Dear MAGA: 20230730 Open Topic

Critics of the Bible have said there’s no evidence of a mass Hebrew exodus from Egypt. The typical claim is that Egyptian records mention neither this event nor large slave populations, and there is a lack of bones or graves in the wilderness. Such criticisms are factually incorrect: there is archaeological evidence that corresponds to the Bible’s description of the exodus.

A Daunting Task

It’s important to realize that “proof” of ancient events is extraordinarily rare. Mountains of obvious evidence don’t typically survive three thousand years, even when the event itself is significant. It’s only reasonable to look for remnants, circumstantial evidence, corroborating artifacts, and perhaps some random documents. Of course, insisting that evidence must be found outside the Bible is, itself, an unfair bias. Scripture is part of ancient written records, whether skeptics appreciate it or not. For those not committed to rejecting such things out of hand, archaeological evidence favors a real, historical exodus of Israel from Egypt.

Examining evidence fairly means avoiding myths and poor assumptions. Pop culture is not historical evidence. For example, movies such as The Prince of Egypt and The Ten Commandments use the name Rameses for the Pharaoh of the exodus. However, Scripture never identifies Pharaoh using that name. Looking for explicit evidence of the exodus in connection with the reign of Rameses II might help verify a movie, but not the Bible. Skeptics who assume the Bible speaks of Rameses are not only looking at the wrong sources but very possibly the wrong time period.

Cultures use different dating systems, not all of which are consistent. Even when there is ample evidence of an occurrence, it can be difficult for historians to know exactly what dates were involved. This is particularly true of Egyptian history, the record of which is erratic. Egyptians sometimes recorded rulers who reigned simultaneously as if they were consecutive, for example. Even experts in Egyptian archaeology would admit that dating anything using ancient Egyptian records requires an inflated level of tolerance.

Support from Archaeology

Attempting to narrowly date ancient events is difficult. However, biblical scholars typically place the exodus from Egypt somewhere between 1446 and 1225 BC. Within that period, there is ample archaeological evidence to reinforce the account of Scripture. For example:

• Pyramids built of mud-and-straw bricks (Exodus 5:7–8) and both written and physical evidence that Asiatic people were enslaved in Egypt (Exodus 1:13–14).

• Skeletons of infants of three months old and younger, usually several in one box, buried under homes in a slave town called Kahun (Exodus 1:16), corresponding to Pharaoh’s slaughter of Hebrew infants.

• Masses of houses and shops in Kahun, abandoned so quickly that tools, household implements, and other possessions were left behind. The findings suggest the abandonment was total, hasty, and done on short notice (Exodus 12:30–34, 39), consistent with the Israelites’ sudden exit from Egypt in the wake of Passover.

• Court advisors used rods that look like snakes (Exodus 7:10–12). This partly corroborates the magical opposition against Moses performed by Pharaoh’s advisors.

• The Ipuwer Papyrus, a work of poetry stating, in part, “Plague stalks through the land and blood is everywhere. . . . Nay, but the river is blood . . . gates, columns and walls are consumed with fire . . . the son of the high-born man is no longer to be recognized. . . . The stranger people from outside are come into Egypt. . . . Nay, but corn has perished everywhere.”

• The Amarna letters, ancient correspondence between Egyptian and Middle Eastern rulers, blame significant unrest on a people group labeled as Habiru or ‘Apiru (Exodus 9:1).

• Discoveries also include evidence of cities such as Jericho being conquered during that timeframe.

Possible Pharaohs

Several scenarios in the annals of Egyptian rulers dovetail with the biblical book of Exodus. The “early” 1446 BC date of the exodus would align the slaughter of infants (Exodus 1:16–21) with either Thutmose I or Amenhotep I, whose reputations would support such an act. It would place the life of Moses in the same general era as Hatshepsut, a woman who co-ruled Egypt (Exodus 2:5–6) and was at odds with her stepson Thutmose III. He would have had good reason to evict her adopted son, given the chance (Exodus 2:14–15). This would align the liberation of Israel with the rule of Amenhotep II. His army notably stopped military campaigns in 1446 BC (Exodus 14:28), and his eventual successor, Thutmose IV, was scoffed at for being less-than-legitimate (Exodus 11:4–5; 12:29).

That is not the only possible match. A minority of Egyptologists advocate for a significant revision of the historical timeline, shifting the “actual date” of some Egyptian dynasties by centuries. One such theory would align the book of Exodus with Amenemhat III, who had no surviving sons and a childless daughter, Sobekneferu (Exodus 2:5–10). Her death ended that Dynasty. Soon after came Neferhotep I, who left behind no mummy (Exodus 14:28), and, although he had a son (Exodus 11:4–5; 12:29), he was instead succeeded by his brother.

One Last Bone to Pick

This same approach to history applies to the supposed lack of Hebrew remains in the desert between Egypt and Israel. First and foremost, this complaint ignores traditional burial practices of Israel. This included disinterring bodies after a year, in order to rebury the bones in a common family location. Patriarchs such as Jacob and Joseph famously had their bones relocated after death (Exodus 13:19; Joshua 24:32). This practice was the origin of the phrase gathered to his fathers or to sleep with one’s fathers, in parallel to its implications for the afterlife.

Nature isn’t prone to preserving remains for long, either, let alone for three thousand years. Worse, one of the consequences for disobedience, about which God warned Israel, was improper burial (1 Corinthians 10:5). Hasty or slipshod burial would allow scavengers and the elements to eradicate a body relatively quickly. “Your carcasses shall be food for all the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and no one shall frighten them away.” (Deuteronomy 28:26). This means there is no “lack” of Hebrew graves or bones in the wilderness—there’s no rational reason to expect such remains to be abundant.

There Is Evidence of the Exodus

In summary, non-biblical archaeological evidence shows that the main details of the book of Exodus are not merely plausible, but they are present in archaeology. That era of Egypt’s history includes elements corresponding to a sizable Hebrew workforce in Egypt, which rapidly evacuated in connection with a time of chaos, under Pharaohs whose histories fit with the details of Exodus, and preceding conquest in the land of Canaan.
https://www.gotquestions.org/evidence-of-the-Exodus.html

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior.

“So then, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when people will no longer say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,’ but they will say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the descendants of Israel up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them.’ Then they will live in their own land.”

Jeremiah 23:5-8

2023·07·29 Joe Biden Didn’t Win Daily Thread

A Political Statement

One of my stock jokes is to say, as I head off to the bathroom or washroom or restroom, “I’m going to go make a political statement.”

It certainly seems like urinating is a good way to make a statement about the YSM, and defecating works for politicians. Or the other way around is good too, though “#1” just never seems emphatic enough.

Maybe “#1” is just being polite, and “#2” is telling the fixtures what you really think.

Anyhow, I pretty much do plan to be polite to RINOs that electioneer or fundraise. I’ll tell them, Sorry, but I need to GO Pee…

The Twenty Stand-Up Shitbags (Plus Five More Who Were Just Cowardly Shitbags)

Twenty were stand-up shitbags, who actually voted against punishing Adam Schitt, leaving no doubt where they stood. Five more voted present or were sure to be elsewhere…effectively helping shut down justice, but without being overt about it.

At least the first 20 weren’t weasely about it; we know how the insides of those bags stink.

But it won’t work, you Cowardly Five. We’re onto you.

But then…

I read something in the YSM today that suggested that the 20 who voted against censuring, ejecting. and fining Adam #2 (see above if you’re wondering who Adam #1 is–there isn’t one) were mostly concerned about the constitutional propriety of the fine.

OK, fair enough. I can actually see that being an issue; one I’d want to hear arguments on, pro- and con-.

We’ll get some clarity as to the real reason soon. Next week will be a simple censure motion. I’d like to see the little pencilneck turd kicked out as well, but let’s see how “The Twenty” vote this time around.

Language Warning

In the next piece I had to discuss a particular topic. Unfortunately, I couldn’t discuss it without naming it. Therefore I apologize in advance for having to do so, and apologize to anyone offended by the sight of the name.

RINO McDaniel

RINO McDaniel continues to infest the GOP. But RINO McDaniel isn’t the problem.

Let me be crystal clear on this, RINO McDaniel is a lower-than-whale-shit, piss guzzling ratfucking shit eating traitorous rancid syphillitic cunt. Her worth as a human being is substantially less than zero, any oxygen sucked into her lungs is wasted, and it would be, no matter what job she had.

I fear I haven’t been clear enough, but that will have to suffice.

But she is not the problem…or rather, she would not be a problem were it not for others. She’d still be as I have described, but we wouldn’t know who she is and would not care, because she could do no damage. She’d just be anonymous human refuse.

No, the real problem is the fact that a majority of the 168 top GOP people voted for her. And now that has happened five times so they cannot claim they didn’t know what she was.

In spite of the fact that under her “leadership” the party has deliberately sabotaged the will of its base, has deliberately refused to challenge blatant election fraud, had gone out of its way to ensure certain candidates do not get nominated, has diverted donor money to namby-pamby candidates who have all the electoral appeal of a puddle of dog vomit…and in general has done nothing whatsoever to help fix the problems that plague America.

However that last is to be expected; I cannot expect anyone who IS the problem to help FIX the problem.

RINO McDaniel would be powerless without an entire party leadership of the same mind as her. They want this dismal performance; they want to ignore the party base.

If she were to drop dead this instant, it would solve nothing as someone just like her would be elected by those same pustulous people.

According to Charlie Kirk, about 55 people voted against her, 10-12 wanted something different but were too chickenshit to do the right thing, and roughly 100 people voted for her enthusiastically, and even had the unmitigated gall to complain to Kirk about US. Fuck ’em. Rusty 12 gauge bore brushes would be too good for these arrogant pricks and cunts.

Every single one of those hundred is just as bad as she is. In other words, they are all worse than I described at the beginning of this piece. And no doubt those people in turn have people who supported them to be state party chairs and whateveritis they call the other two people from each state and territory who were voting.

It’s time to face up to the fact that the Republican party is effectively owned by the shit-eating RINOs. We’ve got more work to do, a lot more work, to make the GOP an instrument for the restoration of the United States of America. And that’s in addition to cleaning up our elections.

There’s no point in cleaning up elections just to elect ratfucking RINOs.

OK, hopefully now you will have some inkling of my true attitude towards RINOs. Sorry that words were inadequate to give you the full picture.

The Real Fascist is His Fraudulency Joe Biden*

*Or whoever has his hand rammed up that meat puppet’s ass.

Brandon (which I will use as a term for whoever is the power behind the Porcelain Throne) has thrown down the gauntlet…but in a way where most of America will never see it. The networks didn’t carry his tirade. CNN air brushed it (or whatever you call editing the red background) for its five viewers (who aren’t trapped in airports).

Luckily for me I live in Colorado, and therefore, despite my best efforts, I probably didn’t vote for Donald Trump.

Of course, for this purpose who I actually did try to vote for will be essential, and they undoubtedly know.

Come and get us, asswipes!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h6ZZ28QtX4

Justice Must Be Done.

The prior election must be acknowledged as fraudulent, and steps must be taken to prosecute the fraudsters and restore integrity to the system.

Nothing else matters at this point. Talking about trying again in 2022 or 2024 is hopeless otherwise. Which is not to say one must never talk about this, but rather that one must account for this in ones planning; if fixing the fraud is not part of the plan, you have no plan.

Small Government?

Many times conservatives (real and fake) speak of “small government” being the goal.

This sounds good, and mostly is good, but it misses the essential point. The important thing here isn’t the size, but rather the purpose, of government. We could have a cheap, small tyranny. After all our government spends most of its revenue on payments to individuals and foreign aid, neither of which is part of the tyrannical apparatus trying to keep us locked down and censored. What parts of the government would be necessary for a tyranny? It’d be a lot smaller than what we have now. We could shrink the government and nevertheless find it more tyrannical than it is today.

No, what we want is a limited government, limited not in size, but rather in scope. Limited, that is, in what it’s allowed to do. Under current circumstances, such a government would also be much smaller, but that’s a side effect. If we were in a World War II sort of war, an existential fight against nasty dictatorships on the brink of world conquest, that would be very expensive and would require a gargantuan government, but that would be what the government should be doing. That would be a large, but still limited government, since it’d be working to protect our rights.

World War II would have been the wrong time to squawk about “small government,” but it wasn’t (and never is) a bad time to demand limited government. Today would be a better time to ask for a small government–at least the job it should be doing is small today–but it misses the essential point; we want government to not do certain things. Many of those things we don’t want it doing are expensive but many of them are quite eminently doable by a smaller government than the one we have today. Small, but still exceeding proper limits.

So be careful what you ask for. You might get it and find you asked for the wrong thing.

Political Science In Summation

It’s really just a matter of people who can’t be happy unless they control others…versus those who want to be left alone. The oldest conflict within mankind. Government is necessary, but government attracts the assholes (a highly technical term for the control freaks).

A Few Things We Cannot Blame on His Fraudulency

I am pretty sure Joe Biden had nothing whatsoever to do with the 30 Years War that ran from 1618-1648 and probably killed about a third of the people then living in what is now Germany.

Nor did he cause the collapse of either Roman empire (Western, 476 CE, Eastern 1453 CE). Nor the ignominious failure of most of the Crusades. Nor the collapse of Bronze Age civilization around 1200 BCE (including the collapse of the Minoans and the blowup of Santorini).

However, my utter lack of ability to imagine how he could possibly be responsible for these things is not a valid argument against them, so I await correction if appropriate.

His Truth?

Again we saw an instance of “It might be true for Billy, but it’s not true for Bob” logic this week.

I hear this often, and it’s usually harmless. As when it’s describing differing circumstances, not different facts. “Housing is unaffordable” can be true for one person, but not for another who makes ten times as much.

But sometimes the speaker means it literally. Something like 2+2=4 is asserted to be true for Billy but not for Bob. (And when it’s literal, it’s usually Bob saying it.) And in that sense, it’s nonsense, dangerous nonsense. There is ONE reality, and it exists independent of our desires and our perceptions. It would go on existing if we weren’t here. We exist in it. It does not exist in our heads. It’s not a personal construct, and it isn’t a social construct. If there were no society, reality would continue to be what it is, it wouldn’t vanish…which it would have to do, if it were a social construct.

Now what can change from person to person is the perception of reality. We see that all the time. And people will, of course, act on those perceptions. They will vote for Trump (or try to) if their perception is close to mine, and vote against Trump (and certainly succeed at doing so) if their perception is distant from mine (and therefore, if I do say so, wrong). I have heard people say “perception is reality” and usually, that’s what they’re trying to say–your perception of reality is, as far as you know, an accurate representation of reality, or you’d change it.

But I really wish they’d say it differently. And sometimes, to get back to Billy and Bob, the person who says they have different truths is really saying they have different perceptions of reality–different worldviews. I can’t argue with the latter. But I sure wish they’d say it better. That way I’d know that someone who blabbers about two different truths is delusional and not worth my time, at least not until he passes kindergarten-level metaphysics on his umpteenth attempt.

Lawyer Appeasement Section

OK now for the fine print.

This is the WQTH Daily Thread. You know the drill. There’s no Poltical correctness, but civility is a requirement. There are Important Guidelines, here, with an addendum on 20191110.

We have a new board – called The U Tree – where people can take each other to the woodshed without fear of censorship or moderation.

And remember Wheatie’s Rules:

1. No food fights
2. No running with scissors.
3. If you bring snacks, bring enough for everyone.
4. Zeroth rule of gun safety: Don’t let the government get your guns.
5. Rule one of gun safety: The gun is always loaded.
5a. If you actually want the gun to be loaded, like because you’re checking out a bump in the night, then it’s empty.
6. Rule two of gun safety: Never point the gun at anything you’re not willing to destroy.
7. Rule three: Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to fire.
8. Rule the fourth: Be sure of your target and what is behind it.

(Hmm a few extras seem to have crept in.)

(Paper) Spot Prices

Kitco “Ask” prices. Last week:

Gold $1,961.90
Silver $24.66
Platinum $972.00
Palladium $1,322.00
Rhodium $4,750.00

This week, 3PM Mountain Time, markets have closed for the weekend.

Gold $1,960.40
Silver $24.41
Platinum $945.00
Palladium $1,280.00
Rhodium $4,800.00

Gold barely moved at all, everything else is down except rhodium which moved up by what appears to be the minimum increment (I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a price for it which wasn’t a mulitiple of $50.

So it seems to have been a quiet week, but then again I rarely look during the week.

Obligatory PSAs and Reminders

China is Lower than Whale Shit

Remember Hong Kong!!!

https://youtube.com/watch?v=L3tnH4FGbd0

中国是个混蛋 !!!
Zhōngguò shì gè hùndàn !!!
China is asshoe !!!

China is in the White House

Since Wednesday, January 20 at Noon EST, the bought-and-paid for His Fraudulency Joseph Biden has been in the White House. It’s as good as having China in the Oval Office.

Joe Biden is Asshoe

China is in the White House, because Joe Biden is in the White House, and Joe Biden is identically equal to China. China is Asshoe. Therefore, Joe Biden is Asshoe.

But of course the much more important thing to realize:

Joe Biden Didn’t Win

乔*拜登没赢 !!!
Qiáo Bài dēng méi yíng !!!
Joe Biden didn’t win !!!

Dear MAGA: 20230723 Open Topic

Vengeance is Mine

When we’re hurt, abused, humiliated, or treated unjustly, we naturally want the offender to experience what we felt. We demand our “pound of flesh” and may not rest till we get it. This is the crux of many Hollywood movies and seems like the right thing to do. If someone shows us kindness, we’re often eager to repay him or her. Why shouldn’t we repay the wrong that is done to us, too?

Scripture has a different view, and God says, “Vengeance is mine.” While accepting our human desire for “payback,” Paul gives us a better path than what we see in many crime movies. In Romans 12:19–21, he writes,

Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

The NKJV translates Romans 12:19 as “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.”

The message of Romans 12 flows from the previous text, where Paul established the principle of righteousness by faith. Romans 1—8 covers why Jesus had to be sacrificed for our guilt and how we’re made righteous by faith (Romans 3:22). Chapters 9 to 11 are an aside on the Jews, after which Paul introduces chapter 12 with the sentence, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” Every other verse in that chapter details how we should live as recipients of God’s mercy.

The command for Christians to not avenge themselves results from the fact that we were saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8–9). Our righteousness is a gift from God received by faith, not by works (Romans 3:21–26; 4:5; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9). As people forgiven by God through Christ, we’re commanded to emulate God’s nature by forgiving others who have wronged us (Colossians 3:13; Ephesians 4:32). Jesus further stresses the need for forgiveness (Matthew 18:21–22), and His standard is love toward our enemies (Luke 6:27–28; Matthew 5:43–45).

What about retributive justice? Who will satisfy that need? That’s where God comes in. Paul quotes from Deuteronomy 32:35 to tell us who’s ultimately in charge of payback. God is. Vengeance belongs to God, not to us.

The problem is not our need for retributive justice, per se. It is good to want to see justice done. But we have a sinful nature, even as regenerated believers; hence, the struggle within us (Galatians 5:17). It’s impossible for us to seek vengeance with absolutely pure motives. When avenging a wrong, we usually trade in our altruism for animosity, and our desire for righteousness is mixed with self-righteousness. Just as with every other normal desire, the desire for vengeance can become a dungeon of pain and bitterness.

The only One who can carry out true justice without the taint of impure motives is God. He’s the Ultimate Judge, answerable to no one, set to “repay everyone according to what they have done” (Romans 2:6; cf. Psalm 62:12). This knowledge should give us comfort when we are wronged, as well as the freedom to let go. Jesus is our example in this: “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23).

What should we then do to those who wrong us? Follow Paul’s instruction in Romans 12:20, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him” (cf. Proverbs 25:21–22; Matthew 5:43–44). This way, we won’t be engulfed by evil, but rather we will overcome evil by doing good. This is done through the power and sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.

Being this forgiving is certainly not in the nature of the inhabitants of this world. But we, as Christians, are charged to not conform to this world, but to be transformed by the renewal of our minds, that by testing we may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. In fact, we are not merely charged with not being of this world. It’s a fact that we are not of this world, just as Jesus is not of this world . . . we are the adopted children of God. So, let us ever strive to be perfect and complete, just as our Father in heaven is perfect and complete.

The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
(Revelation 20:10-15)

2023·07·22 Joe Biden Didn’t Win Daily Thread

Joining The Herd Of Lemmings

I’ve had cause to consider a few things. Maybe we’re going about it the wrong way, and we need to ditch Trump

Yeah, NO

Trump all the way! Why? Because being hated by the people who hate him is a sign of impeccable character, that’s why.

The haters can go fuck themselves with rusty twelve gauge bore brushes. I’d prefer ten gauge but that’s kind of scarce, so…I’m willing to compromise.

The RINO’s Dilemma

The RINOs who who have burrowed in and taken over most GOP organizations, from the state down to local organizations, have quite a dilemma on their hands, and most of them have their heads too far up their asses to realize it.

OK, I’m not talking about the liberal in a Republican area, who knows they’re in the wrong party, but is there because it’s the only game in their town; they hope to capture a nomination someday, at which point they’re guaranteed to be elected…otherwise, they never will be. These people are a hazard in any heavily conservative area.

No, I’m talking about the guys who are a little bit conservative and want to do some good by going into politics, and they’re in a closely matched area, closely enough that they can join the party they are most aligned with and still have a chance. They think the Democrats…particularly the ones who end up running for office…are nuts.

They don’t think much better of the Deplorable types, either. A bunch of bumpkins whose hearts are in the right place, mostly…OK a bit extreme. But they think Deplorables can’t understand that first you have to get elected, then work within the system to change things…a slow process. They genuinely want many of the things Deplorables want…just not as much. The government is spending too much. Or they need to spend money on highways instead of welfare for illegal immigrants. But they want to work within the system to get these things done.

Or maybe they think things are pretty close to ideal right now, and they want to nail it in place.

The problem is, that means they don’t stand for anything in particular. And it shows. They’re about as unappetizing to the electorate as a puddle of dog vomit. The folks in the middle, who they think they are appealing to because they themselves are not extreme, would honestly prefer a clear-spoken radical to someone who qualifies everything they say to the point where they sound like they don’t believe anything at all.

The problem these “Mild RINOs” have, is they just can’t see that. And the reason they just can’t see that, is their entire sense of self-worth is tied up in not seeing that. In their minds, they’ve worked tirelessly for their party, to keep those crazy Democrats out…only to have to constantly fight with a small number of crazy Republicans–who are only liabilities if they end up as candidates. They’ve fought the good fight, and if they can just find the right candidate, someone with some charisma, they might stop the crazies…without being too beholden to the OTHER crazies. In the meantime it’s not working. What’s a responsible guy in politics to do?

They simply cannot understand that the Republicans can’t succeed as the party of nothing in particular. Not really in the past, and certainly not today when people are starting to realize that no matter what they do in the voting booth, the country is still about to fly off a precipice. If they did see it, they’d suddenly have two choices: Go away and let the GOP succeed, or stay and fight. But “go away” isn’t really an option, because what’s the point of having a party now owned by the crazies, win?

Well, they have a dilemma…and WE, therefore have a problem. And we would have that problem even IF they realized that they had a problem…that they were the problem.

No one ever thinks they are the bad guy. Even Epstein probably thought he was the good guy. Right up to the moment where he didn’t kill himself.

So if you ever wonder why these unappetizing dufuses cling on even when their fingernails are being left behind…that’s why. They don’t understand no one wants them, and can’t imagine that no one should want them. And oftentimes their greatest pride is in all the hard work they’ve done for the party. They’re not going to give that up; it’d be psychological suicide.

If you’ve worked with these people, there’s a good chance you like them and consider some of them your friends. But even if so…we’re going to have to give them a good, hard shove. Because America is more important than those milquetoasts’ egos.

Justice Must Be Done

The prior election must be acknowledged as fraudulent, and steps must be taken to prosecute the fraudsters and restore integrity to the system.

Lawyer Appeasement Section

OK now for the fine print.

This is the WQTH Daily Thread. You know the drill. There’s no Poltical correctness, but civility is a requirement. There are Important Guidelines, here, with an addendum on 20191110.

We have a new board – called The U Tree – where people can take each other to the woodshed without fear of censorship or moderation.

And remember Wheatie’s Rules:

(Hmm a few extras seem to have crept in.)

Spot (i.e., paper) Prices

Last week:

Gold $1,955.30
Silver $24.96
Platinum $982.00
Palladium $1,304.00
Rhodium $5,450.00

This week, 3PM Mountain Time, markets have closed for the weekend.

Gold $1,961.90
Silver $24.66
Platinum $972.00
Palladium $1,322.00
Rhodium $4,750.00

Gold creeping upward. Other things decidedly mixed, with little movement, prercentage wise. Except of course rhodium which continues its collapse.

Comparing Cartesian And Polar Coordinates

Last week I introduced polar (circular grid) coordinates as an alternative to (and equivalent of) Cartesian (square grid) coordinates.

I also stated that because they’re equivalent either one could be used at any time, so you could pick whichever one was most convenient at the time.

What did I mean by that? Well, hold that thought.

I was talking about x, y pairs last week, but I could just as easily have been talking about complex numbers. Remember they can be represented on a plane that looks a lot like the Cartesian plane, with the real part taking the place of x, and the imaginary part standing in for y. So you can convert complex numbers to polar coordinates, too…but there’s a hitch. The resulting r and θ do not map nicely to real and imaginary, the pair as an inseparable whole is part imaginary and part real. You just have to remember that the thing represents a complex number, and if you want to split it up, you have to convert to Cartesian.

In polar coordinates, r is often called the “absolute value” of the complex number (or you can think of it as the magnitude or length), while θ can be called the “argument.”

Actually…this is not standard notation, but for clarity I am going to surround polar-style complex numbers with angle brackets: < and >

OK, now let’s consider the complex number plane, in both Cartesian and polar forms. And let’s look at some examples.

We’re going to represent a couple of complex numbers in both ways and do two different things to them in order to see which system is more convenient for each of those things.

The first example number we will call A, and in Cartesian form, it is 1+i. Converting to polar coordinates, it’s <√2, 45°> or <√2, π/4> depending on whether you’re thinking in degrees or radians.

The second pair is B and in Cartesian coordinates, it is √3 + i. Converting to polar coordinates, it’s <2, 30°> or <2, π/6>, depending.

[Angles like 30°, 45° and 60° degrees are the “easy” angles in trigonometry because their sines and cosines are well known and fairly simple; the sine of 30° is 1/2, the cosine is √3/2. For 45° both the sine and cosine are √2/2. For 60°, swap the sine and cosine of 30 degrees. Other easy angles are 0 and 90°, plus of course any corresponding angles in the other quadrants of the plane, e.g. 120° is simply the mirror image of 60° so its sine and cosine are going to be the same except for the cosine changing sign to -1/2. People who have been doing trigonometry for very long simply know these angles, and their matches in other quadrants, off the tops of their heads. So (returning to our two example complex numbers), A is at 45° but its length is clearly not 1 since both the x and y (real and imaginary) values are 1. We can get the length from Pythagoras, though, x² = 1 and y² = 1, so the hypotenuse (the length of A) squared is 1+1=2, so the length of A is √2. For B, I simply doubled the well-known sine and cosine of 30°, so I’ve got a 30° angle and a length of 2.]

OK, let’s add A + B. That’s easy to do in Cartesian coordinates, it will be (1+√3) + (1+1)i. (If you remember vector addition from the physics series, this works exactly the same; you can even treat the two numbers as if they were vectors and do a tail-to-head visual addition.) So what do we get in polar coordinates? Well, it’s not obvious how to add things in polar coordinates…but let’s convert the sum into polar coordinates just to see if some sort of pattern suggests itself. Doing so, we find that 1+√3 + 2i converts to <3.3859, 36.206°>…approximately.

Yuck.

There’s no obvious way to get from <√2, 45°> + <2, 30°> to get <~3.3859, ~36.206°>. Not even if you write 1.414… for √2. You can add 1.414… and 2 and get 3.414…but that’s different from 3.3859. It’s close but not close enough. In fact if you actually did do a tail-to-head vector addition diagram, you saw why. The two “vectors” are in almost, not quite the same direction, so the sums of their lengths is not that much greater than the length of their sum. But it’s not the same. And of course the angle 36.206° has no obvious derivation from 45° and 30°. It’s not halfway in between or anything like that.

So it seems that, if you want to add x, y pairs, or complex numbers in Cartesian form…you’d better leave them that way. Adding those is easy. Adding r, θ pairs looks a lot more complicated. So, for addition, the Cartesian form is most convenient.

How about multiplication? Multiplication is defined for complex numbers (but defining it for vectors gets a bit dicey). Okay, so let’s do the multiplication.

(1 + i) x (√3 + i)

Remember for complex numbers, you use “FOIL” (first, outside, inside, last), a generalization of the rule that you multiply everything in the first vector, complex number, or whatever, by everything in the second, then combine like terms.

1 x √3 = √3 (first)
1 x i = i (outside)
i x √3 = √3i (inside)
i x i = -1 (last)

Gathering like terms together, we have (I’ll put parentheses around the real and imaginary parts for clarity):

(√3 – 1) + (√3+1)i.

This seems kind of almost-symmetrical, but it’s a mess, actually.

OK. It’s not obvious here how we’d use polar coordinates to multiply, so let’s just convert the answer and see what pops out.

The first component, r, is going to be the square root of the sum of the squares of the real and imaginary parts. That’s basically Pythagoras, r² = (real part)² + (imaginary part without the i)²

Squaring both pieces (again using FOIL) we get:

(3 – 2√3 + 1) [first part, squared] + (3 + 2√3 + 1) [second part, squared]

(Note that we don’t include the i in the squaring because we are trying to assess the sizes of the sides of the triangle, and those are all real numbers.)

And lo and behold the 2√3’s cancel and we’re left with r² = 8 = 4×2, so r = 2√2. Which is sort-of tidy. And the angle turns out to be (I won’t show the work, but I pushed it into a calculator even though I know the answer already because…well, you’ll see): 75°.

Exactly 75°.

OK now set <2√2, 75°> next to the polar version of the two pairs we were multiplying and see if anything strikes you as a pattern.

<√2, 45°> x <2, 30°> = <2√2, 75°>

Now if this were a video, I’d either wait a while or ask you to pause it and think about it.

But really…look. The rs multiplied, √2 x 2 = 2√2…and the angles added.

Geez, that is a lot less tedious than FOIL. In fact it’s almost as easy as adding the numbers is in Cartesian mode!

As it turns out, multiplying any complex number, by some other complex number, gives you another complex number with magnitude equal to the product of the two numbers, and angle the sum of the two angles. Or you can think of it as rotating the first number by the angle in the second, and then multiplying the two magnitudes.

So which mode is more convenient for multiplication? You’ve got it: the polar mode.

And as an extra bonus, we have a way to rotate a complex number. (And similar ways to rotate vectors.) Multiply it by another complex number with the desired angle. And unless we want the magnitude to change, make sure the “rotator” complex number has magnitude, r, equal to 1.

A “rotator” complex number like that will have, as its real component, the cosine of the rotation angle, and as its imaginary component, the sine of the rotation angle. Or in other words, <1, θ> a/k/a cosθ + isinθ will, by multiplication, rotate another complex number on the complex number plane by the angle θ.

This may seem like nothing more than a parlor trick for geeks, but it turns out to be very, very important in the technical realm, particularly with electrical and electronic engineering. Whatever it is you’re reading this on, ultimately depends on this fact.

OK that’s enough for now!

Fuck Joe Bdn

Due to complaints about foul language, I’ve censored the most objectionable word in the title of this section.

B*d*n, you don’t even get ONE scoop of ice cream today.

(Please post this somewhere permanent, as it will continue to be true; the SOB will never deserve a scoop.)

Obligatory PSAs and Reminders

China is Lower than Whale Shit

Remember Hong Kong!!!

中国是个混蛋 !!!
Zhōngguò shì gè hùndàn !!!
China is asshoe !!!

China is in the White House

Since Wednesday, January 20 at Noon EST, the bought-and-paid for His Fraudulency Joseph Biden has been in the White House. It’s as good as having China in the Oval Office.

Joe Biden is Asshoe

China is in the White House, because Joe Biden is in the White House, and Joe Biden is identically equal to China. China is Asshoe. Therefore, Joe Biden is Asshoe.

But of course the much more important thing to realize:

Joe Biden Didn’t Win

乔*拜登没赢 !!!
Qiáo Bài dēng méi yíng !!!
Joe Biden didn’t win !!!

Dear MAGA: 20230716 Open Topic

This Rejoice & Praise God Sunday Open Thread, with full respect to those who worship God on the Sabbath, is a place to reaffirm our worship of our Creator, our Father, our King Eternal.

It’s also a place to read, post, and discuss news that is worth knowing and sharing. Please post links to any news stories that you use as sources or quote from.

In the QTree, we’re a friendly and civil lot. We encourage free speech and the open exchange and civil discussion of different ideas. Topics aren’t constrained, and sound logic is highly encouraged, all built on a solid foundation of truth and established facts.

We have a policy of mutual respect, shown by civility. Civility encourages discussions, promotes objectivity and rational thought in discourse, and camaraderie in the participants – characteristics we strive toward in our Q Tree community.

Please show respect and consideration for our fellow QTreepers. Before hitting the “post” button, please proofread your post and make sure your opinion addresses the issue only, and does not confront or denigrate the poster. Keep to the topic – avoid “you” and “your”. Here in The Q Tree, personal attacks, name-calling, ridicule, insults, baiting, and other conduct for which a penalty flag would be thrown are VERBOTEN.

In The Q Tree, we’re compatriots, sitting around the campfire, roasting hot dogs, making s’mores, and discussing, agreeing, and disagreeing about whatever interests us. This board will remain a home for those who seek respectful conversations.

Please also consider the Guidelines for posting and discussion printed here:
https://www.theqtree.com/2019/01/01/dear-maga-open-topic-20190101/

On this day and every day –

God is in Control
. . . and His Grace is Sufficient, so . . .
Keep Looking Up

Hopefully, every Sunday, we can find something here that will build us up a little . . . give us a smile . . . and add some joy or peace, very much needed in all our lives.

“This day is holy to the Lord your God;
do not mourn nor weep.” . . .
“Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet,
and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared;
for this day is holy to our Lord.
Do not sorrow,
for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

What Does God Want Me To Do?

We ask “What does God want me to do?” for a variety of reasons. We may be facing a big life decision and truly want to follow God’s plan. Or we may be searching for God and believe that there are steps to follow or rules to keep in order to find Him. Or we may ask, “What does God want me to do?” because we can’t find purpose or meaning in our lives and suspect that God is keeping it from us. Whatever motivates the question, the Bible has answers when we are wondering what God wants us to do.

When asking what God wants me to do, remember that we are not human doings. We were created in God’s image as human beings to communicate and walk in harmony with Him (Genesis 1:27). Doing is the result of being. Birds sing because they are birds; they do not sing in order to become birds. They sing, fly, and feather their nests because of who they are. So what God really wants is for all our doings to emanate from our being. He has no interest in grudging actions that have no connection with our hearts (Psalm 51:16–17; 1 Samuel 15:22; Micah 6:6–8). Whatever we do for God must come from a place of overflowing love, worship, and surrender (Hosea 6:6; 12:6).

The first thing God wants us to do is to accept His offer of salvation. We are hopeless in our sin and cannot be good enough to overcome our sin and enter His presence. That’s why Jesus came into the world to take the punishment we deserve (2 Corinthians 5:21). When we put our faith in Christ’s death and resurrection, we can fulfill our purpose of knowing and glorifying God (Romans 6:1–6). God takes on the job of transforming us so that we become more like Jesus (Romans 8:29). So the first answer to the question what does God want me to do? is to receive His Son, Jesus, as Lord and begin the journey of faith.

After we are saved, what God wants us to do is “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). When God adopts us into His family (Romans 8:15), we begin a new relationship with Him that affects every aspect of our lives. Rather than making decisions to please ourselves, we make decisions that will please the Lord (2 Corinthians 10:31). Those decisions will be supported by the Bible, affirmed through godly counsel, and acted on through the power of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16, 25).

A quick checklist of things God wants us to do is found in Micah 6:8, which says, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Acting justly requires that we live with a sense of right and wrong and deal honestly and fairly with those around us. Jesus said we should not judge by appearances, “but judge with right judgment” (John 7:24). To do what God wants us to do, we must give everyone what is due them, we must live truthfully, and we must never oppress or exploit anyone. We should treat other people as fairly as we like to be treated (Matthew 7:12).

Loving mercy means we offer another chance to someone who does not deserve it. To do what God wants us to do, we must follow Jesus’ example in mercy; He was eager to show mercy toward anyone who repented (John 8:10–11; Luke 23:42–43). Like Jesus, we must forgive those who sin against us (Matthew 18:23–35). We should rejoice when someone is shown mercy, remembering how much mercy God has shown us (Luke 6:35–36).

We walk humbly with our God by seeking His blessing and approval on our life decisions. God does not become merely a part of our lives, He IS our life (Galatians 2:20). To do what God wants us to do, we grow in our faith, continuing to surrender more and more areas of our lives to His control. We daily deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow Him (Luke 9:23). Only when we keep our sins confessed (1 John 1:9) and our lives free from idolatry and worldliness, (1 John 5:21) can we walk humbly with our God.

God wants us to impact our world with His message, the gospel. Jesus answered the question what does God want me to do? Some of us will be called by the Great Commission: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19–20). Others will will heed the words of Peter “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15)

And also: In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)
Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. (Colossians 4:5-6)
In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. (2 Corinthians 5:19-20)

I don’t believe that we have to scour God’s Word to look definitive answers to what professions we should pursue, what school we should attend, where we will find our one true love, what job we should take, where we should live, or other such details of life. God wants us to trust Him and follow Christ.

And what about the answers to those other life questions? Yes, they’re covered, too. Remember, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Love God and abide in Christ.

2023·07·15 Joe Biden Didn’t Win Daily Thread

No science post.

No political rants.

Not even any milder political stuff.

Not today.

Today I mark the passing of a friend.

Darwin
June 2018 – 13 July 2023

I went to a reptile show in Denver on November 11, 2018, quite coincidentally the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. There were a fair number of bearded dragons for sale there, but I didn’t want a really tiny, young one; it sounded like there were too many ways for them to come to harm. I opted for one about 5 months old, one who seemed to be a mix of green, yellow and orange, without being too garish. At the time he was approximately 14″ long including an unusually long tail for a bearded dragon. (He would eventually reach 21 3/4 inches. Some told me if they hadn’t actually seen him, they would have thought the long tail was a photoshop.)

A wild bearded dragon’s color is generally a mix of grays and dull tans, though the pattern is fairly intricate. But reptile breeders love to select for very unnatural color schemes. Red like flaming hot Cheetoh. Bright yellow like a lemon. Or even an albino. Or different skin textures, such as silky smooth, instead of very rough. (The spikes along the sides are actually pretty soft, but the skin naturally feels like rough grit sandpaper.) They give all of these morphs (and others I haven’t described) names.

I didn’t go too outrageous on the color…I could almost imagine Darwin’s color being decent camouflage in central Australia. That’s where his particular species (one of eight bearded dragon species, and by far the most common of the eight in the pet trade) is from. And it turned out the green coloration is an illusion; he often exhibited spotty gray coloration which when in close proximity to the yellow, looks a drab greenish. When he was upset the gray color would disappear leaving him looking a drab yellow on the head where there is no orange.

It turned out that my lizard was a “hypo, orange tiger stripe dunner.” (Hypo simply meant hypomelanistic, and the prime indicator is clear, rather than black, claws. Dunner has to do with the pattern of scales on the belly.)

I named him Darwin, not after Charles, but after the city of Darwin in Australia, which got its name from the bay it is on, which in turn was named that in the 1830s. Since Charles didn’t become famous until 1859 with the publication of Origin of Species, I concluded the city was not named after him.

Darwin on his first day at my house. Notice the S the seller put on him to mark him as having been sold to me, while I went and visited the rest of the reptile show. (It came off the first time he shed.)

I was wrong. The city was named by the crew of the HMS Beagle, after Charles Darwin who had been on the ship collecting the specimens that would eventually lead him to knowledge of evolution by natural selection. Apparently they had liked him well enough to name places after him–well before he was famous.

Darwin, this time I mean the lizard, had one thing in common with Charles. He was very likeable. To hell with “Everybody Loves Raymond.” Everybody loved Darwin.

A few weeks later, he went through an almost complete shed, starting with his head. He looks for all the world as if he’s disgusted with the fact that his head just exploded.

It is easy (though painful) to eulogize him; there’s no mentally editing out bad personality traits with a “let’s not talk about that” or a “maybe I can make a joke of this.”

Later on during the same December 2018 shed, on his basking rock. Beardies will sometimes get rid of excess heat by opening their mouths, as shown here. To the right you can see the “reverse cape” of the skin that came off.
That was the only time he ever shed that much, all at the same time.

Darwin did have a personality, contrary to those who diss reptiles as not having personalities. In fact, his personality was better than that of most people–a sentiment echoed by a condolence card I received after I wrote the first draft of this.

I could show pictures of him on my office chair (or keyboard) during the early COVID lockdown (it was designated “take your lizard to work week” in this house) and people would spontaneously tell me on the basis of the photographs alone that they had never seen such personality in a lizard.

I could take him to street markets, perched on my shoulder and people would be delighted to see him, he was a favorite of kids.

Of course the downside is he sometimes proofread my posts.

“Steve, you don’t actually *mean* that, do you?”

The people at the vet’s office loved Darwin too; they’d fawn over him more than they would most people’s dogs.

His picture is posted in four locations in this county, one a business whose owner would be appalled to find I actually write for a “Trumper” site like this. He’s the unofficial mascot of that store.

Or rather, he was.

A few months ago I noticed he was having trouble with his back legs, which were swollen. I called for an appointment at the vet, and had to wait a month.

The news was grim. He almost certainly had kidney cancer; it was hugely swollen in the ultrasound. However, there was one dim hope: It might only be a kidney infection.

So began a course of fifteen antibiotic shots, two every week. After the fifth shot, though, there would be evaluation, and if there were no improvement, well, it would be the time for that “quality of life” discussion.

An image taken the day of the evaluation trip to the vet…when I thought he might end up being put down.
Note how swollen the rear ankle is. He had no use of his rear feet then though at least he could move the leg as a whole by this time.

Well, wouldn’t you know, it seemed to be working. The vet was ecstatic; he truly thought the infection was very unlikely, but since it was treatable and the cancer was not, it had been worth the gamble.

And even though I don’t like driving to the part of town the vet is located at, I was overjoyed to hear I’d be doing it ten more times for the rest of the shots. (I couldn’t get the hang of injecting him. The vet could do it without Darwin even noticing; in my case he’d try to get away from my attempts.)

So we went through the ten remaining shots, and scheduled a follow up for a month after the last shot; that follow-up was this past Thursday.

A week ago I noticed Darwin wasn’t climbing to the top of his basking rock. Basking is a necessity for many reptiles, it helps them digest their food. Now, instead of his rear legs being useless, it was his front legs…which I tend to call arms when I’m not thinking, as he grasped with those feet (“hands”).

And his appetite was off.

He was basically unable to lift himself off the ground. Whereas before he could drag himself up the basking rock with his front legs, he couldn’t do that now with no motion in those legs.

I thought this might be any one of the bugs and other micro-critters that sometimes infest the digestive tracts of reptiles (some of them can get us too: pinworms, for instance). He’d had a lot of difficulty with those in the past. He left me with a sample of well, you know, on Monday which I duly collected and refrigerated, knowing the vet could check it over. (He very uncharacteristically deposited it inside his hide, rather than onto his basking rock. And didn’t move after he left it.)

Alas this past Thursday the verdict was…”And” logic. He had had an infection and cancer. And with the infection gone, the cancer was progressing rapidly now.

It was time to make The Decision. So at roughly 4PM on Thursday, Darwin–who brought a smile if not joy to everyone he met, even to people who don’t like lizards–Darwin was no more.

His light, small as it was, has left this world of gathering darkness.

The photograph at the top of the post is of Darwin being held by a tech at the vet’s office, less than an hour before he was put to sleep. The mere fact that his front legs aren’t gripping something should tell you how bad it was.

I have other pictures of him on the table, and him being held on, then on me.

He found the strength to move from my arm partway onto my chest (which he liked to do), even five minutes before he took his last sleep.

Spot (i.e., paper) Prices

Last week:

Gold $1,925.40
Silver $23.16
Platinum $920.00
Palladium $1,278.00
Rhodium $5,250.00

This week, 3PM Mountain Time, markets have closed for the weekend.

Gold $1,955.30
Silver $24.96
Platinum $982.00
Palladium $1,304.00
Rhodium $5,450.00

Things up a bit, especially gold. Gold was down for the day on Friday, so clearly Thursday’s numbers were even higher. Silver closed up one cent versus Thursday.

Obligatory PSAs and Reminders

References to our opponents as “Lizard People” are officially in poor taste today.

Darwin had ten million times as much personality as they do.

And not one shred of evil.

China is Lower than Whale Shit

Remember Hong Kong!!!

中国是个混蛋 !!!
Zhōngguò shì gè hùndàn !!!
China is asshoe !!!

China is in the White House

Since Wednesday, January 20 at Noon EST, the bought-and-paid for His Fraudulency Joseph Biden has been in the White House. It’s as good as having China in the Oval Office.

Joe Biden is Asshoe

China is in the White House, because Joe Biden is in the White House, and Joe Biden is identically equal to China. China is Asshoe. Therefore, Joe Biden is Asshoe.

But of course the much more important thing to realize:

Joe Biden Didn’t Win

乔*拜登没赢 !!!
Qiáo Bài dēng méi yíng !!!
Joe Biden didn’t win !!!

Dear MAGA: 20230709 Open Topic

This Rejoice & Praise God Sunday Open Thread, with full respect to those who worship God on the Sabbath, is a place to reaffirm our worship of our Creator, our Father, our King Eternal.

It’s also a place to read, post, and discuss news that is worth knowing and sharing. Please post links to any news stories that you use as sources or quote from.

Please also consider the Guidelines for posting and discussion printed here:
https://www.theqtree.com/2019/01/01/dear-maga-open-topic-20190101/

On this day and every day –

God is in Control
. . . and His Grace is Sufficient, so . . .
Keep Looking Up

Hopefully, every Sunday, we can find something here that will build us up a little . . . give us a smile . . . and add some joy or peace, very much needed in all our lives.

“This day is holy to the Lord your God;
do not mourn nor weep.” . . .
“Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet,
and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared;
for this day is holy to our Lord.
Do not sorrow,
for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Pride . . . Still Man’s Downfall

We’ve just completed a month of official national recognition and celebration of pride. And highlighting, of all things, the celebration of sexual perversion. Can man sink lower? Yes, he can, and undoubtedly will.

The first recorded sin in time is the devil’s fall from grace in the following passage, prophetically directed at the king of Tyre, but apparently meant to include an angel, namely Lucifer:

Isaiah 14:12–15: How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit.

Satan’s sin was pride. He was so beautiful, so wise, and so powerful as an angel that he began to covet God’s position and authority. He chafed at having to serve God and grew angry and rebellious. He did not want to serve, he wanted to be served; he, as a creature, wanted to be worshiped. How starkly contrasted to our savior Jesus Christ, who came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give his life a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).

Some passages in Proverbs talk about the sin of pride and what effect it produces.

Proverbs 16:18: Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 11:2: When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.

Proverbs 18:12: Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honor is humility.

Pride literally went before the fall, both the fall of Satan and the fall of man. Pride causes shame, loss of wisdom, destruction, and ruin. If one were to summarize what actually happened as Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden of Eden, wouldn’t these passages describe their mental and physical condition exactly? The shame of committing sin against God, physical disease, pain and death looming on the horizon, loss of fellowship with God, and the fight to eke out a living from the cursed ground—all these are the outworking of the sin of pride.

Was Adam and Eve’s sin just disobedience by eating the forbidden fruit? Well, yes, that was the physical act that followed what had already occurred in their minds and hearts. But let’s take a closer look at the passages in Genesis to see what the real sin was and where it started.

Genesis 3:1–7: Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’” Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.

Genesis 3:12–13: Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

First Satan questioned God’s word, then he openly lied to Eve, contradicting what God had said. Then he used the tantalizing bait that humanity could be more like God by having their eyes opened, knowing things they currently didn’t know. The real heart of the situation is the statement that Eve thought the tree was good for food and desirable to make one wise. Why would she think this? God himself had told Adam (and either God himself or Adam had told Eve) that eating from the tree would lead to death. Why would she (and subsequently Adam) accept the word of a talking serpent over the word of God? Only doubt of God’s word and subsequently God’s motives could have led to this tragedy.

They didn’t just ignorantly decide to eat the fruit, nor did they eat it because “the devil made them do it.”

They didn’t just ignorantly decide to eat the fruit, nor did they eat it because “the devil made them do it.” Satan’s outright lies and cunning half-truths brought something to the surface of Eve’s mind that fateful day. She realized that to “be like gods” meant not having to serve God, it meant being equal to God. It meant that she felt as if God had deliberately kept her and Adam in the dark regarding their “divine potential.” Why should they tend God’s garden in Eden when they could be as gods themselves? Why should they have to obey God if they were also gods? The quickness with which Adam agreed to Eve’s offer of the fruit may possibly show that he too had these same feelings. In any event, we know that it was Adam’s sin that was responsible for the fall and the curse (Romans 5:12). The sin of pride that led to Satan’s fall had now infected the hearts and minds of Adam and Eve, and the result was the same: shame, loss of wisdom, ruin, and death.

In verses 12 and 13 are Adam and Eve’s response to God’s question. The sin of pride shows through in their replies. Look at whom they really blamed for their actions: “The serpent deceived me,” said Eve; “The woman you gave to be with me enticed me,” said Adam. They almost seem to say that if they had been God things would have been different; therefore, it’s all God’s fault. These are not the responses of broken and contrite hearts, they are the responses of a proud and willful people caught in the act of rebellion against God.

Pride is still man’s most prevalent sin. Little has changed since the fall. Man is still a creature consumed with pride. Romans 1:18–21 gives the current condition of mankind:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Why does mankind suppress the truth? Why does he not glorify God? Why is he unthankful? Why is his imagination vain and his heart darkened? Because he does not glorify God as God. Mankind wants to glorify himself as God. We want to be the sole decision maker and sole authority in our life. We want nothing to do with a creator God to whom we should owe allegiance. If only we could come up with some natural explanation for everything we see around us, if only we could ignore our conscience, if only we could forget past history that clearly shows divine intervention, then we could rationalize away God and make gods of ourselves. Isn’t this exactly what we see today? Now we have evolution, moral relativism, humanism, revisionist history, and all other attempts to willfully hold God’s revealed truth at arms length. Truly our sinful human pride knows no bounds!

The Lord knows where his creatures are most prone to err, and pride infects all of humanity. We could make a case for pride being the fountainhead of all other sins. Anger, hate, jealousy, and ingratitude all stem from pride; something we wanted to happen did not happen and we feel offended, our pride is wounded, and our emotions are stirred to cause us to act sinfully. We could even make the case that “the love of money is the root of all [kinds of] evil” passage in 1 Timothy 6:10 really deals with the sin of pride as well. We know that covetousness is the same as idolatry (Ephesians 5:5), and idolatry is the sin of creating our own god by being too proud and stubborn to worship the True God. Consider the following verses in Proverbs that reflect God’s attitude toward pride:

Proverbs 6:16–19: These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.

Proverbs 8:13: The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.

On God’s list of the top seven most heinous sins, pride comes in at number one! In verse 13 we see that the fear of the Lord is equated with hating pride and arrogance. If we allow pride to control us, we do not really fear God as we ought. C. S. Lewis said, “The essential vice, the utmost evil, is Pride. Unchastity, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere flea-bites in comparison: it was through Pride that the devil became the devil: Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.”

What should we as Christians do to guard against this sin? There are no instant cures for this sin. Pride is a sin we struggle with on a daily basis. (In Romans 7:13–25 the Apostle Paul agonizes over his struggles against sin, and Paul had to endure the “thorn in the flesh” in 2 Corinthians 12:7 that was given to keep him from becoming exalted above measure.) However, God doesn’t leave us or forsake us. He gives us grace and power to overcome even this most insidious sin. A couple of passages in James and 1 Peter deal with this.

James 4:5–8: Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

1 Peter 5:5–10: Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

In both of these passages we’re warned to forsake pride and humbly submit ourselves before God in order to resist the devil. We give Satan a foothold when we walk like him rather than like Christ (who came to do not His own will but the will of the Father).

It’s only through God’s grace and provision that we can daily overcome our innate pride. We need to pray (cast all our cares upon God), study the Bible (be sober and vigilant), be submissive to God by obeying Him and revering Him, and recognize that it is Jesus Christ who strengthens, establishes, settles, and perfects us.

Without Him we can do nothing!

Excerpted and paraphrased from https://answersingenesis.org/sin/the-first-sin/

Dear MAGA: 20230702 Open Topic

This Rejoice & Praise God Sunday Open Thread, with full respect to those who worship God on the Sabbath, is a place to reaffirm our worship of our Creator, our Father, our King Eternal.

It’s also a place to read, post, and discuss news that is worth knowing and sharing. Please post links to any news stories that you use as sources or quote from.

Please also consider the Guidelines for posting and discussion printed here:
https://www.theqtree.com/2019/01/01/dear-maga-open-topic-20190101/

On this day and every day –

God is in Control
. . . and His Grace is Sufficient, so . . .
Keep Looking Up

Hopefully, every Sunday, we can find something here that will build us up a little . . . give us a smile . . . and add some joy or peace, very much needed in all our lives.

“This day is holy to the Lord your God;
do not mourn nor weep.” . . .
“Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet,
and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared;
for this day is holy to our Lord.
Do not sorrow,
for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

I Stand at the Door and Knock

Through the apostle John in Revelation 2—3, Jesus addressed seven letters to seven churches in Asia Minor. They were individualized letters of instruction, rebuke, and encouragement to the local congregations. To the last church, the lukewarm church in Laodicea, Jesus made this urgent plea: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me” (Revelation 3:20).

The idea of Jesus standing at a door and knocking is often used as an illustration of Jesus’ offer of salvation to individuals: if you would only “open your heart’s door” and let Jesus into your life, all will be well. But in Revelation 3:20, Jesus is not pleading with an individual to be saved; He’s seeking admittance to a church! It’s alarming to think of Jesus standing outside of the church and knocking, but that’s the position He was in. The Laodicean church had shut the door on the Head of the church; they were smug in their prosperity, but Jesus was left standing in the cold. He was an outsider to the hearts of the entire congregation.

Most of the seven letters contained a compliment, a complaint or criticism, a command, and a commitment from Jesus. But the church of Laodicea, like their spiritually dead sister church in Sardis, merited no words of approval from Jesus. The Laodiceans were guilty of self-reliance, self-righteousness, and spiritual indifference. Even worse, the church was unaware of their wretched condition.

To the congregation at Laodicea, Jesus issued this scathing criticism: “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”

“You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked’” (Revelation 3:15–17).

In their proud, self-satisfied, and spiritually blind state, the church of Laodicea was useless in God’s kingdom. Using figurative language, Jesus issued His command, beckoning the members of the church to exchange their counterfeit righteousness for genuine righteousness (Revelation 3:18). He called the church to be zealous and repent (verse 19).

Christ’s appeal was heartfelt and urgent: “Listen! I am standing at the door and knocking! If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come into his home and share a meal with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20, NET). The Lord’s plea was also personal. He spoke to individuals using singular words like anyone, his, him, and he. He was inviting everyone in the church to experience intimate fellowship with Him. And even though His desire was for the whole church to respond and open the door to Him, ultimately it was up to the individual to decide.

Jesus knows that not everyone will answer His invitation and open the door to a relationship with Him. Many, like those living in Laodicea, will choose to reject His call. Lukewarm, and with hardened hearts, they will remain blind to the fact that they have accepted a false righteousness (Hebrews 3:7–8). To these Jesus will say, “I never knew you, depart from me” (Matthew 7:21–23). Sadly, they will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

During His ministry on earth, Jesus went to great lengths to demonstrate that righteousness comes to us as a gift through faith alone. Having Christ’s righteousness, by grace through faith, is the only way to enter the kingdom of heaven (Romans 3:24–25; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:4–8).

When Jesus said, “I stand at the door and knock,” He was inviting the members of the Laodicean church to recognize their miserable spiritual condition and receive His authentic gift of salvation. Like the apostle Paul, the Laodiceans needed to realize their absolute dependence on Christ: “What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith” (Philippians 3:8–9).

To those who would open the door, Jesus promised a close fellowship, pictured as enjoying a meal together. And He offered this great reward: “To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne” (Revelation 3:21). These words were Christ’s commitment to the Laodicean church.

Today Jesus continues to say, “I stand at the door and knock!” To churches who are filled with nominal Christians, He sends out His earnest invitation for full fellowship. The One who holds the keys to the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 16:19; Revelation 1:18; 3:7) calls us all to hear His voice and open the door so that He can come in and share an intimate union with us. To those who respond, Jesus Christ guarantees the open door of eternal life and the joys of being with Him in heaven.
https://www.gotquestions.org/I-stand-at-the-door-and-knock.html

2023·07·01 Joe Biden Didn’t Win Daily Thread

Today is Canada Day. Something once worth celebrating.

Oh, well.

Speaker Dungsmear? Or?

McCarthy 2.0 seems a vast improvement over Speaker Dungsmear. So here’s the question. Was he once a conservative with a little fire in the belly that got captured by the system and now is finding the bellyfire again? Or is this all completely under duress?

For the moment, it doesn’t matter which one. But some day it will matter, and we will have our answer.

RINOs an Endangered Species?
If Only!

According to Wikipoo, et. al., the Northern White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum cottoni) is a critically endangered species. Apparently two females live on a wildlife preserve in Sudan, and no males are known to be alive. So basically, this species is dead as soon as the females die of old age. Presently they are watched over by armed guards 24/7.

Biologists have been trying to cross them with the other subspecies, Southern White Rhinoceroses (Rhinoceri?) without success; and some genetic analyses suggest that perhaps they aren’t two subspecies at all, but two distinct species, which would make the whole project a lot more difficult.

I should hope if the American RINO (Parasitus rectum pseudoconservativum) is ever this endangered, there will be heroic efforts not to save the species, but rather to push the remainder off a cliff. Onto punji sticks. With feces smeared on them. Failing that a good bath in red fuming nitric acid will do.

But I’m not done ranting about RINOs.

The RINOs (if they are capable of any introspection whatsoever) probably wonder why they constantly have to deal with “populist” eruptions like the Trump-led MAGA movement. That would be because the so-called populists stand for absolutely nothing except for going along to get along. That allows the Left to drive the culture and politics.

Given the results of our most recent elections, the Left will now push harder, and the RINOs will now turn even squishier than they were before.

I well remember 1989-1990 in my state when the RINO establishment started preaching the message that a conservative simply couldn’t win in Colorado. Never mind the fact that Reagan had won the state TWICE (in 1984 bringing in a veto-proof state house and senate with him) and GHWB had won after (falsely!) assuring everyone that a vote for him was a vote for Reagan’s third term.

This is how the RINOs function. They push, push, push the line that only a “moderate” can get elected. Stomp them when they pull that shit. Tell everyone in ear shot that that’s exactly what the Left wants you to think, and oh-by-the-way-Mister-RINO if you’re in this party selling the same message as the Left…well, whythefuckexactly are you in this party, you lying piece of rancid weasel shit?

In Defense of Ranked Choice Voting

One of the biggest obstacles to direly-needed change is RINOs, and one of the weapons in their arsenal is the “Wasted Vote” argument.

Periodically a third party has arisen, trying to hold RINOs to account by putting pressure on them from outside of the party, since doing so from the inside has historically done very little good. But, even if you find a third party candidate who perfectly reflects your views, you’re likely to vote for the RINO anyway. Why? Because if you don’t, the Democrat might win, and that would be even worse. So if you vote for that third party (that few will vote for), you’re throwing your vote away and increasing the likelihood of the Democrat winning. (It’s half as much a gain for the Democrat, as actually voting for the Democrat would be. Not as much, but half as much. Because although you denied the R your vote, you did not flip your vote to the Democrat.)

The Republican Party Establishment knows you don’t love them. But they know you hate the Democrats worse, and they use that to continue to herd you into supporting them. With gritted teeth you cast your vote, but your vote counts the same whether you cast it enthusiastically. And the other alternative, pissing on the voting apparatus to express your actual feelings, is probably a felony.

But what if you could vote for that third party without increasing the chances of the Dem walking away with the prize?

This is what ranked choice voting, or instant runoff voting, can do provided it is properly implemented. (And this includes the votes, and only genuine votes, being counted honestly, of course. However, I’m going to compare it to what we have today, and pretend that is honestly done too. RCV can’t work if it’s not honestly administered, just like our current system isn’t working because it isn’t honestly administered.)

The idea behind RCV is to vote by expressing your order of preference. You could vote for the Patriot Party, then for the RINO Party as your second choice (and ignore the Democrat, the Green, the Overt Socialist Schmuckmonkey Party, etc).

What does this do? It nullifies the wasted vote argument. Your vote will be counted for the Patriot party, first, then instead of it being “wasted” when the Patriot Party loses, it ends up going to the RINO. Actually, it’s just barely possible that the Patriot Party would actually beat the RINO, if people weren’t all individually afraid to vote for it.

It’s just like the famous “Prisoner’s Dilemma” where your fear of other peoples’ actions prevents you from doing the optimal thing–and vice-versa. As long as Job Lowe is afraid to vote Patriot because he’s afraid you’ll vote RINO, you’ll have to vote RINO because you fear that Job Lowe will, because he fears you will.

So on the whole I like RCV. It gives you a no-risk way to vote against the RINO scum, and in favor of someone who deserves your vote.

The problem is, as done here in the US, it comes packaged with a “jungle primary.” A bunch of candidates get to put their name out there, and the top four (or so) candidates get onto the “main” ballot. This gives party establishments their way around the threat of a good third party bumping them off. Because they know that few people bother with primaries, and third parties don’t have the resources to run in a primary…so they throw two or three establishment hacks into the primary and they will probably beat the third party. The result is the RINOs end up with two of the four slots in the general election, and the Dems get the other two. Now there’s suddenly no third party candidate on the ballot at all.

If we were to combine RCV with the present system where each party could nominate exactly one candidate to appear on the November ballot, or at the very least, ensure minor parties could get onto the ballot with at least one candidate regardless of the primary, we would be getting somewhere, but the establishment is smarter than we like to give them credit for. They will support the jungle primary + RCV “solution” rather than the more appropriate one-candidate-per-party + RCV solution.

It’s not RCV that is the problem, it’s the primary structure grafted onto it.

Justice

It says “Justice” on the picture.

And I’m sure someone will post the standard joke about what the fish thinks about the situation.

But what is it?

Here’s a take, from a different context: It’s about how you do justice, not the justice that must be done to our massively corrupt government and media. You must properly identify the nature of a person, before you can do him justice.

Ayn Rand, On Justice (speaking through her character John Galt, in Atlas Shrugged):

Justice is the recognition of the fact that you cannot fake the character of men as you cannot fake the character of nature, that you must judge all men as conscientiously as you judge inanimate objects, with the same respect for truth, with the same incorruptible vision, by as pure and as rational a process of identification—that every man must be judged for what he is and treated accordingly, that just as you do not pay a higher price for a rusty chunk of scrap than for a piece of shining metal, so you do not value a rotter above a hero—that your moral appraisal is the coin paying men for their virtues or vices, and this payment demands of you as scrupulous an honor as you bring to financial transactions—that to withhold your contempt from men’s vices is an act of moral counterfeiting, and to withhold your admiration from their virtues is an act of moral embezzlement—that to place any other concern higher than justice is to devaluate your moral currency and defraud the good in favor of the evil, since only the good can lose by a default of justice and only the evil can profit—and that the bottom of the pit at the end of that road, the act of moral bankruptcy, is to punish men for their virtues and reward them for their vices, that that is the collapse to full depravity, the Black Mass of the worship of death, the dedication of your consciousness to the destruction of existence.

Ayn Rand identified seven virtues, chief among them rationality. The other six, including justice, she considered subsidiary because they are essentially different aspects and applications of rationality.

—Ayn Rand Lexicon (aynrandlexicon.com)

Justice Must Be Done.

Trump, it is supposed, had some documents.

Biden and company stole the country.

I’m sure enough of this that I put my money where my mouth is.

The prior election must be acknowledged as fraudulent, and steps must be taken to prosecute the fraudsters and restore integrity to the system. (This doesn’t necessarily include deposing Joe and Hoe and putting Trump where he belongs, but it would certainly be a lot easier to fix our broken electoral system with the right people in charge.)

Nothing else matters at this point. Talking about trying again in 2022 or 2024 is pointless otherwise. Which is not to say one must never talk about this, but rather that one must account for this in ones planning; if fixing the fraud in the system is not part of the plan, you have no plan.

This will necessarily be piecemeal, state by state, which is why I am encouraged by those states working to change their laws to alleviate the fraud both via computer and via bogus voters. If enough states do that we might end up with a working majority in Congress and that would be something Trump never really had.

Lawyer Appeasement Section

OK now for the fine print.

This is the WQTH Daily Thread. You know the drill. There’s no Poltical correctness, but civility is a requirement. There are Important Guidelines, here, with an addendum on 20191110.

We have a new board – called The U Tree – where people can take each other to the woodshed without fear of censorship or moderation.

And remember Wheatie’s Rules:

(Hmm a few extras seem to have crept in.)

Spot Prices

Last week:

Gold $1,920.20
Silver $22.52
Platinum $972.00
Palladium $1,316.00
Rhodium $6,100.00

This week, 3 PM MT on Friday, markets closed for the weekend

Gold $1,920.80
Silver $22.85
Platinum $913.00
Palladium $1,260.00
Rhodium $4,700.00

The platinum group metals are taking an absolute beating right now. Especially for palladium and rhodium.

Those metals’ primary use is industrial. Everything from catalytic converters to other uses as catalysts in chemical plants. A collapse in demand for these could indicate the actual productive economy is tanking.

A Small Science Post

I finally have a free moment to write this post…and midnight, Swamp Time, is only half an hour away.

So it will be short.

Valerie will not doubt express relief!

We left off having introduced i as the square root of minus one (√-1), pointing out that this number does not appear on the number line and therefore isn’t in the broad group of numbers that we call “real” numbers, which includes integers, fractions, irrational numbers, even the irrational numbers that are also transcendental. It’s therefore an imaginary number…but no, that doesn’t mean it’s made up. It ends up being very useful indeed not just to mathematicians (who work in a very abstract world that can sometimes be quite disconnected from reality), but to engineers, who absolutely must deal with reality.

Imaginary numbers are those which are multiples of i. Because you can do any sort of algebra or arithmetic on i that you can do on real numbers. But you cannot simply mix them with real numbers interchangeably; that’s bigtime apples-and-oranges. But nothing says you cannot make a fruit salad, where they each retain their identity but work together. When you do that, you have a “complex number.” For example, 5+3i is a complex number, as it has both a real part, 5, and an imaginary part, 3i. (But note that pure imaginaries and pure reals are also considered part of the complex numbers…as is zero. If this bothers you realize that reals can all be expressed as <real number> + 0i; we just choose to leave off the zeroed part. We do a lot of things like this, such as expressing 1x¹/1 as simply x. Similarly a pure imaginary number can be expressed as a complex number having zero for the real part.)

I mentioned earlier that i is not on the number line. I hope it’s of no surprise to you that no complex number that has an imaginary part is on the number line, either.

So when thinking about number lines, or things like number lines, aids to visualizing sets of numbers, how do complex numbers fit in? As it happens, it’s more the other way around. The real numbers, those on the number line, are part of the complex number set, not the other way around.

Think about the set of all possible complex numbers. The real part can be any number that actually is on the number line. The imaginary part can be i times any number that actually is on the number line. Any real part can be combined with any imaginary part. They are independent of each other…they are independent variables or they are orthogonal to each other.

If you have a STEM background, there’s probably something the size of a gorilla jumping up and down in your mind shrieking “Two dimensions!!! Two dimensions!!!” If you don’t, and you’re wondering why your STEM friends are acting so weirdly right now, well now you know about the jumping gorilla.

Because that’s exactly what we are going to do. The number line has one dimension, left-right. There is a complex plane with two dimensions, left-right and up-down (on the sheet of paper) or east west and north-south (if you’re imagining looking down on the plane from above).

So now we have a new mental picture, the complex number plane, where the old real number line runs side to side and is in the plane, and another line, the imaginary number line, runs vertically, and they intersect at 0 + 0i.

Here’s a picture, with a few sample complex numbers pointed out and ℝ and I axes labeled:

Next time, we’ll see how well it works. And it works very, very well, leading you to some very interesting places.

Obligatory PSAs and Reminders

China is Lower than Whale Shit

To conclude: My standard Public Service Announcement. We don’t want to forget this!!!

Remember Hong Kong!!!

https://youtube.com/watch?v=L3tnH4FGbd0

中国是个混蛋 !!!
Zhōngguò shì gè hùndàn !!!
China is asshoe !!!

China is in the White House

Since Wednesday, January 20 at Noon EST, the bought-and-paid for Joseph Biden has been in the White House. It’s as good as having China in the Oval Office.

Joe Biden is Asshoe

China is in the White House, because Joe Biden is in the White House, and Joe Biden is identically equal to China. China is Asshoe. Therefore, Joe Biden is Asshoe.

But of course the much more important thing to realize:

Joe Biden Didn’t Win

乔*拜登没赢 !!!
Qiáo Bài dēng méi yíng !!!
Joe Biden didn’t win !!!

Dear MAGA: 20230625 Open Topic .

This Rejoice & Praise God Sunday Open Thread, with full respect to those who worship God on the Sabbath, is a place to reaffirm our worship of our Creator, our Father, our King Eternal.

It’s also a place to read, post, and discuss news that is worth knowing and sharing. Please post links to any news stories that you use as sources or quote from.

Please also consider the Guidelines for posting and discussion printed here:
https://www.theqtree.com/2019/01/01/dear-maga-open-topic-20190101/

On this day and every day –

God is in Control
. . . and His Grace is Sufficient, so . . .
Keep Looking Up

Hopefully, every Sunday, we can find something here that will build us up a little . . . give us a smile . . . and add some joy or peace, very much needed in all our lives.

“This day is holy to the Lord your God;
do not mourn nor weep.” . . .
“Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet,
and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared;
for this day is holy to our Lord.
Do not sorrow,
for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Seek the Things Above .

Over the past weeks and months, it has become increasingly difficult for me to remain interested in the details of what ultimately could be a huge victory for us Deplorables . . . the rectification of the great election steal. I would have to spend too much time wallowing in mainly unverified details with speculative conclusions.

Additionally, if I decide to spend time on what purports to be the significant events of the day, I have guidance from God’s Word that is pertinent.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)

If I follow the day’s events, instead of thinking about the positive topics stated by Paul, I am force fed topics that are:
false and dishonest instead of true;
base and vile instead of noble;
wrong and perverted instead of right;
polluted and corrupted instead of pure;
ugly and foul instead of lovely;
contemptible and sordid instead of admirable;
coarse and gross instead of excellent;
reprehensible and offensive instead of praiseworthy.

Neither the great election steal nor the publicized events of the day hold much information to build up Christians, particularly in consideration of guidance from God’s Word to think about positive topics and seek things from above.

Gill’s Exposition of the Bible – Colossians 3:2

Set your affections (phroneite) on things above
Unless the affections are set on them, they will never be sought after in a proper manner. The word signifies to mind them, and think on them, to favour and approve of them, to be affectionately desirous of them, and concerned for them; for where the treasure is, the heart should be; and as the saints’ best things are above, their minds and affections should be there likewise; their contemplation should be on those things, and their conversation should be in heaven; nor should they regard anything but what is there, or comes from thence, for they belong not to this world, but to another and better country: their citizenship is in heaven, and there, in a short time, they must have their everlasting residence; and therefore should seek after, and highly prize and value heavenly things, and set their affections on them.

Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things,” or, “Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth.” To set one’s mind on something is to choose to think about it, influencing one’s goals and guiding one’s course of action. The first part of the chapter is worth quoting in full to give the proper context:

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:1–17).

Colossians was written by the apostle Paul to the church in the city of Colossae. The culture of Colossae was thoroughly pagan and immoral, as it was in most of the Roman world—and as it is in much of the world today. The Christians in Colossae could no longer take their cues from the world around them. They had to take direction from “above.” Although physically in the world, they were not to believe the same things that the culture around them did. They were not to behave according to the standards of the culture around them. That would be taking their cues from “below.”

Paul describes the “below” culture in a number of words and concepts: anger, rage, malice, slander, filthy language, lying. The “above” culture, in contrast, is characterized by compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, peace, singing, worship, and gratitude.

How are we to cultivate the values that are from above while living below? It takes a concentrated effort. We must “set our minds” to it. We are inundated with messages that promote the “below” behavior. If we listen to the radio, overhear conversations at work, read billboards, watch the news, read the newspaper, flip through a magazine at the doctor’s office, watch TV programs or movies, etc., we will be constantly directed to embrace values that are clearly from below. Even if the messages we receive are not overtly immoral, the perspective is one that excludes God and prioritizes things as though life on earth is all that matters—our happiness and fulfillment (the “right” to be happy) are top priority.

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus as Lord, live your lives in Him,rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7

If we want to be directed “from above,” we must make an effort to counteract the messages that are omnipresent in our culture. To set our minds on things above, we must read and meditate on Scripture, attend church, listen to uplifting music, and read things that turn our hearts toward God. This is a recurring theme in Scripture:

Romans 12:2: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Matthew 6:19–20, 33: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. . . . Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

1 Timothy 6:17: “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.”

Following his contrast of things below and things above in Colossians 3, Paul goes on to give a list of standards for Christian behavior that make absolutely no sense in today’s culture. Everything about the individualist, self-centered priorities that have high value today run counter to the type of restraint and sacrifice that Paul enjoins in verses 18–22:

“Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.”

The only way that we can live according to the above dictates is by taking directions from somewhere other than the secular culture. Thinking on “things above” (the truths of God’s Word) not only guides us in what we should do but gives the reasons we should do it (grace, our position in Christ, our eternal reward, etc.). As we believe the truth “from above” more than the lies “from below,” we will start to act like creatures born from above, who have been raised with Christ (Colossians 3:1) and seated with Him at the right hand of the Father (Ephesians 2:6).

All things considered, I believe the best advice for me to take is to . . .

. . . and not just as an occasional act, but as a perpetual habit: looking, thinking, seeking and acting in accordance.

A Political Statement

The Twenty Stand-Up Shitbags (Plus Five More Who Were Just Cowardly Shitbags)

Language Warning

RINO McDaniel

The Real Fascist is His Fraudulency Joe Biden*

Justice Must Be Done.

Small Government?

Political Science In Summation

A Few Things We Cannot Blame on His Fraudulency

His Truth?

Lawyer Appeasement Section

(Paper) Spot Prices

Obligatory PSAs and Reminders

China is Lower than Whale Shit

China is in the White House

Joe Biden is Asshoe

Joe Biden Didn’t Win

Vengeance is Mine

Joining The Herd Of Lemmings

The RINO’s Dilemma

Justice Must Be Done

Lawyer Appeasement Section

Spot (i.e., paper) Prices

Comparing Cartesian And Polar Coordinates

Fuck Joe B*d*n

Obligatory PSAs and Reminders

China is Lower than Whale Shit

China is in the White House

Joe Biden is Asshoe

Joe Biden Didn’t Win

On this day and every day –

God is in Control. . . and His Grace is Sufficient, so . . .Keep Looking Up

Hopefully, every Sunday, we can find something here that will build us up a little . . . give us a smile . . . and add some joy or peace, very much needed in all our lives.

“This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep.” . . . “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

What Does God Want Me To Do?

DarwinJune 2018 – 13 July 2023

Spot (i.e., paper) Prices

Obligatory PSAs and Reminders

References to our opponents as “Lizard People” are officially in poor taste today.Darwin had ten million times as much personality as they do.And not one shred of evil.

China is Lower than Whale Shit

China is in the White House

Joe Biden is Asshoe

Joe Biden Didn’t Win

On this day and every day –

God is in Control. . . and His Grace is Sufficient, so . . .Keep Looking Up

Hopefully, every Sunday, we can find something here that will build us up a little . . . give us a smile . . . and add some joy or peace, very much needed in all our lives.

“This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep.” . . . “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Pride . . . Still Man’s Downfall

On this day and every day –

God is in Control. . . and His Grace is Sufficient, so . . .Keep Looking Up

Hopefully, every Sunday, we can find something here that will build us up a little . . . give us a smile . . . and add some joy or peace, very much needed in all our lives.

“This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep.” . . . “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

I Stand at the Door and Knock

Speaker Dungsmear? Or?

RINOs an Endangered Species? If Only!

In Defense of Ranked Choice Voting

Justice

Justice Must Be Done.

Lawyer Appeasement Section

Spot Prices

A Small Science Post

Obligatory PSAs and Reminders

China is Lower than Whale Shit

China is in the White House

Joe Biden is Asshoe

Joe Biden Didn’t Win

On this day and every day –

God is in Control. . . and His Grace is Sufficient, so . . .Keep Looking Up

Hopefully, every Sunday, we can find something here that will build us up a little . . . give us a smile . . . and add some joy or peace, very much needed in all our lives.

“This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep.” . . . “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Seek the Things Above .

Fuck Joe Bdn

God is in Control
. . . and His Grace is Sufficient, so . . .
Keep Looking Up

“This day is holy to the Lord your God;
do not mourn nor weep.” . . .
“Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet,
and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared;
for this day is holy to our Lord.
Do not sorrow,
for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Darwin
June 2018 – 13 July 2023

References to our opponents as “Lizard People” are officially in poor taste today.

Darwin had ten million times as much personality as they do.

And not one shred of evil.

God is in Control
. . . and His Grace is Sufficient, so . . .
Keep Looking Up

“This day is holy to the Lord your God;
do not mourn nor weep.” . . .
“Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet,
and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared;
for this day is holy to our Lord.
Do not sorrow,
for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

God is in Control
. . . and His Grace is Sufficient, so . . .
Keep Looking Up

“This day is holy to the Lord your God;
do not mourn nor weep.” . . .
“Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet,
and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared;
for this day is holy to our Lord.
Do not sorrow,
for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

RINOs an Endangered Species?
If Only!

God is in Control
. . . and His Grace is Sufficient, so . . .
Keep Looking Up

“This day is holy to the Lord your God;
do not mourn nor weep.” . . .
“Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet,
and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared;
for this day is holy to our Lord.
Do not sorrow,
for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”