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Charles Hugh Smith discusses how the Air Force cannibalizes to keep the illusion of a fully functional Flightline. He also shows what’s being done to the American healthcare system through this hollowing out. You’ll undoubtedly learn something from the article. This general definition is offered. (Bold in the original.)

Cannibalize is an interesting word. It is a remarkably graphic way to describe the self-inflicted destruction of a system by stripping previously functional subsystems to sustain the illusion of system functionality.

Wall street does this all the time. Investors don’t care if a company does it because the stock price keeps rising for a time. More often, they sell the lower profit-producing business units first. But sometimes, in an act of cannibalistic suicide, they will sell the money makers and bankrupt the company. This point is well taken.

An enterprise maintains a substantial cash position even as it loses money every quarter by quietly selling off its most valuable assets. This maintains the illusion of financial strength even as the enterprise is being hollowed out.

With some tactical variation, this is more or less what Cerberus Capital Management did to Remington. The Cerberus web page touts: ” Your partner to improve performance and drive value. Learn how Cerberus creates an edge for our investors and business partners worldwide.” Uh-huh?

Turning small-scale, localized finance into centralized / globalized hyper-financialization cannibalizes finance to benefit the few with unlimited access to credit, leverage and monopoly. First you borrow vast sums at low rates of interest that are inaccessible to mere mortals, take a corporation private, indebt the company and use the funds to accumulate mountains of derivatives that leverage the debt 10-fold or even 100-fold, then take the corporation public again, goose the stock and then cash out all the leveraged gains.

The newly public company has been stripmined of core assets and burdened by debt. The financiers cannibalized the corporation to benefit themselves at the expense of everyone else with a stake in the business and the future viability of the enterprise.

Food is also discussed.

Highly processed products are simulacra of food that hijack our hardwired pleasure responses to heavy concentrations of salt, sweets, fat and spice and crunchy/chewy mouthfeel. The nutritional content of these products is so low and the fat-salt-sugar content so high that they are severely damaging to health on multiple levels.

The unwary consumer who stuffs themselves with these simulacra of food (shall we call it “fud”?) feels full even as their body and brain are starved for real nutritional content and real-food fiber.

A high sugar intake means gaining weight in fat. But few understand that anything that tastes like food but delivers minimal nutrition makes people fat. The reason is that your body releases enzymes and other chemical reactions to process the food; your digestive system then looks for particular nutrients found in the food based on that taste. But, with processed food, the nutrients aren’t there, so your body ‘thinks’ that something is wrong with its ability to absorb nutrients, so it starts packing on fat. Before processed foods, this is an excellent function for the body to have. In lean years and drought, this functionality ensures the body can make it through seasons, or a year, of low-quality foodstuffs until a better harvest. Lean times may well be approaching. Understanding how your digestive system is supposed to work may come in handy.

The linked article also appeared at WRSA.

Red Flag laws are working about as well as all gun laws; not at all.

It seems that in this case, the person whose guns were seized was able to obtain another firearm – assuming the police got all he originally had, of course – and then killed a neighbor over an argument.

And this is the law we’re supposed to trust? This is the law we’re supposed to count on to keep us safe?

Couple this with reports of people using these laws to punish those they have a beef with, those who have been disarmed without any real cause, and at least one death attributed to a red flag order, and it’s not hard to see why red flag laws are so unpopular with gun rights activists.

It’s all very predictable.

Many in my area are already preparing for deer season, scouting out spots, readying weapons, and so on. We have a bow season, a muzzle season, and a rifle season. I’m woefully under-educated in the use of a bow for any purpose. It pays to listen as I learned there is a local bow guy who “everybody” goes to see. He will fit you to the proper pull based on your strength, etc.

Also, having learned something new the other day might change some plans. There is a youth rifle hunt between bow season and muzzleloader season. Now that seems interesting. The deer (theoretically) have not been shot at yet this year, and some will not have heard the crack of a rifle shot since last season. This seems like an opportunity to be first in the field.

Deer, like most creatures, take the path of least resistance. That’s why animal trails exist. They, like us, don’t want to go through sticker bushes and challenging terrain, although in the calculous of a deer, terrain difficulty is measured differently than by a man. Getting an early start is paramount to some hunters.

People love to talk about which cartridges are the best deer cartridges, and many work just fine.

But what about tactics?

Everybody is getting their spots picked and making travel plans if they’re going any distance.

Deer hunting in America is massive; it may be the largest participant event in the country. (Notice how I didn’t call it a sport!)

“THE BEST DEER HUNTING STATES IN 2022” includes a list of deer population by state.

The desired State’s website is where to find up-to-date and accurate info. This link has a season dates and bag limit link for each state. Deer Hunting Season 2022 Forecast: A State-by-State Guide.

Saw these at a new gun store the other day.

A rechargeable high-output lithium polymer battery (included) provides the 12V power required to the high pressure fuel pump and ignition system. This type of battery is typically used in radio controlled vehicles. You can see the specifications on the battery product page.

The specs and manuals for the system are here.

They also make a rail mount under-barrel model

 .

Source.

So I would like to see experiments with age-based impediments rather than full restrictions — allowing would-be gun purchasers 25 and under the same rights of ownership as 40- or 60-year-olds, but with more substantial screenings before a purchase. Not just a criminal-background check, in other words, but some kind of basic social or psychological screening, combining a mental-health check, a social-media audit and testimonials from two competent adults — all subject to the same appeals process as a well-designed red-flag law.

Yes.  I see.

So the doctors would throw chicken bones, or read tarot cards, or look at the stars, or something.  To see into the future, of course, and ascertain what mother earth would want us to do – or something.  What the Scriptures call divination, and forbid against.

He further says,

I am not interested in the liberal desire to fold the problem of Uvalde-style mass shootings, of nihilistic terrorism with a misogynist or racist edge, into a larger problem called “gun violence.”

At the same time, I also have no interest in the apparent conservative desire — or least Ted Cruz’s desire — to turn America’s schools into a zone of overpolicing, duck-and-cover fearfulness and military-level vigilance.

And I’m not interested in futility, any more than I’m interested in the forms of right-wing overreaction or left-wing fantasy politics criticized above.

Who told him this is all about what interests him?  Why does he think he is important?

Well, to all of this I say, “I’m not interested in your ideas.”  Go pound sand.

New Featured Article.  Duke University’s Arguments Against A Statutory Second Amendment.

And leave comments there.

You may know what day it is, but do you know what time it is?

“3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once…” – 1 Corinthians 15:3-5 with part of six.

The first time I led somebody into the Kingdom of God, it was hot. I was sweating like a stuck pig, half of which was from being nervous—fumbling around in the Bible to find the marked verses with little idea of what to do or how to proceed. But the man was willing to hear what the scriptures say about the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. He didn’t care about what I was overcoming to share verses with him; he had much more significant problems; he didn’t want to die and burn. You’re losing your civilization. It’s time to get over yourself.

Tell somebody about the resurrection of Jesus Christ today.

Note: Acknowledging that this thing has gotten away from us a little, it was not supposed to be this long; one more part after this. Maybe?

Part One  Part Two  Part Three  Part Four  Part Five  Part Six

Read the parable in Matthew 21:33-46 to get the context.

Leading to verses 37 and 38, Jesus is talking about the prophets that were slain because the leadership didn’t want to hear the truth. (See also Matthew 23:35).

In verse 39, Jesus is telling of His soon coming crucifixion. According to the parable, the Son was killed so that the Sanhedrin could steal His inheritance, which is the “Kingdom of His dear Son.” (Colossians 1:13). We can relate this to Christ being the seed of the promise to Abram, Christ’s church, of which we are joint-heirs (Romans 8:16-17) and numbered as the stars (Genesis 22:17-18).

This is very important to understand and not taught in the American Churches. In Part One of this series, we pointed out that John the Baptist warned the Sanhedrin not to claim Abram as their father (Matthew 3:9). We further pointed out that the Sanhedrin did that very thing in John 8:38-39. The Sanhedrin was trying to steal the throne of Christ to become the heir by claiming Abraham as their father. Read Galatians 3:16-17. There was one part of the Abrahamic Promise that the Jews could not fulfill because it wasn’t about them; it was Christ, though He would be the Son of David, He is the only begotten Son of God. Read this passage in Matthew 22:

“41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The son of David. 43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, 44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? 45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? 46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.” – Matthew 22:41-46

Who is Heir of all things (Hebrews 1:2)? It’s Jesus Christ, it’s not the Jews, and it’s not a country (kingdom) in the Middle East; it’s Jesus, just and only Jesus the only begotten Son of God; He is the heir.

Back to our text in Chapter 21:

“40 When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? 41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.” – Matthew 21:40-41

In verse 41 above, the Sanhedrin testify against themselves, clearly stating what is about to befall them. They knew what was right, but still, they refused to submit to God and His authority. This should be instructive for us today.

In verse 45 of the parable, they got it; Jesus was speaking of them, but still, they refused to act and wouldn’t submit to God.

Christ’s kingdom is not of this world; it’s a people birthed not of the will of the flesh but of God (John 1:13). The Kingdom of God is not birthed by the natal (nation) womb of women but by the Spirit of God (John 3:4-7), making of all that come to Christ one people (Revelation 7:9-10). Jesus is the firstborn, by His resurrection (Colossians 1:18), that you too might be reborn by the Spirit of God (John 3:3). There is no Jew or Gentile (Galatians 3:28), and there is no temple but the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27, John 2:19, Ephesians 1:22-23). Each passage from which these verses are taken has specific contexts, but none are abused here.

Context matters; the broader context in which the entire New Testament is given is critical, as the American Churches turn the Holy Bible into an unknowably mystic manuscript for a mere buffet from which to pick your favorite lifestyle sayings and phrases. Not only is the Word of God abused by taking single verses out of context and making a religion from them, but in expository preaching from sections of Scripture for a personal application while ignoring the context of the entire New Testament that God gave us. The New Testament is also provided so that we can know the purposes for the wrath of His judgment, His merciful grace, and, yes, for instruction in righteousness.

The conditional covenant God gave to Moses had one thing left to be fulfilled, its final chapter in Christ Jesus making a New Covenant in Him when He fulfilled the Law and Prophets (Matthew 5:17, Luke 24:44). The covenant of the promise of a seed given to Abram could not be disannulled by the Law given to Moses (Galatians 3:16-17).

Moving now to Matthew 22:

“1 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, 2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. 5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. 7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.” – Matthew 22:1-7

If you’ve been following along in this series of posts leading up to Matthew 24, this parable should be the least cryptic thing you’ve ever read. In verse 2, Jesus is the Son of God. In verse 3, “This generation” were bidden to His wedding but refused (John 1:11). In verse 4, all was made ready. In verse 5, they made light of it and went back to earthly things (Luke 9:59-60, Mark 10:21-22). In verse 6, all of the Apostles, save John, were slain for His holy name (Matthew 24:9), and a great many first-century disciples were also killed. In verse 7, the King sent forth the Roman armies (Matthew 24:30), destroyed those murderers, and burned their city in 70AD.

When you understand the purposes for which Christ came in giving us a New Covenant, the prophetic language, even when used in the parabolic form (and hyperbolic in Matthew 24 and Revelation), is not a bunch of bizarrely mystical unknowns.

Having laid out His charges in plain language from John the Baptist onward, He tells them God’s plan for them and why God must do it. It seems harsh, but remember; God is not only love and mercy and therefore longsuffering, but also holy, perfect, and just. Justice must be done, or He reduces Himself to the status of a sinful man. Christ became flesh, yet without sin, He overcame being the perfect sacrifice for your sin. He was buried and rose from the grave again the third day. Amen. God will not be made to sin for any reason and certainly not to appease our feelings.

News from Indiana.

Gov. Mike DeWine on Monday signed into law Senate Bill 215, which passed the General Assembly on March 2 and was hailed by supporters as a historic Second Amendment victory.

[ … ]

Also, if a driver is stopped by police, that person would not (sic) longer be required to inform officers of the concealed weapon unless specifically asked.

Good on the constitutional carry.  Also good on the requirement to tell LEOs you’re carrying.  I think that leads to bad relations.  LEOs should always assume you’re carrying and be kind and respectful.

Now.  Don’t you feel embarrassed, South Carolina?  You passed open carry (which of course was a long time coming) but rejected constitutional carry.

What are you waiting for?

You don’t understand inflation until you’re in it, and then it’s too late. The Wall Street Journal cites eight or so percent, which is very low compared to actual inflation. It’s much higher; we all know that. Inflation takes years, sometimes decades, to work out and return to the historical norm (under central banking) of 3 to 4 percent annually.

Inflation is not an intellectual exercise, nor is it a mathematical obstacle. This post isn’t a rant against our rulers. We could cite causes and bible verses about a just balance and the duties of those God has placed over our country and the servitude of the debtor, but when inflation hits, none of that helps. All those commandments of God are instruction in righteousness. That having failed, here we are; now you get the lesson the hard way.

If you have debt, it will eat you alive. Preppers have warned you for years to get out of debt. When inflation hits, you have to decide; make the car payment or eat? It’s no joke.

Young families will be facing hard choices very soon. If you own a house, hang on for dear life, it will be your best asset in retirement due to inflation, but you must be out of debt. On the other hand, family comes first. If you sacrifice raising your children to maintain your lifestyle, shame on you. Almost all American families are already doing this. But that’s another topic.

Inflation can wreck your family’s future. If this keeps up, your life is about to change in drastic ways. The stress on families was tremendous in the 1970s; money fights, divorces, bankruptcies, children left to raise themselves; that’s what happened then. You may need to sit your family down and start talking with them now about the choices you could be facing.

You don’t want to look at your children and wonder where their next meal is coming from. That’s what inflation does. There are tens of millions of spoiled rotten children in America who are about to get a wake-up call if this persists. The problem is that they won’t understand why things are changing and why those they could rely upon the most will begin to tell them no, and not just about luxuries. What was every day will be a luxury. What was sufficient enough will become lean. Your children need new shoes, too bad; you can’t buy them, you don’t have the money.

We often hear about the Great Depression, but inflation is as significant, ugly, and disastrous. If you still have debt, you have to act now! A box of mac and cheese is doubling and doubling again right before our eyes. Already, putting gas in a pickup is the same as watching a $100 bill evaporate.

The only tool they have is printing money. Still, the sole remedy for inflation is time, day after day, year after year, trying to break even on payday. Of course, they could cut taxes, but it will be too late by then; half the country already doesn’t work.

If this keeps up, nobody will be the same. You will find your actual socio-economic level the hard way. Then you’ll understand debt and why God calls it slavery. When people can’t afford to buy, companies lay off employees! You can’t find a second job; your wife can’t find a job. Do you see where it goes?

Say you make $75,000 yr. You have $30,000 in car debt, a couple of credit cards and miscellaneous debt of $15,000. This is pretty average in America today. Now, watch your salary drop by 8%(current official rate) on a downward slide. That’s inflation; how can you pay your debts and feed your family with your salary dropping eight percent?

It’s shocking to see people carrying on as though this isn’t happening and as though it won’t get worse. As they say on Wall Street, the trend is your friend. That doesn’t mean that all trends are good; knowing which direction the trend is taking is the key. The direction is toward higher prices across the board. It’s not just gas. Everything takes energy to produce and transport.

If it persists and you’re stretched right now, you’ll break. If you’re only making it right now, you won’t be. If you’re ok right now, it’ll get worse. If you’re out of debt and working, perhaps major purchases should be put on hold. Everything could change tomorrow, but right now, the trend is inflationary.