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Co-founder of GraniteGrok, my concern is around Individual Liberty and Freedom and how the Government is taking that away. As an evangelical Christian and Conservative with small "L" libertarian leanings, my fight is with Progressives forcing a collectivized, secular humanistic future upon us. As a TEA Party activist, citizen journalist, and pundit!, my goal is to use the New Media to advance the radical notions of America's Founders back into our culture.
Scales of Justice

DISQUS Doodlings – This isn’t how ANY of this works, Bruce!

Well, Peter’s post “Republicans must not cower in the face of Democratic treachery” is getting a bunch of traction in the comments section and as I do from time to time, I mix it up in the comments instead of just putting my thoughts here on the front page.  This time, I just couldn’t help myself in keeping it short and when I was done with one comment by Bruce Currie.

Sidenote: one of the few Liberals that come here to joist with us, I give him the rubric of “honest Liberal” as he is almost always consistent in his views and tries to have a decent conversation; I am hoping he’ll come to one of our MeetUps so as to meet him in person!

Anyways, near the current end of the DISQUS section, he left this on the ongoing allegation concerning Trump’s SCOTUS nominee, Bruce Brett Kavanaugh (emphasis mine, H/T: To commenters Paul and Allen for spotting the error):

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After Action Report: ‘Grok MeetUp at the Londonderry Fish and Game Club yesterday

“…and the whole screen goes blue…the tannerite was so hot it shifted the colors..everything else was that cool in comparison…”

Well, the skies were clear, a nip of autumn was in the air (but still short sleeve weather for most), the smell of hot dogs (DANG – I forgot to bring my chili!) and hamburgers was in the air.  And the firing of guns – including some sub-machine guns and a couple of belt-fed .30 (and was one a .50?) kept the background atmosphere perfect for talks about politics.  Lots of subjects but especially that of the recent Primary election results and talk of what might happen in the General Election.  Especially since Republican candidate for US Congress in the Second District Steve Negron and family showed up. In all, about 15 – 20 folks showed up in total – I was a bit disappointed hoping that the LFGC gun ranges might have enticed a few more folks but hey, that’s how it goes!

Oh, that image above?  From commenter Allen’s SEEK IR camera attachment?  The video of me

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Data Point: So the next time Democrats (especially NH ones) say we need policies like Europe

Decisions have consequences. So do policies.  And while Democrats all over keep insisting that “we’re the only industrialized nation that doesn’t <insert their latest policy complaint here>”, they aren’t all that willing to talk about the consequences of their policies.

Like Venezuela (but the right people haven’t done Socialism right – WE CAN DO IT! Just ask Molly Kelly, the financial advisor genius). And, pretty much, most of Europe.  So, why do the Dems want us to be more like them when our standard of living (mostly) is far better than theirs?

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Chuck Schumer

From my stack of stuff – Chuckie Schumer is wrong about the Presidency

“The job of the President is to make Americans’ lives better.”

Note: this was supposed to be a Quick Thought.  Once again, it didn’t turn out that way.

Really?  That’s the main purpose of being President? That line, by the way, was from US Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) on  ” This week with Georgie Steaphanopoulos” back on March 16, 2018

Hmmm. Now I realize that I’m not bonafide Constitutional scholar but I do read it, I bet, much more often than most.  I am confused, however, as I’ve never read that in the US Constitution.  He’s a sitting Senator (been there so long I can’t understand why he hasn’t already calcified in place), and he and I (both of us being elected officials) swore oaths of allegiance to protect said Constitution – wouldn’t that ALSO mean knowing what it says and doing nothing that would violate its precepts.

So what does the Constitution actually say about his duties?

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Ads. Well, with Grok 3.0, yes, we accept them!

Banners ads at the top, banners at the bottom, Sidebar ads, embedded post ads, in between posts….yes, we’re now accepting ads.  Sponsored or paid posts – yes.  When GrokTALK! returns, spots will be available. Sponsor an event that we hold or cover. And don’t forget about our Daily ‘Grok as well!   We’re also doing sponsorships of … Read more

Everytown Endorses Anti-Gunners in NH Hillsborough and Rockingham Counties

[Art.] 2-a. [The Bearing of Arms.] All persons have the right to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families, their property and the state.
December 1, 1982

“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.“

So, these anti-gun and anti-NH Constitution candidates have been endorsed by Big Democrat money (Nanny Bloomberg who keeps this group alive) “Everytown For Gun Safety” (incremental civilian disarmament is more truthful) Hillsborough and Rockingham Counties.

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A commentary on Liberals and Kavanaugh by Kurt Schlichter

I can’t always pull quotes or adequately summarize his Townhall columns but they are really amusing and will become part of my contributions to Grok 3.0 “Around the Web” (or as Steve calls it: “Stuff we’d like to blog about but haven’t had the time,” which I think is a more descriptive title).  So here he is in his own video podcast, “TAKE THAT! with Kurt Schlichter” on the Democrat agenda of personal destruction aimed at Conservatives:

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Speaking of going to “the next level”, the next tranche of gear has arrived

And it solves three problems for us

  1. We have anti-noise headsets – really light on good microphones
  2. We keep getting asked to bring a PA system with us – didn’t have one
  3. You’ve seen me schlepping bags, and boxes, and more bags, and cases to events.

And it took upwards of an hour for set up and then again to take it all apart.  Add to that time constraints – not being able to get in early enough and then being chased out because the venue rental time was too short.  Both of which generally meant I and the rest of the Groksters looked rather “stuck up” and not able to yak with all of you that came up to events and I had to keep apologizing for not being able to talk.  Which, is quite important (and many of you always offered to be Sherpas in getting stuff in and out – God sends!!)

So, engineers either go redneck to solve problems when $$ is an issue or engineer more elegant solutions when finances become less of a constraint. We’ve dealt with the former for years, donations have made it possible to do the latter given what we’ve been growing into.

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Grok 3.0 – so where is it?

Well, it is taking a bit more time than we thought but a lot of progress has been made over the last two weeks.  There’s some “under the hood” work still left to be done but the general outline is pretty much set (albeit with test data from a while ago).  A lot of our posts, images, and the like have been ported over (from when we first opened in 2006 to just before “current times”)

Grok 3 - screenshot 1

A couple of new features – like New Media Militia (above) and Around the Web (which is getting renamed, after the jump): places for us to drop links that we thought interesting but had no time to blog about them / their content but we think they’re important. A couple of more screenshots:

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ICYMI: GrokMeetup – Reminder: Londonderry Fish and Game Club

UPDATE: Tickets will be $10 and will cover hot dogs, hamburgers, non-alcoholic drinks et al.  Please click here to use EventBrite so we can figure out how much food to bring!

That’s right, the second GraniteGrok MeetUp is this Saturday from 11-2 pm. Yep, more talk, vittles and BANG! BANG! BANG! As always, what’s going on with and on the ‘Grok, current events, and of course (with it being the season), election talk as well. We’ll have use of their grill so we’ll bring the hot dogs and hamburgers and such (I guess I should make up some chili to put on the hot dogs – Mmmm!). We’ll start taking a count next week so as to know how much food to get.

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SDGANH Improving Governance Seminar Series – Legal Basis: Fact or Fiction. Believe your Superintendent or actual NH’s Education Law?

SDGANH Logo Large

Improving Governance Seminar Series

Legal Basis: Fact or Fiction

As a School Board or Budget Committee member, do you often wonder what your statutory authority is and where it comes from? How can you reconcile what your Superintendent tells you versus what the NH RSAs (e.e., NH Law) command you to do?

Join us for a discussion of what is fact and what is fiction at the first SDGA seminar of the season. Bring your questions! Register here via email.

SPEAKER: 
Jorge Mesa-Tejada 

Former Hampstead School Board member (8 years) &
Budget Committee member (16 years)

Saturday, September 22, 2018 
9:00 am – 12:00 pm 
Nackey Loeb School of Communications 
749 East Industrial Park Drive, Manchester, NH 

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The difference between Socialism and Capitalism?

This Facebook comment left on my Notable Quote post on Capitalism being a moral system earned the right to be promoted – best explanation of socialism vs capitalism!

One reason Capitalism is superior, maybe the primary reason, is because it treats people better than Socialism. In Socialism, everyone is either a resource and/or just another mouth to feed…a burden. I’d rather be treated as a customer with others trying to figure out how to best satisfy my needs.

And this is exactly the point that most people miss – the whole point of the supply side of Capitalism is NOT to steal your money and be greedy rich – it doesn’t work that way even as the Left (and the MSM) try to portray it that way.  They always seem to miss two very important points:

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DISQUS Doodlings at Treehugger: “Actually, there is just one key action needed to fight climate change: Vote.” – Part 1

Part 1 – that is, if I can keep myself on target for the rest.  The above quote is the title of a post by Lloyd Alter in stating that there is really only one way to solve the Climate Change crisis – and that is to vote and he goes on to say there are lots of things that can be done, proposes 5 main themes, and then admits that because folks like him and those at TreeHugger have failed to persuade Normal folks like us to voluntarily take up the hairshirt and ditch our cars, get rid of our stuff, live in tiny apartments and have to shop every day for groceries because of small fridges (it’s good for you to be out and talk to your neighbors!) and have to walk everywhere……we’ll use our votes to force Government to force you to live the way we want you to (emphasis mine):

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A bit more on Antifa calling to disarm “fascists” – not such a hot idea

My post about Antifa calling for its adherents to disarm “fascists” (who are merely exercising their Second Amendment Rights while Antifa is, well, acting like real fascists in denying speech and other rights and bullying everyone else) caught some attention. Especially Grokster Rick who served as a US Marine, headed up the armory at Parris Island, is a former police officer, and is an expert firearms instructor. So at our impromptu Grokster gathering, he did an impromptu video lesson as to why things would not go well for Antifa if they tried such an act.

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Notable Quote – Eamonn Butler

[Capitalism] is a highly moral system too. The human relationships in capitalism are not forced but voluntary. People invest, create, supply, buy and sell things as they choose. No government ordains their actions: the decisions are theirs. Indeed, the only role for the power wielded by the state is to ensure that individuals are not … Read more

Data Point – Individual Income Taxes set record

The federal government collected a record $1,521,589,000,000 in individual income taxes through the first eleven months of fiscal 2018 (October 2017 through August 2018), according to the Monthly Treasury Statement released today. Yet, the Progressive / Socialist / Democrats keep saying we have a revenue problem.  Seriously? However, the federal government also ran a deficit … Read more

Another datum supporting the idea that Climate Change is all about the $$ and not “degrees”

Who knew that there was a Bangkok climate change conference, not to talk about climate change, but to talk about our Benjamins? It seems this whole thing is about “your money becoming our money, you greedy developed nations!”. So who is really surprised at this….at all?

Meet fails to agree climate change rules

…Espinosa [UNFCCC Executive Secretary] said there was “limited progress” on the issue of contributions from developed nations to developing countries, adding that she is “hopeful” that future discussions will be productive because of the importance of the issue.

“On the core issues of forward-looking climate finance and the degree of flexibility developing countries should be given on the information and reporting requirements for national commitments under the Paris Agreement, negotiators were stalemated in Bangkok,” said a statement from Alden Meyer, director of strategy and policy for the Union of Concerned Scientists, a US-based activist group.

So it really wasn’t all about emissions (if you’ve been keeping up with this clap-trap, you already knew all this.  After all, the US has been lowering its emissions for years WITHOUT Govt or pseudo-treaties that international groups have been using like Lilliputians. And here’s the main “gimme, gimme, gimme”:

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Speaking about Climate Change and Degrees…

It doesn’t seem to be much “there”, does there? The seasonally-adjusted global average temperature fell slightly to +0.19 °C (+0.34 °F) as nearly all regions of the globe cooled relative to their July readings.  For the first 8 months of the 2018 calendar year, the atmosphere is averaging a departure from average of +0.23 °C … Read more

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