Books: On The Suspension Of Belief

What, exactly, is the suspension of belief? Essentially, in fiction, this is where the author creates a situation where one can suspend their belief that “this can’t happen. Give me break”. Sometimes it is really easy, as with books on zombies, vampires, Frankenstein, and so many others within the horror and science fiction genres. Not always. I love a good zombie book (they are not really about the zombies, but about people surviving in tough situations), but I’ve started a few that make it impossible to suspend the belief. Same with some scifi and horror.

You don’t have to believe in what the author is pushing, but a good suspension of believe allows for an excellent read. Consider the Nightside and Secret Histories books by Simon Green: a secrecy place in London called the Nightside? Return of King Arthur? Magic? Druids watching the world? It works. Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files? Magic? Demons? A wizard protecting Chicago? It works.

Harry Turtledove writes excellent alternative history books. Consider his World War series. It relies on the South forcing an end to the Civil War, essentially giving them a win. This all stems from a simple premise: instead of a messenger losing General Lee’s battle orders with them being found by Union soldier, a Confederate notices the drop and hands them back ( look it up, this is real). Instead of the Union winning the battle, what if the Confederacy won, and France and England told President Lincoln to settle, and there was two nations? Resulting in different outcomes in WW1 and WW2?

What brings this up? Two books. The first is Stealing Second. I did not finish this one. Why? Here’s my brief review

I really wanted to like this book. I usually avoid heavily political fiction, even books that agree with my political leanings. They have to be really entertaining for me to make it far in, much less finish. While this is entertaining, there is just too much wrong in order to suspend belief.

Spoilers ahead.

First off, there is a serious issue with the timeline. Things happen way too fast that would never be able to happen in America. In a very short time, the President declares certain guns verboten, then says all guns must be turned in, then puts out an Executive Order suspending the 2nd Amendment, deploys the National Guard, has law enforcement rounding up guns, then citizens are being shot, hung, or thrown in magically appearing detention centers? The main character getting into really good shape and losing lots of weight in a few days? No. Sorry.

Could this happen? With a proper buildup to provide that suspension of belief. But not as laid forth. There is no way that any of what was mentioned could happen without a long buildup. A president could not issue any orders to collect all guns, nor suspend the 2nd Amendment. Nor total martial law. Nor can a president arbitrarily call up the National Guard for domestic use in the manner described. It would take an act of Congress.

And I heavily doubt that the majority of law enforcement and military members would abide by what they are told to do in the book, nor go nuts and shoot and hang fellow Americans. More than likely, most would side with The People in support of the Constitution. You can bet those in Red States would revolt. And would Congress and state government blindly go along with all this? No. The conditions to allow this to happen were not created.

If you read In Due Time by J.K. Jones, and the After Eden series by Austin Dragon, you see those conditions created.

A little thing, they are not “clips”: they are magazines.

It was a good start, but, sorry, no.

Then there is The Second Revolution, which I just finished. What happens in the beginning is similar to the other book, yet, it is much more believable. A better timeline. A better buildup. President in both give illegal orders, yet The Second Revolution provides a more plausible story (I’m trying to avoid spoilers) by creating a proper suspension of belief. In essence, it works where Stealing Second fails.

I’m not trying to discuss politics regarding the two books, just illustrating how little changes can create a better story. Especially since I am very reticent when it comes to political books. I tend not to even like little political references, even ones I agree with, in fiction.

Though, I will say that conservative leaning books, like talk radio, are light years better than liberal ones. 🙂

Read: Books: On The Suspension Of Belief »

Climate Change Is About The Kids Or Something

The Cult Of Gore is getting desperate

(Boston Globe) “CONVINCE ME.”

That’s the gauntlet I threw down weeks earlier to Kelsey Wirth, 44, a seasoned entrepreneur and mother of two who’s the driving force behind Mothers Out Front, the upstart nonprofit throwing house parties (and stroller-dotted Beacon Hill rallies) in an effort to unite Massachusetts mothers in the fight against climate change. I present the perfect test case: a South Shore mom who schleps the kids around in a gas guzzler, spends way too much on winter oil bills, gets scolding letters from her power company about using more kilowatts than the neighbors, and, other than separating trash from recycling, hasn’t given too much mind-share to the cause. (snip)

Forget the polar bears. This is about human mamas protecting their cubs. “We are not an environmental organization,” says Wirth, curled up in her sun-lit kitchen in jeans and a gray sweater, colorful kids’ artwork plastering the walls. “The earth is not our symbol. It’s not about the planet, per se. It’s about our kids. Our goal is to make climate change an issue that mothers care about because they are concerned about their kids’ future.”

That’s funny, since no kid in grade school has actually witnessed statistically significant actual warming

It’s actually more like 8 months, but, no need to quibble.

Read: Climate Change Is About The Kids Or Something »

Is The Game Up For Climate Change Believers?

That’s what UK Telegraph writer Charles Moore states

Most of us pay some attention to the weather forecast. If it says it will rain in your area tomorrow, it probably will. But if it says the same for a month, let alone a year, later, it is much less likely to be right. There are too many imponderables.

The theory of global warming is a gigantic weather forecast for a century or more. However interesting the scientific inquiries involved, therefore, it can have almost no value as a prediction. Yet it is as a prediction that global warming (or, as we are now ordered to call it in the face of a stubbornly parky 21st century, “global weirding”) has captured the political and bureaucratic elites. All the action plans, taxes, green levies, protocols and carbon-emitting flights to massive summit meetings, after all, are not because of what its supporters call “The Science”. Proper science studies what is – which is, in principle, knowable – and is consequently very cautious about the future – which isn’t. No, they are the result of a belief that something big and bad is going to hit us one of these days.

The thing is, “climate change” or whatever you want to call it is not about science, unless we’re discussing political science.

The origins of warmism lie in a cocktail of ideas which includes anti-industrial nature worship, post-colonial guilt, a post-Enlightenment belief in scientists as a new priesthood of the truth, a hatred of population growth, a revulsion against the widespread increase in wealth and a belief in world government. It involves a fondness for predicting that energy supplies won’t last much longer (as early as 1909, the US National Conservation Commission reported to Congress that America’s natural gas would be gone in 25 years and its oil by the middle of the century), protest movements which involve dressing up and disappearing into woods (the Kindred of the Kibbo Kift, the Mosleyite Blackshirts who believed in reafforestation) and a dislike of the human race (The Club of Rome’s work Mankind at the Turning-Point said: “The world has cancer and the cancer is man.”).

Moore goes on to describe how these ideas metastasized throughout the 1970’s along the lines of “environmentalism”, through the 1980’s, and into the 90’s, turning more towards anthropogenic global warming along political lines. James Delingpole refers to these people as “watermelons“, green on the outside, red on the inside, meaning that so many of the pseudo-commies moved into the enviro movement as the Soviet Union and other communist countries were collapsing.

…the international war against carbon totters on, because Western governments see their green policies, like zombie banks, as too big to fail. The EU, including Britain, continues to inflict expensive pain upon itself. Last week, the latest IPCC report made the usual warnings about climate change, but behind its rhetoric was a huge concession. The answer to the problems of climate change lay in adaptation, not in mitigation, it admitted. So the game is up.

The article is supposedly a review of The Age of Global Warming by Rupert Darwall. In the second paragraph of the excerpt, we see “All the action plans, taxes, green levies, protocols and carbon-emitting flights to massive summit meetings, after all, are not because of what its supporters call “The Science”.” That comes close to the reality of “climate change”, but fails to mention that this is all about instituting a Progressive government. Authoritarian. Dictatorial. Control over your life. Control of private entities. Full control of economies. Big Big Government. Fascism. This is the Third Reich without all the mass murder. Maybe. Let’s not forget that Leftists were more than will to turn their eyes away from the 100’s of millions killed by the Soviet Union and China, among other “communist” countries.

I’ve mentioned a few times that Jonah Goldberg referred to Progressivism as “nice fascism”, meaning that they do everything for your own good. But, the disciples are willing to get nasty when people refuse to conform. Witness what happened to now-former Mozilla CEO Brenden Eichs. The Progressive Hit Squad forced him out for failing to hold the proper beliefs.

Again, like always, I’ll point out that if Warmists really believed that Mankind is causing every weather/climate change, mostly through the use of fossil fuels, they might change their behavior. But, they don’t. Because the notion of “climate change” is just part of the gameplan to push Progressive politics worldwide. That sounds rather paranoid, rather conspiracy theory, I know, but sometimes they really are out to get you. And by you, I mean you, because these Progressive think none of the Bad Things, like rising prices, loss of freedom, higher taxes, etc, will happen to themselves.

Alas, the game may be up for the reality of “climate change”, but don’t think the Warmists will ever give up pushing this notion. It’s to important to their overall gameplan to quit.

Read: Is The Game Up For Climate Change Believers? »

Shiny Quarter Politics: Obama Pivots To “Fair Pay”

Which is rather funny, since Obama pays women who work in the White House less than the men

(The Hill) President Obama is preparing to lean on companies that do business with the government with a pair of new executive actions designed to close the wage gap between men and women.

The orders, detailed by a White House official, reflect the latest steps taken by the president to promote income equality without backing from the divided Congress – though both measures are limited in scope.

Obama will unveil the two orders on Tuesday, which marks “Equal Pay Day,” the name given to the point in the year at which an average woman’s pay catches up to what a man doing the same job made in the previous year.

The first measure is meant to prohibit federal contractors from retaliating against employees who discuss their compensation. The White House official stressed that the order will neither compel workers to discuss their pay nor employers to reveal salaries.

That first measure is quite possibly illegal, since it creates law, of which the Executive Branch cannot Constitutionally do.

Obama will also sign a Presidential Memorandum directing Labor Secretary Tom Perez to draft new regulations requiring contractors to report summary pay information – including data on race and sex – to the agency, the official said.

What is the penalty if employers refuse to reveal their private data due to this EO possibly being illegal, since it also skirts the notion of law making?

What is the penalty to the White House, which, again, still pays its female employees less? Let’s face it, this is simply a distraction from the issues that Americans care about, along with a way to attempt to bump up the enthusiasm of the base approaching the mid-terms.

Crossed at Right Wing News.

Read: Shiny Quarter Politics: Obama Pivots To “Fair Pay” »

“Climate Change” Might Possibly Maybe Damage Baseball

Yet another in a long line of $1 movie scary stories

(Straight) The crack of bats this time of year means two things: baseball is back and winter is over.

But Major League Baseball’s spring soundtrack relies heavily on wood from white ash trees treasured for strength and flexibility. And it may soon sound different as a tiny beetle, the emerald ash borer, threatens the northern Pennsylvania stands that for more than a century have supplied wood for bats.

Experts say climate change may alter just how far north and south the tree-killing pest will spread. Northern Pennsylvania is right in the emerald ash borer’s sweet spot.

“If climate change reduces those extreme cold temperatures in northern states, which can kill them, it may allow it to spread north faster,” said Dan Herms, a professor and entomologist at Ohio State University. “But surely they’ll get to where Louisville Slugger is.”

So, nothing concrete, eh? What happened during the previous warm periods?

”We haven’t seen it affect our ability to get logs yet, but it’s knocking on the doorstep,” said Brian Boltz, a general manager at Hillerich & Bradsby. “It’s pretty established both 50 miles [80 kilometres] north and south of our main harvesting areas.”

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Read: “Climate Change” Might Possibly Maybe Damage Baseball »

If All You See…

…is a wonderful Gaia friendly bike, which helps stave off the rising of the seas that will cover the entire east coast, you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is one of my favorite liberals, Alan Colmes, with a post on a court reporter have a bit of a freak out in his transcripts.

Read: If All You See… »

Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup

Happy Sunday! Another gorgeous spring (finally) day in the Once And Future Nation Of America. This pinup is by Edward D’Ancona, with a wee bit of help.

What is happening in Ye Olde Blogosphere? The Fine 15

  1. No Tricks Zone points out that 99% of doctors had an issue with cholesterol, but things change
  2. Raised On Hoecakes discusses licensing in America
  3. The Camp Of The Saints has 5 easy steps to becoming a feminist
  4. The Daley Gator has a message for gun grabber Cuomo
  5. The Jawa Report notes that CAIR thinks women have rights is anti-Islamic
  6. The Other McCain highlights @rapeculture that radical feminists don’t want to discuss
  7. protein wisdom discusses the new jihad
  8. Legal Insurrection discusses the silence of Western feminists
  9. Jammie Wearing Fools covers Chuck Schumer’s latest dopey money spending idea
  10. Joshuapundit has in interesting tidbit about the unemployment bill
  11. Fire Andrea Mitchell has some info to help you dump Firefox
  12. Defy the Narrative has more Common Core wackiness
  13. Capitalist Preservation notes what has happened in Chicago since gun restrictions were lifted
  14. Black & Right has Prop 8 hypocrites
  15. And last, but not least, American Power has more on #unistallFirefox

As always, the full set of pinups can be seen in the Patriotic Pinup category, or over at my Gallery page. While we are on pinups, since it is that time of year, have you gotten your “Pinups for Vets” calendar yet? And don’t forget to check out what I declare to be our War on Women Rule 5 and linky luv posts and things that interest me

Anyone else have a link or hotty-fest going on? Let me know so I can add you to the list. (BTW, since someone asked, the reason I leave links for the previous week up (or you might see a *) is because they are place holders for later in the day or for next weeks. Easier than rewriting all the time. Also, the listing order has to do with how they are added over time, not how good a post is. I just copy and paste from the previous week, then edit. If you see one of the *’s, go ahead and check out the blog anyhow, see if there is an update. I cannot update with my Android during the day.

Read: Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup »

Kansas Legislature Passes Sweeping Pro-2nd Amendment Law

Restoring citizens rights

(AP) Kansas legislators gave final approval Saturday to a bill that would nullify city and county gun restrictions and ensure that it’s legal across the state to openly carry firearms, a measure the National Rifle Association sees as a nationwide model for stripping local officials of their gun-regulating power.

The House approved the legislation, 102-19, a day after the Senate passed it, 37-2. The measure goes next to Republican Gov. Sam Brownback. He hasn’t said whether he’ll sign it, but he’s a strong supporter of gun rights and has signed other measures backed by the NRA and the Kansas State Rifle Association.

Kansas law doesn’t expressly forbid the open carrying of firearms, and the attorney general’s office has in the past told local officials that some restrictions are allowed. The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kan., has prohibited the practice, but the bill would sweep any such ban away, except to allow cities and counties to prevent openly carried weapons inside public buildings.

The measure also would prevent cities and counties from enacting restrictions on the sale of firearms and ammunition, or imposing rules on how guns must be stored and transported. Existing ordinances would be void, and local governments could not use tax dollars for gun buy-back programs.

What this certainly does is remove the “patchwork” of law that makes it difficult for law-abiding citizens to express their 2nd Amendment Right to carry. One the things the gun grabbers do is pass this tiny restriction, that tiny restriction, making it extremely difficult to carry a weapon legally. It gets to a point where law abiding citizens just say “to heck with it”, exactly what the gun grabbers want to happen (of course, criminals do not care, putting law abiding citizens in danger). Even with this new Kansas law, if Governor Brownback chooses to sign it, it can still be difficult. We have something similar in North Carolina, and it can still be difficult, because there are still restrictions. You have to know where you are in terms of government property and federal law.

Here’s where it gets humorous, with Dems/gun brabbers making funny statements

“We don’t want the feds imposing their will on us. We shouldn’t be doing that to the local jurisdictions,” said Rep. Carolyn Bridges, a Wichita Democrat and opponent of the bill.

Ms. Bridges is a big supporter of Obamacare, Medicare expansion, and a host of other federally driven laws. Like most Democrats.

But Jonathan Lowry, director of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence’s efforts to defend gun control policies in court and oppose the lessening of existing regulations, called the Kansas measure “undemocratic.”

“The gun lobby likes to prevent people who believe in sensible gun laws from having a say in protecting their own communities,” Lowry said. “It’s cynical, and it’s dangerous public policy.”

The Brady Center likes to push lots of top down gun restrictions. Common sense means “easy to understand”, not a raft of drips and drabs making it impossible to understand where it is and isn’t legal.

Perhaps these Dems should spend more time dealing with those who carry and use guns illegally, rather than restricting those of us who are law abiding citizens.

Crossed at Right Wing News.

Read: Kansas Legislature Passes Sweeping Pro-2nd Amendment Law »

Just A Girl In A Bikini Getting Tasered For Climate Change

OK, I made up the climate change part, it’s really for some charity

It was kind a good or bad shot, depending on your POV, if you know what I mean

Read: Just A Girl In A Bikini Getting Tasered For Climate Change »

If All You See…

…is extreme storm quickly forming because Someone Else installed a pool, you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is Bookworm Room, with a post on refusing to do business with fascists.

Read: If All You See… »

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