2024·11·23 Joe Biden Didn’t Win (And Neither Did Kamala Harris) Daily Thread

58 days, 11 hours, 59 minutes until our Once and Future President, the Rightful President of the United States, is restored to his proper office.

Not that I’m counting, mind you.

[Assumes 0001 publication time. Wordpiss will be wordpiss and it’s unlikely to happen at that time.]

What is it that feeds our battle, yet starves our victory?

Speaker Johnson: A Reminder.

And MTG is there to help make it stick.

January 6 tapes. A good start…but then nothing.

Were you just hoping we’d be distracted by the first set and not notice?

Are you THAT kind of “Republican”?

Are you Kevin McCarthy lite?

What are you waiting for?

I have a personal interest in this issue.

And if you aren’t…what the hell is wrong with you?

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.)

Spot (i.e., paper) Prices

Last week:

Gold $2,563.30
Silver $30.30
Platinum $947.00
Palladium $974.00
Rhodium $4,950.00
FRNSI* 123.000-
Gold:Silver 84.597+

This week, 3PM Mountain Time, Kitco “ask” prices. Markets have closed for the weekend.

Gold $2,716.90
Silver $31.41
Platinum $973.00
Palladium $1,034.00
Rhodium $4,950.00
FRNSI* 130.430+
Gold:Silver 86.498-

The attention is on gold. It has recovered over $150 of the losses it took right after the election, just since last Friday. Alas, silver has not kept up, and the gold:silver ratio has gone up almost two points. Platinum still struggles to climb out of the gutter, while palladium seems more dynamic. Rhodium did move around a bit, but ended up where it was last Friday.

*The SteveInCO Federal Reserve Note Suckage Index (FRNSI) is a measure of how much the dollar has inflated. It’s the ratio of the current price of gold, to the number of dollars an ounce of fine gold made up when the dollar was defined as 25.8 grains of 0.900 gold. That worked out to an ounce being $20.67+71/387 of a cent. (Note gold wasn’t worth this much back then, thus much gold was $20.67 71/387ths. It’s a subtle distinction. One ounce of gold wasn’t worth $20.67 back then, it was $20.67.) Once this ratio is computed, 1 is subtracted from it so that the number is zero when the dollar is at its proper value, indicating zero suckage.

Reminder: Most Flat Earther Influencers are Liars

Most Flat Earther influencers like Flat Earth Dave and Eric Dubay have said for years that they want to go to Antarctica during southern summer and watch the Sun set…which would prove the globe model isn’t right. The globe model not only predicts the Sun will not set in Antarctica at and around the solstice, it predicts the Sun’s path through the sky will circle the observer over the course of a 24 hour day, going from north to west to south to east of the observer. (At the south pole itself, some of those directions are meaningless since every direction is north; but just move a millimeter from the pole and they mean something.)

They’ve been given the chance to go to Antarctica for free and now all of the sudden refuse to do it; they are even ostracizing the few among their number who have agreed to take the trip, accusing them of having sold out and being shills in advance of them coming back and reporting what they have seen,

That should be enough to tell any reasonable observer that they already know what the travelers to Antarctica will see…and it won’t be good for Flat Earth. Which is why I am not calling them ignorant or deluded; I am calling them liars. They know the Earth is not flat, yet they make a shitload of money claiming it is.

Lying. Sacks. Of. Shit.

However, I don’t call all of them liars. I give some praise to those few who are going; they apparently do actually believe it (which is not good on them)–negating the “liar” aspect–but more importantly they have the intellectual courage to test their beliefs, even in the face of ostracism from the knowing con-men on their side.

Beyond Neptune

Of course everyone knows what’s after Neptune.

Pluto.

But that’s not all of the story by any means.

The Discovery of Pluto

I told the story last time of the discovery of Neptune. But as astronomers observed and tracked Neptune in the last half of the 19th century, it appeared that Neptune didn’t account for all of Uranus’s unexpected motions.

The first thought, of course, is that there’s yet another planet out there. Percival Lowell decided to try to do something about it beyond thinking.

Percival Lowell had founded the Lowell observatory near Flagstaff, AZ in 1894, largely to observe Mars, but in 1906 he started searching for Planet Nine. He kept on looking with the help of William H. Pickering, using calculations by Elizabeth Williams. Nothing was found and Lowell passed away in 1916. (As it turns out his photographic plates did have “hits” on Pluto for March 19 and April 7th, 1915, but they were faint and didn’t get noticed. Planet Nine was expected to be big. There are fourteen other known instances of Pluto showing up, unrecognized, on observatories’ photographic plates from 1909 on; these are called “precovery” photographs.)

Percival Lowell’s widow, Constance, got into a ten year legal battle with the observatory, so the search stopped. But once the legal cloud had cleared, the director, Vesto Melvin Slipher (the first to see redshifts in galaxies) gave 23 year old Clyde Tombaugh the job of resuming the search. Tombaugh’s method consisted of taking photographs of the same area of the night sky a few days apart and putting the photographs (which were on glass plates) in a blink comparator, which would project one plate, then the other, and repeat. Any object that had moved in the meantime would seem to jump back and forth.

On February 18, 1930, Tombaugh spotted something on plates from the 23rd and 29th of January.

As you can see, the photographs were often not exposed to the same brightness, so anyone using a blink comparator would have to deal with the image getting brighter and dimmer, brighter and dimmer…while looking for the one object that was completely not there (not just dimmer) in one photograph or the other. (And it seems as though many things in the left photograph are not visible in the right hand photobraph. So perhaps Tombaugh simply looked for something that showed in the faint photo on the right, but not the brighter one on the left.)

A lower quality photo from the 21st helped confirm that Tombaugh wasn’t just seeing spots in front of his eyes. The observatory took more photos over the next few weeks to really nail the case down. Finally, on March 13, they telegraphed Harvard Observatory with the news.

The new planet orbits the Sun in 247.94 years, in an inclined and eccentric orbit. That period puts it into a 2:3 resonance with Neptune; it orbits twice in the amount of time it takes Neptune to orbit three times.

What to name it? They got thousands of suggestions, including Minerva, Pluto, and Cronus. Minerva had been used for an asteroid already, Cronus was being pushed by someone who was both unpopular and egocentric…so Pluto it was. (Cronus is also the Greek name for the titan who fathered Zeus and other Olympian gods…in other words it’s the Greek counterpart of the Roman Saturn.) Pluto/Hades was the god of the underworld. As a bonus, the first two letters are Percival Lowell’s initials. The name was approved by both the American Astronomical Society and the Royal Astonomical Society and the name became fixed on May 1. No jacking around with the name as had happened with Uranus for decades.

But right off the bat something didn’t add up.

One estimate from 1915 was that Planet Nine would have to be seven times as massive as the Earth. But a very early estimate after Pluto had been found, in 1931, had its mass as low as Earth’s (so, too low by a factor of 7). As more and more estimates were made over the years, Pluto’s estimated mass kept dropping; in 1948 Kuiper estimated it at 0.1 Earth masses, in 1976 it was lowered again to 0.01 Earth masses. But these were guesses based on Pluto’s size, which was estimated from how bright it was. It was never more than a dot of light on a photographic plate or film.

In 1978, we discovered Pluto had a moon, Charon…and with a moon we could determine the mass quite solidly, so the estimate dropped to 0.0015 Earth masses. And the latest number from 2006 is 0.00218 Earth masses. (I actually remember this happening. And now Pluto has five known moons.)

Charon, by the way, is the last of the medium-sized moons. Saturn has four, Uranus has four…and Pluto has one.

And we finally nailed down Pluto’s size, 2377 km in diameter. Our own moon is 3475 km across, and there are other moons larger than it. Mercury is also far larger than Pluto.

This is just way too tiny to be the planet we were looking for.

Furthermore, Voyager 2 in 1989 caused the estimates for Neptune’s mass to be dropped 0.5% and the “remaining discrepancy” in Uranus’s orbit now disappeared; Neptune accounted for it all.

So Pluto’s discovery was ultimately a stroke of luck. We were groping around in a dark room with a blindfold on, looking for a cat that wasn’t there…but we had found the mouse that was.

But now, just about everything about Pluto (and not just its size) made many wonder if it really should be considered a planet. Pluto is in a very un-planetery orbit. The other eight planets had reasonably circular orbits (Mercury being a bit of an outlier) all in nearly the same plane: the ecliptic (which is defined by the plane of Earth’s orbit). Pluto’s orbit is inclined 17 degrees to the ecliptic; no other planet came anywhere close to that. Furthermore, its orbit was very eccentric, not circular (e=.2488). In fact, with a semi-major axis of 39.482, that meant Pluto’s closest approach to the Sun was 29.658 AU.

That’s closer than Neptune. Pluto was actually at that point on September 5, 1989. For the entire twenty year period from 1979-1999 Pluto wasn’t the outermost planet, Neptune was.

[DIGRESSION: There is, by the way, little to no danger of a collision between Neptune and Pluto. If you look at the two orbits in 3D it becomes apparent that Pluto crosses the plane of Neptune’s orbit pretty far away from the actual orbit of Neptune. Here’s an animation of one Plutonian year from an oblique angle. The vertical white lines show how far below or above the plane Pluto is at any given time.

You can watch the animation and note that Neptune is at about 4 o’clock in the diagram at the start of the animation, and that’s where Pluto is furthest from the Sun. At the end of the animation, Neptune is at 10 o’clock; in other words it has orbited 1 1/2 times while Pluto orbited once (that’s a 3:2 resonance). At no point will the two planets come near each other, and since this pattern repeats, they won’t ever unless something causes an orbit to change.]

END OF DIGRESSION and back to the main thread: So Pluto didn’t look like any other planet. Nor did it act like any other planet. But if Pluto were all there was out there, most people would go ahead and consider it a planet.

But as it happens. there’s quite a lot “out there.”

The Centaurs

In 1977, Charles Kowal discovered Chiron, an asteroid, roughly 200 km across…but one with a difference. It was nowhere near the asteroid belt; it was well outside of it. That was a first, and barely a hint of things to come. Chiron is named after a centaur; and we would discover more such bodies. There’s a whole class of them now and that class is called the “centaurs.” It turned out there were “precovery” images of Chiron going clear back to 1895. And it turns out to have a ring!

There is a registry of so-called minor planets. When there is an initial observation, they’re given a “provisional designation.” (The scheme is a bit complicated: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provisional_designation_in_astronomy#Minor_planets but the first part is obviously the year of the first observation). Sometimes it gets an unofficial nickname, if it’s particularly interesting. Once we have enough data to establish an orbit, the object is given a number in the order they are discovered–and sometimes it gets a name too. (There are hundreds of thousands of objects that never got past the provisional designation stage.) Minor planets are simply numbered in order: Ceres is formally “1 Ceres”, then there is 2 Pallas, 3 Vesta, 4 Juno, and so on. It used to be just asteroids, but as we will see a lot more different kinds of things are on the list. These objects have the following in common: they orbit the sun directly, but aren’t planets, and aren’t comets.

[WARNING: Have a barf bucket handy for this one: Believe it or not there’s an object nicknamed (but not permanently named) “Biden,” provisional number 2012 VP113. And it got that name because Biden was the VP that year. However it’s been 12 years and they weren’t able to verify it so it might not be a real minor planet, in much the same way that Biden today isn’t a real president.]

When Chiron was first discovered, it got the provisional designation “1977 UB.” Once its orbit was established, it was regarded as the 2060th “minor planet” to be discovered, and now it’s formally known as 2060 Chiron. There are now over 44,000 known centaurs. And it’s speculated that Saturn’s way-out-there ninth moon, Phoebe, is a captured centaur. In general centaurs are far too likely to encounter one of the outer planets and so their orbits are not considered stable in the long term.

Buried in Planets?

Fifteen years later, things started to get crazy. We started finding more and more stuff way out there. The first was 15760 Albion (provisional designation 1992 QB1).

Here is 15760 Albion’s orbit (it’s a very slo-mo gif, so you’re not seeing things, it does move). It is in a roughly 291 year orbit. Shown in red are the orbits of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

It actually looks like a planet’s orbit; it’s even spaced about right. Unfortunately, it was only a bit over 100km across, not even remotely big enough to have forced itself into a round shape. Not a planet.

A concerted effort was made to scan the entire ecliptic for very slow moving dots of light, to see if there were other things out there.

And there sure were. Lots of small stuff. But then we started finding big ones too, ones big enough to be rounded, and many, if not most, of these objects have moons!

In 2002, we found 50000 Quaoar (named after a deity worshiped by an Indian tribe that lived in what is now the LA area), orbiting between 41.9 and 45.5 AUs, in 289 years. Its diameter is 1,090 km. OK, that’s sizeable enough to get one’s attention! And it has a moon.

Then we found 90377 Sedna, discovered in 2003, which has a gigantic 506 AU (that is not a typo, yes five hundred and six astronomical units) orbit (that is 76 billion kilometers). That’s the semi-major axis (half way across the long way). This one is a highly eccentric orbit, so it’s not that far away from us at the moment; if it was we’d never be able to see it. Right now Sedna is 83.5 AU away (still twice as far as Pluto), near its nearest approach to the Sun at 76 AU. Its furthest distance is 937 AU! But be prepared to wait a while for it to get there. Its year is 11,400 of ours, and you’ll have to wait about half that long for it to get halfway around its orbit. So far as we know, Sedna does not have a moon. We can see no detail at that ridiculous distance, but it is colored distinctly red (my guess: tholins). And Sedna is very roughly 900 km across, which is again sizeable, not dismissable as a piece of rubble. Sedna does not have a moon that we can see, which as you will see is unusual.

In 2004 we found 90482 Orcus, 900 km or so in diameter, 30.3 to 48.1 AUs out orbiting in 245.1 years (almost exactly the same as Pluto). Also, it has a moon.

OK, this is starting to get ridiculous. But we’re just getting started!

Also in 2004, there is 136108 Haumea, announced a year later and its status not fully settled even then because…well because it’s 2000km across! That’s getting close to Pluto’s size. (As a side note, Haumea is distinctly rugby-ball shaped. We think. Again we don’t see much more than blobs in our images.) And (wait for it), it has two moons.

But the absolute, oh-shit-we-have-a-problem-here discovery was announced the very next year, 2005, based on observations from late 2003 and later. 2003 UB313 was more massive than Pluto, though it appears to have a smaller diameter. The new object was “nicknamed” Xena (as in the Warrior Princess), and it took a while to settle on a permanent name. It turns out to have a moon, nicknamed Gabrielle after Xena’s sidekick. “Xena” orbits between 38.3 and 97.5 AUs, in 559 years. This object was actually announced by some YSM outlets as the tenth planet! Well, why not? If Pluto is a planet, this object certainly should be!

Because some people argued that indeed it was a planet, it took a while to get a permanent name and number. Why give it a number and have it turn out to not belong on the minor planet list? So “Xena” had to wait, for we were fully embroiled in discord.

And just for icing on the cake, on the same day that “Xena” was announced, the discovery of what would eventually be called 136472 Makemake was announced…and that was just two days after Haumea was announced. 136472 Makemake orbits between 38.1 and 52.8 AUs in 306 years.

Well. What a mess. Are they planets? We’d better figure this out because we’re getting buried here.

Rounding Up the Trans Neptunian Objects

I’m going to jump ahead here, a tiny bit. I’ll get back to the planet question soon.

I’m going to discuss the classification system we use today for these objects so (non-spoiler spoiler alert) Pluto will here be treated as one of these objects, not as a planet.

These objects all live beyond Neptune. But astronomers like to group things (you saw that with the moons of the gas and ice giants) and these objects, plus the zillions of much smaller ones in similar places that I haven’t mentioned, ultimately got “bucketed” into categories.

The Big Bucket is “trans-Neptunian object” Other than the centaurs, all of the objects I’ve discussed this time are trans-Neptunian objects (generally abbreviated “TNOs”), because they’re minor bodies outside of the orbit of Neptune.

But then we have sub-categories. The “Kuiper Belt” is those objects between 30 and 55 AUs from the Sun (as a reminder, Neptune is at roughly 30 AU). There are thousands of known Kuiper Belt objects, and the best estimate is that there are over a hundred thousand objects here over 100km in diameter. In fact there is far more “stuff” out there than in the asteroid belt. However, asteroid belt objects are typically rocks or metals, while the Kuiper Belt is mostly volatiles–iceballs, with some rocks in them.

The Kuiper Belt in turn has three classes of objects. The “classical” Kuiper Belt objects (cubewanos) are in reasonably circular, “regular” orbits, like Albion. There are a bunch in 2:3 resonance with Neptune (like Pluto), called plutinos, and others in a 1:2 resonance with Neptune, called twotinos. Orcus, Pluto, Haumea, Quaoar and Makemake are all Kuiper Belt objects. Orcus and Pluto are plutinos, the others are cubewanos.

This leaves Sedna and “Xena” unaccounted for. The other major category besides Kuiper Belt Objects is the “Scattered Disk Objects”, irregular-orbiting objects well beyond the Kuiper belt. “Xena” and Sedna fit here.

Here’s a handy-dandy chart. Or a confusing one, depending on your point of view, showing these categories, as well as the centaurs. In red across the top you will note designations like 2|3 and 1|2 for resonances with Neptune. And, oh by the way, Sedna is such an outlier it’s off the right hand edge of the diagram.

Gerard Peter Kuiper

Gerard Peter Kuiper, 1905-1973 (photo from 1964), was a Dutch-American astronomer. Americans trying to pronounce his name butcher it as “KAI-per,” rhyming with “piper.” The original Dutch pronunciation is indescribable to us except with the international phonetic alphabet: ˈɣɛrɪt ˈpitər ˈkœypər. He was the doctoral adviser for Carl Sagan, discovered Miranda (smallest moon of Uranus) and Nereid (third largest moon of Neptune), carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of Mars, and Titan’s atmosphere. He speculated that a large disk of of ices had condensed into smaller bodies, but would long since have been disrupted by Pluto (which was thought at the time to be massive). Well, he was half right; because Pluto is puny the objects are still there and the belt containing them is now named the Kuiper belt in his honor.

Discord

OK, back to “Are these planets?” The year is 2006. New Horizons launched on its mission to Pluto on 19 January of that year, and now it was time to evaluate the matter of whether it was on its way to a planet or not.

There was no formal definition of a planet. We knew them when we saw them. Except now we didn’t. Or rather everyone knew, but not the same as other people.

Alan Stern was (and still is) a principal investigator of the New Horizons probe (i.e., he is in charge of one of the instruments on that probe). Stern’s resume in the space program is as long as my arm. Time magazine even named him one of the 100 most influential people in 2007.

Stern was, and still is, an adamant defender of Pluto as a planet…and yes, he knows that means all these other objects, plus more to be discovered in the future, would be planets too.

His proposal: Divide planets into three subcategories. First, the classical planets, Mercury through Neptune, eight total. Then dwarf planets; that would include all of these big TNOs including Pluto, and Ceres, the largest object in the asteroid belt. The third category, though, is the “satellite planet.” These are the round moons orbiting other objects: our Moon, the four Galilean satellites of Jupiter, the seven round moons of Saturn, the five round moons of Uranus, Triton orbiting Neptune, and Charon orbiting Pluto.

These would all be planets, because they are massive enough for their gravity to have forced them into round shapes. (And this is one reason I’ve made a big deal about round versus not round.)

Including the moons seems a bit odd. But Stern’s position is very straightforward. He cares about the intrinsic properties of the object (it’s size and shape) first and its extrinsic circumstances, i.e. what orbit it’s in, second. If the object is round, it’s a planet, whether it dominates its orbit, or even if it orbits something else. Once it’s settled as a planet, then you decide whether it’s also a satellite, or big enough to “own” its orbit, and put it in the appropriate sub-buckets.

The IAU Makes Sausage

When the International Astronomical Union met in August of 2006 this matter was on the agenda and…well, we know the story. Alan Stern lost.

There is an aphorism that, like sausages, those that love law should not watch it being made. And that’s apparently true here as well.

The first proposal was: “A planet is a celestial body that (a) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape, and (b) is in orbit around a star, and is neither a star nor a satellite of a planet.”

In addition to the then-nine objects recognized as planets, this would have added Ceres, “Xena,” and Charon, the moon of Pluto. So we would immediately have twelve planets. In addition to this there were twelve candidate objects (including three asteroid-belt objects) that would likely fit once we knew more about them (including many of the ones I’ve talked about). Indeed there were claims (by Mike Brown who discovered Sedna and “Xena”) that we could have fifty three additional planets added almost immediately to this list of 12, and likely many more, perhaps 200, once we looked for more objects.

You may wonder why Charon would make the list, even though it’s fairly small as such things go. Why Charon and not Ganymede? That is because Charon and Pluto are close enough in size that the center of gravity of the Pluto-Charon system is actually outside of Pluto, unlike with every other moon in the solar system. That caused many to regard Pluto/Charon as a double planet…which of course would make Charon a planet.

Anything not spherical would be “bucketed” into Small Solar System Bodies (SSSBs). In addition, the “pluton” class (named for Pluto) would be used for things with highly eccentric or inclined objects. So this proposal drew one fairly clean line, if it’s round (and it’s not a star) it’s a planet, otherwise it’s an SSSB.

Although the relevant committee endorsed this, most of the IAU didn’t like this proposal; it was too ambiguous distinguishing between classical and dwarf planets. It failed a straw poll, 18-50 of a subgroup of the IAU.

So the second try, proposed by Gonzalo Tancredi and Julio Angel Fernandez:

(1) A planet is a celestial body that (a) is by far the largest object in its local population[1], (b) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape [2], and (c) does not produce energy by any nuclear fusion mechanism [3].

(2) According to point (1), the eight classical planets discovered before 1900, which move in nearly circular orbits close to the ecliptic plane, are the only planets of the Solar System. All the other objects in orbit around the Sun are smaller than Mercury. We recognize that there are objects that fulfill the criteria (b) and (c) but not criterion (a). Those objects are defined as “dwarf” planets. Ceres, as well as Pluto and several other large Trans-Neptunian objects, belongs to this category. In contrast to the planets, these objects typically have highly inclined orbits and/or large eccentricities.

(3) All the other natural objects orbiting the Sun that do not fulfill any of the previous criteria shall be referred to collectively as “Small Solar System Bodies“.[4]

Definitions and clarifications

  1. The local population is the collection of objects that cross or closely approach the orbit of the body in consideration.
  2. This generally applies to objects with sizes above several hundred kilometers, depending on the material strength.
  3. This criterion allows the distinction between gas giant planets and brown dwarfs or stars.
  4. This class currently includes most of the Solar System asteroids, Near-Earth objects (NEOs), Mars-, Jupiter- and Neptune-Trojan asteroids, most Centaurs, most Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs), and comets.[32]

This would have demoted Pluto to a “dwarf planet” which, despite the name including the word “planet,” was not a subcategory of planet; a difference between this and Stern’s proposal.

This went to open session, and the main point of contention was between the “static” and “dynamic” physics positions. The static position was similar to Stern’s; the emphasis would be on the intrinsic shape of the planet. “Dynamics” is a reference to the orbital properties.

There was one more draft, then the Plenary Session of the IAU met, and debated some more. And this is the result:

The IAU…resolves that planets and other bodies, except satellites, in the Solar System be defined into three distinct categories in the following way:

(1) A planet [1] is a celestial body that (a) is in orbit around the Sun, (b) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape, and (c) has cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit.

(2) A “dwarf planet” is a celestial body that (a) is in orbit around the Sun, (b) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape [2], (c) has not cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit, and (d) is not a satellite.

(3) All other objects [3], except satellites, orbiting the Sun shall be referred to collectively as “Small Solar System Bodies“.

Footnotes:

[1] The eight planets are: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
[2] An IAU process will be established to assign borderline objects into either dwarf planet and other categories.

[3] These currently include most of the Solar System asteroids, most Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs), comets, and other small bodies.

And just to be clear, a “dwarf planet” was not, despite the name, a category of planet; they passed an additional resolution to make it clear.

[I have seen clips of the actual vote, hands raised in the auditorium. I can’t find one now, or I’d include it.]

So the planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

The dwarf planets (a subgroup of the Small Solar System Bodies), most likely includes: Ceres, Pluto, Quaoar, Sedna, Orcus, Haumea, “Xena”, Makemake…and one other, Gonggong. This is a fuzzy line and there are others already known that arguably belong on this list.

The Aftermath

And so that was it for Planet Pluto. To put the nail in it, within days Pluto was given a minor planet number just like any asteroid or Kuiper Belt object: 134340 Pluto. It’s now marked as a “Small Solar System Body.”

The reaction was intense. The public of course hated this and still does.

But it’s not just the public. Many planetary scientists (not just Alan Stern) also disagree.

This issue will be revisited some day. Personally I like Stern’s suggestion better than what we got. Or perhaps the best suggestion is to just drop the word “planet” entirely since it seems to have emotional ties. Should every round object that’s not a star be a “world”?

This is NOT the first time we’ve reassessed the concept of a planet, by the way. The other times that I know of are:

  1. Any permanent wandering object in the sky was a planet; that included the Sun and the Moon, originally. Once it turned out the Moon orbited the Earth, and everything else orbited the Sun, that made the Sun “special” and the Moon a mere satellite of a planet, Earth.
  2. With the discovery of moons around other planets (the Galilean moons of Jupiter in 1610, but also the satellites of Saturn and Uranus), we started seeing the term “Planetary Satellites” (which Stern re-used) used for them; that term continued to be in use well into the 1700s if not later. It’s now often used for the big seven moons (the Moon, Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto, Titan and Triton); the ones I’ve been calling “large moons.”
  3. The asteroids were considered planets at first: Ceres, then we had Vesta, Juno and Pallas. They were all small and in the same general location, though so they quickly got reclassified as “minor planets” or even “asteroids.”

If you relish irony, after that flurry of discoveries in the mid 00s, only one more solid dwarf planet candidate has been discovered, and that in 2007: 225088 Gonggong, which varies from 33.8 to 101.2 AUs from the Sun, orbiting in 554 years, with a diameter of about 1230 km (give or take 50 km). It has one known moon.

…And Back to “Xena”

As for “Xena”, that same meeting settled its status, and the permanent name 136199 Eris was chosen. Eris’s moon was named Dysnomia. Eris is round. Dysnomia might be.

Eris was a Greek goddess, the personification of strife and discord. Dysnomia means “lawlessness” which (interestingly) might be a reference to Lucy Lawless, who played Xena.

What perfect names for the objects that triggered such a furor!

(Next time, we’ll look at the TNOs themselves, most especially Pluto [it’s by far the best known] in more detail.)

Health Friday 11.22.2024 Open Thread: Let’s Talk About PRRARSV, the “Backdoor Key”

The above free vintage image of a lock being picked is courtesy of Google Images.

Health Friday is a series related to Big Pharma, vaccines, general health, and associated topics. Since today’s offering is related to the COVID-19 disaster — the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus itself; and, to the COVID-19 “vaccines” — it is dedicated to the memory of Yours Truly’s “vaccinated” late brother Sam, and her late cousin Bill; and to all persons of any age who have died as a result of either an infection from the COVID-19 virus itself, or to the negative effects (direct or indirect) of the COVID-19 “vaccines” that they took. However, the discussion is not limited to what is presented today: It is an Open Thread.

There are Important Wolf Moon Notifications, the Rules of our late, good Wheatie, and certain caveats from Yours Truly, of which readers should be aware. They are linked here.

Today’s post includes several “puzzle pieces.” Each one is integral to the whole. Please bear with me. There is a General Summary at the end of the post.

To Begin: A post from our host, Wolf Moon: www.theqtree.com/2023/05/01/pfizer-and-moderna-vaccines-both-contain-the-prrarsv-key-to-the-cell-nucleus/. This post is one of several on the topic of the “PRRARSV Backdoor Key” that is present in both the Pfizer-BioNTech and in the Moderna modRNA COVID-19 “vaccines.” One of the papers cited in the post is “the Mehedi paper”, found here: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1073789. “Nuclear translocation of spike mRNA is a novel feature of SARS-CoV-2”, Masfique Mehedi, et al., 26 January 2023. This paper proves that the PRRARSV code in the SARS-CoV-2 virus genome is only there, and not in either the SARS-CoV virus genome or the MERS-CoV virus genome. There are links to other important papers in the Wolf Moon post. Yours Truly is grateful to our host for doing serious investigation into this subject.

There has been speculation that the PRRARSV code may be related to snake venom. This also has been discussed by our good host in other of his posts on the subject. While Yours Truly believes that some type of snake venom that contains all or some of the PRRARSV code may be in play, she has an additional hypothesis on the PRRARSV code presence in the modRNA COVID-19 “vaccines” — and in the SARS-CoV-2 virus itself.

And, Now: May I present — the Pangolin (PAN-go-lin.)

Pangolins are shy, nocturnal mammals that are covered with scales; they are also called “scaly anteaters.” They resemble anteaters in body shape and length; however, Pangolins are covered with hard, keratin-like scales from the head to the tip of the tail. During the day, they remain in their burrows; at night, they emerge to hunt for and eat ants and termites. Their living habitat ranges from areas in Africa to India to southern Asia. As their meat, scales, and other body parts, are consumed as exotic foods, or are used in folk and traditional medicine in certain areas of the world, the Pangolin is listed as an endangered species. It is illegal to hunt or trap Pangolins, or to keep them as pets. However, because of their meat, scales, and other body parts, Pangolins are among the most-trafficked animals in the world (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pangolin.)

The above image of a Pangolin is courtesy of the International Fund for Animal Welfare and Goggle Images.

Pangolins, like other animals, have coronaviruses. And here is where the story gets interesting. One such Pangolin coronavirus is “pangolin-CoV MP789.” It appears that the RBD (Receptor Binding Domain) is this virus has an “uncanny” similarity to the RBD of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In fact, it is been posited that the RBD of the SARS-CoV-2 virus resulted from a “recombination” of those of the bat-CoV RaTG13 virus and the pangolin-CoV MP789 virus. Below is Figure 1 of the “Morales-Espinosa, et al. paper” on this subject:

The “Morales-Espinosa, et al. paper” is found here: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7450963/, “The receptor binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is the result of an ancestral recombination between the bat-CoV RatG13 and the pangolin-CoV MP789”, Rosario Morales-Espinosa, et al., 27 August 2020.

There is a plethora of scientific papers, articles, and scientific/medical blog posts related to the “probable” or “hypothetical” or “uncanny” similarity between Pangolin-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. Yours Truly will provide a sampling, below. Most of these papers, articles, and blog posts were written between 2020 and late 2022.

One: A scientific article by researchers in the CCP: www.cell.com/current-biology/pdf/S0960-9822(20)30360-2.pdf, “Probable Pangolin Origin of SARS-CoV-2 Associated with COVID-19 outbreak”, Tao Zhang, et al., 6 April 2020. A screenshot of part of the Conclusion of this article is below:

Two: Another 2020 paper, this one with an important mention in the Results section regarding the very high similarity of the S proteins in the pangolin-CoV genome and the SARS-CoV-2 genome: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1008421, “Are pangolins the intermediate host of the 2019 novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)?”, by Ping Liu, et al., 14 May 2020. A screenshot of the section of the Results is below:

Three: Another scientific paper from 2020: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.0707.184374. “Single source of pangolin CoVs with a near identical spike RBD to SARS-CoV-2”, Chan, Y.A., and Zhan, S.H., 31 October 2020. A screenshot from this paper is below:

Four: A scientific blog post: https://blog.3ds.com/brands/biovia/decoding-the-sars-cov-2-genome-origin/, “Decoding the SARS-CoV-2 Genomes—Origin”, by Niranjani Iyer, 6 April 2020. A screenshot from the post is below:

Recall that it is only recently that the “the SARS-CoV-2 virus came from nature”, “the SARS-CoV-2 virus came from the ‘wet markets’ in Wuhan” claims have been proven incorrect. While there are still scientific papers and articles being published to “prove” the “came from nature” claims, what these papers and articles do not seem to explore, in Yours Truly’s opinion, are the Gain-of-Function experiments with various coronaviruses (including the pangolin-CoVs) that took place at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in the process of lab-creating the SARS-CoV-2 virus itself. These Gain-of-Function experiments used elements found in nature (bat coronaviruses, civet coronaviruses, pangolin coronaviruses, rabbit coronaviruses, monkey coronaviruses, etc.) to “build” the SARS-CoV-2 virus itself. Here, for example, is a 2022 scientific article regarding the claims that the virus came from nature: www.science.org/content/article/evidence-suggests-pandemic-came-nature-not-lab-panel-says, “Evidence suggests pandemic came from nature, not a lab, panel says”, 10 October 2022, by Jon Cohen.

Which leads into the discussion of the Wuhan Institute of Virology’s experiments with pangolin coronaviruses.

In May 2024, the NIH finally admitted that the agency funded Gain-of-Function research at the WIV: https://nypost.com/2024/05/16/us-news/nih-director-admits-taxpayers-funded-gain-of-function-research-in-wuhan-four-years-after-covid-pandemic-began/, by Josh Christenson.

Here is the June 2023 report from the ODNI (Office of the Director of National Intelligence) regarding the Wuhan Institute of Virology and its activities: www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/assessments/Report-on-Potential-Links-Between-the-Wuhan-Institute-of-Virology-and-the-Origins-of-COVID-19-20230623.pdf. Two screenshots from the Report are below:

It is obvious that the Wuhan Institute of Virology conducted coronavirus experiments with bats, civets, monkeys, and pangolins, in the process of creating the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Which leads to the next discussion, regarding PRRARSV and the furin cleavage site in the SARS-CoV-2 virus genome. Bear with Yours Truly here: this is an important piece of the puzzle.

PRRARSV is located at the S1-S2 furin cleavage site on the SARS-CoV-2 virus genome, from a scientific paper in September 2020: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118056, “Structural features of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 spike protein: Targets for vaccination”. by Ariane Sternberg and Cord Naujokat, 15 September 2020. A screenshot from section 2 of this paper is below:

The redoubtable Walter M Chesnut expands on this, and how PRRARSV assists in the translocation of the modRNA spike protein in the SARS-CoV-2 virus into every cell in the human body: https://wmcresearch.substack.com/p/prrarsv-the-furin-cleavage-site-a. “PRRARSV—The Furin Cleavage Site: A Nuclear Localization Signal that Translocates the Spike and its mRNA to the Nucleus Inducing H3.3 histone Deposition and Rapid Aging”, 10 April 2023. Below is the National Cancer Institute definition of a histone (www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/histone):

In other words, the PRRARSV present in the SARS-CoV-2 virus enters the cell, assists the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to enter the nucleus of the cell, and interferes with the H3.3 histone in the DNA of the cell.

But wait, there’s more about histone3.3! it interacts with the human body at the mitochondrial level: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc/2014.06.050, “Post-translational modification and mitochondrial relocalization of histone H3 during apoptosis induced by staurosporine”, Hasan Koc, et al., 18 July 2014. Staurosporine is a “protein kinase inhibitor”: www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/staurosporine. Please refer back to the blog post by Mr. Chesnut — it appears that PRRARSV has a role in aging the human body at the mitochondrial level. See also: www.theqtree.com/2023/10/28/the-covid-19-virus-and-the-modrna-covid-19-vaccines-induce-accelerated-aging/.

There are four “inserts” that were introduced into the SARs-CoV-2 virus genome during the process that lab-created the SARS-CoV-2 virus. These four “inserts” were first isolated and described in the “Pradhan paper” from 2020. This paper was Retracted and suppressed almost as soon as it appeared. However, it can be found here: https://medicalveritas/org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Pradhan-et-al-Coronavirus-HIV-paper.pdf. A screenshot of Table 1. from the paper is below. The “PRRAR” code is “Insert 4”:

In addition, Figure 2. of this paper has the SARS-CoV-2 virus genome spelled out, with the position of each of the four “inserts.”

This leads to further proof that the PRRARSV code is indeed part of the SARS-CoV-2 virus itself. For example: https://jessicar.substack.com/p/it-turns-out-that-the-prrarsv-motif, “It turns out that the “PRRRARSV” motif is more than a furin-cleavage site”, 1 October 2022. Dr. Rose performed her own analysis of the PRRARSV code in the SARS-CoV-2 virus genome. She proves that the PRRARSV code is indeed the fourth “insert” into the virus genome. A screenshot of her analysis is below:

What does this all mean? It means the following:

General Summary:

One: The Pangolin, a shy, nocturnal mammal that is covered in keratin-like scales and eats ants and termites, also is prone to having a coronavirus, called pangolin-CoV. This virus has a genome code that is “quite similar” in some ways to the SARS-CoV-2 virus itself genome code. One of these “similarities” is a genome code called “RRSV” or “PRRAR”, depending on the research paper on the topic.

Two: There are four “unique inserts” in the SARS-CoV-2 virus itself genome. The fourth “insert” is the PRRARSV code. The PRRARSV code interferes with the important H3.3 histone in the DNA of every cell in the body of the person who is infected by SARS-CoV-2 (the COVID-19 virus) or who is infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus itself.

Three: The PRRARSV code was possibly derived from experiments with a type of snake venom; unless otherwise proven, it certainly was derived from experiments with the pangolin-CoV genome code.

Four: The experiments with the PRRARSV code were conducted at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in the process of the lab-creation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus itself.

Five: Since the COVID-19 “vaccines” use the Wuhan Hu1 SARS-CoV-2 virus itself as the basis for these injectables, the PRRARSV code is therefore present in these “vaccines.” This means that all persons who have ever taken a COVID-19 “vaccine” have been exposed to the PRRARSV code. To date, nobody knows exactly how long the ingredients and mechanisms of the COVID-19 “vaccines” remain at work in the “vaccinated” person’s body. In fact, the COVID-19 “vaccines” are designed to trick the “vaccinated” person’s body into thinking it has a COVID-19 virus infection, forcing the “vaccinated” person’s body to make large amounts of antibodies to fight off the “fake COVID-19 infection”: www.brandeis.edu/magazine/2020/fall/inquiry/vaccine.html, “On the cusp of a COVID-19 Vaccine”, by Lawrence Goodman. A screenshot from the article is below, quoting Dr. Drew Weissman of the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine:

Six: Un-vaccinated” persons who contract a COVID-19 virus itself infection, and are therefore exposed to the PRRARSV code, can still mitigate and/or defeat the effects of the damage done by the virus itself if the person has a healthy immune system. On the other hand, COVID-19 “vaccinated” persons, in addition to being exposed to the PRRARSV code present in the “vaccines”, are also exposed to the other ingredients in the “vaccines”, such as N1-Methylpseudourdine. N1-Methylpseudouridine replaces the natural Uridine in the “vaccinated” person’s body, and also evades the natural immune system components and mechanisms in the COVID-19 “vaccinated” person’s body. COVID-19 “vaccinated” persons therefore have their natural immune systems damaged or destroyed, making it difficult or even impossible to mitigate and/or defeat the damage done by the “vaccines.”

Yours Truly will posit, based on the research and writing that she has been engaged in about the COVID-19 virus itself, and the COVID-19 “vaccines”, since March 2020: that any un-“vaccinated” person, of any age, who has had a COVID-19 virus itself infection; or, any person, of any age, who has had a COVID-19 “vaccine” put into their body — has been injured by the negative effects of the virus itself, or by the negative effects of the “vaccines.” In addition, COVID-19 virus itself infected persons, and COVID-19 “vaccinated” persons, have died from the effects of the infection or the “vaccine.” One will also say that the COVID-19 “vaccines” have added ingredients and mechanisms that make these injectables more dangerous and deadly than the COVID-19 virus itself. Finally, the outcomes of infection by the COVID-19 virus itself, and the negative outcomes from taking the COVID-19 “vaccines”, were, and are, planned and intentional.

It is now, in Yours Truly’s opinion, imperative that all persons make it their business to have and to maintain their natural immune system in the best possible condition.

It is now time to bring to account all of the multiple agencies, scientists, and other entities involvement (including the United States military) in the development of the lab-created SARS-CoV-2 virus itself: of the COVID-19 “vaccines”; and in the processes that resulted in the granting of Emergency Use Authorization and/or Full Approval of these “vaccines” without proper protocol adherence to rigorous testing and clinical trials for the said “vaccines.” It is now time to stop all further use of any COVID-19 “vaccine” until the above accountability is fully undertaken and finished, It is now time for all government agencies, medical organizations, and medical practitioners to recognize that Ivermectin and Hydroxycholoquine are inexpensive and vastly effective treatments for COVID-19 infection and for COVID-19 infection prophylaxis. It is now time to stop the use of Paxlovid and Remdesivir as “officially approved” treatment for COVID-19 infection, as both of these drugs have significant negative side effects, including a high “rebound COVID infection” rate for Paxlovid, and kidney damage and/or death for Remdesivir; and to substitute the use of Ivermectin or Hydroxycholoquine.

Peace, Good Energy, Respect: PAVACA

DEAR MAGA: Open Thread 20241121

Cover image: Allegheny State Park, Pennsylvania. Thanks to PAVACA for the recommendation

Alberta and Ontario go rogue on trade

So Much For The Resistance

The Real Fight Begins

Badlands News Brief – November 20, 2024

Key Intelligence Watchdogs Resign in Wake of Trump’s Win

Trump Reveals What Was Discussed In Meeting With Scarborough, Brzezinski

Bob Casey Files More Ridiculous Lawsuits In Search Of Additional Votes

Marjorie Taylor Greene’s brilliant idea to challenge attacks on Matt Gaetz

SCOOP: Billionaire Musk foe Pierre Omidyar, the founder of eBay, bankrolls second Trump resistance under “nonpartisan” banner🧵

Murdoch losing it over Gaetz and Gabbard…

House Ethics panel did not agree to release the Gaetz report — yet

I would wager there’s nothing damning in it. Otherwise, why wait?

TWEETS!

https://twitter.com/DanScavino/status/1859079763354063297

https://twitter.com/BuckSexton/status/1859247598206361899

https://twitter.com/TomHoman_/status/1859270619810185560

https://twitter.com/WayneTechSPFX/status/1859268403174797753

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1858752008187973867

https://twitter.com/LibertyCappy/status/1859283108308148635

https://twitter.com/WayneTechSPFX/status/1859285399190868250

@WayneTechSPFX

I’m feeling much better today. I’m at 95%. Thanks again for all of your support, well wishes, and prayers. I’m so behind on a lot of things. I’ll get caught up and start releasing shit. A lot of shit. We are still in the calm. Get your shit together. The hell storm is on its way. We have to survive it to make it to the end. These reports and comms I release are just public confirmation for me to talk about certain things publicly. The end is not for everyone. So, whatever your belief system is. Hold on to it. None of my pill and intel drops have changed. The information contained therein is static. All truths are necessarily good truths. But it’s nevertheless the truth. You can take the blue pill and ignore some of it. But the red pill will always be there. Mental health is real and not a joke. When all truths are revealed, getting close to the end, some will not be able to bear it. It’s best now that you soften the blow. Get your houses in order, stocks, preps, and finances together to ride this next phase out. Take this time now to learn, and I mean unlearn, then relearn everything. Because you won’t have time when the storm comes. Why? You’ll be too busy focusing on surviving.

https://twitter.com/GenFlynn/status/1859315083886875118

https://twitter.com/GuntherEagleman/status/1859324355064315997

https://twitter.com/WarClandestine/status/1859391311507489140

@WarClandestine

NATO was created in 1949 to stand up to the Soviet Union. If the West would just make peace with Russia, which Putin is willing to do, then there would be zero need for NATO. The only people who don’t want this, are NATO weapons manufacturers, and their bought politicians. NATO exists solely to enrich itself. Their business model is war, and our tax dollars are their life source. The best solution for humanity is to disband NATO, for Trump to make peace with Russia/China, then build a multipolar world, in which every country has a fair say. The days of the US/NATO waging war without consequence, must come to an end. Russia and China just want a seat at the table, and want the West to stop waging wars all over the globe for financial and geopolitical gain. They just want us to stop building our military bases around their civilizations. Peace is possible with diplomacy.

https://twitter.com/GenFlynn/status/1859385325232996567

@GenFlynn

I want everyone to know who reads this, Barry McCaffrey is highly respected in the leftist neo-con warmongering mafia inside of the beltway’s military industrial complex who love perpetual war. His post shows the insanity we deal with when it comes to advice by certain elements of retired military officers. Nuclear war and nuclear attacks are not something we want on the table at all. The proactive offensive capabilities launched recently by the Ukraine are sheer madness. Instead of demanding peace and standing up for sanity, McCaffrey is stating the obvious for a nuclear counter strike as if this is going to solve the problems we face. God help us all and I pray that no one, and I mean absolutely no one, pays any attention to this too long in the tooth retired military officer. We have to cease and desist these missile attacks. WTH are they achieving? What are our goals and objectives? WTH are we doing? No one from this current administration has answered any of these questions. Congress, and @SpeakerJohnson please step in and stop this insanity! January 20th can’t get here fast enough.

https://twitter.com/GuntherEagleman/status/1859397168433627484

https://twitter.com/JesseBWatters/status/1859413031081382143

MEMES and FUN STUFF

https://twitter.com/iamNickPeterson/status/1859055809121939642

Not very lady like, but true.

https://twitter.com/AMAZlNGNATURE/status/1859207562257744005

https://twitter.com/AMAZlNGNATURE/status/1859370622389797290

https://twitter.com/NoCatsNoLife_m/status/1858639757989081362

https://twitter.com/Brink_Thinker/status/1858866267744264605

https://twitter.com/AMAZlNGNATURE/status/1859245611981090976

https://twitter.com/OregonZoo/status/1858914698479235515

https://twitter.com/NAmazing44779/status/1858959582741024930

____________________________________

And now for the business portion.

Please review our HOST and site owner’s Guidelines for posting and discussion for this site. Wolf is kind enough to put up with *most* of us and our antics after thorough vetting. Violators of the baiting and deliberately attempting to divide the group rules WILL face consequences.

The discourse on this site is to be CIVIL – no name calling, baiting, or threatening others here is allowed. Company manners are appreciated. Those who are so inclined may visit Wolf’s other sanctuary, the U-Tree, to slog out discussions best saved for a wrestling mat. If, for some reason, this site is not available, head over to the UTree and visit the post at the top of the list or the closest rescue thread.

This site is a celebration of the natural rights endowed to humans by our Creator as well as those enshrined in the Bill of Rights adopted in the founding documents of the United States of America. Within the limits of law, how we exercise these rights is part of the freedom of our discussion.

THAT MEANS THAT ALL OF US HERE ARE ENTITLED TO OUR OPINIONS AND PREJUDICES, ETC., SO LONG AS THEY CAUSE NO PHYSICAL HARM TO OTHERS OR DOXX OUR FELLOW TREE DWELLERS.

All opinions here are valued for the diversity they bring to the issues, and the shaping of understanding regarding topics for which many of us do not have all information. Correcting the record on any one topic is appreciated.

Be careful in expressing thoughts as we would all like to think well of the rest of the group, and ill-thought out comments have a way of wrecking that for everyone.

Fellow tree dweller, the late Wheatie, gave us some good reminders on the basics of civility in political discourse:

  1. No food fights
  2. No running with scissors
  3. If you bring snacks, be sure they are made with bacon

Auntie DePat’s requests as we are all supposedly adults and don’t just play them on TV like the body doubles pretending to be the squatter in chief:

If you see something has not been posted, do us all a favor, and post it. Please, do not complain that it has not been done yet.

The scroll wheel on your mouse can be your friend. As mature adults, please use it here in the same manner you would in avoiding online porn.

Thank you so much for any and all attention to such details. It is GREATLY appreciated by more than one party here.

____________________________________________________

Revelation 3:1-6, 14-22

1“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: `The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “`I know your works; you have the name of being alive, and you are dead. 2Awake, and strengthen what remains and is on the point of death, for I have not found your works perfect in the sight of my God. 3Remember then what you received and heard; keep that, and repent. If you will not awake, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you. 4Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5He who conquers shall be clad thus in white garments, and I will not blot his name out of the book of life; I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. 6He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ 

[ 7 And to the angel of the church of Philadelphia, write: These things saith the Holy One and the true one, he that hath the key of David; he that openeth, and no man shutteth; shutteth, and no man openeth:  8 I know thy works. Behold, I have given before thee a door opened, which no man can shut: because thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.  9 Behold, I will bring of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie. Behold, I will make them to come and adore before thy feet. And they shall know that I have loved thee.  10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I will also keep thee from the hour of the temptation, which shall come upon the whole world to try them that dwell upon the earth.

 11 Behold, I come quickly: hold fast that which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.  12 He that shall overcome, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God; and he shall go out no more; and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and my new name.  13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.]

14“And to the angel of the church in La-odice’a write: `The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. 15“`I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! 16So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth. 17For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing; not knowing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may be rich, and white garments to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. 19Those whom I love, I reprove and chasten; so be zealous and repent. 20Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21He who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'”

_____________________________________________________

SATIRE

Cheer Up, Libs: Here Are 10 Things You Can Still Be Thankful For This Year

Before DOGE Cuts Funding, NIH Working Feverishly To Complete Study On The Effects Of Giving Meth To Jetpack-Wearing Hamsters

WEEKEND STARTER

Stone Fire Pit

Harvey Wallbanger

Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 ounces vodka
  • 1/2 ounce Galliano L’Autentico liqueur
  • 3 ounces orange juice, freshly squeezed
  • Garnish: orange slice
  • Garnish: maraschino cherry

Steps

  1. Fill a tall glass with ice, then add the vodka and orange juice and stir.
  2. Float the Galliano on top.
  3. Garnish with a skewered orange slice and maraschino cherry.

Have a good one y’all.

Dear KMAG: 20241120 Place Holder Under Arrest ❀ Open Topic

About This Placeholder Post

Gail Combs can’t get into the WordPiss editor – it’s some kind of browser/WordPiss compatibility problem. Doesn’t matter – we shall overcome. I am able to get past the problem, thankfully. Thus, this PLACE HOLDER UNDER ARREST post, which is a tweaked copy of a post I made on 20240403, which included the notorious PLACE HOLDER UNDER ARREST-ORAMA image and Word Of The Week.

So here we go. Start thinking about Trump’s inauguration.

Who here is going? Any plans being made? Time to start thinking about it!

So now we return to this lightly updated “vintage” post. Enjoy!

W

Joe Biden didn’t win, and neither did Hillary Clinton or Kamala Harris. This is our Real President:

U.S. President Donald Trump prepares to board Marine One with first lady Melania Trump en route to his Mar-a-Lago estate in West Palm Beach, Florida following the release of the Mueller report at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 18, 2019. REUTERS/Carlos Barria – RC1F20A769B0

AND our beautiful REALFLOTUS.

This Stormwatch Monday Open Thread remains open – VERY OPEN – a place for everybody to post whatever they feel they would like to tell the White Hats, and the rest of the MAGA/KAG/KMAG world (with KMAG being a bit of both).

And yes, it’s Monday…Wednesday! WOOHOO!

And we WILL get through it!!!

Swingingly!

Happily!

Laughingly!

Just like Monday!

Dedication

Image: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/d5/e5/ad/d5e5ad861f1fc08b93a6d511ed5ff19f.jpg

WHEATIE – OUR WARRIOR ANGEL

by Duchess01


Please forgive us, Wheatie, we did not know
That you had left us with armor in tow
We had no idea with what you dealt
We did not know the pain you felt
And now we can only imagine
With you what really did happen
Cause rarely did you complain 
And/or share your personal pain
Of one thing we are most certain
You are flying high behind the curtain
Watching over us above the crowds
Our Warrior Angel above the clouds
Thank You, Wheatie, for caring for us
While you were here among the fuss
We miss you dear you have no idea
Since time began in the pangaea
With you there was no time
In your wisdom you would chime
To clarify and magnify
The what where how and why
We did not question when you left
We were not slightly bereft
But over time we wondered why
You did not at least stop by
Now we know where you have gone
With the break of this new dawn
We could be angry but are not
Tho with an arrow we’ve been shot
Rest peacefully Warrior Angel dear
Send us a sign that you are near
A butterfly a flower a kiss of rain
From your love do not refrain
God sends Angels to watch over us
And now we have an Angel Plus
A Warrior Angel of Magnificence
From today and forward hence

LINK: https://www.theqtree.com/2019/05/23/the-poetry-tree/comment-page-2/#comment-917655

The Rules

TL;DR –

Wheatie’s Rules:

  1. No food fights.
  2. No running with scissors.
  3. If you bring snacks, bring enough for everyone.

Boilerplate, more or less, but worth reading again and again, if only for the minor changes, and to stay out of moderation.

MINOR CHANGE NUMBER 1 – RETRACTED!

No reasons for you not to joke about Team Harpies On Pedestals, now that the nation has voted overwhelmingly for FREE SPEECH. Just remember that I really avoid deleting posts, so if you say something stupid, and you regret it later, you will need to add a clarification comment, as opposed to deleting it.

OK? Them’s the rules.

OTHER THAN THAT…….

The bottom line is Free Speech. Theories and ideas you don’t agree with must be WELCOME here, and you must be part of that welcoming. But you do NOT need to be part of any agreement.

Bottom line – respect other people’s FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

Our only additional requirement is that you do so NICELY. Or at least try to make some effort in that direction.

SO….. [ENGAGE BOILERPLATE…..]

We must endeavor to persevere to love our frenemies – even here.

Those who cannot deal with this easy requirement will be forced to jump the hoops of moderation, so that specific comments impugning other posters and violating the minimal rules can be sorted out and tossed in the trash.

In Wheatie’s words, “We’re on the same side here so let’s not engage in friendly fire.”

That includes the life skill of just ignoring certain other posters.

We do have a site – The U Tree – where civility is not a requirement. Interestingly, people don’t really go there much. Nevertheless, if you find yourself in an “argument” that can’t really stay civil, please feel free to “take it to the U Tree”. The U Tree is also a good place to report any technical difficulties, if you’re unable to report them here. Please post your comment there on one of Wolf’s posts, or in reply to one of Wolf’s comments, to make sure he sees it (though it may take a few hours).

We also have a backup site, called The Q Tree as well, which is really The Q Tree 579486807. You might call it “Second Tree”. The URL for that site is https://theqtree579486807.wordpress.com/. If this site (theqtree.com) ever goes down, please reassemble at the Second Tree.

If the Second Tree goes down, please go to The U Tree, or to our Gab Group, which is located at https://gab.com/groups/4178.

We also have some “old rules” and important guidelines, outlined here, in a very early post, on our first New Year’s Day, in 2019. The main point is not to make violent threats against people, which then have to be taken seriously by law enforcement, and which can be used as a PRETEXT by enemies of this site.

In the words of Wheatie, “Let’s not give the odious Internet Censors a reason to shut down this precious haven that Wolf has created for us.”

A Moment of Prayer

Our policy on extreme religious freedom on this site is discussed HERE. Please feel free to pray and praise God anytime and anywhere.

Thus, please pray for our real President, the one who actually won the 2016, 2020, and 2024 elections.

You may also pray for our nation, our world, and even our enemies.

Musical Interlude

In honor of dear Wheatie, we now present some music to soothe, inspire, invigorate, or relax.

Here are three “placeholder” videos, selected from old Wheatie posts.

1.

From Dear MAGA: 20190222 Open Topic

2.

From Dear MAGA: 20190223 Open Topic

3.

From Dear MAGA: 20190427 Open Topic

Ah, yes! I remember those days!

Call To Battle

Our beloved country is under Occupation by hostile forces.

Daily outrage and epic phuckery abound.

(This is an image of the tweet, which no longer shows here.)

We can give in to despair…or we can be defiant and fight back in any way that we can.

Researchers Prove Link Between Deaths and COVID-19 Vaccines https://t.co/H8uC4wxN16— Gelsy Snyder (@GelsySnyder) January 10, 2023

LINK: https://www.theepochtimes.com/epochtv/researchers-prove-link-between-deaths-and-covid-19-vaccines-4932510

Joe Biden didn’t win.

And we will keep saying Joe Biden didn’t win until we get His Fraudulency out of our White House.

Wolfie’s Wheatie’s Word of the Day Year Week:

placeholderama

noun

  • the second year of placeholder posts on The Q Tree
  • Wolf’s collection of dummy posts that he alters if he gets the chance
  • justice for more than one swamp rat in Washington

Used in a Sentence:

“OMG, they’re not only placing Eric Holder under arrest – they’re arresting all his cronies – it’s a veritable placeholderama!”

Used in a Picture of Women Prison Guards Watching Eric Holder in Solitary in DC Gitmo:

ENJOY THE SHOW

Have another great week!

W

Is the Freedom to Deceive Others About the Quality of Food and Drugs Really a Freedom We Want?

A Simple but Nagging Question Brought to Us by RFK Jr., “Sudden Death”, Unnaturally Red Salmon, and My Dearly Beloved Cheese Balls

I must begin this discussion by admitting that I’m very pro-freedom – and that includes the freedom to conduct honest business without government intervention – which intervention would include taxes. In fact, I have tended, over my lifetime, to scoff at people who want to restrict business over what I generally regard as unfounded allegations of harm.

Thus, I approached the following video, and its enclosing article, with some skepticism. Please read and watch, if you have not already.

Senator Cory Booker Publishes Video Consistent with HHS Secretary-appointee Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s Take on Our Poisoned Food Supply

Cory Booker? Do they mean, lying, hoaxing, finger-wagging Marxist Cory Booker?

Cory Booker, ally of the Maoist Obama minion Kamala Harris, and assisting perpetrator of the Jussie Smollett lynching hoax?

(No, Michelle Obama and Jussie Smollett didn’t really say that when they were laughing. This is called a “meme”. It’s a form of propaganda and satire. In this case, it is responding to propaganda, fraud, and deception perpetrated by Jussie Smollett, Kamala Harris, and Cory Booker.)

THAT Cory Booker?

So what video would HE promote? More hoaxes and lies?

Let’s take a look. But color me skeptical.

OK – there is a lot to unpack here. This will take a while.

Some background. I am both a scientist, and a lover of the history of science. Far too many scientists are NOT lovers of the history of science, because if they were, they would realize how bad scientists are at spotting the wrongness of contemporaneous science. Which is ALL THE TIME.

And, that would include me. Thankfully, I have often discovered my own wrongness in science within my own lifetime. We’ll get to that, as we move along here.

Now the first thing that irritated me about this video, is the way coal tar is used as a lead-in to attack a food dye called tartrazine, a.k.a. Yellow Number Five.

It almost sounds like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFKJ hereafter) is saying that tartrazine is obtained by draining it out of coal – or if not that, out of “coal tar”, which is somehow gotten out of coal.

Just a side point. Coal tar is a very useful substance, which is actually used as a medicine for treating skin problems.

So – just from the start, it’s not totally justified to demonize coal tar. Yet on the other hand, YES, thank you – hold the coal tar on my deli sandwich, please. It IS medicine, and can even cause cancer.

But FULL STOP. Back to the point. Tartrazine is not exactly “made from coal tar”. It is made from “organic” (carbon-containing) chemicals – basic organic chemicals – that can be made in a variety of ways, from a variety of things, including coal, petroleum, natural gas, biowaste, corn, soybeans, CO2 in the air, apples, healthy fruit – WHATEVER.

See what I’m saying? Tartrazine is being demonized by association. I was ready to bitchslap RFKJ here. Bear in mind that, years ago – before the COVID nightmare and revelations after that – I considered him a NUT – and would often say as much.

AND YET. If you know the history of science and organic chemistry, RFKJ has a point. A very valid point – in that association.

RJKJ clarifies in the video (3 min 6 sec) that tartrazine is now made almost entirely from chemicals which now come from petroleum – not coal tar. However, that original time period – the coal tar days – has something to teach us.

The discovery of synthetic dyes like tartrazine was back when mankind was in a state of “chemical hubris” not unlike the “biological hubris” of current times.

In the same way that we now look back and face-palm at the “irrational exuberance” of early organic and medicinal chemistry, which gave us the hormonal poison diethylstilbestrol (DES), injected into millions of pregnant women before we realized that it damaged their daughters, so we will one day look back at the “clot shot” – marveling at the combination of ignorance (most people), hubris (most scientists), and – behind layers of global governmental denial – malevolent or warped benevolent depopulation do-gooderism (top-secret scientists and psychopathic power players), that pushed bad experimental vaccines on an almost unsuspecting but increasingly skeptical public.

Once I was in the state of seeing the historical analogy, I was ready to realize that there is almost no excuse for allowing anything into food that is not food or a known nutrient.

If one asks WHY Yellow Number Five is in those wonderful-tasting but unnaturally yellow cheese balls, it is obvious – the chemical makes the cheese balls look “cheesier” in a weird but highly unnatural way. It’s psychological. It’s an “allowed psy-op” by makers of food.

Or take salmon. The last time I looked at a really good deal on salmon in the grocery store, I noticed that it was just a bit too strangely orange. Reading the label, there was an admission that the salmon “might” be treated with some dyes to keep it looking attractive.

Suddenly, the salmon didn’t look quite as good to me. It still looked reasonable, and I toyed with the idea of buying it. But I didn’t. In this post-mRNA world, I elected to put off a buy until I could do more research.

So now, after watching this video, I realize that RFKJ is correct. Dyes make foods more appealing, but they do so in a very deceptive way. To me, if dyes have ANY risks, putting them in food makes almost no sense, other than we are allowing “deception in the quality of food” as a kind of freedom. Well, murdering people, stealing their things, and doing other bad things to them are “freedoms” we used to have as humans – and we did away with those freedoms, while keeping most of the rest.

And yet, the enjoyment of food is right there in the Declaration of Independence.

Because I believe in freedom, including the pursuit of happiness in cheese balls and salmon, I don’t want to tell you what to believe, but I will tell you what I believe.

Some people may want vaccines with side effects and risks. I personally don’t, but I want those people to be free to have their vaccines – but not force them on me or my children. And I want the TRUTH about those vaccines to be KNOWN. Not just a little known – A LOT KNOWN.

Some people may want unnaturally yellow cheese balls. I certainly don’t – not any more. I would like some nice, corn-and-cheese-looking cheese balls that I know are healthy for me. But other people may want the yellow cheese balls with strange dyes. Is there a way that we BOTH can be happy? As the founding fathers wanted?

I would like to see more foods without risky, unnatural additives. I would like to see TRUTH IN FOOD and TRUTH IN DRUGS.

I think there is a way forward that will make America HEALTHIER, FREER, and TRUER.

But we have to be honest, if we want to get there.

And what do you know – there are now some people who believe in honesty! And they’re going to be in office, if we continue to support them!

https://twitter.com/RogerJStoneJr/status/1858017711290232892

So what do you think? Can we have freedom, health, and unnaturally orange cheese balls?

Can we have vaccines for those who want them, and ivermectin for those who don’t?

Or will the corporate mafia and demonic cabal always try to control us through government, to make us accept their “right” to control us as lab rats?

You tell me!

W

Dear KAG: 20241119 Open Thread

Cover image is in here somewhere.

Thousands of ICE officers to be reassigned from desk jobs as Trump vows to ‘flood’ sanctuary cities with agents

Badlands News Brief – November 18, 2024

House Probe Into Matt Gaetz Relies On Witnesses DOJ Found Lacked Credibility

DOJ and FBI officials reach out to lawyers as potential Trump revenge prosecutions loom

Haitian immigrants flee Springfield, Ohio, in droves after Trump election win

Boys are back in town: Trump’s patriotic alpha crew takes the wheel while toxic females ride in the backseat…

FBI Whistleblower Says FBI Intentionally Blocking Security Clearances for Trump Officials

Oh, that’s something, Sundance, saying that President Trump NOW knows what he is up against. I’m quite certain he knew all along.

Health care organization launches ‘Stop RFK War Room’

Politico. Take it for what it’s worth.

Okay, that was just sweet.

Tweets…X-Files, uh, posts, whatever

https://twitter.com/GenFlynn/status/1858276820178575668

@GenFlynn

Everyone needs to understand how much this administration and those who support them hate America as it is today. They wanted America to be a part of the globalist one world order. We dodged a bullet but the “bullets” will keep coming for the foreseeable future. Look at what the WH is now authorizing Ukraine to do! DO NOT COUNT ON A SMOOTH TRANSITION OF POWER!

https://twitter.com/reBurningBright/status/1858341712252580246

@reBurningBright

In the 1960s, John and Robert Kennedy formed an unofficial advisory council called EXComM (Executive Committee of the National Security Council,) which was put together to keep peacemaking efforts siloed from the Joint Chiefs and the Intel Agencies. Unused to being kept in the dark, these administrative vultures colloquially referred to this cadre of Kennedys and childhood friends from the Boston area (including Kenneth O’Donnell,) as the ‘Irish Mafia.’ By going around the Military Industrial Complex and the news media, these men established backchannels to Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev in order to avoid the war the ‘invisible enemy’ in both nations were salivating over. As tensions rose, Robert famously said, “can the fu*king chiefs” as tempers flared over the war for peace. Reconcile this with Trump’s current appointments. It may not be ‘Irish,’ but we’ve got a new American Mafia forming. “We went around them like nobody’s gone around them before.” Deep State most affected.

https://twitter.com/WarClandestine/status/1858316827505406095

@WarClandestine

So are we just supposed to ignore that Elon is posting Q memes? Trump’s closest advisor, and most influential man on Earth, is just casually posting Q memes. This comes after a week of him talking about the “hammer of justice”. I’m just stating facts here.

From Terrence:

https://twitter.com/w_terrence/status/1858339399085224157

https://twitter.com/WallStreetMav/status/1858222887875887409

@WallStreetMav

“Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be the name of a convenience store in Florida, not a federal agency.” -Matt Gaetz

Agreed.

https://twitter.com/truestormyjoe/status/1858529930985759070

https://twitter.com/cat_barnes30/status/1858470780947829059

Meme Zone

https://twitter.com/AMAZlNGNATURE/status/1858468227673702552

https://twitter.com/Yoda4ever/status/1858127957577126039

https://twitter.com/AMAZlNGNATURE/status/1858159118067830912

https://twitter.com/DocStrangelove2/status/1857926525766484317

https://twitter.com/puppiesDoglover/status/1857989823929217441

https://twitter.com/AMAZlNGNATURE/status/1858143738779836652

This one is cool:

https://twitter.com/Yoda4ever/status/1858256324318179552

https://twitter.com/AMAZlNGNATURE/status/1858235518246400234

Per the boss’s instruction:

I’d throw in a few Rockefellers and Rothschilds also.

Of course, this does not mean committing felonies, but standing up to the forces that want to tear this nation – and humanity apart. The very people XVII told us will be destroyed by the time this movie comes to an end are currently roaming the halls of power…supposedly. It’s a sickening sight.

Guidelines for posting and discussion on this site were outlined by our host, WolfM00n. Please, review them from time to time.

The discourse on this site is to be CIVIL – no name calling, baiting, or threatening others here is allowed. Those who are so inclined may visit Wolf’s other sanctuary, the U-Tree, to slog it out. There is also a “rescue” thread there for members of the Tree to rendezvous if the main site goes kablooey. A third site has been added for site outages of longer duration.

This site is a celebration of the natural rights endowed to humans by our Creator as well as those enshrined in the Bill of Rights adopted in the founding documents of the United States of America. Within the limits of law, how we exercise these rights is part of the freedom of our discussion.

Fellow tree dweller, the late Wheatie, gave us some good reminders on the basics of civility in political discourse:

  1. No food fights.
  2. No running with scissors.
  3. If you bring snacks, bring enough for everyone.

And Auntie DePat’s requests:

If you see something has not been posted, do us all a favor, and post it. Please, do not complain that it has not been done yet.

The scroll wheel on your mouse can be your friend. As mature adults, please use it here in the same manner you would in avoiding online porn.

Thank you so much for any and all attention to such details. It is GREATLY appreciated by more than one party here.

__________________________________________________

Psalms 15:2-5

2He who walks blamelessly, and does what is right, and speaks truth from his heart; 3who does not slander with his tongue, and does no evil to his friend, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor; 4in whose eyes a reprobate is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; who swears to his own hurt and does not change; 5who does not put out his money at interest, and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.

Luke 19:1-10

1He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2And there was a man named Zacchae’us; he was a chief tax collector, and rich. 3And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he was small of stature. 4So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way. 5And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchae’us, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” 6So he made haste and came down, and received him joyfully. 7And when they saw it they all murmured, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8And Zacchae’us stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost.”

109

Anonymous ID: hHkrVD7x No.148156632 
Nov 5 2017 20:06:36 (EST)

Anonymous ID: pqW40Wgk No.148156518 
Nov 5 2017 20:05:48 (EST)

>>148154137

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do thou, Prince of the Heavenly Hosts, by the power of God, cast down to Hell Satan and all his evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

>>148156518
Amen brother.
Q

As always, prayers for the fight against that which seeks to enslave us are welcome. Via con Dios.

Satire

Experts Predict Every Liberal Will Soon Be On Own Individual Social Media Platform To Prevent Encountering Wrong Opinions

In Last Ditch Attempt To Prevent Trump From Taking Office, Democrats Start World War 3

That’s not really satire…..

Dear KMAG: 20241118 Joe Biden Didn’t Win ❀ Open Topic

Joe Biden didn’t win. This is our Real President:

AND our beautiful REALFLOTUS.

This Stormwatch Monday Open Thread remains open – VERY OPEN – a place for everybody to post whatever they feel they would like to tell the White Hats, and the rest of the MAGA/KAG/KMAG world (with KMAG being a bit of both).

And yes, it’s Monday…again.

But we WILL get through it!

We will always remember Wheatie,

Pray for Trump,

Yet have fun,

and HOLD ON when things get crazy!

We will follow the RULES of civility that Wheatie left for us:

Wheatie’s Rules:

  1. No food fights.
  2. No running with scissors.
  3. If you bring snacks, bring enough for everyone.

And while we engage in vigorous free speech, we will remember Wheatie’s advice on civility, non-violence, and site unity:

“We’re on the same side here so let’s not engage in friendly fire.”

“Let’s not give the odious Internet Censors a reason to shut down this precious haven that Wolf has created for us.”

If this site gets shut down, please remember various ways to get back in touch with the rest of the gang:

Our beloved country is under Occupation by hostile forces.

Daily outrage and epic phuckery abound.

We can give in to despair…or we can be defiant and fight back in any way that we can.

Joe Biden didn’t win.

And we will keep saying Joe Biden didn’t win until we get His Fraudulency out of our White House.

Wolfie’s Wheatie’s Word of the Week:

volacious

adjective

able, apt or fit to fly

Shown in a picture

Used in a sentence

It’s not a question of whether or not to toss the toxic dwarf into GITMO – the question is whether he is sufficiently volacious to make it there intact without bubble wrap.

MUSIC!

Speaking of volcano sacrifices, as a belated Halloween offering, and with EPIC musical character beloved by Wheatie, we bring you this little number…..

And now for…..

THE STUFF

Thank you, Elon! You did it!

SO, in honor of Senator “Lurch” Thune, we have this!

And if that’s not enough Lurch, here’s more than you can handle!

Just sayin’!

And remember…….

Until victory, have faith!

And trust the big plan, too!

And as always….

ENJOY THE SHOW

W

Dear MAGA: 20241117 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.”

Biblical Hope

Biblical hope has as its foundation faith in God. The word hope in English often conveys doubt. For instance, “I hope it will not rain tomorrow.” In addition, the word hope is often followed by the word so. This is the answer that some may give when asked if they think that they will go to heaven when they die. They say, “I hope so.” However, that is not the meaning of the words usually translated “hope” in the Bible.

In the Old Testament the Hebrew word batah and its cognates has the meaning of confidence, security, and being without care; therefore, the concept of doubt is not part of this word. We find that meaning in Job 6:20; Psalm 16:9; Psalm 22:9; and Ecclesiastes 9:4. In most instances in the New Testament, the word hope is the Greek elpis/elpizo. Again, there is no doubt attached to this word. Therefore, biblical hope is a confident expectation or assurance based upon a sure foundation for which we wait with joy and full confidence. In other words, “There is no doubt about it!”

One of the verses in which we find the word hope is Hebrews 11:1. “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” This verse at the beginning of the faith chapter (Hebrews 11) carries with it all of the confidence that comes with knowing for sure, with no question, what we have been promised by God in His Word. Our faith is confident assurance, for it is founded upon the Rock of our salvation, the Lord Jesus Christ. All of the actions of the heroes of the faith recorded in Hebrews 11 were made possible because they had this faith, based in their confident assurance or hope in God. As believers, we are also called to give an answer for the hope that is within us to any who would ask (1 Peter 3:15).

Therefore, biblical hope is a reality and not a feeling. Biblical hope carries no doubt. Biblical hope is a sure foundation upon which we base our lives, believing that God always keeps His promises. Hope or confident assurance can be ours when we trust the words, “He who believes on Me has everlasting life” (John 6:47, NKJV). Accepting that gift of eternal life means our hope is no longer filled with doubt but, rather, has at its sure foundation the whole of God’s Word, the entirety of God’s character, and the finished work of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
xhttps://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-hope.html

2024·11·16 Joe Biden Didn’t Win Daily Thread (And Neither Did Kamala Harris)

What is it that feeds our battle, yet starves our victory?

This post is scheduled to go “live” at 10:01PM MST on Friday, November 15, 2024. That’s 00:01 EST on Saturday, November 16, 2024 for those of you in that benighted timezone near the Atlantic Ocean.

As of that moment, there are 65 days, 11 hours, and 59 minutes until our rightful President of the United States is restored to office.

Not that I’m counting, mind you.

January 6 Tapes Reminder

After the first release, we were supposed to get more, every week.

As far as I know it hasn’t happened.

Speaker Johnson, please follow through!

A Caution

Just remember…we might replace the RINO candidates. (Or we might not. The record is mixed even though there is more MAGA than there used to be.) But that will make no difference in the long run if the party officials, basically the Rhonna McDaniels (or however that’s spelled–I suspect it’s RINO), don’t get replaced.

State party chairs, vice chairs, secretaries and so on, and the same at county levels, have huge influence on who ultimately gets nominated, and if these party wheelhorses are RINOs, they will work tirelessly to put their own pukey people on the ballot. In fact I’d not be surprised if some of our “MAGA” candidates are in fact, RINO plants, encouraged to run by the RINO party leadership when they realized that Lyn Cheney (and her ilk) were hopelessly compromised as effective candidates. The best way for them to deal with the opposition, of course, is to run it themselves.

Running good candidates is only HALF of the battle!

Biden Gives Us Too Much Credit

…we can move on to the next one.

Apparently Biden (or his puppeteer) has decided we’re to blame for all of the fail in the United States today.

Sorry to disappoint you Joe (or whoever), but you managed to do that all on your own; not only that, you wouldn’t let us NOT give you the chance because you insisted on cheating your way into power.

Yep, you-all are incompetent, and so proud of it you expect our applause for your sincerity. Fuck that!!

It wouldn’t be so bad, but you insist that everyone else have to share in your misery. Nope, can’t have anyone get out from under it. Somehow your grand vision only works if every single other person on earth is forced to go along. So much as ONE PERSON not going along is enough to make it all fail, apparently.

In engineering school we’re taught that a design that has seven to eight billion single points of failure…sucks.

Actually, we weren’t taught that. Because it would never have occurred to the professors to use such a ridiculous example.

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.

Kamala Harris has a new nickname since she finally went west from DC to El Paso Texas: Westward Hoe.

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.)

Spot Prices

All prices are Kitco Ask, 3PM MT Friday (at that time the markets close for the weekend). (Note: most media quotes are for the bid…the price paid by the market makers, not the ask, which is what they will sell at. I figure the ask is more relevant to people like us who wish we could afford to buy these things. In the case of gold the difference is usually about a dollar, for the PGMs the spread is much wider.)

Last Week:

Gold $2,684.50
Silver $31.35
Platinum $979.00
Palladium $1,014.00
Rhodium $5,025.00
FRNSI* 128.863-
Gold:Silver 85.630-

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

Gold $2,563.30
Silver $30.30
Platinum $947.00
Palladium $974.00
Rhodium $4,950.00
FRNSI* 123.000-
Gold:Silver 84.597+

There’s no sugar coating it…the precious metals except for platinum are taking a beating. (Platinum was already on sale anyway.) Silver at least didn’t take quite as much of a beating as gold. The FRNSI, when I calculated it, turned out to be 122.9996 which rounds up to 123.000, which is why it looks suspiciously “round” at the moment. (Like the time twenty years or so ago when I bought a bunch of random things, and the total at the cash register, including sales tax, was exactly $100.00. I told the cashier to get the machine checked.)

*The SteveInCO Federal Reserve Note Suckage Index (FRNSI) is a measure of how much the dollar has inflated. It’s the ratio of the current price of gold, to the number of dollars an ounce of fine gold made up when the dollar was defined as 25.8 grains of 0.900 gold. That worked out to an ounce being $20.67+71/387 of a cent. (Note gold wasn’t worth this much back then, thus much gold was $20.67 71/387ths. It’s a subtle distinction. One ounce of gold wasn’t worth $20.67 back then, it was $20.67.) Once this ratio is computed, 1 is subtracted from it so that the number is zero when the dollar is at its proper value, indicating zero suckage.

Neptune

We now reach the last full planet. But is it the end of the road?

History

Neptune’s discovery was a triumph of Newtonian theory.

Newton in the mid-late 1600s was pondering the forces that make the planets move, as opposed to forces we see on Earth. Apparently he saw an apple fall (it did not bonk him on the noggin), and it occurred to him that the force that made the apple fall might be the same force that makes the Moon orbit the Earth. Newton knew how far away the Moon was, he knew how much it would have to accelerate to remain in its orbit about the Earth. (If there was no acceleration, it would just go in a straight line and eventually disappear from sight from becoming too faint to see.) He also knew how far he and the apple were from the center of the Earth, and already knew how fast the apple accelerated.

He was able to determine that if the acceleration induced by gravity dropped off as the square of the distance, the number for the Moon’s distance actually matched what the Moon was doing.

Twenty years later after a lot of refining and elaboration, well…For the first time we knew that the stuff “up there” follows the same rules as the stuff “down here.” It’s not a special realm, as the ancients believed.

Newton did not discover gravity. Gravity was known to Og the caveman especially after he did a faceplant tripping over something while chasing game, nor was Og the first to notice it. What Newton did do was to show that gravity is universal, it applies everywhere not just here on Earth. And he was able to write equations that described it quite accurately.

Newton, during those 20 years, had gone on to prove that such a force would cause things to orbit other things in ellipses…which matched what we already knew; Johannes Kepler had in the early 1600s proved with meticulously collected data spanning decades and years of his own skull sweat that the orbits of the planets around the Sun (and the Moon around the Earth) were ellipses. Newton also was able to show that Kepler’s other two laws of planetary motion applied. Better, one could apply his laws to the Galilean moons (as well as Titan orbiting Saturn) and show that they, too followed Newtonian mechanics and gravity.

Over the next decades astronomers refined their data on the planets and had more and more accurate data to “plug into” their equations and predicting where planets and the Moon would be became an exact science; instead of being off by five degrees (the width of you three big fingers (not the thumb and not the pinky) held at arms length), we were much less than half a degree.

Then Uranus was discovered in 1781, and that was one more thing to track on top of the other planets, known moons of planets, and so on. (Starting in 1650, we discovered binary stars orbiting each other and could track them too.) Alexis Bouvard published tables of Uranus’s ephemerides (predictions of future predctions) in 1821.

Except there was a problem, one which became apparent over the next few decades (it takes a long time, when the planet has an 84 year orbital period or “year”). Uranus was being an ass…not behaving. It was traveling too fast for a while…then too slow.

Was Newton wrong after all? In spite of his stuff having worked so well for over a century?

Bouvard didn’t think so. He speculated that some unknown body was perturbing Uranus’s orbit, pulling on it and either making it speed up or slow down, depending on where it was in relation to Uranus. In 1843 John Couch Adams began trying to figure out where this unknown body was, and by 1845-6 had generated several predictions; he was continually refining them because his method was iterative. He’d guess, run the numbers, adjust his guess, and repeat. Then repeat again.

But Adams had competition; Urbain Le Verrier was also working on the problem. He came up with similar answers. The Astronomer Royal of England, Sir George Airy, persuaded James Challis to actually look through a telescope and try to find the planet. Challis tried through August and September 1846, and failed. (However he realized much later that he had actually seen it a couple of times in July and August 1845 (a year before his search) and not recognized it for what it was, because he had poor observing techniques and old star charts. D’oh!)

Le Verrier wasn’t going to wait on the Brits to get their act together; he wrote to Johan Gottfried Galle in Berlin, and asked him to look. Galle received the lettter on the 23rd of September, 1846. Heinrich d’Arrest, a student at the observatory, pointed out that they had just made a chart of that part of the sky recently. So all Galle had to do was point his telescope and look for something that wasn’t on the chart. That would be a moving object…a planet. Galle looked that evening with a nine inch refractor telescope (one with lenses at both ends of the tube), and found it almost immediately, less than a degree away from where Le Verrier had said it would be, and twelve degrees away from Adam’s prediction. However…the old chart could just be missing the object by mistake. Galle looked at the object over the next few days and satisfied himself that it wasn’t a mistake. It was indeed a moving object.

Another planet had been found!

Newton in trouble? No way! This was actually a triumph for Newtonian mechanics because it had been used to find a planet!

(As a footnote…Galileo saw Neptune, diagrammed its position in his notes, not once but twice when it was near Jupiter on 28 December 1612 and 27 January 1613 [both dates New Style] but didn’t realize it was a moving object. So, although interesting, it isn’t enough to give him credit for the discovery. However, “In 2009, a study suggested that Galileo was at least aware that the “star” he had observed had moved relative to fixed stars.” [From Wikipedia])

Voyager 2, 25 August 1989

This is a collection of official NASA animations depicting the sole spacecraft encounter (so far) with Neptune. These videos were made before the encounter, so Neptune’s and Triton’s appearances are just guesses. They also show the rings as arcs, because that’s what they thought back then (it turns out that they’re full rings, with some thicker sections we mistook for partial arcs).

Basic Info

For a while, it was simply called “the planet exterior to Uranus” or “Le Verrier’s Planet”. Galle suggested calling it Janus, which fortunately didn’t happen or it would be confused with the Hugh Janus of the solar system. Le Verrier said, since he had discovered it, he should be able to name it and he suggested “Neptune.” And that’s the name that ultimately “stuck.” The planet had a bluish tinge and Neptune was the Roman god of the sea (corresponding to the Greek Poseidon).

Neptune orbits the Sun in 164.8 years, almost twice as long as Uranus (84.02 years). Its average distance from the sun is 30.07 AUs (30.07 times as much as Earth’s average disance). That puts it at 4.5 billion kilometers from the Sun. That means that radio signals to and from Voyager 2 took over four hours each way!

Here it is in true color, with the Earth photoshopped in for comparison.

It’s roughly the same size as Uranus…just a bit smaller, but it is considerably denser than Uranus and notably more massive (Uranus is 14.536 times the mass of the Earth, Neptune is 17.147 times.)

Neptune rotates in 16 hours, 6 minutes; that’s its day. Its axis is tilted 28.2 degrees, a bit more than Earth’s but not ridiculous like with Uranus or Venus. The temperature is 55-72 Kelvins (-218 to -201 C) depending on how deep into the atmosphere you measure it. The latter number is measured where the atmospheric pressure is the same as Earth’s at sea level. The atmosphere consists of 80 percent hydrogen, 19 percent helium and 1.5 percent methane by volume, with traces of ethane, ammonia, water ice, and ammonium hydrosulfide. The methane gives Neptune its bluish tinge.

Innards

Deeper down the methane, ammonia and water ices become more prevalent, earning Neptune its place among the ice giants. One thing I just spotted is the speculation that at a depth of 7000km, methane might decompose with the carbon forming diamond crystals that rain downwards like hailstones; this would be true on Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus as well.

Whoops, spoiler…Rings.

You’re probably used to seeing this picture of Neptune:

But if you scroll back to the earlier picture, it’s the same picture of Neptune, just rendered in different colors. This one exaggerated the colors for contrast, and in it you can see the “Great Dark Spot” which means I can now segue to discussing the weather.

Weather

The “Great Dark Spot” is similar to Jupiter’s Great Red Spot. It’s 13,000km x 6,600 km or so…which means that measured the long way it’s slightly broader than Earth! However, it wasn’t nearly as permanent as the Red Spot. By the time Hubble looked at Neptune eight years later in 1994, it was gone. But a new dark spot had appeared in Neptune’s northern hemisphere.

The white smudge is called “Scooter” because it moved more rapidly than the Great Dark Spot

Neptune has the most extreme winds in the solar system…at least, as far as we can tell. The prevailing winds on the equator are 400 m/s, dropping to a “mere” 250 m/s at the poles. In the storms the velocity can reach 600 m/s. That’s roughly 2,200 kph or 1,300 mph, well over the speed of sound. This is a stark contrast to Uranus, which had no obvious storms when Voyager 2 flew by. The concentration of methane, ethane, and acetylene at the equator is 100 times that at the poles, so it seems that at the equator the atmosphere is upwelling, bringing that stuff from down deeper where it is more common. It subsides near the poles.

Neptune, like Uranus, has a multi pole magnetic field, indicating its dynamo is probably in a relatively thin layer of the planet–much as is thought with Uranus.

Rings

Neptune has rings, but not very substantial ones. In this case it’s likely to be tiny ice particles coated with carbon-based material. And here, we came up with cool names: the most important rings are named Adams, Le Verrier, and Galle. The best way to view them is in infrared..and well guess what we just put up there that sees really, really well in infrared?

None other than the James Webb Space Telescope, of course!

Before the Voyager 2 encounter, we thought the rings were partial arcs rather than full circles; we eventually figured out those arcs were actually thicker parts of full rings.

And what a nice segue into the moons, since we can see some of them here.

Moons

You might expect the same progression of small, inner moons, nice and regular in circular orbits, then major moons (either large and planetary sized, or medium or medium-small but still round, or a mix), also in nice tidy regular orbits, then irregular satellites, that we saw with Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus. Surely with a pattern like this three times running, we can expect more of the same here?

You might expect it, but that ain’t what you’re gonna get!

Neptune has 16 known moons, with a naming theme of water deities and one water critter out of Greek mythology.

First we have seven small regular satellites…in other words, inner moons. Some of them orbit among Neptune’s rings, as seen in the JWST photo above. Five of them were discovered by Voyager 2 in 1989, and of course the best photos we have of any of them are from that spacecraft, the only one ever to visit Neptune. Larissa was actually discovered in 1981, while Hippocamp was first spotted in 2013.

The largest of these is Proteus, with a diameter of 420 km. That puts it in the same size range as Mimas and Miranda, those smallest round moons, but it’s not round! It’s more like Hyperion in that regard, but unlike Hyperion, it’s not a gigantic sponge.

A craptastic picture like this is the best we can do when only Voyager 2 ever got close to it.
Proteus, 420 km or so in diameter, orbiting at 117,646 km in 1.12 (Earth) days.

It is remarkable Proteus was discovered well after Larissa (which is much smaller) and Nereid, which is also smaller and has been known for decades–we’ll get to that.

So far so good, right? Inner moons.

Next should be large, planetary-sized moons and/or medium moons, all nice and regular.

Well, we do get a large moon. But it’s not regular. Not even close!

Triton is 2,705 km (give or take about 5 km) orbiting at 352,759 km in 5.87 days. It’s in a nice circular equatorial orbit…but it’s not in Neptune’s equatorial plane; it’s inclined at 23 degrees. Well, no, actually, it’s inclined at 157 degrees. Yes, it’s retrograde.

Triton’s orbit in red, compared to a “normal” moon’s orbit in green. Note the opposite directions of motion.

What the Biden is going on here? We’ll come back to that. And we’ll hit Triton in more detail shortly. Meanwhile, I’ll point out that it was discovered weeks after Neptune itself, by the English astronomer William Lassell.

A black and white picture of Triton–it’s actually a mosaic pieced together from smaller pictures.
Triton looks a lot like a cantaloupe in places.

Next out is Nereid, discovered in 1949 by Gerard Peter Kuiper (you may recall I warned you that you’d be seeing his name again! And I wasn’t thinking about this when I said so). Nereid is 357 km across (give or take 13 km), and another non-round, but medium small moon. And now we see the suckage we have to deal with when only one spacecraft has ever spent any time at all near Neptune, and that only a few hours. Here is our absolute best picture of Nereid (out of 83 that Voyager took):

Nereid is another one of those “medium small” moons that didn’t quite become rounded. It got discovered before Proteus (which is larger) because it has a high albedo, reflecting most of the light that hit it.

And Nereid’s orbit is wacky. Its average distance from Neptune is 5,513,900 km–a huge jump up from Triton (it takes 360 days to orbit Neptune). But it’s at a relatively sane inclination of 5 degrees…very small for an irregular moon. But here’s the big surprise: the eccentricity is a whopping 0.75! That’s extremely elliptical. Its closest approach to Neptune is 1,381,500 km and its furthest distance is 9,626,500 km.

Next out is Halimede, about 62 km across, at 16,590,500 km, orbiting in 1879 days (almost five years), it’s retrograde and has an eccentricity of 0.521. It looks like it’s made out of the same stuff as Nereid, and there’s a 41 percent chance that at sometime in the past, it actually collided with Nereid. Or rather, that it broke off of Nereid (when you “run that tape backwards” that looks like a collision).

There are then two groups of three, the Sao group (inclined 36-50 degrees) and the Neso group (inclined 127-135 degrees), all of them 25-60km in diameter.

Halimede on out are clearly outer, irregular moons so here at least the usual pattern fits.

OK, we’ve got some crazy stuff going on here.

Triton

There are seven “large” or “planetary sized” moons in our Solar System (the Moon, Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto, Titan and Triton) and Triton is the smallest of them. It’s the only moon in the Solar System with a diameter in the 2,000-3,000 km range. Even so, it’s larger than all of the smaller moons in the Solar System, put together.

Before Voyager 2 flew by, we knew very little about Triton; Kuiper tried to measure its diameter in 1954 (well over a century after its discovery) and got 3,800 km. Others got values anywhere from 2500 to 6000km; that last is almost half the diameter of Earth and would have made Triton the largest moon in the solar system, beating out even Ganymede. The answer turned out to be 2706 km as measured by Voyager 2 on August 25, 1989.

Triton has a density of about 2 grams per cubic centimeter, which indicates that unlike many moons of the outer solar system, it’s more rock than ice. Its surface temperature is 38 K (-235C), slightly colder than Hitlary Klinton’s lap.

In the 1990s an atmosphere was detected (by watching stars fade as Triton passed in front of them). This is a very thin atmosphere, 0.02 millibar at most (Earth’s atmosphere is close to 1013 millibars). Nonetheless, clouds were photographed by Voyager (look at the horizon)

And also in this picture, a “parting shot” at Triton from the opposite side from the Sun (backlit pictures like this one can be very useful when studying atmospheres):

Triton also has geysers, this time of nitrogen. Triton is cold enough to have nitrogen ice on it (and remember that liquid nitrogen is stereotypically very cold stuff), but below the surface it’s warmer and you can have nitrogen geysers. The black smudges are thought to be downwind of them.

And finally we have this picture of the south polar ice cap (yes, “upside down” with south at the top):

Away from the cap we see more cantaloupe terrain. This feature is unique to Triton, so far as we know, and consists mostly of dirty water ice. They might be caused by lumps of less-dense material slowly rising to the surface, or perhaps flooding from cryovulcanism.

What’s with the red color? We’ve seen this a lot and it’s time I discussed it a bit. All of these outer moons have some amount of hydrocarbons on them (especially Titan), things like methane, ethane, and so forth. There’s zero protection from ultraviolet light on any of these moons (except maybe Titan), so the UV acts on the hydrocarbons and any sulfur that’s around and produces tholins, which are pretty much random goo formed of polymers. The term tholin was coined by Carl Sagan, who wrote:

For the past decade we have been producing in our laboratory a variety of complex organic solids from mixtures of the cosmically abundant gases CH4, C2H6, NH3, H2O, HCHO, and H2S [methane, ethane, ammonia, water, formaldehyde and hydrogen sulfide, respectively–SteveInCO]. The product, synthesized by ultraviolet (UV) light or spark discharge, is a brown, sometimes sticky, residue, which has been called, because of its resistance to conventional analytical chemistry, “intractable polymer”. […] We propose, as a model-free descriptive term, ‘tholins’ (Greek Θολός, muddy; but also Θόλος, vault or dome), although we were tempted by the phrase ‘star-tar’.[3][1]

We’ve only seen 40 percent of Triton, because that’s what Voyager photographed as it sped by. The other side might very well be a gigantic billboard reading “For a Good Time Call…” with Kamala Harris’s phone number, for all we know.

Here’s a geological map of Triton, based on what we have seen.

Triton orbits closer to Neptune than the Moon does to Earth, yet it is highly inclined and retrograde. Its orbit is nearly circular, and it has become tidally locked to Neptune (as would be expected).

Earth’s moon is slowly receding from Earth at a few centimeters per year. Triton is getting closer. In fact, in about three and a half billion years, it will probably get close enough to Neptune that tidal forces will pull it apart and we’ll have an absolutely killer set of rings to admire. (Book your travel plans now!)

But why is it getting closer to Neptune, when our Moon is getting further from Earth? Let’s look at why our Moon is getting further from Earth. It’s both raising and pulling at our tidal bulges, and our tidal bulges are pulling on the moon. The bulges precede the moon (because the rotation of the Earth shoves them ahead of where they “should” be directly under the Moon), which means the moon is pulling back on them and slowing the rotation of the Earth (which is why we keep having to add leap seconds). Conversely the bulges pull the Moon forward and cause it to speed up in its orbit. Speeding up raises the orbit. The Moon slowly recedes.

The same thing happens with Neptune and Triton…except that now the tidal bulges try to pull Triton “forward” in its orbit…but Triton is moving backward in its orbit, so pulling it forward actually cancels part of the backwards motion and slows Triton down. So, slowly but surely Triton’s orbit gets smaller and smaller.

OK So What Happened That Left This Trainwreck?

Neptune’s moon system is radically different from the others. There’s simply no way Triton could have formed where it did.

Astronomers are fairly certain that Triton is actually a captured object. And when it was captured, it wreaked havoc with the rest of Neptune’s moon system. Nereid, for instance is either also a captured object, or got put into its oddball orbit by Triton during the capture–if so it’s probably the only original Neptunian regular moon that survived, though it’s not regular any more. Any other moon that Neptune had at the time is long gone.

Adding to the pile of evidence for Triton being captured: it turns out to have a very similar chemical composition to Pluto, suggesting that they formed near each other.

Another Visit?

Will we ever visit Neptune again? Obviously the next step is an orbiter. Multiple concepts, both orbiters and more flybys, have been proposed and rejected. There’s some thought of doing things under the New Frontiers program, perhaps orbiters that would spend a lot of time on Triton, but these would be launching in 2031 or 2041 and arriving in 2047 and 2056 (note the fifteen or sixteen year travel times!). I’ll be a geezer by 2056; older than my parents lived. Failing that, the Chinese might put something at Neptune by 2058. So it looks like, not in my lifetime.

Neptune, the Mystic

Gustav Holst (1874-1934) composed an orchestral suite called The Planets in 1914-1917, with movements for Mars, Venus, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. (It’s one of the few “classical” works from the 20th century that I like.) Although he tried to evoke the mythological figures the planets are named after, I find the Neptune movement evocative of the vast distance that Neptune is, and its extreme isolation.

The slow fading out makes one think of journeying off into the stupendous void that is beyond Neptune.

The sun is 30 times further away from Neptune than it is from Earth. It’s half a degree across as seen from earth (30 minutes of arc), which means it’s one minute of arc across at Neptune. It looks the size of a quarter at 100 yards. No wonder it gives such little warmth, 1/900th of what it gives to us. And also the same tiny fraction of light. Cold and Dark, and it’s hard to imagine it getting colder and darker. Surely we are at the corner of “no” and “where.”

And yet, though we are out of planets, we are not done.

Health Friday 11.15.2024 Open Thread: Hold Them Accountable Edition

The above free image of Justice is courtesy of Pixabay and Google Images.

Health Friday is a series of posts devoted to Big Pharma, vaccines, general health, and associated topics. However, the discussion is not limited to what is presented in today’s offering: It is an Open Thread.

As today’s Health Friday post is related to the COVID-19 disaster (the virus itself, and the COVID-19 “vaccines”; and, to the governmental and Big Pharma tyranny over the lives and livelihoods of millions of people “in the name of Science” related to the COVID-19 disaster), it is dedicated to the memory of Yours Truly’s COVID-19 “vaccinated” late brother Sam, and her late cousin Bill; and to the memory of all other persons of any age who have passed away since 11 December 2020, either directly or indirectly, due to the COVID-19 “vaccines” they have taken. May they rest in eternal Peace.

There are Important Wolf Moon Notifications, the Rules of our late, good Wheatie, and certain caveats by Yours Truly, of which readers should be aware, and which are all linked here.

Donald Trump was just overwhelmingly re-elected to be the next President of the United States. It appears that he will appoint Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., to be Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Mr. Kennedy, Jr., has vowed to end the “stranglehold” that the FDA, the CDC, Big Pharma, and “Establishment Medicine” have imposed on the American people for decades. It also appears that he plans to re-organize the FDA into an agency that actually does its job in protecting the health of the American people. One of his efforts, in Yours Truly’s opinion, needs to be investigating the exact “reorganization” changes that the FDA began to implement within that agency on 1 October 2024: www.fda.gov/about-fda/fda-organization/fda-modernization-efforts-establishing-unified-human-foods-program-new-model-field-operations-and.

Yours Truly begins with these: https://kirschsubstack.com/p/unburdened-by-what-has-been. “My MAHA “to do” list (unburdened by what has been)”, by Steve Kirsch, 9 November 2024; https://revolver.news/2024/11/big-pharma-in-big-panic-after-historic-trump-victory/, 7 November 2024; and. https://sashalatypova.substack.com/p/big-pharma-is-literally-shaking-in, “Big Pharma is literally shaking in their boots, preparing for unleashing of RFK Jr on them…”, 6 November 2024.

In addition, there is much to be accomplished regarding holding multiple persons, agencies, and other entities accountable for the damage that has already been done to the general public health of Americans, in addition to the health of people all over the world, due to the COVID-19 disaster. While Yours Truly is not advocating a “re-do” of the French Revolution, there must be ways to hold these multiple persons, agencies, and other entities to account. Please see www.midwesterndoctor.com/p/new-data-exposes-the-corruption-behind, “New Data Exposes the Corruption Behind the COVID Response”, 12 November 2024. A screenshot of the start of this blog post is below:

The following Lists barely scratch the surface:

List One: Dr. Anthony Fauci (former head of the NIAID); Dr. Francis Collins (former head of NIH); Dr. Deborah Birx (White House Coronavirus response team under then-President Trump); Dr, Stephen Hahn (former Commissioner of the FDA); Dr. Robert Califf (current Commissioner of the FDA); Dr. Robert Redfield and Dr. Rochelle Walensky (former Directors of the CDC); Dr. Mandy Cohen (current Director of the CDC); Ralph Baric, Ph.D. (UNC, Chapel Hill); Peter Daszak, Ph.D. (EcoHealth Alliance); and, Dr. Eric Rubin (VRBPAC committee, FDA “We’re never gonna know if it’s effective unless we start giving it” — related to the committee’s recommendation to give the COVID-19 “vaccines” to children.) If Dr. Zheng-li Shi (Wuhan Institute of Virology) can be extradited from Communist China, that would be a good addition to the list.

Regarding Dr. Robert Redfield: He was the Director of the CDC when that agency drafted “regulations” for establishing COVID-19 “quarantine camps” for the “un-vaccinated”: https://brownstoneinstitute.org/articles/the-cdc-planned-quarantine-camps-nationwide/, by Jeffrey A. Tucker, 7 November 2024. A screenshot from the article is below:

The above article contains a link to the archived CDC document.

Regarding Dr. Anthony Fauci: Please watch the short video clip of leaked testimony from a Congressional hearing in which Dr. Fauci spoke. Listen to his comments. Listen to them again. At 0:23 in the clip, Dr. Fauci states: “And it’s been proven that when you make it difficult for people in their lives, they lose their ideological bullshit and they get vaccinated.” (Bolding mine). The video clip is here: https://x.com/LisaLu/status/1855788234392932353.

List Two: Albert Bourla, DVM (CEO of PfizerUSA); Stephane Bancel (CEO of Moderna); Alex Gorsky (former CEO of Johnson & Johnson.)

List Three: Alex Azar (former), and Xavier Becerra (current), Secretaries of the Department of Health and Human Services; Kathy Hochul, Governor of New York; Tom Wolf, former Governor of Pennsylvania; Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of Michigan.

List Four: United States Department of Defense Secretaries Patrick M. Shanahan, Mark Esper, Christoper C. Miller (former, 2018-2021); and, Lloyd Austin (current). United States Army Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley, Gen. James C. McConville (2015 through August 2023); and, Gen. Randy A. George (current.) These, all in relation to the United States Defense Department’s and the United States Army’s previous and (likely) current involvement in the development, manufacture, and distribution of the Pfizer-BioNTech modRNA COVID-19 “vaccines”; and, to the forced “mandate” that all US military personnel be COVID-19 “vaccinated.” www.documentcloud.com/downloads/22028603-pfizer-base-agreement, July 2018; www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/pfizer-inc-covid-19-vaccine-contract.pdf, 21 July 2021; www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/4022.

List Five: Bill Gates; Kelly L. Moore, MD, MPH (director of https://immunize.org/); Mark Green (former), and Samantha Power (current), Administrators of the United States Agency for International Development (www.usaid.gov/; also via https://usaidmomentum.org/.)

Readers are invited to add names to these lists, and/or to create other lists.

Peace, Good Energy, Respect: PAVACA