packers are the only team in this division with a Super Bowl win in their only appearance during this timeframe. The Chicago Bears are the only other team with an NFC Title from this division. The North has had 2 Super Bowl appearances in 24 years. The NFC South has been the second most successful division. Every team in this division has played in the Super Bowl since 1998. Atlanta has 2 NFC Titles (Their first one was when the team was in the NFC West); the old NFC Central Tampa Bay Buccaneers have 2 NFC Titles and 2 Super Bowls. The Carolina Panthers also have 2 NFC Titles, and the New Orleans Saints have 1 NFC Title and Super Bowl win. That is 6 NFC Titles and 3 Super Bowl wins for this division. But the NFC West has been the class of the NFL for the past 24 years. Counting the Atlanta Falcons NFC Title in 1998, the NFC West has 11 NFC Titles in 24 years. In order, the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams have 4 NFC Titles and 2 Super Bowls, the Seattle Seahawks have 3 NFC Titles and 1 Super Bowl, the San Francisco 49ers have 2 NFC Titles, and the Arizona Cardinals have 1 NFC Title. Even though they have won as many Super Bowls over the past 24 years as the NFC East and South (With a miserable 3-8 Super Bowl record), the West has been the most competitive division in the NFC by far. The quarterbacks who have won in the NFC are present or future Hall of Famers. Kurt Warner in 1999, Eli Manning in 2007 and 2011, Drew Brees in 2009, Aaron Rodgers in 2010, Russell Wilson in 2013, Tom Brady with the Bucs in 2020 and Matthew Stafford in 2021. The only exceptions were Brad Johnson who won with the Bucs in 2002 with a ferocious defense and Nick Foles and his magical run in 2017 with the Eagles. So why am I writing all this? Because another geographical shift is likely happening in the NFL. The elements are in place for this to develop and it should become noticeable over the next few years. But until then, the AFC and NFC West remain the dominant divisions for at least a few more years. HERE ARE MY PREDICTIONS FOR THE 2022 NFL SEASON AFC EAST Buffalo: Division Winner Miami New England New York Jets It is really hard to see Buffalo being stopped this season. Despite losing one of the most heartbreaking playoff games in recent memory, they have managed to shore up some of their obvious weaknesses. Unless injuries ravage this team, they should win the AFC East easily and cruise through the AFC Playoffs. Miami has been quietly good especially on defense these past few years. Because of slow starts, the Dolphins sabotaged themselves over the past two years despite finishing 10-6 and 9-8. This season, they should have a winning record again. The problem is their offense. Can Tua Tagovailoa play better? Probably, but they also play some incredibly good defenses this year. Look for them to have 9 or 10 wins again and just miss the playoffs…again. New England will fall back into mediocrity again. With a difficult schedule that never seemed to occur when Brady was quarterback, the Patriots should sit around .500. The New York Jets will be competitive this year as they begin their rise from the ashes. But this is a team that is looking at being in the playoffs in 2024 and beyond. AFC NORTH Baltimore: Division Winner Pittsburgh Cincinnati Cleveland Baltimore had a miserable season with injuries and terrible luck as their season came apart in December and January. Expect this to change in 2022. They should win this division easily. Pittsburgh has a developing upper echelon defense in 2022. Their problem remains at the quarterback position which needs to get resolved now that Roethlisberger has retired. I love the Cincinnati Bengals. But I can not help but think that the Super Bowl appearance is going to lead to health issues this year. I expect this season to be a wash. But I would not be surprised if they are Super Bowl contenders again in 2023. Finally, the Cleveland Browns. That is it. AFC SOUTH Indianapolis: Division Winner Tennessee: Wild Card Jacksonville Houston With Matt Ryan, I expect the Colts to pass the Titans and win the division this year. But the underlying weaknesses on the Colts team will likely lead to an early playoff exit. Tennessee seems like they will take a step back this year. Can Henry remain healthy? Can Tannehill play better in the clutch? My answer to these questions is NO. I hope they can prove me wrong. I still see them fighting with Miami and the Raiders to slide into that 7th and Final Playoff Seed. Jacksonville should be much improved. I expect seven to eight wins with this team in 2022. Houston is in a full rebuild. Come back in 2025 if you want to discuss their future viability. At least Houston has the Astros. AFC WEST Without a doubt, the best division in the NFL this year. I believe all four teams could represent the AFC in the Super Bowl this year. Denver: Division Winner Los Angeles Chargers: Wild Card Kansas City Chiefs: Wild Card Las Vegas Raiders I expect every team in the West to finish over .500. I expect the Chargers and Chiefs to dispatch the Ravens and Colts in the playoffs advancing three AFC West teams to the divisional round along with Buffalo. The hard-luck Raiders will miss the playoffs barely losing a likely tiebreaker to Tennessee. The Denver Broncos with Russell Wilson and that defense will be a completely new team this year. I expect them to surprise and win the division. As a Rams fan, I am uniquely aware of how competitive Seattle was even when the team was mediocre. With a defense like the Broncos have, they will be a tough out in the playoffs. The Los Angeles Chargers will have one of their best teams of my lifetime. With Herbert maturing, they are going to be a tough team to defeat all season. The fallback of Kansas City seems inevitable. I fully expect that they will be a Super Bowl caliber team again in a few years. But with the competition in the West and their slow starts, I expect the season to be an uphill battle. But when all 17 games have been played, they will be in the playoff field again. Finally, the Las Vegas Raiders are going to be the odd man out. This is a good team. But can you argue that they are better than the other three teams in the AFC West? NFC EAST The worst division in the NFL by far. Philadelphia Eagles: Division Winner Dallas Cowboys New York Giants Washington Commanders I am not going to tell you that the Eagles are going to be much improved. I don’t actually believe that. I just think they will benefit from a likely Cowboys meltdown and come out of this division with a 9-8 record. Dallas is going to waste this season and realize that Mike McCarthy is not the answer. After this tumultuous season, we will revisit Dallas in 2023. The New York Giants are on the path of rebuilding. I expect them to be more competitive this season. But it will be a long year. The Washington Commanders with Carson Wentz seems like a disaster waiting to happen. Expect a disappointing season if you are a Washington fan. NFC NORTH Green Bay Packers: Division Winner Minnesota Vikings Detroit Lions Chicago Bears Green Bay with Aaron Rodgers remains the class of the NFC North. Until one of their divisional foes proves that they are better, there is no reason to pick against the Packers. If they can fix their special teams, they are a definitive Super Bowl contender. Minnesota has a talented team that can win this division. But there is no escaping the incredibly average feeling that Kurt Cousins gives to this team. I expect Minnesota can win 10 games and get into the playoffs. But until they prove themselves, I am keeping them out of the playoff field. I do have a soft spot for Jared Goff. He is only one of six quarterbacks in Rams history to take my team to the Championship game. He is also a flawed quarterback. But the kid can fling it and with Detroit’s talent in a better place this season, they could be the surprise of the NFC. Chicago seems rudderless. They felt like a team with no motivation last season. Until this changes and they get some decent quarterback play, I expect them to bring up the rear in the North. NFC SOUTH The most improved division in the NFC this year (Atlanta Falcons excluded). New Orleans Saints: Division Winner Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Wild Card Carolina Panthers Atlanta Falcons The Saints have a fantastic team. The defense is top notch, and the offensive talent is great. The problem revolves around Jameis Winston and his health. I expect him to have a good season. A good season by a Saints quarterback usually leads to a division title. Tampa Bay has Tom Brady. Even though the talent does feel like it has slipped since their Super Bowl winning season in 2020, expect Brady and the above average defense to get into the NFC playoffs again. Carolina could be a wild card team this year. They could also win 4 games. It all depends on the quarterback play of Baker Mayfield. This will be an exciting team no matter the outcome. Atlanta is going to be bad. That is all. NFC WEST The best NFL division of the last 24 seasons. It will be very good again. Los Angeles Rams: Division Winner San Francisco 49ers: Wild Card Arizona Cardinals: Wild Card Seattle Seahawks The Rams are the champs. Other than injuries plaguing this team, they should have no problem winning 12 to 13 games again. The talent level has only increased since the Super Bowl winning team from last year. The Rams can definitely repeat if they remain healthy and motivated. San Francisco is a scary team. With a team that may have the most talent in the entire NFL, the 49ers success is going to be directly tied to Trey Lance. If he proves that he is an elite quarterback in the Patrick Mahomes mold, this could be a 15-win team that will run away with the NFC. Until that question is answered though, they still have enough to easily qualify as a wild card this season. Arizona is an interesting dichotomy. Again, the talent on this team is incredible. Now that Kyler Murray has signed a huge contract, can they take the next step? This is another wait and see question. I can see the Cardinals being NFC Champions. I can also see a team that slides to a losing record. I choose to pick the middle. They will get into the playoffs again as a wild card. Finally, the Seattle Seahawks. With the Russell Wilson trade, this is a team that is beginning its offensive rebuild. But they are not too far away from competing for a playoff spot again. Feel free to strike back with your own predictions. I hope everyone enjoys the 2022 season. Go Rams! Before I begin the next part on my evaluation of higher education (Also related to the fact that I am temporarily locked out of my Arizona State University account), I want to answer a question forwarded to me. “Hey Expert, are you really an expert in anything?” Unfortunately, I can not give a definitive answer to this question. In my life, I have discovered that on quite a few topics (Let’s say 50), I can hold a basic conversation as long as the details remain at a basic level. For instance, if we are talking about cars, I know they run on four wheels and move forward when I switch the transmission to D. There are car brands like Mazda, Mercedes Benz, Ford, Toyota…ummm…Mazda, Nissin which I think also owns a ramen company, and something called Hun-Day. I know that a flux capacitor is necessary for the battery to operate, or the car won’t move. There are also the pointy metal “thingys” that show up after you remove a tire and circular metal device from the tire. As you can see, I know quite a bit about cars to have a decent conversation about them over a beer. I have learned a few things about guns. Mostly from the safety perspective (Thank you California). I know more about the paperwork required to transfer gun ownership than I do about bullet calibers. Because when it comes to defending yourself, it is important to know where my signature is needed on a piece of paper when my daughter inherits my weapons after I get shot and killed trying to figure out the state’s laws. On about 20 topics, my knowledge is at a higher level than the average person. I can write or blog about these topics when researched. Two new additions to this category are travel and energy (More on this later). I will not pose as an expert on these topics but can dive into complex details and even take risks if it relates to an issue like investing. Because as the financial overlords always say, metal never goes down (Except it has consistently over the past ten years), real estate never goes down (Except in 2008), and stocks always trend up (Except when they don’t). So how could I be any worse than these supposed “experts” who paid a 100,000 dollars for a Finance Master’s Degree where they are always right? Except when they are not! When I got my Master’s Degree last year, I undertook testing at Arizona State University on a diverse range of topics. If I passed a specific topic (And got my proper six to twelve months of being a teacher’s assistant) and qualified, I could create a curriculum and teach these subjects to students. So here is my delayed answer to this question. I am an actual EXPERT on a few things. I am the EXPERT OF SOME. Again, here is the list. AMERICAN POLITICS ARTS AND MEDIA ENGINEERING COMMUNICATION PHILOSOPHY AND TECHNOLOGY CREATIVE NON-FICTION WRITING CULTURAL STUDIES AND TECHNOLOGY DEMOCRATIC AND POLITICAL THEORY DIGITAL MEDIA FILM STUDIES MEDIA AND NEW MEDIA STUDIES SPORTS TELECOMMUNICATIONS VIDEO PRODUCTION WAR AND SOCIETY That is right. My knowledge on these thirteen topics is at a level that God forbid, I can teach these subjects to people. What is missing here? Music for one. I thought my overall deep knowledge of this topic would qualify me as an old clarinetist and saxophonist during my high school and college years. Apparently, I arpeggio’ed where I should have staccato’ed and did not qualify to teach it. I never believed I was more than an average musician. This test proved my theory once and for all. So why do I bring all this up? I like to send emails to my friends, acquaintances, ex-lovers, co-workers, the man who lives under the bridge near me, etc. I will read or observe something that I feel needs to be forwarded along. Do I expect you to watch, read, or listen to it? Absolutely not. But if I decide to send it to you, the main reason is because intellectually, I believe it is something that would interest you or maybe even expand your mind. I sometimes will focus on these topics listed as my “expertises” above because I do have strong opinions on all these topics and spend many hours a week reading and researching them. So even if you don’t agree with my point of view, these forwarded topics are coming to you with a great deal of knowledge attached to them. Sometimes, I am not even sure if a topic is true. But the article is so fascinating, I think it is worth opining over or having a bizarre discussion about. I feel my clarity on this needs to be emphasized again. Because there are individuals who mistakenly believe that if a topic is sent to them, then the words inside the article stand for my beliefs. This is not true. l sometimes write with strong emotions and passion. But it will be prefaced with words like, “If this is true”, or “Let’s hope this does not happen.” I will give strong opinions on people like Dick Cheney. Because I think he has a secret cave somewhere in Wyoming with imprisoned children that he likely eats once a month to keep his heart beating for another 30 days. My tone maybe confusing but as a person with strong journalistic instincts, my only motivation is to inform. You can make your own judgments on what I send and that is fine. I am just trying to share my own intellectual curiosity with as many people as possible. So let’s do a test. The last two days, Tucker Carlson has opened his show with a monologue on the "coming" energy crisis. There are divergent opinions on whether there actually is a crisis. This is not my point for sending it. The information he provides in both these monologues is fascinating. As a person who is beginning to rebel against the green energy transition (I am a person that understands the electric grid on a pretty complex level and would like for these "climate change" activists to answer a few basic questions about this), I am having my doubts on whether these initiatives will ever work. Don't let my cynicism make you think there is no problem. We have energy problems that need to be resolved. Personally, I think our concern should be on pollution, not 'climate change.' Let me know what you think. Just want you to think outside the box.  On Monday, August 15th, 2022, the final episode of BETTER CALL SAUL aired on AMC. Over two series and twelve seasons (Six seasons each), BREAKING BAD aired 62 episodes and BETTER CALL SAUL aired 63 totaling 125. The 63rd episode of BREAKING BAD was a movie called EL CAMINO airing on Netflix that completed the Jesse Pinkman character arc from BREAKING BAD which was unresolved when that series ended. The first episode of BREAKING BAD aired on AMC on January 20, 2008. The show ran six seasons until 2013 and the prequel series, BETTER CALL SAUL, started in February of 2015 and wrapped up just last week (This show stretched its seasons out due to scheduling conflicts and the COVID-19 pandemic). Both these shows observed as a singular piece of entertainment were incredible achievements. For me, there are three aspects of these shows that I would like to discuss before this universe takes its final bow and retires as one of the greatest television experiences of all-time. The first is the cinematography, which as a film major, was probably my favorite aspect of the show. The second is the writing. Anyone can have an idea and create the initial groundwork for a television show. But being able to evolve your writing to recognize the talent at your disposal is a skill that is underappreciated. Finally, I am hoping that these two series and the one movie finish this universe completely. The law of diminishing returns kicks in when there are too many stories focused inside one universe. Ask any STAR WARS, NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, or MARVEL fan about this. When you have reached SHE HULK: ATTORNEY AT LAW or the BOOK of BOBA FETT levels of storytelling, you may have to recognize that your best ideas are behind you.
My favorite aspect of BETTER CALL SAUL has always been the cinematography. BETTER CALL SAUL which was made later has a more distinct visual style than BREAKING BAD. While the former show had a more profound Western influence, BETTER CALL SAUL takes inspiration from multiple genres and different types of cinematography. A few examples are the distant, wide shots inherent in gangster movies during acts of violence like seen in THE GODFATHER or MILLER’S CROSSING. Not to mention the beautiful environmental wide shots that evoke some of the most famous southwestern landscapes and desert scenery often seen in classic westerns from the 1960s to 1970s that give the environment its own defining character in support of the story. Finally, there is the noir aspect. The usage of bright lights, darkness, and spacing that was popular in the 1940s and 1950s. Watching BETTER CALL SAUL is like embracing a historical film studies class that covers a majority of the cinematography techniques of the 20th Century. The obvious influence of film on the camera work in this television show has set it apart from many of its contemporary brethren. Another AMC show that also had a wonderful cinematic feel with its bright colors, period costumes, and framing was MAD MEN. A show that embraced classic cinema techniques, the often over saturated lights and steady cams helped illuminate the beauty of the talent and their emotional performances. With SAUL, the diverse range of shots helps set the mood inside of each scene and allows each moment to stand on its own outside of the story telling. The creators also decided to play with color as all the scenes that take place in BETTER CALL SAUL after the events of BREAKING BAD take place in a haunting black and white. With the color defining the timeframe in which this part of the story occurs, the show ends on a wide two shot of Kim and Jimmy, one of them behind bars, saying goodbye for the last time. The lack of color is a perfect summation for the wreckage that remains in each of their lives. Another fantastic creative aspect of these shows is the writing. When evaluating the story from a dialogue perspective, it may come across as ordinary. But what sets these shows’ writing apart is the understanding of the characters and how their actions are believable from a human perspective. The ability to adapt and change the character and story when they don’t make sense. Not to mention that actors like Aaron Paul who played Jesse Pinkman and Rhea Seehorn who played Kim Wexler were not originally meant to be major characters in their respective shows. But because of their incredible performances, the writing adapted to making them centerpieces of each one. Understanding the talent you have and adapting the writing to account for this is an incredible feat in a creative genre that is often criticized for its rigidity. Plus, the ability of the writers to reveal new information without digging themselves into a plot hole that has no escape is a testament to note taking and open discussion. Sometimes, a collaborative writers’ room that attacks a story with an open mind can lead to entertainment nirvana. Finally, the last section of this article involves my pure opinion on the potential “future” of the BREAKING BAD universe. With two shows and a film that came as close to perfection as they have and stayed consistent for such a long period of time, I would prefer if this world were never returned to in the future. Each character’s story is complete. Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould both feel the same way as they move onto their next creative projects. It is time to appreciate the magic that these gentlemen created over a 110-to-120-hour timeframe. These shows were television in its most perfect state. There is no reason to drain more juice from that orange when it has already nourished us completely. BREAKING BAD and BETTER CALL SAUL are done. Isn’t that spectacular? On this Happy August 16th also known as “No More Cheneys in Congress” Day, I want to make a few points about some changes in my life and the reason for my slower output on my website and the snail-like release related to my book. First of all, there a few political families that can truly be blamed for the rapid decline of the United States. Names ending in Bush and Clinton played a huge role. But the Cheney family represented by Father Dick and Daughter Liz may actually be two of the worst politicians in history. Promoting nothing but empire and endless war since 2001, they have added no benefit to anyone’s lives unless you are a military contractor. Harriet Hageman will beat Liz Cheney by approximately 35 points in the Wyoming primary today. Whether Ms. Hageman will be a good politician is anyone’s guess (I am leaning towards NO). But at least we can finally shovel the final pieces of dirt onto the Cheney family’s political career. Second, I pulled my son out of the public school system last week. This was a long time coming. There are three primary reasons why this occurred.
First, the threat of masking continues to exist within these school districts. Even though it has been relaxed for now, I can no longer trust these public school administrators. Whatever “science” they are getting their information from, it has been proven over and over and over that masks don’t work while causing childhood development problems. I can no longer risk my son’s future at a school district that feels like it has declared war on my son. Second, watching his education online from March of 2020 to June of 2022 has been a painful experience. The repetition of the classroom had my son repeating information dozens of times over. His academic decline started quickly after the lockdowns. When my wife and I realized this problem, he was already a grade behind. So, I started teaching homeschooling an hour a day on the side outside his normal remote school hours. This one hour created a tremendous improvement in his cognitive and academic skills (This was also proven through testing on campus later in the year). Since my son showed great improvement with extra attention from his parents, this gave us another reason to pull him out of public school. Finally, the education that he is learning is a complete joke. Once I began to study his curriculum, I was horrified by its abject simplicity. Last year, this became a huge political issue. Since people of the left-wing liberal persuasion have tremendous influence over the education system in this country, many of them thought that the education they were giving our children was an improvement over the average education from 20 years ago. They are absolutely wrong. In the 6th grade, my son does not even understand many of the basics of writing including what a prepositional phrase is or a conjunction. Almost everyone of his classmates has this problem. The teaching of American history and Civics is a joke. There is no teaching of the dialogue inside the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution except for small snippets which the educators decided were the most important. Ask any child today what the five freedoms of the people are in the 1st Amendment (For the record, they are Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion, Freedom of the Press, Freedom to Assemble, and the Ability of any Citizen to Petition the Government for Grievances) and you will find that most Harvard graduates cannot recite all five freedoms. History is now taught with no context. It always starts with the Revolution against the British. Only specific events are discussed. After moving on from this period, all of modern-day history becomes about identity. While American history is dark and racist, liberal academics focus our children on this racism. No perspective is given. History jumps from one oppressed person to another. Nothing positive is really discussed. If you want to know why the millennial and Z Generation are all social justice warriors thinking that they live inside the most racist nation on Earth, look no further than the public education system. When I was younger, I felt history was too nationalistic. We swept over terrible moments like the Trail of Tears or the Chinese Exclusion Act to focus on the greatness of our country. We put too much emphasis on the historical wars that we have fought. I believe most liberals wanted to give a more balanced perspective when they took over the public schools. Unfortunately, the teaching of these topics has swung so far back into the other direction, that they resemble a Babylon Bee article more than a proper way to learn knowledge. Don’t get me started on what passes for science today or this blog is going to go another page. So my son is now getting a proper education. He is entering the 6th grade. I ordered three 5th grade classes (Math, Science, and History) and one 4th grade class (English) because that is where he currently resides academically. Two years were lost to COVID-19 despite the fact that children are rarely impacted by this virus. The education system will burn in hell for what they have done over the past two years. It may have taken my wife and I too long to figure these problems out. But we will never be fooled again! How many of my readers feel like there is something amiss? A crack in the matrix, so to speak. For me, it feels like the world switched over to a different multiverse (With apologies to MARVEL) when the two planes hit the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001. I have never been able to place one of my increasingly fat fingers on the cause of this dissonance. Why did the 1980s and 1990s feel so significantly different from the 2000s and 2010s when it came to political or economic discussions? Well, there are a few brave individuals who have been trying to figure this out themselves. In this short blog, I will provide three examples of journalists and researchers who have begun to focus on United States and global propaganda. When we think of propaganda, it is always easy to point it out when a dictator like Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin, or Pol Pot embraces its usage. What is difficult is to recognize propaganda when it is “quiet” and subtle. Here are a couple of examples.
One of the leading professors in the world who teaches classes on propaganda, Dr. Mark Crispin Miller, had an incredible 40-minute speech on present-day propaganda at the AMERICAN FREEDOM ALLIANCE. Reflecting my own knowledge on this topic as a member of the media, television broadcast technician and engineer over a 13-year timeframe, and owner of a Master’s Degree in Film and Media Studies, I agree with 99% of the points he discusses in this video. The video can be watched here (Since it was banned on YouTube). During the second half of his speech, he informs his audience how propaganda has evolved over the past two years in three different ways: 1. Propaganda is global which is new to the human experience. The universal reaction of countries around the world during the initial outbreak of COVID-19 in using the same lockdown tactics and medical treatments is something that has never occurred. And this type of propaganda was overwhelming and persistent. Other than a few outlier nations (Like Sweden and portions of Africa), every nation engaged in similar propagandistic tactics that only differentiated based on cultural differences. Never have I been witness to such a huge wave of propaganda. 2.Propaganda has been endless since 2020. This is absolutely true. Propaganda has been around for a very long time. But propaganda was only noticeable during specific historical episodes like its usage by nation states in wars or by dictatorships to keep control of their populations. But since COVID-19, the government has not stopped for one day to give us a break. Unfortunately, this is likely to continue into the near future. 3.The “Left” as it defines itself now are the leading proponents and leaders behind our present-day propaganda. While you can find authoritarians of different political leanings practicing propaganda throughout history in many different nations, the modern-day experience of propaganda seen especially during the presidencies of Nixon, Reagan, and the Bushes always originated from the ‘right.’ This is no longer the case. This change has obliterated the old party alliances. Instead of being seen as a left-wing liberal or a right-wing conservative, new alignments are forming around people who believe in liberal and freedom-loving ideals and the rest of the population that seems comfortable living under governmental edicts, mandates or are engaged in contributing to this control mechanism through their own sociopathic tendencies. My libertarian leanings have found many allies on the left over the past two years including politicians like Tulsi Gabbard, professors like Dr. Mark Crispin Miller, and a whole host of journalists like Glenn Greenwald, Matt Taibbi, and Robert Kennedy Jr. The re-alignment will continue as long as the Democratic Party continues down its path of destruction and insanity. The second article is written by a so-called “anarcho-communist” named Caitlin Johnstone. While I do not agree with her on many topics, her analysis on our culture and the media is unique and important to understand. Her article titled, “WESTERNERS THINK THEY ARE FREE THINKERS INDIVIDUALISTS AND ITS EFFING ADORABLE” is an important read. Most Americans when they make personal decisions involving politics, social issues, or which sandwich to buy have no consciousness to understand the manipulation that the government and corporations have engaged in to mold your opinion. So even though you may believe that posting a Ukrainian flag on your Twitter feed is rebellious and individualistic, you also are doing exactly what your government and social media companies want you to do. Or having your once anarchist and rebellious lyrics as the band RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE change to reflect what the political establishment wants you to support. Tom Morello is now “RAGING WITH THE MACHINE.” As she mentions so eloquently involving this idea, “As a whole we are marching in perfect accordance with the will of our masters: voting how they like, thinking how they like, speaking how they like, working how they like, shopping how they like, and living how they like.” Finally, there is a book that I recommend. Most famous for inventing the definition of the term MASS FORMATION PSYCHOSIS, the book is an update on Hannah Arendt’s classic THE ORIGINS OF TOTALITARIANISM. The book is THE PSYCHOLOGY OF TOTALITARIANISM by Mattias Desmet. This book analyzes the psychological conditions that lead to the rise of a totalitarian state inside a society. While Arendt’s book dived into this topic from a cultural and political angle, Desmet looks into the mind for the reason why people abandon their free will and accept totalitarianism. An in-depth review will be coming in a couple of months on this book. If you are concerned that most American people are in a psychological state ready and willing to accept a totalitarian nation, your fears will definitely be confirmed when reading this novel. Until next week! I intend to finally release the long-awaited part 6 of my series on the destruction of the education system. Enjoy! Due to summer vacations, public corporate events, and family visits, my blog has been laid low like the poor Washington Nationals over the past month. Life gets very complicated and chaotic in ways that are unpredictable. During this time, I decided to finish a book on my increasingly growing Amazon watchlist, OVER THE ELECTRIC GRAPEVINE: INSIGHT INTO PRIMUS AND THE WORLD OF LES CLAYPOOL. To understand why I would read a novel about a band whose heyday existed in the early 90s, it is important to go back to the beginning of when the Expert of Some first discovered Primus.
Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area, Irwindale, California, 1993, the eve of Lollapalooza 1993.The lineup consisted of seven bands: RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, TOOL, FRONT 242, ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, FISHBONE, ALICE IN CHAINS and PRIMUS. The tour earlier had BABES IN TOYLAND and DINOSAUR JR. who did not play during this last segment of the concert. My friends and I got a hotel for the evening in nearby Arcadia, a quick walk from Santa Anita Horse Track. Because of a wandering friend who disappeared on his skateboard that night (Which made us even more nervous after we went to ask about his whereabouts at Santa Anita and were greeted by some people acting very bizarrely), none of us got any sleep. Our “friend” re-appeared at our hotel early in the morning right before we had to leave for the concert. Among all of us, I got the most sleep with an impressive three total hours. On August 8th, 1993, just days before my 19th birthday, I went to the best rock concert of my life. After FISHBONE came out and blew the crowd away, we watched a subdued but impressive performance by ALICE IN CHAINS. And then came PRIMUS to headline. Only being familiar with a couple of their songs up to this point (Which were impressively played rock numbers) like TOMMY THE CAT, JERRY WAS A RACE CAR DRIVER, and TOYS GO WINDING DOWN, I had no idea what to expect. After an almost three-hour performance, I was completely blown away. I had just witnessed my favorite rock performance of all time. Nevertheless, I have seen Primus six times since then and they remain my favorite concert band of all-time. Approaching 30 years of fandom with a band whose incredibly talented lead singer and bassist looked like he was spawned by a mad scientist out of the DNA of Geddy Lee from RUSH, Les Claypool has always gotten the benefit of the doubt from me regarding his diverse musical output. Even if some of his other music is not as interesting as PRIMUS was. I also do not read novels about bands. Because most of them usually end up telling the same story (Band becomes popular, bandmates have lots of sex, drugs become a problem, personalities begin to clash and this leads to the inevitable breakup which in most cases, eventually leads to a reunion with members that are wiser, more satisfied with their legacy, and sober). The BEASTIE BOYS book released a few years back was more of a history book than a novel about three Jewish boys from New York who became world famous rappers. SCAR TISSUE, Anthony Kiedis’s autobiography about his experience with the RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, fell more into the atypical rocker story involving a man with a severe drug and personality problem who succeeded despite his best efforts to fail. OVER THE ELECTRIC GRAPEVINE does not fall into any of these categories. The most interesting part of the book is the first few chapters which lays out the history of the main character in PRIMUS (Les Claypool) and how he arrived at creating one of the most interesting bands of the 1990s. This historical section is the true highlight of the book. Les is truly an interesting man, and many famous rockers and personalities seem to have an opinion about him. The problem I had with the book was more on a fundamental level. Unlike the BEASTIE BOYS who turned over chapters of their books to specific personalities, much of this book was written by the members of PRIMUS and other individuals and rockers that surrounded them during their 1990s heyday. You find out some interesting details. For instance, Tim Alexander and Les Claypool seem to have a particular chemistry problem regarding their personalities. This issue is mentioned but often dismissed by overtly polite writing where they discuss how much they admire each other before diving into the seedier details. This occurs throughout the book and quickly becomes uninteresting. Multiple individuals talk about Les’s aggressiveness towards drummers or his perfectionist personality. But no one every dives into this topic for exploration. Everyone seems like they are protecting their reputations and seem afraid to show the darker sides of their personalities. When I read a book like this, I want to understand these people, the good and the bad. I still lack the understanding of various parts of the PRIMUS timeline. The last three chapters of the book are completely pointless. It is just a summary of the greatness of PRIMUS and how talented and unique each member of the band is written by various other musicians. If I had not already read this over 20 of the previous 27 chapters in one form or another, maybe this would have been interesting. Les is great, unique and has an interesting personality that comes through in his music. So please tell me something else that I do not know. Despite these complaints, the book is fascinating. Les’s open-mindedness towards different experiences has led him to be a part of as many bands as Mike Patton. Kirk Hammett and Matt Stone from SOUTH PARK are two of Les’s best friends. Like myself, Les was one of the only people in his friend base to have children which caused him to distance himself from many of them due to a changing of priorities. All these things were quite interesting, and I wish there would have been more discussion about these topics. How did he balance being a father and a rock star? But despite all of this, Primus remains a fascinating band. You will not find the same problems that have struck down many famous rock bands over the decades. If anything, Les’s divergent interests and his rocky relationship with Tim Alexander were probably the only things that led to any real issues within the band. They were a disciplined trio that just loved to make unique music together and got famous along the way. I recommend this book mostly for people who do not know anything about PRIMUS. Read it and buy their albums or watch a few of their videos on YouTube. Your life will never be the same. If you want to dive in, watch these videos, listen to their best album, or watch the satirical movie made by Les Claypool. MR. KRINKLE SOUTHBOUND PACHYDERM SAILING THE SEAS OF CHEESE – MY FAVORITE PRIMUS ALBUM ELECTRIC APRICOT – A SATIRICAL AND QUITE FUNNY MOVIE DIRECTED BY LES CLAYPOOL I was going to write about a different topic until this last Friday. On Friday morning, the much-awaited decision Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization was released which reversed the Roe vs. Wade decision in 1973 that created a federal law protecting a women’s right to abortion in all 50 states. The vote was 6-3 and to reverse the decision of the 1973 decision, the justices voted 5-4. This decision pushes the abortion laws back to each of the 50 states. It is impossible to talk about this issue without generating controversy. I would be lying to all my readers if I did not admit that my personal feelings on this issue leans towards a specific bias. So being completely honest, there is nothing I can say in this blog that will not be controversial. As I have aged, the abortion argument has evolved from a question of morality, to accepting abortion as a matter of personal responsibility, to finally rejecting the concept based on the flawed logic of federal power. We live our life doing our best to understand the complications of human civilization and abortion is just one small piece of this experience. So why would my personal opinion on a social and personal issue really matter to anyone? I just want to emphasize a few things that have disturbed me since this ruling was released.
The best analysis of my personal opinion on abortion in the mainstream media comes from the online publication THE HILL. This article on the overturning of Roe vs. Wade needs to be read and appreciated. There have always been two primary problems with the 1973 ruling and this article addresses both of them. First, the original ruling was based on an incorrect reading of the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment. This was one of the three amendments passed during the Reconstruction era after the Civil War. “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” The 1973 ruling was an incorrect interpretation of the 14th Amendment. The 14th Amendment existed as a pushback against future state discrimination by Southern States who wanted to recreate a two-tiered society after the Civil War. No person should be deprived of “life, liberty or property.” So how did this law become the basis of Roe vs. Wade? This is the foundational argument that has irritated many lawyers for decades. In fact, even Ruth Bader Ginsberg, a hero to liberals, had problems with the 1973 ruling. Here are a few of her quotes taken from a speech in 2013 on the 40th anniversary of the ruling. “My criticism of Roe is that it seemed to have stopped the momentum on the side of change,” Ginsburg said. She would’ve preferred that abortion rights be secured more gradually, in a process that included state legislatures and the courts, she added. Ginsburg also was troubled that the focus on Roe was on a right to privacy, rather than women’s rights. “Roe isn’t really about the woman’s choice, is it?” Ginsburg said. “It’s about the doctor’s freedom to practice…it wasn’t woman-centered, it was physician-centered.” (BOLD IS MY EMPHASIS). Second, for a country that is always promoting our democratic ideals and the importance of voting, Roe vs. Wade took this away from the American people. A court filled with nine older men (Eight Caucasian and One African American) voted to engrain this into law. The American people were not allowed to vote and have an opinion on this issue for over 49 years. Plus, it violated many states’ 10th Amendment Rights and their ability to pass their own rules and regulations regarding abortions. This ruling also brings into question about when a life truly begins. There has been a lot of debate over the past decade of when an embryo becomes a baby. There are three stages of pregnancy. Much of the current scientific facts surrounding a female pregnancy is based off this scientific model. Read this article for clarification. To summarize, 1-8 Weeks of Pregnancy: Embryo 8 Weeks to Anywhere between 12 Weeks to 24 Weeks: Fetus After 24 Weeks: Baby The argument about the duration of a baby being a fetus is still undecided and crucial to this debate. According to many recent scientific studies, the evolution of the embryo into a fetus is when the baby becomes a human. Other findings disagree on when this actually occurs. The problem is that there is so much about pregnancy and the development of the fetus that we do not understand as humans. There are other complicated questions. For instance, does the 14th Amendment protections include the rights of an unborn baby? These are questions that have never been appropriately solved by science. This is a topic that still needs more research and clarification. Three more comments on this topic. First, I used to have respect for the BBC. But as they have proven over and over again this past decade, the arrogance of the British elites knows no bounds. Because we fought this country to attain our freedom in the late 18th Century, I still do not believe the British have ever understood the decentralization that is inherent in our Constitution. So this article explaining that, “Women have lost their Constitutional Right to Abortion” maybe the dumbest thing the British have ever published. There is no Constitutional right. If women want to engrain abortion into the Constitution, it is up to them to create the movement to accomplish this goal. But the abortion question should have always been a states’ rights issue. Second, despite what many Americans think, abortion legalization is NOT COMMON around the world. This Washington Post article makes this very clear. Of 198 countries, 59 of them allow women the “freedom” to make a choice about an abortion. The other 139 countries have some form of limitation from an outright ban except for health reasons or to terminate pregnancies due to rape to asking for “permission” to be allowed one. Here is the real interesting aspect of this. The recognition of when a fetus becomes a baby usually forces abortions within the legalized framework of 16 weeks. After that, an abortion becomes increasingly difficult to attain except in seven countries. Canada, United States, Netherlands, Singapore and the Communist nations of China, Vietnam and North Korea are the only countries in the world that allow late-term abortions. That is a quite an interesting and diverse mix of countries. Finally, the fear that this ruling will cause abortion to be banned is not out of the question and I understand this argument. Just like I supported the elimination of Roe vs. Wade, I would also be in total opposition to a full Federal ban on abortion. People with strong religious beliefs mostly support the right to abortion now. At present, state abortion laws go back into effect in the United States. Despite many feminists’ fears of a full ban, abortion is now illegal in only 11 states. This list will probably increase to around 15-20 in total when all the bills are eventually passed in each state. Despite this, the individuals who are most upset about this ruling, the liberals on the coasts, will likely see no such restrictions on abortion. As a citizen of the state of California, abortion rights are likely to be expanded to allow abortion up to the moment of birth. California allows teenage girls to get abortions without parental consent. There are also laws on the books allowing for out-of-state women to get an abortion due to the legalization of later term abortions in California (Current law allows abortions up to 24 weeks after fertilization). Corporations have announced (Disney, Amazon, and Dick’s Sporting Goods being some of the first) that they will cover travel and medical expenses to any woman who needs to travel out of state for the procedure. Plus, California, Oregon, Nevada, and Washington announced that they will be “abortion sanctuaries” for women. Remember this when you see a crying woman who lives in Los Angeles talking about losing her right to an abortion. Not only is she misinformed, but she is also an idiot and has an agenda. There will be no such abortion restrictions on the West Coast. I feel sorry for the women in the states that may lose their abortion access. Democracy is a cruel beast and there are many states in our Union where the majority of people do not support the right of a woman to have an abortion. But it is not the responsibility of actors in Hollywood or tech elites to push their moral values onto these individuals. The United States is sometimes a messy republic because of our authoritarian need to control how other people think. This has always been the wrong tactic. If you believe your opinion on this issue is moral and correct, education and cultural change will make all the difference on whether future generations agree with your point of view. This summarizes the human experience in a nutshell. If we all acted and believed in the same political and social issues in unison, would that really be a human experience? This is what makes the short amount of time we are on Earth so interesting. And why I personally believe that life needs to be protected as much as possible and within reason. It is not up to me to tell someone whether they can have an abortion. But as a parent, I am damn happy that my partner never got one. UPDATE: A reader brought this up to me after publication. I will let Justin Trudeau's tweet speak for itself. From his Twitter feed: Justin Trudeau @JustinTrudeau Jun 24 Officiel du gouvernement - Canada "No government, politician, or man should tell a woman what she can and cannot do with her body. I want women in Canada to know that we will always stand up for your right to choose." This is one of the most hypocritical statements I have ever read. Is he even aware of what a stupid statement this is? As many unemployed Canadians know, bodily autonomy and choice for women and men was not an option when the COVID-19 vaccine came around. You just can't make this stuff up. |
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February 2023
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