Author: Gnerphk

I am The Gnerphk, writer extraordinaire, opinionated, radical, and extremely humble by nature.

The Not Fake News Update, 02 Dec 2019

The Not Fake News Update, 02 December 2019:

– Iran protests over a gas price hike are the worst since the rise of the Ayatollah.

– Iraq is likewise beset by civil disorder; their P.M. resigned over the weekend due to corruption allegations and probably won’t be replaced any time soon. Bolivia and Venezuela have calmed down; Hong Kong is simmering. Uruguay, on the other hand, seems to be experiencing a peaceful transition of power following recent elections.

– China, as expected, has moved to halt trade talks (more…)

Selling Guns To Terrorists

There’s a Jimmy Carter quote floating around the Internet.  At least, it purports to be a quote; I can’t find any source for it, but it’s fairly popular these days.  It goes like this:

We cannot be both the world’s leading champion of peace and the world’s leading supplier of the weapons of war.

I agree wholeheartedly with this sentiment.  And, since selling guns is the more profitable of the two options, I say we pick that one.  Someone’s got to, after all (more…)

The Not Fake News Update, 20 Nov 2019

The second Not Fake News update so far this week:  Pay attention, people; it’s “Take Out The Trash Day”. All sorts of things are happening while you’re watching the

Fabulous Impeachment Show and Flea Circus Extravaganza.

– Congress has just passed a Continuing Resolution timed so the country will be ready for a budget debate mere moments before the Iowa Caucuses.

– While the House is completely tied up with impeachment, the Senate unanimously passed a Chinese trade bill designed to protect Hong Kong on the verge of the White House finalizing its own trade (more…)

The Not Fake News Update, 18 Nov 2019

Here’s your update on Things You Missed While Watching The Not News Show, compiled faithfully by all of us here the Not Fake News.

– Venice is sinking. No, this isn’t news; yes, it’s been sinking for centuries; yes, that’s part of the plot of “The Italian Job”; yes, that’s what you get for living in a swamp on the coast. On the other hand, it _is_ sinking rather faster (more…)

It’s Not A Coup

Both the departure of Evo Morales from the presidency of Bolivia and the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump have been called coups by loyalists.

Lest there be confusion on this point:  I could be talking about either or both of them when (more…)

The Not Fake News Update: 12 Nov 2019

The Not Fake News Update:
What you might have missed while impeachment is stealing the headlines…

– Wildfire season in California is right on schedule. Previous years were due to untended brushlands and the elimination of systems of seasonal lakes like Tulare Lake; this year, we’re told it’s climate change combined with an evil corporation. Meanwhile, the Trump White House has decided to cut California’s disaster funding while continuing to chip away at the Waters of the US policy that protects, among other things, seasonal lakes. Rolling blackouts (more…)

Raise The Minimum Wage — A Little

It’s time.  The wage hasn’t gone up since 2009, and a dollar is worth a lot less today.  $7.25 an hour in 2009 is $9.50 an hour adjusted for inflation, and add a quarter a year for a while just to stay even.

There’s people who couch their arguments in terms of a living wage.  Some talk of morality, of exploitation, of fairness.  There’s a big political movement out there supporting $15 and hour on these grounds; they’ve had some success in Seattle. (more…)

Refugees, Religion and Peter Pan Advice

angelikarust's avatarAngelika Rust

People have often told me that I’m too innocent, too naive. This post is probably going to prove them right, and more. The sad fact is that Billy Joel got it exactly right. People will tell you that you’re too naive the instant they figure out that you have not lost faith in the things you believe. (The link doesn’t work for Germany due to the usual GEMA issues. Hope you’ll have more luck in other countries.)

All over Europe and large parts of the rest of the world, people are talking about the refugee crisis. Recently, the topic swept into our household. I was talking to the kids about how they mistreat the way too many toys they have, and about appreciating what you’ve got. And as such discussions go, it led to talking about other kids in the world, who have absolutely nothing. My little boy asked…

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