188 Pentecost 12: It's Poetry
"God be merciful to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, that Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.." ~ Psalm 67
It’s Poetry
What does it take to be a man, my son? Have you stared death in the eye? Have you stared the spirit in the void? Does your right hand mean more to you than honor? What if no one is coming to help? Jesus Christ! What I repent of is my definitive contrarianism. It’s called “pessimism.” “Anxiety” and “insecurity” are almost the same thing. The catalyst for every collapse is complexity. A rose by any other name is a peony. To write a poem is high madness. Unless, of course, it’s all true. In that case, it’s good news. For a peony doesn’t have thorns.
PS. We’re back! I’ve got so many great stories and ideas to share. But first things must come first, and due season is always right around tomorrow. More stories and pics to come @Jonathan on “X” (Y?) and RevFisk.com, as well as the Dark Shore Universe on Discord (currently still the MadPx Discord, but soon! Soon!) And…ok. Here’s a few more pics from the last America frontier:
Till angel cry and trumpet sound,
The Mad Christian
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Clickbait Paradise
In this edition of Mad Mondays:
It’s the season for climate hysteria
Facebook and well-being
God’s creation baffles scientists..
With a round-up of news and happenings for your info..
Just stop sun
If you’ve been missing your fix of weekly Bible wisdom and all things Fisk, you will be pleased to know that Jonathan and Meridith were back for Stop the White Noise last weekend. Full of brisk Alaskan air, Rev Fisk declared that being in the north made him realize that sunshine is a drug. It certainly has a way of lifting your spirit, but it would seem that for climate alarmists, the sun is going straight to their heads.
You may have missed it if you were out enjoying some rays, but last month, UN Secretary General António Guterres declared that climate change had indeed "arrived". In fact, the era of "global boiling" is upon us, he said. We’re not sure if the temperatures in the troposphere are rising catastrophically, but the fearmongering certainly is. Did you know that European meteorologists have begun naming heatwaves? "Heatwaves are both more deadly and harder to see than a storm, so raising public awareness about them is important." One meteorologist decided he'd go one better, naming heat waves after oil companies. Just so you know who he believes is responsible.
If you feel you are being not-so-subtly preached at, you would be right. Online sleuths recently noticed that weather maps have been changing, with fiery graphics in places where "cheery little suns" used to do the trick. The fact-checkers were happy to "well-actually" the cynics, claiming that the change was meant to simplify weather maps for viewers, especially those with color blindness.
In the news feed, claims that July was the hottest month ever recorded have been a constant. Most reports neglected to mention that temperature records are a fairly new phenomenon. Meteorologist Anthony Sadar explains that even today, data collected across the globe is too sparse to back the "wild claims" repeated by climate activists. "Scientists have a long way to go to sufficiently comprehend the envelope of air surrounding the globe and the effect on it by variable atmospheric gases." Yes, humans can alter climate conditions. But the idea that warming of the planet is an inevitable "game over" for life as we know it is simply..hot air.
Commentator Auron McIntyre argues that the term “climate change” is a piece of “linguistic technology”, malleable enough to stuff full of whatever is necessary to gain compliance and control. It is indisputable that the world’s climate experiences change, thus any adverse weather event can be chalked up to climate change and new measures promptly proposed. At The Telegraph, journalist Allison Pearson warns that we should be on our guard against messages that would "nudge" us to change our behavior in order to "hit an unattainable and self-harming net zero target." Just like the fearful propaganda deployed to secure covid compliance, she says climate alarmism is "a war for your mind.”
So don’t be gaslit. While fallen humans use fear to make people consider how their actions affect the natural world, we can steward this wonderful creation with joy. The peace of God is ours while we seek the good of our land and our people until Jesus Christ returns in glory to establish a brand new earth. Alleluia.
Related news:
⭕ Utah has implemented a "pay-per-mile" tax for drivers of electric vehicles. As gas-powered cars continue to fall out of favor, state governments are looking for ways to compensate for the loss of revenue generated by fuel taxes. In Utah's case, mileage will be billed through a government-issued GPS tracker installed in the car. (PJ Media)
⭕ A Montana judge has sided with a group of teenagers who sued the state for "unconstitutional" energy and emissions laws. Judge Kathy Seeley said, "Plaintiffs have a fundamental right to a clean and healthful environment, which includes climate as part of the environmental life support system.” (Nevada Current)
⭕ A Canadian man was less-than-impressed when he couldn't find a working charge station to charge his Ford truck on a family road trip in the U.S. He ended up hiring a regular car to finish the holiday. It's clear that electric cars still have a long way to go to become a real replacement for gas ones…In some cases literally! (Post Millennial)
⭕ A BBC study concluded that darker TV graphics would save energy, especially if people could switch to a dark mode when they are only listening to the TV. (BBC)
Smiley Facebook
A new British study has concluded that widespread adoption of Facebook around the globe has not been detrimental to folks' well-being. We emphasize the not because other studies have claimed the opposite, most famously that Instagram use can be toxic to teenage girls. Researchers said they were only aiming to examine the "overall impact of Facebook use at a national level" and did not account for its affect "on groups of people with particular vulnerabilities."
One critic of the report compared drawing conclusions about social media use to attempting to define the impact that a half a century of television has had on society. She noted, "How can there be one answer?” Furthermore, a standard for what defines “well-being” is not easily agreed upon.
The report comes as Britain's parliament is considering an online safety bill. The bill is designed to mitigate potential harms associated with social media use, but this new study throws doubt about how necessary such measures are. As with many online misinformation bills around the world, Britain’s proposed bill has been criticized for curbing free speech and increasing surveillance under the promise of safety.
Related news:
⭕ YouTube's self-appointed role as the police of "medical misinformation" has now expanded beyond topics related to covid-19. The video platform will ban anything that "contradicts WHO or local health authorities (like CDC) regarding substances and prevention, treatment, or denial of health conditions." (Twitter)
⭕ Google is reportedly designing artificial intelligence that will give life advice. But the book of Proverbs is already online and it’s free, so maybe go there first! (CNBC)
⭕ A $5bn lawsuit against Google is closer to going to trial. Plaintiffs allege that Google "continued to track internet browsing activity even after users activated Incognito mode,” which may constitute false advertising. (The Verge)
Mystery machines
A new report shows that scientists are kinda stumped by tiny biological machines known as ABC transporters. These information-processing devices measure and assess molecular traffic, acting as gatekeepers in cells. Researchers concluded that ABC transporters are truly autonomous Maxwell Demons as they appear to go against laws of thermodynamics by reducing entropy. The study’s authors have developed a new model to try to understand how these sub-cellular agents operate "without any apparent energy consumption.” We're just happy to marvel at God's amazingly intricate design in creation. ICYMI the folks at Discovery Institute have produced some animations to demonstrate the mind-blowing complexity in our cells.
Related news:
⭕ Cowabunga! It is hoped a little robot turtle will help more baby turtles make it to the sea after they hatch. (PopSci)
⭕ Scientists have implanted a pig's kidney into a brain-dead patient and say it was working well 32 days later. (NYU Langone Health)
⭕ Despite the hype, it looks like LK-99 is not superconductor after all. (Nature)
Odds and Ends
Pray for Hawaii
Maui's fire is now the deadliest fire in recent US history with over 100 deaths and many people still unaccounted for. (The Blaze)
The administrator of the Maui Emergency Management Agency has resigned his post, citing health issues. (Star Advertiser)
Federal emergency help has arrived on the island, but Hawaii Senator Angus McKelvey slammed the sluggish response in the aftermath of wildfires. Apart from lack of material aid, locals say they need help defending their properties which are being looted. (WNG, New York Post)
A number of reports suggest that a lack of preparedness on the part of authorities as well as progressive environmental policies have contributed to the terrible cost. (Hot Air)
🙏🏽 Residents of British Columbia are also in danger as fires rage in Canada. (BBC)
🙏🏽 Also pray for those in the path of tropical storm Hilary. The storm made landfall in California – a rare event – dumping inches of rain in just hours. (Fox News, San Diego Tribune)
Arts and Hollywood
Did you catch the discussion about borders on the last episode of Brief History? A curious map from 1864 came down the feed this week. It envisions a disunited States "as our enemies and tyrants would have it.” (Brief History, AtlasObscura)
An author discovered a number of books purporting to be written by her for sale on Amazon. "Most likely they’ve been generated by A.I...Whoever’s doing this is obviously preying on writers who trust my name." (ArsTechnica)
São Paulo-based artist Tatiane Freitas has an intriguingly modern take on the Japanese concept of kinsugi, melding wooden furniture with clear acrylic plastic. Kind of beautiful and sad all at once.. (This is Colossal)
Actor Alec Baldwin could face more investigations over the tragic shooting death on the film set. Forensics claim the gun trigger must have been pulled. (AV Club)
“Why did it have to be snakes?” Harrison Ford gets a snake named after him. "These scientists keep naming critters after me, but it’s always the ones that terrify children." (Hollywood Reporter)
A U.S District judge has ruled that art created solely using A.I. cannot be copyrighted. (AV Club)
Monday…
Marriage, sex and children
Age-verification laws continue to spook PornHub right out of some US states, with "traffic cut by up to 80 percent in some jurisdictions". While pornographers claim that their wares constitute free speech, left-leaning site Politico said that the fight against sexual content has brought together a diverse coalition of pro-life advocates, radical feminists, parents and politicians. (Mercator Net, Politico)
A fifth circuit appeals court has imposed restrictions on the abortion drug, mifepristone. If upheld, the ruling would mean the drug can only be secured through an in-person consultation with a doctor and shorten the amount of weeks into pregnancy that a woman can take it. The US Supreme Court is due to rule on the availability of the drug later in the year. (CNBC)
A Texas lawsuit could put Planned Parenthood out of business in that state. Now wouldn't that be something? (The Blaze)
Covid, still
In a complete reversal, the FDA has said it's now okay for physicians to prescribe ivermectin to treat covid-19. The admission came during a lawsuit brought by doctors who say they were harmed by the FDA’s policies, including the loss of employment. The judge grilled the FDA's representative in court, saying the Agency was out-of-bounds in giving medical advice during the pandemic. (Epoch Times, ZeroHedge)
New reporting revealed that California Governor Gavin Newsom granted funding to an illegal lab which recently grabbed media attention. The Chinese-owned lab was performing gain-of-function research, including genetically-engineering mice to catch and carry covid-19. (ZeroHedge)
A coalition of Australian politicians is going to review policies guaranteeing indemnity for pharmaceutical companies. "Indemnification has created an incentive for risk-taking in the pharmaceutical industry, which is not aligned with the fundamental principles of medicine." (Epoch Times)
Economy, banks and markets
Target has seen its first quarter loss in six years acknowledging that boycotts against its “Pride” month wares contributed to weaker sales. (CNBC)
Anheuser-Busch heir, Billy Busch, says he'd happily buy Bud Light from the company if they want to sell it. "You need to go out there and understand who your core customer is." (Daily Mail)
German supermarket giant Aldi is buying Winn-Dixie and Harvey stores in southeastern US, converting a "significant amount" of them to the Aldi format. (CNN)
Stories from far away
Pakistani police have arrested 129 Muslims who burned Christian churches and homes. (AP)
North Korea has confirmed that it has U.S. Army Private Travis King in custody. Reports claim that King crossed into North Korea to “escape racial discrimination in the army.” (WNG, BBC)
British nurse found guilty of murdering seven babies in hospital neonatal unit, "making her the UK's most prolific child serial killer in modern times." (BBC)
Russia’s first space mission in decades has failed, with its spacecraft crashing into the moon’s surface. (CNN)
The Pacific nation of Tonga has sold out of hoodies as temperatures dropped to an unusually low 48°F (9°C). (The Guardian)
Two inebriated American tourists were discovered sleeping at the top of the Eiffel Tower. (CBS)
John Michael Jones Gets a Life is produced for Mad ⳩ Mondays by E. Darwin Hartshorn. Episodes can also be found on Tuesday, along with previous episodes, on Bunny Trail Junction at bunny-trail.com.
Quick Hits for the Eyebuds
🎞️ Very minimalist movie posters
✖️ Theories about how letter x became an unknown quantity
🔉 DIY sound effects: Snoopy making pizza
😮 A.I. meal ideas generator goes off script, suggesting recipes that could kill you!
🕺🏻 A woodcock family’s funky dance
🏸 An epic 211 shot badminton rally
🪛 Geek deep: The magic of wave soldering
🇭🇺 Hungary's musical highway aims to keep people driving at the correct speed. But does it backmask if you run it in reverse?
🖌️ Meet the twentieth-century illustrator responsible for over 100 books.
Sweetness You May Have Missed
This Week Preached: By Faith = Trust in Jesus Christ Alone
Podcast Release: BHoP#156 Border Wars Part I
Let us pray: Almighty and everlasting Father, You give Your children many blessings even though we are undeserving. In every trial and temptation grant us steadfast confidence in Your loving-kindness and mercy; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.