WendyMcElroy.com

[To access past Gracian aphorism's and my subjective interpretation of them, click here.]

Baltasar Gracian's Aphorism #191: Do not take Payment in Politeness;

for it is a kind of fraud. Some do not need the herbs of Thessaly for their magic, for they can enchant fools by the grace of their salute. Theirs is the Bank of Elegance, and they pay with the wind of fine words. To promise everything is to promise nothing: promises are the pitfalls of fools. The true courtesy is performance of duty: the spurious and especially the useless is deceit. It is not respect but rather a means to power. Obeisance is paid not to the man but to his means, and compliments are offered not to the qualities that are recognised but to the advantages that are desired.

My interpretation: I somewhat disagree with this because I often do things, like writing or editing, for people whom I respect and toward whom I feel an emotional connection. Arguably, I am not being paid in "the wind of words" but by the satisfaction I feel in helping a friend.

I entirely agree when it comes to providing work for free to people with whom I have no special emotional connection. I have learned to draw a very hard line with libertarians who expect writers to produce articles for the good of the movement or because the writers should believe in the idea enough to starve themselves to death. By the same logic a libertarian doctor should treat libertarian patients for free but no one ever suggests such parallels. If I am not working for my own pleasure or for another goal -- such as to break into a particular market -- then I want to be paid. No pay, no work. My passion for freedom need not be expressed in venues and for people who view my writing as worthless.

[ Read the rest ... ]

Assange. From YouTube: The Current Condition of Julian Assange. [Ed: his wife Stella speaks out.] From the Guardian: ‘Hunger for justice’ has swept world, Assange’s father says – as it happened.

From CNN: New Ruling Could Be the End of Realtor Commissions. The fallout may also affect up to 80% of real estate agents' future in the industry.

The Coming Election. From Politico: How a flood of congressional retirements is rocking the 2024 elections. Nine incumbents have already announced this month they aren’t running for reelection next year. "A total of 34 members of Congress have already announced they’re not running again, and that doesn’t count those who plan to quit early or have already resigned."

From Madly Odd: Husky Finds Voice Again in Touching Rescue Story.

J6. From Zero Hedge: New J6 Footage Shows Capitol Police May Have Incited Riot By Firing Munitions Into Peaceful Crowd. These revelations further confirm why J6 footage was withheld from the country for so long... [Ed: MSM, like CNN, are already spinning it.] From Zero Hedge: Cheney, Kinzinger, And "Sham" J6 Committee Under Fire After Friday Footage Dump; GOP Senator Calls For Investigation. Liz counters with her 'best of' clip... [Ed: the Dems put the nation thru living hell for years over J6.] From Red State: Jamie Raskin Cries About Mike Johnson Releasing J6 Footage, Claims It Gives 'Diagram' to Insurrectionists

Musk. From Axios: Companies pulling ads from X: Disney, Apple, IBM and more. From Politico.EU: Musk threatens ‘thermonuclear lawsuit’ as X ad boycott gathers pace. [Ed: Musk is like Trump. Never boring.]

From Daring Fireball: More on Sam Altman’s Ouster From OpenAI. From the Verge: OpenAI board in discussions with Sam Altman to return as CEO. [Ed: like Murray used to always say to me, "Ah, Sweetie, It's a fast-moving world.]

Green Devastation. From Gilbert Doctorow: Russia is transitioning to gas heating in the countryside – Europe is moving to log fireplaces in the city. [Ed: the world has ceased to make any sense.]

From Responsible Statecraft: Pentagon fails sixth audit in a row. The DoD reported ‘incremental progress’ over the past year but warned of a long road ahead.

Covid. From the Epoch Times: New Email Shows Fauci Adviser Suggesting He Destroyed Records. "It appears that Dr. Morens may have intentionally deleted or destroyed records relating to the origins of COVID-19..." [Ed: and nothing will happen to him.] From Just the News: New York Times editorial board acknowledges 'startling' COVID learning loss. The Times said COVID school closures "may prove to be the most damaging disruption in the history of American education."

From Daily Paws: Escaped Dog Rings Doorbell at Former Shelter After 3 Days Missing.

Israel-Gaza. From Zero Hedge: Israel And Hamas Reach Tentative 5-Day Pause To Free Hostages. Israel, Hamas and the United States are reportedly close to announcing an agreement to pause ongoing hostilities in order to free dozens of women and children being held hostage in Gaza. [Ed: it is still tentative and there's room for much to go wrong...but it's hopeful.] From Politico: Washington Post backs down from earlier story on Hamas hostage deal. Without issuing a correction, the publication stepped back from its claim Saturday evening that Israel and Hamas had reached a tentative deal. From Politico.EU: Netanyahu scrambles to quell revolt by far right over Gaza fuel. Eruption within the coalition government over fuel concession illustrates the dilemma Netanyahu faces trying to balance far-right religious nationalists and Israel’s Western allies.

From Of Two Minds: What's It Take To Be Middle Class Now? Can an economy in which 10% of the households qualify as middle class claim to offer widespread opportunities for secure prosperity? No, it cannot...

From Powerline Blog: Census Snoops. [Ed: recommended.]

Impact of Gaza on U.S. From Spiked: Could the war in Gaza sink Joe Biden? Democrats are tearing themselves apart over the Israel-Hamas conflict. [Ed: Gaza, J6 videos, Covid revelations, Hunter, the trail of bribes and corruption...the cumulative weight could sink him.] From Politico: Biden orders top aides to prepare reprimands for violent Israeli settlers in West Bank. The directive seeks “options for expeditious action against those responsible” for violence, according to a memo read to POLITICO. [Ed: Biden risks alienating both sides.] AND Pro-ceasefire protests take over building at California Democratic convention. Despite enhanced security measures, pro-Palestinian activists were able to upend the party gathering.

From Politico: 6 things to know about the Supreme Court’s new ethics code.

From the Daily Reckoning: We're All "Flagellants" Now... "Your joy is prolonging the suffering of the world..." [Ed: a must read by Jeff Tucker.]

Ukraine. From the Libertarian Institute: Thousands Of Ukrainian Soldiers Training in Europe Aware Of 'Grim Future' That Awaits Them. "French trainers say they're careful not to get close to the Ukrainian cadets over fears they will be killed..."

From the Bored Panda: 30 Times Dogs Tried To Bend Human Rules, And It Was Hilariously Adorable.

Trump Trials. From Jonathan Turley: Spring Break: Christie’s Prediction of a Trump Conviction by Spring Just Hit a Snag.

From the Free Beacon: WATCH: Joe Biden's Senior Moment of the Week (Vol. 69). [Ed: links to the other volumes.]

From the American Enterprise Research Institute: A Short Guide to ESG: History. Part One, Part Two, Part Three.

From Noema Mag: Could AI and Tech Advancements Bring a New Era of Evolution?

From Paw Buzz: Some Argue That This Is The Best Dog Video Ever Made. [Ed: very contrived but it manages to be funny, nevertheless.]

I aborted an earlier donation drive because I tested positive for Covid the day after posting it and I didn't feel comfortable asking for donations while the newsfeed was down. The newsfeed and I are back. Once again, I'm asking those who value wendymcelroy.com and/or ifeminists.com to consider donating to their support at the buttons on the right hand side of this site or to write me at wendyATwendymcelroy.com for alternate methods of donation. The sites are 100% financed by generous readers.

I wish each and all a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Baltasar Gracian's Aphorism #190 Find Consolation in all Things.

There is no anxiety that cannot be comforted. Fools are held to be lucky, and the good-luck of the ugly is proverbial. Be worth little and you will live long: it is the cracked glass that never gets broken, but worries one with its durability. It seems that Fortune envies the great, so it equalizes things by giving long life to the use-less, a short one to the important. Those who bear the burden come soon to grief, while those who are of no importance live on and on: in one case it appears so, in the other it is so. The unlucky thinks he has been for-gotten by both Death and Fortune.

My interpretation: this is a difficult one for me. My personality tends more toward "Woe is Me!" than being consoled. It would do me a world of good to work on moving away from Woe toward Console, even if I never arrive at this destination. One thing I am doing correctly is to keep a low profile. I've purposefully moved away from writing about anarchy and controversial issues to working in cryptocurrency and historical analysis. I figure decades and decades of dealing with controversy has earned me the right to relax and deal only with matters that both interest me and bring a sense of peace/well being into my life. Is this finding consolation? I don't think so. But it does speak to avoiding envy.

[ Read the rest ... ]

BREAKING. From Zero Hedge: A Preview Of Argentina's Consequential Election On Sunday. Argentinians return to the polls on Sunday to elect the next president in a runoff election. Voters will choose between incumbent Finance Minister Sergio Massa and libertarian Javier Milei. The election results will shape Argentina’s economic outlook for years.

From Mark Steyn: The Deep State's Long Reach. "The dirty stinking rotten corrupt US Department of "Justice"'s campaign against Wikileaks founder Julian Assange..."

Covid. From Epoch Times: The COVID Caper Gradually Unravels. Jeffrey Tucker pens a banger... From Epoch Health: Study Reveals Most Common Chronic Symptoms After COVID-19 Vaccination. Yale University study focused on people with self-reported symptoms.

From Madly Odd: 80-Year-Old Adventurer Embarks on 600-Mile Journey with Pony and Dog. [Ed: wonderful story.]

Gaza-Israel. From Zero Hedge: OPEC+ Considering Additional 1 Million Barrel Oil Production Cut Amid Outrage Over Gaza War. "You should not underestimate the level of anger there is and the pressure leaders in the Gulf feel from their populations to be seen to respond in some manner". From Simplicus the Thinker: Israel and America's Growing Zugzwang. [Ed: a must read.]

From Zero Hedge: Visualizing The Rise (And Fall) Of Marvel's Box Office.

Musk. From Zero Hedge: Elon Musk Plans "Thermonuclear" Lawsuit Against Media Matters. "The discovery and depositions will be glorious to behold..." From Reclaim the Net: Elon Musk Announces New Policy, Phrases Such As “Decolonization” and “From the River to the Sea” Could Result in X Ban. [Ed: moving farther and farther from his announced 'free speech' policy.]

From Reuters: SpaceX Mission 'Presumed Failed' Minutes After Launch. Starship reached space this time, but contact was then lost

Everyday Finances. From Zero Hedge: Bear Market Confirmed In Used Vehicle Prices. The maximum drawdown is the largest ever. From Just the News: Rep. Smith: IRS sending 30 million new tax forms for Venmo, PayPal earnings 'thanks to Democrats' [Ed: millions of people make ends meet by having side gigs on Paypal, etc. Now the IRS wants its cut. Comes right out of the food people are trying to afford.] From Mish Talk: Falling Rent is Extremely Rare, Yet Economists Keep Expecting That

From Igor Chudov: The Army Is Begging Unvaccinated Soldiers To Return. [Ed: very good overview.]

From FOX News: Winner, winner! American Humane announces its 2023 Hero Dog Award. [Ed: I would love to own a dog this large...]

From the Activist Post: Fact-Checkers Are Gaslighting You on the Feds’ Vehicle “Kill Switch” Mandate [Ed: one reason used cars are in such demand and cost more than usual.]

Anti-Semitism. From Spiked: Anti-Semites are emboldened the world over. From South Africa to Australia, the oldest hatred is making a terrifying comeback. [Ed: I am still stunned by the swiftness and sharpness of its return.]

From Daily Paws: 15 Dogs Who Are More Excited Than Humans for Thanksgiving Dinner [Ed: the photos take a bit of time to load.]

From Financial Times: Citigroup set to announce first big round of lay-offs. Chief executive Jane Fraser’s overhaul of Wall Street bank could result in thousands of job cuts. [Ed: reader friendly. Many more layoffs on the horizon.]

From Zero Hedge: "No One Will Want Solar": California Cuts Rooftop Solar Subsidies In Blow To 'Green' Industry. "This (new rule) forces them to sell low and buy high." "Roughly seven months after screwing over California homeowners with a 75% reduction in rates paid for energy fed back to the grid, the golden state is also screwing over apartment owners, farms, and schools,"

Coming Elections. From the Daily Mail: Biden, 80, trails his three main GOP rivals in the polls, with Nikki Haley leading the way ahead of the Democratic president by 10 points. [Ed: they are going to have to replace him, and time is running out.] From the Election Law Blog: Political questions and Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Ukraine. From Zero Hedge: MSM Admits "Magical Thinking" Guided Its Reporting On Ukraine... Many Thousands Of Deaths Later. War Street Journal changes tune... [Ed: magical thinking or toeing the state line?] From Moon of Alabama: Urging Ukraine To Sue For Peace. From antiwar: What’s Next for Ukraine: The Outlines of a Peaceful Settlement. [Ed: good summary.] From Big Serge Thought: Russo-Ukrainian War: The Reckoning. Ukraine at the limits. [Ed: a must read.]

From the Cradle: Pentagon Fails To Account For Over $3 Trillion For 6th Year In A Row. US govt is expected to reach a $1 trillion defense budget by 2027, if not before. [Ed: does anyone care anymore? Is anyone held accountable?]

Trump Trials. From Jonathan Turley: Lying About Lying? Michael Cohen Appears To Confess To Prior False Statements Under Oath. This would seem an embarrassingly easy case for AG Garland... A serial liar just admitted under oath that he lied previously under oath... [Ed: this is the quality of evidence against Trump?] From the Epoch Times: Judge Rejects Request From Jack Smith in Trump Case. Ruling means trial won't happen as planned, former prosecutor says. "...means the trial, currently scheduled for May 2024, will happen at a later date."

AI. From Ars Technica: Unauthorized 'David Attenborough' AI Clone Narrates Developer's Life, Goes Viral. [Ed: we'll be seeing/hearing a WHOLE lot of more this type of thing.]

Biden's Lethal Gaffes. From the Hill: The Biden-Xi summit was a total embarrassment. [Ed: good run down, and interesting that it's in the Hill.] From Politico: 5 times Biden’s off-the-cuff remarks have landed him in diplomatic hot water. Biden has repeatedly revealed his inner thinking on sensitive foreign policy matters — despite his aides’ attempts to maintain strict messaging discipline. [Ed: the man cannot be controlled.]

From the DoDo: Woman Breaks Down In Tears When She Sees Shelter Pittie Wearing Her Late Dog's Bandana.

Baltasar Gracian's Aphorism #189: Utilise Another's Wants.

The greater his wants, the greater the turn of the screw. Philosophers say privation is non-existent, statesmen say it is all-embracing--and they have the better appraisal. Many make ladders to attain their ends out of wants of others. They make use of the opportunity and tantalise the appetite by pointing out the difficulty of satisfaction. The energy of desire promises more than the inertia of possession. The passion of desire increases with every increase of opposition. It is a subtle point to satisfy the desire and yet preserve the dependence.

My Interpretation: Some of Gracian's aphorisms give me pause even as I recognize the value of truth in them; another translation of this aphorism has the title "Make capital of the privations of others." I don't want to utilize people's wants or privations in the manner Gracian described. If a person wants some writing or research done, then good. I am happy to "use" this want to make money. But I don't enjoy dealing with the needs and desires of people who are neither close to me emotionally nor professionally. the fact that statesmen (politicians) like to use it as a tool hardly makes it more attractive to me.

I recognize the truth of the aphorism in one circumstance, however. If you are ambitious in terms of moving up a ladder of some sort--social status, a corporate structure, political advancement--then knowing and using the wants of other people is a great advantage in rising. This is especially true for those who are ambitious but cannot rise through merit alone.

The Swamp Walker Delight
by MN Gordon, Economic Prism

Two Step Plan

If you can understand how the modern swamp walker thinks, you are better positioned to see how credit rating agencies and stopgap bills are both moving America towards a similar end.

Last week Moody’s Investor Service lowered its U.S. credit outlook from ‘stable’ to ‘negative.’ At the same time, Moody’s kept the U.S. at AAA, its highest rating. What’s the holdup?

[ Read the rest ... ]

BREAKING. From Post Millennial: All Jan 6 footage publicly RELEASED by House Speaker Mike Johnson. [Ed: way to go!] From FOX News: Speaker Johnson begins releasing 40,000 hours of Jan 6 footage. Johnson said he will make the footage available via public website starting Friday

From the Epoch Times: First Two Jan. 6 Appeals Reach Supreme Court Court to decide whether to accept appeals in two key cases that could impact thousands of other Jan. 6 cases.

WaPo's Crusade Against Guns. From Poynter: 'Washington Post' Publishes Graphic Mass Shooting Images. Newspaper warns readers but says it's necessary to understand the power of AR-15s. [Ed: as part of their shock and awe crusade against guns. this tactic could backfire.] Here is the report in question...From the Washington Post: Terror on repeat. A rare look at the devastation caused by AR-15 shootings. [Ed: reader friendly.]

From Inspired More: 19 Animal Expressions That Perfectly Sum Up The Joys Of Motherhood. [Ed: or the horror of it? :-)]

Israel-Gaza. From Newser: So Far, Evidence From Gaza Hospital Is 'Underwhelming'. Israel under pressure to justify raid by showing it was used as a Hamas command center, [Ed: a round-up of news.] From the Cradle: Pepe Escobar: Why The US Needs This War In Gaza. Washington needs to win its Gazan war against Iran because it failed to win its Ukrainian war against Russia... [Ed: agreed. But it will divide the U.S. as the Ukraine never did.] REMEMBER...From Al Jazeera: Live Update Feed.

From the Mises Institute: 100 Years Ago This Week, German Hyperinflation Ended. On 15 November 1923 decisive steps were taken to end the nightmare of hyperinflation in the Weimar Republic... [Ed: fascinating read.]

From American Greatness: When Has War Even Been ‘Proportional?’ [Ed: by Victor Davis Hanson.]

No Charges for Biden. Of Course. From Zero Hedge: Outrage Ensues After No Charges Likely In Biden Classified Document Scandal. [Ed: well, his name doesn't end in Trump, does it?] From the Hill: New evidence may destroy Biden’s defense in his classified documents case. [Ed: still relevant commentary from last month by Jonathan Turley.]

From the Bored Panda: Yorkshire Tesco Cat Ban Backfires As People Threaten To Stop Shopping There If Cat Is Not Reinstated

From the Associated Press: Commuter Train Crashes, Injuring Dozens. [Ed: as if Chicago didn't have enough woes.]

Bin Laden is Back. From Newser: Hashtag Pointing to bin Laden's 'Letter to America' Explodes. TikTok removes it after the topic goes viral. [Ed: a round-up of news stories on this issue.] From Politico.EU: Osama bin Laden is back!. [Ed: not from the Onion.] From the Organic Prepper: An Insurgence of Idiots.

From FOX 5 DC: Suspected teen killer brags on Instagram after murder; mother watches son open fire: DC court report. [Ed: these sociopaths are walking the streets beside us.]

From Sovereign Man: Sex, drugs, and booze is the least of their problems. [Ed: jaw dropping, if true.]

From the Associated Press: Trump Scores a Win Over Gag Order. New York judge lifts it after former president's attorneys challenged it. [Ed: IMO most of the legal actions against Trump will be overturned on appeal.] From BBC: Trump Wastes No Time After Gag Order Is Paused. Former president slams judge in New York fraud trial after appellate judge issues stay.

Everyday Finances. From the Visual Capitalist: Mapped: Food Unaffordability Across the World.

Covid & Vax. From the Epoch Times: Plasmid DNA Contamination In COVID-19 Vaccines Is 'Clear Breach Of Informed Consent' By FDA: Dr. Malone. "This was not previously disclosed to physicians, public health officials, or patients..." [Ed: without disclosure, there is no informed consent.] From Reason: Rand Paul on the Lab Leak 'Deception'. Reason's Zach Weissmueller talked with the senator about his quest to uncover the origins of COVID-19 and hold Anthony Fauci accountable. From the Epoch Times: CDC Claims On Vaccination And Natural Immunity Made Without Seeing Underlying Data: FOIA Document. But of course!

From the Pet Zealot: Grieving Minnesota Couple Holds Funeral for Cat, Then the Unthinkable Happens

From Gilbert Doctorow: Are we in a countdown to all-out nuclear war? [Ed: I take Doctorow very seriously. He is one of the best geopolitical analysts on the planet.]

Guns. From Reason: He Lost His Gun Rights Because of a Misdemeanor DUI Conviction. That Was Unconstitutional, a Judge Says. The case highlights the broad reach of a federal law that bans firearm possession by people with nonviolent criminal records. From Politico: ‘When You Descend Into Barbarism, You Need Some Way to Defend Yourself’. Fears stemming from the attack on Israel are only the latest case of Beltway anxiety about political violence. From Ammo: Gun Ownership by State (2023 Statistics). [Ed: very interesting. Well worth checking out.] From Bearing Arms: Milwaukee Paper Discovers 'Gun Death' Lie. [Ed: one reporter at a time.]

From Daily Paws: Golden Retriever Born Without a Front Paw Finds the Perfect Match: A Boy With the Same Limb Difference.

Justin Trudeau. From Zero Hedge: Trudeau's Tumble: From Canada's Golden Boy To Political Punchline. Getting desperate? From Red State: Hundreds of Ceasefire Activists Surround Justin Trudeau at Restaurant, Police Need to Rescue Him. ...Trudeau had already been chased out of another restaurant earlier in the night by activists chanting similar things and demanding that he
call for a ceasefire.