theblaze--2020-11-25--Colorado county rejects governor's COVID-19 restrictions: Our citizens can govern themselves. Oh, an

Colorado county rejects governor's COVID-19 restrictions: Our citizens can govern themselves. Oh, and here's a list of things we will not be enforcing.

Colorado county rejects governor 's COVID-19 restrictions : Our citizens can govern themselves .
Oh , and here 's a @ @ @ @ @ not be enforcing .

Colorado, like most states in the U.S., has begun issuing more stringent lockdown orders in an effort to curb the recent surge in COVID-19 cases.
One county in the Centennial State, however, isn't budging. Instead, its elected leaders are telling people to be individually responsible and govern themselves.
What's happening?
Colorado Democratic Gov. Jared Polis has been pushing for increased restrictions on businesses and individual private gatherings — and many counties have adopted those new measures.
But Weld County's Board of Commissioners took a stand Friday, and declared they would not be enforcing any new mandates, despite the spike in the number of cases in the county, KUSA-TV reported.
When pushed by the state to implement new lockdown orders because the county would soon be moved to the ominous "red level," which includes closing indoor restaurant dining and limiting gyms to 10% capacity, the commissioners issued a statement responding with a "no" to the governor.
The statement, quoted by KUSA, said, "Instead, county government continues to do what it has done since March, which is promote and encourage residents and business owners to take individual responsibility and make decisions to protect themselves, their families, their community and their businesses."
The commissioners then delineated exactly what the county will not be doing:
"The county will not enforce a rule confining individuals to their homes for an undetermined length of time;
"the county will not enforce a rule that states residents cannot have personal gatherings;
"the county will not tell the school districts how to provide education to their students;
"the county will not enforce a rule requiring a reduction of attendees in places of worship;
"the county will not enforce a rule demanding restaurants close their indoor dining areas;
"the county will not enforce any rule that forces a business to shut down or impedes their ability to operate."
In response to Weld County's statement, Gov. Polis said that the statewide orders are really just tools and that he will leave it up to counties to make decide what's best for their citizens, the Associated Press reported.
The governor said Colorado's goal is to have "reasonable rules" that are impacting people's lives — but noted that it is not realistic for the state to police them, the AP said.
"There's no ability to say you know who's in whose home and who's doing what," Polis said, the AP quoted. "That's your business."
(H/T: Foundation for Economic Education)


theblaze--2020-11-25--Tom Cotton blasts Biden's DHS nominee, says he's 'disqualified'

Sen. Tom Cotton ( R-Ark . )
on Wednesday slammed former Vice President Joe Biden 's Cabinet nominees , singling out Biden 's nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security as `` disqualified . ''
Earlier this week , Biden 's transition team announced several appointments and nominations for key positions , including Alejandro Mayorkas to serve as the secretary of Homeland Security , Antony Blinken to be secretary of state , and former Secretary of State John Kerry to be the administration 's climate czar .
Cotton blasted Mayorkas ' appointment in an interview on Fox News , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serving because of a 2015 controversy in which Mayorkas , then serving as deputy DHS secretary , helped Democrats get visas for their favored foreign companies .
`` Alejandro Mayorkas was found by Barack Obama 's Inspector General to be guilty of selling Green Cards to Chinese nationals on behalf of rich , democratic donors , '' Cotton said in a tweet sharing video from his interview .
`` He is disqualified from leading the Department of Homeland Security . ''
Mayorkas , who would be the first Latino and immigrant to serve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secretary of homeland security in the Obama administration from 2013 to 2016 .
Prior to that , he was the director of U.S .
Citizenship and Immigration Services .
In 2015 , the DHS inspector general testified to Congress that Mayorkas intervened on three separate decisions on whether to grant visas for certain foreign investors on behalf of Sen. Harry Reid ( D-Nev. ) , Virginia Gov .
Terry McAuliffe ( D ) , and Anthony Rodham , Hillary Clinton 's brother , respectively .
The inspector general 's report said Mayorkas created @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access , '' but then-DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson did not pursue disciplinary action against Mayorkas .
Cotton did not spare Biden 's other appointees from criticism , saying the incoming Biden administration appears to be a `` return of the Obama administration foreign policy '' that `` had disastrous consequences for our nation . ''
Biden on Tuesday dismissed such accusations , telling NBC News , `` This is not a third Obama term because we face a totally different world than we faced in the Obama-Biden administration . ''
`` President Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added before criticizing President Donald Trump 's foreign policy .
`` It 's become 'America First , ' which meant America alone . ''
`` We find ourselves in a position where our alliances are being frayed , '' he also said .
`` It 's a totally different — that 's why I found people who joined the administration and key points that represent the spectrum of the American people as well as the spectrum of the Democratic Party . ''

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) on Wednesday slammed former Vice President Joe Biden's Cabinet nominees, singling out Biden's nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security as "disqualified."
Earlier this week, Biden's transition team announced several appointments and nominations for key positions, including Alejandro Mayorkas to serve as the secretary of Homeland Security, Antony Blinken to be secretary of state, and former Secretary of State John Kerry to be the administration's climate czar.
Cotton blasted Mayorkas' appointment in an interview on Fox News, saying he is "disqualified" from serving because of a 2015 controversy in which Mayorkas, then serving as deputy DHS secretary, helped Democrats get visas for their favored foreign companies.
"Alejandro Mayorkas was found by Barack Obama's Inspector General to be guilty of selling Green Cards to Chinese nationals on behalf of rich, democratic donors," Cotton said in a tweet sharing video from his interview. "He is disqualified from leading the Department of Homeland Security."
Mayorkas, who would be the first Latino and immigrant to serve as DHS secretary, was the deputy secretary of homeland security in the Obama administration from 2013 to 2016. Prior to that, he was the director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
In 2015, the DHS inspector general testified to Congress that Mayorkas intervened on three separate decisions on whether to grant visas for certain foreign investors on behalf of Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D), and Anthony Rodham, Hillary Clinton's brother, respectively. The inspector general's report said Mayorkas created the appearance of "favoritism and special access," but then-DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson did not pursue disciplinary action against Mayorkas.
Cotton did not spare Biden's other appointees from criticism, saying the incoming Biden administration appears to be a "return of the Obama administration foreign policy" that "had disastrous consequences for our nation."
Biden on Tuesday dismissed such accusations, telling NBC News, "This is not a third Obama term because we face a totally different world than we faced in the Obama-Biden administration."
"President Trump has changed the landscape," he added before criticizing President Donald Trump's foreign policy. "It's become 'America First,' which meant America alone."
"We find ourselves in a position where our alliances are being frayed," he also said. "It's a totally different — that's why I found people who joined the administration and key points that represent the spectrum of the American people as well as the spectrum of the Democratic Party."
Watch the latest video at foxnews.com


theblaze--2020-11-25--90-year-old woman opts for assisted suicide when faced with the possibility of another COVID-19  loc

90-year-old woman opts for assisted suicide when faced with the possibility of another COVID-19  lockdown

A 90-year-old Canadian woman opted for assisted suicide when faced with another mandatory lockdown in her Toronto retirement home.
What are the details?
According to CTV News, Nancy Russell, a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, opted for medically assisted death in October.
Her friends and family, according to the outlet, congregated in Russell's room on the day of her death, where they'd gathered and sang a song she had chosen to send her on her way.
Residents at Russell's retirement home often ate meals alone in their rooms during mandatory lockdowns, were faced with activities cancellations, and were unable to see family for days or weeks on end.
"These measures," the outlet reported, "aimed at saving lives, can sometimes be detrimental enough to the overall health of residents that they find themselves looking into other options."
Other options, in this case, are defined as medically assisted suicide. Russell's family told the outlet that their loved one chose a "MAID" — or "medically assisted death" — after she "declined so sharply during lockdown that she didn't want to go through more isolation this winter."
"Being mobile was everything to my mom," her daughter Tory explained. "My mother was extremely curious, and she was very interested in every person she met and every idea that she came across, so she was constantly reading, going to different shows and talks. [She] was frequently talking about people she met and their life stories, very curious, open-minded. So for 90, she was exceptional."
What happened after the lockdown?
The country's first mandatory lockdown took place in the spring months, and Tory revealed that her mother rapidly declined shortly thereafter.
"She, almost overnight, went from a very active lifestyle to a very limited life, and they had, very early on, a complete two-week confinement just to her room," she explained. "[My mother] understood the fragility of the people in the building and the importance of protecting them, so it was just a very difficult time."
Russell's decline became more and more noticeable as time passed, her family says.
“She was just drooping," Tory said. “It was contact with people that was like food to her, it was like, oxygen. She would be just tired all the time because she was under stimulated."
The outlet reported that Russell had long been a proponent of assisted suicide, and that the pandemic and resulting lockdown measures apparently seemed like a good time to go.
"She just truly did not believe that she wanted to try another one of those two-week confinements into her room," Tory added.
She died on her own terms
The outlet reported, "On Oct. 20, Nancy Russell died with her loved ones by her side, honoring her wish for a death on her own terms. Before her death, she spent eight days at the home of one of her children, while family members and friends visited in person or called and emailed. They played games and told stories in the backyard."
Tory said that her mother was able to "direct a peaceful, pain-free death on her own time" and "avoid a great fear of hers, which was to endure winter and lockdowns."
“I worry about seniors, I worry about families who feel helpless. I felt helpless and I believe some other members of my family did at times," Tory added.
In Russell's obituary, she is described as "ever adventurous."
"Nancy departed this world with her wits intact and her expansive curiosity tempered only by a willingness to let the mystery be," her obituary read.


theblaze--2020-11-25--NYC mayor announces checkpoints at bridges and crossings, hypes 'real penalties' in order 'to keep p

NYC mayor announces checkpoints at bridges and crossings, hypes 'real penalties' in order 'to keep people safe' for the holidays

NYC mayor announces checkpoints at bridges and crossings , hypes 'real penalties ' in order 'to keep people safe ' @ @ @ @ @ really clear rules to be followed and they will be enforced '

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio declared this week that the city would be stepping up enforcement measures to make sure everyone follows government-imposed COVID mandates.
And according to the mayor, people will not want to be caught violating the crackdown rules, because there will be "substantial" penalties.
What is the mayor planning?
During a news conference Tuesday, de Blasio announced that city officials and law enforcement would be focused on making sure people follow the COVID edicts by ramping up penalties and checkpoints. Included in the stricter New York mandates is a travel quarantine for non-New Yorkers coming into the city.
No one will be spared from the crackdown.
"We're going to make sure that people are reminded constantly throughout this whole holiday season if you travel, there are very clear rules you have to follow," Hizzoner said.
With the increased travel, de Blasio continued, there will be a markedly increased "presence of the City of New York."
"You're going to see that there are really clear rules to be followed and they will be enforced," the mayor said. "And you're going to know that if someone does not follow those rules that there are real penalties, substantial financial penalties that will be applied."
De Blasio said he doesn't want to do this, but it's necessary — to keep everybody safe — and he's got just the guy to make sure everybody follows the rules: Sheriff Joe Fucito.
"No one likes that, no one wants to do that in the holidays, but we will do it to keep people safe," the mayor added. "So, here to tell you about all our efforts to make sure people travel safely and follow the rules that will keep us all safe, our Sheriff Joe Fucito."
Cracking down on 'dangerous gatherings'
Fucito took the ball and ran with it, telling everyone that there will be increased vehicle checkpoints a bridges, tunnels, and crossings, and that his teams will be standing curbside at bus stops as riders disembark from out-of-state buses.
"There has to be enforcement in order to keep everyone safe. So, I'll go over just some highlights of how we're going to be keeping enforcement regarding the compliance with the travel quarantine and the standing emergency orders," Fucito began.
"Sheriff teams will be out in force as the holidays approach," he continued. "There will be vehicle checkpoints at key bridges and crossings throughout New York City. Sheriff will also be conducting checkpoints at curbside drop-off bus stops — so, out-of-state buses coming into New York City, when they drop off at the curb, they will be met by sheriff teams."
Those sheriff teams will make sure people know exactly what they must do in order to comply with New York's quarantine orders, Fucito said.
Anyone who does not follow the travel quarantine rules should know: "There will be consequences," including mandatory quarantine orders from the health commissioner, summons, and fines.
And he tied holiday gatherings to other unsavory gatherings such as "illegal fight clubs, underground raves, and illegal gambling dens."
From Sheriff Fucito:
Violation of a self-quarantine travel regulation may result in deputy sheriffs serving you a mandatory quarantine order issued by the Health Commissioner. In cases of violation, Deputies could serve you with a civil summons that carries a $1,000 fine. As a practical matter, and as the Mayor stated previously, the Sheriff's Office would be concentrating on large-scale gatherings. Our actions in the last several months have reinforced this point. Deputy sheriffs are investigating massive events that violate a panoply of criminal, fire, building, health and other regulatory laws at locations such as illegal fight clubs, underground raves, and illegal gambling dens. These activities were illegal and sometimes deadly before COVID-19, and the public safety hazards regarding them have been amplified exponentially by the pandemic.
The "best and most pragmatic" way to "save lives" in a city of 8 million people, the sheriff continued, is to really crack down on "these types of dangerous gatherings."
Mayor de Blasio went on to add that he wanted folks to be aware that the city will be "constantly monitoring people."
Sheriff Fucito backed the mayor up, noting that the testing and tracing teams will be making sure people are following the quarantine and will be doing "other types of investigation."
If those teams have evidence that someone violated quarantine, law enforcement will get involved. If violations continue, the violator can expect "legal action taken against" him.
"We have made arrests and charged somebody with a misdemeanor for violating the quarantine," Fucito said.
(H/T: Bloomberg)


theblaze--2020-11-25--Sidney Powell promises 'massive' Georgia lawsuit by Wednesday that will 'save' Trump's presidency

Sidney Powell promises 'massive ' Georgia lawsuit by Wednesday that will 'save ' Trump 's presidency

Sidney Powell, the pro-Trump attorney who is reportedly working on compiling evidence to prove that manipulated voting software skewed the results of the 2020 election, vowed that a "massive" lawsuit in Georgia would be filed by Wednesday and that it, along with similar lawsuits, would ultimately "save" Donald Trump's presidency.
"I think no later than tomorrow," Powell told Fox Business Network's Lou Dobbs on Tuesday regarding the lawsuit. "It's just going to be — it's a massive document. And it's going to have a lot of exhibits."
"Do you think that we're going to see the Trump presidency saved?" Dobbs asked.
"Yes, I definitely do," Powell responded. "There's no issue in my mind but that he was elected in an absolute landslide nationwide."
It is just the latest assurance provided by Powell over the last couple of weeks. The defense attorney for Gen. Michael Flynn has repeatedly promised she would "release the Kraken" of evidence proving that Trump won the election "in a landslide." However, to date no such evidence has been submitted resulting in the overturning of results, which show former Vice President Joe Biden winning enough Electoral College votes to become the next president.
In Georgia, Biden narrowly defeated Trump by just over 12,000 votes.
BREAKING NEWS: Sidney Powell Tells Lou Dobbs Her Lawsuit In Georgia May Be Filed As Soon As Tomorrow www.youtube.com
Nevertheless, Powell contended that she and her team are hard at work compiling evidence for lawsuits in several battleground states.
"We will be rolling them out as fast as we possibly can, because it affected the entire country," she said. "It's all so clear that there was foreign intrusion into our voting systems, and that's going be the real — where the rubber meets the road."
"There's no doubt that the software was created and used in Venezuela to control the elections and make sure that Hugo Chavez was always reelected as the dictator of Venezuela, in what appeared to be 'free and fair elections,'" she added later during the interview. "But they were manipulated by the software used in the Dominion machines and used by other machines in the United States, frankly. And we are just continuing to be inundated by evidence of all the frauds here, and every manner and means of fraud you could possibly think of."
The news comes on the heels of the Trump legal team appearing to distance themselves from Powell. In a statement over the weekend, Trump campaign senior legal adviser Jenna Ellis and Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani made clear that Powell was "not a member" of the legal team and "not a lawyer for the president in his personal capacity," but "is practicing law on her own."


theblaze--2020-11-25--CDC Director Redfield: Agency is reviewing whether to reduce quarantine time guidelines

CDC Director Redfield : Agency is reviewing whether to reduce quarantine time guidelines The CDC may issue new recommendations that @ @ @ @ @ COVID patients quarantine from 7 to 10 days instead of 14 .

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reportedly considering adjusting its guidelines on how long people should quarantine if they are exposed to someone with COVID. The Wall Street Journal reported that the agency may shorten the recommended quarantine period from 14 days to between seven and 10 in an effort to encourage more people to follow the guidelines.
Additionally, CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield told Yahoo Finance that the agency will reduce quarantine time recommendations in an interview Wednesday.
"I do anticipate that we will come out with recommendations that look at a shorter period of quarantine, and a shorter period where you would test out of quarantine," Redfield said.
According to Redfield, the CDC is currently analyzing data to determine whether the change is appropriate. He expects "in the next week or so that data will be completely analyzed and then recommendations will be made based on that data."
A spokesman for the CDC told Fox News Tuesday that no changes have been finalized.
"CDC is always reviewing its guidance and recommendations in the light of new understandings of the virus that causes COVID-19 and will announce such changes when appropriate," the spokesperson said.
Current CDC guidelines explain quarantine "is used to keep someone who might have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others," whereas the term isolation is used for keeping someone who tests positive for the virus away from others, even those they live with.
The CDC recommends that any individual who has been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 stay home for a period of 14 days after their last contact with that person. Those who have had COVID-19 within the past three months are excluded from this recommendation and don't need to quarantine.
"People who have tested positive for COVID-19 do not need to quarantine or get tested again for up to 3 months as long as they do not develop symptoms again. People who develop symptoms again within 3 months of their first bout of COVID-19 may need to be tested again if there is no other cause identified for their symptoms," the CDC states.
Under the proposed new guidelines, a person would only have to quarantine for seven to 10 days provided they tested negative for COVID before ending their quarantine. Henry Walke, the CDC incident manager for COVID-19, told the Wall Street Journal that once a person tests negative, the likelihood that they will go on to develop the infection "is pretty low."
"We do think that the work that we've done, and some of the studies we have and the modeling data that we have, shows that we can with testing shorten quarantines," Walke said.
Though there is a risk that testing may miss some infectious cases, Walke indicated that the agency hopes people "better adhere to quarantine if it was, for example, seven to 10 days."
Progress on developing a vaccine for the coronavirus continues. Last week, Pfizer applied for emergency approval from the Food & Drug Administration for their vaccine, which has shown to be 95% effective in trials.


theblaze--2020-11-25--Defiant NY gym owner, US Marine rips up $15,000 fine for violating coronavirus restrictions

Defiant NY gym owner , US Marine rips up $ 15,000 fine for violating coronavirus restrictions 'Our freedom can not @ @ @ @ @ starts '

A fed-up U.S. Marine and small business owner in New York ripped up a $15,000 fine for violating the coronavirus restrictions on live TV Tuesday in defiance of rules ordering businesses to close and limiting public and private gatherings to just 10 people.
Robby Dinero, the owner of Athletes Unleashed crossfit gym in Orchard Park, New York, was fined after a confrontation with an official from the Erie County Health Department and Erie County sheriffs during a protest against the coronavirus restrictions on businesses held in Dinero's gym Friday. The police and the health department official were told to leave Dinero's property and "go get a warrant" in a video that went viral.
On Tuesday evening, Dinero was interviewed by Fox News about the incident and what happened afterward.
"I posted on Facebook Friday night that I wanted to get together business owners and protest and fight the lockdown that I feel is infringing upon our freedom," Dinero told Fox News. "We were about 20 minutes into that meeting when some sheriffs and a department of health official showed up uninvited. My business was closed, we were not conducting business. This was a protest."
When some of the protesters asked Dinero what they should do, he told them to get the officials to leave.
"Those patriots took it upon themselves to stand shoulder to shoulder and tell them to get out. And we were right, because if we were wrong they would have called for backup and come back. But they didn't, they left," Dinero said.
Later, the sheriffs and the health department official returned and served Dinero with a $15,000 fine for hosting the protest.
"Any infringement on our liberty goes too far. We were born with inalienable rights bestowed upon us by our creator. They are guaranteed by the Constitution, specifically the Bill of Rights," Dinero said.
"Our freedom cannot end where people's fear starts," he added.
Dinero, the father of four children, rebuked government officials like New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz for continuing to collect their taxpayer-funded six-figure salaries while American workers and business owners are being told they cannot earn a living to feed their families.
He demanded that New York officials look children in the eye and tell them their parents' jobs are not "essential."
At the close of the interview, he tore up the $15,000 fine.
NY business owner tears up $15K government fine on live TV www.youtube.com
Many Americans are rallying behind Dinero in solidarity against the coronavirus restrictions.
Erie County Comptroller Stefan Mychajliw issued a statement to WKBW-TV blasting "power hungry politicians" who are "punishing" businesses.
"Mark Poloncarz crossed a line. Punitively punishing a small business owner that served our country is despicable. People are fed up. The resistance against power hungry politicians destroying businesses with arbitrary COVID rules they make up as they go along has begun. Enough is enough. Mark Poloncarz is a bully that cares more about shutting down the economy, closing schools, regulating churches and damaging families than protecting the health of our community."
Mychajliw shared a link to a GoFundMe page that was set up for Dinero to cover the cost of the fine.
As of Wednesday morning, 690 people had donated over $25,000 to support Dinero and his protest.


theblaze--2020-11-25--White woman's 'broth bar' blasted for 'cultural appropriation.' Apologies, sales stoppage, and promi

White woman's 'broth bar' blasted for 'cultural appropriation.' Apologies, sales stoppage, and promises of 'cultural sensitivity training' follow.

White woman 's 'broth bar ' blasted for 'cultural appropriation . '
Apologies , sales stoppage , and promises of @ @ @ @ @ .
Another one bites the dust

Howls of "cultural appropriation" rang out recently over a pop-up "broth bar" in Toronto that sells bone broth, hot sauce, and multicultural foods — primarily because the company hosting it is owned by a white woman, blogTO reported.
What are the details?
The outlet noted that the broth bar by Ripe Nutrition popped up inside an athletic apparel store named PERMISSION earlier this month — but that partnership is kaput since the woke mob began lodging complaints.
Toronto Star editor Evy Kwong was prominent in the outrage campaign and posted a Twitter thread last week to that end about the "white owned trendy spot":
Kwong also noted she was "sick" over the pop-up "sexualizing" some items — for example, sauces called "jerk me" and "hot pho u" and calling the broth bar a "brothel," blogTO said.
She added that "the cultures they are taking from literally fight daily for legitimacy. the *wellness* cleansing of the food, the lack historical understanding, and the number of followers is alarming. i'm not tryna knock small businesses but damn, this one hurts."
Kwong also said PERMISSION is located across from Golden Turtle, a restaurant that has been serving authentic pho and Vietnamese cuisine since 1987 and has been struggling to survive amid the pandemic, blogTO reported.
What happened next?
After many complaints and criticism, an apologetic Laura Santino — cofounder of PERMISSION — told blogTO that the collaboration with Ripe Nutrition was done: "We acknowledge the hurt this has caused and apologize sincerely. Our pop-up was not in line with community values or our company ethos, and we have decided to part ways, effective immediately."
Ripe Nutrition also apologized on Instagram:
"It is not the responsibility of people of colour to educate me, a white woman, on why cultural appropriation isn't acceptable," the statement from Ripe Nutrition founder Alexandra Baird read.
She added that she removed all culturally insensitive products from her company's website and is looking to "cultural sensitivity training" for the whole staff.
Anything else?
Cultural appropriation outrage has touched many sectors of society of late:


theblaze--2020-11-25--POLL: Would you comply with another lockdown?

POLL : Would you comply with another lockdown ?
Cast your vote and do n't forget to share !

POLL: Would you comply with another lockdown?
Cast your vote and don't forget to share!


theblaze--2020-11-25--MSNBC host claims Parler is 'an alternate reality for conspiracy theorists'

MSNBC host claims Parler is 'an alternate reality for conspiracy theorists '

In this clip, Steven Crowder discussed "another example of big government bureaucracy always hurting the 'little guy'" and the "unholy relationship between Big Tech and government."
Steven illustrated his point with a clip from "The Week," a weekend show on MSNBC hosted by Joshua Johnson. The MSNBC clip began with Johnson slamming Parler — an up-and-coming social media platform — calling it "an alternate reality for conspiracy theorists."
The jab came on the heels of the massive conservative exodus from social platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
Steven challenged his liberal-minded viewers to sign up and share a post on Parler and see for themselves that the Facebook/Twitter alternative allows all points of view.
Watch the video to hear what Steven had to say.
Use promo code LWC to save $10 on one year of BlazeTV.
Want more from Steven Crowder?
To enjoy more of Steven's uncensored late-night comedy that's actually funny, join Mug Club — the only place for all of Crowder uncensored and on demand.


theblaze--2020-11-25--Gov. Andrew Cuomo blasts NYPD for refusing to enforce Thanksgiving restrictions: Those people aren't

Gov. Andrew Cuomo blasts NYPD for refusing to enforce Thanksgiving restrictions: Those people aren't real law enforcement officers

Gov .
Andrew Cuomo blasts NYPD for refusing to enforce Thanksgiving restrictions : Those people are n't real law enforcement @

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) blasted members of the NYPD for refusing to enforce restrictions on indoor gatherings ahead of Thursday's Thanksgiving holiday.
What's a brief history here?
Last week, Cuomo issued updated COVID-19-related restrictions — which included a 10-person limit on indoor gatherings — to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.
His latest remarks come on the heels of New York City Police Commissioner Dermot Shea's recent announcement that the NYPD has no plans to break up indoor gatherings despite the state limit being 10 people per home.
What are the details?
According to a Wednesday New York Post report, Cuomo blasted police for turning a blind eye to such gatherings, and for allegations that many officers themselves refuse to wear masks.
"A lot of police officers don't wear a mask," he said. "[W]ell, how are you then supposed to enforce other people wearing a mask when they see you not wearing a mask? 'I violate the law but you can't.' No! Nobody said you were above the law! I don't believe that person is a law enforcement officer. I don't want a law enforcement officer who says, 'I'm only enforcing the law that I like or think should be enforced.'"
Last week, Shea told NY1, "We're not planning on breaking up Thanksgiving celebrations. ... We have to be smart. We're encouraging everyone to use common sense here and to get New York City through this. No one in large gatherings, we think at this point that's common sense."
Anything else?
According to the New York Post, several New York state sheriffs announced a refusal to enforce Cuomo's mandate on Thanksgiving gatherings.
One such law enforcement official is Fulton County Sheriff Richard Giardino, who took to Facebook and wrote, "Frankly, I am not sure it could sustain a Constitutional challenge in Court for several reasons including your house is your castle. And as a Sheriff with a law degree I couldn't in good faith attempt to defend in Court, so I won't. ... We have limited resources and we have to set priorities, so obtaining a Search Warrant to enter your home to see how many Turkey or Tofu eaters are present is not a priority."
Washington County Sheriff Jeff Murphy, Erie County Sheriff Tim Howard, and Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo also echoed Giardino's sentiments, according to the outlet.
In a news release, Zurlo said, "I can't see how devoting our resources to counting cars in citizens' driveways or investigating how much turkey and dressing they've purchased is for the public good."


theblaze--2020-11-25--Report: Facebook hatched 'emergency' plan using 'secret internal ranking' to suppress 'right-wing' n

Report: Facebook hatched 'emergency' plan using 'secret internal ranking' to suppress 'right-wing' news sources post-election

In the tense days after the election as claims of widespread fraud were being disseminated on the platform , Facebook reportedly made an `` emergency change '' to its algorithm to suppress news sources that were spreading what the company believed to be `` election misinformation . ''
According to the New York Times , the change involved weighting news sources using a `` secret internal ranking '' of publishers that Facebook created based on `` signals about the quality of their journalism . ''
The result became the more prominent featuring of posts from mainstream news outlets such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and NPR , '' and the suppression of posts from `` right-wing '' outlets .
The change — which was hatched by a group of employees and approved by the social media giant 's chief executive , Mark Zuckerberg — was reportedly part of several `` break glass '' plans the company had spent months developing in the case of a contested election .
Here 's more from the Times report : '' It was a vision of what a calmer , less divisive Facebook might look like , '' the report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the emergency plan .
The Times ' approval is not surprising since it was explicitly listed as one of the publishers who benefitted from the algorithm change .
The sentiment is not likely to be shared by Republicans and supporters of President Trump , however , who will no doubt see the change as yet another egregious example of blatant , purposeful censorship .
The social media company , along with Twitter , had been heavily scrutinized in the weeks leading up to the election for its unabashed censorship of the New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden .
Guy Rosen , a Facebook executive who oversees its integrity division , told reporters on a conference call last week that the post-election algorithm changes were always meant to be temporary , but that decision is not uniformly popular at the company .
The Times noted that some at the company argued that the changes should become permanent .

In the tense days after the election as claims of widespread fraud were being disseminated on the platform, Facebook reportedly made an "emergency change" to its algorithm to suppress news sources that were spreading what the company believed to be "election misinformation."
According to the New York Times, the change involved weighting news sources using a "secret internal ranking" of publishers that Facebook created based on "signals about the quality of their journalism." The result became the more prominent featuring of posts from mainstream news outlets such as "CNN, The New York Times, and NPR," and the suppression of posts from "right-wing" outlets.
The change — which was hatched by a group of employees and approved by the social media giant's chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg — was reportedly part of several "break glass" plans the company had spent months developing in the case of a contested election. Here's more from the Times report:
It involved emphasizing the importance of what Facebook calls "news ecosystem quality" scores, or N.E.Q., a secret internal ranking it assigns to news publishers based on signals about the quality of their journalism.
Typically, N.E.Q. scores play a minor role in determining what appears on users' feeds. But several days after the election, Mr. Zuckerberg agreed to increase the weight that Facebook's algorithm gave to N.E.Q. scores to make sure authoritative news appeared more prominently, said three people with knowledge of the decision, who were not authorized to discuss internal deliberations.
The change was part of the "break glass" plans Facebook had spent months developing for the aftermath of a contested election. It resulted in a spike in visibility for big, mainstream publishers like CNN, The New York Times and NPR, while posts from highly engaged hyperpartisan pages, such as Breitbart and Occupy Democrats, became less visible, the employees said.
"It was a vision of what a calmer, less divisive Facebook might look like," the report noted, as if granting its approval to the emergency plan. The Times' approval is not surprising since it was explicitly listed as one of the publishers who benefitted from the algorithm change.
The sentiment is not likely to be shared by Republicans and supporters of President Trump, however, who will no doubt see the change as yet another egregious example of blatant, purposeful censorship. The social media company, along with Twitter, had been heavily scrutinized in the weeks leading up to the election for its unabashed censorship of the New York Post's bombshell reporting on Hunter Biden.
Guy Rosen, a Facebook executive who oversees its integrity division, told reporters on a conference call last week that the post-election algorithm changes were always meant to be temporary, but that decision is not uniformly popular at the company. The Times noted that some at the company argued that the changes should become permanent.


theblaze--2020-11-25--Computer repairman at center of 'Biden laptop' scandal closes shop, disappears amid purported death

Computer repairman at center of 'Biden laptop' scandal closes shop, disappears amid purported death threats

John Paul Mac Isaac , the computer repairman at the center of a reported Biden family scandal , has closed his Wilmington , Delaware , computer repair shop amid purported death threats .
Mac Isaac previously claimed he had a laptop computer and hard drive containing information about former Vice President Joe Biden 's son , Hunter , and his international business dealings with Ukraine .
For his part , the elder Biden said the allegations were a `` desperate campaign to smear me and my family , '' but did not confirm whether the laptop belonged to his son @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Delaware News Journal , a `` closed '' sign now appears in the window of Mac Isaac 's shop .
His attorney , Brian Della Rocca , told the outlet that his client closed up shop after he received several death threats .
He has not elaborated on Mac Isaac 's whereabouts at the time of this reporting , though a neighbor told the outlet that Mac Isaac left town .
In October , Mac Isaac said that he retained a copy of the hard drive 's contents because he `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who 'work for [ Joe ] Biden ' and having it was 'protection . '
'' Della Rocca told the outlet that he did not believe his client would be involved in any potential lawsuits or investigations related to the laptop .
The outlet noted that Della Rocca `` said his office has spoken in recent weeks with Wilmington FBI agents and with Delaware 's Assistant United States Attorney Leslie Wolf '' but that he `` declined to describe the nature of the conversations . ''
`` I 've been in touch with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he told the outlet .
Neither the U.S. Attorney 's Office in Delaware nor the Federal Bureau of Investigation commented when approached by the outlet for remarks on the allegations .
In October , the New York Post reported that Mac Isaac was asked to repair a computer that reportedly contained a variety of nefarious and possibly incriminating emails and photos appearing to confirm that a secret meeting between the former vice president and a top Burisma executive had taken place .
He later told Fox News , `` I just do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 'm allowed to say .
I know that I saw , I saw stuff — and I was concerned .
I was concerned that somebody might want to come looking for this stuff eventually — and I wanted it out of my shop . ''
You can read more background on the reports here and here .

John Paul Mac Isaac, the computer repairman at the center of a reported Biden family scandal, has closed his Wilmington, Delaware, computer repair shop amid purported death threats.
Mac Isaac previously claimed he had a laptop computer and hard drive containing information about former Vice President Joe Biden's son, Hunter, and his international business dealings with Ukraine.
For his part, the elder Biden said the allegations were a "desperate campaign to smear me and my family," but did not confirm whether the laptop belonged to his son.
What are the details?
According to the Delaware News Journal, a "closed" sign now appears in the window of Mac Isaac's shop.
His attorney, Brian Della Rocca, told the outlet that his client closed up shop after he received several death threats. He has not elaborated on Mac Isaac's whereabouts at the time of this reporting, though a neighbor told the outlet that Mac Isaac left town.
In October, Mac Isaac said that he retained a copy of the hard drive's contents because he "feared he would be killed by people who 'work for [Joe] Biden' and having it was 'protection.'"
Della Rocca told the outlet that he did not believe his client would be involved in any potential lawsuits or investigations related to the laptop.
The outlet noted that Della Rocca "said his office has spoken in recent weeks with Wilmington FBI agents and with Delaware's Assistant United States Attorney Leslie Wolf" but that he "declined to describe the nature of the conversations."
"I've been in touch with federal law enforcement, yes," he told the outlet.
Neither the U.S. Attorney's Office in Delaware nor the Federal Bureau of Investigation commented when approached by the outlet for remarks on the allegations.
In October, the New York Post reported that Mac Isaac was asked to repair a computer that reportedly contained a variety of nefarious and possibly incriminating emails and photos appearing to confirm that a secret meeting between the former vice president and a top Burisma executive had taken place.
He later told Fox News, "I just don't know what to say, or what I'm allowed to say. I know that I saw, I saw stuff — and I was concerned. I was concerned that somebody might want to come looking for this stuff eventually — and I wanted it out of my shop."
You can read more background on the reports here and here.


theblaze--2020-11-25--Horowitz: When conservatives can’t even guarantee Second Amendment protection in Oklahoma ...

Horowitz : When conservatives can ’ t even guarantee Second Amendment protection in Oklahoma ...

When Donald Trump became president and it was widely assumed that there would be a crackdown on illegal immigration, Democrats swiftly moved to create a sanctuary for illegal aliens in every state they fully controlled. Well, if Democrats could create a sanctuary for people who have no right to be in the country, most certainly one would expect Republicans to create sanctuaries for Americans and constitutional rights in the states they control, right?
Think again.
Following this election in Oklahoma, Republicans will hold an 82-19 majority in the state House and a 39-9 majority in the Senate. Those are greater supermajorities than what Democrats hold in California. One would think that this state would be a sanctuary for freedom during coronavirus fascism, for self-defense during the era of BLM and gun confiscation, and all-around fiscal and social conservatism in an era of ubiquitous socialism and cultural Marxism. The problem with that assumption, though, is that conservatives don't really have any majority, much less a supermajority. Liberal Republicans, who, by and large, are the less attractive side of the tyranny coin from the Democrats, are the ones who hold that majority.
In the days following the election, News 9 reported that Oklahoma state Sen. Nathan Dahm is drafting legislation to make the Sooner State a sanctuary from any potential unconstitutional violations of the First and Second Amendments in pursuit of a gun control agenda under a Joe Biden administration.
"A lot of how the feds try to implement these things is through local law enforcement, whether it's county sheriffs, local police departments, and they try to attach funding to that to force those cities and counties to do that," Dahm told News 9 in explaining the logic behind his proposal. "So what we could do is make sure that those cities and counties don't accept any federal funding to implement any gun control measures."
So why hasn't this bill become law, given the GOP's dominance in the legislature and the fact that such legislation has already been introduced in some form for several years?
"The Republicans have killed it in the state Senate each time," said Don Spencer, president of the Oklahoma Second Amendment Association, in an interview with Personal Defense World. "The Republicans are the problem of why you cannot get pro-Second Amendment legislation done in the state of Oklahoma. We have a supermajority in the Senate, a supermajority in the House and we have the Governor's office, so there is no one else to blame."
Across the country, Republicans are disenfranchising conservatives on nearly every issue of our time. If illegal aliens have states where they can go and claim sanctuary, why can't Americans find a constitutional sanctuary against gun-grabbing and coronavirus fascism in any state?
What about morals and values? Despite Republicans controlling the trifecta of government in Oklahoma, conservatives have failed for years to pass meaningful legislation protecting life for the unborn. The only successful measures they seem to pass are jailbreak provisions to weaken sentencing and deterrent for criminals.
Obviously, issues pertaining to foreign policy and national security are controlled by the federal government. But for conservatives, if they actually had a party representing them, there is no reason why they couldn't enjoy a sanctuary from coronavirus fascism, gun-grabbing, and violent crime and rioting in a substantial portion of the country. Trump likely won over 80% of the nation's counties, and Republicans control the trifecta of government in 24 states. So why is it that there seems to be no place that is an asylum for civil and religious liberty as well as for law and order? Because we refuse to look beyond the wretched Republican Party for our representation.
Putting aside the obvious election fraud for a moment, let's just say Trump lost the election. The reason why the base refuses to let go of Trump is because they don't see anyone else in the party fighting for them. Everyone is focused like a laser beam on the Senate elections in Georgia as if the world hangs in the balance based on their outcome. But we all know that the Left will continue to enact its policies administratively (as they are successfully doing now in the states even under Trump) and Republicans will do nothing meaningful with control of the Senate to stop that through budget fights.
Again, just look at all the states where Republicans hold supermajorities – and we still have tyranny. Why should a slim RINO majority in the Senate matter at all if Republicans already have robust majorities on the state level and refuse to govern in accordance with constitutional values? If 82-19 majorities are not enough for us to acquire our own version of California, it is quite evident that there is nothing worth salvaging in this party.


theblaze--2020-11-25--Staff of Canadian publishing company reportedly cry over decision to publish Jordan Peterson's new b

Staff of Canadian publishing company reportedly cry over decision to publish Jordan Peterson's new book

Staff of Canadian publishing company reportedly cry over decision to publish Jordan Peterson 's new book The publisher is not @ @

Publishing giant Penguin Random House Canada announced Monday that it would be releasing Toronto professor Dr. Jordan Peterson's latest book next year, a decision that apparently left multiple employees in tears.
What are the details?
Vice's Manisha Krishnan broke the story, reporting that the staff felt their employer — the largest publisher in Canada — "ambushed" them with the news, and managers defended the company's decision during a town hall with the staff.
"Several employees cried at the meeting discussing how Peterson's views have negatively impacted their lives," Krishnan tweeted. "One told me: "He is an icon of hate speech and transphobia and the fact that he's an icon of white supremacy... I'm not proud to work for a company that publishes him."
According to the Washington Examiner:
Peterson is a University of Toronto professor who rose to international prominence as a vocal critic of the Canadian government's Bill C-16, which sought to establish "gender identity or expression" as a prohibited ground of discrimination under the Canadian Human Rights Act. Peterson objected on the grounds that the law could force him to address a transgender student by his or her preferred pronoun or else be faced with prosecution under human rights laws.
The title of Peterson's new book is "Beyond Order: 12 More Rules for Life." It is due out in March.
In a statement, Penguin Random House Canada defended its publishing decision, telling Vice:
We announced yesterday that we will publish Jordan Peterson's new book Beyond Order this coming March. Immediately following the announcement, we held a forum and provided a space for our employees to express their views and offer feedback. Our employees have started an anonymous feedback channel, which we fully support. We are open to hearing our employees' feedback and answering all of their questions. We remain committed to publishing a range of voices and viewpoints.
Anything else?
According to Clair Lehmann, founding editor of Quillette, the upset employees might be shooting themselves in the foot with their protest.
In reaction to Vice's story, she tweeted, "Peterson's '12 Rules for Life' has sold over 3million copies. A book like that pays for all of the other books that a publisher takes a risk on, for years. But they want to cancel him. In other words, they want to cancel their own company & their own jobs."


theblaze--2020-11-25--Cellphone video shows man claiming he has coronavirus and spitting at women because they weren't wea

Cellphone video shows man claiming he has coronavirus and spitting at women because they weren't wearing face masks

Cellphone video shows man claiming he has coronavirus and spitting at women because they were n't wearing face masks Police @ @ @ @ @ 71-year-old man

A man was caught on cellphone video spitting at two young women and telling them he has the coronavirus after he argued with them for not wearing face masks.
The alarming incident unfolded near Boston on Nov. 15 and led to his arrest by police on Tuesday.
The video showed the man approach the woman recording and spit on the ground in her direction. He says, "I have COVID! I've been tested positive!"
He then spits on the ground in her direction again.
"Are you OK?" asks the woman, to which the man responds, "No! You won't be soon!"
He spits a third time and laughs as he walks away.
In another portion of the video, the woman can be heard saying, "I don't care, I'm not gonna wear a mask when I'm outside!"
"That's not the law," the man responds.
Police said that the man was walking with a female companion when they allegedly accosted two female hikers for not wearing masks. He spat at them after arguing over the masks.
They later arrested 71-year-old Hale Powell of Westford. In the video, the man's companion appears to call him "Hale" several times as he accosts the women.
"That's not the right approach to deal with anything," laughed Lt. Chris Conrad of the Ashburnham police said to WBZ-TV. "It was hostile, it was inappropriate, it was threatening. And it could even be assault."
Police said that Powell had not tested positive for the coronavirus, despite what he said to the women. They charged him with false threat of a biological agent and assault and battery, which is a felony.
A judge ordered Powell to get tested for the coronavirus and to quarantine for 14 days.
Ashburnham Police Detective Robert Siano told the Sentinel & Sun that they were inundated with calls after asking for help from the public in identifying the man from the cellphone video.
Here's a news video about the incident:


theblaze--2020-11-25--President Trump plans to pardon Michael Flynn: Reports

The former national security adviser 's case has been tied up in court for years

President Donald Trump is planning to issue a pardon to his former national security adviser Michael Flynn, according to multiple reports.
What are the details?
Axios' Jonathan Swan first reported in an exclusive story Tuesday night that the president "has told confidants he plans to pardon" Flynn, citing "two sources with direct knowledge of the discussions." Swan added that sources also said "Flynn will be part of a series of pardons that Trump issues between now and when he leaves office."
Flynn has spent years battling the government in court, exhausting his resources and even being forced to sell his home after becoming a target of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian collusion claims. The Washington Examiner noted that Flynn "pleaded guilty in December 2017 to lying to FBI investigators about his December 2016 conversations with a Russian envoy."
Flynn sought to withdraw his guilty plea and claimed his innocence after obtaining a new legal team led by attorney Sidney Powell, who uncovered a cache of exculpatory evidence, and the Department of Justice moved to drop its prosecution of the retired Army lieutenant general.
But Judge Emmet Sullivan, who is presiding over the case, has refused to let it go and continues his fight to carry through with prosecution.
The Examiner's Daniel Chaitin tweeted after the Axios news story, "Fox News's Gregg Jarrett says just now Michael Flynn 'doesn't want a pardon. He wanted full exoneration and the case dismissed.' He goes on to say 'it's clear' the presiding judge, Emmet Sullivan, is trying to run out the clock till Biden takes office and says Trump should pardon."
Fox News also reportedly "confirmed" the president's plans.
Anything else?
CNN cited three sources in reporting White House discussion of a possible Flynn pardon, adding, "However, those sources cautioned that Trump could change his mind about making such a move. There have been discussions about pardoning multiple people in the President's orbit."


theblaze--2020-11-26--This Thanksgiving, I’m thankful I am not in control

This Thanksgiving , I ’ m thankful I am not in control

I think most would agree that this calendar year has been a fitting example of particularly turbulent times in American society. We have been confronted with the coronavirus pandemic, racial unrest in the streets, and a contested election that, for at least half of America, appears not to have gone the way they had hoped. And that is not even to mention the various a personal changes and tragedies that you may have encountered that are unrelated to the "bigthree" listed above. In short, things seemed manifestly out of control.
On a personal note, as the chaos progressed I began to notice the effects: a growing frustration in my own heart. The emotions were a surprise to me since I do not at all consider myself a "control freak." Yet here I was, plainly upset in response to things not having gone the way that I believed was best.
As Christians well know, a sure-fire sign of idol possession is if a negative response is triggered when that idol is taken away. With that in mind, despite all of my supposed "righteous frustration" over the evil winning and the good losing, I was forced to acknowledge the obvious: I was a symptomatic carrier of a sickness — the loss of my idol of control.
Thankfully, a well-timed message from Psalm 46 taught by a pastor at my church reminded me that though I am not in control, God assuredly is, and he even uses chaos to make this especially clear. My lack of control is meant to serve as a foil to the One who exercises ultimate control over the course of history, from the smallest events to the most momentous occasions.
God is in control
Here's what the psalmist declares:
1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
10 "Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!"
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
The passage clearly illustrates that God's sovereignty is not diminished by surrounding chaos, but is magnified. And this truth, according to the psalmist, is meant to be an encouragement to believers, not a reason to be frustrated or fearful.
What does this mean for us?
The apparently disturbing reality stated above — that we are not in control — is actually what we are meant to embrace.
In times of chaos, we are given a heightened awareness of what has always been ultimately true; that we are not in control, but God is. In times of chaos, the reality of our true situation hits home. It's no longer out there in the abstract; it's right here. This is where the rubber meets the road as far as our beliefs go.
Yet, if I'm honest, my knee-jerk reaction to the reality of the situation is often exactly the opposite of what it should be. I don't just narrowly miss the mark, I turn the whole thing on its head.
Here are a couple examples: in times of chaos, my knee-jerk reaction is frustration, but God says "be still." In times of chaos, my knee-jerk reaction is to think God is smaller, but God says he is "exalted."
I'm still learning the lesson and working hard to trust in Psalm 46. Part of that is resisting the temptation to believe that I know what is best for the long-term. For the short-term, sure, I may know what is best to produce a certain outcome and I will fight for that outcome wholeheartedly. But as far as God's cosmic plan for the universe, yeah, I'll leave that to him.
So this Thanksgiving, I'm thankful that I'm not in control, because I know who is and I can rest in that.


theblaze--2020-11-26--Happy Thanksgiving, from all of us at TheBlaze

Happy Thanksgiving , from all of us at TheBlaze

Greetings, readers and subscribers. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you! In order to allow our staff to spend this day with their families, we are going to be giving all of our writers the day off today. However, we will be featuring a series of posts from all of them about the things they are thankful for this year.
Cultivating a sense of thanksgiving can be difficult in trying times such as these, but in spite of the many challenges this year has brought, I find that I have much to be thankful for. I have three healthy children, the support of a great family, and a job — which is more than can be said for too many Americans.
This year, I am extra thankful for you, our readers. You have brought this site to heights it has not known for five years. You have constantly tuned in and read the work that we produce, much to the consternation of Big Tech, who has fought us every step of the way. Many of you regularly send me emails since my email address is on the site, and these are always an amazing combination of funny, heartwarming, and informative. Several of them have led to some great stories.
None of us would be here without you. And we are thankful you keep coming back. All the work we do is with you in mind.
Best wishes on this and every Thanksgiving to all of you.


theblaze--2020-11-26--Judge rules California can't deny man wanting 'QUEER' on his license plate

Judge rules California ca n't deny man wanting 'QUEER ' on his license plate Another man is now allowed to @ @ @ @ @ his license plate

A judge ruled on Tuesday against the state of California trying to prevent a man from putting the word "QUEER" on his license plate, saying that it violated his free speech rights.
U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar said on Tuesday that the state could not ban speech from license plates on the basis that it was "offensive to good taste and decency."
The case was filed in March by five Californians against Department of Motor Vehicles Director Steve Gordon, including a gay man from Oakland who owns a "Queer Folks Records" store and wanted the controversial word on his license plate. While the word has been used as a gay slur in the past, many gay people use it in order to take it away from their critics.
Another man in the lawsuit was not allowed to put "SLAAYRR" on his license plate to display his fandom of the band Slayer because the DMV said the word was "threatening, aggressive or hostile."
An Army veteran was prevented from putting "OGWOOLF" on his license plate to reflect his nickname and love for wolves because the DMV thought "OG" might be taken to refer to "original gangster," a phrase used by gang members.
Tigar cited other instances where the government was not allowed to censor speech in his ruling, but he allowed that the DMV could still ban speech that it deemed obscene, profane, or that contained hate speech.
In a similar case in February, a Kentucky man sued the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet after it refused to let him have the phrase, "I'm God" on his license plate. He won the lawsuit and a judge ordered the state to pay $150,000 of the man's legal fees.
Here's a local news report on the ruling:


theblaze--2020-11-26--Gov. Mike Parson to Missourians: 'Government has no business' regulating gatherings in homes

Gov .
Mike Parson to Missourians : 'Government has no business ' regulating gatherings in homes The former sheriff reminded @ @ @ @ @ ahead of the holidays

Like other leaders across the U.S., Missouri Gov. Mike Parson (R) reminded his constituents ahead of the Thanksgiving Day to be cautious about COVID-19. But instead of handing down government dictates ahead of the festivities, Parson did just the opposite: he reminded Missourians of their rights, and vowed not to step on them.
What are the details?
"The holidays are coming, and as the Governor of the State of Missouri, I am not going to mandate who goes in the front door of your home," the former law enforcement officer tweeted. "Government has no business going through the front door of your homes to decide how many members of your family are there, how many are not."
Parson told the citizens of the Show-Me state, "Ultimately, we each must take responsibility for our actions," and issued the longstanding recommendation that folks practice social distancing, wear masks, and wash their hands to stave off the virus. He also suggested that people "host outdoor activities rather than indoor activities as much as possible" and pointed to further guidance from the state's health department.
The Republican's promise not to "mandate who goes in the front door" of citizens' homes is in stark contrast to the messages being sent from jurisdictions across the U.S., where leaders have issued decrees on how many people may gather in private residences, and even how many separate households guests can hail from.
Parson's view on such laws might have to do with his former career as a sheriff, which falls in line with law enforcement officers nationwide who have publicly refused to enforce measures regulating people's party plans.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), for instance, issued an executive order earlier this month limiting New York residents to only 10 people gathering together in a home. Within days, several upstate sheriffs stated outright that they would not enforce such a mandate, calling it unconstitutional.
Fulton County Sheriff Richard Giardino told CNN of Cuomo, "I don't think the Constitution allows for the infringement on the number of people in your own home. He has authority to do a lot but not to tell law enforcement to get into someone's house and count who is there."
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) also issued new executive orders ahead of the holidays. As columnist John Phillips described them in the Los Angeles Daily News: "The Warden's latest Thanksgiving Day guidelines decreed that parties be held outdoors, with guests from no more than three households, seated six feet apart, taking off their masks only to eat and drink, and no one is allowed indoors except to use the bathroom."
Newsom, of course, was busted breaking his own coronavirus restrictions by attending a lavish birthday dinner for a lobbyist with at least a dozen people inside one of the swankiest restaurants in the country.
California sheriffs pushed back against Newsom's orders, too. The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office issued a statement this week declaring outright that they "will not be determining—including entering any home or business—compliance with, or enforcing compliance of, any health or emergency orders related to curfews, staying at home, Thanksgiving or other social gatherings inside or outside the home, maximum occupancy, or mask mandates."


theblaze--2020-11-27--What I am thankful for this year: The gift of marriage

What I am thankful for this year : The gift of marriage 'For Christians , marriage is the great incubator @ @ @

Last Thanksgiving, I wrote about the certainty of hope. Never could I have imagined how relevant that message would be the following year. In 2020, we have experienced a pandemic, witnessed violent riots in the streets, and plowed through perhaps the most divisive political election in American history.
In light of COVID-19, lockdowns, and tribalistic divisions, it may become easy for our eternal perspective to become obscured and skewed toward nihilism. I am a Christian, after all, and so I place my hope in the coming restoration of creation, inaugurated by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God become human.
But this year I want to briefly write about what I am chiefly thankful for in our unpredictable year: marriage.
In July, I committed myself in covenant marriage to my wife, Savannah, a gentle and kind woman who has an enormous capacity for love, grace, empathy, mercy, and compassion.
What I quickly learned about marriage — and what I imagine most newly married people learn — is that I am way more selfish than I ever thought. In fact, prior to promising my life to another human, I did not have the ability to comprehend the extent of my self-centeredness.
Many people find such self-revelation deeply troubling or scandalous. But there is something profoundly beautiful about the forging fire of marriage. The marriage covenant is where we are fully known, yet fully loved; the place where we can be fully ourselves, without posturing, knowing our spouse has committed to us the same investment.
When two self-centered people come together before God in total commitment to one another, out the other end they come reflecting the beauty and love of the God who created them. For Christians, marriage is the great incubator for sanctification. It's the privilege of walking alongside someone for the rest of their life, witnessing, and perhaps even having a hand, in that person's transformation.
This year was difficult for most everyone. But in my corner of the world, I have been able to experience but a small taste of the gloriousness of marriage, and what it means to be truly selfless and loving. There is much more work to be done — but this is a gift for which I will always be thankful.


theblaze--2020-11-27--It's OK to be thankful for the 2020 dumpster fire

It 's OK to be thankful for the 2020 dumpster fire

Being thankful for a dumpster fire seems like a weird thing.
And if I'm being honest, I don't suppose it's the actual shinola of 2020 that I'm thankful for. It's what that shinola provided.
Think of all the things that have been stripped away during the coronavirus pandemic. We've missed out on hometown sports and get-togethers and shopping and parades and ... well ... you name it.
Many of us have lost loved ones or suffered ourselves thanks to the virus' effects.
And we've gone through much more than COVID-19.
Our nation has seen a nasty election — both sides were ugly — and a media that seemed wildly unbalanced.
We've witnessed riots and looting — as well police whose actions have warranted protests.
Through it all, we've had a chance to grow. A chance to be better. A chance to focus on the things that matter.
Because apparently we needed it.
In the end, it's 2020's reminders of what matters that really mean something.
The reminder that people still matter. Grace still matters. Love still matters.
Through all of the garbage we've witnessed this year, people have remained. People who are as loved by their Creator as you and I are.
● That nasty Republican across the street? Yep, God loves him as much as He loves you.
● That weird Democrat neighbor? God loves her, too.
● That Antifa protester busting store windows and setting fires and taking whatever he pleases? Still loved by the Big Guy.
● That alt-right white supremacist? Loved.
● That governor who handed down the lockdown edict that closed your gym or shuttered your business or canceled your school year because, as you believe, he's on a power trip? God's love is for him.
● That governor who refused to mandate masks or enact other COVID-19 mandates because, as you believe, he doesn't care if grandma dies? The cross covers him, too.
It's a crazy thing to consider, but 2020 has given us a lot of opportunities to remember that if God loves all of us that much, then the very least that we can do is to try to love each other that much.
We're not called to love just during the easy times, or to love only the people who are easy to love. That's not how real love works. Real love happens without consideration for situations or whether love will be returned.
True love just loves — and that's all it does.
● It's about everyone else all the time.
● It's about coming alongside and just being with people.
● It's about following God to people who are hurting — and there are a lot of them — and being there when they hit the ground hard. ("Catching people on the bounce," as Bob Goff puts it.)
● It's about drawing a great big circle around everybody and saying they're all in your circle — just like the circle grace drew around all of us.
This year has been ... something. A lesson for us all. A chance to love the way we should. A chance to just be with people.
Be thankful for that.


theblaze--2020-11-26--This Thanksgiving, more than ever, we should be thankful for family

This Thanksgiving , more than ever , we should be thankful for family In a time of so much uncertainty @ @ @ @ @ than connecting with your family

This Thanksgiving is shaping up to be one that will be beyond belief for many and unlike any other in history. In the last two weeks leading up to Thanksgiving 2020, governors have declared draconian orders, implemented curfews, called for mandatory 14-day quarantines for people traveling to certain states, and the prohibition of all social gatherings with people not from the same household — even with as few as two people, even if it is done outside, even if proper social distancing is practiced, and even if everyone is wearing a face mask. For those who dare to defy these domineering directives face punitive penalties, including fines of up to $1,000 or 90 days in prison.
Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidelines on how you should hold your holiday celebrations. The CDC recommends that you treat your Thanksgiving with your loving family like it was a work Zoom call, and that the feast be held virtually.
The health agency advises people to "limit the number of attendees as much as possible to allow people from different households to remain at least 6 feet apart at all times." "Sorry Aunt Edna, you're the 11th guest at Thanksgiving, and we can't socially distance properly past 10 people, so it looks like you'll have to hit the road – you can come back at around 9 p.m. for a curbside pickup of your leftovers; do you like dark or white turkey meat?"
The CDC states: "Encourage guests to avoid singing or shouting, especially indoors. Keep music levels down so people don't have to shout or speak loudly to be heard." Good luck telling Uncle Mike not to shout once he pours a Maker's Mark and starts ranting as to why the Dallas Cowboys only have three wins this season.
Speaking of alcohol, the CDC wants you to lay off the booze during Thanksgiving, which for some people is the time they need a shot of liquid coping the most.
What started out as "15 days to slow the spread," has quickly morphed into 255 days of lockdowns, which has had a devastating effect on people's mental well-being. Doctors believe that the prolonged isolation during the coronavirus pandemic has plunged many senior citizens into despair.
Now, more than ever, we need to be thankful for our families. People are craving real interactions, not only through digital screens. People yearn for their loved ones during a time of rising depression and addiction.
People desperately thirst for something normal, not whatever officials tell you is "the new normal." Thanksgiving with the people you unconditionally love, a time-honored tradition your family engages in every November, will fill your soul with a warmth that has been missing for months.
Hearing Grandpa tell the same story he has told 177 times about how he almost made it to the major leagues as a pitcher, but he blew out his arm in college is suddenly strangely soothing this year.
Mashing potatoes for your Aunt Patricia as she complains about her rheumatoid arthritis is no longer a chore, it is a welcomed privilege because you truly understand that we must treasure these precious moments that disappear in the blink of an eye, and future blessed family celebrations are absolutely not guaranteed.
Getting real in-person updates, not Facebook updates, straight from your cousin's mouth on how her 4-month-old twins are growing so fast as the adorably chubby babies coyly coo in their seats will instantly heal your God-loving essence.
In a time of so much uncertainty, nothing is so reassuring and comforting than connecting with your family — the people you share a blood bond, a heart bond, and the bond of traditions, such as Thanksgiving.


theblaze--2020-11-26--Thank you, almighty God, for your blessings this Thanksgiving

Thank you , almighty God , for your blessings this Thanksgiving

This year, Thanksgiving Day falls on Thursday the 26th of November, marking 231 years to the exact date of the first Thanksgiving Day proclaimed by President George Washington. Forgive the cliche of quoting from Washington's proclamation, but the simple fact is Washington issued a near-perfect statement of how Americans ought to think about the Thanksgiving holiday, and it's worth honoring by remembrance.
A mere three paragraphs, Washington's proclamation begins with an acknowledgement, the proclamation itself follows, and the president concludes with a request for the American people.
First, Washington acknowledges it is "the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor." These days, Americans are very fond of demanding that government protect our various and innumerable rights. Undoubtedly, the purpose of just government is to secure the rights and liberties of its citizens. But a system of self-government such as we have will fail and will be unjust if the people, who are sovereign, do not recognize their duties. We each have a duty to our neighbors to respect their rights. We have a duty to follow just laws. To be good citizens. To be kind to one another, to serve each other, to help those in need, and for Washington, to be thankful for God's provisions and to pray for his protection and favor.
In recognition of this duty, Washington proclaims "Thursday the 26th day of November next" to be a day for "the People of these States" to devote to God. Americans are to thank Him, "the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be" for "his kind care and protection," for his mercy during the Revolutionary War, for the "tranquillity, union, and plenty" which followed, for "the peaceable and rational manner" in which the new American government was established, and "for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed," the "means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge," and also for "all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us."
These blessings here recounted are permanent things. Americans continue to enjoy the goodness God has shown to our forefathers, which speaks of God's eternal nature. The sovereign King of Heaven, in His boundless mercy, saw fit to permit a rag-tag assembly of English colonists to overthrow the most powerful empire on earth and raised up wise political leaders to frame a Constitution that's lasted for 233 years — a Constitution that to this day protects your rights and liberties and enables you to read this article in the safety of your own home, surrounded by family and friends and delicious food that, Lord willing, will last for several days.
And for those less fortunate, who may lack family or friends and food, did God not provide a country with many who can share with their countrymen? It is a great sin and transgression indeed for those of us who can share to neglect our duties to those who lack.
Yet sin is a reality we all must confront. People treat each other wickedly. We are unkind in our words. We are hateful and murderous in our thoughts. We are greedy, selfish, and self-serving, neglectful and thoughtless of those in need. We are proud and boastful, yet who can truly say they've always done right and never harmed another by word or deed? We lie to each other. We only love those who love us first, and even then we love poorly. We are unforgiving. And we're too often ungrateful.
This is why, in the third paragraph, Washington requests that the American people "unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions."
The greatest blessing freely offered by God to man is pardon for our sins. God offers forgiveness for all the wrongs we've done to Him and to each other to those who repent. Once free of our individual and national sins, He enables us "whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually—to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed."
So giving thanks to God doesn't simply involve thankful prayer, though that is important and necessary! It also involves obedience to His will, which is "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" and "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." We must repent of our sins toward one another and pray for forgiveness. We must love each other by performing our duties as citizens, which is to act righteously, to obey just laws, to respect each other, to help and support each other, both publicly and privately.
As Thanksgiving Day 2020 approaches, I cannot help but think of the hostility too many Americans feel toward one another after a contentious and divisive presidential election. I know this as truth: The anger, frustration, and anxieties felt by Americans on both the left and the right are the consequences of sin. No one is blameless. We have all sinned. If we loved each other as we ought, if we performed our duties as citizens to each other as we ought, would any right-thinking person be outraged or anxious about the White House changing parties for four short years?
This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for a God who loves us and offers forgiveness for our sins. I am thankful for a God who listens to and answers prayer. I'm thankful that God rules in heaven, that all authority on earth is on loan from Him, and that He will enact justice when we will not, no matter who occupies the presidency. I am thankful for a God who taught us, when we pray, to ask for our "daily bread," reminding us that we are to rely on Him for His provisions each day and that we ought not to worry about tomorrow. I am thankful for a country and a Constitution that protect my right to worship this God. And it's my intention and earnest prayer that in showing my gratitude, I fulfill my duty as an American citizen and a patriot to love my neighbors, as God commands.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." — Philippians 4:6-7


theblaze--2020-11-26--On this Thanksgiving, I count seven lifelong friends as among my biggest blessings

On this Thanksgiving , I count seven lifelong friends as among my biggest blessings Growing up I did n't have @ @ @ @ @ me instead with seven men I consider family

You know how things go. High school ends. Many friendships drift into oblivion. If you're fortunate enough to go to college, once graduation hits, again the lion's share of folks you spent a lot of time with go on to new lives — often far away — and the months turn into years, and then friendships dry up.
I certainly experienced that in my life — but I'm one blessed fellow since I still count a handful of special people as close friends. But they're more like family. Allow me to introduce them to you.
First there's Steve. I met him at the bus stop on my first day of eighth grade. We lived down the street from each other in a Philadelphia suburb and soon bonded over our love of sports. Considering where we lived, his love for the Dallas Cowboys is a flaw of his I've been forced to live with — yet it's led to hilarious jesting between us over the years. Much more important, though, is that Steve introduced me to Jesus. As our friendship grew during high school, I cannot remember a Sunday evening when he didn't call me on the phone and invite me to his church's youth group. I was never interested. But something struck me during one of our long talks one night when we were seniors. I criticized the Christian faith as a smothering existence that frowned upon fun, and I wasn't interested in that kind of life. But Steve stood up for the faith in the most authentic way I'd heard to that point: "You know, Dave, that's something I hear a lot, but I love the Christian life. It's a great life." We continued our talk, but I couldn't shake Steve's statement — and soon I sensed God bugging me each night as I drifted off to sleep. Then one day I decided I was ready. Steve, as usual, called me Sunday evening for his weekly rejection — but instead I said, "Yes, I want to go to youth group," which I'm sure floored my faithful friend. I invited Christ into my life that night, and my life was forever altered. Steve and I have maintained our friendship through the years and still get together to share hoagies, family news, and prayer concerns. No subject is off limits. Deep is always good. Steve's faithfulness to God helped spur me on to my own faith — and that our friendship has endured is a precious gift to me. I'm forever thankful for him.
Then there's Jeff. I met him in college, where he played a crucial role as a mentor and guide, helping me make sense of my new faith and supporting me through some rough emotional patches. He's also a stellar piano player and a huge fan of the band Yes, both of which helped deepen our bond as we talked music while I banged away on my new acoustic guitar freshman year. He encouraged me, shared many new insights with me, and challenged me. One seemingly mundane — but in reality deeply important — moment still stands out to this day. My girlfriend and I had just broken up toward the end of my senior year, and I was quite despondent — all the while in the midst of interviewing for a residence hall director position that would begin in the fall. I didn't want to go to the interview. But Jeff actually got me through tying my tie and encouraged me to step into the day in faith despite my sadness. And I did — but almost didn't! It's wild to think of how different my life might have turned out if he wasn't there for me in that moment. Most of all, though, is that Jeff taught me in real life, and in real time, what sticking together as friends means. He taught me it's OK to argue, to battle things out, and that Christians forgive each other and press on after the dust settles. His presence in all those respects continues to this very day, through thick and thin, and I'm deeply thankful for him.
Along with Jeff I also became friends with Rich, John, and Ralph in college. The interactions between us individually were frequent and meaningful through my first three years at school — particularly with respect to my growth as a Christian. But with the five of us as a group, it all got taken up a notch my senior year when we shared a house together off campus. You get to know each other a lot better under the same roof! We had a lot of fun, a lot of laughs — but there were arguments, too, and some tears in sad moments. That's what living among one another brings, and it showed me what true Christian community can be. But here's where things get even more interesting. Once our time living under the same roof was over and we went on to different pursuits, our friendships remained. We wrote, we called, we visited as the years went by; those of us who could swing it met up annually between Christmas and the New Year. And then we created a Facebook group for ourselves to let us communicate — often daily — about the goings on and challenges and blessings in our lives. It's not the same as living in the same house like we did in college, but it's a blessing nonetheless knowing I can count on lifelong friends like Jeff, Rich, John, and Ralph to pray for me and care for me. They've all been there for me in good times and bad, and I'm thankful for all of them.
There's also Brent and Lou. Brent I met during graduate school when we were residence hall directors — we bonded first over our love for the comic strip "Bloom County," and then our friendship deepened over discussions about our shared faith in Christ, culture, comedy, politics, music, and our lives in general. To this day all we need to do is utter a phrase, and we'll both practically fall over in laughter. Lou I met my first day as a freelance writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer at the paper's Cherry Hill bureau. I noticed a bumper sticker at his desk for a local band I'd heard of for years on radio commercials. "Are you a fan of the Chasers?" I asked him. Lou replied, "I'm IN the Chasers!" Our shared love of music — turns out we were both guitar players in rock bands — along with our shared professional pursuits made us instant friends. Later our discussions turned to matters of faith, and a few years later Lou joined me on the path walking with Christ. And even though the miles separate us, Lou and Brent have stayed friends with me as our lives took their inevitable twists and turns. I am thankful for them both.
Growing up I didn't have brothers — but God gifted me instead with seven men I consider family. And on this Thanksgiving, I'm thankful for all of them and and for blessings they've brought to my life.


theblaze--2020-11-26--'Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light':

'Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light': 10 things in 2020 for which I'm most thankful

'Happiness can be found , even in the darkest of times , if one only remembers to turn on the @ @ @ @ @ in 2020 for which I 'm most thankful Let 's come together and learn from @ @ @

There's no doubt about it: 2020 has, hands down, probably been the hardest, most trying year for a majority of people around the world. Have there been worse years? Well, probably, sure — but the number doubtless pales in comparison to the worldwide suffering that's taken place over the last eight or nine months.
As a wise literary character once said, however, "Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light."
Now more than ever, it's important — especially in the most dire of times — to search for perspective and peace amid the chaos.
HD Dumbledore's "Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times.." clip www.youtube.com
Here are 10 things in 2020 for which I'm most thankful:
Rest and relaxation. While the COVID-19 pandemic has taken much from us, it has also given us the opportunity to slow down, take a breath, and enter a place of quietude from which we can focus on things that really matter or help rediscover things that matter most. Insight on those in my inner circle. It's a hard lesson to learn sometimes, but sometimes those who we believe are closest to us fall by the wayside in times of trouble. This was that time of trouble, and it was also that hard lesson. But like anything else, we learn, and we move on. A forced perspective on the present. Many of us — myself included — often take minutes, hours, days, or even years for granted while we look ahead saying, "Better days are sure to come." While better days are always sure to come one way or another, living amid this pandemic makes you realize that those days are uncertain, and living in the now is one of the greatest gifts of all. Health and security at home. I've been fortunate enough to be able to work from home and exercise the option to homeschool my children during the pandemic. While they sometimes get antsy and yearn for a return to normalcy, they are healthy and thriving, and I am, too. The daily reminder to take nothing for granted. When there's nothing but anarchy and turmoil surrounding many of the big things in our lives, we can begin to savor and appreciate small things: a quiet walk in the woods, a hot cup of tea, or how warm your dog's ears are as you pet them. Human kindness and patience really matter. In a time where many people are stretched to their limits, grace, understanding, and patience are perhaps the most valuable currency. Shying away from disposable commodities. While at home, many of us have learned new skills or refined necessary ones such as cooking, sewing, being responsible for creating our own arts and entertainment, and more. When the pandemic does come to a conclusion, we'll emerge stronger, more resilient, and better equipped to face the next era than we ever were before. That means being more self-reliant and avoiding a disposable, single-use way of life. A vast appreciation for teachers, medical professionals, and first responders. While many of us were able to hunker down, carefully plan out our grocery deliveries, and wait this thing out, many "regular" men and women stepped forward to the front lines to protect us. As we as a culture often idolize celebrities, entertainers, sports figures, and politicians, it was a welcome reality check for many to see who the "essential workers" really are — and they're not the ones some might think. Teachers, medical professionals, and first responders are the real heroes in all of this. God's perfect plan and timing. While it may seem that things are crumbling around us on a daily basis, God's providence will never fail, and so long as we remain rooted in His word and His promises, nothing is ever really an ending. This video. Above all else, let us come together and really laugh at each other — and ourselves. Let's stop taking many things so personally and so seriously. Happy Thanksgiving.


theblaze--2020-11-26--There is much to be thankful for — but I don’t want to talk about it

There is much to be thankful for — but I don ’ t want to talk about it Too many @ @ @ @

You know those people on social media who come across as so braggadocious? I'm sure many don't mean to be, and I've probably been guilty of it myself. But that's what I want to avoid as I sit down to write about what I'm thankful for in 2020.
When COVID-19 hit the U.S. earlier this year, I got down. Really, really down. Not for myself — my life didn't change much due to the pandemic. But I could not turn away from the countless stories of loved ones lost forever, businesses closed for good, and people lined up for miles needing food pantry bundles for the first time in their lives.
I tried to focus on what I was thankful for in order to get a grip. I thanked God for my loved ones, being employed, having groceries and a warm place to live. But I don't want to write about that. Because too many are missing those things right now. They don't need to hear it.
I also tried to look for any piece of silver lining that I could find in the devastation. While many pointed to the huge profits Amazon, Walmart, and other online retailers saw amid lockdown conditions, I was quietly grateful that some companies had the infrastructure for enormous delivery services in the first place. But that's little consolation with brick and mortar stores being shuttered. The trade-off isn't fair.
Already struggling local establishments in my town were hit with further crackdowns from the local health department recently. On Facebook, I saw video of a married couple I know insisting their business was in compliance and pleading with officials to not shut down their only source of income for feeding their family after the police were called over an alleged violation of social distancing in their bar. The couple's other restaurant had closed months before due to slow business.
The footage brought me to tears. I felt helpless and furious watching it, not thankful that I wasn't in their shoes.
When I think of that couple and the countless others who lost part or all of their livelihoods this year, I don't want to talk about what I'm grateful for. I'd like to offer hope, but as lockdowns drag on and ramp up, it's tough to point to what I have when I see what others have had stripped away ahead of what is likely the most difficult holiday season in their lives.
Please support local businesses and give more to people in need this year, if you are able. Those hurt most by this pandemic need actions more than words.