From the Foreign Desk: John A. MacDonald

The Last Days of Disco

Canada, Citizen of Canucksan - Any province in Canada that has a Conservative (or even a leaning Conservative) government is dropping mask restrictions and vaccine passport requirements. It’s a similar story in the US. Most states seem to be dropping them. The Covid party is over, it’s just the hard core believers in the “science” haven’t realized that yet.

Meanwhile, the Government of Canada (read, the Liberals and NDP) are frantically casting about for a justification, any justification for the 72 hour long Emergency Act. The Governor General has claimed, without evidence, that many of the truckers wanted to “overthrow the government”. Protesters demanding the Prime Minister resign are not overthrowing the government, just removing the person occupying the Prime Minister’s office. The Public Safety Minister claimed the truckers were “rapists”. With no evidence whatsoever and with several MPs calling him on his lack of justification. Perhaps, like the Supreme Court hearings in the US, several Ottawa citizens will suddenly “remember” being raped by the protesters.

There has been talk of runs on the big 5 Canadian banks causing Trudeau to back down on the Emergency Act. It’s clear that it has happened and continues to happen in certain parts of the country. I think it’s also more likely that Trudeau realized he did not have the votes in the Senate to pass the Emergency Act, so rather than face a humiliating climb down (Trudeau can’t separate his ego from his duties) he decided to claim that the “emergency” was over.

What does this have to do with disco? For those of us old enough to remember, disco often defined the 70s. It was something that was seen as here to stay. Yet, one day, the bottom fell out of the record sales and people said that they never liked it in the first place. It quickly died, and no one has mourned it.

I think the same thing is happening here. The truckers, like the January 6 protesters, will be vilified and dragged through the courts, sentenced to the longest prison terms courts can reasonably justify and many more supporters will have their lives destroyed. It’s still happening. Yet the support for Covid restrictions has vanished, if it ever really existed. Two months ago, vaccine passports and mask mandates were seen as here to stay. Today, they’re being dropped as fast as possible. My own prediction is that in a few months, maybe a year, we will be seeing news reports about the last country/province/state/county/city to drop their Covid restrictions, with comments about how the “world has moved on without them”.

I also think that the legal challenges to the short lived Emergency Act will be causing some serious problems for Trudeau down the line. I hope that the media here will look into it and be more skeptical, but I doubt it. This will be a story that appears on Rebel News and Conservative blogs.

But it is clear to me that the restrictions are dropping because people are fed up. Yes, Theresa Tam  (Canada’s Fauci) is warning that restrictions may come back in the fall, but I don’t think they’ll get the same cooperation even if they do appear. Tam is part of the hard core believers and will have to be shown that people don’t want to put up with this Covid nonsense any longer.

The bottom has dropped out of the Covid support. It’s time for leaders to realize that it’s just not a concern for regular people anymore. The disco party is over. It’s past time to head for the exits.

If it's Monday, Its Metal et al

Lots of posts yesterday. It happens.

The Olympics are over, thank God. What a travesty. Stupid masks, power plant cooling tower backgrounds, an unprecedented figure skating catastrophe, some genocide.

The Queen has Covid, but only 'mild' symptoms so far. Thoughts and prayers. This blog wants to avoid a King Charles rein at all costs. 

Our latest bit of collusion is up this morning: 'Just a few weeks ago, this observer predicted the Kansas City Chiefs would defeat the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl LVI. Instead, Tens of thousands of Los Angelenos watched their hometown Rams defeat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20. Almost everyone in Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium was maskless, including Mayor Eric Garcetti and California Governor Gavin Newsom, both of whom have maintained some of the strictest lockdown rules in the nation. Last summer Newsom was caught dining sans mask at the swanky French Laundry restaurant in California’s wine country...' You know the drill.

This week we'll be reading a printout of The Great Salvation of 1976. This process will be slow as we're line and content editing. That is, we're looking for places to make the story better. We already found one with a Tennessee/Chattanooga chapter. This is the largest surviving city east of the Mississippi and the Rockefeller Administration is establishing the Federal Reserve there. This gives us a chance to describe the overall situation in that region. 

We feel the ju-ju for getting back to and finishing up World War 1990: The Weser. 

Putin Watch: Someone found a video of Putin walking through the Kremlin (which we're finding extremally useful, btw) and overdubbed Staying Alive. Click on through. [You're man-crushing -Ed] He's an interesting guy. Reminder, when Soviet Russian tanks cross the border, we stop writing for Russia.

Reading Russia Today, Sputnik, Elint News, invasion looks imminent. 

For Monday Metal, we continue our 30-year nostalgia trip with Queen's Headlong. We still love this song (it's great treadmill fodder) and when we hear it, for just a second, we're back in our '86 Toyota Celica. At 3:10-3:20 we'd floor the accelerator. That car had a lot of kick. 

The More we Post...

...the quicker we get to our 5000th post. This is post 4780. 

News and New Jersey notes.

Gab's Andrew Torba reports that GETTR (in the news again because Joe Rogan fled there) is built on Amazon Web Services. Are the people running GETTR out of their mother loving minds? Parler used AWS and got nuked for their trouble. We watched Gab get bounced by its registrar and at least one hosting company until Torba built his own servers. Now he's got his own ap, search engine and payment processor. Torba is building a parallel economy. Viva Gab! Viva Torba. 

Russia Today reports widespread violence in Kazakhstan: 'Kazakhstan’s authorities have imposed a state of emergency across the country in an attempt to get a grip on a deteriorating security situation, after widespread demonstrations were sparked by a gas price hike.' That seems to happen a lot around Russia's near aboard no? Funny that. Maybe we're just getting paranoid. [Getting?-Ed] Feel free to insert a Borat joke. 

Good and more of this please. The Times of Israel reports, 'A Tel Aviv court on Wednesday sentenced a man to one year in prison for his involvement in a mob attack on an Arab motorist during a spasm of communal violence last year. Lahav Nagauker, who was 20 at the time, was convicted of incitement to violence and racism as part of a plea deal that resulted in lighter charges. His sentencing was the first in the incident that took place last May, when a mob yanked Saeed Mousa from his car and proceeded to beat him in an assault that left him motionless and bloodied on the ground, and seriously injured.' Don't act like Palestinians. 

NJ.com reports on Covid in New Jersey: 'New Jersey on Wednesday reported another 58 confirmed COVID-19 deaths and a new one-day record of 31,391 confirmed positive cases, while the number of coronavirus patients across the state’s increasingly stressed hospitals have now surpassed 5,400 — the most in more than 20 months. The state’s seven-day average for new confirmed positive tests increased to 26,862, up 85% from a week ago and nearly nine times higher than a month ago.'

Here in Bridgewater the girls are doing half days this week, but everything the district says hints that we're going all virtual next week. There's a (virtual) schoolboard meeting tonight. We're making the girls read a little extra but that's it. Is our belief that all the extra learning we forced on them during the spring of 2020 did no good at all.

We're staying away from the gym for a few weeks. We may or may not go for a walk later. Wonder if we'd pass anyone wearing a mask outdoors. Loser. 

Below, an ESPN/ New Jersey Devil's commercial. Unlike the old New Jersey Nets, the Devils have a dedicated fan base around here. This always was a hockey region. It supports three teams:

We Nuke, CNN Nukes

There we were, lying in bed about to fall asleep when we felt that gentle nudge, 'Honey are you awake?' Of course, we mean that metaphorically. We checked our email this morning and saw that line of Cyrillic letters which can only mean one thing. Our KGB handler wants more collusion. Bah...We don't feel like writing about Covid transmission rates and vaccines and R numbers.

So Chris Cuomo is suspended indefinitely from CNN. They'll change that status to definite, don't you worry about that. We'd like to tell you people a story. Back in '99 we worked at CNN Washington (click here for some reminisces). One day some numbskull got the idea to let Algore guest host Larry King Live. People were pissed. There were legit arguments about it in the hallway. Many thought giving Algore the mic when he was running for president was inappropriate and bad ethics. The plan was dropped by the afternoon.  

Governor Phil Murphy is a smart man: 'There are no immediate plans to implement lockdowns or other restrictions in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus in New Jersey despite growing concerns over the newly discovered omicron variant that has the possibility to spread more easily, Gov. Phil Murphy said Tuesday.' The usual caveats followed. But still... The man does not enjoy lockdowns and mandates, unlike certain former tristate area governors who killed thousands of old people and had to resign from office because they're a sex pest.

Moving on to other former tristate area governors, Hot Air points out Chris Christie's book sales are terrible, 2,289 the first week, and there's no constituency for him in the Republican Party. We don't like his Trump attacks but we'll point out that when he was governor, Christie made all the right enemies. The teacher's unions hated his guts. Oh well. Maybe Christie can be AG in the DeSantis admin. 

We had another great day of reading The Great Salvation of 1976. Things just moved and flowed. We read through chapters covering the president's reconstruction commission and education in the post-war US. That is, we read a lot of scenes taking place in libraries and school houses. What's happening? What's it like? This is the stuff we think is interesting. We think George Will arguing with Carl Sagan about fossil fuels is cool. But will readers?

We spent some mental energy on our desert mercs novel. We even outlined the opening three chapters. Should we?

20 Years After Will's 2001

Having just come off one Wuhan Virus from Wuhan China surge, New Jersey is beginning the next surge: ' New Jersey on Tuesday reported another 1,305 COVID-19 cases and 24 confirmed deaths as the rate of transmission continues to increase above the key benchmark that indicates the outbreak is once again expanding. The Garden State’s seven-day average for confirmed positive tests increased to 1,418, up about 31% from a week ago and 9% from a month ago.' You know, we used to tell friends who didn't want the vax that you'll either get the vax or you'll get Covid. But we're all going to get Covid anyway, aren't we?

We had something of a breakthrough editing The Great Nuclear War of 1975 yesterday. We're adding just a few scenes that will add so much to the story. This is why one waits. This is why one reads again and again. One reads the MS 10 times and on the 11th time one finally see's the opening. Overall the editing job his halfway done. We are very good at what we do.

What Will's Watching, Seinfeld on Netflix. These are the original and unedited episodes, presented as they were upon first airing in the 90's. At least in the NYC TV market, the original cold openings had been edited out in syndication. We haven't seen these one minute bits in a couple of decades. In truth we only watch the last three seasons of  Seinfeld. These are a postmodern farce. Festivus anyone?

Forgive this blog a bit of nostalgia, please. But it was 20 years ago right about now that we had settled into something of an alternate lifestyle. That July we had moved to our rustic farmhouse in bucolic Peapack, New Jersey. Having just spent the last six years in Northen Virginia, this autumnal November seemed a bit chilly. We were going back to school, online. On a dial up. Our classes were German Military History, Ancient Warfare of Medieval Warfare, the last two with Professor Brian Todd Carey, whose books you should really buy.  

It was an odd autumn. Most of our profs were reservists, and we assumed they were going to be called up. For that matter we were wondering if we should, you know...Didn't happen, so we plugged away at our studies as always. One Saturday night we stayed up to the wee hours working on a paper and decided we liked it. So for the next several weeks we slept in and worked late. We'd start about 10 and take our first break at about 12:15 to watch Politically Incorrect. Don't scoff, after 9/11 Maher was brilliant. He suffered no excuses for the terrorists and their apologists. From there we'd work till about 3 AM before turning in. 

That first late night paper was about Alfred the Great. We got an A, of course. Said paper became our first feature length magazine article. We wrote that paper with some secondary sources as back up. But we primarily used the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and Asser's Life of Alfred. We spent nights feeling like we were in Excalibur. The lights dimmed, the fires rose, the farm house grew cold....it was the dark ages...One could almost hear armored hoofbeats. How many Vikings does it take to change a lightbulb? None. The light from the burning monastery is more than adequate. 

We will be revisiting that 20 year old Autumn.

Will is Invincible...

[Oh, you really like tempting the gods, don't you? Knobhead-Ed]

We spotted some wild turkeys in the backyard yesterday. 'Bill!' we shouted to our neighbor originally from the wilds of Minnesota, 'Get your rifle!' Actually, the Turkeys were headed off toward the direction of one of the fox dens. Uh oh. 

Let's see what yesterday's blog traffic looked like...it seems the wine moms at Nightingale Russia took the day off. Our guess is they attended a yoga class and then one of those pinot and paint events. Good of the hubby to take the kids for the afternoon, get in some me time, no?

[For the love of Kek, how much longer are you going to play at this?-Ed]

For as long as we think it's funny.

[You've had online critics in the AH community. You're thinking of expanding this gag to them, aren't you?-Ed]

Yes I am.*

On a side note, why don't all you French guys showing up here drop us a line on FB? Fans of Battle of the Three Seas? Let's talk.

Fox News reports:  'A drug meant to treat cholesterol was found to reduce coronavirus infection by 70% in lab studies, with researchers calling for additional clinical trials among hospitalized COVID-19 patients. A team of researchers from the U.K. and Italy published findings in the Frontiers in Pharmacology journal Friday, finding that fenofibrate and fenofibric acid resulted in a significant reduction in coronavirus infection in human cells when the drug was used in safe and approved concentrations, according to a news release posted Friday.' We've been on that stuff for six years. Seventy percent? Bring it.

The New York Post tells us that Barry's Birthday Bash went on sans mask and has the pics to prove it. This crap doesn't really surprise us anymore. The brazenness is the point. The gall, the....oh never mind. No mask for Barry, no mask for Will. 

The Jerusalem Post reports more bellicosity from the Israelis after more Hezbollah rocket fire, 'Israel will not accept shooting into its territory.' War? The 6 Day War began because Assad and Nasser were trying to outdo one another's rhetoric. There's only one man we trust to wage a war against Hezbollah.  Ariel Sharon** is dead. Mr. we could use a man like The Bulldozer again.

*We referenced. We referenced hard.

**Greatest Jew since Charleton Heston.

Your Friday Collusion

This blog fully expects Joe to either resign or die in office. We've long wondered just how we'll deal with that. Stephen L Miller has a schtick where he posts about catapults every time Wuhan Fauci speaks. We thought we might do something like that the entire week of Joe's demise. We just wouldn't have anything to ad, and you people can get Joe commentary from somewhere else. We'd stay absolutely silent on social media. In other words, we'd just shut the hell up. And then you see something like this: ‘The most painful of recoveries’: Liberals gloat as conservative YouTuber Steven Crowder hospitalized with ‘collapsed lung’. Never forget that leftists hate you and want you to die in a fire. I dunno. Don't wrestle a pig. You get dirty and the pig likes it. But maybe sometimes you have to. 

Yes, the above link goes to Russia Today. Speaking of Commies, here's our latest bit from Moscow: 'As this observer predicted last week, The Centers for Disease Control wants Americans to mask up again. The CDC recommends that people in areas with high Delta Variant infections wear masks, even if they’re already vaccinated. Said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC: ‘in rare occasions some vaccinated people infected with the delta variant after vaccination may be contagious.’ The CDC also calls for masking children and staff in schools this autumn. Masks are once again required in the White House and on Capitol Hill, and the Biden Administration is requiring vaccines for all Federal workers.' Click on to the Kremlin's Walnut Room.* 

We're really rolling with the Russian collusion stuff. The pay is okay, we don't write for free, but there's just something about cranking out content week in, week out. We love the sight of our article posted in the morning. 

There's no mask mandate here in New Jersey, just a 'strong' recommendation. Which is fine. Yesterday we made a point of going to the grocery store without a mask. Signs still say if you're vaxed, no mask. Last night a video surfaced of Representative Jerry Nadler (D-Duck Donuts) in the Capitol without a mask. We reported him to the Capitol Police.

Below, the Friday Flag:

Just feel like Ulster today

*Nightingale Russia, this doesn't actually take you to the Kremlin's Walnut Room, comrades.

Oh, we're Halfway There!...Whoa-Oh! Vaxing on a Prayer!

We got to the gym yesterday and had a good weightlifting session. After that we mowed the lawn. That's a fine combined workout. We're still nursing our foot so nothing today. 

Day two of returned bachelordom and we're already hearing voices. Note, Nightingale Russia, this is humor, irony, farce. Think Monty Python, but American.

[You're no John Cleese-Ed]

And you're no Hyacinth Bucket.

[Touché-Ed]

At one point all of the strike groups in Israel Strikes: War of the Red Sea, were named after hens in Keeping up Appearances. Strike Group Daisy, Strike Group Violet, and of course Strike Group Hyacinth. Ed talked me out of it. Things still got a little weird. Anyone else remember General Pin Krieger? Car Swarm!

Big news here in New Jersey. Governor Murphy announced that the rest stops on the Garden State Parkway are being renamed for New Jersey heroes, including Bon Jovi. We're delighted. The state is bisected north to south by the Parkway, and of course the New Jersey Turnpike. New Jerseyans  can describe where they live by giving their Turnpike exit number. We're #10. Anyway, there's only two kinds of New Jerseyans. Those who like Bon Jovi, those who like Bruce Springsteen. Bon Jovi is better.   

Oh...Yeah, Springsteen, voice of the forgotten man, bard of the farmer and factory worker. Guess what his daughter is doing this summer. She's an equestrian! A 'lifelong' equestrian. Millionaire socialist is part of the landed gentry. If you can't enjoy Springsteen's hypocrisy, well, you're an inhuman monster and we don't want you reading this blog. The modern day Arlo Guthrie indeed.

We're working on some misinformation for the KGB (again, Nightingale Russia, not serious), all about the vaccine and mask messaging disaster here in the US. The Regime's effort is the Pearl Harbor of public service campaigns and the people running this thing are the William Westmorlands of ad men. We're tempted to liken the vaccination campaign to the 1962 New York Mets (40-120) but those Mets were funny. There's nothing funny about the Regime's level of incompetence. Boy, did they ever level up. Fucktards.