Author: TradeBait2

2025.12.02 Daily Thread – American Stories: When in the Course of human events – Part 32

I first need to do a mini-ground report before getting into the subject of the day. I did a ground report not long ago in a Daily Open that stated tourism was down about 6% around here year to date.

It has caught up and then some.

I would not advise coming here if you do not like to sit in traffic and stand in long, long lines at amusements and nature venues with equal delays in seating at restaurants. Holy Smokies the rampage is underway at a less likely time of year other than Black Friday shopping. Gatlinburg and Pigeon Force are under siege even with the weather turning colder than in years past. Dollywood’s Christmas Celebration with all of the lights and shows are packed like sardines.

For what it is worth, Dolly was reading comments or listening to me and others when I wrote that the cost of annual passes had gone way too high for folks in our region. A major note of appreciation to her and the team. Each year in the offseason periods when there is less overall attendance there are a few days for locals to be let in free, which have been greatly received and appreciated. Those visitors receive access again in the fall for like $5 a ticket if they bring their previously used ticket stub. At that point if they choose to go on and purchase annual passes that are good for the fall and the following year while they are there at the park, they receive a discount. Again, Holy Smokies what a great thing the team did. The annual passes were half off of the normal prices! They also have a military discount. The visitors were even able to pick up the large beverage mugs for free as a nice bonus. Now more of the local folks in the region can enjoy all Dollywood has to offer as well. Our grandkids were ecstatic.

This charitable act will bring more locals in and will give Dollywood a boost in securing employees as well. They are always hiring because they are always growing and expanding.

Through the years I have observed that as tourism goes in our area, so goes the overall economy of our nation and the moods of We the People. There is such a broad representation of people who come here from all over this and other countries that it gives a solid indication of general economic direction. Folks are feeling good about things and spending money. They are believing PDT and the patriots that things are getting better. With the illegal population being removed and crime down significantly in our area, the mood and activity is heading in a very good direction unless you are a local who can no longer get where you need to go in a reasonable period of time.

Time for the lead.

Some of you are going to groan and some are going to just go to the Signers below or even the comments when they find out the subject today.

😀

It is Convention of States discussion time again!

https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/convention-states-effort-surges-support-trump

https://conventionofstates.com/news/breaking-trump-posts-article-about-convention-of-states

Will your opinion change or remain the same if POTUS Trump gets behind the effort? It is obviously in the minds of him and other patriots.

Would a rational discussion help? Do we need to claim negative things “could” or “would” happen to make things worse when even having a COS is constitutionally limited in its scope? Many of those things of concern by those opposed cannot even be legally addressed by a COS. Anything that “could” or “would” be approved would be subject to legal challenges all the way to SCOTUS.

The reverse “could” or “would” can also be true. Things “could” or “would” get better or the even law abused to our benefit. How are any of the potential positive or negative abuses any different than how things are now being delivered without having a COS? The effects of having a COS may reduce or eliminate those potential abuses within the scope of COS authority. That would be a very good thing.

Let ‘er rip in the comments if so motivated. Please respond in good faith and use facts to support your argument. As we know, people are informed by many of the posts on here. That is the patriot way to do things, the way our founders used. Most know how I feel. If PDT were to get involved it would just confirm it as the right thing to do in my opinion. His positions are really well thought out even with the few I disagree with him.

As an observation, there will need to be a lot of state legislature conversion and funerals (natural causes, of course) of obstructors before it is likely to happen. Old habits die hard. Perhaps it will be implemented by PDT as part of his overall MAGA plan at some point. Will see.

See, that wasn’t so bad was it? You got lucky. This time anyway.

Time to move down the coast to the Tar Heel State. These two were interesting to say the least. Please spend some time on them. They had “challenges” to deal with just like all of us.

William Hooper

Talk about somebody being “conflicted”, we have a classic in William Hooper.

Let’s start with a good thing. From a letter he wrote to a friend on April 26, 1774:

“The Colonies are striding fast to independence, and ere long will build an empire upon the ruins of Great Britain; will adopt its Constitution, purged of its impurities, and from an experience of its defects, will guard against those evils which have wasted its vigor.”

He may have been the first to correctly predict where the patriot movement was going. However, there is more that makes it all and him, well, weird.

Hooper was born in Boston in 1742 to Rev. William Hooper and wife, Mary Dennie Hooper. He was the oldest of their five children. His father was from Scotland and graduated from Edinburgh University as a Congregationalist pastor. He immigrated to the colonies in 1734. In 1740 he left his pastoral role and became an Episcopalian. He returned to London and was ordained by the Church of England. He returned to Boston in 1747 to be a Rector of Trinity Church where he served until his death in 1764.

That was the first sign that being conflicted about something important ran in the Hooper family. Either that or just being opportunistic.

Young William Hooper began his formal education at The Boston Latin School. He did so well that he entered Harvard as a second year student at age 16. He continued to do well academically and graduated with a BA degree and was expected to go into the clergy like his father. Instead he chose a law career. He began studies under James Otis in Boston who was considered a radical. He finished in 1764 and passed the bar. There were so many attorneys in Boston he decided to head to Wilmington, NC.

He opened his office and was successful with wealthy local land owners and fellow attorneys. His reputation grew and he began doing legal work for the colonial government. In 1767 he married Anne Clark, the daughter of a wealthy settler to the region who was the Sheriff. They had three children over the next few years that found him moving up the ranks as deputy AG for the county and later, deputy AG for the colony.

This is when the story of William Hooper turns strange. He was a loyalist in his employment and personal thoughts. As tensions rose in the region he acted to protect the interests of the Crown. One day during a riot, Hooper was drug through the streets by independence movement minded rebels, the Regulators, in Hillsborough. Afterwards he contacted the colonial governor and urged him to use whatever force was necessary to stop the rebels. He even joined British forces in the Battle of Alamance against them in 1771. A link to a short summary is below.

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/battles/alamance

So you may be wondering how in the world did this guy ended up being a patriot?

During that same 1771-1775 period he also served in the NC General Assembly. He could see the tide turning toward independence and discussed it with associates. He decided to ride the rising tide of independence. He was appointed to the colony’s Committee of Correspondence and later elected to the First Continental Congress. He served on numerous committees there and was elected to return to the Second Continental Congress. He missed the vote to approve the Declaration due to NC government needs, but had returned in time to sign it in August.

In reality, a number of historical accounts said he intended to abstain from voting so he left to avoid confrontation.

His views had not changed overnight or due to a specific event. They evolved slowly over time and remained conflicted as we shall see. He left Congress a year after signing due to financial pressures back home. That is when the crap hit the fan for Hooper and his family. Enraged at him, the Brits under Cornwallis found his two homes in the area and used one to house themselves and the other was burned down. This separated Hooper from his family. He was forced to accept shelter and food from patriot friends for over a year on the run as the Brits attempted to capture him. He contracted malaria during the period and the locals nursed him back to health. His wife was treated cruelly by British soldiers during the period and was in very ill health when she and the children escaped Wilmington and found shelter in Hillsborough with a brother. Finally as the war neared its end they were reunited and settled in Hillsborough as a family, with some of the same patriot families that drug him through the streets years before.

So, who were the real forgivers? Only to, once again, experience the following.

Hooper continued his work with the NC General Assembly into 1783 and restarted his legal career, but lost favor with the patriotic people in the area when he joined the Federalist Party. He continued to assist loyalists in his law firm, which Federalists were known to do. He was so kind in his dealings and treatment of them he was labeled a loyalist himself by the locals. When combined with the actions of his two wealthy brothers, Thomas of Wilmington and George of Charleston, who were doing merchant business with the Brits and considered Tories; it was hard not to see William as one of them. This was cause for great concern with locals despite all of his strong patriot work and signing the Declaration. Some of this work during the revolution involved spies and other clandestine operations for the independence movement in the Continental Congress in Philadelphia working alongside B and other founding fathers.

He was later trusted enough to be made a Federal judge to mediate a border dispute between New York and Massachusetts in 1786. He pushed ratification of the U. S. Constitution in NC over the next two years even as his health declined. He succumbed to illness in 1790 at age 48. He is buried in the Presbyterian Churchyard in Hillsborough. Anne passed away five years later and is buried near her husband. Their house in Hillsborough is registered as a National Historic Landmark.

As readers, do you see what I mean as it being a weird story? A loyalist at the start; a patriot during the movement, war and Constitution enactment; a loyalist at the end of his life; but still useful to American government. A loyalist who was treated as a traitor by the very people he was loyal to much of his life. Some of the patriots who drug him through the streets were who took care of him while on the run from the ones he was formerly loyal to and when he was sick. They are also the people he turned his back on that elected him by becoming a Federalist against their desires. He then went on bending over backwards to help local loyalists, which he continued to do until his death.

In my opinion viewing Hooper’s history presents a variety of contradictory views. He may have missed his calling to be in the clergy as a forgiver of many atrocities, but ineffective reconciler of other with many people. Or maybe he was spying on behalf of American government leaders who were still rooting out elements of British Tory influence. Another view would have him somewhat compromised post war, possibly related to the business dealings of his Tory supporting brothers. Another option could be that he was just a head case wacko. 😂 Perhaps readers can come up with some more views I missed. If I was compelled to guess at what caused most of his conflicted behavior I would go with:

Follow The Money.

I am not sure I can fully endorse Hooper’s unquestioned commitment to America because it appears he would have been happy to leave things as they were pre civil unrest and revolution. However, that may be too simple of a conclusion. The situation is just weird.

As a result I am going with he is a patriot signer of the Declaration of Independence who sacrificed much for his commitment to sign that document.

The next signer’s tale is one for the ages. He was never conflicted, he was one of us.

John Penn

Unlike his famous Pennsylvania namesake, John Penn of North Carolina came from more modest circumstances. He was born to Moses and Catherine Taylor Penn near Port Royal, VA in 1741.

I agree with several sources about John Penn of NC. It is a shame a handful of the 56 most important founding fathers who risked everything and became traitors to the mother country to lead colonists to independence; are treated as nothings or just blips on the screen of American history. It is disgraceful that many historians have done so with Penn. I believe patriots who were nearly lynched and gave all they had within themselves in their incredible service to America deserve a much more prominent place in our history.

I will do so here.

His related Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration site gives a compelling account that cannot be adequately summarized here. The link is posted below. It gives insights that are not normally given by other traditional historical sources. You may find that you agree with my assessment that he was a great person as well as patriot.

You owe it to yourself and to found father John Penn himself to read this account.

https://www.dsdi1776.com/signer/john-penn

He stood strong when the other representatives of NC were wavering in their support of approving the Declaration. He delivered governing and military leadership to NC during the war when other military and government leaders literally ran (rode) away as cowards and abandoned their duties. He endured great suffering and gave up his health with a positive attitude and American spirit that did not quit. At one time he was to duel an older political adversary and in the course of doing so showed compassion and respect. He came away with a friend instead of a tragedy. I have not read any story of a founder quite like that of John Penn.

Without reservation we salute and thank John Penn for his commitment to the patriot cause.

Please remember Wolf’s rules for our community. In general that means to be respectful to each other and to pull no shenanigans that your mom might find offensive or otherwise cause jail time. That said, free speech is honored here.

Be blessed and go make something good happen!

2025.11.25 Daily Thread – American Stories: When in the Course of human events – Part 31

I lead today’s thread with a question, followed by others that are related.

Would you be hard line or reconciliatory with those who worked or fought against you and the colonists in the quest for independence, freedom and liberty? We have seen many examples of each with our Declaration signers. All of it led to differing results, historical significance, and sometimes interesting or unexpected conclusions to their lives.

I ask because we are in a similar war today. It is just as messy as it was then. The enemy has used deception, lies, terrorism, censorship and criminality of every sort instead of frontal, declared war tactics. But it has still been war. Foreign powers have been deeply involved as they were back then. Greed and seeking power has driven much of it just as it has with all wars. The tools that have been utilized against patriots today are somewhat different, but just as effective.

So when, not if, America First MAGA patriots win the current war – will you be reconciliatory toward the past enemy combatants or adamant in their receiving punishment and banishment from society? Which approach do you think #47 and other patriot leaders that follow him will take? What does our founding documents and the law say? What does the overriding will of God found in the Holy Bible say?

For the early Americans it even translated into taking sides using political parties. And here we are some 250 years later still bickering and abusing the American Way through political parties.

Ponder The Future Of America

The patriots of our past were innovative, creative, focused and dedicated. Life was harder then, many did not make it to age 60. So many children and mothers died young. Knowing this they made their days count, unlike many today who pass through their time living in fantasy worlds or shackled with drugs and perversions of the soul. It is a world filled with so much hate, so much stupidity, so much whining, so many petty grievances and making mountains out of molehills for personal gain and power.

VSGPOTUS Trump is working unbelievably hard and having a great time doing it while knowing at any moment there could be a bullet to the back of his head. He can do that because he knows his number of days in this world is in the hands of the Master. Do we have the same understanding in our own? If not, why not? It may be keeping us from fulfilling our God given mission.

Those who know the real me, know that I am a diehard University of Tennessee Vol sports supporter. So forgive me if you need to as I bring you a recent quote from the new head coach of the baseball Vols, Josh Elander, who has replaced who many believe has been the best of all recent college baseball coaches, Tony Vitello. Tony accepted the challenge of being the first college head coach in history without any professional baseball experience to jump from college head coach to manager of a major league team, the San Francisco Giants. His replacement at Tennessee had worked for Tony since their previous stop together at Arkansas, some nine years ago. With other coaches, staff and the administration they built an elite program together from bottom feeder status. Josh turned down several lucrative offers to go somewhere else over the past few years to continue building the Vol program.

Despite having very different personalities, Tony and Josh share a common trait. Josh’s quote from his introductory press conference follows. You may catch a reference to someone from a past BIMD story.

“Nine years ago, I got this job (as an assistant),” said Elander. “Tony called and I went on the road basically immediately. I never went back to the place that I rented in Arkansas. [I was] running around recruiting, doing a bunch of deals. 

But when I got here finally for our first visit, we were running a kid around, and there was a welcome packet on my desk. It had a bunch of different things. But the main thing I took out of that, I just took some scissors and cut it out. It was a quote from Pat Summitt. It’s been hanging in my office for nine years — and it ain’t going anywhere. That quote is, ‘Here’s how I’m going to beat you. I’m going to outwork you. That’s it. That’s all there is to it.

We knew Pat. We went to church together for decades. We had other occasions to visit with each other. Pat did what POTUS Trump is doing now, just in her expertise of women’s basketball. She became the face of the sport worldwide. As a result, she improved life for millions of young women over the years that have followed because what she did transferred into every women’s sport at every level as well as life in general. Her next challenge was revealing to the world that she had early onset dementia at the height of her HOF coaching career. This led to her opening up even more of her life and allowing the world in to experience it with her as she set up a foundation for Alzheimer’s treatment and research. She left this world far too soon, but the world was much better for her having been here.

Before she passed away, all of her work and dedication ended up translating into recognition around the world with her receipt of the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Hussein, one of the few things he did honorably. All of it happened because a rural west Tennessee country farm girl loved playing basketball and was willing to out work everybody else as she lived her dream. Tony Vitello and Josh Elander have benefitted from that same Pat approach in their occupations as well. It is a common thread with most people who make a real difference no matter the world’s perceived importance of one’s position in life.

The secret sauce is to have vision and outwork your opposition, whoever and whatever it may be, while thinking outside the box.

Take the blinds off and let your mind run wild with the possibilities that may make a difference in some way, big or small. It is just like the patriots did when the hostilities with the Brits ended 248 years ago. If the hostilities ended…oh wait…could that be another challenge left on the board?

As a current day MAGA patriot what are you doing or going to do with the secret sauce?

The focus now shifts to two little discussed New Jersey signers. Don’t ask me why many historians have slid right by these two.

Abraham Clark

Born in 1726 in Elizabethtown, NJ (now Elizabeth, NJ) to Thomas and Hannah (Winans) Clark as an only child, Abraham Clark was the third generation to reside there on both sides of his family. Both families were prominently involved in the area with over 150 Winans family members buried in the cemetery adjacent to First Presbyterian Church, where they were members. He was educated via tutor in surveying after his father realized he was very good at math. While working as a surveyor he studied law and opened a practice that focused on assisting poor clients. In 1749 he married Sarah Hatfield and they had ten children over the years that followed. While Sarah raised the children on their farm, he entered politics and became a clerk of the Provincial Assembly. He continued clerking for the assembly instead of military service due to his frail physical condition. Later he became the High Sheriff of Essex County and was elected to the Provincial Congress in 1775 as well as serving on the Committee of Public Safety.

New Jersey replaced their representatives to the Continental Congress in early 1776 as the existing reps were opposed to independence. Due to Clark’s strong support for it, he was named as one of the five replacements in June. As they voted in July, he wrote in a letter that, “”It is gone so far, that we must now be a free independent State, or a conquered country.”  He followed that statement later with, “”We can die here but once. Nothing short of the Almighty Power of God can save us.”

He worked to provide supplies to Gen. Washington throughout his time in Congress and during the war. He was notified that his two oldest sons who served in the enlisted military had been captured and were incarcerated in horrible conditions on the prison ship, HMS Jersey. He refused to let others in government know so they would not be given deference over other prisoners. When leadership discovered it they made arrangements to reciprocate better treatment to a handful of captured Brits to assist the Clark situations until their release in a prisoner exchange.

He returned to Congress for two additional, multi-year periods. He was a strong proponent for the common man, the farmers and mechanics in particular. This placed him at odds with those founders who urged deference to public officials. He refused to wear a wig or ruffles on his sleeves as he hated elitism and pretense. He wanted regular citizens to stay involved and let their elected officials know what they wanted done. He pushed a pro-debtor paper money bill through the state legislature in 1788. He ran for U. S. Senate and lost, but followed in 1791 for a U. S. House of Representative seat and won. He was a Whig and had a deep desire to secure personal liberties for citizens. He saw that centralized authority could lead to tyranny.

Clark passed away in 1794 from a sunstroke on his property and is buried in Rahway, NJ. It is said that he became ill, but refused to seek help at home until he took another person who had been working with him home first. His wife, Sarah, passed away ten years later and is buried next to her husband. What a patriot, what a principled man!

Francis Hopkinson

Francis Hopkinson was born in Philadelphia to Thomas and Mary Johnson Hopkinson in 1737. His father died when he was 14, however, his mother directed him to attend the College of Philadelphia (Penn), where he graduated in its first class with a BA degree while earning a MA degree three years later. Before his death his father was instrumental in the chartering of the college and worked with B to get it done. Hopkinson studied and apprenticed in the law under the colony’s AG and was admitted to the Bar a year later in 1761.

He immediately began work as Secretary to the Provincial Council of Pennsylvania Indian Affairs. He worked on numerous treaties during the period. He was not nearly as successful in his law practice and failed at a business venture, so he accepted a position as a Customs Collector in Salem, NJ. Hoping to make more money, he boarded a ship for England in 1766 in an attempt to gain a position as Customs Commissioner for North America, but was also unsuccessful with that despite learning a great deal more about the system. While there he began taking painting lessons under Benjamin West, the American born painter who founded the Royal Academy in England and painted for King George III. Francis returned to the colonies a year later in 1767.

His personal interests were diverse in that he was involved in writing, painting, music, design, politics and the law. He played the harpsichord and the organ. He composed published music of his own as well as copying arias, songs and instrumentals of other famous composers. By 1768 he had met and married Ann Borden, daughter of famous patriot Colonel Joseph Borden and wife, Elizabeth Rogers Borden of Bordentown, NJ. They had nine children together, four of whom died as young children with the rest marrying and having children.

Hopkinson returned to the role of Customs Collector in New Castle, Delaware in 1772. The couple moved to Bordentown two years later and he entered politics as a an Assemblyman in the state’s Provincial Council. He was admitted to the NJ Bar in 1775, resigned all of his British related positions, and was elected as a Delegate to represent NJ in the Second Continental Congress. He voted for independence and became a signer a month later. He left his role in Congress a few months later to return to his law practice and to serve on the Navy Board in Philadelphia. The British attacked areas of NJ during this period and their home was ransacked, however, they were not home at the time and were unharmed.

In 1778 he served as Treasurer of the Continental Loan Office and was later appointed to the Admiralty Court of Pennsylvania for periods from 1779 through 1787. He participated in the development and pushed for the Articles of Confederation as well as later, the Constitution in multiple states. In return for his tireless efforts after George Washington’s Presidential inauguration he was appointed to be U. S .District Court Judge for eastern PA in 1789.

He was long noted for his music, writing and artistic works. He also designed flags as well as seals, many of which were either used or provided as input for the final products chosen by federal entities. He continued to serve in his occupation and community roles until his death in 1791 at age 53 from stroke complications. He is buried in the churchyard of Christ Church in Philadelphia. Ann passed away many years later in 1827 at age 80. She is buried in her native Bordentown.

We are grateful for all of his patriotic and artistic contributions.

Please remember Wolf’s rules for our community. In general that means to be respectful to each other and to pull no shenanigans that your mom might find offensive or otherwise cause jail time. That said, free speech is honored here.

This Thanksgiving holiday weekend, remember the early American settlers and the patriots who followed that led to America’s existence as the greatest nation on earth. Thank the Lord that He saw fit to permit this great experiment in liberty and freedom to be conducted in His creation. Then go have some fun and love on your families and friends in celebration!

YUM!

Be blessed and go make something good happen!

2025.11.18 Daily Thread – American Stories: When in the Course of human events – Part 30

First, a short update on Bud is in order. Robotic resection surgery on 10/6 to remove 10″ of his colon that had turned to nearly concrete to starting back to work a little more than two weeks later with all systems go other than heaving lifting restriction. His surgeon found his recovery remarkable. Knowing that prayer warriors had been called in to do battle, Bud was not surprised and is very grateful to the Lord and all who offered prayers on his behalf. Thank you, QTree.

Let’s go with some ground report observations from the lowcountry during our fall frolic.

Less hispanic peoples were present, probably due to ICE presence. Per the locals, those from that background who were still there are probably legal; either on worker visas or citizens. I had my doubts with some as they acted evasive, albeit a MUCH smaller number than in the past. ICE has been busy in the lowcountry and moved more of their efforts further south recently. Like other places, no overcrowding in local schools now. If they register for school their parents and guardians are checked out.

Local crime is WAY down. Imagine that. Who da thunk exiting illegals along with a more visible law enforcement presence could have changed life that dramatically that fast? Well, actually, all of us real Americans. Add in taking out the trade routes of the cartels and things seemed, well, nice. Could it be that those 1000+ police departments and sheriff’s offices that have signed or intend to sign the agreement to be authorized to perform ICE duties are also interested in doing the other aspects of their jobs well? Sure appears that way. Inquiring minds only need to check to see if the local law enforcement agencies in their home areas have executed the agreement to know where things stand. If not, why not? You know the enemy by simply observing. Do not be deceived – they always self identify.

Overall, people were more friendly again. It even FELT safer to be out and about. The PDT effect is special. 👍

No masks. None. Even with COVID and flu around.

The No Kings rally was non-existent around there and a leftist boomer snoozefest in other lowcountry areas such as Savannah and Charleston. They might as well have been palmetto trees for all normal people cared. The local media tried ginning up interest with no takers apparently. The following day they never even mentioned it.

Staffing was down in restaurants and retail establishments, however, those who were there from all backgrounds and cultures were good and efficient everywhere we went. Food quality was off the charts good. The menu prices were actually down from last fall. Managers visited tables, asked about the meals, and thanked people for coming in; which was a nice turn of events. With no taxes on tips, the 5% discount option for paying bills in cash that had been available had gone away. Good servers can now make a living at the occupation regardless of tips in cash or on a credit card due to the tax law changes. Farm to table has been growing and was big around there due to the longer agricultural seasons as well as minimal storm disruptions for the seafood. It is all really working well now. Waygu beef grown on southeastern/midwestern farms is on many of the menus.

Triple tail, redfish, flounder, red snapper, sheepshead, grouper, swordfish and mahi were the orders of the day along with the Carolina shrimp, oysters and blue crab. The month of November kicked off a number of oyster fest events throughout the lowcountry.

Starting to see some development projects again, primarily residential. Commercial real estate development and occupancy was still soft. Some vacant storefronts, a number of which have been empty for a year or longer. Some of that is related to the increase in web shopping. Overall these long term vacancies will bring rental rates down.

Grocery prices were down from the past couple of years. Two dozen large eggs were $4.40 approx at Sam’s (now under $4). A lot of product price reductions and sales on aisles at Walmart, Krogers and Publix. Fuel was around $2.60 – 2.85 per gallon.

Drivers were stupid bad on the interstates and highways around there. Many had death wishes for themselves and others. Many more wrecks than in the past. Probably the effects of the jabs is part of it. However, the volume of local traffic was a lot less than previous years after the fall break kids and their families went home. At times it became so light that we thought we went back to the future.

Mild and temperate again for that time of year, which made beach conditions ideal. By comparison it had become very hot over the past couple of decades. Somehow most of the Atlantic storms miraculously turned northeast into the middle of the Atlantic this season. It’s a miracle!

😀

Our lodging had the pleasure of being beside a lowcountry thicket that ushered deer past our windows most mornings and evenings. Momma deer and I had several rendezvous in the mornings as I ventured out to our vehicle or returned to the villa. She seemed unconcerned with my presence even with her babies nearby. Then there was the young alligator who wandered from a pond to within about ten feet of Daughter and family on its way into another thicket at one of the miniature golf establishments. The grandsons loved it. Their Mom and Dad were not quite as enthralled.

Time to finish the SC signers.

Arthur Middleton

Our last signer from South Carolina was born in Charleston in 1742. Arthur Middleton was born and bred as a proper Englishman to parents Henry Middleton and Mary Baker Williams. The family members were wealthy owners of a large homestead along with 19 other plantations totaling over 50,000 acres with over 800 slaves. As time passed Henry embraced independence due to British taxation policies. Beginning in 1770 he increased his participation in the independence movement, resigning British appointments, and rose to President of the First Continental Congress. With his health worsening after a year of service he resigned in favor of his son’s participation, so that he could return to SC and live out his remaining years there.

Arthur was educated by tutors in Charleston until he was sent at age twelve to Great Britain to attend Harrow, Westminster, and Trinity Hall. He studied law at Middle Temple and traveled Europe afterwards enjoying the arts, music and literature. He returned and married Mary Izard in 1764. They settled into Middleton Place plantation outside of Charleston, SC where generations of Middletons lived. They had five children over the years.

Arthur was a more hard line independence minded person than his father. He became a leader of the American Party in the state and one of its strongest advocates for independence. He served on the Council of Safety and its Secret Committee. In 1776 he replaced his father as a member of the Second Continental Congress. He subsequently became a signer of the Declaration.

He and William Drayton designed the Great Seal of South Carolina. Although a loving and kind person with family and friends, he earned a reputation of being ruthless toward loyalists in direct opposition with fellow signer Francis Merion, who urged reconciliation after the war. Since Middleton served in battle at Charleston and was captured along with Thomas Heyward and Edward Rutledge, he probably had good reasons to feel that way. He was freed in an exchange of prisoners along with the other two. Per his Descendants site, Benjamin Rush described Arthur Middleton “as a man of cynical temper but upright intentions towards his country.”

Arthur chose to return to private life once victory was assured and he went back to Middleton Place, which had been devastated by the British during the war. He declined a return to Congress to focus on the homestead and plantation’s restoration. He did serve in the state legislature and as a trustee for Charleston College. He did not last long after that, passing away in 1787 at age 44. He is buried there in the Middleton Place Gardens & Tomb along with his wife, who passed away many years later in 1814 at age 66.

If you enjoy that sort of thing, you owe it to yourself to visit this National Historic Landmark. It is an American jewel.

https://www.middletonplace.org

Arthur was the son of a famous, respected patriot in an aristocratic family. He came from extreme wealth and privilege. It did not matter. He advocated for independence even more strongly than his father, served his fellow colonists, and put his life on the line in battle. During the war he endured prison and found the family’s wealth and properties ravaged by the British at its end. Instead of regret and wallowing in pity, he set about the rebuild and restoration. At his life’s early end after having suffered from fevers for the better part of a decade, he had accomplished his goal while still serving the citizens of SC in the legislature. We pay homage to his dedication to America and the cause of independence.

Please remember Wolf’s rules for our community. In general that means to be respectful to each other and to pull no shenanigans that your mom might find offensive or otherwise cause jail time. That said, free speech is honored here.

Be blessed and go make something good happen!

2025.11.11 Daily Thread – American Stories: Honor Our Veterans

As a reminder the national holiday we recognize today, November 11, was stablished by President Woodrow Wilson in 1919 as Armistice Day. It served as a celebration of the end of WW I. After WW II and the Korean War, Congress was pushed by citizens and groups to recognize the day for all veterans, not just those fallen in service to our country. In response Veterans Day was approved and President Dwight Eisenhower signed it into law in 1954.

With two fathers having served during WW II, the day will always be a special one for wifey and I. I have posted summarized versions of these stories previously, but many have not had the opportunity to read them. These will provide a bit more detail. I hope they will be a source of inspiration to you.

You’re In The Army Now

The Great Man from hillbilly land in Tennessee served as a heavy mortar crewman in the 36th “Texas” Infantry Division in the Army in the German theater and was captured in a fierce battle in and around Monte Cassino, Italy. That battle lasted nearly five months and had Allied forces from several nations involved. Complicating efforts was the desire by the Allies to preserve as much of the historically significant landmarks in the region as possible, which the German military was using to escape attack. In the end stage it was efforts of the Polish troops that brought it to a successful conclusion and opened the path of Allied troops toward Rome and final victory in Italy. Allied forces suffered approximately 55 thousand casualties along with 20 thousand Germans. At war’s end the Texas Division had suffered 19.5 thousand casualties. A summary description of this horrendous battle is below.

Monte Cassino: The Brutal WWII Battle That Shattered Armies, Spirits on the Road to Rome

The Great Man survived over 13 months in German Stalags and farm labor camps before being freed by Russian troops on April 13, 1945. He once attempted to escape a labor camp by swimming across a river with strong currents with two other prisoners. They did not make it and one of them drowned in the rapids. They were forced to sleep in old barns and on the frozen ground in the dead of winter, praying that the Allied bombers would not have them in their sights. During the last two months of captivity in 1945 the German guards kept them on the march. At one point they were strafed by allied planes who thought they were enemy combatants. Six of his fellow brothers were killed and they had to dig their graves. The Russians freed them a month before the official end of the war as their guards fled from the area.

He suffered from malnutrition and frostbite from the ordeal as well as from PTSD throughout the remainder of his life. Once he arrived back in his hometown there was nobody there to greet him at the train station, they had no idea of when he was coming. His family believed he had been killed in action the entire time until notified by the military after his release in late April. Even then they did not believe he was alive as other townspeople had received similar communications in the past only to find their family members had died. He began walking the approximate 5 miles to the small family farm in his broken physical condition until he could not any longer. The last bit of road he crawled until his momma saw him and came running. He could not believe her eyes when she saw him along the road.

It would have meant more to be home if The Great Man did not remember the years of abuse he suffered from his alcoholic father before he left to serve. As it was, he had nowhere else to go and he knew his momma would help. By this point his father was a shell of himself anyway, as the drinking had led to health problems as he had his legs being amputated at the knees from diabetes caused by the alcoholism.

He weighed less than 120 lbs. and initially could not sleep in a bed in their home. For months he slept on blankets on the ground under the front porch. Over time he regained strength from being back working and living on their small farm with food to eat.

His two brothers also returned to the family home after serving in the Navy. This lifted his spirits and he began to heal. He started attending church with his momma and met a pretty teenager he adored. They fell in love and eloped to Georgia to get married a year later. Upon their return it was not long before she was pregnant at the age of 18. The pregnancy went well until the sixth month and she began hemorrhaging. The old country doctor came to the small run down home they rented and thought it was time to try to give birth as both mom and baby were in serious danger. A few hours later a tiny baby girl weighing about three pounds was delivered. She did not make a sound and they all believed she did not make it. The Great Man began massaging her tiny chest and prayed to the Lord the entire time while the doctor addressed the needs of his wife. A few moments later they were overjoyed when the tiny baby began to cry.

Daddy’s Girl was born. She was nurtured at home, there were no NICO units or incubators to help her along. They got by with what they had and could do along with the help of that country doctor, families and friends. Daddy’s Girl turned out to be a tough fighter, just like her dad. This guy will be forever grateful. As a result I was able to grow old with the love of my life, experience being a girl dad, and now be a papaw to three wonderful grandchildren. We are forever grateful that The Great Man never gave up.

Four more children were born to the couple over time. He worked jobs where he could find one along with the farm work and eventually found a job at the Post Office in town at age 36. He was so proud and the townspeople all enjoyed visiting with him when they came by. When their parents passed away, he and his brothers sold that scrub 30 acre farm so they could each have enough for down payments on small places of their own. They were so happy to have homes with running water, indoor toilets and electricity for the first time in their lives.

Life happened and The Great Man stayed in touch with all of his POW buddies at annual events through the decades that followed. There were 30 from his unit that were initially captured. When they began their reunions they tracked down 21 who were still alive or could be found. They visited each other’s homes or at met up at motels through the years. They all came and visited The Great Man’s family home one weekend 32 years afters the war and again, some 9 years later in 1986. By that point only a dozen participated, half of the original 30 were deceased. The original 21 in the group were from every corner of America. All of The Great Man’s and his Angel Wife’s children, spouses and grandchildren came to meet the men and their wives. The time was filled with good food, laughter and interesting stories.

However, when we heard the Kansas public school teacher turned superintendent take his turn our eyes grew moist. He described how he hid a tiny notepad and pencil stub under the sole in his shoe that a kind, local German woman snuck to him when they were taken into town to haul grain seed back to the farm labor camp. At night in the dark when the guards were not watching he recorded dates and important events of most days. It served as a journal that helped him chronicle those last few months of their captivity when they were exposed and in the most danger. He had provided each POW brother a copy of it, which we still have today.

Many of the men spoke of how they cherished the potato peelings the thoughtful German women would throw to them that helped keep them alive. They talked about how the Russian captives in the Stalags were treated much worse than they were.

As a separate thought, maybe that helps to explain some of the deep seated hatred that we see between Russians and the Ukrainian/Euro Nazis today. The Russians seem intent on the total destruction of the nation that grew out of that Nazi stronghold. Perhaps it was not the best idea for our uniparty to have given away $350 B of our national treasure to a disgusting Day One lost cause.

As the families visited and told their stories we all knew we were in the presence of greatness. These men and their devoted wives were the best America had to offer to save the world.

The time came when Daddy’s Girl needed to become both The Great Man’s and his Angel Wife’s primary care giver. There were countless doctor and hospital visits, loads of laundry, bills to be paid, food to be provided and errands to run. With a family of her own, she was getting worn down. However, it became clear that The Great Man was being prepared to go home at age 80. The nightmares about the war that gripped him all those years no longer bothered him as life left his body. No more being embarrassed after diving under the kitchen table when a plane passed over their home or grabbing his rifle if he was startled by an unusual noise at night. Daddy’s Girl laid in bed with him at the nursing home as he went to be with Jesus. Their unshakeable bond was on display until the end. His trials and health issues were released as he entered into the waiting arms of Jesus.

His legacy was seen in the faces and words of over 700 people who came to the funeral of a man who had never held a position higher than janitor in his home town. This was followed by a full honor guard burial. Angel Wife handed the American flag that was presented to her by the honor guardsman to Daddy’s Girl and said, “Here, you deserve this.”

His greatness was found in the stories that were told and the lives that were made better by the strong, selfless, caring manner of The Great Man who was always there for his nation and others as had been done for him when he needed them most.

Anchors Aweigh, my boys…

The coal miner’s son was a Little Guy who took after his 4′ 10″ diminutive in stature school teacher and Appalachian poet mother who oriented him to the importance of seeking a higher education despite living in poverty. Then Pearl Harbor happened. The Little Guy left his community college classes and headed straight for the enlistment office. Standing 5′ 6″ tall and weighing 129 lbs., he was upset to learn he was barely tall enough and did not weigh enough. For weeks he did everything he could to gain weight including carrying rocks in his pockets when he tried to enlist the next time. The enlistment office personnel looked the other way as he stepped on the scale to find he weighed the minimum 133 lbs. to join the Navy. So, The Little Guy joined America’s military the same year as The Great Man in 1942.

His small size turned out to be a benefit for the role he would be assigned later. After basic and flight training on radar and as a radioman along with plane electrician in the Naval Air Force in Jacksonville and assignment to sunny Pensacola, his crew was soon based in the Aleutians at Attu, Alaska. Attu was a cold and barren place that was nearly devoid of life forms after the Japanese took it in the early days of the war.

The very small, primarily native Aluet population of the island who did not escape had been savaged by killing the adult males and sending the women and children back to Japan as prisoners. Later, it became the site where the blood of thousands of Japanese and hundreds of American troops lost their lives. The 500 or so remaining Japanese troops who survived the final battle were so brainwashed about their plights they committed mass suicide as well as murder of each other rather than being captured. A summary of the struggle is below,

https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/retaking-aleutians-1943

Once retaken, The Little Guy’s squadron was assigned and utilized as spotters who focused on reconnaissance in the Pacific. The initial plane they flew was a B-24. From 1944 until the end of the war it was a PB4Y-2 Privateer.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consolidated_PB4Y-2_Privateer

With each battle of our military they would be based into those areas to spot enemy ship, submarine and troop movements in the region. This led to him eventually spending time with his crew mates in Okinawa, Korea, Taiwan (Formosa), Myanmar (Burma), and China as well as post surrender, in Japan briefly. He saw the aftermath of the atomic bombs and other destruction from the air.

Interestingly, although they never met, he was stationed in Okinawa during the same period as one of The Great Man’s brothers who was a crewman on a Naval ship assigned to that battle and later based there.

It was a stressful period wondering if the plane would go down from Japanese attacks and becoming shark bait. Dodging flak was a regular occurrence. His crew survived it all due to a good tail gunner, “Gunny” Hagedorn, along with the help of American fighter pilots who protected them as well as the Lord’s will. He only experienced frostbite in his feet and an occasional nightmare about the widespread destruction he witnessed from the experience. He counted himself fortunate. His experiences led to a deep appreciation for President Truman’s decision to end the war with that atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

After the war he returned to college life. At that point with the better nutrition and physical conditioning from Navy life at age 24 he found he had grown 3″ taller and was 20 lbs. heavier. After college and a short term job in an aluminum mill; there was a return to the mines and a mining school to become a surveyor. After that there was a move into industrial construction as a surveyor and engineer from his education at the University of Tennessee. That led to a final long career in his field with a steel manufacturer. Along the way it meant hitting the Hillbilly Highway as he searched for a better life than could be found in dead end coal mining camp towns. Before he left the region he married a young woman in one of the coal mining towns who wanted out as well. Their first child, Daddy’s Boy, arrived on the scene a few years later as he worked construction on a major DOD project a half dozen years after the war. As that project wound down he found work doing what he loved in that steel mill town in SW Ohio.

The Little Guy was in his element. He shared a bond with many of the men at the mill as former brothers in arms serving their country. Generally there was great respect shared in that work place with all races and cultures of people employed there. They shared a common bond as the working class that loved their country and the work. You would find them gathered on weekends at the ballfields and high school stadium. Daddy’s Boy was coached up in team sports by many of his co-workers. These were the same fields that decades later produced home run hitting Kyle Schwarber – a current MLB All Star along with former NFL stars Todd Bell and Chris Carter.

Despite his important role in mill operations and maintenance he never made much money. Most weeks he worked 50-70 hours for the overtime pay to help the family make ends meet. That left very little family time except on weekends. However, before he left in the mornings he would cook breakfast for Daddy’s Boy and his sister. He did not want them to go to school hungry. The Little Guy never knew that he would be working with and living a half dozen blocks from the grandfather and family of a future Vice President. He would have been very proud of JD.

Life happened and The Little Guy grew old. Unlike The Great One, he never knew the stability and love from a good marriage. With the passing of his beloved parents he turned even more to his two children and families, sister, and friends for companionship. He knew Daddy’s Boy would always have his back just like he always had his through the years. As his body began to be wrecked by cancer and his relationship with his wife worsened; he left to live with Daddy’s Boy and family. Despite his body shutting down, in his own words the next five months became some of the best of his life emotionally and spiritually. He had always adored his only grandchild and family times brought him great joy. Wifey (Daddy’s Girl) was like a daughter to him for all of those years and he would always remind Daddy’s Boy, “You have a keeper, son.” He even returned to his faith, began attending church for the first time in over 40 years, and for possibly the only period in his life led prayers over meals.

As his time grew short, he asked for one thing from Daddy’s Boy, to be taken back to SW Ohio to say goodbye to his old friends and make arrangements at the funeral home. The trip that normally would have brought great sorrow turned into a joyful event as he visited with his buddies as his daughter joined us. Since his youth Daddy’s Boy had known The Little Guy’s best friend who was a co-worker. He had been a positive Christian influence. Spending time together was so rewarding for all four of us.

Despite their miserable relationship; he had provided a home, vehicle, no debt, enough money in the bank and retirement income to sustain his wife, the mother of Daddy’s Boy, for the rest of her years. The same person who hated and ridiculed him in life and in death; who drove him out of their home while he was dying of cancer, is who he made sure had all she needed to live life well. He often said he did not want her to be a burden on Daddy’s Boy and his sister when he was gone.

After a few days in hospice The Little Guy passed away quietly at the age of 83. His 91 year old former pastor, the same one who had led Daddy’s Boy to the Lord as a youngster, led The Little Guy’s funeral and burial services. The Little Guy’s final journey could all be summed up as finishing well. There were no tears, only a sense of gratitude and love as the honor guardsman presented the flag – to Daddy’s Boy.

Shared Traits

Both of these great men became well acquainted and friends through the years. They talked of their upbringing that was less than 75 miles apart, but living completely different lives. Both were very reluctant to talk about their war experiences. Both worked hard all of their lives to provide for their families. They never made a lot of money, yet, were not burdens on anybody else while providing enough for their wives to live well the rest of their lives. Both men had deep bonds of friendship with other men who lived through tough times. Interestingly, both men were strong supporters of the GOP all of their lives. The uniparty members would have made them angry today. Both men always had the backs of their families and friends. Both men focused on others instead of themselves. Both men exited the world quietly and mentally sharp despite their physical ailments.

Both wifey and I loved each other’s fathers deeply. We also both understood the role of the eldest child in many families, both dads taught it to us. I never fully realized just how valuable that commitment was until both fathers had gone to be with the Lord. Our collective younger family members were looking to us at that point. We also saw it in the eyes of Angel Wife as she laid The Great Man to rest and we helped her through her long battle with dementia after he passed. We saw his life’s partner go to meet him in paradise with all of the family at her bedside. Some bonds just can never be broken no matter who or what rises against them.

Did I mention Angel Wife passed away 11/11/11? Yes, she passed away on Veteran’s Day fourteen years ago today. Did I mention that her Veteran husband, The Great Man, passed away on the second anniversary of 9/11? He told me the day before he died that he knew the military would take out “that SOB bin Laden” at some point. Then there was The Little Guy passing away on St. Patrick’s Day. It was also appropriate due to the recommitment to his faith.

God has His ways and all we can do is marvel at them.

The following song was the story of different people in a different place, but the spirit of the words explains how wifey and I feel as we look back through the old photos and mementos of The Great Man and The Little Guy. They too were just trying to survive in their poverty stricken situations that led to going to war to protect our nation. Every time we hear it, in our minds we can see and hear the voices of our fathers.

Lesson

Each day we walk by the book case that holds those two tightly folded American flags from the burial services that are encased in frames to preserve them for the generations that follow us. We have also preserved the history of these two great men in memory books that incllude old photos, military documents, related news stories, etc. These included aerial and local photos The Little Guy took of all of his crew’s assignments while in the Japanese theater. They are in black and white, of course. It is never lost on us the sacrifices they and all patriots have made to keep America free. But to Daddy’s Girl and Daddy’s Boy, they were our dads who did that and so much more.

Our collective history as Americans matters in world history. In reality, We the People doing as the Lord has desired of us are all that has held the world together for a lot of years now. The future generations who follow need to know and learn from our experiences just as we have learned from others before us.

Please take time to honor those who have served you and your country well this Veterans Day. With those who have passed, keep their memories alive in your minds and hearts. Each generation of patriotic Americans has worked to keep this dream of We the People alive and flourishing. Look those who would do us harm dead in the eyes and do whatever it takes to stop them, just like our patriot fathers and mothers have done throughout our history.

Go to work. Never back down, never give up. Fight, Fight, Fight!

God bless our Veterans and God bless the U. S. A.

Please remember Wolf’s rules for our community. In general that means to be respectful to each other and to pull no shenanigans that your mom might find offensive or otherwise cause jail time. That said, free speech is honored here.

Be blessed and go make something good happen!

2025.11.04 American Stories: Daily Open – Special Edition (Short Version)

We have all seen enough now to better understand if we choose to understand.

IT. IS. TIME. FOR. THIS. DISCUSSION.

Once again, for emphasis this time in a dedicated post. TRUST TRUMP as KK says frequently. You and the lives of loved ones depends upon it. What initiated this post is below. It is a link to a Clandestine post that KK brought to the daily this past Sunday.

https://bioclandestine.substack.com/p/its-time-to-nuke-the-senate-filibuster

He is echoing what I have brought several times on here. My stories about Rules, Practices & Procedures, Parts 1-3, provide examples of the game playing that aligned in opposition to the wills of We the People. The current GOP uniparty players self identify when they insist on remaining members of Club Senate.

Folks – as those know who read stories in BIMD and since with America Stories: I lobbied off and on for years at high levels of federal government on behalf of the industry in which I worked. Many Congressional members and their staffers then and now are not good people. Some lived in their own versions of personal soap operas that left them open to blackmail and extortion. Others never hid it – they were brazen and did not care.

This has been going on for over 250 years. It is human nature when people are lacking or devoid of God in their lives, the One that Carl describes in his posts. Throughout American history when one actually does the research you see the same BS antics.

Many people give lip service to God when He is beneficial to them. However, it does not translate into living the life as one who fears (loves, honors respects and is also scared of) God Himself. For example, those type people are involved as deep state and unipartyists today. However, those type also devised the filibuster in 1806 as a circumvention of the will of the people, even though some legitimately thought the will of the people was too independent and rogue for them back in their day over 250 years ago. This is not conjecture, they said so in correspondence and documents. We can read their words today.

These founding fathers faced all sorts of riots, criminal activities, insurrections pre and post Revolutionary War that – OH, WAIT – that is also happening TODAY!

The practical matter is they used it as an excuse to do what they did. The truth is after 30 years of governance they were tired of listening to windbags hold the floor for hours and days of time. Again, they said so in written documents. They were the obvious ones that circumvented the business of the people. When you read deeper into American history you see it expressed by founding fathers and those in governance that followed them time and time again. Human nature was allowed to get in the way of the will of We the People so that the minority could circumvent the will of the people to acheive their own goals and aspirations as well as those of foreign powers.

If the goal was to reduce the control of the individual floor time in governance, all they had to do was invoke a rule like the ancient Roman Senate that the talking stops at sundown and everybody goes home. Or, do one such that a Senator does not get to control the floor on any singular issue after XX period of time. Or, that on a bill scheduled vote must be conducted in XX period of time.

But that would be too easy and too common sense. Too many people could see what they really wanted and would get pissed at them if common sense solutions were in place. They could lose their phony baloney jobs.

History

Many are surprised to be informed that some of those founding fathers they revere such as George Washington, John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, John Hancock, John Jay, etc.; actually (validly) feared insurrection and return to British rule. This led to the following being inserted into the Constitution. From Wiki (but accurate);

Only five supermajority requirements were explicitly included in the original United States Constitution, including conviction on impeachment (two-thirds of senators present),[6] agreeing to a resolution of advice and consent to ratification of a treaty (two-thirds of senators present),[7] expelling a member of Congress (two-thirds of members voting in the house in question),[8] overriding presidential vetoes (two-thirds of members voting of both houses),[9] and proposing constitutional amendments (two-thirds of members voting of both houses).[10] Through negative textual implication, the Constitution also gives a simple majority the power to set procedural rules.[2]: 1217 

Did you read that last sentence? That is what the current filibuster discussion is all about – a simple majority (that the GOP now has and the Dems previously had) with the power to set PROCEDURAL rules. The filibuster was then added through that process in 1806 along with other rules through the years.

In Alexander Hamilton’s view per Federalist #22 as it applied to the previous Articles of Confederation, he saw rules such as the filibuster that were in use later as a negative. Yet, he went on to champion the Constitution that included the clause that eventually negated his argument on the subject against the Articles of Confederation. This is also given as a reference in the same Wiki article on Filibusters.

“To give a minority a negative upon the majority (which is always the case where more than a majority is requisite to a decision), is, in its tendency, to subject the sense of the greater number to that of the lesser. […] The necessity of unanimity in public bodies, or something approaching it, has been founded upon a supposition that it would contribute to security. But its real operation is to embarrass the administration, destroy the government’s energy, and substitute the pleasure, caprice, or artifices of an insignificant, turbulent, or corrupt junto, to the regular deliberations and decisions of a respectable majority. In those emergencies of a nation, in which the goodness or badness, the weakness or strength of its government, is of the greatest importance, there is commonly a necessity for action. The public business must, in some way or other, go forward. If a pertinacious minority can control the opinion of a majority, respecting the best mode of conducting it, the majority, so that something may be done, must conform to the views of the minority; thus the sense of the smaller number will overrule that of the greater, and give a tone to the national proceedings—hence, tedious delays; continual negotiation and intrigue; contemptible compromises of the public good. And yet, in such a system, it is even happy when such compromises can take place: for upon some occasions things will not admit of accommodation; then the measures of government must be injuriously suspended, or fatally defeated. It is often, by the impracticability of obtaining the concurrence of the necessary number of votes, kept in a state of inaction. Its situation must always savor of weakness, sometimes border upon anarchy.”

What we see and experience is designed the way it is for a purpose. At some point we need to realize it has been our nature as a country to be the way we are in the operation of the federal government. If we do, we realize that it will not change unless We the People change what is causing it. We the People are not like our ruling class that we supposedly elect, but now know are largely appointed. The truth is our founding fathers and their successors added this particular clause to the Constitution that led to the circumvention of the will of We the People and in so doing undermined the intent and statements made in the approved Declaration of Independence that they fought a brutal war over. They thought better of their own judgment than the majority of We the People. That also explains their desire for deference to be paid elected officials over the common man. Again, they stated such in documents. The truth is the common man was not held in high regard by many of them. Except when they fought or worked for them.

Today

The rules, practices and procedures that work in opposition to the will of We the People are totalitarian responses by devious people who are benefitting at our expense. They have been upheld by BAD PEOPLE throughout our nation’s government, judiciary and globalist involveents around the world. Yet, per the Declaration the only thing that matters in America is the will of We the People.

All of the negative effects from the circumvention and criminal activities does not mean there should be rules, practices and procedures approved and used to counter them. Those are also circumventions that become two edged swords. The proper and legally correct answer has always been for supposedly elected representatives and their support staffs of the federal government to do the will of We the People.

The only way current day patriots can do that is if we stopping living in fear. Stop going along to get along. Stop with the what ifs that paralyze positive actions from being taken.

That is what PDT, his Cabinet and the white hats are trying to do. PDT clearly believes as do I that the filibuster should be terminated. He has been saying it for a decade. It and many other rules, practices and procedures are being used as weapons against potentially major positive changes in governing that could eliminate stolen elections, forever wars, economic blackmail from excessive debt, weaponization of government, an oppressive judiciary, citizen disunity, undue foreign influence, cultural perversions and so on. We do not have to concede anything to criminal Democrats. They do not ever have to return to power. Their criminal enterprise can go down into the ash heap of history just like the Federalists and Whigs. Remember that the Federalists, the party of Washington and Adams, controlled our federal government in the early years. By the end of the War of 1812 it had completely died.

However, that cannot happen if We the People agree to support the status quo.

The future of God’s people and nations dedicated to Him will always come down to personal and collective decisions to choose this (and every) day whom you will serve.

Which is why my life verse for over 30 years continues to be Joshua 24:15.

“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

We need a nation of Joshuas for what and who we face today that would destroy our nation. So what current American leader embodies the Joshua spirit in word and deed?

TRUST TRUMP.

Please remember Wolf’s rules for our community. In general that means to be respectful to each other and to pull no shenanigans that your mom might find offensive or otherwise cause jail time. That said, free speech is honored here.

Be blessed and go make something good happen!

2025.10.28 Daily Thread – American Stories: When in the Course of human events – Part 29

Since we have been in the lowcountry of the great state of South Carolina, I will focus on the state’s Declaration signers that have not yet been discussed this week and next.

However, before we start we probably need to sit a spell on the porch and have some cuisine from the area. Will start with a tea that is the only one of its kind in the nation. Per the company it is the only tea grown commercially in the USA – black tea from Wadmalaw Island near Charleston. The Charleston Tea Plantation developed over a long period of time. It would start and fail, over and over again. Finally, it succeeded for a couple of decades due to involvement with Lipton, yet, shut down again. One of the former owners then cut a deal with R. C. Bigelow out of Connecticut and cranked it back up – successfully. Bigelow opened the Charleston Tea Garden on the island where you can taste test their offerings including the black tea that is grown there. It is open year round. American Classic is their go to. I found it smooth and with a good flavor.

Now that you have wet your whistle, let’s walk into a Gullah Geechee kitchen. Will focus on the more unique offerings. No lowcountry breakfast starts right without some hot sweet potato biscuits along with gravy, sausage, bacon and eggs with grits on the side straight from the Palmetto State’s farms.

Or maybe you are like me and would like to chow down on some crab cakes benny…

As the day gets long there are some low country specialty dishes that will satisfy most folks. South Carolina has some great sweet shrimp, so how about some perloo? For those unaware, it is the lowcountry’s version of jambalaya.

Or shrimp and grits?

So many versions of that to choose from in the lowcountry. Even some with SC pimento cheese grits and local bacon. Try a bit of your favorite barbecue sauce drizzled on top. 😀

As we approach Thanksgiving, it may be good to have some smoked turkey and collard greens…

They even have the official SC good luck meal on New Year’s Day known as Hoppin’ John. Carolina gold rice, black eyed peas and pork…

For dessert or to satisfy a sweet tooth snack, Benne seed cookies…

That’s just a starter pack of SC comfort food to get your attention.

Regions

South Caroline is noted for having five major regions with other smaller areas with distinctive features. They are described in the link below.

Different Parts of South Carolina: Discover Regions, Cities, and Hidden Gems

Bet you will not find another region in America called Pee Dee. 😀 Actually the name originates from a native Indian tribe that was located in the northeastern Piedmont region of the state. There is a river there named after them. A unique state with an interesting history.

They cannot help they produced two of the biggest political flimflam artists in American politics ever…

And…

With one of his proteges no less. Well, actually we need to add one more flimflamette…

Good Lawd, South Carolina. Do better.

Time for a signer.

Edward Rutledge

As the youngest of seven children of Dr. John and Sara Hert Rutledge, Edward Rutledge followed his older brothers and became an attorney. He was born in 1749 in Charleston. His father was Scots-Irish and was a physician. His mother was of English descent and was born in South Carolina. Her family was wealthy and owned plantations. Edward studied law in London. He was admitted to the Middle Temple (bar) in 1772 before returning to Charleston to set up his practice. In 1774, He married Henrietta Middleton, sister of future Declaration signer Arthur Middleton, and they had three children.

He partnered with another famous SC family member, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney and became quite successful. He was an excellent orator. It was not long before he joined the patriot movement. He was elected to the Continental Congress and state’s House of Representatives. Over the next year he represented the state in many actions and discussions concerning independence. It was his ardent support as the final vote neared that swayed his fellow SC delegates to approve independence. He was the youngest Declaration signer at age 26.

Though he and his family owned slaves, he moved away from his support for it as time passed. He was careful in his approach with the issue in that he fully supported states rights on an issue that SC strongly supported. All of which made his participation in the preparation of the Articles of Confederation challenging.

Prior to the start of formal War hostilities; he, B and John Adams met with British Lord Admiral Howe to negotiate without benefit. Edwin held great respect for George Washington and said in the following in letter, “I must beg Leave to inform you that our Conference with Lord Howe has been attended with no immediate Advantages. He declared that he had no Powers to consider us an Independent States, and we easily discovered that were we still Dependent we should have nothing to expect from those with which he is vested. He talked altogether in generals, that he came out here to consult, advise & confer with Gentlemen of the greatest Influence in the Colonies about their Complaints…This kind of Conversation lasted for several Hours & as I have already said without any effect…. Our reliance continues therefore to be (under God) on your Wisdom & Fortitude & that of your Forces. That you may be as successful as I know you are worthy is my most sincere wish…God bless you my dear Sir. Your most affectionate Friend, E. Rutledge.”

Returning home in 1779 with an illness he was later appointed lieutenant colonel under Gen. Moultrie in Charleston and helped lead a victory over British forces at Port Royal. However, he was taken prisoner in the siege of Charleston and sent to St. Augustine with Thomas Heyward and Arthur Middleton. He was released eleven months later in 1781. He resumed his law practice with Charles Pinckney as well as public service in the state through the years that followed. He continued to become wealthier and purchased additional plantations. Henrietta passed away in 1792. He married Elizabeth Shubrick Eveleigh, who was a young widow and sister of two Eveleigh women who had married Declaration signers Thomas Heyward and Thomas Lynch.

Must have been something in the SC water. They sure liked to keep their love lives in the family(ies).

😉

He was offered an associate justice position on the US Supreme Court by Washington, but declined. Four years later he ran for governor of SC in 1798 and won. He served in that role until passing away in 1800. He is buried in St. Phillip’s Churchyard Cemetery in Charleston. His beautiful home in the historic district was occupied for many years until it was restored. In 1971 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Edward’s brother, John, had an equally impressive life and career during the period. From participation in the Continental Congress, to state government that included being its President and Governor, to being involved in the Constitutional Congress and as a signer, to being on the US. Supreme Court and being appointed its Chief Justice by Washington in 1795.

As to Edward’s reputation with his peers, in 1774 John Adams considered Edward “a peacock who wasted time debating upon points of little consequence.” Benjamin Rush had a more valued view although he considered him overly verbose. Whereas Patrick Henry viewed Rutledge as the greatest orator among a group that included John and Samuel Adams, John Jay, and Thomas Jefferson.

Sounds a bit like a founding father rivalry to me. Edward Rutledge (and his sibling) was a patriot of the first order who did great things for America. We appreciate his service to our nation.

Please remember Wolf’s rules for our community. In general that means to be respectful to each other and to pull no shenanigans that your mom might find offensive or otherwise cause jail time. That said, free speech is honored here.

Be blessed and go make something good happen!

2025.10.21 Daily Thread – American Stories: Background For A Revolution And A Civil War

While we are frolicking this fall, you have a placeholder reading assignment.

However, first I want us to remember our friend GA/FL, Ms. Georgia Smith, who passed away recently. She accomplished her mission of care giving for her daughter, Sally Q, and the Lord called her home when the mission was complete. She was a special lady and contributor here. She will be greatly missed.

I had very little time to prepare this next part and need some R&R, which is going extremely well. So I am going this route and believe you may enjoy it.

I have discussed this author’s work previously and the article below adds information and perspective to the current subject matter. In my opinion the article is worth every minute you invest into it if you desire to be better informed about the historical past of We the People. This helps explain why we face what we do even today.

Hubris

Below is a link to her blogged articles at the Abbeville Institute Press. They are excellent. You may be surprised to learn she is from Long Island, NEW YORK and is not tied to the south at all. She really has not even travelled here. Below is her page with links to other articles.

https://www.abbevilleinstitute.org/author/valerie-protopapas

To learn more about her, this is an interview by Dissident Mama.

One of my favorite maxims of life is stated in one article about divine intervention into the life of George Washington – “Man proposes but God disposes.” We would be wise to remember that to gain perspective about all of the crap we face every day in this world. The Creator is still in charge.

The Abbeville Institute Press is dedicated to the accurate discussion of 400+ years of Southern Culture in our nation. You can explore their site when reading Ms. Protopapas’ blog. Many readers do not have southern roots in their family history, just like her. You should be the most interested in reading her pieces. Not being aware of the truth contributes to ignorance and an inaccurate understanding about the nation you reside in today. Southern culture strongly influenced every corner of American life then and now.

It helps We the People to be aware of each other and our backgrounds to increase unity. Information such as the above linked article will never be presented truthfully if provided at all, when it comes from a corrupted government, fake media, and an education “system” that rewrites history and creates narratives for propaganda and brainwashing purposes.

Enjoy!

Please remember Wolf’s rules for our community. In general that means to be respectful to each other and to pull no shenanigans that your mom might find offensive or otherwise cause jail time. That said, free speech is honored here.

Be blessed and go make something good happen!

2025.10.14 Daily Thread: TB’s Investment Column Advice – 🇺🇸

Well, not really. I am no day trader or Wolf of Wall Street. I am too lazy to work that hard to make every last penny I could. However, I can share what has worked for me, which is a long term strategy that led to no debt and an early retirement.

As we head into this one, these are the ground rules for TB’s take on this and any other subject. I am not you and you are not me. As always take what I say and apply only after thoughtful consideration of whether it works for you and your situation. My purpose is only to inform for what has worked for me or that I otherwise have legitimately beneficial knowledge to share. If any of this can help you or loved ones in some way(s), my purpose has been fulfilled.

To get to the financial, which is not complex or ground breaking, you need to handle the prerequisites first. Skipping the part that stabilizes your life and gives it meaning circumvents the good that comes from wealth accumulation. If you skip it, you either lose the wealth you do accumulate at some point, or, it becomes your idol or god because you are not grounded in truth.

Intentions

Start with first things first. Live a life of fulfilled intentions. Not just in financial matters – in everything. FAFO’ing through life is not a good way to approach it. You know this.

Per definition, intention is an aim that guides your actions to achieve an objective. You aim yourself as a weapon is aimed at a target. Anything or anybody that gets in the way is a distraction. Sometimes the distraction is good, it can cause you to rethink things. Sometimes the distraction gets in the way of you hitting the target. You need to decide the best course of action with the distractions and react accordingly.

Stay focused on the objective. Once the target is lined up, do not flinch and over think. Pull the trigger to get it done.

Most importantly, to fulfill intentions requires that you have some. Intentions give purpose to life. Do not go through life aimlessly.

It does not matter how old you are or your personal situation to fulfill your intentions.

Understand that God created the way the world was created – and you are not Him. Don’t fall for there is no God, no creator, bullshiz regardless of whether you are religious or not. Accept somebody greater than you created all of this by intention and move on to understanding your role and purpose within your circumstances. That means you really should ask Him, but that is your choice. If your life seems aimless or unproductive, start there.

You live in a country that provides for fulfilled intentions. Be grateful everyday and realize you have been blessed to be in the place you are. You have been given personal liberty secured by the Constitution that was executed within the providence of God as it states. When oppressors come against you, stand firm within your rights as an American citizen and counter their aggressions. Our founders and many patriotic Americans have bled out and died to provide that right. You owe it to them to give it your all and even do likewise if called upon. Do not go down without a fight. Fight, fight, fight!

Financial Freedom Basics

Work until you can retire, if you want to retire. Preferably, make money doing something that you love if possible. Sometimes that is not possible. So, whatever you do, do as unto the Lord. That is scripturally supported. If you do those things you will live within your means.

Do not spend more than you make. Getting the big eye is for kids, do not act like a kid as an adult. It’s dumb.

Compounded interest and returns are your great friends. Seek them. Make sure it is more than inflation and your personal tax burden. The more you make above the inflation rate and tax burden the better. It is doubtful you will achieve that depositing all of your funds in a bank or credit union. That is like floating around in a pool, you will never really get anywhere. I will address this below. There are no sharks in a pool and that makes it more safe and relaxed. It also makes it less productive for your financial gain purposes.

Again, avoid spending more than you make or borrowing excessive sums that cannot be repaid easily. Be risk averse when it comes to borrowing money.

Combine all of that understanding by first building a rainy day fund that is sufficient to pull you out of a loss of job, major household or auto expense, a medical emergency, and so on. Go for a minimum of 6 months income invested into savings. Buck up and have some discipline. If your current income is stretched to the max and you cannot cut any more expenses, find a second job or other legal method to increase income. As an example I know medically disabled people who make nice second incomes from just dog or invalid sitting. Figure it out, it doesn’t have to be a forever thing.

Give to your house of worship and others in need. It is a tenet of the faith that is between you and Him. If you do not believe, giving to others in need brings fulfillment personally.

Financial Freedom Intermediate Steps

Now, it is time to go bigger picture. Gaining knowledge, wisdom and discernment while continuing the basics are the next steps. This will be current and practical.

What has PDT told you (as well as the entire world) and what are big money world leaders doing in response relating to the plans for our economy?

Bonus points for the correct answer.

The answer is investing in America. How many trillions of dollars have you seen committed and already being spent by business and governments around the world within our borders? That informs your big picture. So stop being scared of the big, bad Democrat coyotes howling through their media pups. World business and governmental leaders are investing massive, previously unheard of sums into our nation. They know more than any of us do. Trust your eyes and ears.

Into what industries are they investing the majority of the funds? That would be Artificial Intelligence (AI) and anything that supports it or can directly benefit from its implementation. That should inform your decisioning.

They do not care if you like it or support AI. It is going to be a thing whether you like it or not, whether you participate or not. To Christians, we are to be about life and living it in accordance with what Jesus told us up to His return per scripture. So you should continue to live life accordingly while being wise to not fall into any Satanic traps.

AI is a tool. Use it for your purposes while realizing it can be easily corrupted. That is where wisdom and discernment come in.

A major intention of AI is to build an accurate knowledge base for many applications. This is intended to remove the mistakes and lower productivity coming from humans. So AI is combined with many robotic applications in business, industry, medical fields, defense, education, etc. in addition to intellectual use. That is why some jobs handled by humans will cease in the future. However, how well it does at those things is dependent upon human input. Expect hiccups along the way. Lots of them.

Two Opposing Sides & Lots Of Traitors

Now you see another blatant means for the globalists with depop – to corrupt the intention and twist it to their advantage. So, the two sides are clearly represented. One side reduces world population and uses AI applications to replace human productivity where it can. Sort of like culling the herd to only who is necessary while making sure the remnant do as trained. That is where digital ID and social compliance scoring comes in. They have more for themselves with less inconvenient rebellion that way as they replace God and march on to transhumanism where they believe they will never die. You have heard and read this from numerous developers of it including world leaders. Believe their intention even if you know it is all bullshit.

The other side uses AI to increase productivity, but believes humans are necessary for the continuance of the world and further exploration of the universe. They see life as transitory until death and passing into paradise with a Creator, so they want to leave things better for those that follow along the way. Their use of AI gives benefits to all humanity including financial, medical, educational, occupational, etc. advantages. They believe in doing good and caring for their neighbor.

I think you already know which government, business, industry, political, etc. leaders support which camp. Do not be overly concerned about the details in each, just focus on the big picture. One believes in the scarcity of worldly assets and the other believes in the abundance of worldly assets. The culture that develops from that is death for the scarcity crowd and life for the abundance folks.

That informs your investment decisions. Who is winning and what do they support?

In America you will also know them by their political affiliation with infiltrators that attempt to push things off course. Your role today is to work against our common opponents and invest in America as PDT has arranged.

If you have chosen to follow the money (investment), you know America is going to widen its lead the world in business and industry. Our military will continue to provide the protection we and our allies need for the foreseeable future as they are retrained as war fighters instead of woke nation builders, perverts, and baby sitters. This makes them more cost efficient as well as lethal. That scares the bejeezus out of our enemies. It is unlikely there will be any frontal attacks. However, there will be infiltration attempts, sedition and treason. There will be the Chynas of the world that attempt to stir the pot. Don’t fall for the fear porn it gins up in the media.

Our return as a nation in the form of the secular and religious Great Awakening only provides more support for the Golden Age as we justifiably give all of the credit and glory to the Lord for his provision for us as American citizens, as well as all believers around the world.

As a result we go about our lives and business with intentions that fit our world and kingdom view that we intend to fulfill.

Investments

Few adult American citizens are competent individual investors in the stock and bond markets. So, it would be foolish to do that as an investor of your hard earned money without the knowledge necessary to do so successfully long term.

The good news is you do not have to do it yourself. You can invest through funds with managers that do have the experience and knowledge, that make a living at successfully doing it for large numbers of people and institutions. That simply means to invest into good mutual funds with solid investment companies long term.

Consider using the Morningstar website. They review the performances of mutual funds and provided useful information about each. Start there if you are going to invest larger sums. It started over 40 years ago and does deep research. if you are just starting out or doing it smaller, just look for Morningstar ratings and info associated with mutual funds in which you may be interested. It would be safer for you to look at well known large financial providers such as Schwab or Fidelity. The link below gives a sample of their recommended ten best from Forbes.

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/investing/best-mutual-funds

My first point is to not fall victim to conspiracy theories and purity motives. Sure, you may find the investment choices of some funds to be distasteful if you investigate them. Refrain from investing in them if you feel that way. Check each fund’s prospectus and choose funds that are more what you would approve; just realize you have no control and there are bound to be some slugs, thugs and duds mixed in with the good ones in most funds.

That leads to you choosing your financial weapon(s). Pray about it and think it through.

Knowing the huge amounts of capital being invested into America informs you on how you need to invest long term. The S&P 500 index is comprised of the largest, better performing companies in America. It represents 80% of all of the market capitalization of American public companies. These are the companies that can and are investing into big into AI, all things that support it, all things that benefit from it, and other planned American economic growth drivers relating to energy and power production, tech, automotive, defense, etc. As a result you know you probably need to invest into already successful mutual funds that are largely comprised of the companies in the S&P 500, or by the index itself.

This index has performed at an average of about 10% return since its inception in 1957. Think about all of the things that have hit America hard during that period, yet, the average return has still been a strong 10%. For example, in the past ten years there have been a couple of loss years and far more good return years that has led to an 11% overall return. So you do not freak out if the markets decline for a year or two. You sit tight and wait for the rebound.

Average inflation has been around 3.25% over a 100+ year period in this nation. The goal per the Fed and PDT is 2%, which it has been for several months and was (and less) throughout #45’s term. So deduct your inflation assumption from the 10%. Next up is federal and any state taxes that may be due. Only you know your current tax rate. We have no state income taxes in TN, so our effective Federal tax rate is all that applies. By any measure, you learn that a 10% average return of a mutual fund will accumulate a substantial amount of wealth over time. How much is dependent upon your commitment to making additional deposits to it and refraining from taking funds out of it, which allows your contriutions and returns compound.

That does not mean you ignore the NASDAQ, Russell, or any other index with mutual funds. The participants are different in each one. The listed companies are generally smaller in market capitalization, so they are more subject to overall economic conditions of the economy. In good times they may perform better than the S&P. In stagnant or bad times they may be more susceptible and perform worse. The mutual funds associated with them will also have track records for you to review. They will also benefit from the massive investment into America.

Once you start you should basically forget you have done so. Leave it alone unless there is an emergency. That’s it. If your choice of funds does not perform well against peer funds, you can always move it to a better one. You now know a relatively safe path to wealth accumulation. You just have to be willing to pursue it and fulfill the intention to take advantage of the opportunity.

For those who are still a bit queasy, the industry has an insurance fund that covers potential individual investor loss if a fund provider goes bankrupt. Its link is below.

https://www.sipc.org/for-investors/what-sipc-protects

The Future

OK, now that you have your rainy day fund, you are living within your means, you have a low debt load, you are contributing to any 401-k retirement plan you may have at work, and you are now investing for wealth in the stock and/or bond market through at least one good mutual fund; it is time to talk about the future and how it could all go in America for you as well as your children and grandchildren.

Below is a link that is a MUST WATCH (8:41 long) interview by Larry Kudlow with Vivek Ramaswamy. Both are PDT allies and very knowledgable about all of this. Vivek will be Ohio’s elected governor after their next election. Kudlow served in an economic advisor role in #45’s term. They are in the inner circle. They both know how government, politics, business, industry and foreign investment works. They are MAGA.

https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6380305244112

There is much to unpack there. I hope you picked up on it because those two know what is coming. Ambitious expectations. All within reach of those who prepare accordingly.

It has been my expectation that we will finally see an eventual successful push to have Social Security funds invested safely into the capital markets, which has been prohibited. Think about it, had a significant portion of Social Security funds been safely invested into just the S&P 500 index, a great deal more funds would have been made available and the SS fund would now be self sustaining after many years of 10% compounded returns. Instead, the talk every year is about its future solvency while they use these dedicated funds to make the budget deficit appear smaller than it actually has been. Who has used that fear porn talk to fuel voter turn out for their candidates through the decades? Who benefits the most by keeping it and Medicare in a flux at all times?

The American public has been scammed far more than they ever realized. Collectively we had the power to end it all along. We just needed to become a movement of like minded patriots who held the politicians to account while keeping elections clean. The politicians have known and participated in the scams for many years. They kept selling the public on the lack of safety in investing public funds in capital markets. The same markets that the entire country uses to fuel its capitalistic economy. Ironic, huh? It has been infuriating to those of us who have seen the deception and corruption in plain sight for decades.

If you ask yourself why the answer is obvious. If the public were made aware they would have become outraged when the politicians intentionally overspent the budget or caused bubbles in the stock market or debt markets (2008 mortgage collapse) that caused booms and busts. The politicians knew these activities caused losses in the investment returns of the stock market that would endanger Social Security’s viability. If we had found out about their scamming it would mean the uniparty’s forever wars and depopulation efforts would have to come to an end. Using their media lapdogs they knew they could always sell the less informed sheeple about a potential shortfall in the SS and medicare funds in the future while at the same time approving increases in withholding rate, moving back the age to full retirement, restricting the amounts people could earn before being taxed, etc. That put even more money at their disposal to steal and misappropriate.

I will not spend much time discussing the truth that Jeff Childers of C&C recently brought about PDT and Bessent revaluing America’s gold reserves to more current market values. That impact alone would send the markets into the stratosphere. For once it would be nice if marked to market for something meant that gold could go back to being the reserve that supported the dollar to help it work for the common man’s benefit. Imagine the benefits to the retirement plans of We the People.

The answer for national solvency that included well funded retirements for all Americans has been sitting there all along. There was no political will power or citizen understanding to accomplish it.

Now there is.

Take Control

Once you identify how you want to invest, know that there are literally hundreds of funds that have no loads. Spend some time looking at reviews, ratings of funds, investment emphasis, fund expenses, 10 year returns and so on. The safety is in the S&P with the historically largest upside for growth in the NASDAQ index. Less risk with S&P, more risk with NASDAQ. More stable, proven acceptable returns in the S&P. More upside for returns with the NASDAQ.

Study it, work on it, budget for it and just do it. As wealth accumulates you may choose to move funds into crypto, precious metals, real estate and so on to diversify and reduce risk if you desire. It is never too early or too late to take the plunge. Actually, it can be good fun. For example, giving to children under aged 18-25 (depends on state law) is made easy with the Uniform Gift to Minors Act account. You can remain custodian until they hit the age limit and if you have taught them how investment works through the years they may choose to keep it invested and become millionaires later in life from a relatively modest investment in their youth. Linked below is an IRS update on the effect of the tax law changes on minors.

https://www.irs.com/en/do-minors-have-to-pay-taxes

You can also set up your personal account as a regular investment, traditional IRA or Roth IRA depending on your needs and situation.

Use the calculator below to play with the investments, rates, years, returns, etc.

https://www.gigacalculator.com/calculators/compound-interest-calculator.php

Conclusion

It is time to invest in America. Why let this golden age go by with nothing to show for it? If you have hit your senior years like us, beyond the additional personal income it provides it gives you an investment outlet while you are alive that will survive and be of benefit to whoever or whatever you designate when you pass.

For us that represents a fulfilled intention.

Please remember Wolf’s rules for our community. In general that means to be respectful to each other and to pull no shenanigans that your mom might find offensive or otherwise cause jail time. That said, free speech is honored here.

Be blessed and go make something good happen!

2025.10.07 Daily Thread: Ground Report

As our family’s very excellent beach adventure nears that we call our Fall Frolic, I felt it was time to give an updated Ground Report from this neck of the woods since it is in a tourism mecca for the eastern US. Literally millions of “leafers” will be on the prowl into this region to enjoy the beautiful colors and pleasant conditions of hillbilly country in Autumn.

They will be faced with frequent traffic issues in the form of bottlenecks on the main interstates and highways. I expect some “off the beaten path” travels and adventures, which will be of economic benefit to some smaller communities in the area. I will address a few of the primary road issues later in this report.

But first…

Bud

Thank you very much for your prayers and concerns for Bud. I am very happy to report his surgery went as well as we all hoped. Bud’s dad called me after he made it back to his room. Doc #2 did exactly what he said needed to be done and would do. He did a resection of 10″ of the diseased/dead part of his colon, closed, and sent him to recovery. The procedure took less than an hour. He was out of recovery three hours later with a normal meal, well, as much as hospital food can be normal, waiting for him in his room. He was told he could eat whatever food he wanted that did not cause him discomfort. He will be in the hospital for a couple more days and released if it all goes as expected. He will have a no heavy lifting restriction for three months.

The surgery was identical to my father’s from sixty years ago. The result is similar as well. We are all encouraged by the results and God’s provision. He dodged a bullet with idgit Doc #1. The lesson being always to pray first and then get a second opinion if you have any doubts whatsoever with anything medical.

Chemtrails Again In The News

Below there is a link with MTG coming off the top rope on chemtrails. Like or dislike her, the awareness she is bringing to the issue is a very good thing. I am still amazed at the people who will accept and agree that the jabs turned out to be a bad thing for humanity since they have been obviously injuring and killing people worldwide. But mention this subject and they go into denial and think it is BS or another annoying conspiracy theory even with the government itself admitting that it has been done for over 80 years.

It’s just another tool in the belt of the globalist criminals with depop and creating chaos for business opportunities. Your injury or death means nothing short of a celebration to them.

https://www.infowars.com/posts/mtg-blasts-chemtrails-we-never-voted-to-have-chemicals-sprayed-into-our-skies

Anecdotal observations for our region have been that weather patterns are returning to the 1980’s and early 1990’s patterns in the eastern part of the state, which means normal to you flatlanders. Call it a regular old climate cycle. Precipitation has been historically normal without many extremes of deluges or severe droughts that had become common for the past 30 years. Temps have dropped as a trend overall. Local insect population has declined from its unprecedented annoyance level of the past several decades and is now more typical of this mountainous area. Wildlife remains abundant. One other pleasantry has been that we enjoyed cool nights in the 50’s for nearly two weeks in mid-late August before warming up moderately into September. That has not happened since the late 1980’s. We have returned to “mild” and pleasant conditions for which this area was formerly noted, along with the brilliant blue, non-chem trailed skies

All of that says the fall colors could be spectacular in the region unless the remaining government criminal embeds pull off more wildfires.

It also means the potential for some major snowfall events, which have not been seen around here for a long time. The old farmers’ weather predictions related to fogs in August bringing snow in winter will be scary this year if proven true. It was very foggy in the mornings for over half of the month of August, as in so dense you could not see more than 20 feet in front of you type foggy at times. Will see how it goes. I am thankful for my tri-fuel generator just in case. In the 1980’s and early 1990’s we had some dandy winter storms that paralyzed the area.

Effects of Helene

Less than two weeks ago there were local news reports about Helene’s on-going effects that blew many of us away. Of course the national fake news would never report it so I am doing so here. There was a feature story from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) that controls the waterways and lakes in our region. Their leadership and engineers discussed openly on local newscasts that if they had not opened the dams more and lowered the water levels of the lakes a few weeks before Helene hit, there would have been two or three dam failures in east TN as the volume from the storm increased water levels in those affected lakes by 21 feet. Their assessment was that both Knoxville, Chattanooga and everything within the vicinity would have been been flooded. More than 2 million people would have likely had their lives signficantly impacted. The DOD, DOE and Oak Ridge National Lab reservation would also have been affected as it sits along the Clinch River basin that is in this discussed TVA controlled flood zone. Same with the University of Tennessee main campus that is located on the Tennessee River in downtown Knoxville.

Once again by the providence of God, a regional calamity was avoided by the wise acts of unseen engineers, who had no idea an event was coming of Helene’s magnitude in just a few weeks. They believed that precipitation in the weeks prior to Helene was above normal and raising lake levels more than they deemed appropriate and safe, so they took action sooner than normal. They saved lives and untold misery.

All I can say is that it was a good thing residents around here did not know or there would have an untold amount of panic and chaos.

Nah, nothing to see here. Cloud seeding and geoengineering are BS. Receiving 1.5-2.5 feet of precipitation in 48 hours on top of a mountain range from a hurricane that made landfall hundreds of miles away that was initially going in the opposite direction, a path that all previous hurricanes have taken, would not cause that. Would it?

🤪

As things stand now in east TN, these TVA operated lakes and waterways are in recovery. We were very fortunate the dams did not fail during the event. As it was, massive flooding of area rivers and tributaries contributed to towns flooding, death, property damage, and extended despair. Lake clean up efforts will pick back up this fall since water levels were lowered by TVA as they are supposed to do every year. They made sure they informed the public it had been done this time. As Mother Nature cleans herself, recreational activities in the lakes will also increase. As an example, due to the nastiness of the water quality the many professional bass fishing tournaments typically held in the region post Helene were cancelled or relocated. I am pleased to report that they have resumed for the fall/winter schedule beginning in late September. That is a very good sign water quality conditions and natural habitats are improving.

Area Roads/Bridges

Now on to the road situation. Most of us never really think about all of the bridges we cross each day. In the affected area in TN alone there were 47 bridges destroyed. Yup. Due to the great efforts of our state’s DOT and related contractors, 29 have been rebuilt a year later. This includes the bridges wiped out along I-26 in the most affected Unicoi County area, a massive rebuild. Most of the contractors worked straight through the coldest parts of winter to get things done. They are unsung heroes.

Which leads to the most important damaged section of interstate road in the region; eleven miles of I-40 through the gorge at the state lines of NC and TN. Earlier in the spring the contractor was able to get two lane traffic going along this stretch. Large tractor trailer rigs had to reroute such that only smaller rigs are permitted on the road as it was on I-26 for a year.

The good news is that traffic through the area generally moves, albeit more slowly, such that delays are usually only around 30 minutes or so unless you are on it during peak periods. The other good news is that they are rebuilding in the manner they would if it was a dam. They are going 30′ down into the bedrock along the river and building a dam like structure for the entire eleven miles. Rock slides will no longer cause extended shut downs for clean up and repairs and the adjacent river will no longer wash out the road bed. The various governmental entities got together and agreed to build the best it can be and the funding is appropriated. This is encouraging because it is a major national interstate that cross country truckers and tourists are dependent upon.

The bad news is that it will take three years to complete. Yup – 2028. Oh well, at least the construction is well underway.

Total cost of project will be $1.36 billion for eleven miles of road rebuilding. Ouch.

Thankfully, FL has joined us in the chemtrails/geoengineering ban. That is a big deal. Hopefully, other Atlantic/Gulf bordering states will follow suit soon.

Regional Economy

The negative effects of Helene and its destruction of roads and bridges messed with tourism in the affected area. That would seem pretty obvious.

Not according to the local fake news media. They keep telling us that they are certain it is Trump’s tariffs causing it. Yes, despite TN’s 3.6 unemployment rate and a national CPI of 2%, the economy is slowing they say and people are having to stretch their budgets. Of course, people always have to stretch their budgets even in the best of times. That is just a tired old expression used by idgits in media.

The propaganda continues. The interesting thing to me is they continue to say leftist garbage in a deep red area while it is painfully obvious they have a dwindling number of advertisers to pay for those young, inexperienced (cheap) fakebook style news reporters.

In fact, the local Fox affiliate no longer has its own news staff. They contract the local NBC affiliate to use their news staff to provide it. That Fox affiliate is just hanging on by a thread.

In reality our tourism numbers through July revealed a 6% downturn year to date, although more recent visitation is surging unbelievably strong. The following photo was not taken in the middle of tourism season in July. This was from this past Saturday in October and an on-going thing for the past couple of weeks.

SIL was called in after his night shift later that day to assist with thousands of unruly young people who had taken over the roads throughout the county. So, authorities cancelled the second day of their event in response. Organizers have been told they are no longer welcome here. The recently hired new City Manager is much more safety oriented than the previous good ole boy who was afraid to step on anybody’s toes.

https://seviervilletn.org/index.php/public-information/news/5357-city-of-sevierville-statement-on-cancellation-of-slammedenuff-sunday-october-5-show.html

Some of the car shows and rod runs are getting out of hand, like this one did. It will no longer be tolerated throughout the area. Some residents could not leave or return to their neighborhoods due to the effects that day. They let their elected officials know they will take it into their own hands if it happens again. They put the heat on the mayors and the results were good.

Tourism will all end up strong on the year as it usually does. It has helped from a labor point of view with ICE cleaning things up. There are less illegals for employers to hire in restaurants, cleaning, lawn services and construction. You know, the ones the employers frequently pay cash under the table or otherwise pay for contractor services; who pay cash and provide housing free of charge under the table to their illegal employees. I know that probably shocks some readers. Not. Deporting them helps the rental housing market crunch for the citizens moving here for the many jobs that are available.

It is happening in the SC lowcountry as well. Per friends and news reports, ICE has been busy picking up illegal workers who had, yup, fake social security numbers and no visas. They were working in local businesses such as landscaping/nursery companies, construction, restaurants and such. Buh-bye, amigos. Their families are shown the door and head out with their departures. The businesses that hired them are then investigated and many are fined. They are monitored closely after that.

Expect voting turn out and results to change. Oh well…

Most know that many employers are a major reason we have many illegals in this country. The remaining illegals in our area have been left some time to self deport before being dealt with when ICE has more assets available. That appears to be soon as a large influx of ICE officers arrived two weeks ago. Employers have been placed on notice that they are aware of some who are still employed and residing in the area. I expect many to head out over the next 60 days. By exiting voluntarily they now know they can probably reenter legally with worker visas at some point. However, at that point the employers can no longer hire and pay them under the table, so there will be less of them.

The short lived tourism downturn was primarily due to much road construction during the peak tourism season even in areas that were not affected by Helene. This area is at the crossroads of two of the most traveled and far reaching interstates in America; I-75 north and south and I-40 east and west. I-81 also feeds into it from north and east. Both 40 and 75 have major road rebuilding and bridge replacement projects going on within an hour of the subject area that have made traveling a nightmare at times. Some of it had nothing to do with Helene, it was just age and condition related. The 75 rebuild/repaving project is nearing completion.

I also hate to tell Dolly she pushed the pricing envelope too far, but Dolly, you pushed the pricing envelope too far. That has not helped things. Many local folks can no longer afford the annual passes. That has not stopped the park from adding at least one major amusement ride to the park each year and this off season is no exception.

https://www.dollywood.com/themepark/rides/nightflight-expedition/

Things around here should grow in a big way in 2026. Conditions have not deterred many new attractions and businesses from going under construction throughout the area. Expansion is rapid in both commercial and residential sectors regionally. Housing inventory has improved. It is still tighter than normal, but going the right direction without an uptick in prices. If anything the prices have drifted down a bit with the increased inventory.

The industrial, educational and governmental sectors remain stable. Industrial will jump forward when the licensed nuclear power plant for DOD and private businesses in the Oak Ridge area is completed down the road. This new plant will be located at the site of a former small coal fired TVA power plant that was taken off line and removed recently.

Churches

Talk about a resurgence. My goodness, so many churches are growing rapidly. Baptist, Global Methodist and non-denominational are leading the charge. The “progressive” churches are declining steadily, but not anywhere enough to offset the growth in the others. Catholic churches have remained stable.

Young people were returning to church around here even before Charlie’s death, which mirrors a nationwide trend. That is a very good thing. As the drug culture is beaten back, I expect more of the same. Trans is not much of a thing in our neck of the woods, nor are pedos and perverts accepted in any way. Only the white liberal women will support any of them around here, which means the other 90+% of our population will not tolerate any of it.

Charlie Kirk’s death had an impact here as it has nationwide. People are still talking about what happened. People who would have never believed the truth about our current situation as a nation, do now. TPUSA chapters are booming.

Schools

A funny thing happened when ICE made its appearance. Children of illegals began disappearing as well. All of sudden there were many vacant desks in all of the classrooms this fall as school started. When added to the rapid expansion of homeschooling and 20 K of state students receiving financial assistance to attend private schools via the state’s school choice program, well, the times they are a’changing. All that led to some significant teacher, tutor and assistant layoffs. Which led to the state teacher association (non-union – right to work state) to becoming quieter and more cooperative with state authorities and administrators. It also reduced facility expansion plans in many school districts, which takes more tax burden off local tax paying residents.

Imagine that. The next thing the officials will be telling us is that the state’s comprehensive test scores have significantly improved.

It’s science.

😀

Medical Care

Another funny thing happened when ICE made its appearance; medical offices and hospitals are providing easier access to citizens. Wait times in emergency rooms have declined. Access to physicians is met with, “What time works for you that day?” and “If you need to be seen today I can work you in at 3 PM.” type responses. Lobbies are empty to having small numbers with short wait times to be seen. It is as if 1990 has returned to our area.

Food/Fuel Pricing

Overall food prices are down significantly everywhere. There is no denying that truth any more. Fuel prices have started slowly trending down. In our area it takes tourism to decline into the off season to see substantial declines of fuel prices. But the trend is down.

Conclusion

I could rattle on, but that is enough to give a good indication for where we are. I hope some of you will do likewise and talk about your areas so the rest of us can learn more about what is going on in this great country of ours.

Please remember Wolf’s rules for our community. In general that means to be respectful to each other and to pull no shenanigans that your mom might find offensive or otherwise cause jail time. That said, free speech is honored here.

Be blessed and go make something good happen!

2025.09.30 Daily Thread – Odds n’ Ends

We have begun our Fall Frolic countdown, so I am pressed for time. I decided to do a post requiring no research that just updates some past subjects of which some expressed an interest or update. There may be some information that can help somebody. However, I am going to lead off with something that is important and in the news daily.

New York City Mayoral Race

New Yawkas need to prepare for the very real possibility that the commie might win. There are that many criminals and idgits that live in the city with so many others that do not give a shiz about voting that it can happen. Should that happen and barring a last minute successful attempt to salvage that mess, the NYPD will react. Many quality officers and families are going to relocate, as they have aleady been doing, or they may do their version of blue flu. Things are going to deteriorate in the capital of world capitalism. We will see more major companies and investment houses pull out of NYC. Gotham City will be real for a time. Implosion will be the big picture.

Then at some point, PDT and patriots will shut it all down. Memphis, Chicago, New Orleans, and St. Louis and even Portland are dress rehearsals. Most Americans have no idea that those first four cities provide safe haven and sponsor illegals, operatives, gangs, union criminals and armies of other criminals that have helped fund corrupt NYC based business and political leaders for over a century. When patriots take over the center of America they are destroying a feeder system for the northeast and left coast. They will be replacing it with a walled defense of law enforcement and military assets. One must never forget we are at war. Forget Normandy and Okinawa. Forget Iraq and Afghanistan. It has not yet devolved into Gaza City here, but that is what our enemies wanted. If you need proof, simply remember what happened at our southern border. Then go take a cold shower and wake up.

Should the more sane, but still criminal Democrat enabling and supporting residents decide they better unite around Cuomo, the immediate crisis will be averted. I predict he might put up an anti-Trump front, but be token opposition to the eventual move by the feds to straighten it all out and send the illegals packing as well as the domestic criminals and terrorists to prison. That will keep the blue on the job and the Street still doing what they do.

The rot is infested into all of federal government as well as in some states. However, I seriously doubt PDT will allow the permanent destruction of his home town and assets there, although it would not bother this hillbilly in the least. They have it coming to them in spades. If you continue to reside, work, buy things from, and pay taxes to criminals and traitors in that area, you are enabling what has happened. Choose this day, stay and fight or leave, but do not contribute to the status quo without raising a legal ruckus.

Charlie

Never forget. I once again feature…

Now on to more pleasant subjects.

Homeschooling

Just some advice, homeschool your children and grandchildren if you can arrange it. By all measures, homeschooled students score higher on comprehensive state and college entrance exams as a general rule. You can look up the research yourself, you don’t need to depend on my representations. Many kids have environments at home that lead to better focus than at school and as a result, more comprehension of subject matter. Scheduling their work to when it fits the family’s lifestyle and their biological clocks is just a better way to do things. So is allowing them input as to how to arrange their studies.

If this latter point or any other problem area is getting in the way of academic achievement, which should be the primary goal of an education, you can change and do it a more appropriate way for the student. As an example, being able to multi-task is important, however, it is a skillset that can be developed later or at a more measured pace if it is in the way of learning effectively now. Such is the case with Grandson #1. He hyper focuses on one subject. The widget process of traditional schools that teaches multiple subjects a day for shorter periods does not work for many kids. They lose focus and do not retain what they have been taught.

Taking it one subject at a time works for a good number. With Grandson #1 he absolutely slays it – throws all he has into it. As an example, he completed 6th grade math in less than four weeks with a solid A despite dumb problems with the curriculum provider that are explained below. There were no other distractions or concerns. He would go at it for 3-4 hours each day – done. It was also good to see he retained a good portion of what he learned from previous studies in the past couple of years doing it this way.

We multi-task by breaking up his school days with sports and physical activities such as golf and swimming; vocal music lessons; library and educational field trips; and his OT sessions. This method has delivered high achievement in his subjects and far less boredom. As a result he has generally completed all of his core subjects by some point in January. He is then free to focus on electives that interest him until he accumulates the state mandated 180 days of school. That mandate becomes a moot point if the material is interesting.

Other students may respond better the exact opposite way or some other tailored method, which is the point. Students and parents can flex it in whatever manner helps the child to learn most effectively while fitting the demands on the family’s time. Regardless, no more woke, bullying, alcohol/drugs and other drama in schools when you homeschool. You are removing sources of concern that also involves the competency of teachers and administrators. The kids have a better opportunity to be educated, well adjusted and happy. If desired, most homeschooled students are permitted to participate in school sports and many permit participation in music/choral programs as well.

Going into this school year we collectively chose to use Time 4 Learning as the primary curriculum again. It instructs at a mid-high achievement level and is the largest provider in America with a 20-25% market share. However, the updated software they rolled with this year is not good overall. We nicknamed it Glitch. 😀

This was another perfect example of fixing something that was not broken, which will probably break the provider if they do not quickly fix the issues.

In the updated version there are far more written answers to lessons, quizzes and tests; which are graded by AI review of the student’s responses with grading being provided an hour or more after taking. It has some major problems and obviously needs an overhaul already. They occasionally cannot even give the correct answers on lessons, quizzes and tests as well explanations of their AI responses that are wrong – frequently. In one case they called a lesson as a test. During lessons they will abruptly interrupt in the middle of it for the student to do a question with no warning at all. That interrupts the concentration of the student. Then they start the lesson back mid sentence. It is stupid to put out a product that is not ready for distribution. The users are letting them know by the thousands.

We gone. 😂

As a result, after much research we have made a switch to one that gives parents more control and input into the teaching method and testing while providing a great visual and interactive experience for the student. Miacademy is much more user friendly, interesting, has more subject options, and is in a similar price range as Time 4 Learning. It has a 4.7 out of 5 star Trustpilot rating from users. Parental controls, reporting and access to test answers are very easy to navigate. The text is even easier to read. The parent/teacher can print out PDF’s of the video lesson in advance to have the student follow along and fill in notes to reinforce the lessons, which helps them study for quizzes and tests. The way it is done will train the student to be self taught through the curriculum’s system as time passes, which is a big benefit to parents.

We LOVE it so far. Below is a user review that we found accurate.

Homeschooling with Miacademy: an Honest Review (2025 update)

The founders and staff of the company have a strong international education background. As a result we were very careful to review closely before selecting. However, any woke/leftist concern we had went away as there has been none force fed into the curriculum so far. Quite frankly it is very well done and interestingly presented. #1 never gets bored with it at all. Unlike Time 4 Learning we have yet to observe woke elements, although we have not gone into all subjects at this point. It seems solely focused on educating, however, if a parent is concerned with a segment there is a feature permitting them to exclude that subject matter. There are also numerous good Christian subjects from which to choose as electives. #1 is taking a Bible study related one for an elective this school year.

Parents can also accelerate or delay the taking of subjects as they are presented in the curriculum listing for two grade levels. As an example, #1 loves Social Studies and American History like his Papaw. For all curriculum providers we know, including the local public school, sixth grade Social Studies is some form of World History. #1 is all about PDT, America, Charlie Kirk, etc. currently. He loves learning about our nation’s history, culture, government, founding documents, people, etc. So, strike while the iron is hot. U. S. History is normally assigned to seventh/eighth grade. We have the flexibility to go ahead and do it in sixth grade and take World History in seventh grade as it is a sixth/seventh grade listed subject. In effect, #1 will be taking an advanced placement class in Social Studies because of his current interest level and capability. He can return to the normal placement subject next year.

Miacademy and his umbrella school both permit the acceleration of his education if he so chooses. We have observed over the past couple of years that #1 would prefer to not take a long break over summer as an example. He gets bored. He has told us he would rather have shorter breaks while only taking a month off in the summer. If that desire changes at some point we can adjust to fit it. All of this is the beauty of homeschooling while self reporting or using an umbrella school. If a curriculum is messed up or just not worthy of using, change it. You the parent are in control. The net result for #1 is that he will probably take three or more elective subjects, which is beyond the state requirements (2) for this grade level, which will only broaden his knowledge and understanding overall.

He will ace them all. So far he is making a 100% score in Language Arts more than halfway through the subject. He will be done with that subject in less than three weeks from start to finish. Try doing any of that it in a public school. What was it they told us in those IEP meetings in third and the start of fourth grade? Oh yeah, he was at the level of a kindergarten student academically.

The umbrella school charges $135 a year to record grades and attendance as well as transmit the information to the public school/state on behalf of his parents. It is a “family” charge, so if there are multiple students they do not charge more, which will be soon with #2. Once #1 completes high school classes, he will receive a regular diploma from that accredited school. It has been a seamless process. The school is accredited in four states and they are domiciled as an actual private school facility in our state. His transcript will be accepted no matter the higher education school he chooses to attend subject to his college entrance exam test results. So if you or someone you know goes the route of homeschooling, they can do likewise with an umbrella school in their area.

Grandson #1’s Health Status

In addition to great academic progress while homeschooling, #1’s health continues to improve. His dyspraxia is lessening with OT and his coordination is becoming completely normal for his age. We have begun to work on his physical strength. His sensory condition is being managed better by him and all of us. His nutrition is improving and he is finally beginning to gain a little weight. His eyes are still performing normally as they should. The infrequent focus events only happen with increased anxiety from the sensory condition and are short in duration (5-10 seconds). A light tap on the shoulder generally snaps him out quicker. He is now active in the Youth Program in church as well. All systems are go.

That said we are having his folate level tested this week. After PDT, Kennedy, and crew’s comments it made sense as his pediatrician believes he has moderate ADHD in addition to the known sensory issues. They are interconnected. His pediatrician has been very supportive.

Wifey

The past health issues of Wifey have been discussed periodically. As you did with #1, a number of you provided recommendations and prayers that helped for which we are very grateful. In Wifey’s case she physically recovered from her corneal ulcer that occurred upon return from our Fall Frolic a year ago as we traveled through the effects of Helene. The specialist had the infecting white colored blob analyzed at the lab and they came back with, “We don’t know, the lab results were inconclusive.” They treated as a bacterial infection and it responded reasonably well. Scar tissue remained and was near a newly forming cataract. Vision in the affected eye made it back to the 20-40 with her corrective lens. So after release from the specialist she went to our optometrist and was refitted with a more appropriate lens. She continued to struggle some with focus in the affected eye. Which led next to what I learned from my eye issues.

I had experienced early stages of macular degeneration (MD) for 15+ years in one eye to go with early stage cataract development in both eyes. With my use of IVM for several years and a parasite cleanse of IVM/Mebendazole this spring; my vision has been quite good for my age. My comprehensive annual optometrist visit revealed no change in lens needed and no presence of cataract formation at all. In fact, they did not even note the MD in the report despite the use of computer aided high tech imaging equipment. I did make a move away from the prism lens I had used that the binocular vision doc had me using. The prisms did a nice job of encouraging my weak eye to be more involved, but the lens can be a bit disconcerting with some activities, especially while walking and looking down. So I decided to try traditional lens and see if the affected eye got lazy again. 😀

About this same time things got interesting with Wifey’s situation. My success encouraged Wifey to get serious about doing something different. So she also did the Parasite Cleanse and noted a month later that she felt better and could see better, the eye focus issues had begun to go away. In previous posts I also discussed the fact that we chose to begin DSMO drops in our eyes at that point, which was in the spring of this year. She uses a 20% concentration. Wifey wanted to look for positive changes in vision that may or may not have occurred from the time she was released by the corneal specialist until her next appointment with him in a few months. She does the drops morning and evening every day. I did them once every other day for a couple of months and stopped due to my vision improvement. Her observation is that her vision has returned to pre-corneal injury performance, which was very good for her age, and all focus blurring is gone. She is very happy with the results.

I will update folks on this after her appointment.

The second thing with Wifey has been blood pressure spikes. For about a year she had weaned herself off a fluid pill, Hydrochlorothiazide, and tried going with just supplements. She researched thoroughly and tried everything that was recommended that made sense for her. For a time she found some success. However, over time the random BP spikes came back at 200+/100+ more frequently, such that she was taking Clonidine to bring it down too frequently. Her weight, fitness and nutrition are not contributing factors – she is in good shape with them. So with our wellness exam results in June she agreed to retry the lowest dose of amlodipine for the BP. It worked. No more spikes and very good BP and heart rate every single day. That improved her sleep patterns. We have no idea why it worked well now when it did not work several years ago.

So far, it looks like a win for traditional medicine with that one.

Bud

Bud is having his surgery in about a week. Will try to update everybody afterwards as to status. Again, thank you for the prayers. They are working.

As things work and God would have it, Bud had something positive happen out of the blue. His former employer called him. As previously posted, Bud had worked with this large family owned contracting firm that handled sheetrock installation and finishing for commercial and industrial businesses in the region for over 15 years before venturing out on his own. His upside was blocked by his supervisor who was no where near retiring then, but is now doing so. The company’s ownership has offered Bud the job, His previous experience with them would be vested and his personal income would be guaranteed at the level he is making now along with annual bonuses and 401-k with matching contributions. He would work normal day shift hours Monday through Friday. It is a job working for Christian people he trusts and respects, as they do with him.

They asked a few months ago if he was interested. They have been pressing him for an answer, which demonstrates he is their Plan A choice. He asked my opinion and for prayers. It did not take long to ponder and hear the still small voice. Bud has been estimating jobs after work hours 6 days a week in his own business. He has much business risk and the incomes of employees that includes two family members are also at stake. His employees are all ready from a competency standpoint to work as a unit without him through another contractor’s company connected to Bud’s if they so choose. Bud’s former, soon to be new employer has assured each of his employees that jobs with them are available if they choose to not go on their own. This employer has also agreed that Bud can work other jobs, such as handling our needs, whenever he chooses after hours.

Bud has reached the age to make this move and his health concerns are just more reinforcement. This all came up as a no-brainer to me after prayer. I let him know, that just like Doc #2 walking in the door and positively changing the trajectory of his life, it appears God is making sure Bud continues down a path he has made straight for him. Bud and his wife agree with this assessment and had come to the same conclusion He has started the ball rolling.

It has all been so reassuring of God’s love and provision for His children. All praise and glory to the Lord!

Please remember Wolf’s rules for our community. In general that means to be respectful to each other and to pull no shenanigans that your mom might find offensive or otherwise cause jail time. That said, free speech is honored here. Be blessed and go make something good happen!

Thank you, Charlie. As so many have said and I repeat, we have it from here. Your work will not be in vain. See you in Heaven, brother.