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NEW AMERICA VS OLD AMERICA

new-vs-old

[This Monday’s Archive was originally published in TTP on February 26, 2009, just over one month after Obama’s 1st inauguration. Today, we are witnessing Trump’s 2nd presidency creating a New America replacing the Old. How it got old is explained by applying the cross-link theory of aging to politics.]

 

TTP February 26, 2009

What do tanned leather, old hard bread, brittle windshield wipers, cracked plastic lawn furniture, wrinkled skin, and hardened arteries have in common?  The molecules in each have been cross-linked, unnecessary chemical bonds or links formed between them.

Put one hand on top of the other and notice how easy you can move your eight fingers in tandem.  Now interlock your fingers, making them a lot harder to move.  They are "cross-linked."

As you grow older, your body becomes stiffer, less elastic, less agile, and your skin gets more wrinkled.  This is due to cross-linking on a molecular level caused by free radical and glycation metabolic processes, or sunlight.

Cross-links hold our structural tissues in a rigid and inflexible relation to each other.  Cross-linked arteries are hard, inflexible, and can no longer normally pulse the blood pumped from the heart.  The formation of beta-amyloid protein clumps in the brain, thought to be the cause of Alzheimer’s, is a cross-linking process.

Now let’s transfer this from molecules in an organism to people in a society or "body politic."

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WELCOME TO THE WAR DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE IS OVER

war-dept-reforms[On Sept. 30, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth delivered an address at Marine Corps Base Quantico to an unprecedented gathering of hundreds of admirals, generals, and senior military leaders. This is the transcript in full. This is a turning point in America’s modern military history. TTP feels strongly that TTPers should consider reading it entire. The video of SecWar Hegseth’s 6,000 word/45 minute speech is here.]

Mr. Chairman, the Joint Chiefs, generals, admirals, commanders, officers, senior enlisted, NCOs, enlisted and every member of our American military, good morning. Good morning, and welcome to the War Department, because the era of the Department of Defense is over.

You see, the motto of my first platoon was, “Those who long for peace must prepare for war.” This is, of course, not a new idea. This crowd knows that. The origin dates to the fourth century Rome and has been repeated ever since, including by our first commander-in-chief, George Washington, the first leader of the War Department. It captures a simple yet profound truth; to ensure peace, we must prepare for war.

From this moment forward, the only mission of the newly restored Department of War is this: warfighting, preparing for war and preparing to win, unrelenting and uncompromising in that pursuit. Not because we want war. No one here wants war. But it’s because we love peace. We love peace for our fellow citizens. They deserve peace, and they rightfully expect us to deliver it.

Our number one job, of course, is to be strong so that we can prevent war in the first place. The President talks about it all the time. It’s called “peace through strength,” and as history teaches us, the only people who actually deserve peace are those who are willing to wage war to defend it.

That’s why pacifism is so naïve and dangerous. It ignores human nature and it ignores human history. Either you protect your people and your sovereignty, or you will be subservient to something or someone. It’s a truth as old as time. And since waging war is so costly in blood and treasure, we owe our republic a military that will win any war we choose, or any war that is thrust upon us. Should our enemies choose foolishly to challenge us, they will be crushed by the violence, precision, and ferocity of the War Department.

In other words, to our enemies, FAFO. If necessary, our troops can translate that for you.

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TRUMP’S GAZA PLAN IS THE BEST CHANCE TO END THIS WAR

[Note: 20-point Trump Gaza Plan appended in full below]

The Trump plan represents the best hope so far for ending the war in Gaza, giving some prospect of normality and prosperity for the people of Gaza and of developing a sustainable peace in the wider Middle East.

It has also completely turned the tables on Hamas. With Israel and Arab countries on board, the ball is now entirely in Hamas’s court and their response will show the world what many of us have long known: it is not Israel that has kept this war going but Hamas. War or peace is in their hands as it has been from the start.

We will have to see which path they take. But if anything, now is the time not just for Arab countries but for Western nations to step up to the mark. Those that are in a position to do so need to pile the pressure on to Hamas and give them no quarter. We need to hear no more encouragement of Hamas, no more rewarding them by recognizing a Palestinian state and no more unjust lashing out against Israel.

Instead Hamas need to be forced to understand they are isolated and no longer have any friends. If that kind of action had been taken from the beginning we might have been where we are long before now with many lives saved.

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COMEY IS INDICTED BUT HIS REAL CRIMES REMAIN UNTOUCHED

comey-crimesWe have no idea whether the current DOJ indictments will lead to a conviction of James Comey, namely that he authorized FBI subordinates to leak to the media and then lied about it, obstructing Congress in the process.

It may come down to the word of Comey, a known fabricator, against the testimony of his former subordinate, Andrew McCabe, an admitted liar. Take your pick.

We know, however, that Comey is not facing a Trumpian $500 million in potential fines, nor 93 indictments, nor the scrutiny of five different local, state, and federal prosecutors. Nor, like some of the J6 arrested, will he be sent to solitary confinement to await a trial in a year or two or be charged with “illegal parading.”

We also know of the crimes or unethical conduct for which James Comey is not currently being indicted or investigated. Here’s a baker’s dozen of them.

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VAST FRAUD OF SOMALI MIGRANTS LED BY ILHAN OMAR IS FINALLY EXPOSED

Ilhan Omar
Ilhan Omar

This week, federal officials made an astounding announcement: Nearly half of all immigrants in greater Minneapolis were found to have committed some form of immigration fraud.

The fraud, uncovered in a September sweep, came in all kinds — sham marriages, fake death certificates and “other bizarre schemes,” as US Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edley put it.

But the revelation was no great surprise to those of us who have followed the settlement of some 100,000 Somali immigrants in Minnesota over the past three decades. As far back as 2008, the State Department temporarily suspended one of the family reunification programs used by Somali immigrants when DNA testing of applicants found that 80% of all its claimed family relationships were fake.

Immigration fraud in this community has been the norm.

And when it comes to “bizarre schemes,” Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) serves as Exhibit A.

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HOW TO BE AGE-LESS

[Durk and I had many a conversation about a nutritional formula that he and Sandy were very proud of creating. There is a mechanism in your body responsible for so many aging maladies, and their formula either stopped it or slowed it way down. They called their formula AGEless for good reason. I’m so grateful to Greg and Michelle making it available.—JW]

This is about protecting Your Health at the Cellular Level.

Aging brings with it many invisible changes in the body. One of the most damaging is the buildup of Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs). These compounds form when sugars attach to proteins and fats in your body, creating “sticky” molecules that:

  • Damage tissues and organs.
  • Contribute to inflammation and oxidative stress.
  • Weaken the kidneys, eyes, skin, blood vessels, and nerves.
  • Speed up the aging process.
The challenge is clear: AGEs silently accumulate year after year, leaving behind lasting damage. The good news is that science—and smart nutrition—can help.

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MAKING SENSE OF GOLD

invest-in-goldWelcome to a regular person's guide to physical precious metals.

Gold isn’t just for the wealthy—learn how investing in physical gold can protect your savings, hedge against inflation, and add stability to your portfolio.

Picture this: You're looking at your savings account or recent inheritance, wondering if there's a better way to protect its value over time. Or maybe you're watching your retirement account fluctuate with each market swing, thinking about ways to add some stability to your financial future.

Perhaps you've heard about investing in gold but figured it was only for Wall Street experts or the ultra-wealthy.

The truth is, investing in physical gold is more accessible than most people realize. While it might seem intimidating at first, it's actually a straightforward way to diversify your savings beyond traditional stocks and bonds.

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FLASHBACK FRIDAY – DEWAR’S AT THE NORTH POLE

dewars-n-pole April, 1979 – on the sea ice at 90 North latitude, the North Pole. I was one of the more unusual Profiles for Dewar’s Scotch. It was the 3rd of my 21 expeditions to the very top of our planet. One thing that stood out for me was the photographer brought false ice cubes of carved polished crystal for the photo you see of a glass of scotch perched on a small pressure ridge. That’s the way the pros do it. One genuine item he brought was a case of Dewar’s. We had one heck of a party on top of the world! (Glimpses of Our Breathtaking World #75 photo of Jack Wheeler)

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THE TOMB OF THE FRAGRANT CONCUBINE

tomb-of-the-fragrant-concubinePrincess Iparhan, granddaughter of the ruler of the Silk Road oasis of Kashgar, was so famous for her beauty and the intoxicating natural aroma of her body that the Manchu Emperor far to the east called for her. She was 22, the year was 1756. The Emperor became completely infatuated with her, making Iparhan his Imperial Noble Consort, loving her deeply until her death 33 years later in 1789.

In mourning, the Emperor kept his promise to her that her body would be returned to Kashgar and buried in the mausoleum of Apak Hoja, built in 1640 by her Apaki family. And there she rests today. Everyone in Kashgar and beyond, however, knows the mausoleum as The Tomb of the Fragrant Concubine.

It’s a wonderfully romantic legend, and even though there are several conflicting versions, let’s hope this one is true. Regardless, a visit to this peaceful shrine is certainly memorable. (Glimpses of Our Breathtaking World #54 Photo ©Jack Wheeler)

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BUZKASHI

buzkashiSong Kul. Kyrgyzstan. Here, 10,000 feet high along the shores of Lake Song Kul, Kyrgyz nomads play buzkashi, where men on horseback fight with whips, fists, elbows over a goat carcass (simulated for us in a heavy canvas bag) weighing some 40 pounds. There are no rules. Whoever gets the carcass to the goal line and drops it into the circle there, scores.

This ancient game has been played for thousands of years by the nomads of Mongolia, Afghanistan, and Central Asia. The nomads who encamp at Song Kul are playing fiercely but actually having a lot of fun – laughter abounds. After the game, we had a cup of kumiss, slightly alcoholic fermented mare’s milk, with them. An experience never to be forgotten. (Glimpses of Our Breathtaking World #281 photo ©Jack Wheeler)

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THE MOST ANCIENT SYMBOL OF REVERENCE FOR EXISTENCE

swaswallI found this religious decoration on the outer wall of an old mosque in the three-thousand year-old Silk Road oasis city of Bukhara. I’ve seen it in many places throughout the world, such as ancient ruins of India and Rome. Yet this is far older – it was carved onto mammoth ivory by Ice Age hunters in Ukraine 12,000 years ago.

From time immemorial has it represented eternity, prosperity, the centeredness of all that is. Why? Look up into the sky on a clear dark night. All people have studied the heavens for eons. You could always know where you were by finding North, for the two front stars of what we call the Big Dipper point to it – always.

The Greeks called it Mega Arktikos, the Great Bear – why we call Far North the Arctic today. The ancients saw the Bear every year rotating around Celestial North – now occupied by Polaris, the North Star – through all four seasons, while all the stars in the sky circled around it every night. What do you see in this depiction of that seasonal rotation?

the-big-dipper Yes, a Swastika -- Sanskrit for “the goodness of existence.” The most heinous perversion of symbolic art in world history was to take the symbol for the goodness of existence used by people for a dozen millennia – and still revered by Buddhists, Hindus, Moslems and many others to this day – and twist it into a symbol of horrific evil. It’s an informative lesson of history. (Glimpses of Our Breathtaking World #225 photo ©Jack Wheeler)

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STRANGLER FIG

strangler-figChristmas Island, Indian Ocean, Australia. This huge banyan tree no longer exists. It’s been slowly strangled to death for up to a century.

Seeds of fig vines were deposited by bird droppings in the upper branches of the tree, which sprouted and began to grow downward along the tree trunk, sucking nutrients from the tree along the way. Slowly year after year, they coil and wrap around the entire trunk to the ground, literally strangling the tree out of existence until all that’s left are the huge enveloping fig vines. It’s hollow inside – look carefully above the ground roots and you’ll see a shaft of vertical light.

I’ve seen a good many Strangler Figs in the rain forests of Central Africa and the Amazon – but the ones here on Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean are the most spectacular. (Glimpses of Our Breathtaking World #280 photo ©Jack Wheeler)

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NFL HOPING TO WIN BACK CONSERVATIVES WITH SUPER BOWL PERFORMANCE BY SPANISH-SPEAKING MAN IN DRESS

U.S. — The National Football League is apparently working double time to win back its conservative fanbase by planning a Super Bowl halftime show with a Spanish-speaking man in a dress.

Puerto Rican rapper and singer Bad Bunny has officially signed with the NFL to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show in what experts are calling a desperate bid to attract conservative viewership.

"Conservatives are going to love this," NFL Chairman Roger Goodell said. "They're always talking about the brave Latinx people and gender roles."

Bad Bunny, who champions a new masculinity with his floral dresses, short shorts, and pink skirts, topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 2018. This makes him influential enough to reach conservative minds, said experts.

Conservatives gradually dropped out of football during COVID when the league embraced social justice causes such as defunding the police, Black Lives Matter, and kneeling for the National Anthem. The NFL is hoping to change all that with Bad Bunny.

At publishing time, conservative viewership continued to drop off for unknown reasons.

~ Babylon Bee reporting

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HALF-FULL REPORT 09/26/25

Order Rises From Chaos


In a world that cannot be predicted, only the free can survive, and only the free will inherit tomorrow.

The world stands on the precipice of a new era, a saeculum marked by the resurgence of moral clarity, decentralized power, and a collective yearning for truth.

The events of recent weeks have illuminated the fractures within the old order and heralded the rise of a generation determined to reclaim the narrative.

On September 21, 2025, State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, became the epicenter of a transformative movement.

Over 100,000 young Americans gathered to honor Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist whose untimely death had galvanized a generation. Overflow crowds filled adjacent arenas, and the event was streamed over 100 million times, underscoring the widespread resonance of the moment.

At the heart of the memorial stood Erika Kirk, whose public forgiveness of her husband's alleged killer became a symbol of grace and moral fortitude. Her act of mercy, delivered amid profound personal anguish, radiated through millions worldwide, converting grief into ordered energy.

Erika's unwavering faith and resilience embodied the archetype of the new saeculum: a generation capable of transforming personal loss into collective purpose.

As the First Turning gained momentum, the old guard responded with characteristic defensiveness. In a striking display of misplaced priorities, left-wing activists rushed to defend Tylenol (acetaminophen) amid emerging concerns about its potential link to autism when used during pregnancy.

Instead of engaging with the growing body of scientific inquiry, they chose to protect the messenger, not the science. Pregnant women, some of whom identified with leftist ideologies, staged public demonstrations consuming Tylenol, symbolically protesting what they perceived as an attack on their body, their choice.

Globally, entrenched powers are exhibiting signs of desperation in the face of shifting dynamics. From Brazil to Russia, leaders are employing legal systems to imprison or silence their opponents, often under the guise of combating corruption or maintaining national security.

These actions serve to eliminate political competition and consolidate power, raising significant concerns about the erosion of democratic norms and the rule of law worldwide.

Few events have signaled the emergence of a new order more clearly than President Donald Trump’s address at the United Nations. His entry into the chamber with the Teleprompter stalled, escalator faltering, was emblematic: institutions that had long claimed moral and organizational authority were visibly fragile.

Trump enacted the principles of the First Turning. He challenged global institutions to justify their existence, demanding that they act with purpose or cede authority. His insistence that nations secure their borders was a call to the disciplined application of civic energy in defense of ordered society.

The Western European delegation bristled, but Eastern Europe and allies like Poland and Hungary recognized the signal: moral and political authority now emanates from those willing to act decisively in the face of chaos.

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CHILDREN OF THE ICE AGES

jw-at-wilhelmena-bay-antarctica[This Monday’s Archive was originally published on April 5, 2013. It is a reminder that we humans are a heroic species, that Providence expects to be and overcome whatever challenges arise to confront us. It was written while I was in Antarctica.]

____________________________

TTP, April 5, 2013

 

Yes, that’s me at Wilhelmena Bay, Antarctica.  This is a land of ice caps, gigantic glaciers, and frozen earth. The waters of the bay are filled with icebergs, chunks of glaciers calved off and fallen into the sea. In a month or two, the bay will be frozen over with pack ice, but now at the end of the austral summer, it is teeming with life.

Rookeries of gentoo and chinstrap penguins cover the patches of bare earth on the shore. Crabeater and Weddell seals are lounging on the bergs sunning themselves. A pod of humpback whales is slowly skimming the surface, scooping up massive mouthfuls of seawater containing hordes of krill, tiny shrimp upon which they feed.

It is a wondrous world on a sunny summer's day. Soon, however, the sun will vanish over the horizon and not reappear for months, plunging this world into a dark, lifeless, frozen hell. The Ice Ages still exist here, just as they do in the Arctic, where life blooms extravagantly in the northern summer, then vanishes with the sunless winter.

It is a world that seems alien, remote, and exotic to us. Yet it is in this world that our species emerged from evolutionary history. Human beings are children of the Ice Ages - and we make a grave mistake to think we are no longer.

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