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Monday, December 15. 2025

Snow is a ‘poor man’s fertilizer’

Goodbye to the Age of the Book. We are moving from a literary culture to an oral one, but books will always be well worth our time,

“Experts” Racing To Save Connecticut’s Christmas Tree Industry

Norway Avoids ‘Green’ Energy Quicksand

Energy Affordability: A Blue State Problem

Today's IQ Test: Which Is Cheaper To Produce Electricity, Wind/Solar Or Fossil Fuels?

National Trust Sues Trump Admin Over White House Ballroom Project

Zohran Mamdani begins radicalizing New York - The Mayor-elect’s transition team plans to change the city

CBS Staffers Attack New Anchor as Too White, Straight, Male and Pro-Israel

A look at how world’s 5 Communist countries are cracking down on Christians

Dystopian Paris CANCELS New Year’s Eve Concert in the Champs Elysées Over Fears of Migrant Violence

Posted by Bird Dog in Hot News & Misc. Short Subjects at 08:30 | Comments (18) | Trackbacks (0)

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QUOTE:

National Trust Sues Trump Admin Over White House Ballroom Project

Simple thought experiment. Does Trump have the unilateral power to tear down the statue of Lincoln in the Lincoln memorial and replace it with a statue of Trump?

#1 Zachriel on 2025-12-15 11:19 (Reply)

Zach's "thought experiment" proves that little thought goes into his comments due to an advanced state of trump derangement syndrome. Most people not afflicted by said disease realise that there is a difference between major renovation of the White House ballroom that requires demolition and replacing the Lincoln memorial with a trump statute/gargoyle. The destruction and replacement of a mere ballroom is simply not in the same league as tearing down the Abe monument.ith the monument's . Not unlike many of Zach's. political musings that compare lemons with apples they are fruitless.

#1.1 Ulithi on 2025-12-15 14:39 (Reply)

Ulithi: The destruction and replacement of a mere ballroom is simply not in the same league as tearing down the Abe monument.ith the monument's .

The demolition wasn't of a ballroom, but of the East Wing of the White House, parts of which date to Teddy Roosevelt over a century ago, before the Lincoln Memorial was built. But we'd be happy to hear the legal theory you think allows the one but not the other.

#1.2 Zachriel on 2025-12-15 15:06 (Reply)

The issue is not when a certain monument was built, nor what altered part of the White House date to Bully Stick Teddy or any other president. Only the legal question is germain, and it appears a court will decide. No legal theory involved, simply a matter of deciding if existing laws have or have not been observed. White House claims yes- National Trust claims no.

#1.2.1 Ulithi on 2025-12-15 18:14 (Reply)

Ulithi,

As you can't point to a distinction, the question remains: Does Trump have the unilateral power to tear down the statue of Lincoln in the Lincoln memorial and replace it with a statue of Trump? The answer to the one answers the other.

#1.2.2 Zachriel on 2025-12-15 19:18 (Reply)

Au contraire, the question is NOT does Trump have the power to replace Lincoln's statue with his own. The only question is if the administration has broken laws relating to White House alterations. A court will decide and I'm sure the court will not ponder the distinction between the actual construction under way, legal or illegal, and the hypothetical and imaginary destruction your TDS envisions.

#1.2.2.1 Ulithi on 2025-12-15 20:23 (Reply)

Ulithi: Au contraire, the question is NOT does Trump have the power to replace Lincoln's statue with his own.

Actually, that was the very point we raised—to which you made a point of responding. It’s relevant because they are based on the same principle. If the president can unilaterally demolish part of the White House, then what is the legal limit to his power to destroy other government buildings? You didn’t have to respond, but responding while ignoring the point raised is not an argument against that point. You could have simply answered the original question. Still can.

#1.2.2.2 Zachriel on 2025-12-15 22:06 (Reply)

What you claim and assume has occurred - an illegal and unilateral demolishing - has yet to be determined by a court. We have all read the book-- "No, no!" said the Queen. Sentence first-verdict afterwards."

#1.2.2.2.1 Ulithi on 2025-12-16 05:55 (Reply)

Ulithi: What you claim…

We asked a question. YOU volunteered the claim that “there is a difference between major renovation of the White House ballroom that requires demolition and replacing the Lincoln memorial with a trump statute/gargoyle.” We asked you to justify your claim and encouraged you to answer the hypothetical.

Thats where we’re at. You could try to justify your claim, retract your claim, answer the hypothetical, or continue diverting.

We will volunteer this claim: The republican form of government limits the unilateral powers of the executive.

#1.2.2.2.2 Zachriel on 2025-12-16 07:04 (Reply)

"""the republican form of government limits the unilateral powers of the executive"" and thankfully we yet have means, legal and legislative to ascertain if an executive has indeed exceeded his authority. I'm willing to wait until all parties involved in the present dispute have had their say in court or on the Hill. Lastly, experience has shown me that it is almost exclusively knaves, ideologues and zealots that pose hypothetical questions and only fools that attempt to give answer.You give every indication of being the former and I we won't play the role of the latter. By the way, when did you stop beating your wife?

#1.2.2.2.2.1 Ulithi on 2025-12-16 10:05 (Reply)

Ulithi: I'm willing to wait until all parties involved in the present dispute have had their say in court or on the Hill.

That's a reasonable position to hold. We take that to mean you have abandoned your original claim that there is a legal difference "between major renovation of the White House ballroom that requires demolition and replacing the Lincoln memorial with a trump statue/gargoyle.”

Enjoyed the gargoyle reference, by the way. The discussion was worth it just for that.

#1.2.2.2.2.2 Zachriel on 2025-12-16 12:05 (Reply)

Trump Gargoyle

#1.2.2.2.2.2.1 Zachriel on 2025-12-16 13:43 (Reply)

The thing I like about books is that they can't be re-written once they are on my shelf.

#2 feeblemind on 2025-12-15 11:36 (Reply)

QUOTE:

The thing I like about books is that they can't be re-written once they are on my shelf.

That's exactly what Socrates didn't like about books.

QUOTE:

For this invention {of letters} will produce forgetfulness in the minds of those who learn to use it, because they will not practice their memory. Their trust in writing, produced by external characters which are no part of themselves, will discourage the use of their own memory within them. You have invented an elixir not of memory, but of reminding; and you offer your pupils the appearance of wisdom, not true wisdom, for they will read many things without instruction and will therefore seem to know many things, when they are for the most part ignorant and hard to get along with, since they are not wise, but only appear wise.

(Of course, we only know this because Plato wrote it down.)

#2.1 Zachriel on 2025-12-15 11:45 (Reply)

What is great about books is that their comparative value can be judged over a period of time. What is the value of the 1619 'history' or Zinn history or what is the value of the Bible's 'history'? Content matters.
Compare written history to the oral histories of 'The View' or any of the MSM news programs.

#2.2 indyjonesouthere on 2025-12-15 12:10 (Reply)

The EU bypasses vetoes to seize Russian assets. Well, there goes unelected European 'democracy' when faced with resistance in the ranks. Everything will be an emergency.

#3 indyjonesouthere on 2025-12-15 12:26 (Reply)

The picture above looks like a winter scene from Calvin and Hobbs. Will the snow sharks be on tomorrows posting?

#4 indyjonesouthere on 2025-12-15 15:19 (Reply)

Goodbye to the Age of the Book. We are moving from a literary culture to an oral one,

Some relatives of mine listen to books, but don't read them.

#5 Gringo on 2025-12-15 15:30 (Reply)

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Monday, December 15. 2025

Monday morning links