Steely Dan

Dan Schueftan. Steely, steely, steely Dan.

To paraphrase:

"Israel lives in a region where if they are not afraid of you, you must be afraid of them. We are surrounded by barbarians. None of  which have had success anywhere near that of Israel. Israel does it by following its own judgment and being very wary of advice from elites in the West. The media, the academy, the politicians, continue to give Israel gratuitous, often palpably incorrect advice. If they do, we ignore it. We are not moved by an editorial in the New York Times."

"We live in a region where they want to make war on Israel, but don't, because they can't afford to. They can't afford to because they know that if they attack Israel, they end up like Gaza. So if we did not do Gaza, we would be in more wars."

Dan talking to John Anderson, ex Aussie Deputy PM, and with whom I did some trade-related stuff back in the late 1990s, in China. A good man. Now a success in PodcastWorld. 

Thomas Sowell was once asked what could Israel do to be less hated. His one word answer: "Fail". Because success breeds envy, jealousy, contempt and hatred. But even if Israel failed, surrounding Islamic states would still wage war because it’s about killing all the Jews. It’s in the Koran. In the Trinity of Islam 

Mid-Terms: the Data

 

All charts courtesy of Ground News

Nim Shue Wan beach, Discovery Bay, Hong Kong

With Crested Mynah Birds

Hong Kong in 12 minutes

Missing: Beaches. Country Parks. Hiking.

It’s Trump wot lost it

 Says Andrew McCarthy. 

You can tell yourself that Tuesday was all about the Iran war or the tariffs. The cold truth, however, is that American voters previously turned on Democrats because the Joe Biden they championed did not appear to be functioning as president — and they didn’t like it; and this week, they turned on Republicans because the Donald Trump they champion has turned the presidency into something they don’t recognize — and they don’t like it.

”The GOP’s Midterm Annihilation Comes Down to One Factor.”

Gotta say. Trump 47 was way crazier than Trump 45. And getting crazier. 

So that even those who voted him on the “lesser of two evils” principle— less evil than a Democratic Party being driven jihadi-communists — were appalled by the shenanigans. 

SEE ALSO: 

• “Republicans attack Trump”. 
• “Trump failed”.

"I'm tired of being tolerant of men that want to rape me". Women in America speak out

California Officially Annexes Texas

• “Bored Of Having A Good State, Texans Vote Democrat”. 
• “Millions Of Texans Seen Crossing Rio Grande Into Mexico”.

The Bee Weekly Roundup.

The shift in Texas — a historic solid Red State for nearly half a century — to the Democratic Party: 20 percentage points. Yikes!

Islamic supremacism, redux

I’ve read a number of Raymond Ibrahim’s books. He is a scholar of note on matters Islamic and the 1400-year battles between Islam and Christianity. 

His most eye-opening for me was his 2007 book “The Al-Qaeda Reader”. He translates internal messaging from Islamist sources like Osama Bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri, highlighting the differences between their messages in English to the West, and their messages in Arabic meant for Muslim eyes only. 

The messages to the West are: “you have meddled in our countries. This makes us angry. It’s you who are responsible for our anger and revenge bombings”, i.e. “You made us do it”.

The messages to the Muslim world are: “no matter what they do in the West we must fight and subdue them, even if they have addressed all our grievances. Because that is what we are commanded to do by Allah and his Messenger, pbuh”.

It is the Grievance Narrative that  many in the West are happy to go along with, vs the Doctrinal Narrative, which is the foundational reason Islam attacks the West, because Islam is commanded to do so. Muslims must do it, because Islam means “Submission” and every Muslim has submitted to doing the will of Allah and his Messenger. And what they say is: the whole world must be brought to the one true religion of Islam. Or else…

We in the West might fix every Grievance Islam has, including wiping Israel off the map. We are still left with this Doctrinal issue. Which we can do nothing about, except to (1) Convert to Islam (2) Pay the Jizya Tax for non-Muslims, or (3) To Die by the Sword of Allah. 

For that is in the Doctrines. In the Trinity of Islam. That is what Islam is.

Or… we could fight Islam. If we had the will. Which Ibrahim thinks we don’t. I agree. I hope he is wrong. I hope I am wrong. But the trend is not good for our Enlightenment-born, liberal-democratic societies. As we continue to appease Islam. Even to welcome it… 

😞

Tanintaryi Islands, Burma, April 2016

Republicans attack Trump

The venerable conservative outlet National Review is full-on attacking Trump. His Tariffs, his Iran war, his Gas prices, his Corruption…

E.G.:

• “Hang the Crooks out to Dry”. Dan McLaughlin.
• “Gaslighting in War”. Michael Brendan Dougherty.
• “The Return of Shame”. Christian Schneider.
• “Law and War after the Midterms”. Rich Lowry, et.al.

Previously: “Conservatives attack Trump”.

Silver Linings…

 …from the Democratic landslide.

Thoughts from The Bee:

• You don't have to worry about picking a career when you're in the gulags:You'll either be the guy who breaks rocks, or the guy who picks up the broken rocks

• Soup kitchens are so homey: Mmm, soup.

• All the models will be fat again so it will be easier to not lust: Thanks, Dems!

• The outcome will not affect how amazing the new White House Ballroom will be: Phew, that's a relief.

• Hiding Jews in your attic can be a fun way to make new friends: Lovely to meet you and your family, Yosef.

• At least 13 brand-new genders will be introduced in 2027: So exciting.

• Hijabs can really hide those extra pounds: Hooray!

• A newly humble President Trump will learn some hard lessons and change his ways: This makes it all worth it.

Eretz Nehederet

Jewish comedy from the home of the Jews:

Eretz Nehederet 

Dolphins surfing

Bloodbath in the mid-terms

Texas Senator Ted Cruz drops truth bombs. The mid-terms Democrat Blue Tsunami: what happened and why?

Especially in his home State of Texas.

What To Do If Your Side Loses The Election | Babylon Bee

Every single Demo goes Bluer

What to do about this Blue Wave? Here's some ideas, thanks to the Bee:

What To Do If Your Side Loses The Election

Look familiar? 

Winners Fussball World Cup. Boxing Day, 2022

Trump failed

I was in favour of Trump’s “counter-attack-in-self-defence” against Iran. Aka The Iran War.  But it didn’t go well for him. Too long for America’s public patience. Gas prices spiked. Inflation up. End of….

There are other reasons. Corruption, a bipartisan thing, but most highlighted by the MSM as being on the Right, because… well, because Trump and his stupid own goals. “Corruption decided the mid-terms”. John Fund.

Trump also surely treated his Congressional GOP with contempt, as Dan McLoughlin says below. Perhaps rightly so, as it could not even pass a SAVE Act, a Voter ID bill, which was an 80% popular on both sides amongst the public. Mind you, it would not have changed the outcome of this Blue Tsunami.

We prepare for Lawfare like never before. It will be savage from the Left.

While conservatives savage him from the Right. (Though some praise him with faint damn).

• “Trump got the bloodbath he deserved”. Sean Collins 
• “Armageddon”. The Editors, National Review.
• “The Voters Have Spoken: Trump Failed”. Jim Geraghty. 
• “Trump unites America against him”. Jacob Heilbrunn.
• “Trump Treated the Congressional GOP with Contempt”. Dan McLoughlin. In full below the fold, courtesy the National Review:

Islamists win elections in America, be like...

Me: It’s a crocodile.

The Left: It’s a harmless log. It’s a Log of Peace.

Me: it’s a crocodile, I tell you!

The Left: I’m going to vote for the Log of Peace. I’m not a “Wood-hater”.

Me: ….

Meanwhile, back in the day…

Churchill: "Appeasement be like feeding the crocodile, hoping he'll eat you last...". 

ADDED: “Michigan race was identify politics at its deadliest”. Brendan O’Neill. 

Abdul El-Sayed, newly elected Jihadi Senator in Michigan, claimed his victory meant we had “avoided anti-Muslim hate”. No. It was that enough people were deceived into believing that voting against him would be “anti-Muslim hate”. Would be “Islamophobia”.

In fact, voting against El-Sayed was to vote against an acolyte of the world’s most expansionist, supremacist, homophobic and misogynist religion. 

A religion-cum-ideology which has made every one of the 57 countries in the Islamic bloc worse than it was before Islamisation. By every measure, according to the United Nations Human Development Report.

Still, Abdul won. The voters have spoken. Go figure.

Autumn Days at the Pool

Elon Derangement Syndrome

Rich Lowry asks “Why does the Left want to put Musk in jail?”

Will Trump Nuke Iran?

Will Trump strike Iran with a nuke? As Freddy Gray seems to suggest might be on the cards. Partly because Tucker Carlson says so.

My prediction FWIW: NO.

There are reasons: 

First, Tucker Carlson has turned completely loopy. His list of wildly wrong predictions is as long as the snake he’s become.

Second, FWIW, Trump has said, unequivocally, no nukes will be used.

Third, not mentioned by Freddy Gray is that the order to nuke would not be followed by those in charge. Because: (1) global existential reasons and (2) because of that very Trump statement-promise. 

They would likely “25th Amendment” Trump, rather than face the ignominy of starting global nuclear war. Unleash the 25th that the president is no longer fit for the job. That’s how they would overcome the objection “But the president is the Commander-in-Chief”.

On this prediction of “No” I can never be proven correct; at least until November 2028. But I can be proven wrong. 

As such it’s a *proper prediction* not one that says “there’s a 50/50 chance” of something-or-other happening. Which is not a prediction at all, because no matter which way the something-or-other goes, you’re “correct” (or, of course, “wrong”)….

So, “we’ll see”. Though I hope not. I have zero wish to be proven wrong.

******************

“Should we listen to Tucker Carlson about nuclear war?” | Freddy Gray. 

Internet Archive version.

Gavin Newsom Says Democrats Would Never Intentionally Subvert Election Process And Also He's Legally Changed His Name To Donald J. Trump | Babylon Bee

SACRAMENTO, CA — California Governor Gavin Newsom came out in support of Alaska senate candidate Mary Peltola, saying Democrats would never intentionally subvert the election process and also he had legally changed his name to Donald J. Trump.

"Unlike Donald J. Trump, Democrats don't try to undermine the integrity of our democracy by subverting the election process," Newsom said. "And by the way, I have changed my name to Donald J. Trump. It's a new me, for a new era."

According to "Mr. Trump", he just felt like it was time for a change. "Look, my tenure as California Governor is almost over. It's time for a new chapter — and a new name to go with it," he said.

When asked why he chose the name Donald J. Trump, he replied, "No reason."

Republicans pounced on the man formerly known as Gavin Newsom, accusing the governor of trying to confuse the American people. "We all know what this is really about: the presidency," said Vice President JD Vance. "Well, I have news for Donald J. Trump. I already called dibs and that's binding in court."

Trump hit back: "This isn't a case of Stella getting her groove back," he said. "This is my life. He's trying to steal my life, believe me. What a snake." To which Trump retorted that Trump has Trump Derangement Syndrome.

"I don't know what the big deal is," said Trump. "It's a completely different name. He's Donald John Trump and I'm Donald Jason Trump. Completely different."

At publishing time, to even things out, Donald Trump changed his name to Gavin Newscum.

H/t: The Bee

I’m a Cultural Christian

“I’m a Cultural Christian”.

That’s what Richard Dawkins said. The world’s most famous atheist. When he realised that a people ditching religion would not become atheist rationalists, but would more likely be parasitised by some other powerful belief. And if that were millenarian Marxism that would not be good. If it were radical Islam it would not be good. If both Marx and Muhammad, even worse.

And so, this famous atheist, who’d mocked every aspect of Christianity in books and on stages around the world, who’d published the best-selling “The God Delusion”, came to this realisation. That Christianity had created the very society he treasures. Its culture, artworks, free speech, rule of law, democracy, turn the other cheek, the Golden Rule; all sprouted in Christian societies.

I have long called myself a “Christian Atheist”. I am a confirmed atheist; I have been since the age of nine. But an atheist in an “atheist” society prey to any passing millenarian mania or populist utopian fantasy?  No thanks.

And of course I’d rather be an atheist in a Christian society than in an Islamic society, where non-belief is punishable by death. 

The only other society that comes close to a Christian one is a Confucian one. As in China and East Asia. When China is not being communist. 

Or Buddhist one too, I guess. Buddhist as in Thailand. Or as here in Hong Kong. A unique combination of east-meets-west, of Buddhism buddying up with The Sage, with a big dollop of Jesus.

Elon Musk says something the same as Dawkins. 

Here he is in 2024:

Elon Musk: I'm a big believer in the principles of Christianity.

“While I'm not a particularly religious person, I do believe that the teachings of Jesus are good and wise and that there's tremendous wisdom in Turn the other cheek. 

For a while, when I was young, I thought that's really a weak thing to do. 

With respect to bullies at school, I think you shouldn't turn the other cheek. You should punch them on the nose and then thereafter make peace with them. They need to stop bullying you, and a punch in the nose will stop that. 

This notion of forgiveness is important. I think it's essential because if you don't forgive, then an eye for an eye makes everyone blind. If you're going to seek vengeance, you have this never-ending cycle of vengeance. 

So, I'm actually a big believer in the principles of Christianity. I think they're very good.”

Interview with Jordan Peterson, July 22, 2024

Britain STOPPED the Slave Trade

Click above for vid

There were five slave trades. You were taught about only one. One. The Atlantic. Twelve million Africans shipped to the Americas. Britain banned it in 1807, then hunted it for sixty years. Two. The Barbary trade. A million Europeans taken to North Africa. Britain bombarded Algiers in 1816. Three. The Saharan trade. A thousand years of caravans north across the desert. Britain had its northern end banned. Tripoli, 1857. Four. The East African trade. Twenty thousand people a year through one customs house. Britain forced the market shut. 5 June 1873. Five. The Ottoman trade. Raiders sold Eastern Europeans south for three hundred years. Britain made the Sultan ban it in 1854. It cost sixty years and two thousand sailors. Nobody else fought all five. It isn't over. Mauritania only made it a crime in 2007. Fifty million people are in slavery today. Someone has to remember who started the fight.

H/Tip: Proudofus.uk.

Yet Britain are being pressured to pay reparations. It's crazy.

Britain should counter with its own claim to reparations. From Africa. From Islamic countries. From the Caribbeans. For freeing them from slavery. At the cost of its own blood and treasure. Heh!

Why I’m long Tesla and SpaceX

Galileo Russel explains. I only just now found out about him. 

I like Russel because he explains his passion for Tesla and SpaceX very clearly and logically. A passion I share. So I don’t have to explain it…. all over again. In the face of vicious vitriol directed at Elon from the Left. 

“Why We Hate You & Why We Fight You" | ISIS

I have written before (Links at bottom) about Sam Harris analysing Islamic terrorism, making the correct point that it’s in the doctrines of Islam: the Koran, the Hadith and the Sirah. That grievances such as the Palestinian question play a part, but that even without a single grievance against America or the West, Islam would still attack the West. 

I’m posting today because influential bloggers like Joe Rogan and Glenn Greenwald claim the problems we have with Islam are because of American “meddling”. If you accept that, then it is not a long step to “it’s all America’s fault” and then to the likes of a Hasan Piker and “America deserved 911”.

America may well be meddler-in-chief. But had it never meddled at all, Islam would still have attacked the West. 

Look at the Muslim pirates on the Barbary coast in the 18th century attacking vessels of the newly-created United States. When Thomas Jefferson asked “why”, the Muslims answered “because Allah and our messenger Muhammad tell us we must”. “We must attack you until you convert to Islam”. This is well-documented and undisputed.

If America ceased all “meddling” right now, Islam would still attack. Very likely with even more determination, given what it would perceive to be weakness.

In short: Whatever the grievances or lack of grievances, Islam would attack us anyway. Attacks that aim at one of three outcomes:

1. Convert to Islam
2. Pay the non-Muslim dhimmi tax, the Jizya
3. Death to the infidel who refuses either of these options 

This has been made clear by Islamic scholars throughout the ages. It was made crystal clear by ISIS in its magazine Dabiq, and especially in its essay “Why We Hate You & Why We Fight You" which is what Sam referenced in one of his podcasts (see bottom).

That podcast is now behind a paywall, so below is Google’s summary. President George W. Bush was correct when he said, straight after 911, “they hate us for our Freedoms”. They do:

In July 2016, the Islamic State published an article titled "Why We Hate You & Why We Fight You" in the 15th issue of its English-language propaganda magazine, Dabiq. [1, 2]

The piece outlines six primary justifications for the group's hostility toward the West, explicitly arguing that ideological and religious factors—rather than Western foreign policy or military interventions—are the core drivers: [1, 2]http://thebattleoftours.blogspot.com/2023/11/the-bright-line-between-good-and-evil.html

• Disbelief (Kuffar): Hatred stems fundamentally from the West's rejection of the oneness of Allah (Tawhid) and the denial of the prophethood of Muhammad. [1, 2]
• Secularism and Liberalism: Rejection of societies where man-made laws, secular governance, and personal freedoms permit things that Islamic State doctrine deems prohibited by God. [1, 2]
• Atheism: Opposition to atheistic and agnostic worldviews. [1]
• Transgressions Against Islam: Accusations that Western societies mock, insult, or defame Islam, the Quran, and the Prophet. [1, 2]
• Military Operations: Attacks and airstrikes carried out by the U.S.-led coalition and its allies against Islamic State territories. [1, 2]
• Territorial Incursions: The physical occupation and presence of Western or non-Muslim forces in lands perceived as belonging to Muslims. [1, 2]

The Core Argument

The article stresses that political or military grievances (such as ending airstrikes or withdrawing troops) are secondary. It asserts that animosity and conflict would persist strictly over theological differences “until you embrace Islam” or submit to its authority. [1, 2, 3]

You can read more about the group's media strategy and propaganda context via the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism or examine the structural breakdown of the text through academic analyses hosted on DiVA-portal. [1, 2]

 ===============

My Sam Harris references:

• ”What do Jihadists Really Want?”, Sam Harris. August 2016.
• “The Bright Line Between Good and Evil”, Sam Harris, November 2023

“Elon Knows a Crisis is Coming” | Steven Mark Ryan

Biographer Walter Isaacson talks to his subject, Elon Musk, curated by Steven Mark Ryan.

When money becomes irrelevant, the means of exchange will be something like Energy.

There will be a crisis of life, meaning and purpose, when AI becomes Super Intelligence. 

AI needs to be both Curious and Maximally Truth Seeking.

Steven says Isaacson's book “Elon Musk” is out of date. True. But still the best book out there on Elon. I’ve read it and often refer to it. It’s a page turner. Time and again that Elon has been hours from catastrophe. 

The Closing of the Muslim Mind

Rich Lowry quotes “What Happened?” by Bernard Lewis. Lewis being a famous scholar of the Middle East and all matters Islam.

I’ve read a similar analysis of how Islam crashed from being intellectually curious to being close-minded: “The Closing of the Muslim Mind” by Robert R. Reilly.

The Muslim Brotherhood are mentioned by Robert Kennedy Jnr. But the mind-closing started centuries before their founding in the early 20th century.

Black Conservatives on Musk investing CNN

I value Black conservative voices because it takes brains and guts to go against the long history of Blacks supporting the Democratic Party. The peer pressure, the family pressure is very strong to stay on the paddock. 

The views of these heterodox Black conservatives are strong and well-held. I find them refreshing.

“Kylian Mbappé Apologizes for Mao Meme After China Backlash” | Andrew Stuttaford

The CCP has been very successful at creating The Great Forgetting.

 But not everyone forgets.

Kylian Mbappé meanwhile, gets on with his kowtowing. 

While China should remind itself, yet again, of the Streisand Effect.