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[jrtelfer]

President Eisenhower's life and principles paint a stark contrast when compared to current events...

Hormuez: Part 1 - Ike's Principles

[jrtelfer]

When President Obama refused to release photos of Bin Laden's body, he reportedly said, "We're not going to spike the football" (Rhodes, 2018). A lot has changed in the 15 years since the killing of Osama Bin Laden. I review the facts of a 2011 blog post while asking if we are spiking the football.

Fact Check: What is the Right Way to Respond to Osama Bin Laden’s Death? (From the Archives: 24.May.2011)

[jrtelfer]

Trump's self-aggrandizing impulsivity is a gift to Xi. If Trump wants riches and influence in the Western Hemisphere, Xi needs to find leverage there: precious mineral contracts, debt forgiveness, Cuba? Trump's greed blends well with the CCP's efforts to expand Chinese influence and territories.

Eastern Winds: Xi Gains Influence Over Global Politics & Trump's Power Wanes as They Prepare to Meet in China

[jrtelfer]

Welcome to the Jungle: What do cuckoos, kings, cleaner fish, caterpillars, and beetles have to do with nuclear proliferation?

The Trump administration ordered the United States military to attack Iran on February 27th. On February 28th, Operation Epic Fury and another war with Iran began. Goals for the war have included orchestrating regime change and preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Leaders have been killed and infrastructure has been destroyed, but the IRGC remains in power and probably continues to…

Welcome to the Jungle: What do cuckoos, kings, cleaner fish, caterpillars, and beetles have to do with nuclear proliferation?

[jrtelfer]

Words can and do hurt people. But is gossip sometimes helpful? I argue that the recent case of Eric Swalwell proves the utility of unconstrained discussion of unconfirmed reports.

Sticks & Stones: Is gossip all bad?

[jrtelfer]

Naive, Defensive, & Uncultured: Being Square in a Shapeshifting World

If you’re having difficulty differentiating AI from real people and real posts from advertisements, you’re not alone. Artificial intelligence (AI) and advertisements are almost everywhere these days. I recently read a post that discussed a research paper but never provided a link to it. Naive As I read the really well-written post, I became skeptical. Is this AI? Where’s the link to the…

Naive, Defensive, & Uncultured: Being Square in a Shapeshifting World

[jrtelfer]

Sampling the political winds in rural Missouri: On a brisk Saturday in Warrenton, Missouri, a crowd gathered for the No Kings rally, expressing discontent with the current political climate. Attendees voiced concerns about authoritarianism, government corruption, and withering constitutional rights.

"No Kings" 3 in Rural Missouri: Local Residents Rally in Warrenton to Express their Support for Constitutional Rights & Opposition to Trump's Politics

[jrtelfer]

The Trouble with Hegemony: US-Iran War is Driven by a Desire for Influence

News networks are awash with “live updates” from the Middle East as the region devolves into chaos. The USA and Israel ignited a war with Iran Saturday morning as President Trump announced strikes against the nation. A neighboring conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan had already escalated into “open war” the previous day. Time will tell how wide and hot the fires of this conflict burn, and…

The Trouble with Hegemony: US-Iran War is Driven by a Desire for Influence

[jrtelfer]

President #Trump protects #Christians in #Nigeria. Why not #Sudan? #UAE #RSF #Gold #Tech #Crypto #Weapons

Guns & Gold: What's wrong with Sudan?

[jrtelfer]

Memoirs of a Speculator: Asking Google Gemini about the biggest individual stock loss of my short life (QVC Group)

In August of 2024 I bought QVC Group for a few big reasons... (1) Cheap Penny Stock (High Risk|Return) “Penny stocks are shares of small companies that typically trade for less than $5 per share, often on over-the-counter (OTC) markets rather than major exchanges like the NYSE or NASDAQ. Known for high volatility and low liquidity, they offer high-risk, high-reward potential due to small market…

Memoirs of a Speculator: Asking Google Gemini about the biggest individual stock loss of my short life (QVC Group)

[jrtelfer]

What would happen if we started to show not tell? Why not politely ask for a citation or weblink to the data supporting a person's point of view? If you know... "Show me."

"Show me [the data]."

[jrtelfer]

The United States may be seeking to beat its rivals (e.g. Russia & China), or even the European Union, to Greenland's strategic geography and natural resources. But, what if it doesn't need to?

Question: Does the USA need Greenland?

[jrtelfer]

The United States House Committee on Ways and Means (Smith et al., 2025) states the largest percentage tax cut by income goes to the lower classes. But 21% of what? What is that 21% a percentage of total (i.e. gross) income or a percentage of total U.S. tax dollars?

Question: Does Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Increase or Decrease Wealth Inequality in the United States?

[jrtelfer]

Davos, Switzerland - 20 Jan 2026 - Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says, "This bargain no longer works. Let me be direct. We are in the midst of a rupture, not a transition." Here are three big reasons why a realization of those words could prove disastrous for these United States of America.

Question: Is Canada the USA's most important strategic ally?

[jrtelfer]

At the close of the 1787 Constitutional Convention, as delegates left Philadelphia's Independence Hall, A woman, often identified as Elizabeth Willing Powel, asked #BenjaminFranklin, "Well, Doctor, what have we got—a Republic or a Monarchy?". #Franklin replied, "A Republic, if you can keep it".

Keeping your Republic: Is the U.S. Facing a Regression of Political Representation?

[jrtelfer]

Renee Good's tragic death demonstrates systemic societal failures of both uniformed and civilian training, preparedness, and response. I am hoping for a just verdict in this case and more insightful context to be revealed before a jury in a court of law...

Opinion: Renee Good's Tragic Death Demonstrates Systemic Societal Failures of Both Uniformed & Civilian Training, Preparedness, and Response

[jrtelfer]

President Trump has stated that Venezuela will soon cede 30-50 million barrels of oil to the United States. The U.S. was the world's top producer of oil in 2022 and 2023. Venezuela was not even listed in the top ten. So, does the U.S. need Venezuela's Oil: Probably, Maybe, or Probably Not?

Question: Does The United States Need Venezuela's Oil?