Thanks to edd7, hardcharger, karen, RestorationGirl, and of course prosenberg for their contributions this week. Our themes this week involve deep questions about how we conduct both politics and our lives, answers some questions about ammo buys and FEMA, reminds us to look at the opportunities from new developments; and, as always, includes the usual set of insights covering developments at home and abroad.

To simplify your scans, I've divided the links into sections: Economos (global economy), Techne Logos (tech), Polis (domestic politics), Stratiootika (geopolitics & military), 1 Good News This Week item to brighten your week and/or make you better. We also have 2 NEW sections: Your weekly Copybook Heading, and Ekpolitismos (civilization & culture). Enjoy!

Weekly Copybook Heading - Write out 10 times :-)

"When you finally find "maximum security", you'll find yourself in a prison."
-- "JohnConner" at PJTV

By way of explanation, I had to include this video, with a nod to Jack Kelly for reciting the original to us at the 2012 DC Rendezvous. The Copybook Heading will be a regular feature:

Polis

From prosenberg. How to explain government to an alien. Or is it the other way 'round?

• Facing Up to the Enormity of Our Problem (American Thinker, Nov 30/12). From edd7. "I certainly believe there is a path to civilizational renewal -- there always is -- but not one likely to fit a neat pattern or short term game plan.... The alternative to this fight, however, is to sit passively by as the world enters a new dark age."



• Party Like Its 1999 (Word Around the Net, Nov 27/12). "The math doesn't add up, history proves its a lie, and I think deep down most people know it but they just don't care. They sense its all a lie but they'd rather eat, drink and be merry one more day because its too hard, too scary, and would require them to give up the last shreds of what keeps them from noticing the emptiness in their lives."



• Federal Law Enforcement Agencies Buy Ammunition (NRA, Aug 17/12). jkatzman: I'm not quite as sanguine as they are, since the total buy went to 1.4 billion rounds. But here's their perspective on DHS' initial purchase...



• Did FEMA Create a Youth Army? (Factcheck.org, Nov 30/12). jkatzman: The dishonesty of modern "fact checkers" is becoming legendary. But, this one backs up its assertions with clear links to original sources. And the answer seems to be "no".



• The Pentagon's Revolving Door with Defense Contractors... Some Shocking Statistics (Mike Krieg, Dec 2/12). prosenberg: Just what we don't need. [JK: Long-standing issue]



• Obama: a GOP president should have rules limiting the kill list (Glen Greenwald, Nov 26/12). jkatzman: Glenn's a leftist for sure, but he's one of the few who genuinely cares about the Constitution and individual rights. Obama's exemption for himself, and leftists' willingness to go along, are the targets of his article. Meanwhile, ask yourself honestly if you've ever resembled his characterization.

Oration

By RestorationGirl, in response to "Remembering Freedom":

I too am relatively new to the forum here. I am also barely old enough to remember the Nixon white house. And, I have been dumbfounded by the lack of concern the population as a whole has about November 6 and everything going on.

However, the re-election of Obama did NOT surprise me in the least. Two reasons.... One, I live in Michigan. We Michiganders voted in Ms. Granholm a second term even though she trashed our state. AND, two, I have my fingers on the pulse of the population under 40. They don't see things the same way.

There is no room here to expound in detail, but there is a big cause for hope in our younger generation.

As I read your post, I am struck how far the so-called conservative Republican presidents have moved us toward fascism & communism MUCH more than the recent democrat presidents. Nixon and Bush and Bush were HORRIBLY devastating to our freedoms. I do agree, however, that Mr. Obama is a horse of a different color (no pun intended) and infinitely more evil than [either], and that Romney would have fared us better. BUT, we would have let our guard down IF he was elected as we seem to always do apparently.

As a whole, the younger generation are more of the libertarian bent. They are socially "liberal" and fiscally "conservative". They do not understand why we are policing & paying off every country in the world. They do not understand why we old people cry "wolf" every time something doesn't go our way or when we don't understand something correctly (i.e. Y2K). They are accustomed to just going around us through their communication & internet capability.

They are reachable, but we need to stop being so alarmist & demanding our own way & thinking they are all dumb or "takers". They are not all takers and they certainly are not dumb. They are collaborators & major givers on different levels than we think about.

I am training myself to not assume that I know what's really going on but instead.... listen. Listen & collaborate. Get down to the local & grass roots levels & involve the people around you at the neighborhood association, city council, & school board levels. Freedom will ring again IF we go back to our roots & engage our young people in the solving of problems from freedom's view.

Now, more than ever, engage yourself and question with whom we are really aligned. Neither the Democrats nor the Republicans have it all right. The young people see it. We need to back up and look at ourselves to see it. We need to look at ourselves through the prism of the Constitution, or we are destined to continue down the same path.

Ekpolitismos (Civilization, Culture)

This new section will also be a regular feature. It's open to art, music, etc., as well as linked thought pieces. We'll start from State St. Macy's in Chicago, which leads in nicely to the Mars Hill Sermon.

• Part 11: Jesus Is a Better Mordecai. Esther 9:20-10:3 (Mars Hill Church, Nov 25/12). RE: RestorationGirl's oration, above. Here's a very interesting sermon from an evangelical preacher reaching the young hipster/tatooed set around Seattle. Just understand that it has 3 parts, all running at the same time, all the time. (1) The part about coping in the now; (2) The part about how we do religion; and (3) The part about how we do politics. Highly recommended



• Elder: The Monolithic Black Vote - and My Republican Dad (GOPUSA, Nov 19/12).



• Confessions of a Black Mr. Mom (Washington Monthly, March 2002). jkatzman: Interesting piece, with a few curveballs that will make you think.



• Back to Qumran (The Orthosphere, Nov 20/12). jkatzman: With very hard times coming, this proposal has to be seen in a different light. If you pressed me to think of a good illustration, I'd say the Mormons. Or Judaism's Chabad hasidim, mentioned in a late comment for their combination of tight community and active outreach to non-Orthodox Jews.

Economos

Hilarious themed execution, and very informative. A two-fer win, and perfect example of how to produce good advocacy media.

• Citigroup sentences Europe to faster economic death (The Telegraph, Nov 29/12). jkatzman: Just an economic forecast to 2017+. They could be wrong, but you may be interested in their takes on America, Europe, and Asia.



• Matthew Kaminski: Trying to Save Europe 'Step by Step' (WSJ, Dec 3/12). jkatzman: Interview with Germany's Finance Minister. The only thing missing: evidence of any serious reform in the bailed-out countries.



• Doing Away With Debt-Ceiling Drama (Peter Schiff, Dec 3/12). jkatzman: Disgaree with Schiff here, but he answers the question: "where did the debt ceiling come from?"



• Those Fleeing Obama's America: Prepare to be taxed (Canada Free Press, Nov 28/12). From wendy. There have been a few attempts, and there will be more, with support from GOP "leadership." Expect them to succeed, and lay plans accordingly.

Techne Logos

• Q&A with Salman Khan [of the online Math "Khan Academy"] (MIT Tech Review, Nov 7/12). hardcharger: I love the way so many people miss the forest for the trees. There is a whole series of bubbles approaching burst-point. If you can see that instead of simply plodding along with life as it is today, you can not only avoid the burst's negative effects, you also open your mind to follow-on industries, strategies, replacements.



• Unique greenhouse could spur outback growth (Australian Broadcasting Corp., April 16/12). jkatzman: Desalination, solar, and biofuel all have rocky histories. What if, together with greenhouses, they can be much more than the sum of their parts, with technologies like Joule or Natural Gas closing the loop instead of diesel? The USA is testing some aspects, but I can see the Israelis being all over this. Al-Jazeera sees it, too. Hat tip to commenter "Charles" at Belmont Club.



• News: NEC offers face recognition analysis for retailers (Shadow Life, Nov 14/12). prosenberg: Now stores are using face recognition. Great...



• Are psychiatrists an endangered species? Observations on internal and external challenges to the profession (World Psychiatry, February 2010). jkatzman: If only they were more like Dr. Wade... but they aren't. Hence the challenges.

Stratiootika

• Egypt's New Constitution: Laying the Basis for an Islamist, Sharia State (Barry Rubin, Dec 3/12). Res ipsa loquitur.



• Morsi leaves through back door as Egypt protesters surround palace (The Telegraph, Dec 4/12). jkatzman: I wish them well, and will learn what I can from them, but don't give them stellar odds of success vs. Morsi & Obama.



• Five Star Movement (Eurosceptic) Surges into Second Place in Italian Polls (Mish's Global Economic Trend Analysis, Nov 26/12). jkatzman: The lie will come apart. It's just a question of when, and at what cost. But if a comedian did it? Now THAT would be hilarious!



• US Navy Eyes Technology to Cloak Subs (Military.com, Sept 14/12). jkatzman: Weidlinger Associates is using metamaterials and the theory of "transformation acoustics", to create what they hope will be the underwater equivalent of stealth aircraft.



• Phantom Eye (Boeing Video). hardcharger: Self promotional, but an interesting lead as to where UAVs are headed.

Over The Hump: Good News This Week

Jack suggested that last week's HFR hero of the week was Glenn "Piss Obama" Beck. I'm going to suggest that Deputy Stan Lenic might have been a more worthy recipient. This is a man who understands and lives the words "I am on officer of the law." Spread his example.

For The Constitution!

Joe Katzman