MARRANOS IN AMERICA

I start today by publishing a column written by Dennis Prager who describes what it is like to be a Conservative, or Republican or certainly a Trump supporter in America today.  Oftentimes, Republicans, Conservatives and certainly Trump supporters must do so in secret. Take the time to read Prager's column below and then I will make my prediction about the special election in Alabama tonight.

Conservatives in America – Like Marranos in Medieval SpainTue, Sep 5, 2017  •  Column

For those unfamiliar with the term, Marranos was the name given to Jews in medieval Spain, especially in the fifteenth century during the Spanish Inquisition, who secretly maintained their Judaism while living as Catholics in public.

There is, of course, no Spanish Inquisition in America today – no one is being tortured into confessing what they really believe, and no one is being burned at the stake. But there are millions of Marrano-like Americans: Americans who hold conservative views – especially those who hold to conservative positions on social issues and those who voted for Donald Trump for president.

Millions of Americans who hold conservative and/or pro-Trump views rationally fear being ostracized by their peers, public humiliation, ruined reputations, broken families, losing their job, and being unable to work in their field. Under these circumstances, they have decided that coming out as conservative or pro-Trump is not worth the persecution they would.

In terms of the percentage of the population affected, there is no parallel in American history. Coming out as a homosexual prior to the 1960s-70s, or publicly announcing that one was member of the Communist Party in the 1950s would have often led to similar dire consequences in one’s social, work and family life. But gays and Communist Party members comprised a tiny percentage of the American population. And one of them, Communists, supported true evil.

I wish I could share all the emails sent to me from professional musicians who play in some of the premier orchestras of America. They wrote to me following the nationally publicized attempts by left-wing members of the orchestra and of the Santa Monica city government to prevent me from conducting: they publicly called on members of the Santa Monica Symphony Orchestra to refuse to play, and members of the public to refuse to attend, when I conducted a Haydn symphony at the Walt Disney Concert Hall three weeks ago.

These emails were written to encourage me, and to tell me how they are compelled to hide their conservative views – how they live, in effect, as Marranos.

A violist with one of the most prestigious orchestras in the country (I figured out which orchestra using the Internet; she was afraid to tell even me) wrote to me last week about how quiet she is about her conservatism. While she could not be fired for it, she said, she would be socially ostracized within the orchestra with which she has played for decades.

Another middle-aged professional musician told me that he wears his hair very long in order to appear hippie-like as a decoy to camouflage his conservative politics. He is no more likely to tell fellow musicians that he supports President Trump than a Marrano in medieval Spain would have gone public with his Jewish beliefs.

And here’s part of an email to me from a musician in Minnesota: “I was a professional musician from the age of 17. I wanted you to know that I, too, lost my career because of my views. My choice, actually; I just could no longer take the abuse.”

I’m fortunate. As a radio talk-show host and columnist, I’m paid to express my opinions. And as to my avocation of conducting orchestras, I’m lucky there, too. Because the permanent conductor of the Santa Monica Symphony and the orchestra’s board remained principled, and because so many people support me and my values, the efforts to thwart me failed. Disney Hall, all 2,000-plus seats, was sold out – a first for a community orchestra in that venue.

Of course, American conservative Marranos don’t only live in the world of music. They are in every profession. We know about the high-profile cases, the conservatives whose careers have been ruined by saying the “wrong” thing or supporting the “wrong” candidate or ballot proposition; we know about the conservative speakers who have been physically attacked and prevented from speaking on college campuses. But we don’t know about the millions who are just afraid to speak up, who remain silent in a business meeting or at a dinner party when someone casually expresses a view that they strongly disagree with. These Americans live in fear, legitimately so in many cases, that if they do speak out, there will be severe consequences – a job lost, a promotion not given, even a child who will no longer speak to them.

This is all new in our country.

Had anyone ever predicted that in America – the land renowned more than any other for liberty and free speech – the word “Marrano” would ever accurately characterize any of its citizens, let alone close to half the voting population, that individual would have been regarded as a charlatan.

But, given the intolerance and hatred on the left and its dominance over almost every area of American life, such an individual would have been a prophet.

The polls trying to predict the outcome of the special senatorial election in Alabama are all over the map. What kind of lunatic pro-Moore supporter would publicly admit it? I predict he wins big. I could care less if he is driven out of the Senate once elected by an ethics committee. The job of Republicans, Conservatives and Pro-Trump supporters is to keep the Senate seat out of the hands of a leftist Democrat. Why is the logic of this choice so difficult?  I predict that when the votes are counted, we will learn that the decision was not difficult at all. THE MARRANOS IN ALABAMA WILL VOTE FOR THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE. See you tomorrow. I will be either pleased that my prediction was correct or I will be busy wiping egg off my face. Either way, I will be here.

Your Food Diary For:

Monday, December 11, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Grits	400	88	6	8	1,240	4
Kirkland - Bacon	160	0	12	12	700	0
	560	88	18	20	1,940	4
L U N C H
Smoked Salmon Roll	500	61	20	16	0	0
	500	61	20	16	0	0
D I N N E R
Speedy Chicken and Cheese, 1 Sandwich	420	62	7	25	1,400	11
Ruffles Cheddar Sour Cream Chippers	400	38	25	5	450	3
M&M - Candies, Peanut-Butter	420	46	22	8	170	38
	1,240	146	54	38	2,020	52
Totals	2,300	295	92	74	3,960	56
Your Daily Goal	3,834	479	127	192	2,300	143
Remaining	1,534	184	35	118	-1,660	87
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,904 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 212.4 lbs in 5 weeks

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DEMOCRATS ARE WINNING

Trump won the election, the war. Democrats have basically won the smaller battles ever since. They created this fake story that Russian interference and Russian collaboration with the Trump campaign was the reason that Hillary Clinton lost. This preposterous, false story has been the biggest (fake) news story for the past few months. Not a shred of evidence has ever been produced, but that matters not to the Democrats and the media. They are winning. One hopes that the President continues to fight. The next fight will be the daily sparring with the 'special prosecutor' just appointed yesterday afternoon. 

The fake news story that Putin secretly controls Trump is the basis for so much comedy these days.  Perhaps  the comedy would be funnier, if the story was even remotely true. 

Your Food Diary For:

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Bagel With Cream Cheese, 1 bagel	400	58	12	13	780	4
	400	58	12	13	780	4
L U N C H
Peanut Butter - Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich	600	47	27	14	245	27
	600	47	27	14	245	27
D I N N E R
Hy-Vee Spinach Salad, w/roast beef, cheese, bacon, etc	1,000	0	0	0	0	0
	1,000	0	0	0	0	0
Totals	2,000	105	39	27	1,025	31
Your Daily Goal	1,996	249	66	100	2,300	74
Remaining	-4	144	27	73	1,275	43
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g

WHY IS BERKELEY SPECIAL?

Wednesday night there was a riot at the University of California - Berkeley. How is this possible? I thought that colleges were places were there was supposed to be diversity. (Diversity on a college campus is a gigantic lie.) I thought colleges were places where there was the free and open exchange of ideas. Here is the truth. Ideas and thoughts on college campuses are tolerated as long as they are leftist. Anti-left ideas are not tolerated. Colleges in America today are inching ever closer to totalitarianism. They are fascist. They professors and administrators are actually raising fascists. The students are not being taught, they are being indoctrinated. The college campus today in America in far too many places is a very sick, twisted, NON-LIBERAL place. Why is Berkeley special? It isn't.

And I have another couple of questions.  How is it possible that there were no arrests in the aftermath of these riots perpetrated by these thugs? As long as authorities allow these 'snowflakes' (thugs) to lash out (riot) without any consequences, they will certainly continue to do so. Eventually, it will be not only property that is damaged. Someone will be killed. Where is the 'safe place' for a conservative on campus these days? I know where the 'safe space' should be. A safe space for a conservative (or leftist) should be anywhere within America's borders. 

Your Food Diary For:

Thursday, February 2, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Quaker - Instant Oatmeal- Maple	800	160	10	20	1,300	60
	800	160	10	20	1,300	60
L U N C H
Mostaccioli With Meat Sauce	520	76	14	24	1,080	14
	520	76	14	24	1,080	14
D I N N E R
Marie Callender - Chicken Pot Pie	610	57	34	17	990	5
Sargento Natural - Provalone Cheese, 3 slice	210	0	15	15	405	0
Volpi - Traditional Prosciutto Dry-cured Ham	210	3	15	24	2,070	0
	1,030	60	64	56	3,465	5
S N A C K S
Jack Link's - Original Beef Stick	330	6	24	15	1,230	3
	330	6	24	15	1,230	3
Totals	2,680	302	112	115	7,075	82
Your Daily Goal	3,038	380	101	152	2,300	114
Remaining	358	78	-11	37	-4,775	32
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g

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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Thursday, February 2, 2017

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
7 mile urban hike	103	1,246
Daily Total / Goal	103 / 30	1,246 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	344 / 210	3,829 / 4,130

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FIRST AMENDMENT

Milo Yiannopoulos: Berkeley riot 'self-defeating for the social justice left'

Published February 02, 2017 

 FoxNews.com

FacebookON

Breitbart editor Milo Yiannopoulos said Wednesday that the riot that canceled his planned speech at the University of California-Berkeley was "heavily ironic and very, I think, self-defeating for the social justice left. Yiannopoulos' planned talk was scrapped after violent protesters hurled smoke bombs, broke windows and started a bonfire outside the student union where he was to appear. "No one’s safety is at risk from different opinions," Yiannopoulos told "Tucker Carlson Tonight" in a phone interivew. "No one’s physical safety is endangered by political ideas from a speaker on campus, but universities have sort of allowed this stuff to happen, and even in some cases encouraged it." The Berkeley appearance was to be the 32-year-old's last stop on a nationwide college tour that has sparked protests and occasional violence. Yiannopoulos told Carlson that he believes the protesters view him as a proxy for President Donald Trump, whom he vocally supports. "I annoy the feminists and the Black Lives Matter guys probably almost as much as Trump does, certainly on college campuses," Yiannopoulos said. "So, they go for the next best thing. They go for the person they think they can scare. Well, they don’t scare me. I will continue to give college talks until the day I drop dead."Yiannopoulos has made remarks in the past that have been criticized as racist, misogynist, and anti-Muslim. Of his opponents, Milo said, "They never want to debate because they’re scared of losing. They don’t have the facts on their side and for 30 years the left has been able to bully people into silence by name-calling and they’ve forgotten how to argue." "UC Berkeley condemns in the strongest possible terms the actions of individuals who invaded the campus, infiltrated a crowd of peaceful students, and used violent tactics to close down the event. We deeply regret that the violence unleashed by this group undermined the First Amendment rights of the speaker as well as those who came to lawfully assemble and protest his presence," university spokesman Dan Mogulof responded.

SHORT LIVED RELIEF FROM A NIGHTMARE

I had been napping on Saturday afternoon with the TV on. I dreamt that Justice Antonin Scalia had passed away. I remember thinking, that this was extremely bad news for the conservative movement and amazingly bad news for America. I was still dreaming, when I dreamt that I had woken up and that this was not true. What a nightmare I thought. It was a great relief. Sadly, my dream actually ended when I really did wake up and learned that this news was true. I hope that what Senator Mitch McConnell said is true: that the next Supreme Court justice will be picked by the next President of the United States. God help us if that President is Hillary Clinton or self-described socialist, and full-time looney tune, Bernie Sanders. God help us if it is Donald Trump.  Trump has already indicated that he thinks his own sister would be a worthy selection. God Help us if Jeb Bush should get (somehow) elected. The Bush family does not always have a good track record with these things [Justice David Souter, Justice (Obamacare penalty is a tax, except when it is not, but it sometimes is a fine, except when it is not a fine - but a tax) John Roberts].  There is only one man who can be trusTED to make this selection.  His last name is CRUZ. Antonin Scalia was a national treasure. His opinions will be read for decades to come - that is, if we can hold onto this Republic which increasingly is sliding into fascism by the lefties who love diversity of skin color and HATE DIVERSITY OF THOUGHT.  

Justice Antonin Scalia, National Treasure
INTELLECTUAL GIANT, NEVER REALLY LOOKED LIKE A FITNESS ENTHUSIAST

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Saturday that the Senate should wait until a new president is elected to confirm a replacement for Justice Antonin Scalia, whose sudden death Saturday shook Washington and threatened to reshape the 2016 presidential race. 

Democrats said that with 11 months left in President Obama’s tenure, the Senate has enough time — and indeed an obligation — to confirm a replacement. Sen. Harry Reid, the top Democrat in the chamber, said it would be “shameful” to put off a replacement that long.

I am hoping that Mitch McConnell has the 'marbles' needed to make good on this statement. Regarding what Harry Reid said would be shameful. Harry Reid himself is shameful.  I am still waiting for him to explain who told him that Romney failed to pay his income taxes. When has Reid apologized for that shameful lie? 

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Your Food Diary For:

Sunday, February 14, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Hyvee - Apples & Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal	520	108	6	12	640	36
	520	108	6	12	640	36
L U N C H
Starbucks - Reduced Fat Turkey Bacon, 1 Sandwich	230	28	6	13	560	3
Campbell's Chunky - Manhattan Clam Chowder	240	36	6	10	1,600	6
	470	64	12	23	2,160	9
D I N N E R
Sweet Peas (canned)	315	56	0	14	1,015	14
Whole Corn (canned)	315	63	4	11	1,015	14
Oberto - Original Beef Jerky, All Natural	480	36	6	78	2,460	30
	1,110	155	10	103	4,490	58
S N A C K S
Roundy's - Honey Nut Tasteeos	440	88	6	8	560	36
General Mills - Nature Valley - Oats 'n Honey Crunchy Granola Bar, 2 bars	190	29	6	4	160	12
	630	117	12	12	720	48
Totals	2,730	444	40	150	8,010	151
Your Daily Goal	3,889	486	129	195	2,300	145
Remaining	1,159	42	89	45	-5,710	-6
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 1,959 extra calories from exercise today

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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
STAR TRAC ELLIPTICAL	50	1,028
STAR TRAC ELLIPTICAL	50	1,050
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	-119
Daily Total / Goal	101 / 30	1,959 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	766 / 210	13,549 / 4,130

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total calories consumed 2730 calories

total calories burned (elliptical) 2078 calories

total net 652 calories

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fitbit day 161

15356 steps  

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DENNIS PRAGER IS NOT A 'FUN' GUY - BUT HE IS HAPPY

I have spent the past few weeks trying to unravel the enigma of my own mind.  After losing 80 lbs seven years ago - what part of me allowed myself to gain every pound back and tack on nine more?   I have noticed that there are no self-help books at the bookstore with guidelines for gaining weight.  Apparently, most human beings are fully capable of this weight gaining skill without any specialized training.

I cringe when I think about what I have been eating for the past many years.
I cringe when I think about the portion sizes I enjoyed.
I cringe when I think about how often I would get junk from a vending machine late at night.
I cringe when I think that I could find a 'breakfast' in the selections offered by a vending machine.
I cringe when I think about my attitude at a breakfast buffet. (No, it's not an eating contest!)

WHY DID I EAT LIKE THIS?

The answer is quite simple.   IT WAS FUN TO EAT LIKE THAT.
Why would anyone eat a whole pint of ice-cream at one sitting.   IT IS FUN TO EAT.
Why would anyone drink a large high calorie milkshake?  IT IS FUN TO DRINK MILKSHAKES.
Why would anyone eat 10 'Sliders' at White Castle?  IT IS FUN TO EAT SLIDERS.
Why would anyone eat a giant slice of seven-layer chocolate cake?  IT IS FUN TO EAT CAKE. 
Why would anyone visit a vending machine at 11PM at night?  IT IS FUN TO EAT CANDY.

Would anyone feel happier after eating in this fashion?  NEVER. 

In fact, I have been doing the opposite lately.  Certainly it is NOT FUN to avoid tasty, high-calorie foods and drinks and candies and cookies and ice-creams and milkshakes.

I am HAPPIER when I remember to avoid these foods and I remember how much this 'SACRIFICE' is improving my waistline and my health and my attitude.

Dennis Prager, host of 'The Dennis Prager Show' broadcast nationally from L.A.'s KRLA 870 AM radio is my favorite talk radio host, author,  and thinker.   In Prager's 1998 book, 'Happiness is a Serious Problem' (still in print) he addresses this issue:

"FUN THAT DECREASES HAPPINESS 

There is a second type of fun, one that can actually decrease happiness.  I am not referring to anything either immoral or illegal, such as taking drugs.  I am referring to nothing more sinister than, for example, eating fattening food. Eating delicious foods is a great deal of fun, but for many people these foods are more a source of unhappiness than of happiness.  Which group is happier - those who have fun eating all the fattening foods they enjoy, or those who have learned to usually deprive themselves of that fun and keep the body they want?"   (Dennis Prager)

That's it!  That is why I gained every pound back that I had lost.  That is why I gained all that weight in the first place.  It is fun to eat.  It is fun to overeat.  It is fun to eat three slices of pizza. It is fun to drink a giant milkshake.  It is fun to have cookies, cake and ice-cream when planting oneself on the sofa to sit back and enjoy a movie.  Fun is not the same as happiness.  I never felt happier after eating like this.  In fact, the more 'fun' I had eating, the more and more unhappy I became.

Since way, way back on December 24, 2014 I have reversed course.   It is NOT FUN to deprive myself of every sweet delicious food concoction that one can imagine.

As a result of my self-deprivation of junk food, high calorie food and simply too much of all food - I am overwhelmed with a feeling of great HAPPINESS.  

I guess I must admit that I am having less fun - BUT I SURE AM HAPPIER!

The thing is, since I am happier, I am having fun.  
Almost seems to negate the entire premise of my argument.
Believe me, it does not.

And one more thing...I don't know Dennis Prager any better than any of his one million+ radio audience...nevertheless, I am sure he really is a very fun guy! He is definitely a happy guy!

I briefly met Dennis Prager when he was in Chicago on November 3, 2012  (back then I probably weighed slightly under 300 lbs - but who knows - In those days I wasn't jumping onto a scale too often - or at all!)

MONDAY'S MENU

Monday was another low calorie day (DAY 27) as they have all been since December 24, 2014.

BREAKFAST   three poached eggs with two slices of turkey 'bacon'                       280 CALORIES
LUNCH            2 cups Healthy 8 Chopped Veggie Mix, CHICKEN SAUSAGE            200 CALORIES
DINNER            Premium Black Angus Steak Tips 4 oz, 3 Cups Baby Spinach
                            w/two tablespoons of Marie's Balsamic Vinaigrette Salad Dressing            255  CALORIES            
                               
 TOTAL CALORIC CONSUMPTION SUNDAY        735 CALORIES

I had Midnight 12:30AM morning 4 mile walk @ 4 MPH for 60 minutes - BURNED 600 CALORIES

Since Monday was a holiday and I was home for the day, I visited the treadmill again in the afternoon.

1:30PM  4 mile walk @ 4 MPH for 60 minutes - BURNED ANOTHER 600 CALORIES.

NET CALORIC INTAKE WAS NEGATIVE 465 CALORIES

I think that I can assume that a lot of the energy needs of my body yesterday came from my extraordinarily ample storehouse of fat cells.

The hardest thing for me to resist these days, is not chocolate, or a Klondike Ice Cream Bar - it IS the urge to step onto a scale.   For the time being, I would like to weigh myself once per week and I am sticking to that plan. 

                     LUNCH  2 cups Chopped Veggie Mix & CHICKEN SAUSAGE  200 CALORIES

DINNER  Black Angus Steak w/Organic Baby Spinach & Vinaigrette Dressing 255 CALORIES