FAKE NEWS - NOT A NEW PHENOMENON

I am glad that I am blogging again. First, I absolutely need to blog in order to keep myself honest about what I am eating.  My blog replaces the need to go to something like a weight-watchers meeting. I suppose that a weight-watchers meeting is effective because people must face their peers each week. I have to face the truth each day.  And every week, on Saturday, I will weigh myself and announce to the world just how effective or ineffective I was in the previous week. Another reason I enjoyed blogging so much, is that I get to espouse some of my feelings about current events and particularly politics. Today I have nuclear weapons on my mind.

Clear thinking people never believed that an agreement regarding North Korea's nuclear weapons program would end the resolve of the North Korean government to seek these weapons. To believe this, one would have to live in the make-believe world of 'the left.'  The Clinton Administration claimed this agreement as one of their major accomplishments. This was fake. It was fake when it was announced. And it seems a bit more fake now as the North Koreans have have detonated a hydrogen bomb in a recent test this past weekend.  Want some more fake news? This was brought to us by the Obama Administration when they announced an agreement with IRAN to end their nuclear program. Is there anyone with an functioning brainstem that believes that this recent agreement with IRAN has caused that country of fine gentlemen to give up their nuclear ambitions?  Seriously, do you or anyone you know believe this? 

When The New York Times reported that the United States and North Korea signed an agreement to end North Korea's nuclear ambitions it was REAL NEWS. It was REAL NEWS about a FAKE AGREEMENT. In my mind, REAL NEWS ABOUT SOMETHING FAKE is still FAKE NEWS.


Let's take a trip in the 'wayback machine' all the way back to October 22, 1994. 

U.S. and North Korea Sign Pact to End Nuclear Dispute
By ALAN RIDING, Published: October 22, 1994 

GENEVA, Oct. 21— After almost four months of difficult negotiations, the United States and North Korea signed an agreement today to end their dispute over North Korea's nuclear program but kept secret many details of how the accord will be put into effect.

The chief American negotiator, Robert L. Gallucci, said the two sides had signed a separate confidential document that is more specific than the four-page "agreed framework" that was made public after its signing at the North Korean mission to the United Nations here.

He insisted that the secret document was consistent with the main agreement and would be made available on a confidential basis to senior members of Congress. "Documents of this sort are not unusual in international agreements," he added.

Mr. Gallucci implied but would not say North Korea had asked that parts of the agreement not be divulged. "We agreed to respect the confidentiality of this document," he said.

The document is believed to address some of the questions raised by the public agreement, notably the issue of when North Korea will ship abroad some 8,000 fuel rods that are now being kept in a cooling pond and could in theory be processed into weapons-grade plutonium.

Under the broad agreement concluded here late Monday, North Korea will freeze its nuclear activities, renounce any ambition to become a nuclear power and open up two secret military sites to inspection by international experts so they can determine whether Pyongyang already has nuclear capability.

In exchange, an international consortium will replace North Korea's current graphite nuclear reactors with new light-water reactors, which are considered less dangerous because they produce little weapons-grade plutonium. The United States also agreed to low-level diplomatic ties with North Korea.

After the signing today, North Korea's chief negotiator, Kang Sok Ju, described it as "a very important milestone document of historic significance" that would resolve his country's nuclear dispute with the United States "once and for all."

He said the agreement, once put into effect, would resolve "all questions of the so-called nuclear weapons development by North Korea" that have raised "such unfounded concerns and suspicions."

"We have neither the intention nor the plan to develop nuclear weapons," Mr. Kang said.

At a news conference in Washington, President Clinton said the treaty was "a good deal for the United States."

"The United States and international inspectors will carefully monitor North Korea to make sure it keeps its commitments," he said. "Only as it does so will North Korea fully join the community of nations."

Washington's long concerns about North Korea's nuclear intentions surged into crisis last spring after North Korea removed fuel rods from a nuclear reactor without permitting monitoring by inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency.

After the Clinton Administration threatened to seek United Nations sanctions against North Korea, former President Jimmy Carter held talks in Pyongyang with North Korea's dictator, Kim Il Sung, that defused the crisis and led to new negotiations with the United States.

These talks were interrupted after one day by the death of President Kim on July 8. But new talks started five weeks later. Although Mr. Kim's son, Kim Jong Il, has not yet been named his successor, Mr. Clinton addressed a so-called "letter of assurance" to him Thursday confirming Washington's commitment to the accord.

The agreement confirms that North Korea will be supplied with two new light-water reactors with a generating capacity of around 2,000 megawatts by "a target date of 2003." Contracts to provide the reactors should be signed within six months, it said. Mr. Gallucci added that South Korea would play "a central role" in financing and supplying the reactors, which are expected to cost about $4 billion.

To compensate North Korea for not refueling a small 5-megawatt reactor and not completing construction of 50-megawatt and 200-megawatt reactors, the United States said it would arrange for North Korea to be supplied with heavy oil -- some 500,000 metric tons annually by 1996 -- for heating and electricity production until the new reactors are operational.

The agreement commits North Korea to freeze all its nuclear activities within one month. It also provides that it dismantle its reactors and related operations and store its spent fuel rods while the light-water reactors are under construction. It will then "dispose of the fuel in a safe manner that does not involve reprocessing" in North Korea.

On the key question of when North Korea's secret sites will be opened for international inspection, the agreement said this would occur when "a significant portion" of the light-water reactor project was completed, "but before delivery of key nuclear components."

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Most of my steps yesterday were from walking throughout the Walworth County Fair in Elkhorn, Wisconsin where we spent the afternoon before seeing Blue Öyster Cult in the evening.

My lunch and dinner choices were made at the Walworth County Fair. I think I did a good job considering all the deep fried higher calorie choices that were available.
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Your Food Diary For:

Sunday, September 3, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Egg - Poached Eggs	300	2	20	25	629	1
Biscuit Ham Slices, 4 slices	60	0	3	9	680	0
	360	2	23	34	1,309	1
L U N C H
BBQ Turkey Leg	600	12	25	74	718	10
	600	12	25	74	718	10
D I N N E R
Hamburger	500	48	25	23	1,189	6
	500	48	25	23	1,189	6
S N A C K S
Red Delicious Apple, 3	285	75	1	2	5	57
	285	75	1	2	5	57
Totals	1,745	137	74	133	3,221	74
Your Daily Goal	2,220	277	74	112	2,300	83
Remaining	475	140	0	-21	-921	9
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 290 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 238.9 lbs in 5 weeks

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M/M Jacobs before the Blue Öyster Cult Concert

KOBAYASHI MARU

My 9th grader told me that she has an assignment at school to write an essay on what the United States should do about the nuclear weapons program in North Korea. I wonder if her teacher is familiar with the Kobayashi Maru? (hint: Star Trek reference)  I believe that even Captain Kirk would be stumped by this one. We know what won't work. And I have not heard from anyone who has some good idea that does not involve the destruction of South Korea as collateral damage. I believe we can thank both President Carter and President Clinton for pretending to solve this problem nearly 25 years ago.  The lie that the problem was resolved 25 years ago is just like the lie that the problem in Iran was solved last year. My point is that the solution is unknown. Captain Kirk defeated the Kobayashi Maru stimulation by cheating, but he did beat it. Clinton, Carter and Obama 'defeated' rogue nuclear weapons proliferation by pretending to solve the problem. 

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OPINION

EDITORIAL

You can thank Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton for North Korea’s nukes

By Post Editorial Board

January 6, 2016 | 8:54pm

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North Korea’s boast that it just detonated its first hydrogen bomb met instant doubts from the White House and arms experts. If they’re right, Pyongyang “only” has plain-old atomic bombs. What a . . . relief? But, as one Chinese expert told The Wall Street Journal, the H-bomb claim still shows that tyrant Kim Jong-un is “marching in that direction.” For all this, thank Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. North Korea couldn’t have done it without their gullibility. Back in 1994, President Clinton prepared to confront North Korea over CIA reports it had built nuclear warheads and its subsequent threats to engulf Japan and South Korea in “a sea of fire.” Enter self-appointed peacemaker Carter: The ex-prez scurried off to Pyongyang and negotiated a sellout deal that gave North Korea two new reactors and $5 billion in aid in return for a promise to quit seeking nukes. Clinton embraced this appeasement as achieving “an end to the threat of nuclear proliferation on the Korean Peninsula” — with compliance verified by international inspectors. Carter wound up winning the Nobel Peace Prize for his dubious efforts. But in 2002, the North Koreans ’fessed up: They’d begun violating the accord on Day One. Four years later, Pyongyang detonated its first nuke. Now, the Obama administration (long content to kick the North Korea can down the road) says it will never “accept” a nuclear North Korea. Funny: The president said the same thing about Iran, then cut a deal that guarantees the ayatollahs go atomic. Yet North Korea is more of a wild card, a concentration camp of a nation run by a tiny, ruthless elite. If it ever lives up to its boasts and unleashes that “sea of fire,” will Carter, Clinton and Obama shed public tears for Pyongyang’s victims?

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Your Food Diary For:

Monday, May 15, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Quaker - Instant Oatmeal	600	114	12	24	450	0
	600	114	12	24	450	0
L U N C H
Read - 3 Bean Salad	300	65	0	5	1,500	40
Chicken Tenders	200	14	10	12	520	0
	500	79	10	17	2,020	40
D I N N E R
Grilled Cheese, 2 sandwich	832	74	45	33	700	12
	832	74	45	33	700	12
S N A C K S
Skinny Cow - Salted Caramel Pretzel Ice Cream	480	51	27	6	255	36
	480	51	27	6	255	36
Totals	2,412	318	94	80	3,425	88
Your Daily Goal	3,579	447	119	179	2,300	134
Remaining	1,167	129	25	99	-1,125	46
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g

Your Exercise Diary for:

Monday, May 15, 2017

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
5.0 Mile Urban Hike	69	939
4.5 Mile Urban Hike	74	710
Daily Total / Goal	143 / 30	1,649 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	143 / 210	1,649 / 4,130

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KRYPTONITE AND LEAD

There is a lie that is reported over and over again that Vladimir Putin and the Russians tried to help get Donald Trump elected. It is certainly possible that Putin and the Russians were responsible for the  files and emails released by wikileaks. I have no way of knowing for sure one way or the other.  I know one thing, I do not recall hearing any worries about Russian election intervention during the actual campaign season. It seems that this became Priority 1 when Hillary come in second place in the presidential election. What seems impossible is that Putin is smarter than nearly everyone in America who was convinced that Donald Trump would not and could not possibly be elected right up to and including around 6PM on election day. What seems more likely, is that the Russian government, who Mitt Romney, correctly identified as an adversary in a debate four years ago (before practically being laughed off the stage and ridiculed by Barack Obama and The New York Times and all the other geniuses in America) was trying to weaken future President-Elect Hillary Clinton.  Clearly, those leaks were embarrassing to Hillary Clinton. Poor Hillary, she got all the embarrassment without securing the big prize. Now it might be time to get serious.

Let's imagine for a moment that you are a voter in America. You are a Democrat or Independent and/or simply a supporter of Hillary Clinton. Wikileaks releases documents proving with a shadow of a doubt that the elections were rigged. That is, the democratic primaries, which actually did rig the state primaries in favor of Clinton over Bernie Sanders. And if you think that that is not true, please remind me why Debbie Wasserman Schultz resigned as head of the DNC on the eve of their convention.  And if you think that it is not true that nearly the entire media colluded with Hillary Clinton in order to promote her candidacy, please explain to me why Donna Brazile was sending Hillary questions in advance of debates. All these leaks did show that the election was rigged in Clinton's favor. Donald Trump meanwhile found himself fighting the Democrats, and the Republicans and the media. He had very few endorsers and supporters. I was not an early supporter, I was very skeptical of the man. I remain skeptical although I am clinging to hopefullness..

This thought experiment is not over. Can someone please explain to me how these leaks would make someone who would have voted for Hillary, do a 180° turn and instead vote for Donald Trump. It is simply preposterous.  The media know the value of repeating a lie as often as possible. That is why lies are endlessly repeated. And if my supposition is incorrect, can someone please explain to me why folks on the two coasts who overwhelmingly supported Hillary Clinton were immune to the effectiveness of these leaks. 

Were the voters in California, Washington, Oregon, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, etc some kind of supermen (and superwomen) who had natural shielding from these (wiki)leaks much as lead protects SUPERMAN from the harmful effects of Kryptonite? They sure seemed impervious to the Russian intervention. What makes them so special? Or is it possible, and I would say likely, that the leaks had a minimal effect on the electorate?

As a voter for Trump, I was concerned about some of his more seemingly irrational and outrageous statements and behaviour. Nevertheless, I was voting for future conservative Supreme Court nominees and whole litany of policies that I actually support. There was no amount of wikileaks against Donald Trump that could have swayed me to vote for Hillary Clinton. To do so, I would have to do a 180° turn and vote for everything that I am against. That is, of course, preposterous.

So once again, I ask, how did the Russians help Donald Trump? I think it was their intention to weaken the person they thought would be president. Our President at the time, Barack Obama, said he spoke to Putin personally in the late summer of 2016 and told him to cut it out. On that day that Obama spoke to Putin the problem was solved. Kinda like we solved the problem on the Iran nuclear program. We made an agreement with the honorable Iranians so that problem is completely solved. Hallelujah! Really? If you believe that, I can recommend a bridge that you might be interested in purchasing...

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THIS ENDS THE POLITICAL PONTIFICATIONS FOR THE DAY... Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.  My 'streak' of not eating moronically has now spiked to two consecutive days. Once again, I have stayed away from wildly stupid decisions. It has been weeks since I have stepped on the scale on a Saturday morning, while anticipating a good result. I am expecting to change that this week.

Your Food Diary For:

Sunday, January 22, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Omelette - 3-egg Omelette With Cheese, 3 eggs	425	0	21	28	650	2
Kirkland - Pre-Cooked Bacon, 4 slices	160	0	12	12	700	0
	585	0	33	40	1,350	2
L U N C H
Whole Foods - Smoked Whitefish Chunks	300	0	23	25	850	0
Generic - Green Bean Almondine	100	6	8	3	505	1
Broccoli - Sauted	75	15	1	6	90	1
	475	21	32	34	1,445	2
D I N N E R
Marie Callender - Chicken Pot Pie 10 oz, 1 Pie	610	57	34	17	990	5
	610	57	34	17	990	5
Totals	1,670	78	99	91	3,785	9
Your Daily Goal	3,462	433	115	174	2,300	129
Remaining	1,792	355	16	83	-1,485	120
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g

       Your Exercise Diary for:

Sunday, January 22, 2017

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
9 MILE URBAN HIKE	135	1,552
Daily Total / Goal	135 / 30	1,552 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	373 / 210	4,350 / 4,130

My daughter and I walked 9 miles yesterday. Our first stop was Whitney Young High School where we watched the varsity cheerleaders in the Chicago City competition. We passed a few interesting photo ops along the route...

We passed this cool mural during our 9 mile urban hike.

This globe sits on the plaza of the Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) That 's my daughter sitting on Antarctica.

Our trip home included a stop to take a photo in front of Cloudscape, more commonly known as 'The Bean.'

You will likely need to be a supporter of President Donald J. Trump in order to find this cartoon even remotely humorous. I am a supporter of our 45th President, therefore I find this cartoon Hillaryious. (uh, excuse me, I meant hilarious)

REASON TO BE CHEERFUL

Here is a reason to be cheerful. Yesterday, all of us in the northern hemisphere experienced the shortest day of the year. This means that ever so slowly the amount of sunlight we experience each day will be increasing. In Chicago, for example, sunrise was at 7:15AM and sunset was 4:23PM.  Six months from now, on the summer solstice, officially the first day of summer, Chicago will have a sunrise at 5:16AM and a sunset at 8:30PM. Over the next six months we will be marching towards that day. As I said, that is a reason to be cheerful.

from usatoday.com

Here comes the cold and dark: The winter solstice, the day of the year with the least amount of daylight in the Northern Hemisphere, occurs early Wednesday morning. The solstice happens at the same instant everywhere on Earth. In the U.S., it happens at 5:44 a.m. EST Wednesday (or 4:44 a.m. CT, 3:44 a.m. MT and 2:44 a.m. PT). After the solstice, the amount of daylight slowly starts to get longer again each day. The winter solstice is the exact moment that the Northern Hemisphere is tilted the farthest it ever gets from the sun. During the Northern Hemisphere's winter, the land north of the equator is tilted away from the sun. This lowers the amount of the sun's warming energy that reaches Earth, hence, winter! It's the opposite in the Southern Hemisphere, where Dec. 21 marks the beginning of astronomical summer. On the winter solstice, all places south of the equator have more than 12 hours of daylight, while all locations north of the equator have less than 12 hours of daylight, AccuWeather said.

Of course, I have had a reason to be cheerful every day since November 8th. That was the day that socialism, liberalism, and leftism were shown the door and Americans elected a new president. I have been pretty cheerful for the last six weeks. In fact, I am pretty sure that outside of both coasts, there have been a lot of cheerful Americans greeting each day with a great anticipation of the future. 

With the exception of the 'Clinton Archipelago' most Americans have been very cheerful lately.

Your Food Diary For:

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Omelette - 3-egg Omelette With Cheese	425	0	21	28	650	2
Kirkland - Pre-Cooked Bacon	160	0	12	12	700	0
Essential Everyday - Butter Grits	500	105	5	10	1,700	5
	1,085	105	38	50	3,050	7
L U N C H
Nature Valley Crunchy Oats 'n Honey	190	29	7	3	180	11
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich, 2	760	60	34	18	310	34
	950	89	41	21	490	45
D I N N E R
Subway - Sweet Onion Chicken Teryaki	840	94	26	52	1,980	14
	840	94	26	52	1,980	14
S N A C K S
Fresh Thyme Dark Cocoa Wafers	500	55	30	7	102	48
	500	55	30	7	102	48
Totals	3,375	343	135	130	5,622	114
Your Daily Goal	2,818	352	94	141	2,300	105
Remaining	-557	9	-41	11	-3,322	-9
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 888 extra calories from exercise today

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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
Elliptical Trainer	99	983
Daily Total / Goal	99 / 30	983 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	439 / 210	4,540 / 4,130

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PRESIDENT DONALD J TRUMP

Regular readers (if there are any) of this blog know that Donald Trump was near the very bottom of my choices during the Republican Primaries which were held ages ago. At least it seems that it was ages ago. Once Mr. Trump secured the nomination, he instantly and unambiguously became my first choice in the general election. In my view, leftists and leftism must be stopped. Hillary Clinton, who may be a liar, and criminal who belongs in jail, is guilty of something far worse - she is a leftist. Even if the Democrats had nominated an honest politician who did not belong in prison, that person would still be guilty of being a leftist. Leftism is destroying our country and the entire western world. For that reason, I have vigorously supported Donald Trump. And today, this morning, November 9th, 2016, I have hope that Trump can reverse the course of this once mighty nation. Sure he was a flawed candidate, and likely will continue to be a flawed leader. Who does not have flaws? I am behind my new president all the way. Congratulations, Mr Trump! And way more importantly... Congratulations America! 

President Elect Donald Trump 3:02AM ET at Trump Headquarters in New York City

During the day, I received notification from fitbit that I had earned the GREAT WALL badge. Is it just me, or does anyone see the irony of earning the GREAT WALL badge on the same day that America elected a President who has promised to build a 'great wall?'

Before I settled down to watch the election returns, I snuck in a 10 mile hike (mostly in darkness) around Shipshewana, Indiana. It was my plan to walk along the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail, which I managed to hook up with for about one mile. Perhaps this paved trail was beautiful, I have no idea...it was dark. 

Your Food Diary For:

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Quaker - Instant Oatmeal - Original	400	76	8	16	300	0
Kelloggs - Raisin Bran Cereal	500	121	3	13	552	47
	900	197	11	29	852	47
L U N C H
Sloppy Joes	500	10	16	36	772	0
Homemade - Salad - Potato - German	101	15	4	1	94	1
Barrel O' Fun - Pretzel, Mini Twists	110	23	0	3	410	1
Chocolate Chip Cookies	500	71	21	4	479	42
	1,211	119	41	44	1,755	44
D I N N E R
Subway - Sun Chips- Harvest Cheddar	210	27	9	4	320	3
Subway - Footlong Turkey Breast on Wheat	560	92	17	36	1,890	11
Gatorade Whey Protein bar mint chocolate	360	42	12	20	180	28
	1,130	161	38	60	2,390	42
S N A C K S
Classic Coffee Cake	500	73	21	6	513	40
	500	73	21	6	513	40
Totals	3,741	550	111	139	5,510	173
Your Daily Goal	3,796	474	126	190	2,300	142
Remaining	55	-76	15	51	-3,210	-31
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,866 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 210.5 lbs in 5 weeks     

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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
TEN MILE HIKE	138	1,866
Daily Total / Goal	138 / 30	1,866 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	305 / 210	3,935 / 4,130

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President-Elect Donald Trump
'Who'd a thunk it?' - anonymous
'It always seems impossible until its done' - Nelson Mandela
'Nothing is impossible – some things are just less likely than others' – Jonathan Winters
'Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done' – Louis D Brandeis
'The difference between impossible and the possible lies in a man’s determination' – Tommy Lasorda
'We would accomplish many more things if we did not think of them as impossible' – Vince Lombardi
'It is impossible to win the race unless you venture to run, impossible to win the victory unless you dare to battle' – Richard M DeVos
'Some of the world’s greatest feats were accomplished by people not smart enough to know they were impossible' – Doug Larson
'In order to attain the impossible one must attempt the absurd' – Miguel de Cervantes
'It’s kind of fun to do the impossible' – Walt Disney