Epstein Saga linked Internationally to espionage?

 Hey, y'all, Dumble-Nuts here, trying to work through about 5 days of #5-6 levels of pain, drugs notwithstanding.

So...Epstein.

Being a retired Radio Operator for the Military, I may have a little insight into report(s) coming out of the USA about Epstein's Ranch communications systems.

It seems he had built and installed his own Microwave Tower to create his own system totally outside of the Internet.  He also ensured that the connecting towers were near Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos Laboratories.

I'm not going to flog a dead horse here.  I'll just have some stupid AI bundle the facts together in a nice little package for me to present to you folks. 

Here we go. Just the facts, ma'am.

Recent investigations into Jeffrey Epstein’s New Mexico property, Zorro Ranch, have highlighted the existence of a high-level, private communications infrastructure, raising concerns about surveillance and secure, unmonitored data transfer. 

 

Private Microwave Communication Link

• System Capabilities: The ranch maintained a private, bidirectional microwave communication link designed to operate entirely outside of commercial internet infrastructure.
  
  
• Data Security: This system acted as a dedicated two-way data channel, ensuring that traffic could not be easily monitored, intercepted, or logged by third parties.
  
  
• Nuclear Lab Connection: Investigations have linked this system to towers near Sandia National Laboratories, positioned strategically between Sandia and Los Alamos labs. This proximity has raised suspicions regarding potential surveillance of U.S. nuclear weapon facilities.
  
  
• Active Status: Despite the 2023 sale of the property to new owner Donald Huffines, FCC records indicate that the licenses for this link, originally granted in 2016 during Epstein's ownership, remain active. 

Context and Concerns

• Surveillance Potential: Experts note that the communication system mirrors the type of infrastructure used by intelligence and defense agencies, prompting concerns about its original purpose and its continued operation.
  
  
• Ongoing Investigations: The New Mexico Department of Justice and state lawmakers have reopened investigations into Zorro Ranch, fueled by the revelations about this technology and new claims regarding illicit activities.
  
  
• Ownership Transition: The ranch, a 7,600-acre property near Santa Fe, was sold to Texas businessman Donald Huffines in 2023.
  
  
  
  
  

Mobility Scooter on Via Rail Story, and some explanations about Mobility Scooters for the Public.

 

EDIT - Sorry for the length. I often Blog about Mobility Scooter issues, and get carried away. This is our experience with Via Rail - whom we just LOVE for taking trips!!!

Below photo is my Big Foot "Eclipse" Mobility Scooter on the way home from Walmart and Home Depot.

 

 This Photo: Note Frunk -  front trunk. It now houses 2 Battery monitor screens I can read. Coffee Cup holder on Left, and one mounted on right side of tiller behind Frunk. I also have another horn/light now mounted next to the cup holder on the left, with a remote button more centered on the control tiller.
At my heels are 2 temp gauges for exterior battery monitoring as well. Back of my seat has sheep skin because our city uses sheep to keep grass cut in city parks. At rear is the roof frame - roof is folded behind my seat. The rear "trunk" is open and full of food and cat litter. I have a bunch of totes bought on sale, and I believe I also have a metal pole for a project in the Cat run.  There are 3 speakers mounted to the frame, with battery connection to 5Ah batteries in back pocket. Scooter top speed is 10mph/16kph running on 2 x 12v AGM batteries. Dashboard is digital with many options to view while driving including outside temp, speed, odometer, trip odo, battery levels, headlights, signal lights, and so on. 

 

Just a note - VIA Rail might not take a full-sized 4-wheel mobility scooter, as we took 3 on a trip to the coast, and they had to winch each one up into the baggage car. 

 

 We may have spoiled it for future handicapped folks - but I don't think so.

So all during our trip planning, I innocently thought that there would be ramps at each station for cargo loading, so we'd just ride up into the cargo car. 

Apparently that is not how it works. Read onward to find out why.

 

Outbound, I was allowed to drive all 3 of the scooters onto the lift, then into the train-car to a parking position indicated by crew. All 3 loaded in less than 15 minutes at origin of trip!

On the return trip, halfway, the train station master was apparently upset that Via was taking Mobility Scooters that took up so much of the ground staff's time.

 

I say boo-hoo to her, but she insisted upon getting measurements, weights, speeds, and other details, I imagine to do a complaint email to Via Rail Montreal (Who approved this trip with our scooters, BTW!). I mean, the Via agent I talked to in Montreal actually laughed when I indicated my concern about the size of the scooters.  I guess they thought that a measly 300lb scooter is nothing to take on a train.

 

Even though I insisted to Via Montreal that these were 230 lb, full-sized 4-wheel electric Mobility Scooters (with included photo's in email), Via Montreal basically said "No problem, it's a train - 600 extra pounds is not going to cut into our bottom line".

 

Okay then!

 

But the Jasper Master's attitude was more than "Professional", IMHO. It was like "intense lurking" the whole time we were there. (1 day layover to catch different train. So they had to unload one day, then reload the next day).

 

The problem is that she would not let me drive the scooters onto the lift, nor while in the baggage car. I consider myself a near-expert on these scooters, having utilized them for over 15 years. Via staff had approximately ZERO experience on these scooters, therefore, there was a bit of bumping around and not efficient movement onto/off of manual lift. I backed onto the lift because the front wheels were literally balanced on the lip of the edge of the lift - barely fit, FFS! But I made it work. 

 

Via Crew had no experience, and took forever to get the first scooter loaded - about 20 minutes, if I remember correctly.

 

And of course, the crew took turns cranking up the lift for each scooter. Up 3 times, down 3 times.

 

Took them 45 minutes to do a 10 minute job if I had been allowed to move the medical devices.

 

Then she messaged the next station (our final stop) to not let me unload the scooters, even though they allowed us to load on the outbound trip. BTW - it took them almost an hour to unload 5 passengers luggage and our 3 scooters.

 

What a meanie!

 

But next time, I'll try again, and ask Via Montreal to give me a "clearance letter" to load/unload my scooters myself next time. The crews can take turns cranking up the lift. I'm not dealing with the Station Masters shit when HQ said it's fine. She can take her issues up with them, not me!

 

I mean, an old furnace motor, a 110v extension cord, some cables and pulley's, and everyone would have been in a much happier mood! I mean - manual lifts in this day and age? Even a battery operated one would be preferable, I guess. A smart dedicated Station Master could find the funds to have a local shop "upgrade" the lifts to electric for a decent price!

 

Anyways - just to note - legally, in Canada, as I am told by the RCMP across the street from me, Mobility Scooters are recognized as a "Pedestrian" under the law (In Alberta, and several other Provinces). However, they are allowed only a maximum speed of 10 mph - 16kph. One can see on the control panel or control column a speed selector switch. 

 

A true handicap mobility Scooter will have TWO speeds. High and Low. High max - 16kph. Low max - ~7kph. I use low in the store, and turn the rheostat dial down to 50% to really lower my top speed while in a store so I don't unintentionally hit someone!

 

A "faux" mobility scooter, like the newer 3-speed Geo 3-wheeler scooters (which we have also bought, BTW, but the original 2-speed version!); Some larger 4-wheel "scooters", and most often, the enclosed scooters, are NOT considered "Handicap Mobility Scooters" because they go faster than 16kph. Some can even attain 30kph!!!

 

If you were to look at the control panel/steering, the speed switch will have THREE settings: Low/Medium/High.

 

So the Low/Medium will be pretty much the same as a Mobility Scooter, however the third speed, HIGH, can, in some cases, double the top speed as high as 30kph!

 

For the record, Handicap Mobility Scooters are allowed on sidewalks, trails and in larger stores with appropriately sized aisles (Think grocery/Walmart/etc) year round!

 

NON-Handicap Mobility Scooters are FORBIDDEN from being driven on sidewalks, trails and within stores. IN FACT, not only are they REQUIRED to be driven on the road, they also require Insurance, Registration AND License Plate.

 

Oh! and the Bonus? 

 

The Driver is also required to wear a helmet! 

 

It's the law in Alberta, and I suspect most other Provinces!

 

This is why I see a lot of enclosed mobility scooters 2 or 3 times while going around town, then suddenly, they are for sale on local online for sale sites, and suddenly, I don't see them any more. Hmmmmm. 

 

This is why! Our enforcement officers are quick to sort these kind of things out in our small city.

 

If anyone has any questions about handicap mobility scooters, drop me a line - I do unusual, but legal things, to my scooters to make my travels more comfortable or relaxing.

 

Drop me a DM!

 

Peace,

.- .-.

A Letter to my family. Transgenderism? Meh. Isn't that just role-playing.

Hey folks.  Going to be a lot going on here, but before we get going, I think it important that we get some basic definitions out of the way here, okay? 

♦ Male is the sex of an organism that produces the gamete (sex cell) known as sperm, which fuses with the larger female gamete, or ovum, in the process of fertilisation. Y'know, big bones, tall, heavy muscles.

♦ Female. An organism's sex is female if it produces the ovum (egg cell), the type of gamete (sex cell) that fuses with the male gamete (sperm cell) during sexual reproduction. So...Demure, lighter, smaller bones, weaker.
Gotcha!

♦ Trans. Root - Trans- is a Latin prefix meaning "across", "beyond", or "on the other side of". In Sociological terms, may also refer to Transgender, Transsexual and Trans. Originally, Trans-sexual was a term applied to patients in the course of changing sexes via hormones followed up my surgical reassignment. Obviously, this no long holds true.

♦ Alternative Lifestyles. My apologies here, as I do not want to wander into the muddy waters of LGBTQ+[insert alphabet here] definitions.  I would rather go back to the overall cover of "AL" to refer to all "Alternate Lifestyles" of the non-Cisgendered, okay?  Lets keep it simple without being insulting.  Okay. Right, carrying on...

♦ Transgender (often shortened to trans) person has a gender identity different from that typically associated with the sex they were assigned at birth.  This Gender Identity may be real, or it may be simply acting out. I think we will discuss this later on. 

Just thinking - is "Butch" a gender, or a lifestyle?  Is there a difference?  Really?

♦ The opposite of transgender is Cisgender, which describes persons whose gender identity matches their assigned sex. So, we are talking mental "identity" here, and not physical, right? No? Yes? I dunno...  Awww, frack! Both? (hopefully?)

In any case, according to this definition, I am now a Cisgender, and no longer Hetro?  WTF?  When did that change? {"Hello, department of sexes?  WTF is happening here?"}

So...Transgenders - folks who like to pretend that they are the other gender without actually taking the leap and getting a Gender Reassignment Surgery? Or folks who just want to Filk around? Who are they? What do they want? Why? How?

In my mind, that is no excuse to go play on the opposite sex's sports team. If I'm 5' 11.5" tall, 210 lbs and a football tackle, but suddenly decide that my inner gender is female, can I automatically play on the Las Vegas Ladies Football league?

No, of course not. But THAT is exactly the disconnect between Transgenders and Cisgenders and all the other "genders" that folks think are out there.

Transgenders WANT the ability to do this, no matter how different their bodies are from all their team-mates. But physically, it is not fair. And never will be!

Sometimes (but not always) related to Gender Dysphoria.

ALSO:

♦ Although the term transgenderism was once considered acceptable, it has come to be viewed as pejorative, according to GLAAD.

Psychiatrist John F. Oliven of Columbia University used the term transgenderism in his 1965 reference work Sexual Hygiene and Pathology, writing that the term which had previously been used, transsexualism, "is misleading; actually, transgenderism is meant, because sexuality is not a major factor in primary transvestism".
 

♦ Male/female dimorphism between organisms or reproductive organs of different sexes is not limited to animals; male gametes are produced by chcytrids, diatoms and land plants, among others. In land plants, female and male designate not only the female and male gamete-producing organisms and structures but also the structures of the sporophytes that give rise to male and female plants.

To some, that is NOT Transgenderism.  They'll say that is using a bullshit lifestyle to pretend to be the opposite sex.  Men have been doing it for thousands of years, and just in the last 100 years men, as lofty as Kings, often wore women's clothing and play-act as a woman. They never considered themselves "Transgendered", Gay or anything else.  They were Cisgender with an odd habit, right?

But we don't let kings play women's volleyball, do we?  

Wait, Holy crap, there's more!

By the mid-1970s both trans-gender and trans people were in use as umbrella terms, while transgenderist and transgenderal were used to refer to people who wanted to live their lives as cross-gendered individuals without gender affirming surgery!

By 1984, the concept of a "transgender community" had developed, in which transgender was used as an umbrella term.

So, now I'm really frikkin' confused and I'm almost at the end of this little rant.
  

The "loosy-goosie" definition of "Transgenderism" is "anyone who feels or pretends to be of another gender" is a very loose, but accurate of what Transgenderism is - and it is NOT a change from one Gender to another. But definitions have changed so radically from the 1950's that definitions are often a generation out of context.

So either the Term is incorrect, or the diagnosis of this issue is incorrect. 

There once was ONLY <Sex#1> Change <Transgender> Change <Sex#2>

If there is no Change, then there should be no Transgender. Physically speaking. 

So, by 1994, Leslie Feinberg stated that "Transgender as a term to unify all forms of gender nonconformity; Susan Stryker said that in this way transgender has become synonymous with Queer, transsexuality, heterosexual transvestism, gay drag, butch lesbianism, Native's "Berdache"" or east Indian "Hijra".

That's it.  Transgender. Transgender means everything except Male or Female Cisgender folks.  

I wonder - does the "Furry" folk fall into this category too???

THAT has been co-opted by the Far-Right in the US, and now in Canada, as a giant distraction to divide folks in our Province, and too many folks are falling for it!

Like Antifa is Communist.  LOL.  Even today, Fox News continues to use Antifa as a talking point when everyone knows (or ought to know) that it means Anti-Fascist!

But you get my point, eh?

You and I know that there are many examples of folks from both genders that can play on opposite sex sports teams.  Female Goal Tenders in the NHL. Great idea as women generally have a faster reaction time.

Mixed Volleyball. Murder-ball (Real leagues in Europe and US!), Softball. On and on.

Where does "Transgendered" fit in?

Well, Transgenderism is a VERB, which means to change from one to another. But theorists and doctors have stuck their 2 cents worth in, and now no one knows what the fuck is going on. Am I Bi? Dysphoric? Gay? Cis? WTF?

But what is the issue in Alberta? 

 

So, forget all the definitions and focus instead on what the Ab Government is doing to piss off most of it's citizens.
 

The Alberta Government is banning the use of puberty-blockers until age of 16?

WHY?  Politics. Period. No other defining reason to do so.

Sure Trans issues need to be sorted out be cause mankind has been ignoring this issue locally for over two hundred years (and literally thousands more!), preferring to "set it aside until another day, and until then, we'll just make it illegal" kind of attitude.

However, when a Political point can be scored using children with a diagnosis of gender dymorphism, well, that is just sick!

What is Gender affirming surgery?

Well, it is a series of operations to change primary or secondary sex characteristics so that they correspond with your gender ( courtesy Transcarebc.ca/surgery)
These include, but are not limited to:

►Breast Construction - steps.
►Removal of testes.
►Vagina & Vulva Construction.
►Chest reduction and construction.
►Uterus & ovaries removal. And,
►Penis construction.

A great source of information on exactly what is required for each surgery can be found at PubMed, National Library of Medicine at the NIH (National Institute of Health) in the USA.  

That is if Trump and Kennedy have not already taken it down since I wrote this piece! Check out Gender reassignment surgery: an overview.

But why, WHY, do you think these kids NEED to be on Puberty-Blockers? 

 
(Medscape.com - what are puberty blockers)

In a nutshell, these are utilized because a sexual reassignment surgery cannot commence until the child has finished growing up (Physically).

Ever listen to an ADULT that has had gender reassignment?  It is not done on the "Turn of a dime" as it is a real dangerous issue because the surgery, and all the massive amount of drugs afterwards that is needed, is daunting. Sometimes it could take months, or even years between surgeries, and obviously, sports is out of the question. Many would rather live their lives as transvestites than take a surgery simply because of the pain, cost of medication, and so on.

However, if a 16 y.o. has finished growing (mostly), without hitting Puberty, the gender reassignment surgery is much simpler to perform as all the body parts are the right size, and the after-actions such as much less massive doses of hormones and other gender-specific drugs - nowhere near as daunting as an adult.  And psychologically wise, it a much smoother transition between genders without introducing non-aligned emotions.

In the case of a Boy -> Girl reassignment, the transgender child will not grow massive muscles as they would have as a boy.  They may require less doses of hormones to maintain the body's requirement for things such as less hair on body, lower muscle mass, breasts, slimmer hips and many more.

In the case of a Girl -> Boy, after reassignment and with appropriate hormones and other medications, will increase muscle mass, develop thicker bone density, become taller (possibly), body hair begins to grow out more, voice changes, personalities change (yes, it's a chemical thing too!!!) and it provides a scaffolding for the new person in their NEW Gender - no longer "Transgender" because they are now legally either a Boy or a Girl.

Get that?  Legally, there is no difference.

But as many folks are only taking hormones to "visually" change their appearance/gender, then, in MY mind, they are not Trans - they are Gay, living the Gay lifestyle, simply because they do not actually transition from one gender to the other. Gays are NOT Trans folks. Nice try, but totally different things happening here.

In other words, Transgender folks want their cake, and they want to eat it too.

I mean, if you, as an adult, take hormones to change your gender appearance, then go all the way and get surgery, the well done!  And I don't mean just Boobs.  If you are going to do it, go all the way.  Chop off the penis. Sew up the vagina! (or whatever).
THAT is the way to change genders. Not drugs!  That's just a lazy step.  Otherwise, why bother doing so? It's all play-acting up to that point.  Unless one has gender dysmorphia, that is. Then this is NOT playing - it is sorting out internal issues using medicine and the best manner of resolving the dysphoria!

One cannot have boobs, keep one's penis, and "identify" as a female.  That is just bullshit, and as a definition, should not be allowed to play in women's sports.  And honestly, at my age and health, my boobs are larger than my wife's, so there is no use applying that metric, right? Does having boobs mean I can not play on women's teams?

Of course not!

What about those with both full sets of genitals?  There are a lot of them out there, and I do not even want to try to guess how they identify.  Do they choose one gender on different days?  Or just use one because of whom they are dating?
Do they opt to surgically remove one of the genders?

Listen - It's none of MY business what sex my neighbour becomes except to congratulate them on starting a new life!

But when folks stick their noses in other peoples medical business for strictly POLITICAL reasons, I find that reprehensible!  I mean, what the hell is going on here???

Should we start turning in our family and friends for having our dogs and cats "fixed"???  Note how they recommend doing so before puberty sets in???  Huh???

Same difference.  But you and I just cannot see, nor can we understand what these dysphoric children go through as little ones going to school, when their bodies are screaming at them to do things differently, to play differently, to go to the washroom, shower and bathe differently, dress differently or even talk differently FFS.

Gender dysphoria is a real thing, studied the world over, and understood by the international scientific community as a medical condition - not necessarily Psychiatric, but definitely a medical issue brought on by medical and gender issues.  You don't say "psychiatric" issues because that would imply that both Male and Females are psychiatric problems as well, and  gender dysphoria is generally not a problem if handled by parents and medical professionals correctly. 

That they no have to wait until their body juuuuust about hits Puberty is torture, as well as forces the child to endure even more torture after the surgery that late in life. That is CRUEL, RUDE, UNNECESSARY and totally a POLITICAL Distraction.  Anyone else who says that this is a huge issue in Alberta, when we have 10x as many Pedophiles living in our Province, tells me that the Government has their eyes cast upon the wrong issues!!!

Ohhh, sorry, but, without listening to this podcast, I automatically sense that they will try to turn Transgenderism into a major thing, when in reality, it is NOT a big thing.  

We are "allowing" politicians to turn it into a big thing.

When we are talking about sports, then if is swings, it plays boys/men's sports.  If no swinging parts, then girls/women's sports it is!

Nothing else matters when it comes to Estrogen/Testosterone comparisons, and THAT is the standard that should be met. Junk and Hormones are the two characteristics of a Gender to me.  Of all the various "Genders" out there, the original TWO Genders, male and female (with all their various combinations of X, Y and any other chromosomes) are what defines the Gender.

In Sports, Gender is M/F with matching hormone levels.

All that other hysteria about Transgenderism is all a load of hoopla, folks trying to live life "in the middle".

If they do, then they are not really "Transgender", are they?  They are actually living the "Gay" lifestyle, often exhibiting indications of bi/gay sexual preferences. 

It's not surprising to read "My boyfriend would like me to have boobs for more fun sex, so I started taking Estrogen hormones to grow some for him.  I identify as Transgender, when in reality, I'm just gay."

What some do-goodies call "Transgenderism", is actually adults taking hormones of the opposite sex and stating that they are a brand new "Sex", and that is absolutely wrong. They still are the birth gender, but on drugs.  
Big Deal.

Don't let DNA into the conversation, as that will never change. Period.  Until we can reprogram our DNA over the entirety of our human body, our physical genders will match the DNA. 

Even after surgery, DNA will still revert to birth-gender. But that is the point, isn't it?  After Surgery, the new "Gender" kicks in with both Physical and Emotional engines idling in tune with each other. The Body will change with the addition of hormones, and eventually, playing on one's gender-specific team should be a non-issue.  

But I'm sure some bible-thumper will find out about the surgery and raise all holy-hell because...Jeezuz and all that.  FFS, grow up. (I'm talking about far right busybodies, here in Alberta!)

In that I agree!  Either piss or get off the pot!  
Taking hormones?  Better be waiting for gender reassignment surgery!
Otherwise, it's all play acting!

What if I suddenly decide to buy a motorcycle and ride it all around, but my argument is that I can ride a bicycle or my powered mobility scooter, or an automobile, so by wearing a helmet, I should be allowed to drive a motorbike anywhere, any time I like without getting a motorcycle license because I already have an automobile license, and I can ride a powered scooter without a license...

Real sex-change kids are not interested in Bi-Gay sex - they just want their lives to make sense to themselves. So, they go for gender reassignment.

Transgenders do not. They are all play acting with their bodies, some folks who will also take drugs to change their physical appearance without actually undergoing gender reassignment surgery. 

That's right. 

Most of those so called "Transgendered" folks?  They are just role-playing, IMHO.

And that is what pisses me off about the whole fucking issue.

Summing it all up - for me, that is.

I had joined the TransAction Alberta online petition to block the NotWithstanding Clause from UCP abuse, but that does not mean I don't have issues with all the definitions flying around out there.

I mean - They still do not agree with the modern terminology, and they actively support "Transgenderism", whereas I do NOT (Because Science!!!). Lumping everything into one definition is a losing cause, and a major source of disagreement between citizens, both gay and cis. 

I refuse to use "Trans" as an umbrella definition as it is entirely too broad!

Children/Teens taking puberty blockers are NOT Transsexuals!  They are awaiting Gender Reassignment.

The folks NOT waiting for Gender Reassignment, are the TRUE Transexuals - whether or not they are taking medications/drugs/hormones.  Until they actually undertake the reassignment surgery, they are just play-acting.

If you were to ask me, I would say that this very situation here in Alberta has been driven by the UCP Government to divide the province's citizens over bullshit definitions through invoking a seriously flawed political decision.

Lets get this UCP government taken out, and get on with equal rights for everybody, and not a single Right more!

And that is just the way I see it.  

I'm not sure I did this discussion any favours, but I needed to get my head around this issue, and surprisingly, changed a couple of my opinions with better data/definitions.  Such as they are.

I now have my opinion better seated with better facts, and boys and girls, some of you may not like what I think.

But I would like to think I am fair, no matter what you may think.  So I suppose I'll just have to wait out how this is going to settle down.  

Government Abuses or a New Election.

Hydrogen Cell Technology - today. What's coming down the Yellowhead?

I've secretly always wanted an electric full sized car.  

 

Like a BMW 733i I used to own, but electric.  Now, it was not overly heavy, but probably more than a typical electric vehicle, so I would want to stick a hybrid system into it after removing the ICE and associated equipment.
So that just leaves me with a H2 Fuel Cell Stack system.

I can dream...I'd really like my Bimmer back - only car I could reliably do 240kph and not blow a gasket! Got it from a doctor, so it was (at the time) loaded.  Gas warm-up heater, so car was  warm before you left your home to get in. Ran on gasoline, exhaust was right under the passenger door LOL. Ran on a Timer! My small-town Mechanic used a stethoscope to give it a tune up. Taught me to keep an eye on oil level when going up to and coming down from over 200kph. Something to do with expansion...?

Anyways...

I think a 2Kw Battery in back, fuel tank(s) under rear seat, FCS under the front seats and all the other junk up front where the motor used to be. Still can go 250kph on the Autobahn, right?

Why? Why would I want this kind of car.  Is it worth it. Can I afford the newest offerings.
Lets find out What, Why and How Hydrogen power can be made without burning it.

So... 

 Lets talk Hydrogen cell technology.  The clear leader in this field is Toyota, having been selling H2 Cell technology cars for almost 20 years, and each year, it gets better and better.

What is a Fuel Cell Vehicle?  Basically, the H2 is combined with Oxygen from the atmosphere, using special plates in each cell, which generates electricity as the ions move from the Positive plates to the Negative plates, generating electricity and producing water as the waste element. Water that is simply dumped onto the ground in all cases. Some will have a hose, some will have a container to be manually emptied.

Here is a rundown of exactly how the H2 provides power to the batteries, then to the final drive motor.
                    

1. Hydrogen is supplied to the anode (negative) side of the fuel cell

2. Hydrogen molecules activated by the anode catalyst release electrons

3. The electrons travel from the anode to the cathode (positive) side of the fuel cell, creating an electrical current

4. The hydrogen molecules that released the electrons become hydrogen ions and move through the polymer electrolyte membrane to the cathode side

5. Hydrogen ions bond with ambient oxygen and electrons on the cathode catalyst to form water

6. Electricity produced by the fuel cell is directed to an electric motor to deliver drive to the vehicle

7. Regenerated energy is stored in a secondary battery that supplements power from the fuel cell by providing auxiliary power to the electric motor

I offer this graphic just so that you can see the difference between an Electric, Electric-Hybrid and a Fuel Cell.  In the FCS, there is no motor of any kind at all.  Any water produced in the Fuel Cell Stack is dumped outboard via exhaust pipes, or held in a tank until parked.

                  

This year, Toyota is selling worldwide, the Toyota Mirai, a  mid-size hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (FCV) manufactured by Toyota, and is the first FCV to be mass-produced and sold commercially.

 

So, looking at the Mirai back in 2021, it had a 5.65kg tank of H2.  Combined with the battery pack, it had a range of over 1,360km (845 mi).  The ICE version of the Mirai had a max range of 500km (300mi). {EDIT- This may be an error as source document seems corrupted}  I'm thinking now that the range is more likely 5-600km per charge,  a mistake that a source seemed not to support.

I did some calculations, and the 5.65Kg H2 Tank would have been refilled 3 times for this trip.  Each tank of H2 contains, by volume, something like 67.63 cubic meters of Gas for use to convert to Electricity.

To be clear - there is NO motor that the H2 burns within.  It is totally a continual chemical process to keeps producing electricity as long as H2 is introduced to the "stacks".

IN Canada - 5.65Kg of H2 Fuel would cost $83 - that is the cost of fill-up using Canada's price guide of $14.70/Kg.  

Do you see any savings here???  Hmmmmm

Anyways.

So, even though it was not the best Toyota made, it still made worldwide industry clutch their pocketbooks closer to their chests.  

I'm not going into details about horse power and torque (247 lb.ft) but I will mention something that initially dropped my jaw.

Back in 2018, two British gents took their new Mirai to the furthest northern point of the Great Isles (Orkney, apparently) then drove South to Land's End, a total of 1,785 km, averaging a speed of 90 kph. They made 3 stops for refueling, including start/near finish.  total fueling time at all 3 stops was 15 minutes.  That was only because a mobile truck took almost 10 minutes to refuel and the stations only took 3 minutes.

 The journey took 19 hours, 40 minutes with H2 consumption of 0.9 kg per 100km.

Doing the math, and confirming with online data, the car consumed 16.1 kg of H2 for the entire trip. In Canada, the H2 cost total would be just over Cdn $236!!!

BUT - With Zero Emissions!!! And filling up in all cases was under 5 minutes, often much faster! 

Convinced yet?  Well, hold on a second, there's more.

So, lets look at the science.  

All we need to make electricity is Hydrogen (H2) and Oxygen (O), which is taken out of the ambient air around us. The Hydrogen is stored in the Toyota's 3-layer composite shielded tank, capable of easily maintaining the 10,000 psi pressure cryogenic H2 requires.  

We've already discussed the "range" of the world-record trip, the ludicrous range the large tanks provide, but not the voltage, amperage and wattage.

The 2018 driving motor is a 113 Kw drive (about 152 Hp), driven from a 1.6Kw  245V NiMH battery pack, similar to the one used in the Camry Hybrid. By 2025, the final drivel was upped to 182 hp!  I had to laugh because the 2025 model comes with "dual exhaust", when in reality, a simple drip tube would have been sufficient LOL.

 The 2025 model lists it's fuel consumption  "equivalent" averages 3.2 L/100 km. The range is unknown, but reading a reddit stream, most owners were stating that they were getting between 300 and 350 miles per fill-up.  (500-600 km)

Looking at Inside EV's dot com (https://insideevs.com), I see that they have an article on the latest models of Toyota Mirai.  The fuel cell stack can produce 114 Kw of power, and they state it has a range of about 300 miles (500km). The list says the tank volume is 37 L, so with a consumption of 3.1/100 km equivalent, this car should have a range of almost 1,000 km, however they then list the "cruising range" of 300 miles.  WTF?

Then it states that the storage mass (the H2 itself) is approx 5.0 kg.  

But the next line goes on to  state "Combined tank weight" is 87.5 Kg.  That means that the tank alone, weighs around 80Kg!

I think Wikipedia may be out to lunch as the Inside EV's article was referenced in the Wiki as the source of the 87 kg of fuel, not weight of tank. That is obviously wrong.  The tank is heavy because it has to contain up to 100,000psi.

That being said, the latest article also states "With the new fuel cell, it could theoretically drive up to 480 miles on a full tank."

Prices for the 2025 Mirai in the US are currently around $57k, however they estimate that the price could potentially fall to under $45k. 

Can you imagine, say, an Austin Mini with a 182hp  drive???  Yuh, someone will attempt this, I'm sure LOL.

Summing up right now.

So, is H2 the fuel of the future, or only for industrial applications.  Burning H2 in an ICE vehicle seems a waste simply because of the cost of the fuel, the lower power, the poorer pulling capability, and difficulty finding a fueling station, because of late, they have been scarcer then Alberta Conservatives using public hospitals.

Even the 2 chaps in England had to arrange the 3rd fill-up from a mobile truck, thus costing them 7 minutes more than the expected 3 minute fill-up.  Dammmmnnnn!

The other issue is that parts cannot be sourced after-market as each part is particular to each vehicle, and not enough of them are on the road to permit such parts to be manufactured anywhere but the Factory. 

The Good? Well, It's electric, so it is silent, quiet and fast, dare I say?  This means way fewer parts to wear out/break, lower maintenance costs, no pollution, 3 minute fill-ups,  and did I mention it's quiet?  Okay, the Mirai's latest Fuel Stack can convert the same amount of cyro-H2 (5.2Kg, was it?) for 480 miles (770km) for a $83 fill-up in 2 minutes?  Sure, that's much better than the 2024 stats.  

Additionally, Toyota says this new 2025 Fuel Stack is simpler to manufacture, making it cheaper and passing on savings to owners.  A double win.                                

That is about all I have to say about H2 - It is an option, it is all-season, it is electric drive, environmentally friendly and not overly more expensive than running, say, a ICE Sedan or SUV.  I just hope they will start making some mid-sized cars too, not just roller skates.

I'm still waiting for my Amazon Mr. Fusion adapter kit to arrive!               

Peace friends, 

Edwin.

.- .-. 

Really scary stuff - give it a read, and see if this sets off any "coincidence" bells, eh?

Information just posted by a friend. I think the original source was a National Post Article. Really Scary Stuff! Highlighting/My Edits are is done by me.

New UCP policy considerations.

Alberta UCP members want to debate policies around Bitcoin, mRNA vaccines, separation and more.

The policies they want debated include a ban on pronouns in email signatures and unification of Alberta, Yukon and Northwest Territories.

Members of Alberta’s United Conservative Party want a detailed plan explaining the “potential benefits and negative consequences” of the province becoming an independent nation, according to a draft, obtained by National Post, of prospective policy proposals to be debated at the party’s annual general meeting.

Each year, before the convention, the party collates a list of potential policy resolutions. The party’s members then go through the list, selecting the ones that are most important to them, and the final list sees debate on the convention floor. The meeting kicks off on Nov. 28 this year.

The draft resolutions, obtained by National Post, contain a much wider set of policy proposals than the final list of resolutions, and gives insight into the priorities of a swathe of the party’s membership.

“We do know that (Danielle) Smith is very closely attuned to the concerns of the party base, and that’s where this is,” said Duane Bratt, a University of Calgary political scientist, in an interview.

 
There are three separatist-adjacent proposals, coming at a time when Alberta alienation seems to once again be on an upswing. Over the weekend, thousands of supporters of Alberta independence rallied at the Alberta legislature, and there are dueling initiatives to get a secession referendum on the ballot.

One of the proposals aims to ensure that a secession referendum appears alone, alongside no other referendums, if the question of leaving Canada is ever put to Albertans. Another aims to push for “Canada 2.0,” with an established Alberta Constitution “establishing Alberta’s sovereignty” and then negotiating “the terms of a new federation.” The third is the explanation of the benefits and consequences of secession.

“Many are in support of independence already but many aren’t either because of lack of real facts and education,” the resolution’s rationale explains.

The resolutions are wide-ranging. One says that cursive writing should be taught to schoolchildren, to ensure they have a connection to their past. Another suggests that the Calgary International Airport be renamed Calgary-Ralph Klein International Airport. (There was a failed push in 2015 to get the airport named after former prime minister Stephen Harper.)

There are some proposed resolutions that will be of interest only to locals, and only some locals at that, such as a proposal to allow for five-year vehicle registrations or allowing for single-egress stairs in apartment buildings to “unlock apartment construction affordability.”

Others are no surprise to anyone who follows conservative politics, such as allowing for publicly funded, privately delivered and privately funded and delivered medical services, restoring a 10-per-cent income-tax rate as the highest bracket in the province or pushing for innovation and economic diversification within the province.

Others, though, expose some of the tensions that exist — and have long existed — within Alberta’s right wing, between the concerns of the grassroots members and the more mainstream concerns that might appeal to a broader cohort of Alberta’s voting public.

For years, Alberta’s occasionally unhappy conservative parties have struggled to hold together a large-tent party comprising many of the factions of Alberta’s right, from old-school progressive conservatives to those demanding the right to bear arms.

For example, member Dione Martin proposes an “immediate moratorium on the administration of mRNA technology to Albertans.” The COVID-19 vaccines are mRNA vaccines.

There’s a call to create a “strategic Bitcoin reserve.”(My edit - this is a scam that profits only the first few "investors". They all are scams, TBH.)

Three constituency associations are calling on the province to push for greater transparency from the federal government on “weather modification or geoengineering programs.” (My edit: Folks still think this stuff is real!)

Five constituency associations have banded together, calling for an end to water fluoridation, which they suggest “constitutes medical treatment without informed consent.” (My edit: Hmmm. Idiots?)

The constituency association of Grande Prairie calls on the province to study the “health impacts from devices that emit electromagnetic frequencies,” such as telecommunications towers near where people live. (My Edit: There already are hundreds of reports available worldwide from many sources that address this very concern. Save the Money, look at current data!)

“Public concern is growing and they need facts and data that come from non-bias trusted sources,” the resolution states. (My Edit: "You think?")

Some of the proposals are likely to appeal to a broader cohort of United Conservative Party members, such as ensuring university instructors don’t “promulgate their personal worldviews in their classrooms” or that only official government flags can be flown over government buildings.

The Calgary-Buffalo constituency association wants a ban on contractors of the public service and Crown corporations from including their personal pronouns in official communications, such as emails, in order to avoid perceptions of bias and prevent those who don’t have pronouns in their email signatures from feeling pressured to include them. (My Edit: Oh, my peepee is sore...)

“The unilateral use of personal pronouns in official communications may be perceived as signalling a stance on gender identity, a contentious social issue,” the proposed resolution states.

There are also several policy proposals that have existed in Alberta for a long time — adopting an Alberta pension plan and a provincial police force, for example, and a resolution from Calgary-Buffalo calls on the government to ensure that temporary residents, visitors and “unsuccessful asylum-seekers” must pay for their health care while in Alberta. The Alberta Next panel, which met over the summer to weigh options for increasing Alberta’s autonomy from Ottawa, considered whether Alberta should withhold social programs from newcomers if the “number or kind of newcomers moving to our province” isn’t in line with what the provincial government wants.”

In perhaps a nod to Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency in the United States, two constituency associations are calling on the government to establish an “Independent Reform Commission” to “reduce wasteful spending, eliminate excessive regulation and streamline government operations,” as, the resolution argues, reform “through normal political channels” has been unsuccessful.

My Edit: I mean, how much of the "Alberta Plan" is reflected in the US's Project 2025 is very interesting, and many of these proposed ideas reflect that!

These are the ones we want leading us into the future?

Holy Shit!

Unites States of Mexico. I mean, why not?

It's time to start calling out voters who voted GOP and not just the folks they voted for. They also have a lot to answer to. We need to change the dialogue in the US - and in Canada - to show who is really screwing their neighbours over!

"Trump voters just increased the deficit by 5 trillion dollars."
"Albertan voters just fired 300 doctors and 1500 nurses."
"Trump voters just deported a kid with cancer."
"Alberta voters just spent Billions of dollars to purchase unknown quality of pain pills from sketcy overseas sources to enrich friends of Alberta's UCP."
"Trump voters just approved kicking 13 million people off health insurance."
"Alberta voter just decreased the amount of money given to folks on AISH, all the while increasing their rent and taxes."
"Trump voters are excited about selling off our public lands."
"Alberta voters are excited about selling off our public lands to foreign coal mining companies."

They don't get to hide behind their votes. They knew what they were voting for and They are responsible for the consequences.

Now imagine if the Canadian Progressive Party came to power with PP as the PM? No Security Clearance? No background checks? WTF???

And really think about it - how different is this than what Pierre P. and the CPC party is about? Conservatives MUST know what a screwball PP is, and his online antics and obvious lies are NO different than the swill that spills from the mouth of the US President.

Speaking of the Orange MeatHead - He is NOT a Patriotic American!
Canadians, USians, and Mexicans are all AMERICAN, and I hate that the US has stolen OUR continents name/title to keep just for themselves, being so entitled that every time I bring this up, I get spammed by stupid folks that don't understand rhetoric.

However, it would be nice if Canada changed it name to Canada of America, and Mexico change theirs to "Mexico of America".

This would force the US of A to rethink getting a REAL NAME other than a sad "adjective/noun-attach-to-Continents-name combination" to equate to their own country? How lazy can you get? How about "New Amsterdam"? Oh, that'll probably piss off the Catholics as Dutch are mostly Protestant LOL.

But United States? Where? Alberta is a country that united it's states as Provinces, so we could potentially use that name.

Mexico is comprised of States, so they have an even stronger link to being called Mexico of America OR United States of America, and so on ad infinitum. Oh, how about United States of America of Mexico?

But you get my gist.

Peace.
.- .-.

Notwithstanding Clause in Alberta will strip away the Rights of Trans/Gay/etc folks, and I'm not for it!!!

I am seriously pissed! But I've finished writing, so I'll go to bed after I post this.

Well, would you look at that! For once, I actually agree with Quebec and their use of the Notwithstanding Clause. And I applaud them for ensuring a line between church and state.

They might have gone a wee bit too far, but overall, I am in agreement, if not in scope, then in intent. I think the SCoC will allow the Notwithstanding Clause, but perhaps with some "guidance" on confusing cultural with religious. Then life can carry on and ALL religions in Quebec can live happily ever after.

Not because it limits Freedom of Religion as many are wont to complain, but rather as a distinction for Public Sanity. This is the latest that the Federal Courts are being asked to weigh in on because it preserves the line between Church and State.

Sure, be it a Christian, Muslim, Sikh or Buddist adherent then go ahead, fill your boots.

But don't take it to work. (Hidden items or clothing should not be restricted as that could be more a "cultural" thing than religious), however I think Quebec is willing to let the courts decide on that, however they do remain steadfast in their separation of state/church!

And I agree with their opinion.

Quebec is not taking away the Rights to practice a religion (Which is what Freedom of Religion is, but not forcing it upon others!!!), and in this case, not the Right to practice your religion in a Public Building/Space.

Basically, keep it at home or at one's meetings/services/kool-aid festivals, but don't drag it out in public.

I mean, just today in Toronto is a Blonde Karen going apeshit against a person of Jewish ethnicity out on the street! The guy didn't do anything, just walking down a street and Karen verbally assaults him.

Yeah, that's why you keep it at home, ditz!

So why do I agree with Quebec's stance?

Simply because it was not, I repeat NOT Christian money that built the Province of Quebec, no matter what the Catholic Church will tell you. Churches have had a freebee for the past century or two, not paying taxes and the like, and they have absolutely nothing to complain about. It has been Taxes which has built Quebec, no matter what historical hand in matters the Catholic Church back then may have had in "helping" immigrants and Natives be better people.

Oh. Right. That didn't work out well, did it. I, unfortunately, am a product of the Catholic Church which I left before I even grew out of my teenage years because I could see the hypocrisy in everything they do and say.

As a Texan Minister said last week, there needs to be a separation between Church and State, and that is the problem with the GOP these days as they no longer see a distinction in such leadership. BUT, he continues on, a Church is an entity you do NOT want to lead a country.

He smiles and says "Just look at History to prove I'm right, Not one religious autocrat/autocracy has survived without internal dissolution". I have to paraphrase as I am still looking for that video to link below. I will edit this when I find it.

However, I think his point was that far right Christians in Texas and the Texas legislature are saying that there should be NO line between Government and Christianity (Note: Not Religions. Just Christianity!)

So, to me, Quebec's use of the Notwithstanding Clause is simply enforcing the division of Church and State. Any Church. Any Public Building/edifice/space.

With the growth of extreme religious zealots, I think we do need to calm down the narrative about religious freedoms in public - and in this case, I'm talking about radical Christian groups - whom seem to be the most vocal to grab as much power as possible.

Proof you ask? I present you the leader of the Federal Conservatives, Pierre Poilievre - the loser who could not hold onto his riding in Ontario, so begged Alberta to let him take the most conservative riding in Alberta.

This riding is so Conservative that they'll vote UCP no matter even if a Richardson's Ground Squirrel ran for office - and it'll win.

PP was offered such an accommodation because Alberta UCP are very behind his style of GOP/MAGA-North soundbites. Right out of President Frumps playbook.
                                                                                                                                                                                                       
 

So, that being out of the way, lets swerve our focus upon the Great and Glorious Province currently run by a MAGA North Operative and Wannabe Governor, Governor Smith of Alberta, land of three industries. Gas/oil, Wheat and other grains, and Separatist Movements - currently being the UCP.

Sure I kid about her title, but lets be honest - there is an inherent sense of truth to that title, as that is the end-game for the Alberta UCP - to separate. We all know the Province will not survive by itself, so will eventually be swallowed by the USA - perhaps purchased by some big American company for use as "testing grounds" of various types.

And I actually think Governor Smith really wants to command a military organisation like the National Guard of her little Duchy.

But in the meantime, we will focus now on the UCP's use of the Notwithstanding Clause. I am saddened to say that the Alberta Governments use of the Clause WILL be a wholesale Restriction of my, and thousands of others' Rights!

And I agree with the Feds trying to put a kibosh on this with the SCoC.

Just WHY am I against this use of the Clause?

Because it literally takes away the Right to Live one's life as ones self, in one's body as one needs to. This is not about restricting access to public spaces wearing religious icons. It is about stripping away one's personal identity, one's id, one's internal operating system, causing all sorts of pain and confusion.

It is blatantly Political Theatre buttressed up by a very Alt-Right-Christian-stewardship hidden agenda to make Alberta a Christian Fifedom.

And this will cause no end of needless deaths of teens committing suicide because Alberta's society apparently does not want people like him/her/it/she/they/etc.

Sickening.

THAT is a BIG Right in our Bill of Rights (and Responsibilities) that Alberta wants to strip from Alberta Citizens.

In other words, Trans Rights are being ground into the mud. And this, I guarantee you, is just the beginning.

First Trans Rights, then Gay Rights, then Furry Rights, then Abortion Rights, then...

You see where I am going with this. Give Governor Smith a Centimeter and she will grab with every MAGA-North Pipsqueak helping to take as many Kilometers as possible.

I am FOR the Federal Government and the SCoC for jumping on this because it violates personal Rights that are protected under our Charter of Rights, and no Province should have the Right to take my identity away from me. Or a Trans person. Or Gay. Or anything.

It would be even worse than taking away the Right to follow a Religion. Right? RIGHT???

You think Any religion would be fine with that? I seriously doubt that. So then, why support taking away a person's identity? Just for shits 'n giggles?

No, I suggest Ignoranus' are behind this, and that was not a typo. Anus is in there for a reason!

Then what the heck do you think one's personal identity, one's sense of self, one's struggle to find oneself is actually all about if not to live a pain-free and happy life?

The Province taking away any Rights in that sense is a BAD idea. It will open the door for further restrictions of our Basic Rights, and I am against it. At least Quebec is just trying to calm down the rhetoric about pushing Christian religion in public. Why is Alberta trying to absolutely quash a citizens Right? 

Are they in schools trying to convert children
[no].
Are they trying to start a political party?
[no]
Are they trying to force schools and other educational facilities to hang up rules and orders that pertain only to a single group?
[no]
Are they trying to deport, others who are not LBGTQ? 
[No, of course not]

So then, why the hoopla about Gay Rights in Alberta all of a sudden - a wish to homogenize the population to a single race, skin colour and religion??? 
[quite probably]
                                                                                                                                                                             

 
Am I the ONLY Albertan that is angry about this presumption of Godhood by Governor Smith???

I mean...really???

Peace,

.- .-.

Now I know why I love Ron Howard!

 Yeah, don't laugh, I really do feel we are kindred spirits, and his latest write-up could have been written by me - without my medications LOL.

Seriously, I stole this from the Internet just to show you how his points mesh up with my beliefs - it's a 10/10 fit, and I'm only too happy to share his words, with my entire endorsement-capable broken body  that I can.

Please read this, and give me a comment - I think this is a Canadian as I can get.  Remember, I grew up in a Very Catholic environment, so it was a hard swerve from hard Right to Centrist and now tick-toking back and forth just a wee bit from a Centrist position.

There's good on any side - one just has to pick a platform, and stick with it. Ron Howard's Platform is now MY platform.  I hope I can do him proud.

So, without further ado, I present Ron Howard.

 “I'm a liberal, but that doesn't mean what a lot of you apparently think it does. Let's break it down, shall we? Because quite frankly, I'm getting a little tired of being told what I believe and what I stand for. Spoiler alert: not every liberal is the same, though the majority of liberals I know think along roughly these same lines:

1.  I believe a country should take care of its weakest members. A country cannot call itself civilized when its children, disabled, sick, and elderly are neglected. PERIOD.

2.  I believe healthcare is a right, not a privilege. Somehow that's interpreted as "I believe Obamacare is the end-all, be-all." This is not the case. I'm fully aware that the ACA has problems, that a national healthcare system would require everyone to chip in, and that it's impossible to create one that is devoid of flaws, but I have yet to hear an argument against it that makes "let people die because they can't afford healthcare" a better alternative. I believe healthcare should be far cheaper than it is, and that everyone should have access to it. And no, I'm not opposed to paying higher taxes in the name of making that happen.

3.  I believe education should be affordable. It doesn't necessarily have to be free (though it works in other countries so I'm mystified as to why it can't work in the US), but at the end of the day, there is no excuse for students graduating college saddled with five- or six-figure debt.

4.   I don't believe your money should be taken from you and given to people who don't want to work. I have literally never encountered anyone who believes this. Ever. I just have a massive moral problem with a society where a handful of people can possess the majority of the wealth while there are people literally starving to death, freezing to death, or dying because they can't afford to go to the doctor. Fair wages, lower housing costs, universal healthcare, affordable education, and the wealthy actually paying their share would go a long way toward alleviating this. Somehow believing that makes me a communist.

 5.  I don't throw around "I'm willing to pay higher taxes" lightly. If I'm suggesting something that involves paying more, well, it's because I'm fine with paying my share as long as it's actually going to something besides lining corporate pockets or bombing other countries while Americans die without healthcare.

6.   I believe companies should be required to pay their employees a decent, livable wage. Somehow this is always interpreted as me wanting burger flippers to be able to afford a penthouse apartment and a Mercedes. What it actually means is that no one should have to work three full-time jobs just to keep their head above water. Restaurant servers should not have to rely on tips, multibillion-dollar companies should not have employees on food stamps, workers shouldn't have to work themselves into the ground just to barely make ends meet, and minimum wage should be enough for someone to work 40 hours and live.

 7.  I am not anti-Christian. I have no desire to stop Christians from being Christians, to close churches, to ban the Bible, to forbid prayer in school, etc. (BTW, prayer in school is NOT illegal; *compulsory* prayer in school is - and should be - illegal). All I ask is that Christians recognize *my* right to live according to *my* beliefs. When I get pissed off that a politician is trying to legislate Scripture into law, I'm not "offended by Christianity" -- I'm offended that you're trying to force me to live by your religion's rules. You know how you get really upset at the thought of Muslims imposing Sharia law on you? That's how I feel about Christians trying to impose biblical law on me. Be a Christian. Do your thing. Just don't force it on me or mine.

8.   I don't believe LGBT people should have more rights than you. I just believe they should have the *same* rights as you.

 9.  I don't believe illegal immigrants should come to America and have the world at their feet, especially since THIS ISN'T WHAT THEY DO (spoiler: undocumented immigrants are ineligible for all those programs they're supposed to be abusing, and if they're "stealing" your job it's because your employer is hiring illegally). I believe there are far more humane ways to handle undocumented immigration than our current practices (i.e., detaining children, splitting up families, ending DACA, etc).

10.  I don't believe the government should regulate everything, but since greed is such a driving force in our country, we NEED regulations to prevent cut corners, environmental destruction, tainted food/water, unsafe materials in consumable goods or medical equipment, etc. It's not that I want the government's hands in everything -- I just don't trust people trying to make money to ensure that their products/practices/etc. are actually SAFE. Is the government devoid of shadiness? Of course not. But with those regulations in place, consumers have recourse if they're harmed and companies are liable for medical bills, environmental cleanup, etc. Just kind of seems like common sense when the alternative to government regulation is letting companies bring their bottom line into the equation

 11. I believe our current administration is fascist. Not because I dislike them or because I can’t get over an election, but because I've spent too many years reading and learning about the Third Reich to miss the similarities. Not because any administration I dislike must be Nazis, but because things are actually mirroring authoritarian and fascist regimes of the past.

12.  I believe the systemic racism and misogyny in our society is much worse than many people think, and desperately needs to be addressed. Which means those with privilege -- white, straight, male, economic, etc. -- need to start listening, even if you don't like what you're hearing, so we can start dismantling everything that's causing people to be marginalized.

 13.  I am not interested in coming after your blessed guns, nor is anyone serving in government. What I am interested in is the enforcement of present laws and enacting new, common sense gun regulations. Got another opinion? Put it on your page, not mine.

14.  I believe in so-called political correctness. I prefer to think it’s social politeness. If I call you Chuck and you say you prefer to be called Charles I’ll call you Charles. It’s the polite thing to do. Not because everyone is a delicate snowflake, but because as Maya Angelou put it, when we know better, we do better. When someone tells you that a term or phrase is more accurate/less hurtful than the one you're using, you now know better. So why not do better? How does it hurt you to NOT hurt another person?

15.  I believe in funding sustainable energy, including offering education to people currently working in coal or oil so they can change jobs. There are too many sustainable options available for us to continue with coal and oil. Sorry, billionaires. Maybe try investing in something else.

16.  I believe that women should not be treated as a separate class of human. They should be paid the same as men who do the same work, should have the same rights as men and should be free from abuse. Why on earth shouldn’t they be?

 I think that about covers it. Bottom line is that I'm a liberal because I think we should take care of each other. That doesn't mean you should work 80 hours a week so your lazy neighbor can get all your money. It just means I don't believe there is any scenario in which preventable suffering is an acceptable outcome as long as money is saved.”

Ron Howard

 ___________________________________________________________________________