PinnedWe See You Comin’ But You Can’t Get InFrom CBS News on the school shooting in Uvalde Texas — video of Governor Abbott’s statement where he says, “Two officers encountered the gunman outside the school and engaged the gunman. Both were wounded. The gunman then went in a back door. He then went down two short hallways and…School Shootings3 min readSchool Shootings3 min read
1 day agoMember-onlyWhy Are We Arguing Over The Second Amendment?Jack R. Noel December 8, 2023 Okay, one more time: A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. Most states have a version like Michigan’s Section 6: “Every person has a right…Gun Violence5 min readGun Violence5 min read
2 days agoMember-onlySaving Time Is Saving Your LifeJack R. Noel December 7, 20203 Time of death: somewhere around 2029 or 2030 Cause of death: Probably one of the following: Emphysema / COPD or heart failure. How do I know these things about myself? By taking a life expectancy test. …Time Saving6 min readTime Saving6 min read
4 days agoWho’s Behind All These Confederate Flags off Freeways?1.4K22Dara Starr TuckerThank you for correcting my misunderstanding of this issue.Thank you for correcting my misunderstanding of this issue. I had not known of the Confederate flagging campaign before reading your article. Now I have one more reason to want to see this all ended once and for all time. That's because my 100% White ancestry (determined by DNA testing)…1 min read1 min read
Dec 2Member-onlyAbout This Karma ThingJack R. Noel December 2, 2023 Seeing comments recommending that you let “Karma do its work” and comments about “the power of forgiveness” has finally sickened me. Both are convincing claims meant to avoid the sin of “violence” which is the psychology meant to aid only those who do some…Freedom2 min readFreedom2 min read
Nov 29In the forest, not even death goes to waste. Fallen trunks lay scattered like pick-up sticks, food for mushrooms, moss, and saplings. Dead trees still standing are now condominium developments for birds, squirrels, and bugs. At my feet, the detritus of leaves and needles provides nourishment for the next generation.Contemplating “Life-Before-Death”2.9K51Brian FeutzHello Brian.Hello Brian. Let me say that I think with only two small exceptions, you have done a fine job with contemplating life before death. First let me say that I have a small advantage over Stephen Hawking and you in that I have the brain power plus more experience and…2 min read2 min read
Nov 28Member-onlyWhat’s noteworthy about “Belief Systems?”Jack R. Noel November 28, 2023 Foreword: I ask for your indulgence partly because of the way this platform organizes its reward system. That is, I ask that you read all the way through and then offer a clap and hopefully a responsive comment. It has always been common knowledge…Energy2 min readEnergy2 min read
Nov 28Will we remember COP 28 as a turning point in the world’s climate story? Decades down the road, we may see this as a moment when the fossil fuel industry, armed with bags of money and thesauruses full of euphemisms and weasel words, occupied the host body of global climate talks. Or will this year’s meeting be seen as a blip, an extension of courtesy to fossil-fuel producers before the world got serious about addressing climate change?Will Big Carbon Capture the COP?87917George DillardDo not worry about this, George.Do not worry about this, George. We all should be more aware of the gigantic hustle behind the "stop climate change" movement. As a matter of established scientific fact, Earth has offered the most prosperous conditions when the global average temperature was more like 7 degrees centigrade more than it…2 min read2 min read
Nov 25Vocal Learning Skills Linked To Problem-Solving Abilities And Brain Size In Birds2914𝐆𝐫𝐫𝐥𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭, scientist & journalistMany fans of birds (avian dinosauurs) already knew about the American Blue Jay as being possessed…Many fans of birds (avian dinosauurs) already knew about the American Blue Jay as being possessed of extraordinary cognitive feats such as you describe. Some readers may not know of the extensive research that has been conducted over just the last 20 years. Jays are members of the corvid family along with crows, ravens and magpies. The New Caldonian Crow is able to solve puzzles that 8 year old children can solve. And so can another bird family, the parrots - also known as psittacines or psittacaforms.1 min read1 min read
Nov 19Winter is coming! If you are looking to replace or upgrade your heating equipment, you should probably get a heat pump. Heat pumps are incredibly efficient and, most importantly, they’re electric, which means that they can operate without fossil fuels. Replacing as many gas and oil furnaces as possible with heat pumps should be a key part of the coun…Why Don’t Americans Understand Our Climate Laws?1K18George DillardEh, this is factually incorrect.Eh, this is factually incorrect. Electric energy is produced by power plants using natural gas, coal and petroleum fuels making up a total of 60.2% of total capacity in the United States. Also, having to resort to government subsidies to be able to afford any "clean energy" source (solar, wind…2 min read2 min read
